Skip to main content

Investors Uninspired by Wal-Mart’s (WMT) Modest Earnings Beat

By U.S. News & World Report

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) reported second quarter earnings and revenue beats and raised its full-year guidance on Thursday morning. Unfortunately for Walmart investors, you wouldn’t know the good news by looking at the company’s stock, which was initially down more than 3 percent following the report.

Walmart reported Q2 adjusted earnings per share of $1.08 on revenue of $123.36 billion. Both numbers topped consensus analyst estimates of $1.07 and $122.84 billion, respectively.

WMT also raised the low end of its full-year earnings guidance. The company is now calling for adjusted EPS between $4.30 and $4.40, up from a previous range of between $4.20 and $4.40.

[Read: The Best Ways to Value a Stock.]

Online sales, one of the most important metrics for Walmart’s future, were also impressive, up another 60 percent after a 63 percent jump last quarter.

But despite all the positive numbers, there were a handful of troubling signs for investors. U.S. comparable-store sales growth of 1.8 percent topped analyst expectations of 1.7 percent growth, but slumping margins suggest the beat was partially driven by lower prices. Overall gross margins declined 0.11 percent to 25 percent.

International sales dipped 1 percent to $28.3 billion.

But the most likely reason the stock is trading lower on Thursday is that, while slightly above Wall Street estimates, none of Walmart’s numbers were exceptional. A 2 cent earnings beat and a 0.4 percent revenue beat may not be impressive enough to trigger buying for a stock that’s already up more than 30 percent since the beginning of 2016.

“We view the Q2 results reported by WMT as essentially consistent with the high-end of management’s guidance, but modestly short of the more bullish market expectations following the recent rally,” Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh says.

Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom says Walmart “needed to be a little bit better today to drive the stock higher.”

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2017.]

Walmart may have once again demonstrated in the second quarter that it is holding its own in a slumping U.S. retail sector. But investors seem to be expecting a bit more than the 1 to 2 percent revenue and earnings growth the company has delivered in the first two quarters of 2017.

More from U.S. News

The 25 Best Blue-Chip Stocks to Buy for 2017

7 of the Best ETFs to Own in 2017

7 Dividend Stocks to Buy That Pay More Each Year

Investors Uninspired by Wal-Mart’s (WMT) Modest Earnings Beat originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote