Core Insights - Chewy Inc. (CHWY) is a leading online pet retailer with a trailing 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 1.33X, significantly lower than the industry average of 2.69X, raising questions about its investment potential [1] - The company has seen an 8.9% increase in stock price over the past month, outperforming the industry decline of 2.4% [2] - Chewy's Q2 net sales reached $3.1 billion, an 8.6% year-over-year growth, driven by strong performance in its Autoship program [7][8] Valuation and Performance - CHWY's trailing 12-month P/S ratio is favorable compared to competitors like Central Garden & Pet Company (0.61), Petco Health and Wellness Company (0.18), and BARK, Inc. (0.28) [1] - The company has outperformed its competitors, with Central Garden and BARK shares declining by 15.9% and 9.3%, respectively, while Petco Health gained 4.7% [3] Sales and Growth Drivers - Autoship sales hit a record $2.58 billion, accounting for 83% of total quarterly revenues, with a year-over-year growth of 14.9% [9] - The active customer base grew to 20.9 million, a 4.5% increase year-over-year, with net sales per active customer rising by 4.6% [10] - Chewy's gross margin improved by 90 basis points to 30.4%, and adjusted EBITDA grew by 34.8%, indicating effective cost management [10] Strategic Initiatives - The Chewy Vet Care network plans to open 8-10 practices in fiscal 2025, enhancing service offerings [11] - The Chewy+ membership program is contributing approximately 3% of monthly sales, indicating higher customer engagement [11] - The launch of the new private brand of fresh dog food, Get Real, has received positive customer feedback [12] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2025, Chewy raised its net sales outlook to $12.5-$12.6 billion, reflecting a 7-8% adjusted year-over-year growth [13] - The company anticipates a 5.4-5.7% adjusted EBITDA margin for the full year, with expected margin improvements driven by gross margin gains [14] - Chewy maintains a strong balance sheet and a debt-free position, positioning itself for sustainable long-term value [15] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has seen upward revisions, with current estimates for the fiscal year increasing to $1.27 and $1.53 for the next fiscal year [17] Challenges and Competitive Landscape - Management expects margin expansion to moderate in the latter half of fiscal 2025 due to reinvestments in strategic programs [19] - Rising operating costs and fulfillment inefficiencies have constrained Chewy's leverage potential, with SG&A expenses rising to 19.1% of net sales [20] - Competitive intensity remains high, prompting Chewy to sustain advertising and marketing spend at $200.6 million, or 6.5% of sales [22]

Core Viewpoint - Chewy (NYSE: CHWY) remains a strong investment opportunity despite its stock price doubling since 2024, primarily due to the potential for rising profit margins driven by strategic initiatives [1]. Profit Margins - Chewy has achieved consistent profitability and cash generation over the past two years, currently reporting a 2% net profit margin and a 4% free cash flow margin (1.2% when including stock-based compensation). There is potential for further margin improvement as management focuses on higher-margin growth areas [2]. Key Growth Areas - **Autoship**: Chewy's Autoship subscription plans constitute 83% of total sales, providing predictable and steady revenue that can be further streamlined [3]. - **Chewy Vet Care**: The company aims to operate 20 Chewy Vet Care clinics by year-end, which will enhance its physical presence and tap into the higher margins typical of veterinary services [5]. - **Get Real**: The launch of a private-label healthy and fresh dog food product, Get Real, is expected to offer higher margins and align well with the Autoship subscription model [8]. - **Advertising**: The sponsored ads business is a significant contributor to Chewy's profitability, with management projecting that it could grow to represent 1% to 3% of total revenue [9]. - **Chewy+**: The new $49 annual membership program, Chewy+, has received positive feedback and already accounts for 3% of June sales, with potential for generating substantial high-margin membership fees [10]. Valuation - Chewy is currently trading at 29 times forward earnings, but with anticipated earnings growth, it is considered a top stock to consider [10].