What happened
Shares of Cimpress (CMPR 0.68%) declined 19.6% in January, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, after the mass-customization company announced disappointing fiscal second-quarter results.
Even as the S&P 500 rose 8% last month, Cimpress stock plunged more than 27% on Jan. 31 alone -- the first trading day after the company's holiday-quarter results hit the wires.
IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES.
So what
That's not to say Cimpress' quarter looked bad at first glance. Revenue climbed 8.3% year over year to $825.6 million, while net income arrived at $69 million, or $2.17 per share. By comparison, however, both the top and bottom lines arrived well below analysts' consensus estimates for revenue of $855 million and earnings of $2.38 per share.
Arguably most concerning, Cimpress' core Vistaprint business saw revenue rise a modest 1.3% to $434.3 million. Management blamed a combination of greater competition, discounting, and inefficient ad spending. And though Cimpress' Upload & Print and National Pen segments fared better, with revenue climbing 5.9% and 5.4%, respectively, both also arrived well below expectations.
Check out the latest earnings call transcripts for companies we cover.
Now what
Cimpress CEO Robert Keane admitted the quarter was "poor," and "the worst in a long time," adding that the company is working with a sense of urgency to tackle its challenges. In show of his confidence in the company, Keane also reduced his cash compensation to the legally required minimum of $455 per week, instead opting for performance share units that will be worthless unless Cimpress stock's three-year moving average achieves a compound annual growth rate of at least 11% over a rolling six- to 10-year period.
Until Cimpress shows some tangible progress toward successfully implementing its turnaround, however, I suspect the stock will remain depressed.
