GameStop (GME) Stock Down on Q2 Earnings Miss, Y/Y Decline

GameStop Corp. GME reported mixed results in second-quarter fiscal 2018, wherein earnings lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate while revenues beat. Moreover, both top and bottom lines fell year over year. Nevertheless, management reiterated its outlook for the fiscal.

However, shares lost nearly 3.7% during the after-market trading session, as bottom-line results were shy of analysts’ expectations. Lower sales and consolidated comparable store sales (comps), along with contraction in margins, further hit this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock. In a year, GameStop’s shares have plunged 15.7% against the industry’s 33.3% rally.

 

In the quarter under review, adjusted earnings per share plunged 66.7% year over year to 5 cents. Further, it missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 8 cents, after reporting three consecutive beats. Including a non-operating tax charge of 29 cents per share, the company recorded loss per share of 24 cents compared with earnings of 22 cents in the year-ago quarter.

Net sales declined 2.4% (down 2.9% on a currency-neutral basis) year over year to $1,646.7 million. However, the top line was above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,602 million, after recording a miss in the last-reported quarter.

Let’s Delve Deeper

Consolidated comps dipped 0.5%, which can be attributed to a decline of 6.4% at international locations, somewhat offset by rise of 2.4% at domestic locations.

By sales mix, new video game hardware sales were up 20.1% to $298.3 million while new video game software sales dropped 18.5% to $300.9 million. Hardware sales were backed by the launch of Xbox One X as well as robust sales of the Nintendo Switch and PS4. The decline in software sales can mainly be attributed to the lack of meaningful title launches in the reported quarter.  

Moreover, pre-owned and value video game products sales were $452.1 million, down 9.9% year over year.

However, Video game accessories sales jumped 30% to $187.3 million. Also, non-GAAP digital receipts grew 15.3% to $255.9 million while GAAP digital sales declined 13.5% to $40.2 million. Further, Technology Brands sales were down 10.3% to $168.9 million.

Nevertheless, Collectibles sales rose 15.7% to $141.7 million, buoyed by the continuous expansion of licensed merchandise offerings, unique product offerings and strong growth in apparel.

Gross profit decreased 4.4% to $596.1 million, owing to lower net sales. Further, gross margin contracted 80 basis points (bps) to 36.2%.

SG&A expenses remained almost flat at $542.3 million in the reported quarter. Adjusted operating income plunged 40.5% to $21.6 million while adjusted operating margin contracted 90 bps to 1.3%.

Other Financial Aspects

GameStop, which has been holding exploratory talks relating to a potential transaction, ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $279.6 million. Also, it had net receivables of $169.7 million, net long-term debt of $819.2 million and shareholders’ equity of $2,104.2 million at quarter end.

On Sep 4, 2018, management declared a quarterly cash dividend of 38 cents per share, payable on Oct 2, 2018, to shareholders of record as of Sep 18, 2018.

For fiscal 2018, management maintains capital expenditure projection of $110-$120 million.

Guidance

Following the mixed quarterly results, GameStop reaffirmed its guidance for fiscal 2018. The company continues to expect fiscal 2018 sales decline of 6-2% and comps are expected to remain flat to negative 5%. For the fiscal, management continues to project earnings per share of $3-$3.35. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 earnings is pegged at $3.08.

Want Better-Ranked Stocks in the Retail Space? Take a Look Below

Conn's, Inc. CONN has an impressive long-term earnings growth rate of 23% and it currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. URBN, also a Zacks Rank #1 stock, pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 17.7% in the last four quarters.

Tractor Supply Company TSCO presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 3.4% in the trailing four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12.8%.

More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!

It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.

Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.

Click here for the 6 trades >>

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
 
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Conn's, Inc. (CONN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
GameStop Corp. (GME) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
 
Zacks Investment Research