Petco Files for an IPO, Again

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By Jon C. Ogg Published
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It is coming back as a public company, again. Petco Holdings, Inc. has filed its paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct an initial public offering. This would not be the first time that the pet supplies retailer has been public. Petco agreed to a $1.7 billion buyout in 2006 in a deal led by Leonard Green Partners and Texas Pacific Group.

No formal terms were listed as to whether it would list on the NYSE or NASDAQ, and no proposed ticker was given. Still, it did say that the IPO would be for up to $100 million in common stock — an amount that could easily change once the deal gets closer to fruition.

The underwriters are listed as Goldman Sachs, BofA Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo.

This company needs no real description to any consumers. It has 1,409 store locations across the country, with one of the largest selections of premium pet brands and services available. Petco also has over 50 years of history.

Petco has an additional 13 stores under a joint venture in Mexico. Its two store formats are the flagship Petco stores and the Unleashed by Petco smaller format and up-scale urban lifestyle concept stores.

What will draw investors here are the financial gains seen under the trends helping pet owners. Petco claims to have had positive comparable sales growth for the 21 most recent consecutive quarters, and it claims to have an average of 3.5% of comparable sales growth annually from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2014.

The company further said that it has grown its store base from 779 stores as of the end of fiscal 2005 to 1,255 stores under the Petco banner and 128 stores under the Unleashed banner as of the end of fiscal 2014. That is a 6.6% compounded annual growth rate on its total store base.

Another gain has come from ecommerce adding to net sales. This has risen from 1.2% in fiscal 2005 up to 8.5% during the first two quarters of fiscal 2015, including its operations since acquiring Drs. Foster and Smith.

Petco further showed that it has increased its net sales from $1.996 billion in fiscal 2005 up to $3.995 billion for fiscal 2014. That is an 8% compounded annual growth rate. Net income was $22 million in fiscal 2010, up to $75 million for fiscal 2014. Adjusted EBITDA rose from $320 million for fiscal 2010 up to $457 million for fiscal 2014. Petco’s adjusted net income rose from $46 million for fiscal 2010 to $103 million for fiscal 2014.

Again, this company needs little to no introduction.

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About the Author Jon C. Ogg →

Jon Ogg has been a financial news analyst since 1997. Mr. Ogg set up one of the first audio squawk box services for traders called TTN, which he sold in 2003. He has previously worked as a licensed broker to some of the top U.S. and E.U. financial institutions, managed capital, and has raised private capital at the seed and venture stage. He has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as New York and Chicago, and he now lives in Houston, Texas. Jon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance at University of Houston in 1992. a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

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