DULUTH, Ga. - National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:EYE), a leading optical retail company, has announced a strategic decision to close 39 stores by the end of fiscal 2026 and convert four Eyeglass World stores to America's Best locations by the end of fiscal 2024. This move follows a comprehensive review of the company's store fleet, aiming to enhance the overall health of its core business and improve profitability.
The company has identified underperforming stores, less than 5% of its total fleet, which are not meeting profitability thresholds. The planned actions include 12 closures in fiscal 2024, another 12 in fiscal 2025, and 15 in fiscal 2026. The closures are expected to result in an annualized Adjusted EBITDA improvement of approximately $4 million by the end of fiscal 2026, with an anticipated $2 to $3 million by the end of fiscal 2025.
National Vision's CEO, Reade Fahs, emphasized the importance of active portfolio management and the company's commitment to operational excellence. The company aims to ensure a seamless transition for patients and customers, with efforts to retain associates and affiliated optometrists through transfers where possible.
Melissa Rasmussen, CFO of National Vision, highlighted the company's disciplined growth approach, announcing a temporary moderation of new store openings to 30-35 in fiscal 2025. This moderation will allow the company to allocate capital towards enhancing customer experience and selecting optimal locations for new stores.
The store closures are projected to negatively impact revenue by $11 to $13 million in fiscal 2025 and $2 to $3 million in fiscal 2026. The company also recorded approximately $1 million in one-time exit charges and $14 million in noncash impairment charges in the third quarter of 2024.
Despite the closures, National Vision maintains a significant opportunity for growth, with the potential to more than double its existing store count across its brands, based on identified whitespace opportunities.
The company has released its third quarter 2024 earnings results, which are available on its website. The information in this article is based on a press release statement from National Vision Holdings, Inc.
In other recent news, National Vision Holdings reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 4.6% to $452 million in Q2 2024, with adjusted operating income rising by 13.8% to $14.1 million. The company also revealed an adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.15. These recent developments reflect improved performance at America's Best and an overall positive trend in comparable store sales, which grew by 2.4%.
Citi maintained a neutral rating on National Vision, projecting earnings per share (EPS) of $0.07 for Q3 2024, aligning with consensus estimates. The firm also expects comparable store sales to increase by 1.6%. Looking ahead to 2025, Citi's EPS estimate is lower at $0.42, compared to the consensus estimate of $0.53.
BMO Capital Markets maintained its Market Perform rating on National Vision, with a steady price target of $13.00. Loop Capital, while reducing the price target to $18.00 from $25.00, continues to recommend the stock as a Buy.
National Vision is currently undergoing a strategic review of its store fleet, exploring AI technologies for future growth, and welcoming new leadership to enhance profitability. The company also expects annual revenue to range between $1.82 billion and $1.84 billion, with adjusted operating income projections between $57 million and $62 million.
InvestingPro Insights
National Vision Holdings' strategic decision to close underperforming stores aligns with recent financial data and market trends. According to InvestingPro data, the company's market capitalization stands at $959.35 million, reflecting its position in the optical retail sector. Despite the planned store closures, National Vision has shown revenue growth of 16.07% over the last twelve months, indicating potential for future expansion in line with their stated growth opportunities.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that National Vision's net income is expected to grow this year, which could be partly attributed to the company's efforts to improve profitability through store closures and conversions. This positive outlook is further supported by analysts' predictions that the company will be profitable this year, despite not being profitable over the last twelve months.
The company's stock has shown significant volatility, with a strong return of 15.42% over the last month, contrasting with a 33.22% decline over the past six months. This recent uptick could be a market response to the announced strategic changes.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips for National Vision Holdings, providing deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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