Supervalu Inc. (NYSE: SVU), the fourth largest US grocer, is scheduled to release fiscal fourth-quarter earnings before the opening bell on Tuesday, April 14, 2011. Analysts, on average, expect the company to report earnings of $0.34 per share on revenue of $8.75 billion. In the year-ago period, the company reported earnings of $0.62 per share on revenue of $9.20 billion.
Supervalu Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates retail food stores in the United States. Supervalu serves customers across the United States through a network of approximately 4,270 stores composed of approximately 1,140 traditional retail stores, including 816 in-store pharmacies; 1,240 hard-discount stores, of which 890 are operated by licensee owners; and 1,890 independent stores serviced primarily by the company's traditional food distribution business.
In the preceding fiscal third quarter, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company's net loss was $202 million or $0.95 per share for the quarter, in comparison with net earnings of $109 million, or $0.51 per share in the year-ago quarter. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $0.24 per share in the latest quarter. Revenue dropped to $8.67 billion from $9.22 billion in the previous year. Analysts, on average, expected the company to report earnings of 32 cents per share on revenue of $8.73 billion.
At its last earnings call in January, the company cut its fiscal 2011 earnings outlook. The company said that it now expects a net loss in fiscal 2011 in the range of $7.19 to $7.09 per share on a GAAP basis, compared to the previous guidance of a loss of $5.94 to $5.74 per share. Adjusted earnings are now expected to be $1.25 to $1.35 per share, down from the prior forecast of $1.40 to $1.60 per share. The full-year guidance assumes net sales of around $38 billion for the year and an identical store sales growth, excluding fuel, of around negative 6%.
For the fourth quarter, the grocery retailer anticipates adjusted earnings of $0.30 to $0.40 per share. On a GAAP basis, earnings are projected to be $0.39 to $0.49 per share for the quarter.Fourth quarter will include approximately $0.09 in net favorable adjustments.
Grocery stores have been seeing mixed results of late. Although many are managing to boost sales, outlooks are not rising due to stubbornly low margins. Competition in the grocery industry has been fierce during and since the recession as penny-wise consumers have been increasingly focused on price. The rise in commodity prices has exacerbated the issue, leaving companies with the unpleasant decision of passing the cost onto customers or absorbing it themselves. In January, SuperValu said that it will keep lowering prices to compete with rival grocery stores
Supervalu has also been struggling with its debt load. The company's management team has sold off some units and cut costs to shore up balance sheet. The company plans to reduce debt by $850 million in fiscal 2011.
The company is experiencing success with its Save-A-Lot banner, and therefore plans to spend capital to open a number of such stores in the coming year. For fiscal 2011, the company estimates capital expenditure of about $700 million, including 60 to 75 major store remodels, 30 to 40 minor remodels, 2 replacement stores and approximately 100 hard-discount stores, including licensed locations. In January, the company announced its fiscal 2012 capital spending plan of around $700 million, which includes an acceleration of hard-discount store openings, including licensed locations, and 55 store remodels. No new traditional supermarkets are planned for fiscal 2012.
In terms of stock performance, Supervalu shares have lost nearly 47% over the past year.
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