Zacks: Analysts Anticipate Home Bancorp (HBCP) Will Post Earnings of $0.88 Per Share

Wall Street brokerages expect that Home Bancorp (NASDAQ:HBCP) will report earnings per share (EPS) of $0.88 for the current fiscal quarter, according to Zacks Investment Research. Two analysts have provided estimates for Home Bancorp’s earnings. The lowest EPS estimate is $0.86 and the highest is $0.89. Home Bancorp reported earnings per share of $0.66 in the same quarter last year, which indicates a positive year over year growth rate of 33.3%. The company is expected to announce its next earnings results on Tuesday, July 24th.

According to Zacks, analysts expect that Home Bancorp will report full-year earnings of $3.50 per share for the current financial year, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.45 to $3.55. For the next fiscal year, analysts expect that the business will post earnings of $3.47 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.40 to $3.54. Zacks Investment Research’s EPS calculations are a mean average based on a survey of sell-side research analysts that that provide coverage for Home Bancorp.

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Home Bancorp (NASDAQ:HBCP) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 24th. The bank reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $25.99 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.03 million. Home Bancorp had a net margin of 21.91% and a return on equity of 10.11%.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Home Bancorp from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 26th. Sandler O’Neill set a $48.00 price target on shares of Home Bancorp and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 24th. ValuEngine downgraded shares of Home Bancorp from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 2nd. Finally, BidaskClub upgraded shares of Home Bancorp from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Home Bancorp presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $48.00.

Shares of NASDAQ HBCP traded down $0.22 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $44.57. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 23,639 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,908. The firm has a market capitalization of $419.82 million, a PE ratio of 16.09 and a beta of 0.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Home Bancorp has a one year low of $34.12 and a one year high of $47.20.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 18th. Investors of record on Monday, May 7th were given a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.53%. This is an increase from Home Bancorp’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 4th. Home Bancorp’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.55%.

In related news, EVP Darren E. Guidry sold 4,607 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.34, for a total value of $199,667.38. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 13.20% of the company’s stock.

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ramsey Quantitative Systems acquired a new stake in Home Bancorp during the 4th quarter worth approximately $131,000. MetLife Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Home Bancorp during the 4th quarter worth approximately $133,000. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new stake in Home Bancorp during the 4th quarter worth approximately $148,000. Smith Asset Management Group LP acquired a new stake in Home Bancorp during the 4th quarter worth approximately $204,000. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its holdings in Home Bancorp by 51.9% during the 3rd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 6,741 shares of the bank’s stock worth $282,000 after buying an additional 2,303 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 37.06% of the company’s stock.

Home Bancorp Company Profile

Home Bancorp, Inc operates as the holding company for Home Bank, National Association that provides various banking products and services in Louisiana. It offers deposits products, including interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing checking, money market, savings, and certificates of deposit accounts.

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Analysts Set Expectations for Bristow Group Inc’s Q1 2019 Earnings (BRS)

Bristow Group Inc (NYSE:BRS) – Research analysts at Capital One cut their Q1 2019 earnings estimates for Bristow Group in a note issued to investors on Thursday, May 24th. Capital One analyst J. Gibney now expects that the oil and gas company will post earnings per share of ($0.70) for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of ($0.68). Capital One also issued estimates for Bristow Group’s Q2 2019 earnings at ($0.36) EPS, Q3 2019 earnings at ($0.29) EPS, Q4 2019 earnings at ($0.60) EPS and FY2019 earnings at ($1.95) EPS.

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Bristow Group (NYSE:BRS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 23rd. The oil and gas company reported ($0.48) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of ($0.66) by $0.18. Bristow Group had a negative net margin of 13.53% and a negative return on equity of 6.20%. The firm had revenue of $341.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $352.63 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($1.15) earnings per share. Bristow Group’s quarterly revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on BRS. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on shares of Bristow Group from $8.00 to $14.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Bristow Group from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. Finally, ValuEngine lowered shares of Bristow Group from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 13th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, The company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $13.50.

