J C Penney Company Inc (NYSE:JCP)’s shares declined -6.80%, and closed at $8.50, hitting new 52-week high of $11.30, during the last trading session, soon after the news release that a holding company, declared financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended Jan. 31, 2015. Comparable store sales grew 4.4 percent for both the fourth quarter and full fiscal year. The combination of this sales improvement, stronger gross margins and decreasing SG&A expense resulted in a $1.1 billion raise in EBITDA for the year.
Fourth Quarter Results:
For the fourth quarter, which comprised of a successful holiday season, JCPenney reported net sales of $3.89 billion contrast to $3.78 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013. Comparable store sales rose 4.4 percent for the quarter. Online sales through jcpenney.com were $428 million for the quarter, up 12.5 percent as compared to the same period last year.
For the fourth quarter, gross margin improved 540 basis points to 33.8 percent of sales, contrast to 28.4 percent in the same quarter last year. Gross margin was positively influenced by noteworthy improvement in the Company`s merchandise mix and margin on clearance sales over the prior year quarter.
- C. Penney Company, Inc., through its partner, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., sells merchandise through department stores in the United States.
Weight Watchers International, Inc (NYSE:WTW), dipped -35.48%, and closed at $11.33, hitting new 52-week high of $29.84, soon after a global-branded consumer company, declared its results for the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2014 and provided full year fiscal 2015 earnings guidance, counting:
- Q4 2014 incomes of $327.8 million, down 10.4% as compared to the prior year period, with total paid weeks down 7.0%
- Q4 2014 adjusted earnings per fully diluted share (EPS) was $0.07, which excluded the influence of restructuring and non-cash impairment charges of $0.01 and $0.34, respectively, per fully diluted share; as reported, Q4 2014 EPS was a loss of $0.28
- Full year 2014 cash flow provided by operating activities totaled $231.6 million, with a cash balance of $301.2 million at year end
- Full year 2015 earnings guidance of between $0.40 and $0.70 per fully diluted share
Fourth quarter 2014 net loss was $16.1 million as compared to net income of $30.8 million in the prior year period. EPS for Q4 2014 was a loss of $0.28 as compared to income of $0.54 in the prior year period. Foreign currency had a de minimis influence to EPS in Q4 2014.
Weight Watchers International, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of weight administration services, operating globally through a network of Company-owned and franchise operations. Weight Watchers holds more than 40,000 meetings each week where members receive group support and learn about healthy eating patterns, behavior modification and physical activity.
HMS Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:HMSY), decreased -6.90%, and closed at $17.54, hitting new 52-week high of $23.69, soon after the news release that the company declared financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2014. Net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 was $2.4 million or ($0.03) per diluted share, contrast to net income of $7.0 million or $0.08 per diluted share in the third quarter and $11.1 million or $0.13 per diluted share in the prior year fourth quarter. Adjusted EPS was $0.03 per diluted share in the fourth quarter, contrast to $0.14 per diluted share in the third quarter and $0.20 per diluted share in the prior year fourth quarter.
For the full year ended December 31, 2014, net income was $13.9 million or $0.16 per diluted share, contrast to net income of $40.0 million or $0.45 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted EPS for the full year was $0.41 per diluted share contrast to $0.75 per diluted share in the prior year. Total income for 2014 was $443.2 million, which comprised of $22.0 million of Medicare RAC income, contrast to $491.8 million in the prior year, which comprised of $108.0 million of Medicare RAC income.
HMS Holdings Corp. provides cost containment services to government and private healthcare payers and sponsors. The company’s services comprise co-ordination of benefits and program integrity services.
EnerNOC, Inc (NASDAQ:ENOC), dwindled -26.53%, and closed at $13.49, hitting new 52-week high of $24.34, soon after the news release that a provider of energy intelligence software (EIS) and related solutions, declared results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2014, and issued administration’s outlook for 2015.
Recent Highlights:
- The Company declared the completion of its attainment of World Energy Solutions, Inc., an energy administration software and services firm that assists enterprises simplify the energy procurement process through a suite of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tools. World Energy, which has provided procurement solutions for 20 of the Fortune 100, has an extensive customer base in key planned markets like Texas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, and New York.
- The Company declared its attainment of Pulse Energy, a leader in customer engagement software for the utility industry, to assist utilities better engage all of their commercial and industrial customers, from small businesses to the largest enterprises. Pulse Energy’s software is presently used by utilities in North America, Europe, and Australia, counting BC Hydro, British Gas, Ergon Energy, FortisBC, and Pacific Gas & Electric.
- The Company kept on to expand its growing base of enterprise EIS customers, signing new deals with Dow Corning, Performance Food Group, and Universal Fibers and achieved 117% year-over-year growth in subscription customers.
EnerNOC, Inc. provides energy intelligence software and related solutions for commercial, institutional, and industrial customers, in addition to electric power grid operator and utility customers.
