U.S. Movers: AutoZone, Best Buy, Express, Medtronic, Express, Ralph Lauren

Mukesh Buch
22 May, 2012
New York City

AutoZone third quarter net increased 9% to $248.6 million. Best Buy first quarter net declined 25% to $158 million. Edgar Online agreed to be acquired by Donnelley for $70.5 Million. Medtronic fourth quarter net soared 28% to $991 million. Ralph Lauren fourth quarter net surged 29% to $94.4 million.

[R]11:25 AM New York – AutoZone third quarter net increased 9% to $248.59 million. Best Buy first quarter net declined 25% to $158 million. Medtronic fourth quarter net soared 28% to $991 million. Ralph Lauren fourth quarter net surged 29% to $94.4 million.[/R]

AutoZone, Inc. ((AZO)) gained $2.42 to $370.97 after the automotive parts retailer reported third quarter ended May 5 net sales improved 6.7% to $2.11 billion from $1.98 billion in the same quarter last year. Domestic same store sales increased 3.9% after increasing 5.3% last year.

Net income in the quarter increased 9% to $248.59 million or $6.28 per diluted share compared to net income of $227.37 million or $5.29 per share in the prior-year quarter.

Best Buy Co., Inc. ((BBY)) increased 2.2% or 40 cents to $18.57 after the electronic products retailer reported first quarter ended May 5 revenue rose 2% to $11.61 billion compared to $11.37 billion in the same period last year. Comparable store sales increased 5.3%.

Net earnings in the quarter declined 25% to $158 million or 46 cents per diluted share compared to $212 million or 53 cents per share a year ago.

Express, Inc. ((EXPR)) declined 25.2% or $5.83 to $17.26 after the apparel and accessory retailer reported first quarter ended April 28 net sales increased 6% to $496 million compared to $467.4 million in the same period last year. Comparable store sales increased 4%.

Net income in the quarter shrank 20% to $42.1 million or 47 cents per diluted share compared to $35 million or 39 cents per share a year ago.

For fiscal 2012, the retailer expects comparable sales to increase in the low to mid-single digits compared to an increase of 6% in 2011 and earnings are expected in the range between $1.79 and $1.89 per diluted share.

Edgar Online, Inc. ((EDGR)) surged 47.2% or 34 cents to $1.06 after the filing service provider said RR Donnelley will acquire the company valued about $70.5 million. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter.

Medtronic, Inc. ((MDT)) fell 29 cents to $37.41 after the medical technology company reported fourth quarter ended April 27 revenue grew 4% to $4.3 million compared to $4.2 million in the same period last year. Net earnings in the quarter soared 28% to $991 million or 94 cents per diluted share compared to $776 million or 72 cents per share a year ago quarter.

Sales for the fiscal 2012 rose 3% to $16.2 billion from $15.5 billion a year ago. Net income for the year plunged 17.2% to $3.6 billion or $3.41 per diluted share from $3.1 billion or $2.86 per share in the prior year.

Medtronic expects fiscal year 2013 revenue growth in the range of 2% to 4% and earnings in the range of $3.62 to $3.70 increase of 5% to 7%.

Nordson Corporation ((NDSN)) advanced 9% or $4.41 to $53.41 after the testing equipments maker reported second quarter ended April sales fell 1% to $315.2 million compared to $318.9 billion in the same period last year. Net earnings in the quarter slumped 20% to $52.1 million or 80 cents per diluted share compared to $65.2 million or 95 cents per share a year ago.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2012, sales are expected to be increase of 8% to 12% and in the range of $337 million to $349 million and earnings per share are expected to be in the range of 96 cents to $1.04.

Nordson today agreed to acquire EDI Holdings, Inc valued at $200 million and the transaction is expected to close during third quarter.

Ralph Lauren Corporation ((RL)) gained 3.1% or $4.63 to $150.93 after the apparel retailer reported fourth quarter ended March sales increased 14.2% to $1.6 billion compared to $1.4 billion in the same period last year. Same store sales for the quarter increased 12% from last year when they were flat.

Net earnings in the quarter surged 29% to $94.4 million or 99 cents per diluted share compared to $73.2 million or 74 cents per share a year ago quarter.

Net revenues for the fiscal 2012 soared 21.8% to $6.9 billion from $5.7 billion a year ago. Same store sales for the year increased 14% from 12% in the prior year.

Net income for the year advanced 20% to $681 million or $7.13 per diluted share from $567.6 million or $5.75 per share in the prior year.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. ((URBN)) soared 7.4% or $1.94 to $28.10 after the lifestyle specialty retailer said first quarter ended April net sales rose 9% to $568.93 million from $524.02 million in the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter fell 12% to $34 million compared to net income of $38.6 million for the year-ago quarter.

Earnings per share for the quarter were flat at 23 cents as number of shares outstanding fell 12% from a year earlier.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. ((WSM)) increased 4% or $1.40 to $36.13 after the consumer retailer said first quarter ended April 29 net revenues increased 6.1% to $818 million from $771 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Comparable store sales in the quarter increased 4.6% compared to 9% last year.

Net earnings in the quarter decreased 2.8% to $30.72 million compared to net earnings of $31.62 million last year. However, earnings per diluted share improved to 30 cents from 29 cents a year earlier on lower share count.