Nu Skin Enterprises (NUS) recently hiked its earnings outlook and analysts followed suit. Shares of NUS continue to outpace the market, trading near a 52-week high. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.115 per share.
Company Description
Nu Skin Enterprises is a $1 billion direct selling company that markets and distributes premium quality personal care, nutrition and technology products through a global network of more than 750,000 active independent distributors and preferred customers. The company operates three core brands, Nu Skin, Pharmanex, and Big Planet.
The Nu Skin brand has a line of more than 100 premium skin treatment and other personal care products. With a team of more than 100 in-house scientists, Pharmanex uses a pharmaceutical approach that is setting the standard for the dietary supplement industry. Big Planet brings the benefits of technology to everyone with innovative products like Maxvault, a line of products that provide the easiest way to preserve, organize, share, and enjoy your photos and home movies.
Nu Skin Enterprises operates in 48 international markets across the Americas, the Asia Pacific region and Europe, with more than 75 percent of revenue coming from Asia.
Bullish Forecasts
The company recently hiked its earnings outlook and analysts followed suit. Nu Skin sees fourth-quarter earnings ranging between 38 and 40 cents. Analysts polled by Zacks are calling for 40 cents, up from last month’s 35 cents.
For 2009, Nu Skin’s outlook ranges between $1.43 and $1.45 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $1.45, an increase from the previous month’s $1.40.
For the following year, Nu Skin’s guidance ranges between $1.60 and $1.70 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.70 is above the month-prior $1.61.
Strong Momentum
Shares of NUS continue to outpace the market, trading near a 52-week high. During the past year, NUS has more than tripled the market’s return. In the last 3 months alone, shares surged by more than 50%, while the S&P 500 was up barely 10%.
Rewarding Shareholders
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.115 per share, which will be paid out on December 9 to shareholders of record as of November 27.
Nu Skin offers an industry-leading dividend yield of 1.7%.
A Record Quarter
The company saw record results for the third quarter. Earnings per share of 41 cents topped the previous year’s 26 cents and matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenue was a record $334.2 million, an increase of 8% year-over-year.
Alex Kolb is the Growth & Income Stock Strategist for Zacks.com. He also writes the popular daily commentary column for theZacksElite.com service. Zacks Investment Research