Shares of BRS opened at $12.55 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 2.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. Bristow Group has a 12-month low of $6.21 and a 12-month high of $18.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $447.41 million, a P/E ratio of -5.89 and a beta of 2.98.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BRS. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Bristow Group by 661.4% in the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 607,187 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $7,894,000 after acquiring an additional 527,444 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in Bristow Group by 2,105.8% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 380,840 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $4,951,000 after acquiring an additional 363,575 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Bristow Group by 14.2% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,540,142 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $33,022,000 after acquiring an additional 315,302 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP acquired a new stake in Bristow Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,960,000. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Bristow Group by 1,537.2% in the fourth quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 149,100 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,008,000 after acquiring an additional 139,993 shares in the last quarter.

In other Bristow Group news, insider L. Don Miller purchased 2,000 shares of Bristow Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $12.58 per share, with a total value of $25,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 14,199 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $178,623.42. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jonathan Baliff purchased 3,900 shares of Bristow Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $12.97 per share, for a total transaction of $50,583.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 73,244 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $949,974.68. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 10.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Bristow Group

Bristow Group Inc provides industrial aviation services to the offshore energy companies in Europe Caspian, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers helicopter transportation services to transport personnel between onshore bases and offshore production platforms, drilling rigs, and other installations, as well as to transport time-sensitive equipment to these offshore locations.

What Your Investment Strategy Needs Right Now

There are two things that will help you become a better investor, and could help you manage your way through the next market meltdown...

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The two concepts I'm going to talk about today are easy to grasp. But what makes them difficult to execute is our emotions...

You may have heard people say, "I hate losing more than I like winning." While this sentiment often pertains to sports or some other event of a competitive nature, it's precisely the sort of thinking that often causes investors to lose their shirt.

Of course, nobody likes to lose, especially when it comes to money. But that fear of loss overcomes our rational self and greatly decreases the probability of success. You see it happen in the sports world all the time. A team is up big and it begins playing "not to lose." Instead of continuing to do what got them into the winning position in the first place, they seize up. The fear of losing the lead -- and the game -- overcomes them. Sometimes they squeak by with a narrow win, other times they give up the lead entirely.

In investing, it's a human tendency to behave irrationally when it comes to taking profits and losses. According to Economics Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman, this is known as "prospect theory."

One of the hardest things to do is keep your emotions from clouding your judgment. Once you allow emotions to get the better of you, you lose your confidence, self-doubt creeps in and you begin second-guessing yourself with every investment or move you make. Emotions make you question everything you're doing in the markets... especially during turbulent market environments.

That's why today I want to talk about a couple of things you can do that should help put your mind at ease -- and help prepare you -- when the next bout of volatility hits.

Understanding Losses
Nobody likes to be wrong. And taking a loss is proving exactly that... that you were wrong.

It's been proven that investors tend to sell their winners too early, satisfying their desire to be right, and hold on to their losers too long, hoping that they will not have to take a loss and be wrong.

The simple fact is that we as investors will be wrong. It happens to the best of us. And chances are good that we'll be wrong quite often. But as prominent investing magnate George Soros once said, "It's not about being right or wrong, rather, it's about how much money you make when you're right and how much you don't lose when you're wrong."

Risk Management
I've told this story before, but it's worth repeating, as it gives a perfect example of why you need risk management...

Joe Campbell thought he found the perfect trade, one that was sure to make him rich.

A drug development company by the name of KaloBios Pharmaceuticals announced it would wind down its operations and restructure in order to liquidate its assets. In short, the company was going out of business.

So Campbell shorted $18,000 worth of the stock. After all, the company was going out of business. What could go wrong?

Lots.

An investor group came in and acquired 50% of outstanding shares and announced it would form a plan to allow the company to continue operations.

Overnight, shares of the stock shot up more than 650%...

When the trader checked his account, not only did he lose his entire balance of $37,000, but his account balance actually showed a negative balance of $106,445.56.

Instead of striking it rich, he owed his brokerage six figures.

