Welcome to another busy week for company earnings, including Signet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG), AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), Powell Industries (NASDAQ: POWL), MongoDB (NASDAQ: MDB), Dave & Buster's Entertainment (NASDAQ: PLAY), Avid Bioservices (NASDAQ: CDMO), and Sprinklr (NYSE: CXM).
Here are five stocks we've picked out for this week:
AutoZone (NYSE: AZO)
AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) will report its Q1, 2023, earnings on December 6. FactSet analyst consensus estimates peg EPS at $25.29 and sales at $3.86bn.
In its last fiscal year, which ended in August 2022, the company grew its overall sales by 11.1% on top of the 15.8% growth the year before. This two-year growth period is among the highest AutoZone has ever experienced.
The AZO share price is up 25.7% YTD after exceeding expectations in a challenging environment. Indeed, Q4 saw its sixth consecutive period of Commercial growth above 20%.
Shareholders will look for continued growth in Q1 and an update on margin pressures.
The company aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. In its 2022 ESG report, AutoZone president and CEO Bill Rhodes said:
We are carefully developing our GHG emission reduction goals to be credible and enable us to develop reasonable pathways for achievement, while maintaining the level of monitoring and accountability expected by our stakeholders,
AZO stock has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 21.8 (what is a P/E ratio?). It does not pay a dividend (what is a dividend?).
23 FactSet analysts have a consensus Overweight rating on AZO stock with a target share price of $2,483.37, which is below its current share price.
Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED)
Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) expects to report fiscal 2023 Q2 earnings results on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, before the market opens. FactSet analyst estimates provide an EPS consensus of $0.98 and a sales consensus of $675m.
The education support provider offers campus retail services and academic solutions, a digital direct-to-student learning ecosystem, school apparel, and more.
Over the past year, BNED stock has traded between $1.90 and $7.74. Today it trades at around $2.67. Year-to-date, the Barnes & Noble stock price is down -62%.
FactSet analysts have a consensus Buy rating on BNED stock with a target share price of $4.50.
BNED stock has a price-to-book-value (P/BV) of 0.74.
The company recently appointed Hunter Blankenbaker as VP of Investor Relations.
J.Jill (NYSE: JILL)
J.Jill (NYSE: JILL) will release its financial results for Q3 2022 before the market opens on Tuesday, December 6, 2022. FactSet analyst estimates provide an EPS consensus of $0.54 and a sales consensus of $148.4m. Company consensus guidance comes between $147.2m and $151.7m.
J.Jill is a premier omnichannel retailer and nationally recognized women's apparel brand. The company sells women's apparel, accessories, and footwear. It has two sub-brands, which include Pure Jill and Wearever. The company was founded on February 17, 2011, and is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts.
In Q2, J.Jill reported strong profitability thanks to its operating model.
Net Sales Growth of 0.7% and Comparable Sales Growth of 0.8% Y/Y
Gross Profit Growth of 2.9% and Gross Margin increase of 150bps Y/Y
Income from Operations grew 19.9% to $28.2m Y/Y
Over the past year, JILL stock has traded between $12.47 and $26.68. Today it trades at around $24.75. Year-to-date, the J.Jill stock price is up 29%.
JILL stock has a P/E of 7.5.
Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ: SWBI)
Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ: SWBI) reports quarterly earnings after the market closes on December 6. FactSet analyst estimates provide an EPS consensus of $0.44 and a sales consensus of $145.41m.
Over the past year, SWBI stock has traded between $9.93 and $18.94. Today it trades at around $12.15. Year-to-date, the Smith & Wesson stock price is down -32.84%, while the S&P 500 is down -15% over the same period.
FactSet analysts have a consensus Overweight rating on SWBI stock with a target share price of $19.67.
SWBI stock has a P/E of 4.9. Its P/BV is 1.6, and SWBI stock comes with a dividend yield of 3.2%.
Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT)
Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT), a leading global commerce company powering the circular economy, expects to report its Q4 fiscal year 2022 results before the market opening on Thursday, December 8, 2022.
FactSet analyst estimates provide an EPS consensus of $0.79 and a sales consensus of $277.7m.
Over the past year, LQDT stock has traded between $11.39 and $25.14. Today it trades at around $15.57. Year-to-date, the Liquidity Services stock price is down -29.96%, while the S&P 500 is down -15% over the same period.
FactSet analysts have a consensus Buy rating on LQDT stock with a target share price of $27.
LQDT stock has a P/E of 8.38, and its P/BV is 3.49.
Liquidity Services operates the world's largest B2B e-commerce marketplace platform for surplus assets, with over $10bn of completed transactions to more than 4.8 million qualified buyers and 15,000 corporate and government sellers worldwide. It supports its clients' sustainability efforts by helping them extend the life of assets, prevent unnecessary waste and carbon emissions, and reduce the number of products headed to landfills.
Liquidity's Q3 results include the following:
Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV): $325m (Up 33%)
Revenue: $69.9m
GAAP Net Income: $16.4m (Up $8m)
GAAP Diluted EPS: $0.501 (Up $0.26)
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: $11.9m
Non-GAAP Adjusted Diluted EPS: $0.21 (Down $1.5m and $0.11)
Cash: $88.3m With Zero Debt
Shares Repurchased: $5.4m
Bill Angrick, Liquidity Services CEO, said:
Our marketplace platform continues to deliver important supply chain efficiencies for our clients and helps them navigate a volatile economic environment. Our outstanding buyer participation and flexible service offerings have enabled sellers to smartly manage and monetize inventory with speed, reliability and excellent recovery during Q3, as we continued to scale our business towards our objective of $1.5 billion in annualized GMV.
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