The chart below shows how BJ performed 10 days before and after its earnings report, based on data from the past quarters. Typically, BJ sees a -0.05% change in stock price 10 days leading up to the earnings, and a -0.83% change 10 days following the report. On the earnings day itself, the stock moves by +0.60%. This data can give you a slight idea of what to expect for the next quarter's release.
Positive
Earnings Beat Expectations: BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. beats earnings expectations with reported EPS of $0.93, exceeding expectations of $0.87.
Record Sales and Earnings: Fiscal 2024 marked a milestone year with record net sales, membership, and adjusted earnings per share.
Membership Milestone Achieved: Membership reached an all-time high of over 7.5 million members with a strong renewal rate of 90%.
Comparable Club Sales Growth: Comparable club sales, excluding gas, grew by 4.6% in the fourth quarter, with traffic contributing over 3 percentage points to this growth.
Perishables Division Growth: The perishables, grocery, and sundries division delivered over 4% comp growth in the fourth quarter, with perishables leading the way.
General Merchandise Growth: General merchandise and services division comps grew by more than 5% in the fourth quarter, with notable growth in consumer electronics and toys.
Membership Fee Growth: Membership fee income increased by 8.5% for the full year, reflecting strong membership acquisition and retention.
Digital Sales Growth: Digitally enabled comp sales grew by 26% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, contributing significantly to overall growth.
Expansion Milestone Achieved: The company opened seven new clubs and 12 gas stations in fiscal 2024, marking the opening of their 250th club.
New Club Performance Impact: The performance of new clubs opened since 2020 contributed to comp sales at a rate of over 2 times the chain average.
Club Expansion Plans: The company plans to open 25 to 30 clubs across the next two fiscal years, with a robust pipeline of approved new clubs.
Strong Balance Sheet Stability: BJ’s has a strong balance sheet with the lowest level of debt since its IPO and no near-term maturities.
Share Repurchase Commitment: The company repurchased 645,000 shares for approximately $62 million in the fourth quarter, demonstrating commitment to returning value to shareholders.
Negative
Membership Fee Growth Stagnation: Membership fee income growth of only 7.9% in Q4, indicating potential stagnation in membership growth despite high renewal rates.
Gross Margin Decline: Fourth quarter merchandise gross margins decreased by approximately 10 basis points year-over-year, suggesting pressure on profitability.
SG&A Expense Increase: SG&A expenses increased significantly to approximately $758.2 million, primarily due to new unit growth and higher incentive compensation, which could impact future profitability.
Declining Gas Profit Margins: The company faced lower year-over-year gas profits due to normalized profit per gallon, indicating challenges in the fuel segment.
Comp Sales Growth Outlook: The anticipated comp sales growth for fiscal 2025 is only 2% to 3.5%, which is lower than previous growth rates and reflects macroeconomic uncertainties.
Economic Uncertainty Impact: The company is facing economic and geopolitical uncertainty, which could impact consumer behavior and spending patterns, leading to cautious outlook for the upcoming year.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript
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