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Why Is Patterson Companies (PDCO) Down 1.3% Since its Last Earnings Report?
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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Patterson Companies, Inc. (PDCO - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 1.3% in that time frame.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is PDCO due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Recent Earnings
Patterson Companies Inc. reported adjusted earnings of 30 cents per share in fourth-quarter fiscal 2018, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings fell 56.5% year over year.
Net sales dipped 3.1% from the year-ago quarter’s tally to $1.40 billion and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.43 billion. Lower sales and gross margin contraction marred the results in the reported quarter.
Segmental Analysis
The company currently distributes its products through two subsidiaries — Patterson Dental and Patterson Animal Health.
This segment provides a virtually complete range of consumable dental products, equipment, software, turnkey digital solutions and value-added services to dentists and laboratories throughout North America.
In the fourth quarter, dental sales (40% of total sales) declined 10.1% year over year to approximately $545.8 million. Changes in sales force, disruptions from enterprise resource planning implementation and the expansion of the company’s digital equipment portfolio hindered revenues in the segment.
However, sales were up 0.4% on a constant-currency basis (cc).
Dental Consumable
Sales in the sub-segment were $318 million, down 6.3% year over year. Sales were up 0.4% at cc.
Dental Equipment & Software
Sales in the segment declined 19.8% on a year-over-year basis to $156 million. Sales were up 0.4% at cc.
Other Services and Products
This segment comprises technical service, parts and labor, software support services as well as office supplies. Sales in the segment declined 2.2% on a year-over-year basis to $71.8 million. Sales were up 0.2% at cc.
Animal Health Segment
This segment is a leading distributor of products, services and technologies to the production along with companion animal health markets in North America and the U.K.
Coming to the fourth-quarter performance of the platform (60.5% of total sales), sales increased almost 2.5% on a year-over-year basis to $848 million.
Global companion animal sales inched up 1.9%. Production animal sales increased 2.8%, reflecting strong performance across swine and beef-cattle segment.
Margin Analysis
Gross profit in the reported quarter was $289.8 million, down 13.6% year over year. As a percentage of revenues, gross margin contracted 252 basis points (bps) to 20.7% in the quarter.
Operating income in the fourth quarter was $41.3 million, down 57.1% year over year. As a percentage of revenues, operating margin contracted 420 bps in the quarter.
Guidance
The company expects adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2019 in the range of $1.73-$1.83 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $1.74 per share, which lies within guidance. Patterson Companies expects deal amortization expenses of $27.3 million or 30 cents per share.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed an upward trend in fresh estimates. There have been six revisions higher for the current quarter compared to two lower.
At this time, PDCO has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the momentum front with a D. However, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Our style scores indicate that the stock is more suitable for value investors than growth investors.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, PDCO has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
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Why Is Patterson Companies (PDCO) Down 1.3% Since its Last Earnings Report?
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Patterson Companies, Inc. (PDCO - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 1.3% in that time frame.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is PDCO due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Recent Earnings
Patterson Companies Inc. reported adjusted earnings of 30 cents per share in fourth-quarter fiscal 2018, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings fell 56.5% year over year.
Net sales dipped 3.1% from the year-ago quarter’s tally to $1.40 billion and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.43 billion. Lower sales and gross margin contraction marred the results in the reported quarter.
Segmental Analysis
The company currently distributes its products through two subsidiaries — Patterson Dental and Patterson Animal Health.
This segment provides a virtually complete range of consumable dental products, equipment, software, turnkey digital solutions and value-added services to dentists and laboratories throughout North America.
In the fourth quarter, dental sales (40% of total sales) declined 10.1% year over year to approximately $545.8 million. Changes in sales force, disruptions from enterprise resource planning implementation and the expansion of the company’s digital equipment portfolio hindered revenues in the segment.
However, sales were up 0.4% on a constant-currency basis (cc).
Dental Consumable
Sales in the sub-segment were $318 million, down 6.3% year over year. Sales were up 0.4% at cc.
Dental Equipment & Software
Sales in the segment declined 19.8% on a year-over-year basis to $156 million. Sales were up 0.4% at cc.
Other Services and Products
This segment comprises technical service, parts and labor, software support services as well as office supplies. Sales in the segment declined 2.2% on a year-over-year basis to $71.8 million. Sales were up 0.2% at cc.
Animal Health Segment
This segment is a leading distributor of products, services and technologies to the production along with companion animal health markets in North America and the U.K.
Coming to the fourth-quarter performance of the platform (60.5% of total sales), sales increased almost 2.5% on a year-over-year basis to $848 million.
Global companion animal sales inched up 1.9%. Production animal sales increased 2.8%, reflecting strong performance across swine and beef-cattle segment.
Margin Analysis
Gross profit in the reported quarter was $289.8 million, down 13.6% year over year. As a percentage of revenues, gross margin contracted 252 basis points (bps) to 20.7% in the quarter.
Operating income in the fourth quarter was $41.3 million, down 57.1% year over year. As a percentage of revenues, operating margin contracted 420 bps in the quarter.
Guidance
The company expects adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2019 in the range of $1.73-$1.83 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $1.74 per share, which lies within guidance. Patterson Companies expects deal amortization expenses of $27.3 million or 30 cents per share.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed an upward trend in fresh estimates. There have been six revisions higher for the current quarter compared to two lower.
Patterson Companies, Inc. Price and Consensus
Patterson Companies, Inc. Price and Consensus | Patterson Companies, Inc. Quote
VGM Scores
At this time, PDCO has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the momentum front with a D. However, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Our style scores indicate that the stock is more suitable for value investors than growth investors.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending upward for the stock and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. Interestingly, PDCO has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.