Casey's General Stores, Inc. CASY is expected to report first-quarter fiscal 2019 results on Sep 4. In the trailing four quarters, this operator of convenience stores has underperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 12.7%. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a negative earnings surprise of 25%.
Let’s delve deeper and take a look at the factors that will be influencing the results of the to-be-reported quarter.
How Are Estimates Faring?
After registering a bottom-line decrease of roughly 33% in the final quarter of fiscal 2018, Casey's is likely to record year-over-year growth of about 15% in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter under review is pegged at $1.68 compared with $1.46 reported in the year-ago quarter. We note that the Zacks Consensus Estimate has been stable in the last 30 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $2,550 million, up approximately 22% from the year-ago quarter.
Which Factors Hold Key to Casey's Performance?
Casey's remains on track with its value creation plan to improve sales and profitability. This includes new fleet card program, price and product optimization, digital engagements comprising mobile app and online ordering capabilities, cost containment efforts as well as capital reallocation plan.
Management is also focusing on improving distribution efficiency. Casey’s cost-reduction initiatives are likely to result in savings of approximately $200 million in store-level operating expenditures by fiscal 2021.
However, we remain concerned about the company’s negative earnings surprise streak. Casey's missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third straight quarter, when it reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results. The top line also lagged the consensus mark, after exceeding the same in the trailing two quarters.
Fuel margin of 16.3 cents per gallon, declined 5.2% year over year. Management hinted fuel margin was at its lowest since fiscal 2014 due to rising wholesale fuel costs. Moreover, prepared food and fountain margin contracted 200 basis points to of 59.7% on account of increased input costs and promotional activity. Persistence of any of these factors will have a bearing on the quarter-to-be-reported.
Caseys General Stores, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Caseys General Stores, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Caseys General Stores, Inc. Quote
Number Crunching
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales in the fuel, grocery and other merchandise, and prepared food and fountain categories is pegged at $1,610 million, $642 million and $282 million, up 32%, 7.5% and 7.6% year over year, respectively.
Moreover, fuel gallons same-store sales are likely to increase 2% with grocery and other merchandise same-store sales expected to jump 2.3%. Prepared food and fountain same-store sales are anticipated to rise 1.8%.
Model Predicts Lower Probability of Earnings Beat
Our proven model does not conclusively show that Casey's is likely to beat earnings estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both — a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) — for this to happen. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Casey's has an Earnings ESP of +7.35% but a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). This makes surprise prediction difficult.
Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates
Here are some companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post earnings beat.
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. OLLI has an Earnings ESP of +2.74% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. PLAY has an Earnings ESP of +1.49% and a Zacks Rank #3.
NIKE, Inc. NKE has an Earnings ESP of +3.56% and a Zacks Rank #3.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 – 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Be the first to comment