hhgregg, Inc.
(
HGG
), which operates as a specialty retailer of consumer electronics,
home appliances, and related services, is all set to unveil its
fourth quarter and fiscal year 2012 results on May 23, 2012, before
the market opens. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth
quarter is 37 cents (year-over-year decrease of 38%), while the
Zacks Consensus Revenue Estimate is $647 million (year-over-year
decrease of 22%).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fiscal year 2012 is $1.09
per share (year-over-year decrease of 8%), which is within the
company's guidance range of $1.05 - $1.15 per share. The Zacks
Consensus Revenue Estimate for the fiscal year 2012 is $2.5 billion
(year-over-year decrease of 22%).
Third Quarter Overview
hhgregg delivered third-quarter 2012 earnings of 60 cents per
share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings dipped
9.1% from the year-ago quarter. hhgregg's net sales rose 26.9% to
$829.5 million in the reported quarter. Same-store sales climbed on
the back of growth in the appliance and the home office categories,
partially offset by declines in the video and other categories.
(Read our full coverage on this earnings report:
Higher SG&A Drags Hhgregg's Profits
).
Agreement of Estimates Revision
Over the past 7 days, all the 14 analysts providing estimates on
hhgregg have left their earnings estimates for the fourth quarter
of 2012 unchanged. Similarly, earnings estimates were unmoved for
the fiscal 2012 by 13 analysts providing estimates over the same
period.
Over the past 30 days, only one of the 14 analysts providing
estimates on hhgregg has revised his earnings estimate for the
fourth quarter of 2012, that too in a negative direction. Earnings
estimates for 2012 were also decreased by one analyst out of 13
analysts over the last 30 days.
We believe that the downward revision in estimates is due to the
prevailing industry-wide pressure on sales and margins within the
video category. hhgregg also fears the slowdown in its consumer
electronics categories, as the company has seen the same thing
happening to its peer companies including
Best Buy Company, Inc.
(
BBY
),
Sears Holding Corp.
(
SHLD
),
Target Corp.
(
TGT
) and
Costco Wholesale Corp.
(
COST
).
Magnitude of Estimate Revisions
The earnings estimate for the fourth quarter 2012 has remained
static over the past 7 days and 30 days at 37 cents per share. The
earnings estimate for fiscal year 2012 has declined by a penny from
$1.10 per share to $1.09 per share, over the past 30 days.
Surprise History
hhgregg has surpassed earnings estimates in two of the last four
quarters, with break-even in one quarter. The company has recorded
a maximum positive surprise of 166.67%. On average, the earnings
surprise was a positive 100.58%.
Our Recommendation
hhgregg thus has a Zacks #4 Rank (short-term 'Sell' rating) on
the stock. Over the long term, we maintain a Neutral outlook on
hhgregg.
BEST BUY (BBY): Free Stock Analysis Report
COSTCO WHOLE CP (COST): Free Stock Analysis
Report
HHGREGG INC (HGG): Free Stock Analysis Report
SEARS HLDG CP (SHLD): Free Stock Analysis
Report
TARGET CORP (TGT): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment
Research