Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q1 behind us, let’s have a look at Ross Stores NASDAQ:ROST and its peers.
Discount retailers understand that many shoppers love a good deal, and they focus on providing excellent value to shoppers by selling general merchandise at major discounts. They can do this because of unique purchasing, procurement, and pricing strategies that involve scouring the market for trendy goods or buying excess inventory from manufacturers and other retailers. They then turn around and sell these snacks, paper towels, toys, clothes, and myriad other products at highly enticing prices. Despite the unique draw and lure of discounts, these discount retailers must also contend with the secular headwinds of online shopping and challenged retail foot traffic in places like suburban strip malls.
The 5 discount retailer stocks we track reported a very strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 3.3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 2.2% above.
While some discount retailer stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 4.5% since the latest earnings results.
Best Q1: Ross Stores NASDAQ:ROST
Selling excess inventory or overstocked items from other retailers, Ross Stores NASDAQ:ROST is an off-price concept that sells apparel and other goods at prices much lower than department stores.
Ross Stores reported revenues of $6.01 billion, up 20.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 6.6%. Overall, it was a stunning quarter for the company with EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Jim Conroy, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We achieved outstanding sales and earnings results in the first quarter with superb execution throughout the business, especially the transition of our Spring assortment. Momentum was solid throughout the quarter, with broad-based strength across the business. Customer traffic was the primary driver of the strong sales trend as compelling merchandise assortments, higher customer acquisition and engagement from our ongoing marketing initiatives, and an improved in‑store experience are resonating with shoppers. We believe our results also benefited from higher consumer spending related to tax refunds."
Ross Stores achieved the biggest analyst estimate beat of the whole group. Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 1.3% since reporting and currently trades at $214.41.
Five Below NASDAQ:FIVE
Often facilitating a treasure hunt shopping experience, Five Below NASDAQ:FIVE is an American discount retailer that sells a variety of products from mobile phone cases to candy to sports equipment for largely $5 or less.
Five Below reported revenues of $1.29 billion, up 32.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5.7%. The business had a stunning quarter with EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Five Below scored the highest guidance raise, fastest revenue growth, and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 15.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $189.09.
Weakest Q1: Ollie's NASDAQ:OLLI
Often located in suburban or semi-rural shopping centers, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet NASDAQ:OLLI is a discount retailer that acquires excess inventory then sells at meaningful discounts.
Ollie's reported revenues of $658.9 million, up 14.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. Still, its results were good as it locked in a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ gross margin estimates.
Ollie's delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. As expected, the stock is down 8.4% since the results and currently trades at $72.57.
TJX NYSE:TJX
Initially based on a strategy of buying excess inventory from manufacturers or other retailers, TJX NYSE:TJX is an off-price retailer that sells brand-name apparel and other goods at prices much lower than department stores.
TJX reported revenues of $14.32 billion, up 9.2% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 2.4%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ gross margin estimates.
TJX had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 3% since reporting and currently trades at $155.24.
Burlington NYSE:BURL
Founded in 1972 as a discount coat and outerwear retailer, Burlington Stores NYSE:BURL is now an off-price retailer that has broadened into general apparel, footwear, and home goods.
Burlington reported revenues of $2.86 billion, up 14.1% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It was a very strong quarter as it also recorded EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Burlington had the weakest guidance update among its peers. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $324.10.
Read our full, actionable report on Burlington here, it’s free.