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Abercrombie's (ANF) Q3 Earnings Top Estimates, Sales Down Y/Y
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Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2020 results, with the top and the bottom line surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Moreover, the bottom line improved year on year. However, management continued to witness adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on stores that put pressure on the top line.
Nevertheless, the company’s digital platform remained strong, backed by improved traffic, conversions and new customer acquisition. Additionally, management is impressed with growth in gross margin, stemming from prudent inventory management strategies. Also, control over expenses aided the quarterly performance.
Going ahead, the company plans to continue boosting omni-channel capabilities. The company is working toward rationalizing its store base by reducing dependence on underperforming tourist driven locations.
Q3 Highlights
Abercrombie delivered adjusted earnings of 76 cents per share in fiscal third quarter compared with earnings of 23 cents in the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at a loss of 5 cents.
Net sales totaled $819.7 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $735.3 million. However, the top line declined 5% from the year-ago quarter’s figure due to adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on store sales.
Digital net sales were strong during the quarter, surging 43% year over year to $382 million. Markedly, digital sales reflected robust growth in every month of the quarter.
Brand-wise, net sales declined 7% and 2% to $476.7 million and $343 million for the Hollister and Abercrombie brands, respectively. From a geographical viewpoint, net sales fell 4% in the United States and dropped 6% in International markets.
Abercrombie & Fitch Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Gross margin expanded 390 basis points (bps) to 64% gaining from increased average unit retail and reduced average unit cost as well as favorable impacts from inventory shrink and foreign currency exchange rates.
Adjusted operating income totaled $65 million as compared to $25 million in the year-ago quarter. Tight expense management boosted operating income in the reported quarter.
Other Financials
Abercrombie ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $813 million and long-term gross borrowings (under senior secured notes) of $350 million. Also, inventories were $546 million, down 8% from the prior-year quarter’s levels.
For the year-to-date period ended Oct 31, 2020, net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $159 million. Net cash used for investing activities amounted to $92 million. Management expects capital expenditures for fiscal 2020 to be nearly $110 million.
We note that management suspended its share repurchase program and dividend payouts in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Prior to this, it returned nearly $28 million to shareholders in the forms of share repurchases and dividends.
That said, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company boasts a liquidity of $1.2 billion as of Oct 31, 2020, compared with liquidity of $770 million as of Nov 2, 2019. The company’s liquidity comprises cash and equivalents as well as borrowings available under the senior-secured asset-based revolving credit facility of nearly $345 million.
Store Update
As part of its store optimization plans, Abercrombie plans to reposition larger format flagship locations to smaller omni-channel enabled stores. Progressing on these efforts, the company will close four European flagship locations, before their natural lease expirations. Markedly, the Dusseldorf flagship store was shuttered during the third quarter, while the London, Munich and Paris flagships will close by the end of January, 2021. Additionally, flagship stores at Brussels, Madrid and Fukuoka will close in early January, owing to natural lease expirations.
As of Oct 31, 2020, the company’s total store base included 641 stores in the United States and 208 stores internationally.
Outlook
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, management expects net sales to be down in the range of 5-10% owing to deceleration of current trends. Management is cautious regarding the economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. With rising number of cases, the company anticipates a potential change in apparel demand. Additionally, store traffic is likely to remain soft. Also, the company is apprehensive regarding any possible pandemic-led store restrictions and closures as well as increases in shipping, handling and freight costs. Moreover, the company expects gross margin to be up only slightly on a year-over-year basis.
Price Performance
In the past three months, the company’s shares have lost 8.4% compared with the industry's rise of 2.3%.
L Brands, Inc. has a long-term earnings growth rate of 13% and a Zacks Rank #1.
Tapestry, Inc. (TPR - Free Report) , also with a Zacks Rank #1, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.3%.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021.
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Abercrombie's (ANF) Q3 Earnings Top Estimates, Sales Down Y/Y
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2020 results, with the top and the bottom line surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Moreover, the bottom line improved year on year. However, management continued to witness adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on stores that put pressure on the top line.