I bring this story up to point out one of the many mistakes this investor made... he risked almost 50% of his capital on one trade. This is not prudent investing, that's gambling.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your capital is through risk management. Establish strict sell or loss parameters and follow them.

One popular risk management method is the 2% rule, which means you never put more than 2% of your account equity at risk in any single trade.

For example, if you are trading a $50,000 account and you choose to use the 2% rule, that means you are willing to risk $1,000 on any given trade. The great thing about this rule is that if you stick to it, you would have to make dozens of consecutive 2% losing trades in order to literally go broke. And even for a novice investor, this is highly unlikely to happen.

Keep in mind that the 2% number is arbitrary; you can adjust it to fit your level of risk tolerance. But it provides investors with a foundation on which to make trading decisions.

For instance, say you wanted to buy shares of Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) and you only wanted to risk $1,000, or 2% of a $50,000 portfolio. You set your exit or stop-loss at 20% (another arbitrary number that can be adjusted based on your risk tolerance). You can now figure out how large of a position, or how many shares you will buy.

To find this number you first divide 100 by your stop loss, in this case 20, which results in five. Then you take that number -- five -- and multiply it by the amount you want to risk, $1,000.

Five times $1,000 is $5,000, which means you can buy $5,000 worth of Apple stock... or 27 shares if the stock is trading at $184 per share.

If Apple declines 20%, you'll lose about $1,000 and exit the position.

But let's say that you want to use a smaller stop-loss, like 13%, on your Apple position. Here's how the math works...

-- 100 divided by 13 equals 7.7.

-- 7.7 times $1,000 equals $7,700.

-- $7,700 divided by the share price, $184, equals 42 shares.

Determining the proper position size before placing a trade will not only dramatically impact your trading results, but it will help put your mind at ease.

If you can master the art of understanding losses and position sizing -- you will be leaps and bounds ahead of other investors. To be sure, these are guidelines that can be, and should be used investors of all shapes and sizes. Plus, having a plan in place will help you sleep better at night during market drawdowns, knowing that you aren't taking extraordinary risks with your capital.

Followers of the MP Score system understand exactly how this works. For us, it means using the system's two proven indicators (one technical, one fundamental) to arrive at an MP Score, which tells us exactly when to buy and when to sell.

It's that simple. By having a plan and relying on a proven system, take emotion out of the equation and have an entry/exit plan right off the bat. Because of this, we've been able to notch gains of 20% in 14 days... 82% in 48 days... 118% in 86 days�� and 266% in 12 months. If you'd like to learn more about the MP Score, I invite you to follow this link.

Summit shock fades; Samsonite struggles; Europe's big data day

1. Global market overview: Market sentiment has recovered from the shock news that the United States would not hold a June 12 summit with North Korea to discuss its nuclear weapons program.

Stocks dropped Thursday, and then recovered to close little changed. The Dow Jones industrial average ended down by 0.3% and the S&P 500 was off by 0.2%. The Nasdaq was flat at the close.

US stock futures were inching higher on Friday, and European markets were mostly rising in early trading, with some key markets up by 0.5%.

Investors were a little more cautious in Asia, where some stock market indexes closed the day with narrow losses.

2. More drama at Samsonite: The world's biggest luggage maker Samsonite has fired back at an investment firm that accused it of questionable business practices, but its response failed to reassure shareholders.

The company's stock plummeted by about 12% in Hong Kong on Friday following a 10% drop the day before.

Samsonite (SMSOF) came under fire Thursday from Blue Orca Capital, a new firm led by renowned short seller Soren Aandahl. Short sellers are investors who profit when the value of a company's shares drops.

Samsonite said the allegations were "one-sided and misleading, and accordingly, the conclusions drawn in the report are incorrect." It warned shareholders to treat the Blue Orca report with caution, as "it may be intended specifically to undermine confidence in the company and its management, and to harm its reputation."

It said it believed it had no information it needed to disclose to investors under Hong Kong securities rules.

Before the Bell newsletter: Key market news. In your inbox. Subscribe now!

3. Rusal retreat: Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska is taking another step to distance himself from his massive aluminum company that's reeling from crippling US sanctions.

