Group 1 - A class action has been filed against Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. for misleading investors regarding its business prospects during the period from January 14, 2021, to June 5, 2025 [1][2] - Allegations include that Petco's pandemic-related growth was unsustainable and that the company overstated its ability to deliver sustainable, profitable growth [2] - The complaint highlights that the true scope of issues affecting Petco's business model and sales metrics was downplayed by the defendants [2] Group 2 - Shareholders may participate in the class action and can contact Robbins LLP if they wish to serve as lead plaintiff [3] - The representation in the class action is on a contingency fee basis, meaning shareholders pay no fees or expenses [4] - Robbins LLP has been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses and improve corporate governance since 2002 [4]

NEW YORK, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of  Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (“Petco” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: WOOF).  Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Petco and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.  [Click here for information about joining the class act ...

NEW YORK, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. ("Petco" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: WOOF). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.The investigation concerns whether Petco and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On Jun ...

I focus on producing objective, data-driven research, mostly about small- to mid-cap companies, as these tend to be overlooked by many investors. From time to time, though, I also look at large-cap names, just to give a fuller sense of the broader equity markets.Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I ...

Financial Performance - Net sales decreased from $1.53 billion to $1.49 billion, representing a period-over-period decrease of 2.3%[82] - Operating income improved to $16.4 million, compared to an operating loss of $16.8 million in the prior year period[82] - Net loss attributable to Class A and B-1 common stockholders decreased from $46.5 million to $11.7 million[82] - Adjusted EBITDA increased from $75.6 million to $89.4 million[82] - Comparable sales change was a decline of 1.3% for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025[84] - Adjusted EBITDA for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025, was $89.4 million, compared to $75.6 million for the same period in 2024, representing a 18.2% increase[96] - Net sales for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025, were $1.49 billion, a decrease from $1.53 billion in the same period in 2024, reflecting a 2.5% decline[96] - Adjusted EBITDA Margin improved to 6.0% for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025, compared to 4.9% in the same period in 2024[96] Cost and Expenses - Gross profit margin improved to 38.2% from 37.8% year-over-year[87] - SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased from 38.9% to 37.1%[88] - Interest expense decreased by $3.3 million, or 9.0%, to $33.5 million[89] Cash Flow and Liquidity - Free Cash Flow for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025, was $(43.9) million, compared to $(41.1) million for the same period in 2024, indicating a slight increase in cash outflow[100] - As of May 3, 2025, the company's liquidity was $647.9 million, including $133.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and $514.6 million available on the ABL Revolving Credit Facility[102] - Net cash used in operating activities was $(15.5) million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025, compared to $(8.4) million for the same period in 2024, primarily due to lower sales and higher incentive bonuses[106] - Cash used in investing activities decreased to $27.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025, from $31.7 million in the same period in 2024, driven by fewer new pet care centers and hospitals[107] - Net cash used in financing activities was $(0.3) million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025, a decrease from $(5.6) million in the same period in 2024, due to lower tax withholding payments[108] Debt and Credit Facilities - The First Lien Term Loan outstanding as of May 3, 2025, was $1.60 billion, with variable interest rates that could increase annual cash interest by approximately $16.2 million if rates rise by 100 basis points[118] - The company has a secured asset-based revolving credit facility with availability of up to $581.0 million, maturing in 2029, to support its liquidity needs[109] Business Operations - Total pet care centers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico decreased from 1,423 to 1,393[84] - The company continues to experience momentum in services, driven by strategic investments in customer acquisition and retention[85]

