Ewing, New Jersey-based Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) develops, manufactures, and markets household, personal care, and specialty products. Valued at $25.8 billion by market cap, Church & Dwight operates through Consumer Domestic, Consumer International, and Specialty Products segments.
The household & personal products manufacturer is set to announce its fourth-quarter results before the market opens on Friday, Jan. 31. Ahead of the event, analysts expect CHD to report a non-GAAP profit of $0.77 per share, up 18.5% from $0.65 per share reported in the year-ago quarter. Furthermore, the company has surpassed Wall Street’s bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters. Its adjusted EPS for the last reported quarter increased 6.8% year-over-year to $0.79, exceeding analysts' estimates by 16.2%.
For the full fiscal 2024, CHD is expected to deliver an adjusted EPS of $3.44, up 8.5% from $3.17 in fiscal 2023. While in fiscal 2025, its earnings are expected to surge 8.7% year-over-year to $3.74 per share.
CHD stock gained 5.9% over the past 52-week period, outpacing the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund’s (XLP) 4.7% gains but underperforming the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 24.4% surge during the same time frame.
Church & Dwight’s stock prices soared 4.8% after the release of its impressive Q3 results on Nov. 1. Driven by a notable increase in volumes and favourable product mix and pricing, the company’s net sales increased 3.8% year-over-year to $1.5 billion, exceeding analysts’ projections. Furthermore, driven by the growth in its acne and mouthwash products, and OxiClean, its Consumer International segment’s sales surged 9.5% year-over-year to $267.7 million.
However, its profitability was impacted due to the $357.1 million impairment expense incurred during the quarter, but when adjusted for non-recurring items Church & Dwight’s non-GAAP income from operations increased by a modest 1.6% year-over-year to $267.2 million.
The consensus opinion on CHD stock is moderately bullish, with an overall “Moderate Buy” rating. Out of the 23 analysts covering the stock, nine recommend “Strong Buy,” 11 suggest “Hold,” and three advise a “Strong Sell” rating. Its mean price target of $109.05 indicates a modest 5.4% upside potential from current price levels.
