The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX – Free Report) , a leading off-price retailer, recently came out with its fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 results wherein adjusted earnings of $1.19 missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.28. However adjusted earnings depicted an increase of 15.5% from the prior-year quarter. Adjusted earnings for fiscal 2018 increased 9.1% from the prior-year to reach $3.85.

For the first-quarter and for fiscal 2019 the company expects adjusted earnings in the range of 85–87 cents and $4.00–$4.08 respectively.

Earnings Estimate Revision: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 has increased by a cent in the last 30 days. In the trailing four quarters, excluding the quarter under review, the company outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 2%.

TJX Companies, Inc. (The) Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Revenues: TJX Companies generated total sales of $10,961 million that increased 15.8% year over year and came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10,789 million. For fiscal 2018 revenues came in at $35.9 billion, depicting an 8% growth from the prior year figure.

Key Events: Management intends to increase quarterly dividend rates by 25% to 39 cents per share. Further the company has also announced a share repurchase program worth $2.5 to $3.0 billion to be carried out during fiscal 2019.

Zacks Rank: Currently, TJX Companies carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) which is subject to change following the earnings announcement.