CVS Caremark
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Sep. 30 (Q3), CVS Caremark met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.
Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased and GAAP earnings per share increased significantly.
Gross margins contracted, operating margins expanded, net margins were steady.
Revenue details
CVS Caremark chalked up revenue of $30.23 billion. The 19 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $30.09 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $26.67 billion.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
EPS details
EPS came in at $0.85. The 21 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.84 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.79 for Q3 were 22% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.65 per share.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 18.7%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.0%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.3%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.
Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $31.29 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.08.
Next year's average estimate for revenue is $122.84 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.37.
Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,669 members out of 1,733 rating the stock outperform, and 64 members rating it underperform. Among 424 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 412 give CVS Caremark a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CVS Caremark is outperform, with an average price target of $52.36.
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