This week's biggest % winners & losers : March 26 - 29, 18 (wk 13)

+ 3/30  Good Friday (markets closed) +

The following are this week's top 20 percentage gainers and top 20 percentage losers, categorized by sectors (over $300 mln market cap and 100K average daily volume).

This week's top 20 % gainers

• Healthcare: SHPG (149.79 +18.51%), NSTG (7.53 +14.44%), ALDR (12.73 +12.11%), DXCM (74.29 +11.31%)
• Industrials: USG (40.42 +20.73%), TITN (23.54 +19.37%)
• Consumer Discretionary: FINL (13.55 +36.87%), RH (95.28 +22.2%), HOME (32.04 +21.09%), FRED (3.02 +20.32%), MOV (38.4 +19.07%), SHLD (2.66 +15.43%), GIII (37.77 +14.42%)
• Information Technology: TVPT (16.34 +14.19%)
• Energy: RSPP (46.88 +21.61%)
• Consumer Staples: ENR (59.58 +14.36%), SPB (103.7 +11.84%), HRG (16.49 +11.8%)

This week's top 20 % losers

• Healthcare: NVTA (4.69 -35.58%), OMER (11.18 -29.02%), GERN (4.25 -19.2%), AKBA (9.54 -18.32%), ALNY (119.48 -16.15%), BLCM (6.62 -15.45%), PTCT (27.26 -14.83%)
• Materials: GSM (10.78 -25.76%)
• Industrials: RRTS (2.54 -25.29%)
• Consumer Discretionary: SUP (13.3 -14.19%)
• Information Technology: ACXM (22.68 -26.79%), NQ (1.66 -20.95%), SHOP (124.59 -14.34%)
• Energy: CIE (0.04 -37.59%), SDRL (0.2 -21.37%), EPE (1.34 -19.76%)
• Telecommunication Services: IDT (6.27 -28.56%)

=Finish Line (FINL) to be acquired by JD Sports Fashion for $13.50 per share

• 3/23: #2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 19-22, 25-28, 40, 43, 44, 48, 52, 55, 58, 75, 90, 95, 97

Finish Line to be acquired by JD Sports Fashion for $13.50 per share 

• The Finish Line announced that it has entered into a merger agreement providing for JD Sports Fashion Plc to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding Finish Line shares at a price of $13.50 per share in cash representing an aggregate deal value of approximately $558 million. JD is the leading European retailer of sports, fashion and outdoor brands.
  • The terms of the merger represent a premium of 28 percent for Finish Line shareholders compared to the closing price of Finish Line's shares of $10.55 as of March 23, 2018.
  • This provides an excellent strategic fit for Finish Line and JD. Finish Line moves into a stronger position to compete as part of a global enterprise that leads in the industry. JD gains a significant physical and online retail presence with direct access in the US which they have long identified as a highly attractive growth opportunity.
  • Finish Line and JD together create a leading global, premium, multichannel retailer of sports, fashion and outdoor brands who embraces the latest online and in-store digital technology.

=Finish Line (FINL) reported earnings on Thur 21 Dec 2017 (b/o)

Finish Line beats by $0.10, beats on revs; guides Q4 EPS in-line; Q3 comps +0.8%; sees Q4 comps declining 3-5% 

• Reports Q3 (Nov) loss of $0.26 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.10 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of ($0.36); revenues rose 1.8% year/year to $378.5 mln vs the $361.46 mln Capital IQ Consensus. Q3: Finish Line comparable store sales increased 0.8%.
• Co issues in-line guidancefor Q4, sees EPS of $0.50-0.58, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.54 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; For Q4 company expects Finish Line comparable sales to decrease 3% to 5%.
• "The growth initiatives that we've put in place are driving increased traffic to our brand and helping increase conversion. While we responded to certain pricing actions in the marketplace to be competitive, we delivered gross margin in line with forecasts, and remained highly disciplined in managing expenses and inventories. Looking ahead, we continue to be cautious in the near-term, but I am confident that the work we are doing to position the company for long-term growth and enhanced profitability is gaining traction."

