Under Armour (UA) Q4 Earnings Miss, Sales Beat Cushions Stock
Under Armour, Inc. (UAA - Free Report) reported mixed quarterly numbers in fourth-quarter 2017 wherein earnings came in below the Zacks Consensus Estimate but revenues surpassed the same. The company reported break-even adjusted earnings, missing the consensus mark of 1 cent.
Despite the earnings miss, the company’s shares are up nearly 12% during the pre-market trading session. The uptick can be attributed to better-than-expected top-line performance. In the past three months, the company’s shares have surged 17.1% compared with the industry’s gain of 14.6%.
Following robust demand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia-Pacific and Latin America the company’s top line increased 4.6% to $1,365.4 million, beating the consensus estimate of $1,308 million. Currently, the company is keen on expanding footprint and enhancing brand recognition to get an edge. Further, the deal with rising athletes lends Under Armour a suitable platform to showcase its brands.
Quarterly Results in Detail
Apparel sales rose 2.5% to $951.7 million while Footwear net revenues increased 9.5% to $246.2 million in the quarter under review. Net revenues in the Accessories category were up 6.1% to $110.7 million while Licensing revenues rose 10.1% year over year to $32.9 million. Moreover, the company’s Connected Fitness segment reported year-over-year increase of 30.8% to $23.9 million.
North America net revenues dropped 4.5% to $1,024.2 million while the same from EMEA, Asia-pacific and Latin America jumped 45.5%, 55.7% and 36% to $135.3 million, $123.9 million and $58 million, respectively.
Also, gross margin contracted 140 basis points to 45% due to aggressive inventory management that overshadowed favorable channel mix.
Other Financial Details
Under Armour ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $312.5 million, up 24.8% from the prior-year period. Total long-term debt was $765 million compared with $790.4 million in the prior-year period. Shareholders' equity at the end of the quarter was $2,018.6 million.
Under Armour, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Under Armour, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Under Armour, Inc. Quote
2018 Guidance
Management expects 2018 revenues to increase by low single-digit percentage rate. While revenues from North America are likely to decline by mid-single-digit, international revenues are anticipated to increase above 25%.
The company anticipates adjusted gross margin to increase by nearly of 50 basis points to 45.5%. This improvement can be attributed lower promotional activity, product costs, channel mix as well as variation in foreign currency.
Adjusted operating income is expected to be nearly $130-$160 million. The company projects interest expenses of about $45 million. Capital expenditures are anticipated to be nearly $225 million compared with $275 million in 2017.
The company, which has undertaken restructuring efforts since 2017, projects savings of at least $75 million annually in 2019 and thereafter.
Zacks Rank & Stock to Consider
Under Armour carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the retail sector are G-III Apparel Group (GIII - Free Report) , Delta Apparel (DLA - Free Report) and Lululemon Athletica (LULU - Free Report) . All the three of them carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
G-III Apparel Group has delivered a positive earnings surprise in the last three quarters.
Delta Apparel has an impressive long-term earnings growth of 15%.
Lululemon Athletica pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 8.1% in the preceding four quarters.
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