Earnings Roundup

Staples Inc SPLS reported a 36% rise in its fiscal second-quarter profit. Staples' quarterly profit surged to $176.4 million, or $0.25 per share, from $129.8 million, or $0.18 per share, in the year-ago period. Its sales climbed 5.2% to $5.82 billion. Excluding a $21 million tax refund, Staples' adjusted earnings came in at $0.22 per share. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.20 per share on sales of $5.64 billion. For the fiscal year, Staples projects adjusted earnings of $1.39 to $1.45 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $1.36 per share. Deere & Co DE reported a 15% rise in its quarterly profit. Deere reported its FQ3 net earnings at $712 million, or $1.69 per share, up from $617 million, or $1.44 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its sales climbed 22% to $8.37 billion. Deere's equipment sales surged 24 percent to $7.72 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $1.67 per share on revenue of $7.50 billion. Deere projects full-year net income of $2.7 billion, up from its earlier forecast of $2.65 billion. Abercrombie & Fitch Co ANF reported a 64% surge in its fiscal second-quarter profit. Abercrombie & Fitch's quarterly profit jumped to $32 million, or $0.35 per share, from $19.5 million, or $0.22 per share, in the year-ago period. Its sales climbed 23% to $916.8 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.29 per share on revenue of $882.62 million. Abercrombie & Fitch's total comparable store sales surged 9%. Flowers Foods Inc FLO reported a 16% decline in its second-quarter earnings and lowered its full-year earnings forecast. It also lifted its sales forecast for the full year. Flowers Foods reported its quarterly profit at $28.2 million, or $0.21 per share, down from $33.8 million, or $0.24 per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding Tasty acquisition costs, Flowers Foods' earnings came in at $0.23 per share. Its sales climbed 5.7% to $642.6 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.26 per share on sales of $637 million. Target Corp TGT reported a rise in its fiscal second-quarter profit. Target's quarterly profit surged to $704 million, or $1.03 per share, from $679 million, or $0.92 per share, in the year-ago period. Its sales climbed 5.1% to $15.9 billion. Target's comparable-store sales climbed 3.9%. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.97 per share on revenue of $16.17 billion. Target projects Q3 profit of $0.70 to $0.75 per share and $4.15 to $4.30 per share for the year. However, analysts expected Q3 earnings of $0.72 per share and $4.14 per share for the year. Citi Trends Inc CTRN reported a wider-than-expected loss in its fiscal second-quarter. Citi Trends reported a quarterly net loss at $10 million, or $0.69 per share, versus a loss of $567,000, or $0.04 per share, in the year-ago period. Its revenue climbed 0.9% y/y to $130.2 million from $129 million. However, analysts were expected a loss of $0.64 per share on revenue of $130.9 million. Citi Trends' revenue in stores open at least one year dipped 11.9%. BJ's Wholesale Club Inc BJ reported a 28% rise in its second-quarter net income. BJ's reported its quarterly earnings at $45.7 million, or $0.84 per share, up from $35.7 million, or $0.67 per share, in the year-ago period. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.77 per share. Its revenue surged 11% y/y to $3.05 billion from $2.75 billion, versus analysts' estimates of $2.98 billion. BJ's revenue from membership fees climbed to $51.8 million from $47.5 million. Its net sales jumped to $2.98 billion from $2.69 billion. Chico's FAS Inc CHS released its results for the fiscal second quarter on Wednesday. Chico's FAS reported its quarterly earnings at $43.4 million, or $0.25 per share, up from $30.5 million, or $0.17 per share, in the year-ago period. Its net sales climbed 18.5% y/y to $551.4 million from $465.4 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.24 per share on revenue of $536.96 million. Canadian Solar Inc CSIQ reported strong rise in its second-quarter profit. Canadian Solar's quarterly net income jumped to $7.1 million, or $0.16 per share, from $3.2 million, or $0.07 per share, in the year-ago period. Its net revenue surged 47% to $481.8 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.28 per share on revenue of $449.8 million. Solar module shipments surged 59% to 287 megawatts (MW) in the quarter. Canadian Solar projects Q3 shipments in the range of 350-360 MW. Vestas Wind Systems VWDRY reported upbeat second-quarter net profit. Vestas Wind Systems reported its quarterly net profit at EUR55 million, versus a loss of EUR143 million in the year-ago period. However, analysts were expecting a net profit of EUR35.9 million. Its earnings before interest and tax came in at EUR77 million, versus a EUR180 million loss in the year-ago period. Vestas Wind Systems reported its quarterly revenue at EUR1.4 billion, up from EUR1.0 billion, in the year-ago period. Analysts expected revenue of EUR1.04 billion. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S AMKAF reported a 5.8% drop in its first-half net profit. Maersk's net profit for the period declined to DKK12.61 billion, from DKK13.40 billion, down from analysts' estimates of DKK13.68 billion. Excluding the minority interest, Maersk's profit climbed 3% to DKK14.54 billion. Maersk's earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) surged 13% y/y to DKK34.60 billion, from DKK30.52 billion, versus analysts' estimates of DKK29.77 billion. Maersk's sales climbed 4% y/y to DKK159.23 billion, from DKK153.53 billion. Hochtief AG HOCFY released its results for the second quarter on Wednesday. Hochtief's quarterly net profit declined to EUR13.8 million from EUR54.1 million. Its external sales surged to EUR5.46 billion from EUR5.08 billion. Hochtief's profit before taxes dropped to EUR10.2 million, from EUR181 million, in the year-ago quarter. Hochtief's earnings before interest, tax and amortization (EBITA) declined to EUR54 million from EUR239.2 million in the year-ago period. Eurasian Natural Resources Corp EURNY reported a 29% rise in its first-half net profit. Eurasian Natural Resources' net profit for the first-half came in at $1.17 billion. Its revenue climbed 32% to $4.01 billion. Carlsberg A/S CABGY reported a 22% drop in second-quarter net profit and cut its full-year forecast. Carlsberg's net profit dropped to DKK2.06 billion, from DKK2.63 billion, in the year-ago period. Analysts expected a net profit of DKK2.6 billion. Carlsberg's sales climbed 4.3% to DKK18.74 billion, from DKK17.97 billion, in the year-ago quarter. However, analysts were expecting sales of DKK18.81. Woodside Petroleum Ltd WOPEY reported an 8.1% drop in its first half profit. Woodside Petroleum's net profit for the period declined to US$828 million, from US$901 million, in the year-ago period. Its underlying profit, excluding one-off gains and losses, gained 3.6% to US$842 million, beating analysts' estimates. Volvo Car Corporation reported a 40% surge in its second-quarter earnings. Volvo Car's earnings before interest and taxes climbed to 600 million Swedish kronor ($94 million), from SEK430 million, in the year-ago period. Its revenue rose 12% to SEK33 billion. Volvo Car sold 230,746 vehicles in the first half of the year.