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Urban Outfitters (URBN) Up 4.8% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Urban Outfitters (URBN - Free Report) . Shares have added about 4.8% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Urban Outfitters due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Urban Outfitters Q4 Earnings Beat, Sales Miss
Urban Outfitters Inc. reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein both top and bottom lines grew year over year and the latter marked its seventh straight quarter of positive surprise. However, sales fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate after delivering six consecutive beats. Also, the company commenced fiscal 2020 on a soft note.
These factors along with a soft guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 seem to have weighed on investors’ sentiments.
Coming to the quarterly outcome, this lifestyle specialty retail company posted adjusted earnings of 83 cents a share that surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents and improved 20.3% year over year. We note that bottom-line growth was backed by improved sales and margins along with lower taxes.
An Insight Into Revenues
In the reported quarter, net sales of $1,128.9 million fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,133 million, though it advanced 3.7% year over year. Sales growth was driven by improvements in retail segment comps and increased wholesale sales. The company also appears to have benefitted from record holiday sales unveiled recently. However, currency headwinds dented fourth-quarter sales by roughly 50 basis points (bps).
Well, the company witnessed decent performance at its Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group and Free People brands. Also, Food and Beverage segment sales increased double digits. At Urban Outfitters, net sales were up 3.1% to $447.5 million, while the same at Anthropologie Group improved 3.9% to $464.6 million. At Free People, net sales increased 3.8% to $209.3 million. Meanwhile, Food and Beverage net sales came in at $7.5 million, up 18.1% from the prior-year quarter.
The company’s net sales grew 3.7% to $1,047.7 million at the Retail Segment and 2.9% to $81.2 million at the Wholesale Segment. The increase in Wholesale Segment net sales can be attributed to sales increase at Anthropologie Home business and slight growth in Free People wholesale revenues.
Comparable Retail Segment net sales increased 3% on double-digit improvement in the digital channel, somewhat negated by lower retail store sales. Brand-wise, comparable Retail Segment net sales rose 4% at Free People, 2% at the Anthropologie Group and 4% at Urban Outfitters. This was the sixth successive quarter when each of the company’s brands reported positive comparable Retail Segment net sales.
Margin Performance
In the quarter under review, adjusted gross profit came in at $376.1 million, up 6.8% from the year-ago quarter. Adjusted gross margin expanded about 100 bps to approximately 33.3%, mainly due to lower markdowns and better initial mark-ups. Additionally, adjusted gross margin was fueled by store occupancy cost leverage.
Adjusted SG&A expenses increased 4.2% to $258.3 million. As percentage of net sales, adjusted SG&A expenses grew more than 10 bps to roughly 22.9%.
Adjusted operating income came in at $117.8 million, up 12.9% from the year-ago quarter’s figure, while adjusted operating margin increased 80 bps to 10.4%.
Store Update
During fiscal 2019, the company opened 18 retail locations — four Anthropologie Group stores, five Urban Outfitters stores, six Free People stores, and three Food and Beverage restaurants. It shuttered 11 locations — three Anthropologie Group stores, three Free People stores and five Urban Outfitters stores. During the said period, the company opened five franchisee-owned stores — four Urban Outfitters outlets and one Free People outlet.
Management intends to inaugurate 24 stores and shutter 13 in fiscal 2020.
Other Financial Details
The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $358.3 million, marketable securities of $57.3 million and total shareholders’ equity of $1,489.1 million. Management incurred capital expenditures of $25 million during the fourth quarter and $115 million in fiscal 2019. For fiscal 2020, management anticipates capital expenditures of nearly $260 million.
In August 2017, the company’s board of directors authorized buyback of 20 million shares, out of which 14.4 million were remaining at the end of fiscal 2019. During the year ended Jan 31, 2019, the company repurchased and thereafter retired 3.5 million shares for about $121 million. This includes 2 million shares repurchased for about $64 million during the fourth quarter.
Outlook
Management stated that it has started fiscal 2020 with softer-than-expected sales. On the basis of its quarter-to-date performance, management anticipates first-quarter fiscal 2020 comps in the range of flat to down low-single-digits in the Retail segment.
Based on the comps projection, gross margin is likely to contract about 150 bps in the first quarter. This can be attributed to increased markdown rates, escalated logistic costs and store occupancy expense deleverage. SG&A expenses are likely to increase roughly 3% in the first quarter, owing to elevated digital investments to aid digital channel sales.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month. The consensus estimate has shifted -34.46% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
At this time, Urban Outfitters has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. It's no surprise Urban Outfitters has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.
