Supervalu (SVU) 1Q17 Results: Earnings Come in Below Expectations on Lower Sales

Executive Summary

• Supervalu reported fiscal 1Q17 revenues of $5.2 billion, down 3.9% year over year and below the $5.3 billion consensus estimate. Adjusted EPS was $0.19, down 17.4% year over year and below the consensus estimate of $0.22.
• All three of Supervalu’s main businesses experienced weak sales trends. Total net sales within the wholesale division decreased by 7.6% from the year-ago quarter. Save-A-Lot same-store sales decreased by 1.4% and retail segment same-store sales were down 4.5%.
• The company noted that it is seeing progress in the struggling wholesale business in replacing lost customers by expanding its private label offerings and its produce initiative—which management believes will sell more than its wholesale business has sold before. In June, Supervalu said it would spin off Save-A-Lot within the next two years.