Nevertheless, the company’s digital platform remained strong, backed by improved traffic, conversions and new customer acquisition. Additionally, management is impressed with growth in gross margin, stemming from prudent inventory management strategies. Also, control over expenses aided the quarterly performance.
Going ahead, the company plans to continue boosting omni-channel capabilities. The company is working toward rationalizing its store base by reducing dependence on underperforming tourist driven locations.
Q3 Highlights
Abercrombie delivered adjusted earnings of 76 cents per share in fiscal third quarter compared with earnings of 23 cents in the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was pegged at a loss of 5 cents.
Net sales totaled $819.7 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $735.3 million. However, the top line declined 5% from the year-ago quarter’s figure due to adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on store sales.
Digital net sales were strong during the quarter, surging 43% year over year to $382 million. Markedly, digital sales reflected robust growth in every month of the quarter.
Brand-wise, net sales declined 7% and 2% to $476.7 million and $343 million for the Hollister and Abercrombie brands, respectively. From a geographical viewpoint, net sales fell 4% in the United States and dropped 6% in International markets.
Abercrombie & Fitch Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Abercrombie & Fitch Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Abercrombie & Fitch Company Quote
Margins
Gross margin expanded 390 basis points (bps) to 64% gaining from increased average unit retail and reduced average unit cost as well as favorable impacts from inventory shrink and foreign currency exchange rates.
Adjusted operating income totaled $65 million as compared to $25 million in the year-ago quarter. Tight expense management boosted operating income in the reported quarter.
Other Financials
Abercrombie ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $813 million and long-term gross borrowings (under senior secured notes) of $350 million. Also, inventories were $546 million, down 8% from the prior-year quarter’s levels.
For the year-to-date period ended Oct 31, 2020, net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $159 million. Net cash used for investing activities amounted to $92 million. Management expects capital expenditures for fiscal 2020 to be nearly $110 million.
We note that management suspended its share repurchase program and dividend payouts in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Prior to this, it returned nearly $28 million to shareholders in the forms of share repurchases and dividends.
That said, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company boasts a liquidity of $1.2 billion as of Oct 31, 2020, compared with liquidity of $770 million as of Nov 2, 2019. The company’s liquidity comprises cash and equivalents as well as borrowings available under the senior-secured asset-based revolving credit facility of nearly $345 million.
Store Update
As part of its store optimization plans, Abercrombie plans to reposition larger format flagship locations to smaller omni-channel enabled stores. Progressing on these efforts, the company will close four European flagship locations, before their natural lease expirations. Markedly, the Dusseldorf flagship store was shuttered during the third quarter, while the London, Munich and Paris flagships will close by the end of January, 2021. Additionally, flagship stores at Brussels, Madrid and Fukuoka will close in early January, owing to natural lease expirations.
As of Oct 31, 2020, the company’s total store base included 641 stores in the United States and 208 stores internationally.
Outlook
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2020, management expects net sales to be down in the range of 5-10% owing to deceleration of current trends. Management is cautious regarding the economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. With rising number of cases, the company anticipates a potential change in apparel demand. Additionally, store traffic is likely to remain soft. Also, the company is apprehensive regarding any possible pandemic-led store restrictions and closures as well as increases in shipping, handling and freight costs. Moreover, the company expects gross margin to be up only slightly on a year-over-year basis.
Price Performance
In the past three months, the company’s shares have lost 8.4% compared with the industry's rise of 2.3%.
3 Hot Stocks to Consider
Capri Holdings Limited (CPRI - Free Report) , flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has a long-term earnings growth rate of 4.1%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
L Brands, Inc. has a long-term earnings growth rate of 13% and a Zacks Rank #1.
Tapestry, Inc. (TPR - Free Report) , also with a Zacks Rank #1, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.3%.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2021.
Click here for the 6 trades >>