Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.’s (NYSE:RGR) fourth-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings of 56 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents by 9.7%.
Including a tax benefit of 3 cents, the company reported earnings of 59 cents per share, down from the year-ago quarter’s $1.10. The downside was primarily led by year-over-year lower sales.
For 2017, the company reported earnings of $2.91 per share, which also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.02 by 3.6%. Full-year earnings deteriorated 36.6% from the equivalent figure at 2016-end.
Revenues
The company reported revenues of $118.2 million in the fourth quarter, down 26.9% from the prior-year figure of $161.8 million. The top line however comfortably surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $114 million. The year-over-year decline was led by lower production volumes.
In 2017, the company generated revenues worth $522.3 million, down 21% year over year. The top line however exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $517.5 million.
Firearm sales (comprising 99.1% of total sales) decreased 21.4% in 2017 and castings sales declined 22.7%. New product sales accounted for 27% of total firearm sales in 2017, compared with 29% in 2016.
Dividend
The company declared a fourth-quarter dividend of 23 cents per share, payable on Mar 30, 2018, to shareholders of record as of Mar 15. The dividend represents about 40% of the net income.
Per management, dividend payout varies every quarter as it is based on a percentage of earnings rather than a fixed amount.
Operational Highlights
Gross profit dropped 29.9% to $154 million. Gross margin contracted 350 basis points (bps) to 29.5% at the end of 2017, compared with 33% at the end of 2016.
Total operating expenses dropped 8.8% to $77.7 million in 2017 owing to lower selling, general and administrative expenses. Operating income was down 43.2% to $76.3 million from $134.4 million at 2016-end.
Sturm, Ruger’s earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization in 2017 was $112 million, down 34.7%.
Financial Performance
The company ended 2017 with cash of 63.5 million, compared with $87.1 million at 2016-end.
Cash generated from operations was approximately $101.2 million in 2017, compared with $104.8 million a year ago. The current ratio is 3.2 to 1, with no outstanding debt.
Capital expenditure totaled $34 million at the end of 2017, down from $35 million a year ago. The company expects capital expenditure of about $15 million in 2018.
Sturm, Ruger returned $24 million to shareholders through dividend payments during 2017. Also, the company repurchased 1.3 million of its common stock for $65 million.
Zacks Rank
Sturm, Ruger carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Recent Peer Release
Pool Corporation’s (NASDAQ:POOL) fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 21 cents per share in the quarter surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 17 cents by 23.5%.
Upcoming Peer Releases
Acushnet Holdings (NYSE:GOLF) is expected to report earnings on Mar 7. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and has an Earnings ESP of +11.92%.
Clarus (NASDAQ:CLAR) is expected to report earnings on Mar 5. The company has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +2.86%.
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