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q2 net sales grew by nearly 9% year over year to $3.1 billion, exceeding the high end of guidance [6][19] - Gross margin reached 30.4%, expanding by nearly 80 and 90 basis points sequentially and year-over-year, respectively [8][19] - Adjusted EBITDA was $183.3 million, representing a 5.9% margin and a year-over-year increase of over 80 basis points [9][21] - Free cash flow generated was nearly $106 million in the quarter [9][21] - Adjusted net income increased by 34.8% year over year to $141.1 million, with adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.33 [21][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Autoship customer sales reached $2.58 billion, representing 83% of Q2 net sales and growing nearly 15% year over year [6][7] - Hardgoods business grew over 15% in Q2, driven by structural volume growth [7] - Chewy Plus program showed strong growth, with approximately 3% of total monthly sales attributed to members [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Active customers increased to 20.9 million, reflecting 4.5% year-over-year growth [8] - NESPAC (Net Effective Sales Per Active Customer) reached $591, representing 4.6% year-over-year growth [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Chewy is focused on expanding its Chewy Plus membership and private brands, with a new product line "Get Real" launched for fresh dog food [12][15] - The company aims to mitigate tariff-related costs and invest in growth initiatives while maintaining a strong customer experience [17] - Chewy plans to open 8 to 10 new veterinary practices in fiscal year 2025, enhancing its Chewy Vet Care network [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in Chewy's ability to gain market share despite a challenging retail environment [17] - The company anticipates continued growth in the second half of 2025, with net sales expected to be between $3.07 and $3.1 billion [23] - Management expects to maintain a full-year adjusted EBITDA margin outlook of 5.4% to 5.7% [24] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 3 million shares for a total of approximately $125 million in Q2 [21][22] - Chewy ended the quarter with approximately $592 million in cash and cash equivalents, remaining debt-free [22][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Investments required in the back half and increasing awareness of new offerings - Management indicated that they are focusing on existing members for Chewy Plus and have not spent additional marketing dollars externally [27][28] Question: SG&A deleverage and its components - Management expects SG&A leverage in 2025, with temporary costs attributed to the ramp-up of the Houston fulfillment center and higher inventory processing costs [36][42] Question: Q2 gross margin improvement and pricing investments - Management noted that gross margin drivers include product mix, increasing Autoship penetration, and a rational promotional environment [45][46] Question: Potential of the fresh and frozen segment - Management estimates the total addressable market for fresh and frozen pet food to be between $8 billion and $12 billion, with strong initial customer reception for the "Get Real" product line [55][56] Question: Advertising environment and macro expectations - Management reported stable pet household formation trends and competitive intensity in advertising, with expectations for continued customer growth [60][66] Question: Competitive advantages and share gains - Management emphasized Chewy's unique value proposition, combining e-commerce efficiency with personalized service, and highlighted growth opportunities in health and wellness segments [70][76] Question: Quality of customer cohorts and Autoship growth - Management noted improvements in customer retention and engagement through programs like Autoship and Chewy Plus, leading to higher NESPAC [79][82]

Core Insights - Chewy Inc. (CHWY) reported a strong performance in Q1 fiscal 2025, with net sales increasing by 8.3% year over year to $3.12 billion, surpassing guidance due to strong engagement in core categories [1][10] - The Autoship program was a significant growth driver, contributing $2.56 billion in sales, which is 82.2% of total net sales, and showing a year-over-year growth of 14.8% [2][10] - Chewy's active customer base grew to 20.8 million, reflecting a 3.8% increase, driven by effective customer acquisition strategies [2] Segment Performance - The hardgoods segment saw a year-over-year growth of 12.3%, supported by improved customer experience and faster SKU onboarding [1] - Chewy Vet Care expanded to 11 clinics across four states, with strong customer utilization, as about half of first-time customers ordered from Chewy.com within 30 days [3] - The Chewy+ membership program showed promising adoption, leading to a 3.7% increase in net sales per active customer to $583 [4] Financial Guidance and Valuation - Chewy maintained its fiscal 2025 revenue guidance of $12.3 billion to $12.45 billion, indicating a growth of 6-7% when adjusted for the previous year's extra week [5] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 1.17X, which is below the industry average of 2.17X, indicating potential undervaluation [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Chewy's fiscal 2025 and 2026 earnings suggests year-over-year growth of 23.1% and 19.5%, respectively, with recent upward revisions in estimates [12]