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Urban Outfitters (URBN) Up 4.8% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Urban Outfitters (URBN - Free Report) . Shares have added about 4.8% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Urban Outfitters due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Urban Outfitters Q4 Earnings Beat, Sales Miss
Urban Outfitters Inc. reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein both top and bottom lines grew year over year and the latter marked its seventh straight quarter of positive surprise. However, sales fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate after delivering six consecutive beats. Also, the company commenced fiscal 2020 on a soft note.
These factors along with a soft guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 seem to have weighed on investors’ sentiments.
Coming to the quarterly outcome, this lifestyle specialty retail company posted adjusted earnings of 83 cents a share that surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents and improved 20.3% year over year. We note that bottom-line growth was backed by improved sales and margins along with lower taxes.
An Insight Into Revenues
In the reported quarter, net sales of $1,128.9 million fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,133 million, though it advanced 3.7% year over year. Sales growth was driven by improvements in retail segment comps and increased wholesale sales. The company also appears to have benefitted from record holiday sales unveiled recently. However, currency headwinds dented fourth-quarter sales by roughly 50 basis points (bps).
Well, the company witnessed decent performance at its Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group and Free People brands. Also, Food and Beverage segment sales increased double digits. At Urban Outfitters, net sales were up 3.1% to $447.5 million, while the same at Anthropologie Group improved 3.9% to $464.6 million. At Free People, net sales increased 3.8% to $209.3 million. Meanwhile, Food and Beverage net sales came in at $7.5 million, up 18.1% from the prior-year quarter.
The company’s net sales grew 3.7% to $1,047.7 million at the Retail Segment and 2.9% to $81.2 million at the Wholesale Segment. The increase in Wholesale Segment net sales can be attributed to sales increase at Anthropologie Home business and slight growth in Free People wholesale revenues.
Comparable Retail Segment net sales increased 3% on double-digit improvement in the digital channel, somewhat negated by lower retail store sales. Brand-wise, comparable Retail Segment net sales rose 4% at Free People, 2% at the Anthropologie Group and 4% at Urban Outfitters. This was the sixth successive quarter when each of the company’s brands reported positive comparable Retail Segment net sales.
Margin Performance
In the quarter under review, adjusted gross profit came in at $376.1 million, up 6.8% from the year-ago quarter. Adjusted gross margin expanded about 100 bps to approximately 33.3%, mainly due to lower markdowns and better initial mark-ups. Additionally, adjusted gross margin was fueled by store occupancy cost leverage.
Adjusted SG&A expenses increased 4.2% to $258.3 million. As percentage of net sales, adjusted SG&A expenses grew more than 10 bps to roughly 22.9%.
Adjusted operating income came in at $117.8 million, up 12.9% from the year-ago quarter’s figure, while adjusted operating margin increased 80 bps to 10.4%.
Store Update
During fiscal 2019, the company opened 18 retail locations — four Anthropologie Group stores, five Urban Outfitters stores, six Free People stores, and three Food and Beverage restaurants. It shuttered 11 locations — three Anthropologie Group stores, three Free People stores and five Urban Outfitters stores. During the said period, the company opened five franchisee-owned stores — four Urban Outfitters outlets and one Free People outlet.
Management intends to inaugurate 24 stores and shutter 13 in fiscal 2020.
Other Financial Details
The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $358.3 million, marketable securities of $57.3 million and total shareholders’ equity of $1,489.1 million. Management incurred capital expenditures of $25 million during the fourth quarter and $115 million in fiscal 2019. For fiscal 2020, management anticipates capital expenditures of nearly $260 million.
In August 2017, the company’s board of directors authorized buyback of 20 million shares, out of which 14.4 million were remaining at the end of fiscal 2019. During the year ended Jan 31, 2019, the company repurchased and thereafter retired 3.5 million shares for about $121 million. This includes 2 million shares repurchased for about $64 million during the fourth quarter.
Outlook
Management stated that it has started fiscal 2020 with softer-than-expected sales. On the basis of its quarter-to-date performance, management anticipates first-quarter fiscal 2020 comps in the range of flat to down low-single-digits in the Retail segment.
Based on the comps projection, gross margin is likely to contract about 150 bps in the first quarter. This can be attributed to increased markdown rates, escalated logistic costs and store occupancy expense deleverage. SG&A expenses are likely to increase roughly 3% in the first quarter, owing to elevated digital investments to aid digital channel sales.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month. The consensus estimate has shifted -34.46% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
At this time, Urban Outfitters has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. It's no surprise Urban Outfitters has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months.