Core Insights - Petco Health and Wellness reported a 2.3% year-over-year decline in net sales for Q1 2025, with comparable sales down 1.3%, but gross margin improved by 30 basis points to 38.2% [1] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $13.8 million to $89.4 million, representing 6% of sales, indicating profitability improvements despite sales challenges [1] Sales and Margin Performance - The store count reached 1,393 after 30 net closures over the last six quarters, with gross margin improvement driven by average unit cost discipline and markdown optimization [2] - SG&A discipline resulted in over 180 basis points of expense leverage, approximately 60 basis points when excluding last year's disposition costs, reflecting operational efficiency amid weak demand [2][3] Strategic Initiatives - Petco is implementing targeted resets in pet consumables, increasing shelf capacity in dog food by over 10% to address out-of-stocks and labor inefficiencies [4] - The merchandising reset aims to enhance customer satisfaction and improve in-stock availability, directly addressing lost sales drivers [5] Cost Management and Profitability - Management emphasizes that cost containment is a permanent strategy, focusing on leveraging SG&A as sales recover rather than relying on temporary expense reductions [6][8] - The goal is to manage SG&A effectively to support operating margin expansion as sales grow, rather than solely focusing on cost-cutting [7] Future Outlook - For full-year 2025, Petco expects net sales to decline in the low single digits, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $375 million and $390 million, and 20-30 net store closures [9] - Q2 FY2025 adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be $92 million to $94 million, reflecting an approximate 11% increase at the midpoint [9]

Petco Health & Wellness (WOOF) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.01 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.02. This compares to loss of $0.04 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 50%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this pet store chain would post earnings of $0.02 per share when it actually produced break-even earnings, delivering a surprise of -100%.Over the last four quarters, the co ...

