Caesarstone (NASDAQ:CSTE) Announces Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.16 EPS

Caesarstone (NASDAQ:CSTE) issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The construction company reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.16, FiscalAI reports. Caesarstone had a negative return on equity of 29.38% and a negative net margin of 37.37%.The company had revenue of $96.55 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $102.50 million.

Here are the key takeaways from Caesarstone’s conference call:

• Profitability improved materially: gross margin rose to 24% from 19.6% a year ago, while adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to $1 million from $6.4 million, supported by restructuring savings and the transition to production partners.
• Revenue declined 7.7% year over year on a constant-currency basis to $96.6 million, with U.S. revenue down 14.1% amid weak commercial and stone-supplier channels; management said restoring revenue growth remains a top priority.
• Australia delivered its fourth consecutive quarter of growth, with constant-currency revenue up 10.1%, while the big-box channel in the U.S. grew 3%, led by IKEA.
• A new U.S. tariff-rate quota on imported quartz products takes effect August 15, including additional tariffs of 25% within quota and 50% above quota in the first year. Caesarstone is assessing the impact and has reassessed the timing of its goal to achieve positive adjusted EBITDA.
• The company reported approximately 800 silica-related injury claims and a $51.2 million provision for probable and reasonably estimable losses, while insurance coverage disputes remain ongoing.

Caesarstone Stock Performance

Shares of CSTE stock traded down $0.12 on Thursday, reaching $2.20. 253,066 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 100,063. Caesarstone has a 1 year low of $0.56 and a 1 year high of $2.62. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $2.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.75. The company has a market cap of $76.05 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.53 and a beta of 0.37.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Caesarstone

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new position in Caesarstone during the second quarter worth about $263,000. Citadel Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Caesarstone by 163.7% in the 3rd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 63,589 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $101,000 after acquiring an additional 39,474 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Caesarstone in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Caesarstone in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Pitcairn Co. acquired a new position in shares of Caesarstone in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 33.70% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Wall Street Zen raised Caesarstone from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Saturday, June 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Caesarstone currently has an average rating of “Sell”.

About Caesarstone

Caesarstone Ltd. is an Israel-based manufacturer specializing in engineered quartz surfaces for residential and commercial applications. The company’s core business centers on the design, production and marketing of quartz slabs and tiles used for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, flooring and wall cladding. Caesarstone’s products combine natural quartz with resins and pigments to deliver durable, low-maintenance surfaces known for their aesthetic versatility and resistance to scratches, stains and heat.

Founded in 1987 and headquartered at Kibbutz Sdot Yam, Israel, Caesarstone has grown into a global brand with distribution in over 50 countries.