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Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
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  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Q4 Earnings Outperformers: Matthews (NASDAQ:MATW) And The Rest Of The Specialized Consumer Services Stocks

MATW Cover Image

Wrapping up Q4 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the specialized consumer services stocks, including Matthews (NASDAQ: MATW) and its peers.

Some consumer discretionary companies don’t fall neatly into a category because their products or services are unique. Although their offerings may be niche, these companies have often found more efficient or technology-enabled ways of doing or selling something that has existed for a while. Technology can be a double-edged sword, though, as it may lower the barriers to entry for new competitors and allow them to do serve customers better.

The 11 specialized consumer services stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.5% below.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 9.4% since the latest earnings results.

Matthews (NASDAQ: MATW)

Originally a death care company, Matthews International (NASDAQ: MATW) is a diversified company offering ceremonial services, brand solutions and industrial technologies.

Matthews reported revenues of $401.8 million, down 10.7% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 5.9%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates and a miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Matthews Total Revenue

Matthews delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth of the whole group. The stock is down 17.1% since reporting and currently trades at $24.45.

Read our full report on Matthews here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Frontdoor (NASDAQ: FTDR)

Established in 2018 as a spin-off from ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Frontdoor (NASDAQ: FTDR) is a provider of home warranty and service plans.

Frontdoor reported revenues of $383 million, up 4.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4.1%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Frontdoor Total Revenue

Frontdoor achieved the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 34.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $37.57.

Is now the time to buy Frontdoor? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ: FLWS)

Founded in 1976, 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ: FLWS) is an online retailer of flowers, gifts, and gourmet foods, serving customers globally.

1-800-FLOWERS reported revenues of $775.5 million, down 5.7% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 3.4%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 42.9% since the results and currently trades at $5.03.

Read our full analysis of 1-800-FLOWERS’s results here.

WeightWatchers (NASDAQ: WW)

Known by many for its old cable television commercials, WeightWatchers (NASDAQ: WW) is a wellness company offering a range of products and services promoting weight loss and healthy habits.

WeightWatchers reported revenues of $184.4 million, down 10.5% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 5%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

WeightWatchers achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 27.1% since reporting and currently trades at $0.58.

Read our full, actionable report on WeightWatchers here, it’s free.

Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV)

Established in 1991, Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV) is a provider of funeral and cemetery services in the United States.

Carriage Services reported revenues of $97.7 million, down 1.1% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 1%. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

Carriage Services had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is up 2% since reporting and currently trades at $41.99.

Read our full, actionable report on Carriage Services here, it’s free.


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