Ah, my old buddy Revlon, Inc (NYSE: REV)! Actually, that exclamatory statement is full of sarcasm. Revlon, a beauty-products business whose colleagues include Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) and The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL), is not a buddy of mine. It is a stock that I really have no intention of buying. The company isn't exactly the most attractive one out there at the moment in terms of fundamentals, but it did have a decent cash-flow statement in the third quarter. Let's check out some numbers.
To begin with, revenues didn't see much growth, as they rose about 1%. Reported net income was $0.57 per diluted share versus a net loss of $0.20 per diluted share in the year-ago period. Unfortunately, that doesn't tell the whole tale. You have to strip out a one-time gain from discontinued operations to get the full story. And you're not going to like it once you do. So, the loss from continuing operations becomes $0.30 per diluted share, which was $0.06 wider than the loss in Q3 2007. Yet, the cash-flow statement does offer a bright spot. Positive operational cash flow of almost $44 million was booked over the last nine months. Last year, Revlon used almost $50 million to fund operations over the nine-month period. Some changes in working capital helped out.
Well, even with the better cash-flow scenario, no, I'm not buying the stock. Revlon is still, in my opinion, a long way off from becoming a great investment idea. I'll need to see more robust growth in the top line and a better profit picture. Sure, for the nine-month period, Revlon did generate a profit of $0.04 per diluted share, but I'm still not convinced. As of this writing, the stock was down 23%. I know it's a bad day in the markets and all, but I wouldn't want to align myself with a company that sees that kind of reaction to earnings. Such a pullback doesn't scream value to me when it comes to Revlon.
Disclosure: I don't own any company mentioned; positions can change at any time.
Estee Lauder (NYSE: EL), whose colleagues include Avon Products (NYSE: AVP) and Revlon (NYSE: REV), ended the week on a great note. The stock rallied to a new 52-week high of $52.04 on Friday during the intraday session, and closed only several cents below that price at the end of the day. The catalyst for this stellar stock performance can be traced to the beauty company's earnings report, which was released earlier in the week.
According to SmartMoney, Estee Lauder saw top-line growth of 14% during the company's fiscal fourth quarter, with revenues coming in at roughly $2 billion. The bottom line increased 36% to $0.61 per share. Wall Street was only counting on $0.56 per share. So that's a nice $0.05 per share beat. The revenue number also went beyond expectations.
I like the results, and I like that Estee Lauder has been a particularly strong stock. According to the AOL Finance snapshot taken at the time of this writing, the stock has been up for every time frame (1-month, 1-year, etc.). Putting this fact together with the fundamental results of the quarter yields a situation that should be looked at. I don't like that gross margins declined, but I do find the stock appealing considering how bad the market has been.
So the earnings crunch continues, and here's a look at some companies scheduled to report results this week that are anticipated to be big winners and losers in terms of earnings growth.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expect the following to report strong earnings growth when compared to the same period of the previous year.
Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA): $4.10 EPS (+53.9%) on revenue of $3.8 billion (+54.6%)
EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG): $2.34 EPS (+50.0%) on revenue of $1.7 billion (+62.2%)
Avon Products Inc. (NYSE: AVP): $0.47 EPS (+44.7%) on revenue of $2.6 billion (+11.5%)
Revlon (NYSE: REV) issued a press release concerning its plans for a reverse split as well as some preliminary quarterly results. The reverse split will be based on a 1-for-10 ratio. Well, the company may increase the share price via this method, but it won't make much of a difference in terms of Revlon's potential as an investment.
The stock closed on Friday at $0.99 per share. Let me repeat this -- the stock closed on Friday at $0.99. We are thus talking about a highly speculative equity. Interestingly, if you take a look at the preliminary results, you might believe that Revlon is on the right path. Revlon's management expects a slight dip in terms of net revenues -- the top line will see about $320 million in the quarter versus nearly $329 million in the year-ago period. There will be a net loss of about $5 million this time around versus a net loss of over $35 million last year. Doesn't sound so bad, I suppose, especially when you consider that operating income should come in at $30 million -- that's ten times better than 2007's first quarter. So, would I buy Revlon?
No. I actually owned Revlon stock a few years ago, and I think I essentially broke even when I decided to get the heck out. Revlon has a long way to go before proving to me that it's got a handle on all its problems and that it can get its brand equity back on track. And this reverse stock split means nothing to me, as it doesn't alter the underlying fundamentals. Revlon faces tough competition from other brands, such as Avon (NYSE: AVP), Estee Lauder (NYSE: EL), and products from Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), so the company has its work cut out for it.
