We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Estee Lauder (EL) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Up Y/Y
Read MoreHide Full Article
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) reported robust second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, with the top and the bottom line beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Also, sales and earnings increased year over year.
Quarter in Detail
The company posted adjusted earnings of $2.61 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.67. Also, adjusted earnings increased 24% year over year. On a constant-currency (cc) basis, adjusted earnings also rose 21%.
Estee Lauder’s net sales of $4,853 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,484.8 million. The metric increased 5% (up 3% at cc) from $4,624 million reported in the year-ago quarter. The top line includes nearly 3 percentage point positive impact from Have&Be Co. Ltd. (“Dr. Jart+”) acquisition. The upside in sales can be attributed to Asia/Pacific region, travel retail and global digital net sales growth. These were somewhat offset by reduced foot traffic in open stores as well as some temporary retail store closures owing to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Gross profit came in at $3,769 million, up 5%. Also, gross margin increased to 77.7% from 77.5% reported in the year-ago quarter.
The company reported operating income of $1,063 million, up from $261 million reported in the year-ago quarter.
Product-Based Segment Results
Skin Care’s sales were up 28% year over year (up 25% at cc) to $2,819 million. Makeup revenues plunged 25% year over year (down 26% at cc) to $1,247 million. In the Fragrance category, revenues increased 6% year over year (up 5% at cc) to $618 million. Hair Care sales totaled $154 million, down 5% (down 6% at cc).
Regional Results
Sales in the Americas declined 15% year over year (down 13% at cc) to $1,048 million. Revenues in Europe, the Middle East & Africa region declined 2% (down 3% at cc) to $2,030 million. Nevertheless, in the Asia-Pacific region sales increased 35% (up 27% at cc) to $1,775 million.
Other Updates
The company exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $5,545 million, long-term debt of $4,913 million and total equity of $5,456 million.
Net cash flow provided by operating activities for six-months ended Dec 31, 2020 came in at $1,978 million.
In a separate press release, the company declared quarterly dividend of 53 cents per share on Class A and Class B shares. The dividend will be payable on Mar 15, 2021 to shareholders of record as on Feb 26.
COVID-19 Update
During the second quarter, most brick-and-mortar retail stores worldwide that sell Estee Lauder’s products; (both company and customer operated) remained open. However, store traffic was significantly lower compared with the year-ago quarter’s levels. Also, some retail stores were temporarily shut owing to the resurgence of coronavirus infections. Apart from these, international travel has been majorly restricted worldwide thanks to government regulations and consumer health concerns. Such restrictions have been negatively impacting consumer traffic in most travel retail locations.
In the wake of the pandemic, the company is on track to undertake stringent cost-control measures. These expenses include costs related to advertising and promotion activities, travel, meetings, consulting and certain employee costs.
Guidance
In fiscal 2021, the company is committed to various long-term strategic initiatives like rationalizing unproductive brick-and-mortar stores, expanding manufacturing capabilities, enhancing the fulfillment capabilities of its digital operations among others.
For the third quarter of fiscal 2021, the company projects net sales to increase in the band of 13-14%. Removing the impact of currency, management expects net sales to improve 10-11% in the quarter. Further, adjusted earnings are anticipated to increase in the range of 26-38% on a cc basis in the quarter.
Given the uncertainty related to the pandemic and re-emergence of COVID-19 infections, management is not providing any specific guidance for fiscal 2021. Although the company is undertaking cost-control measures amid the crisis, it expects some expenses to return in the coming months. Also, Estee Lauder will continue to invest in areas like advertising, supply chain and digital platform to drive growth.
Price Performance
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 19.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 4.6%.
Helen of Troy (HELE - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.7%.
Nu Skin (NUS - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.1 %.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
Image: Bigstock
Estee Lauder (EL) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Up Y/Y
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) reported robust second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, with the top and the bottom line beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Also, sales and earnings increased year over year.
Quarter in Detail
The company posted adjusted earnings of $2.61 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.67. Also, adjusted earnings increased 24% year over year. On a constant-currency (cc) basis, adjusted earnings also rose 21%.
Estee Lauder’s net sales of $4,853 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,484.8 million. The metric increased 5% (up 3% at cc) from $4,624 million reported in the year-ago quarter. The top line includes nearly 3 percentage point positive impact from Have&Be Co. Ltd. (“Dr. Jart+”) acquisition. The upside in sales can be attributed to Asia/Pacific region, travel retail and global digital net sales growth. These were somewhat offset by reduced foot traffic in open stores as well as some temporary retail store closures owing to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Quote
Gross profit came in at $3,769 million, up 5%. Also, gross margin increased to 77.7% from 77.5% reported in the year-ago quarter.
The company reported operating income of $1,063 million, up from $261 million reported in the year-ago quarter.
Product-Based Segment Results
Skin Care’s sales were up 28% year over year (up 25% at cc) to $2,819 million. Makeup revenues plunged 25% year over year (down 26% at cc) to $1,247 million. In the Fragrance category, revenues increased 6% year over year (up 5% at cc) to $618 million. Hair Care sales totaled $154 million, down 5% (down 6% at cc).
Regional Results
Sales in the Americas declined 15% year over year (down 13% at cc) to $1,048 million. Revenues in Europe, the Middle East & Africa region declined 2% (down 3% at cc) to $2,030 million. Nevertheless, in the Asia-Pacific region sales increased 35% (up 27% at cc) to $1,775 million.
Other Updates
The company exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $5,545 million, long-term debt of $4,913 million and total equity of $5,456 million.
Net cash flow provided by operating activities for six-months ended Dec 31, 2020 came in at $1,978 million.
In a separate press release, the company declared quarterly dividend of 53 cents per share on Class A and Class B shares. The dividend will be payable on Mar 15, 2021 to shareholders of record as on Feb 26.
COVID-19 Update
During the second quarter, most brick-and-mortar retail stores worldwide that sell Estee Lauder’s products; (both company and customer operated) remained open. However, store traffic was significantly lower compared with the year-ago quarter’s levels. Also, some retail stores were temporarily shut owing to the resurgence of coronavirus infections. Apart from these, international travel has been majorly restricted worldwide thanks to government regulations and consumer health concerns. Such restrictions have been negatively impacting consumer traffic in most travel retail locations.
In the wake of the pandemic, the company is on track to undertake stringent cost-control measures. These expenses include costs related to advertising and promotion activities, travel, meetings, consulting and certain employee costs.
Guidance
In fiscal 2021, the company is committed to various long-term strategic initiatives like rationalizing unproductive brick-and-mortar stores, expanding manufacturing capabilities, enhancing the fulfillment capabilities of its digital operations among others.
For the third quarter of fiscal 2021, the company projects net sales to increase in the band of 13-14%. Removing the impact of currency, management expects net sales to improve 10-11% in the quarter. Further, adjusted earnings are anticipated to increase in the range of 26-38% on a cc basis in the quarter.
Given the uncertainty related to the pandemic and re-emergence of COVID-19 infections, management is not providing any specific guidance for fiscal 2021. Although the company is undertaking cost-control measures amid the crisis, it expects some expenses to return in the coming months. Also, Estee Lauder will continue to invest in areas like advertising, supply chain and digital platform to drive growth.
Price Performance
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 19.7% in the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 4.6%.
Some Solid Cosmetic Picks
Inter Parfums, Inc. (IPAR - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.7%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Helen of Troy (HELE - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.7%.
Nu Skin (NUS - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.1 %.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
See these 7 breakthrough stocks now>>