Based on weather-driven sluggishness throughout January and February, analysts expect fiscal second-quarter EPS below consensus of $0.86. The midpoint of management’s EPS guidance ($0.83-$0.87) assumed a return to October/November sales growth (5%) in January and February after a slowdown in December (3%). Considering peer results and our surveys, we now believe January organic growth was…
W.W. Grainger Quarter Likely to Fall Short of the Street
We expect first-quarter EPS to fall below consensus of $2.97, with a likely range of $2.86-$2.92. Street sales growth consensus of 5%, implying 9% growth in March, looks too high. Although March will benefit from the calendar shift of Good Friday, and weather has been more favorable, 9% growth from 3% growth in January and…
HD Supply Reported fourth-quarter Financial Results
HD Supply Reported fourth-quarter Financial Results
MSC Industrial \EPS Beat Expectations by $0.02, March Accelerates as Expected
Overall, this was a fairly strong report from MSC with a nice rebound in March, as we expected. The strong growth in March appears to be driven by manufacturing, government, and national accounts. Management’s tone remains upbeat and our sense is that growth could continue to accelerate in the back half. Easy comparisons are a…