Core Insights - Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (WOOF) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2024 results with net sales and earnings declining year-over-year, meeting revenue estimates but lagging on earnings [1][2] Financial Performance - The company posted break-even earnings per share in Q4 fiscal 2024, down from adjusted earnings of 2 cents in the same quarter last year, and below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of adjusted earnings of 2 cents [2] - Net sales were $1,552.1 million, a decrease of 7.3% year-over-year, influenced by the absence of a 53rd week in fiscal 2023; comparable sales increased by 0.5%, slightly below the expected growth of 0.9% [3] Margins and Expenses - Gross profit fell by 2.8% year-over-year to $589.3 million, while gross margin improved by 180 basis points to 38% [4] - Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 5.7% to $571.8 million, with these expenses as a percentage of net sales decreasing by 60 basis points to 36.8% [4] - Adjusted EBITDA was $96.1 million, down from $105.3 million in the previous year, with the adjusted EBITDA margin contracting by 10 basis points to 6.2% [5] Cash Flow and Equity - At the end of the quarter, Petco had cash and cash equivalents of $165.8 million and total stockholders' equity of $1.11 billion; operating cash flow was $177.7 million, down from $215.7 million in the prior year [6] - Free cash flow totaled $49.7 million at the end of Q4 fiscal 2024 [6] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2025, net sales are expected to decline in the low-single-digit percentage range, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $375 million and $390 million; capital expenditure is anticipated to be between $130 million and $140 million [9][10] - The company expects to close 20-30 net real estate locations during the year [10] - For Q1 fiscal 2025, net sales are also projected to decline in the low-single-digit percentage range, with adjusted EBITDA expected between $82 million and $83 million [10]