Albertsons Companies Inc（紐約證券交易所代碼：ACI）週三盤前股價上漲，此前公司公佈了第三季度財報。 公司的銷售額同比增長1.2%，達到187.74億美元，但低於分析師普遍預期的188.20億美元。 這一增長主要是由同店銷售增長2.0%所驅動，其中藥品銷售的強勁增長是同店銷售增長的主要因素。同店銷售增長2%，數字銷售增長23%。 毛利率縮小10個基點至27.9%。本季度運營利潤下降8%至5.185億美元，營業利潤率爲2.8%。 調整後的息稅折舊攤銷前利潤爲10.65億美元，同比下降3.7%。調整後的每股收益爲0.71美元，高於分析師普遍預期的0.66美元。 截至11月30日，公司持有2.023億美元的現金及等價物。40周的經營現金流總額爲19.2億美元。 2024年12月11日，董事會將季度現金股息從每普通股0.12美元增加25%至0.15美元。 今天，公司宣佈將於2025年2月7日支付下一季度每股0.15美元的股息，股權登記日爲2025年1月24日營業結束時。 截至2024年11月30日，包括融資租賃在內的總債務爲78.4億美元，淨債務比率爲1.88。 “我們的‘終身客戶投資’戰略推動了我們各平臺的數字參與度的增加，數字銷售、藥房運營和忠誠度計劃會員均實現了強勁增長，”首席執行官Vivek Sankaran表示。 12月，Albertsons宣佈終止與Kroger Co的擬議合併。此前，美國一名法官阻止了該合併，理由是該交易將影響雜貨領域的競爭。 展望：Albertsons將2024財年的調整後每股收益預期從2.20 – 2.30美元上調至2.25 – 2.31美元，分析師預期爲2.26美元。 ACI預計2024財年的同店銷售增長爲1.8% – 2.0%（此前預期爲1.8% – 2.2%）。 公司繼續預計2024財年的資本支出爲18億美元至19億美元。 股價表現：截至週三最後檢查，ACI股價盤前上漲1.32%，至19.99美元。

以上內容來自Benzinga Earnings專欄，原文如下：

Albertsons Companies Inc (NYSE:ACI) shares are trading higher premarket on Wednesday after the company reported third-quarter earnings.

The company’s sales increased 1.2% year over year to $18.774 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $18.820 billion.

The increase was driven by 2.0% increase in identical sales, with strong growth in pharmacy sales being the primary driver of the identical sales increase. Identical sales increased 2% and digital sales grew 23%.

Gross margin rate contracted 10 basis points to 27.9%. The operating margin was 2.8%, and operating income for the quarter declined 8% to $518.5 million.

Adjusted EBITDA of $1.065 billion decreased 3.7% Y/Y. Adjusted EPS of $0.71 beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.66.

The company held $202.3 million in cash and equivalents as of November 30. Operating cash flow for 40 weeks totaled $1.92 billion.

On December 11, 2024, the Board of Directors increased the quarterly cash dividend by 25% from $0.12 per common share to $0.15 per common share.

Today, the company announced the next quarterly dividend payment of $0.15 per share to be paid on February 7, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on January 24, 2025.

Total debt, including finance leases, was $7.84 billion as of November 30, 2024. Net debt ratio was 1.88.

“Investments in our Customers for Life strategy drove increased digital engagement across our platforms, evidenced by strong growth in our digital sales, pharmacy operations, and membership in our loyalty program,” said CEO Vivek Sankaran.

In December, Albertsons announced the termination of its proposed merger with Kroger Co. The decision followed after a a U.S. judge blocked the proposed merger, citing that the deal would impact competition in the grocery space.

Outlook: Albertsons raised FY24 adjusted EPS outlook from $2.20 – $2.30 to $2.25 – 2.31 versus an estimate of $2.26.

ACI expects FY24 identical sales growth of 1.8% – 2.0% (previously 1.8% – 2.2%). 

The company continues to see FY24 capital expenditures of $1.8 billion to $1.9 billion.

Price Action: ACI shares are trading higher by 1.32% at $19.99 in premarket at the last check Wednesday.