Safeway Ticks Higher on 4Q Results - Analyst Blog
February 22 2013 - 9:40AM
Zacks
Shares of Safeway
(SWY) touched a new 52-week high of $23.96 on Thursday, Feb 21,
2013, following the release of the fourth-quarter results. The
17.6% surge in company’s profit boosted market sentiments as the
stock rose 14.11% (or $2.84) during Thursday. The closing price of
this food and drug retail stock on Feb 21 was $22.97, which
represented a solid year-to-date return of 25.2%.
Drivers that Triggered
Momentum
The company’s robust results are
driving the bullish momentum of the stock. On Feb 21, Safeway
recorded fourth-quarter and full year 2012 results. The company’s
fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) shot up 58.2% year over
year to $1.06, reflecting a beat of 39.5% over the Zacks Consensus
Estimate.
Annual EPS climbed 52.3% to $2.27
in 2012, surpassing the corresponding Zacks Consensus Estimate by
12.9%. Safeway also exceeded the higher end of its 2012 EPS
guidance. A significant reduction in share count helped the company
sail past projections as well as the prior-year levels.
After a setback in the third
quarter, Safeway’s top-line witnessed growth. However, sales were
negatively impacted by calendar shifts as the fiscal year ended on
Dec 29, 2012. Quarterly and annual sales would have come in higher,
had it included the entire impact of New Year’s holiday sales. Yet,
fourth-quarter and annual sales of $13.8 billion and $44.2 billion,
respectively, edged past the corresponding Zacks Consensus
Estimates.
Notably, Safeway’s approach to
improve identical-store sales on the heels of ‘Just for U’ loyalty
program yielded positive results as identical-store sales in the
quarter inched up 0.8% on a year-over-year basis. The loyalty
program was also a major positive catalyst increasing market share
and profitability for the company. The fuel loyalty program was
another impetus that improved results. Safeway’s plan to launch
‘Just for U’ in Canada by mid-2013 is another encouraging move.
Given this backdrop, upward
revision in 2013 estimates is anticipated. Although the current
Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $2.07 for 2013, estimate
revision trends over the next few days are expected to reflect
bullish sentiments towards Safeway’s performance in the current
year.
Currently, the stock carries a
Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Other medical stocks such as
ResMed (RMD), Cyberonics (CYBX)
and Given Imaging (GIVN), each carrying a Zacks
Rank #1 (Strong Buy), are worth considering for short-term
investments.
CYBERONICS INC (CYBX): Free Stock Analysis Report
GIVEN IMAGING (GIVN): Free Stock Analysis Report
RESMED INC (RMD): Free Stock Analysis Report
SAFEWAY INC (SWY): Free Stock Analysis Report
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