Tractor Supply Reports Quarterly Miss Amid Consumer Spending Shift
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2h ago
0mins
Source: Benzinga
- Quarterly Performance Decline: Tractor Supply reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of 43 cents, missing the analyst consensus of 47 cents, with sales of $3.898 billion falling short of the $4 billion expectation, indicating a shift in consumer spending towards essentials that impacted overall performance.
- Margin Pressure: Gross profit rose 3% to $1.37 billion, yet gross margin edged down to 35.1% due to rising tariffs, promotions, and transportation costs, highlighting challenges in cost control for the company.
- New Store Openings and Inventory: The company opened 31 new Tractor Supply stores and one Petsense store in Q4, with total inventory at $3.08 billion and cash equivalents at $194.109 million, indicating a balance between expansion and liquidity management.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Tractor Supply expects fiscal 2026 GAAP earnings between $2.13 and $2.23 per share, lower than the $2.32 analyst estimate, with projected net sales growth of 4% to 6%, reflecting a cautious stance towards future market conditions.
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Analyst Views on TSCO
Wall Street analysts forecast TSCO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for TSCO is 59.82 USD with a low forecast of 6.92 USD and a high forecast of 70.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
20 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 55.140
Low
6.92
Averages
59.82
High
70.00
Current: 55.140
Low
6.92
Averages
59.82
High
70.00
About TSCO
Tractor Supply Company is a rural lifestyle retailer in the United States. The Company is focused on supplying the needs of recreational farmers and ranchers. It operates retail stores under the names Tractor Supply Company and Petsense by Tractor Supply. Its stores are located in towns outlying various metropolitan markets and in rural communities. It also offers an expanded assortment of products through the Tractor Supply mobile application and online at TractorSupply.com and Petsense.com. The Company's selection of merchandise consists of various product categories, including livestock, equine and agriculture; companion animal; seasonal and recreation; truck, tool, and hardware, and clothing, gift, and decor. Its brands consist of 4health, American Farmworks, Bit & Bridle, Blue Mountain, C.E. Schmidt, Country Lane, Countyline, Country Tuff, Dumor, Farm Table, Groundwork, Huskee, and JobSmart.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Tractor Supply Reports Quarterly Miss Amid Consumer Spending Shift
- Quarterly Performance Decline: Tractor Supply reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of 43 cents, missing the analyst consensus of 47 cents, with sales of $3.898 billion falling short of the $4 billion expectation, indicating a shift in consumer spending towards essentials that impacted overall performance.
- Margin Pressure: Gross profit rose 3% to $1.37 billion, yet gross margin edged down to 35.1% due to rising tariffs, promotions, and transportation costs, highlighting challenges in cost control for the company.
- New Store Openings and Inventory: The company opened 31 new Tractor Supply stores and one Petsense store in Q4, with total inventory at $3.08 billion and cash equivalents at $194.109 million, indicating a balance between expansion and liquidity management.
- Cautious Future Outlook: Tractor Supply expects fiscal 2026 GAAP earnings between $2.13 and $2.23 per share, lower than the $2.32 analyst estimate, with projected net sales growth of 4% to 6%, reflecting a cautious stance towards future market conditions.
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