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W.W. Grainger, Inc.’s (GWW - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings per share of $2.45 declined 2% from the prior-year figure of $2.49. However, earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.36.
Including one-time items, earnings were $1.01 per share in the reported quarter, down significantly from $2.30 in the year-ago quarter.
Operational Update
Grainger reported revenues of $2,471 million, down 0.3% from the prior-year quarter figure of $2,478 million. However, it marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,446 million. There were 63 selling days in the reported quarter, one fewer than in the 2015 quarter.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
On a daily basis, total company sales were up 1% for the quarter. The sales increase for the quarter included a 1 percentage point (pp) increase from volume and a 1 pp increase from the timing of the holidays in December, offset by a 1 pp reduction in price.
Cost of sales inched up 0.3% year over year to $1,481 million. Gross profit decreased 1.3% to $989.7 million from $1,002 million in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin contracted 30 basis points to 40.1% due to unfavorable customer mix and price deflation exceeding product cost deflation.
Grainger’s adjusted operating income in the quarter went down 2.5% to $274.8 million from $281.9 million in the prior-year quarter. Operating margin fell to 11.1% in the quarter from 11.4% in the prior-year quarter.
Segment Performance
Revenues for the U.S. segment dipped 1.3% year over year to $1,897 million. Adjusted operating income for the segment decreased 2.7% year over year to $300.3 million.
Revenues of $181.4 million from the Canadian Acklands-Grainger business were down 11% in U.S. dollars and local currency from the year-ago quarter. The segment reported an adjusted operating loss of $10.7 million, against an operating income of $7.9 million in the prior-year quarter.
Revenues from Other businesses (which include Asia, Europe and Latin America) increased 11% year over year to $483.5 million. The segment’s adjusted operating profit soared 63% to $16.7 million, from $10.2 million in the prior-year quarter.
Financial Position
At the end of 2016, Grainger generated cash and cash equivalents of $274 million, which declined from $290 million at the end of 2015. Cash flow from operations came in at $1,003 million for the fiscal 2016 compared with $989.9 million in the prior fiscal.
At the end of 2016, Grainger’s long-term debt increased to $1,841 million, compared with $1,388 million at the end of 2015. During the year, the company returned $1.1 billion in cash to its shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends.
2016 Performance
Grainger reported adjusted earnings per share of $11.58 in 2016, down 3% from $11.94 per share recorded in the prior year. Earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.50 per share. Including one-time items, the bottom line came in at $9.87, down 15% from $11.58 recorded in 2015.
Revenues grew 2% year over year to $10.1 billion from $10 billion in 2015. Revenues came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Guidance
Grainger reaffirmed its sales growth guidance of 2–6% for full-year 2017 and earnings per share of $11.30–$12.40.
Grainger will progress on key initiatives, including sales force effectiveness and vertical alignment of the sales force in the U.S., the medium-sized customer acquisition and growth of the online model globally. The company remains focused on creating value for customers, delivering a seamless customer experience and reducing costs in 2017.
Share Price Performance
In the last one year, Grainger has outperformed the Zacks classified Industrial Services sub-industry with respect to price performance. The stock gained 33.9%, while the industry rose 33.3% over the same time frame.
Zacks Rank
Grainger currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the same sector are ABB Ltd , Altra Industrial Motion Corp. and Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (APOG - Free Report) .
Altra Industrial Motion also boasts a Zacks Rank #1 and has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 8.06% in the past four quarters. Apogee, another Zacks Rank #1 stock, has an average positive earnings surprise of 13.24% for the past four quarters.
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Grainger (GWW) Tops Q4 Earnings, Sales; Affirms 2017 View
W.W. Grainger, Inc.’s (GWW - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings per share of $2.45 declined 2% from the prior-year figure of $2.49. However, earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.36.
Including one-time items, earnings were $1.01 per share in the reported quarter, down significantly from $2.30 in the year-ago quarter.
Operational Update
Grainger reported revenues of $2,471 million, down 0.3% from the prior-year quarter figure of $2,478 million. However, it marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,446 million. There were 63 selling days in the reported quarter, one fewer than in the 2015 quarter.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
W.W. Grainger, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | W.W. Grainger, Inc. Quote
On a daily basis, total company sales were up 1% for the quarter. The sales increase for the quarter included a 1 percentage point (pp) increase from volume and a 1 pp increase from the timing of the holidays in December, offset by a 1 pp reduction in price.
Cost of sales inched up 0.3% year over year to $1,481 million. Gross profit decreased 1.3% to $989.7 million from $1,002 million in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin contracted 30 basis points to 40.1% due to unfavorable customer mix and price deflation exceeding product cost deflation.
Grainger’s adjusted operating income in the quarter went down 2.5% to $274.8 million from $281.9 million in the prior-year quarter. Operating margin fell to 11.1% in the quarter from 11.4% in the prior-year quarter.
Segment Performance
Revenues for the U.S. segment dipped 1.3% year over year to $1,897 million. Adjusted operating income for the segment decreased 2.7% year over year to $300.3 million.
Revenues of $181.4 million from the Canadian Acklands-Grainger business were down 11% in U.S. dollars and local currency from the year-ago quarter. The segment reported an adjusted operating loss of $10.7 million, against an operating income of $7.9 million in the prior-year quarter.
Revenues from Other businesses (which include Asia, Europe and Latin America) increased 11% year over year to $483.5 million. The segment’s adjusted operating profit soared 63% to $16.7 million, from $10.2 million in the prior-year quarter.
Financial Position
At the end of 2016, Grainger generated cash and cash equivalents of $274 million, which declined from $290 million at the end of 2015. Cash flow from operations came in at $1,003 million for the fiscal 2016 compared with $989.9 million in the prior fiscal.
At the end of 2016, Grainger’s long-term debt increased to $1,841 million, compared with $1,388 million at the end of 2015. During the year, the company returned $1.1 billion in cash to its shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends.
2016 Performance
Grainger reported adjusted earnings per share of $11.58 in 2016, down 3% from $11.94 per share recorded in the prior year. Earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.50 per share. Including one-time items, the bottom line came in at $9.87, down 15% from $11.58 recorded in 2015.
Revenues grew 2% year over year to $10.1 billion from $10 billion in 2015. Revenues came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Guidance
Grainger reaffirmed its sales growth guidance of 2–6% for full-year 2017 and earnings per share of $11.30–$12.40.
Grainger will progress on key initiatives, including sales force effectiveness and vertical alignment of the sales force in the U.S., the medium-sized customer acquisition and growth of the online model globally. The company remains focused on creating value for customers, delivering a seamless customer experience and reducing costs in 2017.
Share Price Performance
In the last one year, Grainger has outperformed the Zacks classified Industrial Services sub-industry with respect to price performance. The stock gained 33.9%, while the industry rose 33.3% over the same time frame.
Zacks Rank
Grainger currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the same sector are ABB Ltd , Altra Industrial Motion Corp. and Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (APOG - Free Report) .
ABB Ltd delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 23.50% in the last four quarters. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Altra Industrial Motion also boasts a Zacks Rank #1 and has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 8.06% in the past four quarters. Apogee, another Zacks Rank #1 stock, has an average positive earnings surprise of 13.24% for the past four quarters.
Zacks' Top Investment Ideas for Long-Term Profit
How would you like to see our best recommendations to help you find today’s most promising long-term stocks? Starting now, you can look inside our portfolios featuring stocks under $10, income stocks, value investments and more. These picks, which have double and triple-digit profit potential, are rarely available to the public. But you can see them now. Click here >>