Steve Madden (SHOO) Tops Q4 Earnings & Revenue Estimates

Steven Madden, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SHOO) delivered better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2018 results, wherein both the top and bottom line grew year over year. This NY-based company witnessed robust gains at its flagship Steve Madden brand in both footwear and handbags. The company also registered strong performance at its fashion-oriented footwear brand Blondo as well as private label accessories business. The company also highlighted that the bankruptcy of Payless ShoeSource, its key private label customer, is a near-term headwind.

Let’s Delve Deep

This designer and marketer of fashion footwear and accessories delivered adjusted quarterly earnings of 42 cents a share that surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents and surged 31.3% from 32 cents reported in the year-ago period. The bottom line improved in spite of increase in cost of sales (up 14.9%) and adjusted operating expenses (up 11%). This can be attributed to higher net sales, lower effective tax rate and to an extent share repurchases.

The top line of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company increased 12.6% year over year to $410.4 million and also came above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $400.8 million. Net sales at stevemadden.com business surged 30% during the quarter under review.

Net sales for the wholesale business rose 14.1% to $317.4 million, reflecting robust gain in wholesale footwear and wholesale accessories. We note that wholesale footwear net sales advanced 7.4% to $233.9 million, while wholesale accessories net sales grew 37.9% to $83.4 million.

We note that net sales in wholesale accessories business climbed on the back of Steve Madden handbags and private label handbags. It also gained from the addition of Anne Klein.

Retail net sales jumped 7.9% to $93 million, while comparable-store sales increased 4% on account of robust performance at its e-commerce business.

Margins

Meanwhile, adjusted gross profit climbed 9.8% to $152.3 million, however, gross margin contracted 100 basis points to 37.1%.

We note that gross margin in the wholesale business decreased 90 basis points to 30.1% on account of lower gross margin in wholesale accessories, imposition of 10% tariff on handbags and certain other accessory categories and higher ocean freight costs. Meanwhile, retail gross margin increased 20 basis points to 61% attributable to higher gross margin in the e-commerce business.

Adjusted operating income increased 4.4% to $37.9 million, however, adjusted operating margin shrunk 80 basis points to 9.2%.

Store Update

Steven Madden ended the reported quarter with 229 company-operated retail outlets, comprising seven Internet stores, as well as 42 company-operated concessions in international markets.

Other Financial Aspects

Steven Madden ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $200 million, marketable securities of $66.7 million, and shareholders’ equity of $805.8 million, excluding non-controlling interest of $8.9 million. Management incurred capital expenditures of $4.3 million during the quarter.

During the quarter, the company bought back about 1.8 million shares for $55 million and for the full-year, it repurchased roughly 3.4 million shares worth $105.9 million.

Outlook

Steven Madden expects net sales growth of 4-6% for 2019. The company envisions full year adjusted earnings in the range of $1.75-$1.83 compared with $1.83 in 2018. Management also hinted that Payless ShoeSource bankruptcy and higher forecasted tax rate would hurt 2019 adjusted earnings by approximately 16 cents and 5 cents, respectively. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the year is $1.89.

3 Hot Stocks Awaiting Your Look

Deckers (NYSE:DECK) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 11.9% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) has average positive earnings surprise of 15.6% in the trailing four quarters. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Skechers (NYSE:SKX) has average positive earnings surprise of 5.3% in the trailing four quarters and a Zacks Rank #2.

Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?

Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.

See Latest Stocks Today >>

Steven Madden, Ltd. (SHOO): Free Stock Analysis Report

NIKE, Inc. (NKE): Free Stock Analysis Report

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (SKX): Free Stock Analysis Report

Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK): Free Stock Analysis Report

Original post