Rusal, the world's second largest aluminum producer, said in a statement Friday that Deripaska, its founder, had stepped down from his role as a non-executive director on its board.

It said the decision was taken in order to "protect the interests of the company and its shareholders." His departure follows those of the company's CEO and seven other directors, which were announced Thursday.

Rusal, which produces 7% of the world's aluminum, has been under intense pressure following the imposition of US sanctions, which targeted a number of oligarchs and government officials, including Deripaska.

The sanctions were designed to punish Moscow for meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. The US Treasury Department said last month it would consider easing sanctions on Rusal if Deripaska divests.

4. New privacy rules in Europe: The highly anticipated privacy revolution has arrived in Europe.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect across the European Union on Friday, changing the way companies around the world collect and handle personal data.

The new law affects any organization that holds or uses data on people inside the European Union, regardless of where is it based. An Indian call center handling customer services for companies that sell products in Europe or a US website tracking browsing histories of Europeans will be impacted.

The last few days were marked by a huge scramble among businesses to get their data privacy policies in shape.

Those who fail to comply could now face fines of up to ��20 million ($23 million) or 4% of their global annual sales, whichever is bigger.

Privacy advocates have already filed legal complaints against Facebook (FB) and its Whatsapp and Instagram subsidiaries, and Google (GOOGL), alleging they are breaking the new rules.

5. Earnings and economics: Buckle (BKE) and Foot Locker (FL) are the key companies releasing earnings before the open Friday.

In economics, the University of Michigan is releasing its monthly consumer sentiment survey for May at 10 a.m. ET.

In the United Kingdom, the Office for National Statistics reiterated that the economy grew by just 0.1% in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the previous quarter. Some economists had been expecting the number to be revised higher because the preliminary report was based on partial data.

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6. Coming this week: Friday �� General Data Protection Regulation goes into effect in the European Union

U.K. stocks set for record after U.S.-China trade war looks averted for now

U.K. stocks rose on Monday, on track for a record closing high, as traders welcomed news over the weekend that China and the U.S. reached an agreement that eases trade tensions between the world��s two largest economies.

That optimism also sparked a rally in the dollar, which in turn pulled the pound lower. That further helped lift the British stock market.

What are markets doing?

The FTSE 100 index UKX, +0.85% �rose 0.6% to 7,824.42, setting it on track to take out its previous closing high of 7,787.97, hit last Thursday.

The pound GBPUSD, -0.4901% �fell to $1.3414 from $1.3466 late Friday in New York. A weaker pound tends to boost the FTSE 100, as the index��s components make the bulk of their earnings overseas and a softening in sterling lifts revenues when converted back into the U.K. currency.

What is driving the market?

The upbeat trading mood in stocks came after Beijing and Washington agreed to drop their tariff threats. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday that the U.S. administration would put the trade war with China ��on hold�� while the two countries work on a deal to reduce the U.S.��s trade deficit with the Chinese. Meanwhile, China agreed to buy more U.S. products, but without specifying a dollar amount.

What are strategists saying?

��It looks like progress on talks between China and the U.S. means we are not about to descend into a punitive trade war. Whilst there is still long way to go, and nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, there has undoubtedly been solid progress and the sense of relief in equity markets is palpable,�� said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com.

��But we must note that the FTSE��s gains of late are probably more attributable to a weaker pound as the dollar rallies across the board,�� he added.

Which stocks are in focus?

Shares of AstraZeneca PLC AZN, +2.48% AZN, -0.30% �rose 1.7% after the drug giant said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Lokelma for the treatment of adults with hyperkalemia.

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA IAG, +1.14% ICAGY, -0.81% �added 0.8% after reports the British Airways-parent is planning to make a ��1.52 billion offer for Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA NAS, -7.43% �.

In Ireland, Ryanair Holdings PLC RY4C, +3.78% RYAAY, +1.76% �slipped 0.2% after the budget airline warned on 2019 profit due to higher oil prices and pressure on fare prices.

