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Why Is Lululemon (LULU) Up 5.1% Since Last Earnings Report?
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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Lululemon (LULU - Free Report) . Shares have added about 5.1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Lululemon due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
lululemon Surpasses Earnings & Sales Estimates in Q3
lululemon athletica retained its positive streak in third-quarter fiscal 2019, with sales and earnings surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improving year over year. Results were aided by positive response to merchandise assortments along with continued investments to bolster business growth.
Moreover, fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 earnings guidance looks encouraging. The company envisions earnings of $2.10-$2.13 per share for the fiscal fourth quarter compared with $1.85 recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Further, the company expects greater impacts of tariff increases and airfreight costs in the fiscal fourth quarter. It continues to expect these headwinds to have a negative impact of 4-5 cents on fiscal 2019 earnings within gross margin. Notably, the company incurred nearly 1 cent of these costs each in the fiscal second and third quarters, and expects the remaining 2-3 cent impact to be incurred in the fourth quarter.
Despite these headwinds, lululemon is optimistic about opportunities to boost product margins in the long run. It anticipates gains from the execution of strategies to result in modest gross margin expansion annually through 2023.
Q3 Numbers
lululemon posted earnings of 96 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 93 cents, and increased 28% from adjusted earnings of 75 cents in the year-ago quarter. The bottom line gained from solid top-line growth along with gross margin expansion and SG&A leverage.
The company’s quarterly revenues advanced about 23% to $916.1 million and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $899.4 million. On a constant-dollar basis, revenues rose 23%, backed by strong execution across all parts of the business. The improvement can also be attributed to robust total comparable sales (comps) performance and addition of stores. However, currency headwinds impacted revenues by $6.8 million. Notably, e-commerce contributed $247 million to sales, representing about 26.9% of total sales.
Total comps, including comparable store sales and direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, grew 16% and increased 17% in constant dollars. Comps growth was driven by rise in traffic, with in-store tariff up in the high-single digits and online traffic up more than 30%. Comparable store sales improved 10% (or an increase of 11% in constant dollars), while DTC sales grew 29% (or an increase of 30% in constant dollars).
Margins
Gross profit rose 24% to $505 million in third-quarter fiscal 2019. Moreover, gross margin expanded 70 basis points (bps) to 55.1% on a 120-bps improvement in the product margin, and 10-bps occupancy and depreciation expense leverage. This was partly offset by a 40-bps increase in product and supply-chain costs, and a 20-bps negative impact from foreign currency. The product margin expansion was backed by reduced product costs, favorable product mix and lower markdowns. Further, higher product and supply-chain costs stemmed from the ongoing investments in supply chain and product development.
SG&A expenses rose 21.5% to $329.2 million but declined 30 bps to 35.9%, as a percentage of sales. Notably, SG&A expenses included a 30-bps deleverage from foreign exchange.
Driven by gross margin growth and the SG&A leverage, operating income grew nearly 29% to $175.8 million, while operating margin expanded 100 bps to 19.2%.
Store Updates
During the fiscal third quarter, the company opened 19 net new stores and completed six optimizations. As of Nov 3, 2019, it operated 479 stores.
In fiscal 2019, the company anticipates opening 50 net company-operated stores versus 40-50 company-operated stores planned earlier. This includes 30 store openings in the international markets.
Moreover, the company expects 12 net new store openings for the fiscal fourth quarter.
Financials
lululemon exited the fiscal third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $586.2 million, and stockholders' equity of $1,648.7 million. Inventories were up 26.4% to $627.1 million.
As of Nov 3, 2019, cash from operating activities was $95.1 million. Further, it spent nearly $78 million toward capital expenditure in third-quarter fiscal 2019 mainly related to IT and supply-chain investments, and store capital for new locations, relocations and renovations.
During the fiscal third quarter, the company bought back 44.5 thousand shares for less than $8 million at an average price of $179.71 per share. As of Nov 3, 2019, it had nearly $328 million outstanding under its new $500-million share repurchase plan announced at the beginning of fiscal 2019.
Q4 Forecasts
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2019, lululemon anticipates revenues of $1.315-$1.330 billion, driven by constant-dollar total comps increase in the low-double digits and planned store openings.
The company expects a marginal increase in gross margin compared with the year-ago quarter. Management anticipates marginal SG&A expense leverage, as a percentage of sales, as it establishes a balance between investments for future growth and efficient cost management. Effective tax rate is expected to be 28.5%.
FY19 View
For fiscal 2019, lululemon now expects revenues of $3.895-$3.91 billion, up from $3.8-$3.84 billion mentioned earlier. It projects constant-dollar comps growth in the mid-teens compared with a low-teens rise stated earlier. It expects modest gross margin expansion, driven by anticipated gains in product margins. Further, the company envisions modest SG&A expense leverage in fiscal 2019.
Earnings for the fiscal year are projected to be $4.75-$4.78 per share, up from $4.63-$4.70 stated earlier. As previously stated, earnings per share included about 4-5 cents of additional costs within gross margin related to tariffs and airfreight. Adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be 28% in fiscal 2019.
Capital expenditure for fiscal 2019 is now projected to be $300 million compared with $275-$285 million mentioned earlier. The increase stems from the ramp-up of store renovation and relocation programs, store openings, and investments in technology and other general infrastructure projects.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, estimates review have trended upward during the past month.
VGM Scores
Currently, Lululemon has a subpar Growth Score of D, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with a B. However, the stock was allocated a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Lululemon has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.
