Woolworths (ASX: WOW) 1H16 Results: Slight EPS Miss, Rebuilding the Business Comes at a Cost

Executive Summary

• Woolworths reported 1H16 EPS of A$0.73 before significant items, a decrease of 33.5% and below the consensus estimate of A$0.76. EPS, after significant items, was A$(0.77).
• The company reported that total 1H16 revenue decreased by 1.4%, to A$32.0 billion, in line with the consensus estimate. Revenue excluding automotive fuel was up 1.2%, to A$29.5 billion. The company reported a net loss of A$972.7 million in 1H16, due to the impact of significant items.
• The company expects 2H16 to remain challenging, with no significant improvement in comps.