Office Depot Earnings a Sideshow to Staples Merger

Office Depot Inc. (NYSE: ODP) reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2015 results before markets opened Tuesday. For the quarter, the office supplies retailer posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.07 and $3.48 billion in revenues. In the same period a year ago, Office Depot reported EPS of $0.07 on revenue of $3.83 billion. Fourth-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $0.11 and $3.56 billion in revenue.

For the full year, Office Depot reported EPS of $0.41 and revenues of $14.49 billion, compared with 2014 EPS of $0.22 and revenues of $16.1 billion. Analysts had estimated EPS of $0.46 and revenues of $14.57 billion.

Referring to the question on everyone’s mind concerning the company’s acquisition by Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), CEO Roland Smith had this to say:

Regarding the pending acquisition by Staples, we look forward to presenting our case in U.S. federal district court and expect resolution by May 10, 2016. We continue to believe that this transaction provides substantial benefits to our customers and shareholders.

U.S. and Canadian regulators have blocked the transaction and the two companies have said they will contest that decision. European regulators approved the transaction earlier this month, provided that the companies divest certain assets.
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In the company’s North American retail division, same-store sales were flat for the quarter and for the year. Sales dropped in both the business solutions division (down 6% for the quarter and 4% for the year) and in the international division (down 5% in the quarter and 6% for the year).

In its outlook statement, Office Depot said it expects total sales in 2016 to be lower than in 2015:

… primarily due to the impact of store closures, continued challenging market conditions in our industry, and ongoing business disruption from the extended regulatory approval process related to the pending acquisition by Staples. The Company expects this disruption to continue through at least the first half of 2016, while the Company completes the ongoing litigation with the FTC.

Adjusted operating income is forecast at approximately $500 million for 2016, up from $460 million last year.

Analysts are expecting first quarter EPS of $0.15 and revenues of $3.72 billion. For the 2016 fiscal year, estimates call for EPS of $0.55 and revenues of $14.14 billion.

Shares were up 1.1% to $5.28 in premarket trading Tuesday. The stock’s 52-week range is $4.83 to $9.52. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of $7.79 before the results were announced.