On Wednesday, Truist Securities revised its stance on Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE), a popular discount retailer, downgrading the company's stock from "Buy" to "Hold." The firm also adjusted the price target downward to $89 from the previous $136. This decision follows a series of corporate changes and updated financial expectations from Five Below.
Five Below recently announced a shift in leadership, with Kenneth Bull stepping in as interim President and CEO, and Tom Vellios, one of the company's co-founders, assuming the interim Executive Chairman role. The changes come as Joel Anderson resigns from his positions, prompting a search for a new permanent CEO.
The retailer also shared its quarter-to-date results, reporting a comparable store sales decline of around 5%, aligning with Truist's card data and prior estimates. However, a steeper decline is anticipated for the remainder of the quarter.
The company now expects to post a comparable sales decrease of 6%-7% for the quarter, along with earnings per share (EPS) between $0.53 and $0.56. This is a downward revision from the previously forecasted EPS range of $0.57 to $0.69. The adjustment indicates that Five Below anticipates further challenges in the final two weeks of July.
During a recent investor call, Five Below acknowledged several self-inflicted issues and expressed the need to refocus on offering products that are both trendy and of great value. Truist's analysis suggests that the combination of a tough macroeconomic environment and a lack of appealing products have been significant obstacles for the company.
Additionally, concerns about the retailer's growth strategy, particularly regarding new store openings, have emerged, especially as management changes could influence the company's direction.
Truist has modestly lowered its second-quarter comparable sales estimate for Five Below to a 6.5% decrease from an earlier estimate of a 4.5% drop. Sales forecasts have also been adjusted, now expected to be around $819 million, down from the previous estimate of approximately $834 million.
Reflecting the anticipated trends, Truist has revised its EPS estimates for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to $4.75 and $5.45, respectively, down from $5.00 and $6.00. The new price target of $89 represents a roughly 20% discount to the market, contrasting with the 20% premium that was in place before the adjustments.
In other recent news, Five Below reported a 12% increase in total sales reaching $811.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, despite a slight 2.3% dip in comparable store sales. The company's gross profit rose to $263.5 million, and adjusted earnings per share were reported at $0.60.
In light of these results, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) downgraded the company's stock from Overweight to Equal-weight and reduced its price target to $100, reflecting a more cautious outlook on the company's ability to navigate the current economic environment. Similarly, Loop Capital revised Five Below's financial outlook, reducing the company's price target from $190 to $120 due to the first quarter performance.
In other corporate developments, the Annual Meeting of Shareholders resulted in the election of nine directors to the board and the ratification of KPMG LLP as the company's independent auditor. The executive compensation received advisory approval as well.
Looking ahead, Five Below anticipates Q2 net sales between $830 million and $850 million, with full-year sales forecast between $3.79 billion and $3.87 billion. The company maintains a strong liquidity position with $370 million in cash and no debt.
These are the recent developments for the company.
InvestingPro Insights
In light of the recent downgrade by Truist Securities, InvestingPro data provides additional context for investors considering Five Below's stock. The company's market capitalization stands at $5.62 billion, with a P/E ratio of 18.97, indicating investors are paying nearly $19 for each dollar of earnings. While this may suggest a premium valuation, it's important to note that Five Below's liquid assets exceed its short-term obligations, which points to financial stability.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that despite the recent leadership changes and the anticipated decrease in comparable store sales, analysts predict Five Below will be profitable this year. Moreover, the company has been profitable over the last twelve months. However, it's trading near its 52-week low and has experienced a significant price drop over the last three months, with a 32.89% decrease. Investors might see this as a potential buying opportunity, especially if they believe in the company's long-term fundamentals.
For those looking to delve deeper into Five Below's financials and stock performance, InvestingPro offers additional tips and metrics. By using the promo code PRONEWS24, investors can get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription, gaining access to valuable insights that could inform their investment decisions. There are 9 additional InvestingPro Tips available for Five Below, which could provide further guidance in these uncertain times.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.