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Why Is Lululemon (LULU) Up 5.1% Since Last Earnings Report?
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Lululemon (LULU - Free Report) . Shares have added about 5.1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Lululemon due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
lululemon Surpasses Earnings & Sales Estimates in Q3
lululemon athletica retained its positive streak in third-quarter fiscal 2019, with sales and earnings surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improving year over year. Results were aided by positive response to merchandise assortments along with continued investments to bolster business growth.
Moreover, fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 earnings guidance looks encouraging. The company envisions earnings of $2.10-$2.13 per share for the fiscal fourth quarter compared with $1.85 recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Further, the company expects greater impacts of tariff increases and airfreight costs in the fiscal fourth quarter. It continues to expect these headwinds to have a negative impact of 4-5 cents on fiscal 2019 earnings within gross margin. Notably, the company incurred nearly 1 cent of these costs each in the fiscal second and third quarters, and expects the remaining 2-3 cent impact to be incurred in the fourth quarter.
Despite these headwinds, lululemon is optimistic about opportunities to boost product margins in the long run. It anticipates gains from the execution of strategies to result in modest gross margin expansion annually through 2023.
Q3 Numbers
lululemon posted earnings of 96 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 93 cents, and increased 28% from adjusted earnings of 75 cents in the year-ago quarter. The bottom line gained from solid top-line growth along with gross margin expansion and SG&A leverage.
The company’s quarterly revenues advanced about 23% to $916.1 million and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $899.4 million. On a constant-dollar basis, revenues rose 23%, backed by strong execution across all parts of the business. The improvement can also be attributed to robust total comparable sales (comps) performance and addition of stores. However, currency headwinds impacted revenues by $6.8 million. Notably, e-commerce contributed $247 million to sales, representing about 26.9% of total sales.
Total comps, including comparable store sales and direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, grew 16% and increased 17% in constant dollars. Comps growth was driven by rise in traffic, with in-store tariff up in the high-single digits and online traffic up more than 30%. Comparable store sales improved 10% (or an increase of 11% in constant dollars), while DTC sales grew 29% (or an increase of 30% in constant dollars).
Margins
Gross profit rose 24% to $505 million in third-quarter fiscal 2019. Moreover, gross margin expanded 70 basis points (bps) to 55.1% on a 120-bps improvement in the product margin, and 10-bps occupancy and depreciation expense leverage. This was partly offset by a 40-bps increase in product and supply-chain costs, and a 20-bps negative impact from foreign currency. The product margin expansion was backed by reduced product costs, favorable product mix and lower markdowns. Further, higher product and supply-chain costs stemmed from the ongoing investments in supply chain and product development.
SG&A expenses rose 21.5% to $329.2 million but declined 30 bps to 35.9%, as a percentage of sales. Notably, SG&A expenses included a 30-bps deleverage from foreign exchange.
Driven by gross margin growth and the SG&A leverage, operating income grew nearly 29% to $175.8 million, while operating margin expanded 100 bps to 19.2%.
Store Updates
During the fiscal third quarter, the company opened 19 net new stores and completed six optimizations. As of Nov 3, 2019, it operated 479 stores.
In fiscal 2019, the company anticipates opening 50 net company-operated stores versus 40-50 company-operated stores planned earlier. This includes 30 store openings in the international markets.
Moreover, the company expects 12 net new store openings for the fiscal fourth quarter.
Financials
lululemon exited the fiscal third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $586.2 million, and stockholders' equity of $1,648.7 million. Inventories were up 26.4% to $627.1 million.
As of Nov 3, 2019, cash from operating activities was $95.1 million. Further, it spent nearly $78 million toward capital expenditure in third-quarter fiscal 2019 mainly related to IT and supply-chain investments, and store capital for new locations, relocations and renovations.
During the fiscal third quarter, the company bought back 44.5 thousand shares for less than $8 million at an average price of $179.71 per share. As of Nov 3, 2019, it had nearly $328 million outstanding under its new $500-million share repurchase plan announced at the beginning of fiscal 2019.
Q4 Forecasts
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2019, lululemon anticipates revenues of $1.315-$1.330 billion, driven by constant-dollar total comps increase in the low-double digits and planned store openings.
The company expects a marginal increase in gross margin compared with the year-ago quarter. Management anticipates marginal SG&A expense leverage, as a percentage of sales, as it establishes a balance between investments for future growth and efficient cost management. Effective tax rate is expected to be 28.5%.
FY19 View
For fiscal 2019, lululemon now expects revenues of $3.895-$3.91 billion, up from $3.8-$3.84 billion mentioned earlier. It projects constant-dollar comps growth in the mid-teens compared with a low-teens rise stated earlier. It expects modest gross margin expansion, driven by anticipated gains in product margins. Further, the company envisions modest SG&A expense leverage in fiscal 2019.
Earnings for the fiscal year are projected to be $4.75-$4.78 per share, up from $4.63-$4.70 stated earlier. As previously stated, earnings per share included about 4-5 cents of additional costs within gross margin related to tariffs and airfreight. Adjusted effective tax rate is expected to be 28% in fiscal 2019.
Capital expenditure for fiscal 2019 is now projected to be $300 million compared with $275-$285 million mentioned earlier. The increase stems from the ramp-up of store renovation and relocation programs, store openings, and investments in technology and other general infrastructure projects.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, estimates review have trended upward during the past month.
VGM Scores
Currently, Lululemon has a subpar Growth Score of D, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with a B. However, the stock was allocated a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of D. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Lululemon has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.