Altria Reaffirms 2024 Full Year Guidance
October 31, 2024
Image: Altria’s shares have recovered nicely during 2024. By Brian Nelson, CFA Altria (MO) reported better-than-expected third quarter results on October 31. Revenues net of excise tax increased 1.3% as the company experienced higher net revenues in its Oral Tobacco Products segment, while adjusted diluted earnings per share advanced 7.8%, to $1.38, which was $0.03 better than the consensus forecast. Management had the following to say about the quarter: Altria delivered outstanding results in the third quarter. The smokeable products segment delivered solid operating companies income growth behind the resilience of Marlboro, and in the oral tobacco products segment, our MST brands continued to drive profitability while on! maintained momentum in the marketplace. We also continued to reward shareholders through
Booking Holdings Experiencing Strong Performance in Europe
October 31, 2024
Image: Booking Holdings’ shares soar to all-time highs. By Brian Nelson, CFA Booking Holdings (BKNG) reported excellent third quarter results October 30 that showed a beat on both the top and bottom lines. Total revenues increased 9% from the prior-year quarter, as room nights booked increased 8% and gross travel bookings increased 9% from the prior-year quarter. Net income was flat with respect to the prior-year quarter, while net income per diluted common share came in 7% higher than the year-ago quarter. Adjusted net income increased 9% from the prior-year quarter, while adjusted net income per diluted share advanced 16%, to $83.89, which beat expectations by $6.51. Management spoke of momentum behind its business in the press release: We are
Microsoft Remains a Net-Cash-Rich, Free-Cash-Flow Generating Powerhouse
October 30, 2024
Image: Microsoft’s shares continue to flirt with all-time highs. By Brian Nelson, CFA On October 30, Microsoft (MSFT) reported excellent fiscal first quarter fiscal 2025 results, with both revenue and GAAP earnings per share coming ahead of the consensus forecast. In the quarter, revenue increased 16%, while operating income advanced 14%. Net income increased 11% (up 10% in constant currency) on a year-over-year basis, while diluted earnings per share of $3.30 was 10% higher than the year-ago period, beating consensus by $0.19. Management had the following to say about the quarter: AI-driven transformation is changing work, work artifacts, and workflow across every role, function, and business process. We are expanding our opportunity and winning new customers as we help them
Republic Services Pricing Strength Continues to be Evident
October 30, 2024
Image Source: Republic Services By Brian Nelson, CFA Republic Services (RSG) reported mixed third quarter results October 29, with revenue coming in a bit light relative to the consensus forecast, while non-GAAP earnings per share outpaced what the Street had been looking for. The trash taker posted 6.5% revenue growth with 4.2 percentage points coming from organic means, while 2.3 percentage points came from acquisitions. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.81, beating consensus expectations by $0.20. Management had the following to say about the quarter: Our strong performance during the third quarter is a direct result of executing our strategic priorities. By pricing ahead of cost inflation and effective cost management, we delivered double-digit growth in adjusted EBITDA and
Chipotle Targets 7,000 Restaurants in North America
October 30, 2024
By Brian Nelson, CFA Chipotle (CMG) reported mixed third quarter results October 29 with revenue coming in a bit light relative to expectations and non-GAAP earnings per share outpacing the consensus forecast. Total revenue increased 13% in the quarter thanks to a 6% increase in comparable restaurant sales and new restaurant openings. Comparable restaurant sales missed the consensus estimate calling for 6.4% growth. Still, Chipotle’s comparable restaurant sales growth consisted of higher transactions of 3.3% and a 2.7% increase in average check, a combination we view positively. The burrito-maker’s operating margin was 16.9% in the quarter (consensus was at 15.7%), up from 16%, while adjusted diluted earnings per share came in at $0.27, up from $0.23 in the prior-year period.
Visa Reports Strong Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results
October 30, 2024
Image: Visa’s shares look poised to break out to new all-time highs. By Brian Nelson, CFA Visa (V) reported better than expected fiscal fourth quarter results on October 29 with both revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share outpacing the consensus forecast. Net revenue increased 12% on a year-over-year basis, while non-GAAP net income increased 13%. During the fiscal fourth quarter, on a constant currency basis, payments volume increased 8%, while cross-border volume increased 13% and processed transactions advanced 10%. Non-GAAP earnings per share advanced 16% in the quarter, to $2.71, beating the consensus forecast by $0.13. Management was upbeat in the press release: Visa had a robust fourth quarter to finish a very strong fiscal year. I am proud of
Momentum Across Alphabet’s Business Is “Extraordinary”
October 29, 2024
Image: Shares of Alphabet look poised to break out to all-time highs. By Brian Nelson, CFA Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) reported fantastic third quarter results October 29 that showed a beat on both the top- and bottom lines. Consolidated revenue increased 15% in the quarter (16% on a constant-currency basis), to $88.3 billion, versus consensus of $86.2 billion, with Google Services, total, revenue increasing 13% and Google Cloud revenue increasing 35%. ‘Google Search & other’ revenue and ‘YouTube ads’ revenue both increased 12.2% in the quarter, very healthy growth rates. Revenue for Google Network dipped modestly on a year-over-year basis, while Google subscriptions, platforms and devices revenue advanced 28%. Total operating income increased 34% in the quarter, with its operating margin
Enterprise Product Partners’ DCF Covered Its Distributions 1.7x in Third Quarter
October 29, 2024
Image: Enterprise Products Partners’ units have done well the past couple years. By Brian Nelson, CFA On October 29, Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) reported third quarter results that came in slightly lower than expected. The midstream energy company reported net income attributable to common unitholders of $1.43 billion, or $0.65 per diluted unit, reflecting an 8% increase versus the $1.35 billion ($0.60 per diluted unit) it recorded in the third quarter of last year. Management had the following to say about the quarter: Enterprise reported another strong quarter as recently completed organic growth assets generated new sources of earnings and cash flow. Operationally, we set 5 volumetric records including 7.5 billion cubic feet per day of inlet natural gas processing
Phillips 66’s Dividend Well Covered with Free Cash Flow
October 29, 2024
Image Source: Phillips 66 By Brian Nelson, CFA Phillips 66 (PSX) reported third quarter earnings October 29. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $2 billion, down from $2.18 billion in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings were $859 million versus $984 million in the same period last year. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.04 versus $2.31 in last year’s quarter. Cash flow from operations was $1.13 billion versus $2.1 billion in the year-ago period. Capital expenditures and investments were $358 million, down from $367 million in the same period a year ago. During the quarter, the company bought back $800 million of stock and returned $477 million in dividends to shareholders. Phillips 66 ended the quarter with $1.6 billion in
In the News: Newmont, McDonald’s, the Election
October 28, 2024
By Brian Nelson, CFA Newmont’s Costs Balloon in the Wake of Higher Gold Prices, Roughly Flat Production Expected in 2025 Newmont (NEM) reported lower than expected third quarter results October 23, with revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share missing the consensus forecast. Revenue advanced 84.7% in the quarter, while non-GAAP earnings per share came in at $0.81. We liked the revenue growth in the quarter, propelled by an average realized gold price of $2,518, but all-in sustaining costs (per ounce) also increased to $1,611, up materially from $1,426 recorded in the same period a year ago. Newmont, nonetheless, generated operating cash flow of $1.64 billion and free cash flow of $760 million in the quarter, up materially from the third
