Signet Jewelers Limited
(
SIG
) - a leading jewelry retailer - recently posted its fiscal
third-quarter 2013 (ended October 27, 2012) financial results.
The quarterly earnings of 43 cents a share surpassed the Zacks
Consensus Estimate of 37 cents and reflected a 43.3% increase
from 30 cents earned in the comparable quarter in the
prior-year.
Quarterly Details
Total revenue for the quarter inched up 0.8% to $716.2 million
from $710.5 million in the year-ago quarter, driven by a 1.4%
increase in comparable store sales. However, total revenue missed
the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $729.0 million. E-commerce sales
witnessed year-over-year increase of 35.2% to $19.6 million from
$14.5 million in the last-year quarter.
Region-wise, the U.S. division revenue was $575.6 million,
reflecting a rise of 2.2% from $563.0 million in the prior-year
quarter, mainly due to 1.2% hike in comps. UK division revenue
witnessed a fall of 4.7% to $140.6 million from $147.5 million in
the fiscal third-quarter of 2012. However, comps increased 2.3%
for this division in the quarter.
Gross profit for the quarter climbed 2.4% to $235.4 million
year over year from $229.9 million, whereas gross margin expanded
50 basis points to 32.9%. The improvement in gross margin was
driven by an expansion of 70 basis points in the U.S. division,
partially offset by a 30 basis points contraction in UK
division.
Selling general and administrative expenses, as a percentage
of revenue, increased 20 basis points to 31.1%, attributable to
cost incurred to implement strategic initiatives as well as
acquisition costs.
Increased gross margin along with increase in total revenue,
led to a year-over-year surge of 23.5% to $52.5 million in
operating income from $42.5 million in the year-ago quarter.
Operating margin expanded 130 basis points to 7.3% from 6.0% in
third quarter of 2012.
Other Financial Details
Signet Jewelers ended the quarter with cash and cash
equivalents of $166.0 million, down from $349.6 million at the
end of prior-year quarter. The fall was mainly due to dividend
payments and share repurchases made during the year. Inventories
at the end of the quarter rose 6.7% to $1,508.5 million from
$1,414.0 million in the year-ago period.
Signet Jewelers does not have any long-term debt while
shareholders' equity as on October 27, 2012 came in at $2,150.1
million compared with $2,148.2 million as on October 29,
2011.
Guidance
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, Signet Jewelers
anticipates comparable-stores sales to increase in
low-single-digit including the impact of one additional week,
whereas earnings are expected to fall in the range of $1.95-$2.10
per share. Excluding the extra week, the company forecasts
low-to-mid single digit rise in comps. Capital expenditure for
the fiscal 2013 is expected to be between $155.0 million and
$160.0 million.
Stores Update
At the end of the third quarter 2013, the company had 1,857
stores (including 1,337 stores in the U.S. and 520 stores in UK)
compared with 1,860 stores (including 1,324 stores in US and
1,324 stores in US and 536 stores in UK) at the end of the
prior-year quarter.
The company further plans to operate 1,952 stores including
1,445 stores in the U.S. and 507 stores in UK at the end of the
fiscal 2013.
Zacks Rank
Signet Jewelers, which competes with
Zale Corporation
(
ZLC
), carries a Zacks #3 Rank, implying short-term Hold rating on
the stock for the upcoming 1-3 months.
SIGNET GRP PLC (SIG): Free Stock Analysis
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