The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Family Dollar Stores, hhgregg, Noodles & Company, Avon Products and Inter Parfums
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – May 06, 2014 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include the Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO-Free Report), hhgregg (HGG-Free Report), Noodles & Company (NDLS-Free Report), Avon Products Inc. (AVP-Free Report) and Inter Parfums Inc. (IPAR-Free Report).
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
Here are highlights from Monday’s Analyst Blog:
Consumer Confidence Falls: 3 Stocks to Dump Now
It appears that the hiring and business conditions in April failed to hold consumer confidence – as reflected by a dip in Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for the month. The Index’s reading slowed to 82.3, after reaching the highest level of 83.9 (in March) since Jan 2008. However, the short-term outlook for the economy remained steady as the Expectations Index was almost unchanged at 84.9 compared to 84.8 in March.
As per the Conference Board, consumers were worried about the sluggish labor market, which pulled down the Present Situation Index to 78.3 from 82.5 last month. Respondents who perceived “plentiful” jobs fell to 12.9% from 13.8% whereas those who considered jobs as “hard to get” rose to 32.5% from 31.4%.
Volatile stock markets, rising crude prices and slowing housing market growth are primarily responsible for this subdued consumer confidence. The S&P 500 fell over 2.7% in January, grew 6.7% in February and 1.4% in March and remained almost flat in April.
Further, frigid weather and geopolitical tensions escalated oil prices to new highs. For the January–March period, crude oil swung between lows of $91.25 per barrel to highs of $105.22 per barrel, staying above the $100 per barrel mark for quite some time. Housing growth slowed in February as per the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index survey. The reading came in at 12.9% in February, down from a 13.2% gain in January.
To add to the concerns, the current job data turned out to be conflicting. The report stated better-than-expected addition of 288,000 jobs in April and unemployment rate falling below the threshold limit to 6.3%. However, as per sources, the apparently good report was due to a lesser number of people looking for jobs. People not looking for jobs are not considered unemployed.
Falling consumer confidence is not good as consumer spending constitutes over two-thirds of the U.S. economic activity.
We believe this not-so-upbeat consumer sentiment will directly hit the Retail sector. Therefore, it might be a good idea to dump some retail stocks that are likely to underperform in the near-term.
Similar to wise buying decisions, exiting potential underperformers at the right time helps maximize portfolio returns.
Here we have handpicked 3 such Retail/Wholesale stocks that look expensive, hold an unfavorable Zacks Rank and have been recently witnessing downward estimate revisions:
Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO-Free Report): This department retailer carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and has witnessed a massive downward revision in the last 30 days following the dismal second-quarter fiscal 2014 performance. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has gone down 7.6% for fiscal 2014.
Moreover, the valuation looks expensive as the stock is trading at an 11.2% premium to the peer group average in terms of forward P/E ratio. Further, long-term EPS growth rate of 9.1% is significantly lower than the peer group average of 12.3%.
Another such stock that you may consider dropping is electronics retailer hhgregg (HGG-Free Report), which has witnessed a significant price decline after posting a weak third quarter fiscal 2014 performance on Jan 30, 2014. Subsequently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has gone down over 73% for fiscal 2014.
A Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) further confirms weakness in the stock. The stocks trades at a substantial premium to the peer group average in terms forward P/E ratio. Also, it has a long-term EPS growth rate of 3.1%, which is significantly lower than the peer group average of 14.8%.
And lastly, Noodles & Company (NDLS-Free Report), which operates in the fast-casual restaurant sector, has seen a 4% decline in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2014 over the last 30 days, after reporting in line first-quarter 2014 results. Moreover, this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock has a expensive valuation as it trades at a forward P/E ratio of 69.7 compared with peer group average of 22.6.
Bottom Line
The fluctuation in economic data and consumer confidence may not turn out too badly for the retail stocks, but these 3 stocks have high chances of losing in the near term as their fundamentals look weak.
So, if you are holding any of these stocks, don’t wait much to offload them.
Avon Slips to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell)
On May 3, 2014, Zacks Investment Research downgraded global beauty firm Avon Products Inc. (AVP-Free Report), to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) from a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Why the Downgrade?
Shares of AVP slipped 1.1% after it released its first-quarter 2014 earnings on May 1, 2014.
The top line disappointed during the reported quarter as it tanked 11.1% to $2,183.6 million. Revenues also fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,240.0 million with a decline in sales in all operating segments and geographical regions.
Avon, which competes with Inter Parfums Inc. (IPAR-Free Report), registered a 12% revenue decline in its Beauty Products and a 9% decline in Fashion & Home revenues. Region wise, Avon’s revenues fell 7% in Latin America, 22% in North America, 11% in Europe, Middle East and Africa (:EMEA) and 17% in the Asia-Pacific division.
Avon’s quarterly adjusted earnings of 12 cents a share slumped 50% year over year, missing the Zacks Consensus estimate of 20 cents. Moreover, the company’s adjusted operating margin contracted 240 basis points to 6.1%, primarily attributable to revenue decline related to fixed expenses and a negative foreign currency translation.
The company’s dismal results triggered a downtrend in the Zacks Consensus Estimate, as analysts become less constructive on the stock’s future performance. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2014 and 2015 fell 9.9% to $1.01 and 5.9% to $1.11, respectively in the past 7 days.
Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.
About Zacks Equity Research
Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.
Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.
Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today.
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros.
Get the full Report on FDO - FREE
Get the full Report on HGG - FREE
Get the full Report on NDLS - FREE
Get the full Report on AVP - FREE
Get the full Report on IPAR - FREE
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/zacksresearch
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Zacks-Investment-Research/57553657748?ref=ts
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
http://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Read the analyst report on FDO
Read the analyst report on HGG
Read the analyst report on NDLS
Read the analyst report on AVP
Read the analyst report on IPAR
Zacks Investment Research
