J. C. Penney Company (NYSE: JCP): Q1 Earnings Preview

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP), the third-largest US department-store chain, is scheduled to release first-quarter earnings before the market open on Friday, May 14, 2010. Analysts, on average, expect the company to report earnings of 25 cents per share on revenue of $3.92 billion. In the year-ago period, the company reported earnings of 11 cents per share on revenue of $3.88 billion.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc., through its subsidiary, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., operates a network of department stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. It sells family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products, and home furnishings.

In the preceding fourth quarter, the Plano, Texas based company reported net income of $200 million or $0.84 per share, compared to net income of $211 million or $0.95 per share in the same quarter last year. On an adjusted basis, income from continuing operations were $242 million or $1.02 per share, compared to $186 million or $0.84 per share in the year ago quarter. Revenue declined 3.6% to $5.55 billion from $5.76 billion in the comparable quarter last year. Analysts, on average, expected the company to report earnings of 82 cents per share on revenue of $5.54 billion.

The company has benefited from a rebound in consumer spending. J.C Penny has reported robust comparable store sales for the first two months of its first quarter. Its comparable store sales for the month of February increased 1.2%, compared to a decrease of 8.8% in last year's February period. The company's comparable store sales for the month of March surged 5.4. However, the company reported a 3.3% decrease in comparable store sales for the month of April.

Early in May, JCP upped its Q1 earnings outlook. JC Penney expects to report a first quarter earnings of 25 cents a share. Its net revenue rose 1.2 percent to $3.93 billion for the quarter ended May 1, 2010, the company said. Industry experts expect JC Penney to report a significant improvement in its gross margin.

The company recently unveiled various plans to accelerate its transformation and to be America's Favorite Shopping Destination. Based on these expectations, the company also provided new financial targets through 2014.Under its new Long Range Plan, JC Penney plans to target younger customer base, those who are 25 - 44 year old. The company also plans to consistently delighting customers with Merchandise and services. Based on its expectations stemming from the execution of these strategies, the company expects total sales to increase over $5 billion to reach about $23 billion by the end of fiscal 2014. After 2010, earnings per share growth, adjusted for the pension expense impact, is expected to achieve a 25% compounded annual growth rate over the following four year period to bring expected earnings per share for 2014 to over $5.00 per share. The company's cash flow is expected to increase to $500 million in 2014 from about $200 million in 2010.

In terms of stock performance, J. C. Penney Company shares have gained nearly 12% over the past year.

Disclosure: Author doesn’t own any of the stocks discussed here.

J. C. Penney Co. (NYSE: JCP): Third Quarter Earnings Preview 2009

J. C. Penney Co. (NYSE: JCP) is scheduled to report third quarter earnings before the market open on Friday, November 13, 2009. Analysts on average expect the company to report earnings of 12 cents per share on revenue of $4.17 billion. In the year ago period, the company reported earnings of 55 cents per share on revenue of $4.73 billion.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. operates a network of department stores in the United States, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. It primarily offers family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products, and home furnishings. As of January 31, 2009, J. C. Penney Company operated 1,093 JC Penney department stores.

Department stores like JC Penney were hit hard by the worst recession in decades, as cash strapped shoppers reign in spending and turned to discount stores. Massive layoffs and job insecurity further added to the woes of the retailers. In August, the Plano, Texas-based company reported a net loss of $1 million or breakeven per share for the second quarter, compared to net income of $117 million or $0.52 per share in the prior-year quarter. Quarterly revenue declined 7.9% to $3.94 billion from $4.28 billion in the same quarter last year. Analysts, on average, expected the company to report a loss of $0.01 per share on revenue of $3.94 billion. Comparable store sales for the second quarter dropped 9.5%, compared to a decline of 4.3% in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin as a percentage of sales improved 100 basis points to 38.5% from last year's 37.5%.

However, the company has managed to improve its performance through rigorous cost controls, inventory management and a strategic marketing plan. It is also benefiting from a recovery in demand and economic stabilization.

Early in November, J. C. Penney reported that comparable store sales for the four-week period ended Oct. 31, 2009, decreased 4.5%, slightly better than the company's guidance for sales to decrease 5 to 8%. Similarly, the retailer reported a 1.4% decline in its comparable store sales for the month of September, better than its guidance of a decrease of 3% to 6%. Comparable-store sales for the four-week period ended August 29 decreased 7.9%, in-line with its guidance for sales to decrease 6%-9%.

Early this month, JC Penney raised third quarter earnings guidance after reporting better than expected October sales results. The company expects third quarter earnings to be in the range of $0.10 to $0.11 per share, including a charge of approximately $0.03 per share, primarily related to non-recurring real estate impairments. The retailer's most recent guidance was for third quarter earnings to be in the range of $0.03 to $0.10 per share.

Investors are expected to keenly follow the management's commentary about store traffic and the upcoming holiday season. The Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday marks the start of the crucial holiday shopping period.

In terms of stock performance, J. C. Penney shares have gained 52% since the beginning of the year. Shares of the company rose 72 cents or 2.36% to close at $31.24 on Monday.

Full Disclosure: None.