Torrid's (NYSE:CURV) Q4 Sales Beat Estimates, Stock Jumps 22.4%

Women’s plus-size apparel retailer Torrid Holdings (NYSE:CURV) reported Q4 CY2023 results topping analysts' expectations, with revenue down 2.6% year on year to $293.5 million. On the other hand, next quarter's revenue guidance of $279.5 million was less impressive, coming in 5.7% below analysts' estimates. It made a GAAP loss of $0.04 per share, improving from its loss of $0.04 per share in the same quarter last year.

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Lisa Harper, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “In fiscal 2023 we improved the fundamentals of our business by enhancing our assortment while reducing overall inventory levels, improving product costs, and optimizing our marketing investments. We are encouraged by the improving trends in sales and margins as customers responded to our new merchandise collections. For the fourth quarter we delivered results that exceeded our guidance, providing a strong foundation for the future. As we move into fiscal 2024, we will continue to build on our core strategic initiatives, which we believe will position us to deliver consistent results and generate meaningful cash flow.”

Promoting a message of body positivity and inclusiveness, Torrid Holdings (NYSE:CURV) is a plus-size women’s apparel and accessories retailer.

Apparel Retailer

Apparel sales are not driven so much by personal needs but by seasons, trends, and innovation, and over the last few decades, the category has shifted meaningfully online. Retailers that once only had brick-and-mortar stores are responding with omnichannel presences. The online shopping experience continues to improve and retail foot traffic in places like shopping malls continues to stall, so the evolution of clothing sellers marches on.

Sales Growth

Torrid is a small retailer, which sometimes brings disadvantages compared to larger competitors that benefit from economies of scale.

As you can see below, the company's annualized revenue growth rate of 2.7% over the last four years (we compare to 2019 to normalize for COVID-19 impacts) was weak , but to its credit, it opened new stores and expanded its reach.

This quarter, Torrid's revenue fell 2.6% year on year to $293.5 million but beat Wall Street's estimates by 6.3%. The company is guiding for a 4.9% year-on-year revenue decline next quarter to $279.5 million, an improvement from the 11.8% year-on-year decrease it recorded in the same quarter last year. Looking ahead, Wall Street expects sales to grow 2.5% over the next 12 months, an acceleration from this quarter.

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Same-Store Sales

Torrid's demand has been shrinking over the last eight quarters, and on average, its same-store sales have declined by 7.9% year on year. This performance is quite concerning and the company should reconsider its strategy before investing its precious capital into new store buildouts.

In the latest quarter, Torrid's same-store sales fell 9% year on year. This decrease was a further deceleration from the 5.4% year-on-year decline it posted 12 months ago. We hope the business can get back on track.

Key Takeaways from Torrid's Q4 Results

We were impressed by how significantly Torrid blew past analysts' adjusted EBITDA and EPS expectations this quarter. On the other hand, its revenue guidance for next quarter and the full year missed analysts' expectations. Overall, we think this was a really good quarter with tepid guidance. However, it seems that the guidance was better than feared considering that some small retailers have been struggling with choppy demand this earnings season. Finally, management struck an optimistic tone, calling out efforts at "enhancing our assortment while reducing overall inventory levels, improving product costs, and optimizing our marketing investments." The result is that the company is seeing "improving trends in sales and margins as customers responded to our new merchandise collections." The stock is up 22.4% after reporting and currently trades at $6 per share.

Torrid may have had a good quarter, but does that mean you should invest right now? When making that decision, it's important to consider its valuation, business qualities, as well as what has happened in the latest quarter. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it's free.