BJ’s Wholesale Club’s stock gains on Q4 results beat

BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) topped revenue and earnings estimates for the fourth quarter of 2018, sending shares climbing by 2.7% during premarket hours on Wednesday.

Total revenues fell 3.9% year-over-year to $3.42 billion but came ahead of analysts’ expectations. Membership fee income rose 11% in the quarter.

On a GAAP basis, net income decreased 3.6% to $64.3 million and EPS dropped 35.2% to $0.46 from the same period last year. Adjusted net income grew 22% year-over-year to $62.1 million, or $0.44 per share.

The fourth quarter of 2017 included one additional week compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. Net sales for this 53^rd week were approx. $240 million while net income was $7 million.

Comparable club sales for the quarter increased 2.8% versus the year-ago period. Merchandise comparable sales, excluding the impact of gasoline sales, rose 2.9%.

Gross profit grew by 1.2% to $628.9 million versus the prior-year quarter. Operating income rose to $109.9 million, or 3.2% of total revenue, from $92.7 million, or 2.6% of total revenue, last year.

For the full year of 2019, net sales is expected to be $12.9 billion to $13.2 billion. The company anticipates net income to come in the range of $200 million to $212 million and EPS to come in the range of $1.42 to $1.50.

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