Disclosure: I don't own shares in any of the companies mentioned here; positions can change at any time.
Avon Products (NYSE: AVP) reported Q4 earnings today, and it looks like the Avon Lady has beaten Wall Street. Revenues for the quarter jumped a nice 17% -- got to love that. Diluted earnings per share dived 27% to $0.30, however -- that's not so lovable. Blame that dreaded cliche of earnings reports -- restructuring costs.
Avon's stock is currently trading up well over 5% as of 2:40 this afternoon. The company beat expectations of $0.28 per share. Avon saw a 20% increase in its beauty sales, an 18% increase in its beauty-plus category (that includes stuff like apparel, jewelry, etc.), and a 5% increase in its home products category. The number of active representatives also trended higher. Believe it or not, I buy Avon products every month from my friendly rep -- I can't live without its Advanced Techniques shampoos and its men's body washes.
The stock is currently trading at a decent yield -- approximately 2% -- and it does have a good portfolio of women's brands backed by the iconic Avon name. I'll be honest, though, and say that, when it comes to consumer-products companies, I definitely think of companies like Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Clorox (NYSE: CLX), and Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) first. At least those brands don't need representatives to push them. Still, over the long haul, Avon will probably reward patient shareholders.
Forget about being in the beauty business. This overhaul at Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) isn't going to be pretty in the least. As part of its previously announced restructuring plan, 2,400 jobs will be cut and the company plans to save about $430 million per year. The plan will cost $530 million, with $460 expensed through the end of 2007 and the remainder being charged between now and the end of 2009. Additionally, the company's going to write of $110 in inventory as it says it's simplifying product lines by getting rid of low selling products.
This turnaround plan for Avon was announced in November of 2005 and is focused on creating efficiencies in the operation, thereby cutting costs. They're also focusing on the "career opportunity" for representatives and they're trying to make it more attractive.
Avon is one of the oldest multi-level marketing (MLM) companies around. It was established in 1886, a time when door-to-door sales were a common way of purchasing items that were needed. Over time, the business model has evolved to more of home party model and one-on-one selling that doesn't necessarily involve knocking on stranger's doors.
As part of its ongoing restructuring program, beauty products giant Avon Products (NYSE: AVP) announced plans to reduce its workforce by 2,400 jobs. The company's restructuring plan was first announced in 2005, and the company is now looking at completing the restructuring in 2011.
Previously, the restructuring was supposed to run the company $500 million, but now the estimates are pointing to a total cost closer to $530 million. Once completed, the company plans to save itself approximately $430 million annually. This is substantially higher than the original $300 million annual savings the company had initially anticipated.
While the company has been moving through its restructuring over the past two years, the stock has been trading pretty strong. Since the end of 2005, the stock has moved from $27.34 to its current price of $39.00, picking up 42.6% for its shareholders.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Siemens AG (SI), Business Objects (BOBJ), Continental Airlines (CAL), Lawson Software (LWSN) and Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc (TRMP) were today's noteworthy upgrades:
Lehman upgraded shares of Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) to Overweight from Neutral reflect the potential major portfolio reorganization over the next few years as well as the strong momentum in the group.
UBS upgraded shares of Business Objects (NASDAQ: BOBJ) to Buy from Neutral to reflect easy compares in Q2 and signs of improving underlying European demand.
Soleil upgraded Continental (NYSE: CAL) to Buy from Hold as they believe better-than-expected June consolidated revenue growth suggests strong enough revenue momentum to offset above-average domestic capacity growth affecting its important Newark hub.
Matrix upgraded Lawson Software (NASDAQ: LWSN) to Sell from Strong Sell to reflect increasing revenues from software licenses.
Brean Murray upgraded shares of Trump Entertainment (NASDAQ: TRMP) to Buy from Hold citing recent share weakness, improving trends, potential monetization of excess real estate and the use of the Trump brand outside of Atlantic City...
Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL) reported another blunder last night, saying it will miss the April 18th deadline to file its annual 10K with the SEC. It seems that whatever Dell, Home Depot Inc (NYSE: HD) or Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) do, these three powerhouse "growth" stocks simply cannot get out of their own way.