=Finish Line (FINL) reported earnings on Fri 22 Sept 2017 (b/o)

Finish Line beats by $0.01, misses on revs after warning in late August; reaffirms Q3 and Q4 guidance

• Reports Q2 (Aug) earnings of $0.12 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.01 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.11; revenues fell 3.3% year/year to $469.4 mln vs the $478.25 mln Capital IQ Consensus. 
• Finish Line comparable store sales decreased 4.5%. Finish Line Macy's sales increased 5.6%.
• Co lowered Q2 (comps to down 3-5% from up low single digits, Q3 and FY18 guidance on August 28. 
• Coreaffirms guidancefor Q3, sees EPS of ($0.32-0.40), excluding non-recurring items, vs. ($0.36) Capital IQ Consensus; comps down 3-5%
• Coreaffirms guidancefor Q4/FY18 as well, sees Q4 EPS $0.50-0.58 vs. $0.55 consensus with comps down 3-5%; sees FY18 EPS 0.50-0.60, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.53 Capital IQ Consensus.
• Board of Directors appointed Faisal Masud (CTO at SPLS) as a director of the Company effective September 19, 2017.

=Finish Line (FINL) cuts projections amid disappointing sales

• FINL releases prelim Q2 results, lowers FY18 guidance- sees Q2 sales of $469.4 mln vs. $477.8 mln Capital IQ Consensus Est, sees EPS of $0.08-0.12 vs. $0.38 consensus.

Finish Line releases prelim Q2 results, lowers FY18 guidance- sees Q2 sales of $469.4 mln vs. $477.8 mln Capital IQ Consensus Est, sees EPS of $0.08-0.12 vs. $0.38 consensus 

• Co lowers comparable sales to declining 3-5% versus its previous guidance for an increase in the low-single digit range
• Co also lowers EPS guidance to $0.50-0.60 vs. $1.11 Capital IQ Consensus Est
• Co sees Q3 loss of ($0.40)-(0.32) vs. a loss of ($0.25) consensus, company expects Finish Line comparable sales to decrease 3% to 5%
• For the fourth quarter ending March 3, 2018, a 14-week quarter, the company expects Finish Line comparable sales to decrease 3% to 5%... sees Q4 EPS of $0.50-0.58 vs. $0.74 consensus
• "The marketplace for athletic footwear became much more promotional as our second quarter progressed resulting in challenging sales and gross margin trends," said Sam Sato, Chief Executive Officer of Finish Line. "Despite these headwinds, we remained disciplined in managing our inventories and expect to end the quarter with inventory levels down ~7-8% compared with a year ago." 
• Based on year-to-date results and the expectation that sales and gross margin trends remain challenging through the remainder of the current fiscal year, co lowered full year guidance
• Sato continued, "We believe it is prudent to adjust our outlook as we expect the environment to remain highly competitive and promotional throughout the remainder of the year. In light of our disappointing second quarter results and revised projections for fiscal 2018, we will remain very disciplined in managing our expenses and inventories throughout the remainder of the year. Looking ahead, we are optimistic that the work we are doing with our vendor partners to enhance our merchandise assortments will start benefiting our top-line results early next year. At the same time, we continue to focus on building our omnichannel capabilities to strengthen our customer connections, improve our service levels and further capitalize on the shift toward digital commerce. We are also making good progress rightsizing the business to better compete in the current environment. In the past 12-months, we've made a number of changes that have created a more nimble organization and generated approximately $6 million in annualized savings, and over the past 2 years we've closed ~80 underperforming stores. We remain steadfastly focused on executing our strategic plan to drive increased shareholder value over the longer term."

=Finish Line (FINL) reported earnings on Fri 24 March 2017 (b/o)

Finish Line misses by $0.20, beats on revs; guides FY18 EPS below consensus :

