Express (EXPR) 1Q17 Results: EPS Missed Consensus; Company Lowers FY17 Outlook

Executive Summary

• Express reported 1Q17 EPS of $(0.06), including a net negative impact of $0.03 per share related to discrete tax items and the exit of Canada. EPS was down 138% from the year-ago quarter and below the consensus estimate of $(0.02). The company reported revenue of $467.0 million, down7.1% from the year-ago quarter and slightly below the $467.7 million consensus estimate.
• Same-store sales, including e-commerce sales, declined by 10% from the year-ago quarter versus the consensus estimate of an 8.3% decline.
• Express projects 2Q17 adjusted EPS of $(0.03)–$0.01 compared with the $0.07 consensus estimate. For FY17, the company lowered its adjusted EPS guidance to $0.41–$0.48 from $0.65–$0.73 versus consensus of$0.67. The company expects same-store sales for the full year to be in the negative low-single digits versus prior guidance of flat to low-single-digit growth.