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Citi has reiterated a Neutral rating on shares of Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: NYSE:AAP) with a consistent price target of $64.00 as the reiteration came after the company's second-quarter results, which included several key points that the firm expects to be elaborated on during the 8 AM ET conference call.
Advance Auto Parts announced the sale of Worldpac to Carlyle for $1.5 billion, or $1.2 billion in net proceeds. The transaction is anticipated to fortify the company's balance sheet. However, the second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) fell short of market expectations by approximately 13%, primarily due to elevated selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses, despite exceeding revenue forecasts.
Furthermore, Advance Auto Parts significantly reduced its fiscal year 2024 EPS guidance by 44% at the midpoint. This revised outlook still accounts for the inclusion of Worldpac. The management team did not provide reasons for the guidance reduction in their press release, which is expected to be a major point of discussion during the conference call.
In other recent news, Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW) raised its full-year product revenue forecast, while Advance Auto Parts lowered its full-year outlook significantly. Its shares fell due to concerns over margins not improving alongside revenue, while Advance Auto Parts' shares plunged following disappointing second-quarter earnings and the revised outlook.
The automotive parts retailer reported earnings per share of $0.75, missing analyst estimates of $0.94, and revenue of $2.68 billion, slightly above expectations. However, the company's full-year revenue is now projected to fall short of previous estimates.
On the other hand, Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM) raised its annual revenue forecast, leveraging the high demand for AI-powered collaboration tools. Meanwhile, Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) Corp saw a decrease in shares after TD Bank Group announced it would sell part of its stake in the firm. Paramount Global shares rose following news of Edgar Bronfman enhancing his bid to acquire the company.
InvestingPro Insights
As Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP) navigates through its recent sale of Worldpac and revised EPS guidance, investors and analysts are closely monitoring the company's financial health and market valuation. According to InvestingPro data, Advance Auto Parts has a market capitalization of approximately $3.69 billion and is trading at a high earnings multiple with a P/E ratio of 171.06. Despite the company's modest revenue growth of 0.7% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, it has maintained a gross profit margin of 39.82%, illustrating some degree of operational efficiency.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that analysts are anticipating net income growth for Advance Auto Parts this year, which could be a positive signal for investors. However, it is important to note that 8 analysts have revised their earnings estimates downwards for the upcoming period, indicating potential headwinds. The company's long-standing commitment to dividend payments, with 19 consecutive years of distribution, could be a reassuring factor for income-focused shareholders, especially when considering the current dividend yield of 1.61%.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional insights and tips, including the company's profitability over the last twelve months and its valuation multiples. As of now, there are 6 additional InvestingPro Tips available that could provide further clarity on the company's financial outlook. These tips, along with real-time metrics, can be found on the InvestingPro platform, giving investors the tools they need to make informed decisions.
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