Five Below Beats Expectations But Offers No Guidance on Year, Shares Fall

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Investing.com – Despite a blowout quarter, management’s lack of full-year guidance sank Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE) shares on Thursday.

The stock fell 3% in morning trade. A robust outlook for February  through April was also not adequate to sooth traders’ nerves.

Berenberg Bank analyst Brian McNamara maintained a hold rating on the stock and a price target of $143. This is a 24% downside from the prevailing price.  

In a note to investors, the analyst said, “As Five is currently operating from a position of strength, we were disappointed the company offered no full-year guidance, even if it was perhaps a wider range of outcomes than typical. Management candidly pointed to many unknowns this year, and we believe there is a reasonable expectation internally for some meaningful mean reversion in H2 as external tailwinds wane.”

The company announced its results for the fiscal fourth quarter on Wednesday. Revenue jumped about 25% year-on-year, to $858.5 million and were above consensus estimates of $838.3 million.

Net income rose 12.3%, to $123.9 million from $110.4 in the January quarter a year ago.

For February through April, the company expects sales in the range of $540 million to $560 million, higher than analysts’ expectations of about $440.9 million

The shares of the specialty discount store operator have trebled this year, bolstered by pandemic-induced shopping.