• Reports Q4 (Feb) earnings of $0.50 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.20 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.70; revenues fell 0.4% year/year to $557.5 mln vs the $544.88 mln Capital IQ Consensus. 
  • Finish Line comparable sales decreased 4.5%, slightly worse than expected.
  • Finish Line Macy's sales increased 35%.
• Co issues downside guidance for FY18, sees EPS of $1.12-1.23 vs. $1.44 Capital IQ Consensus; comps up low single digits, roughly in-line.
• "Our fourth quarter earnings performance represented a disappointing finish to a challenging year financially for our company," said Sam Sato, Chief Executive Officer of Finish Line. "As elements of our footwear offering did not resonate with our customers as we expected and the overall retail environment in February became increasingly difficult, we made the decision to get more aggressive on pricing to be competitive and clear slow moving product. While this allowed us to end fiscal 2017 with clean inventory levels, it put significant pressure on fourth quarter product margins. We know we must improve the execution of our merchandise strategies to drive increased full price selling and fuel sustained comparable sales growth. At the same time, we are confident that the numerous operational improvements we made throughout the past year have created a more efficient company with a stronger foundation to support enhanced profitability and increased shareholder value over the long-term."

=Finish Line (FINL) reported earnings on Wed 21 Dec 2016 (b/o)

Finish Line misses by $0.06, misses on revs; guides Q4 EPS below consensus; comps increased +0.7% vs. high single digit guidance:

• Reports Q3 (Nov) loss of $0.24 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.06 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of ($0.18); revenues fell 2.7% year/year to $371.7 mln vs the $411.33 mln Capital IQ Consensus.
  • Finish Line comparable store sales increased 0.7% vs. high single digit guidance.
  • Finish Line Macy's sales increased 33.2%.
• Co issues downside guidance for Q4, sees EPS of 0.68-0.73, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.95 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.
• For the fourth quarter ending Feb 25, 2017, the company expects Finish Line comparable store sales to be down between 3%-5%.
• "We are disappointed that our third quarter sales and earnings fell short of our expectations," said Sam Sato, Chief Executive Officer of Finish Line. "Steep declines in apparel and accessories offset a high-single digit footwear comp gain and a 33% sales increase in our Macy's business. While we continue to work on narrowing our soft goods assortment and aligning our offering with customer demand, our primary focus remains on growing the cornerstones of the Company's foundation - our Finish Line footwear business and our partnership with Macy's - through enhanced customer engagement. At the same time, we are making progress developing a more efficient operating model that drives increased profitability and greater shareholder value over the long-term. We are now fully benefitting from our enhanced supply chain and are just beginning to realize the $6 million in annualized savings from our actions aimed at streamlining our organizational structure. Despite our recent underperformance, we remain confident in the strategic course we have set for the Finish Line."

Finish Line (FINL) reported earnings on Fri 24 June 2016 (b/o)

** charts after earnings **

 Finish Line beats by $0.02, beats on revs; reaffirms FY17 EPS guidance :

• Reports Q1 (May) earnings of $0.23 per share, $0.02 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.21; revenues rose 2.3% year/year to $453.5 mln vs the $448.92 mln Capital IQ Consensus.
• Comps +1.5% vs. ests above +2.5%.
• Co reaffirms guidance for FY17, EPS of $1.50-1.56 vs. $1.54 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; comps +3.5%.
• "We delivered first quarter results that were in-line with expectations despite the challenging retail environment," said Sam Sato, Chief Executive Officer of Finish Line. "Importantly, we've made further progress toward optimizing our supply chain and improving execution throughout the enterprise."

FINL — is it a buy?

• FINL had earnings this morning, Thur 3/24/16

** charts after earnings this morning **

** chart the following day Mon 3/28/16 **

• March 25 was a holiday (Good Friday)

Finish Line (FINL) reported earnings on Thur 24 March 2016 (b/o)

** charts before earnings **

** charts after earnings **

Finish Line beats by $0.03, beats on revs; guides FY17 EPS below consensus :

• Reports Q4 (Feb) earnings of $0.83 per share, excluding $0.74 in mostly write-offs of technology assets and store impairment charges, $0.03 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.80; revenues rose 5.3% year/year to $580.3 mln vs the $567.87 mln Capital IQ Consensus. 
• Comps +4.6% vs. + low to mid single digit guidance
• Co issues downside guidance for FY17, sees EPS of $1.50-1.56 vs. $1.71 Capital IQ Consensus; comps +3-5%, towards the high end of estimates.

FINL - breaking the 50dma - NR

• FINL broke the 50dma in late August 2015

 2 months later

 4 months later

Ended the downtrend in June 2016