Clorox (CLX) Fiscal 4Q2018 Results: Company Beats on Earnings, Misses Revenue and Raises Guidance

Executive Summary

• Clorox reported fiscal 4Q18 revenues of $1.69 billion, up 2.7% year over year and below the consensus estimate of $1.72 billion. Diluted EPS was $1.66, up 9.2% from the year-ago quarter and above the consensus estimate of $1.58.
• Two out of the four business units showed positive sales growth for the quarter. Cleaning sales grew by 3%, while lifestyle sales grew by 21%—driven primarily by the Nutranext acquisition—while household sales were down by 3% and international sales were down by 2%.
• Clorox provided fiscal year 2018 sales guidance of sales to be up 2%–4%, up from 3% in 3Q18 and raised the EPS to $6.32–$6.52, up from $6.15–$6.30 previously.