Retail

Why L Brands Earnings Beat Is Not Enough

Chris Lange

Published: August 17, 2017 10:20 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 9:03 am

When L Brands Inc. (NYSE: LB) reported its fiscal second-quarter financial results after the markets closed on Wednesday, the retailer said that it had $0.48 in earnings per share (EPS) and $2.76 billion in revenue. That compares to consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters of $0.44 in EPS and revenue of $2.75 billion. In the same period of last year, the company posted EPS of $0.70 and $2.89 billion in revenue.

The second-quarter comparable sales decline of 8% was below the company’s expectations. The segment comparable sales broke down to a decline of 14% at Victoria’s Secret and an increase of 6% at Bath & Body Works.

In terms of the segments, L Brands reported as follows:

• Victoria’s Secret posted total revenues of $1.65 billion, a decrease of about 12% from last year.
• Bath & Body Works posted total revenues of $860.3 million, an increase of 7% year over year.

L Brands’ guidance for the remainder of the year reflects a more conservative sales forecast than its previous outlook. The retailer updated its guidance for 2017 full-year EPS to $3.00 to $3.20 from $3.10 to $3.40 previously, and it issued guidance for third quarter EPS in the range of $0.25 and $0.30.

The consensus estimates call for $3.23 in EPS and $12.48 billion in revenue for the 2017 full year. For the third quarter, the consensus forecast is EPS of $0.36 and $2.59 billion in revenue.

Shares of L Brands were last seen down about 7% at $36.15 on Thursday, with a consensus analyst price target of $50.13 and a 52-week range of $35.77 to $79.67.