background
When TIF reported 3Q11 earnings (Tiffany’s fiscal year, like that of most retailers, ends in January), it lowered its 4Q profit guidance (see my post).
By then, the company had seen sales for virtually the entire month of November and had detected weakness in spending by residents of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US. At that time, it still expected a “low-teens percentage increase” in worldwide sales during 4Q11. But it effectively clipped $.10 from its estimate of per share profits for the year’s final three months, saying it expected to earn $1.48 – $1.58 per share during the period. That would be 6.3% more than the $1.44 it earned in the comparable period of fiscal 2010.
the weakening holiday selling season
Last week, TIF reported the results of its worldwide sales for November plus December.
The news wasn’t good–especially in the US and Europe.
Rather than the low-teens increase in sales the company had been anticipating, revenues were only up by 7%.
By region, they broke out as follows:
Americas total sales = +4%, comp store sales = +2% (3Q11 comps = +15%) ←
Asia-Pacific (ex Japan) +19%, +12%, (+36%) ←
Japan +13%, +6%, (+4%)
Europe +1%, -4%, (+6%).
In the US, sales to residents were down year on year. Buying by foreign tourists pushed results into the plus column.
In its press release, TIF reduced its eps forecast for 4Q11 by another $.10-$.15. It now expects to earn $3.60 – $3.65 for the full year.
The stock fell 10% on the news. Unlike other stocks with negative earnings surprises, TIF hasn’t rebounded.
my thoughts
December must have been a particularly disappointing month for TIF, since management had already revised down its expectations based on November weakness.
Recent macroeconomic reports are almost universally signalling that the US economy is improving. In the jewelry industry in particular, Signet reported on the same day as TIF that its same store sales in its Kay business were up +9.8% and in Jared, +10.0%. Similarly, Zale reported that its non-kiosk US jewelry business had same store sales growth of +9.0%. Neither is showing anything like the weakness in TIF’s business.
TIF is much farther up-market than either Signet or Zale. Presumably, that’s the source of the difference. It looks like TIF’s high-end US customers left their credit cards at home last month. My guess is that the problem resides in the waning fortunes of executives in financial services and the industries, like legal, which support it.
Look at the Asia-Pacific figures above, as well. TIF didn’t highlight this area. Same store sales are still high at +12%. But three months ago they were growing at a +36% pace, or 3x the current rate.
what to do
At last Friday’s price of $59 or so, TIF is trading at 16x fiscal 1011 eps and yielding 2%. That looks cheap to me.
On the other hand, we have only guesses as to what’s causing the current deceleration in company sales. They’re probably good guesses, but still…
For investors, the more pertinent question is probably when earnings comparisons will begin to pick up again. My tentative answer is–not soon. In fact, earnings comparisons could be negative or flat until late in 2012.
So my thoughts remain unchanged from late November. I don’t feel any need to sell the stock I own, but I don’t think I have to hurry to buy more. If I didn’t own any I might buy a small part of a position now, but no more than that.