Related Topics United Kingdom London Stock Exchange London Markets Bank of England Europe European Markets Quote References UKX +66.29 +0.85% GBPUSD -0.0066 -0.4901% AZN +130.00 +2.48% IAG +7.80 +1.14% ICAGY -0.15 -0.81% NAS -20.10 -7.43% RY4C +0.59 +3.78% RYAAY +1.94 +1.76% Show all references MarketWatch Partner Center Most Popular Tesla��s Elon Musk announces new high-performance Model 3 for $78,000 Money Milestones: This is how your finances should look in your 30s All the ways you can mess up your 401(k) �� even if you max out your contributions Surprising strategies to avoid the alternative minimum tax under the new tax law Here's how indoor farming can help feed 9.1 billion people by 2050 Sara Sjolin

Sara Sjolin is a MarketWatch reporter based in London. Follow her on Twitter @sarasjolin.

Sara Sjolin

Sara Sjolin is a MarketWatch reporter based in London. Follow her on Twitter @sarasjolin.

H&M Buyout Speculation Triggered by Chairman's Growing Purchases

Hennes & Mauritz AB Chairman Stefan Persson’s continued share purchases have revived speculation he may be trying to take the global retail giant private, as the market tries to interpret the billionaire’s actions.

So far in May, Persson has spent about 3.5 billion kronor ($401 million) on H&M shares, bringing his stake to roughly 736 million shares. Year-to-date, he’s spent about 6.4 billion kronor buying stock.

With those purchases, Persson and his family now control 44.5 percent of H&M, or 49.9 percent when combining his stake with the that of his sister, Lottie Tham and her family. Together, they held about 75 percent of H&M’s voting rights at the end of April.

Buying Spree

H&M's chairman has bought shares for 6.4 billion kronor in April and May

Source: Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority

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The buying spree has fueled conjecture in local media that Persson may want to buy all of H&M and take it private. The chairman and his son, Chief Executive Officer Karl-Johan Persson, have consistently rejected that theory. Nils Vinge, H&M’s head of investor relations, says he’s not aware of any buyout plan.

Controlling Stake

H&M Chairman Stefan Persson's family and his sister now control 50% of stock

Source: Swedish FSA, H&M

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Some analysts think Persson is probably just reinvesting the dividend (roughly 7 billion kronor) he is getting from H&M this year. If that’s the case, he may soon have finished his share purchases.

Asa Wesshagen, who monitors companies at the Swedish Shareholders’ Association, says the Persson family isn’t known "for making quick deals," and points out that Persson has reinvested his dividend payments in a similar way in previous years.

But with Persson’s share purchases seeming to intensify, some analysts wonder whether this time might be different.

Though the likelihood of a family buyout ultimately isn’t that big, the latest buying spree by the chairman suggests it’s a bigger possibility now than a year ago, according to a Stockholm-based H&M analyst who asked not to be identified in line with company policy. The analyst said the family has the ability to pull off such a deal.

Joacim Olsson, the chief executive officer of the Swedish Shareholders’ Association, says the scenario can’t be ruled out, but is unlikely to happen within the next five years.

“If he continues to build his stake, I guess it wouldn’t take that much for him to buy it outright," Olsson said by phone. "But right now, we’re talking about huge amounts of money, if it were to happen."

With a market capitalization of about 240 billion kronor, H&M is the fifth-largest Swedish company. Taking it private would require about 120 billion kronor in funding to pay for the 50 percent of the shares that Persson and his sister don’t already own.

Wesshagen at the shareholders’ association says Persson has many options should he want to take H&M private. He could make a bid for the entire company himself, or team up with a private-equity firm to help with the financing. He could also have H&M start a share buy-back program, should its finances allow that, or let another company buy H&M and then take a stake in that firm.

A leveraged buyout may be unlikely, given H&M’s declared goal of having “a strong capital structure with strong liquidity and financial flexibility."

It’s worth noting that a Swedish rule requiring investors to make a formal bid if they acquire more than 30 percent of a company doesn’t apply to Persson. That’s because he already controlled more than that when the rule came into force more than a decade ago.