Avon Products Inc. AVP has lately fallen out of investors’ favor due to dismal earnings surprise trend. This can primarily be attributed to declining Active Representatives in the past few quarters. The company’s bleak prospects are evident from the dismal stock performance and recent fall in estimates. Further, the company now has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Stock Continues to Decline
Shares of Avon declined 4.2% in the last three months, against the industry’s growth of 16.3%. Additionally, the stock has witnessed solid downside of 54.6% year to date. Moreover, the company’s dismal performance in the most recent quarter led the shares to fall 3.4% since Nov 2.
Avon reported adjusted earnings per share of 3 cents lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fifth straight quarter. Results were hurt by decline in both Active Representatives and Ending Representatives across in various segments. Moreover, operating margins were hampered by higher bad debt expenses, increased Representative, sales leader and field expenses, all mainly in Brazil.
Estimates Trend Down on Bleak View
Following the dismal quarter, the company provided a bleak view for 2017, which led to a downtrend in estimates.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate trended downward in the last 60 days. Notably, the estimate of 6 cents per share for the fourth quarter moved down by 7 cents per share. Additionally, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2017 declined from earnings of 10 cents per share to a loss of 2 cents per share. Moreover, the Zacks estimate for 2018 declined by 9 cents to 18 cents per share.
Avon Products, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Avon Products, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Avon Products, Inc. Quote
While management expects modest growth in fourth-quarter 2017 due to favorable trends in various markets, it expects results to fall short of expectations in 2017. The company now anticipates both constant-dollar revenues and adjusted operating margin in the band of flat to slightly up compared with the prior-year period.
Competition to Take a Toll on Results
Avon faces intense competition from cosmetics products retailer like Coty Inc. COTY in domestic and international markets. Changing market trends and evolving consumer preferences might also weigh upon the performance and hurt its overall profitability.
Forget Avon, Check These Stocks That Witnessed Positive Estimate Revisions
The fourth quarter and fiscal 2018 consensus mark for Hibbett Sports Inc. HIBB has moved up by 2 cents each to 27 cents per share and $1.44 per share in the last 30 days. This sporting goods retailer sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Ross Stores’ ROST earnings estimates for fiscal 2017 have increased by 6 cents to $3.28 per share in the last 60 days, while estimate for fiscal 2018 rose 4 cents to $3.28 per share. The discount store retailer currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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