United Natural Foods Inc.
(
UNFI
) is set to unveil its third quarter fiscal 2012 results on June 5,
2012, before the market opens. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the
third quarter is 56 cents per share (year-over-year increase of
16.7%). The Zacks Consensus Revenue Estimate for the third quarter
is $1.35 billion (year-over-year increase of 12.6%).
Second Quarter Overview
United Natural Foods delivered better-than-expected second
quarter 2012 earnings of 45 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks
Consensus Estimate by a penny. The earnings also surpassed the
prior-year earnings by 6 cents.
Net sales for the quarter increased 15.5% year over year to
$1.29 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26
billion. Higher consumer demand for food and the addition of the
new national customer credited the strong sales growth.
(Read our full coverage on this earnings report:
United Natural Beats, Trims Outlook
).
Agreement of Estimates Revision
Over the past 30 days, all the 14 analysts providing estimates
on United Natural Foods have left their earnings estimates for the
third quarter of 2012 unchanged.
Only one of the 15 analysts providing estimates on UNFI has
revised its earnings estimate for the fiscal 2012 in a negative
direction over the past 30 days. Only one of the 14 analysts
providing estimates on United Natural Foods has revised its
earnings estimate for the fiscal 2013 in a positive direction.
United Natural Foods has been performing well on the back of
productivity initiatives taken up by the company, reduced operating
costs and rising consumer demand for food. However, the analyst
might have reduced earnings estimates with the company announcement
of guidance cut. We thus expect a mixed trend for the upcoming
quarter.
Magnitude of Estimate Revisions
The earnings estimate for the third quarter as well as fiscal
2013 has remained static over the past 30 days at 56 cents per
share and at $2.17 per share, respectively. The earnings estimate
has declined by a penny to $1.90 per share for fiscal 2012.
Surprise History
United Natural Foods has surpassed earnings estimates in one of
the last four quarters, with break-even in the last three quarters.
On average, the earnings surprise was positive 2.27%.
Our Recommendation
United Natural, which competes with
Nash Finch Co.
(
NAFC
), currently holds a Zacks #3 Rank (short-term Hold rating). On a
long-term basis, we provide a Neutral recommendation on the
stock.
NASH FINCH CO (NAFC): Free Stock Analysis
Report
UTD NATURAL FDS (UNFI): Free Stock Analysis
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