Market Update
U.S. Fourth Quarter Economic Growth Revised Lower
Brian Turner
23 Feb, 2023
New York City
Real gross domestic product expanded at a slower pace than previously estimated in the fourth quarter.
GDP in the fourth quarter rose at an annual pace of 2.7%, lower than previously estimated 2.9% pace, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Thursday.
In the third quarter, real GDP increased at 3.2%.
Compared to the third quarter, the deceleration in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected a downturn in exports and decelerations in consumer spending, nonresidential fixed investment, and state and local government spending.
The changes were partly offset by an increase in private inventory investment, a smaller decrease in residential fixed investment, and an acceleration in federal government spending.
For the full-year 2022, real GDP growth was unrevised at the pace of 2.1% from 5.9% in 2021.
Movers: eBay, Dollar General, Domino's Pizza, Nvidia, Papa John's
Scott Peters
23 Feb, 2023
New York City
eBay Inc declined 5.8% to $45.09 after the online marketplace a loss in its latest quarter and forecasted wea sales growth in the fiscal first quarter
eBay said revenue in the fourth quarter decreased 4% to $2.5 billion and gross merchandise volume declined 12% to $18.2 billion.
Net income in the quarter dropped to $672 million from $1.9 billion and diluted earnings per share fell to $1.23 from $3.25 a year ago.
In 2022, revenue declined to $7.1 billion from $7.7 billion and net income swung to a loss of $1.3 billion from a profit of $13.6 billion (including gain from discontinued operations of $13.4 billion).
The online marketplace declared a cash dividend of 25 cents a share payable on March 24 to shareholders on record of March 10.
The company guided revenue in the first quarter ending in March from continuing operations in the range between $2.46 billion and $2.5 billion.
Dollar General Corp declined 4.5% to $215.0 after the discount retailer lowered its comparable sales and diluted earnings per share estimate for the fiscal year.
The company blamed the shortfall on higher-than-expected inventory damages and lower-than-expected sales because of Winter Storm Elliott during the fourth quarter.
Dollar General Corp lowered its same store sales increase estimate for the fiscal year ending on February 3 to 4.3% from the previous estimate towards the upper end of the range between 4.0% and 4.5%.
The discount retailer lowered its diluted earnings per share growth in the range of approximately 4.5% to 5.0%, compared to its previous estimate between 7% and 8%.
Domino's Pizza Inc dropped 12.7% to $304.27 after the food service company lowered its sales and unit growth outlook.
Domino's Pizza said fourth quarter revenue increased 3.6% to $1.39 billion and same store sales at the U.S. company owned and franchised stores increased 0.9% and international stores rose 2.6%.
Net income in the fourth quarter increased to $158.3 million from $155.7 million and diluted earnings per share rose to $4.43 from $4.25 a year ago.
The company lowered its global sales outlook over the next two-to-three years to between 4% and 8% from the previous estimate between 6% and 10%.
The company also guided down global net unit growth in the range between 5.% and 7% from the previous range between 6% and 8% in the corresponding period.
The company also announced a 10% increase in quarterly dividend to $1.21 per share to shareholders of record as of March 15 to be paid on March 30.
Nvidia Inc increased 14.5% to $237.68 after the advanced semiconductor chipmaker offered bullish outlook for AI driven demand for faster chips.
Nvidia said revenue in the fourth quarter ending in January decreased 21% to $6.05 billion from $7.6 billion and gross margin declined to 63.3% from 65.4% a year ago.
Net income fell 53% to $1.4 billion from $3.0 billion and diluted earnings per share declined to 57 cents from $1.18 in the previous year.
In fiscal year 2023, revenue was flat at $26.9 billion and net income dropped 55% to $4.3 billion from $9.7 billion and diluted earnings per share fell to $1.74 from $3.85 a year ago.
Papa John's International Inc declined 7.5% to $85.43 after the pizza chain operator reported weaker-than-anticipated sales.
Papa John's said revenue in the fourth quarter declined 0.5% to $526 million and comparable sales increased 1% and 26% on a three-year basis.
Net income declined 4.4% to $23.5 million from $24.6 million and diluted earnings per share eased to 66 cents from 67 cents a year ago.
Revenue in 2022 increased 1.5% to $2.1 billion from $2.06 billion and net income plunged 43% to $67.8 million from $120 million or diluted earnings per share was $1.89 compared to 12 cents a year ago.
The company announced a dividend of 42 cents a share to be paid on February 17 to shareholders on record on February 6.
The company said $299.8 million were still available for stock repurchase after completing $125 million of its stock buyback in 2022.