Core Insights - Petco Health and Wellness Company reported a quarterly loss of four cents per share, aligning with analyst expectations [1] - Quarterly revenue was $1.49 billion, falling short of the $1.5 billion estimate and down from $1.53 billion in the same quarter last year [1] - The CEO highlighted the company's performance as a reflection of the team's execution and the resilience of the category [2] Financial Performance - Net sales of $1.5 billion represented a 2.3% decrease year-over-year, consistent with the company's first quarter outlook [4] - Comparable sales decreased by 1.3% year-over-year [4] - Gross profit margin improved by approximately 30 basis points to 38.2% as a percentage of net sales [4] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Petco's stock price dropped by 10.77%, trading at $3.23 during extended hours [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, comparable sales decreased by 1.3% and net sales declined by 2.3% due to 25 net store closures in 2024 and an additional five closures in Q1, resulting in an ending store count of 1,393 [22][23] - Gross margin rate expanded by over 30 basis points to 38.2%, with improvements across both product and service segments [24] - Operating profit increased by $33 million to $16.4 million, and adjusted EBITDA rose by $13.8 million to $89.4 million, representing 6% of sales [25][26] - Free cash flow was negative $44 million, primarily due to incentive payouts during the quarter [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Services, the fastest-growing area, continues to deliver positive growth, with productivity improvements in both hospitals and grooming operations supporting gross margin expansion [15] - The grooming software upgrade has allowed for more flexibility in online appointments, with over 40% of appointments made online [14] - Merchandise excellence is being prioritized, with a focus on optimizing product assortment to align with consumer demand [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is navigating a stable pet adoption trend, which is not expected to significantly impact the financial outlook for 2025, as the focus is on internal improvements rather than external market conditions [32][33] - The overall pet category remains resilient, with consumable products driving business due to their needs-based nature [57] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is undergoing a transformation with a multi-phased approach aimed at improving operating models and restoring retail fundamentals [5][6] - Phase II focuses on executing identified work streams to enhance retail fundamentals and financial performance, with a strong emphasis on merchandise excellence and customer engagement [7][9] - A new membership program is being designed to create a personalized loyalty experience, expected to launch in 2026 [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strategy and team execution, emphasizing the importance of improving retail fundamentals and delivering better financial performance [16][20] - The company is reiterating its full-year outlook for 2025, expecting net sales to decline in low single digits and adjusted EBITDA to be between $375 million and $390 million [29] Other Important Information - The company is focused on restoring the health of its economic model through gross margin expansion, SG&A leverage, and ROIC improvement [22] - The North Star project is underway to better understand customer segments and inform future strategies [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are you seeing in pet adoption trends and how do these trends impact your full year outlook? - Management noted that pet adoption trends are stable and not expected to significantly influence the financial outlook for 2025, which is viewed as a self-help story [32][33] Question: How are you ensuring guardrails to take permanent costs out while keeping the customer experience intact? - Management emphasized a change in mindset towards managing SG&A effectively rather than just cutting costs, focusing on high returns and business growth [34][36] Question: Can you discuss the top line journey and the repositioning efforts? - Management indicated that while the repositioning efforts are in early stages, they are identifying growth levers and focusing on omnichannel marketing and product innovation [40][42] Question: Can you elaborate on gross margin performance and expectations for the full year? - Management expressed satisfaction with the gross margin performance in Q1 and reiterated the goal of expanding gross margin for the year [49][50] Question: What insights can you provide regarding consumer behavior and spending? - Management noted that services continue to lead the business, driven by needs-based categories, while consumables showed expected softness [56][66] Question: What is the outlook on inflation and pricing? - Management stated that pricing strategies have been in place prior to recent macroeconomic changes, focusing on balancing customer needs with business health [82][84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, comparable sales decreased by 1.3% and net sales declined by 2.3%, attributed to 25 net store closures in 2024 and an additional five closures in Q1, resulting in a total store count of 1,393 [24] - Gross margin rate increased by over 30 basis points to 38.2%, with improvements across both product and service segments [25] - Operating profit rose to $16.4 million, an increase of $33 million compared to the previous year, while adjusted EBITDA increased by $13.8 million to $89.4 million, representing 6% of sales [27][28] - Free cash flow was negative $44 million, primarily due to incentive payouts during the quarter [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Services, the fastest-growing segment, continues to show positive growth, with productivity improvements in both veterinary and grooming operations supporting gross margin expansion [16] - The company is optimizing product assortment to align more closely with consumer demand, focusing on higher productivity brands and SKUs [10] - The cat category product reset was completed in May, and the dog category reset was initiated, aimed at increasing shelf capacity and improving customer experience [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted stable pet adoption trends, indicating that it is not relying on external factors for financial improvements in 2025 [34] - The overall pet market remains resilient, with consumable categories driving business due to their needs-based nature [60] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a multi-phased approach to improve its operating model and restore retail fundamentals, with Phase I completed and Phase II underway [5][6] - A new membership program is being designed to enhance customer loyalty, expected to launch in 2026 [20] - The company aims to improve its marketing message to be more solutions-oriented and to enhance customer engagement through data-driven strategies [21][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategy and the team's ability to unlock Petco's full potential, despite navigating a challenging trade environment [22][23] - The leadership team is aligned on the goal of returning Petco to an industry-leading position, emphasizing the importance of improving retail fundamentals and financial performance [22][23] Other Important Information - The company reiterated its full-year outlook for 2025, expecting net sales to decline in the low single digits and adjusted EBITDA to be between $375 million and $390 million [30] - The company is actively managing tariff exposure, with owned brand inventory purchases from impacted countries representing about 7% of total merchandise costs [29][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are you seeing in pet adoption trends and how do these trends impact your full year outlook? - Management noted stable pet adoption trends and emphasized that 2025 is a self-help story for Petco, not reliant on external factors for financial improvements [34][35] Question: How are you ensuring guardrails to take permanent costs out while keeping the customer experience intact? - Management highlighted a change in mindset towards cost management, focusing on leveraging SG&A rather than just cutting costs [36][39] Question: Can you provide insights on the top line journey and the repositioning efforts? - Management indicated that while external observers may see limited progress, internally, they are identifying growth levers and implementing strategies for improvement [42][44] Question: Can you discuss gross margin performance and expectations for the full year? - Management expressed satisfaction with the gross margin performance in Q1 and reiterated the goal of expanding gross margins for the year [51][52] Question: How is the mix of revenue indicating consumer behavior? - Management noted that services continue to lead the business, driven by needs-based categories, while consumables showed expected softness [60][67] Question: What is the outlook on inflation and pricing? - Management stated that while they are monitoring inflation, they have not seen significant spikes and are focused on balancing customer needs with business health [83][84] Question: Have you identified price gaps and how are you addressing them? - Management confirmed that they are analyzing pricing at the SKU level and have identified opportunities to adjust prices to improve competitiveness [86][87]