Core Insights - Chewy, Inc. (CHWY) and Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) are key players in the pet care industry, each with unique operational models and growth strategies [1] - Chewy focuses on e-commerce and customer engagement, while Central Garden & Pet emphasizes a diversified portfolio and operational efficiency [1] Chewy, Inc. (CHWY) - Chewy reported net sales of $3.12 billion in fiscal Q1 2025, an 8.3% year-over-year increase, exceeding guidance [2] - The Autoship program generated $2.56 billion in sales, accounting for 82% of total net sales, with a 14.8% year-over-year growth [3] - Active customer base grew by 3.8% year-over-year to 20.8 million, with net sales per active customer rising 3.7% to $583 [4] - Chewy Vet Care operates 11 clinics and plans to open 8-10 more in fiscal 2025, while the Chewy+ membership program shows early success [5] - Adjusted EBITDA margin for Q1 was 6.2%, but management expects a decline due to seasonality and increased marketing investments [6] - Marketing expenses reached $193.8 million, or 6.2% of sales, projected to rise to 6.7-6.8% for the year [7] Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) - CENT's adjusted gross margin improved by 200 basis points to 33.3% in Q2, reflecting strong cost management [9][13] - E-commerce accounted for 27% of Pet segment sales, driven by new products and digital strategies [14] - The company opened a 300,000-square-foot distribution center in New Jersey, enhancing fulfillment capabilities [12] - Financially, CENT ended Q2 with $517 million in cash and no borrowings, maintaining a net leverage ratio of 1.7X [15] - The consensus estimate for CENT's fiscal 2025 sales suggests a year-over-year decline of 1.7%, while EPS is expected to grow by 17.8% [20] Comparative Analysis - Chewy's shares gained 1% over the past three months, while CENT's stock rose 19.6%, driven by strong margin expansion and cost execution [21] - Chewy's forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple is 1.20, while CENT's is 0.85, indicating a more attractive valuation for CENT [22][23] - Central Garden & Pet is viewed as a better investment due to disciplined cost management and consistent margin expansion, while Chewy faces near-term challenges [26][27]

Core Insights - Chewy (CHWY) is a prominent player in the pet care industry, leveraging its strong e-commerce platform to cater to a growing number of pet owners. The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 1.38X, which is below the industry average of 2.02X, raising questions about whether it is a buy, hold, or sell opportunity [1][21] Valuation Comparison - Chewy's valuation is attractive compared to peers such as Central Garden & Pet Company (CENT) at a forward 12-month P/S of 0.75, Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (WOOF) at 0.15, and BARK, Inc. (BARK) at 0.33 [2] Stock Performance - Chewy's stock price has increased by 24.3% over the past three months, closing at $41.86, outperforming the industry's rise of 18.2% and the Retail - Wholesale sector's growth of 11.5% [3][5] - The stock is currently trading above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $41.53 and $35.26, indicating strong upward momentum and market confidence [9] Financial Performance - For the first quarter of fiscal 2025, Chewy reported net sales of $3.12 billion, an 8.3% year-over-year increase, exceeding guidance expectations [10] - The Autoship program generated record sales of $2.56 billion, accounting for 82% of total net sales and growing 14.8% year-over-year [11][13] - Chewy's active customer base grew to 20.8 million, a 3.8% year-over-year increase, with net sales per active customer rising by 3.7% to $583 [14] Growth Initiatives - Chewy's Vet Care business is expanding, with 11 clinics currently operating and plans to open 8-10 additional clinics in fiscal 2025 [15] - The Chewy+ membership program has successfully transitioned out of beta, showing increased customer engagement and order frequency [15] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2025, Chewy anticipates net sales between $12.3 billion and $12.5 billion, reflecting 6-7% year-over-year growth, with an adjusted EBITDA margin guidance of 5.4% to 5.7% [16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has seen upward revisions, with current estimates at $1.28 for the current year and $1.53 for the next year [17] Market Position - Chewy has demonstrated resilience through steady revenue growth and customer retention strategies, positioning itself as a high-growth, digitally native pet care leader [21]