There is money to be made in trading Dell, Home Depot and Wal-Mart on these price dips on bad news. But these are not stocks to blindly hold for the long-term. It looks to me like they are going to suffer the same fate of the 1970s Nifty Fifty stocks.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Rivals Coca-Cola Co (KO) and PepsiCo Inc (PEP), as well as General Mills (GIS), were today's notable upgrades.
Goldman Sachs upgraded both The Coca-Coca Co (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo Inc (NYSE: PEP) to Buy from Neutral: The upgrade for Coca-Coca was to reflect the company's recent strong results, and Pepsi's upgrade was to reflect Gatorade's expected profit re-acceleration by the second half of 2007.
General Mills Inc (NYSE: GIS) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at BMO Capital Markets with a $58 target based on achievable outlook and absence of any negative catalysts.
OTHER UPGRADES:
Bank of America upgraded Colgate-Palmolive Co (NYSE: CL) to Buy from Neutral with a $74 target. The firm believes Colgate's long-term growth rate can accelerate to 12-13% from 10% on margin upside.
Prudential upgraded shares of Avon Products Inc (NYSE: AVP) to Neutral from Underweight to reflect the company's improving fundamentals; the firm believes that news over the last six months has been getting more positive.
Buckingham upgraded Tween Brands Inc (NYSE: TWB) to Accumulate from Neutral.
CIBC upgraded Cablevision Systems Corp (NYSE: CVC) to Buy from Hold. Raymond James raised Lithia Motors (LAD) to Strong Buy from Market Perform following its Q4 report and guidance.
First Albany upgraded Stamps.com Inc (NASDAQ: STMP) to Buy from Neutral, with a $19 target.
Deutsche Bank upgraded International Paper Co (NYSE: IP), Packaging Corp of America (NYSE: PKG) and Smurfit-Stone Container Corp (NASDAQ: SSCC) to Buy from Hold. The firm believes momentum is turning and backlogs and pricing are emerging from the winter doldrums stronger than expected.
There are not many women running big companies. But, those who do, have the same problems as men. Nine of the Fortune 500 are run by women. Four of those companies outperformed the S&P 500. Five underperformed the index.
The number of women CEOs among big companies is only up by one since 2003.
One of the companies run by a woman, PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE:PEP), had a very modest year in the market. Its stock went from $59 to $63, staying above the S&P most of the year. Coca-Cola Co.'s (NYSE:KO) performance was much better.
Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU) also had a mediocre year. It traded as Lucent for most of the period before merging with French firm Alcatel. Lucent dropped 10% while competitor Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT) was up over 10%.
eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY), another company lead by a female CEO, watched its stock fall from $44 a year ago to $30 now.
Large firms run by women that did unusually well include Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE:RAD), Avon Products (NYSE:AVP), and Xerox Corp. (NYSE:XRX).
When looking at large companies run by women, the most perplexing number coming out it is the fact that there are not more of them. The same subject comes up year-in and year-out, but there is never an adequate explanation.
Jim Cramer, never one to rest on a single industry segment, discussed the quest for youthfulness tonight on his ever-popular MAD MONEY show.
If you want your body to look like a teenager's but your bank balance to scream "old fogey," Cramer advises that you avoid Bare Escentuals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BARE). He calls it a fad that isn't going anywhere, and says if you own it you should "ring the register." It was spun off by an LBO firm, but now it's too late; the company won't make you money. Cramer had regrets over this one: he didn't tell a caller on Friday to sell, and wished he had.
Better options if you want to capitalize on America's quest for eternal youth? Cramer likes Allergan, Inc. (NYSE:AGN) for its Botox and Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (NYSE:MRX) for its competing product. He counselled against the big, luxury names in the space: Avon Products Group (AVP), The Estee Lauder Co. (NYSE:EL) or Revlon, Inc. (NYSE:REV). Cosmetic companies are unreliable to Cramer.
Cramer did say International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) is a good alternative, even though it is close to a 52-week high. He thinks the company is much better with scents and steady end markets. Soon it will split into two businesses, he says, as it creates sweet ingredients that it sells to large companies like P&G. He said IFF only trades at 16x forward earnings and it has consistent 10% earnings growth. The best pick of the bunch? IFF, Cramer says.
Here are some highlights from this past week's 
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Jim Cramer, never one to rest on a single industry segment, discussed the quest for youthfulness tonight on his ever-popular MAD MONEY show.
Big 3 CEOs drive to Washington to suck up to Congress
GM and Ford ready weak pitches for taxpayer bucks
Cramer on BloggingStocks: A troika of opportunity and trouble 
