CG
China Green Agriculture, Inc. (CGA)·Q2 2018 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 FY2018 delivered stable top-line and a material bottom-line beat: net sales were $63.4M (within guidance $58–$65M) and net income of $7.8M exceeded guidance by ~30%; diluted EPS was $0.20 vs $0.12–$0.16 guidance .
- Management raised full-year net income guidance to $23–$32M (from $21–$30M) and full-year EPS to $0.60–$0.83 (from $0.54–$0.77), while maintaining revenue guidance at $263–$301M .
- Sequential earnings strength (EPS up to $0.20 from $0.13) contrasted with slight gross profit softness vs Q2 FY2017 ($18.5M vs $19.2M), consistent with a blended margin profile from wholesale expansion noted in earlier periods .
- Near-term catalyst: guidance raise for FY2018 and Q3 FY2018 outlook (revenue $68–$78M; net income $6–$8M; EPS $0.15–$0.20) positions the stock for estimate revisions and sentiment improvement .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Revenue met Q2 guidance ($63.4M vs $58–$65M), and net income beat by ~30%, driving EPS to $0.20; management framed the quarter as “another solid” performance with strengthened fundamentals .
- Full-year outlook improved: net income and EPS guidance raised, signaling confidence in execution across manufacturing and wholesale segments .
- Strategic progress: CEO emphasized development of the wholesale segment as “key to the future of our company,” reinforcing the multi-channel distribution strategy .
What Went Wrong
- Gross profit modestly declined year over year ($18.5M in Q2 FY2018 vs $19.2M in Q2 FY2017), echoing earlier commentary that product mix shifts and pricing at Gufeng can pressure margins .
- Limited segment detail in the Q2 release constrains transparency on margin drivers by business unit versus prior disclosures that highlighted mix and cost dynamics .
- Investor-relations concerns persist from prior call: shareholders pressed for dividends, buybacks, uplisting, and website updates—management committed to improvements but timelines (e.g., “within a year” for website) left investors seeking faster action .
Financial Results
Notes:
- Sequential change: revenue +0.9%, EPS +54% vs Q1 FY2018, supported by stronger net income performance .
- Year-over-year: revenue +7.5%, EPS +33%; gross profit modestly lower, consistent with prior commentary on product mix and costs in earlier periods .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Note: No Q2 FY2018 transcript was available; the company announced the call but a written transcript could not be located .
Management Commentary
- “We had finished another solid quarter. Our results continue to validate the strength of our market positions… The development of the wholesale segment… is key to the future of our company.” — Zhuoyu Li, Chairman & CEO (Q2 FY2018 press release) .
- “With strong engagement in both manufacturing and wholesales business, our company’s fundamentals continue to improve.” — Tao Li, Chairman & CEO (Q1 FY2018 press release) .
- FY2017 context: CFO detailed wholesale contribution and blended margins; operating income and net income trends underscored disciplined execution during transition year .
Q&A Highlights
(From Q4 FY2017 call; no Q2 FY2018 transcript available)
- Shareholder value actions: investors urged dividends, buybacks, uplisting; management emphasized exploring options and navigating FX controls; President committed to sharing strategy within two months .
- Investor relations and transparency: website overhaul planned “within a year” and intent to improve communications cadence .
- Acquisition financing and protections: detailed convertible note structures designed to cap dilution and protect the company if targets underperform .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus data was not retrievable for CGA during this period; consequently, formal consensus comparisons are unavailable via S&P Global. As external context, public sources indicated Q2 FY2018 EPS consensus at $0.14, implying a ~$0.06 beat vs actual $0.20; revenue consensus was not found in public sources, while actual revenue was $63.4M .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Q2 delivered a clean beat on net income and EPS with revenue in-range; this strengthens near-term confidence in execution across both manufacturing and wholesale channels .
- FY2018 guidance raised for net income and EPS, suggesting potential for upward estimate revisions and improved sentiment; Q3 guidance provides additional visibility .
- Sequential profitability inflected strongly (EPS $0.20 vs $0.13), while gross profit softening vs prior year warrants continued monitoring of mix and pricing dynamics highlighted previously .
- Lack of segment detail in the Q2 release limits margin attribution; investors should watch subsequent filings for segment-level disclosure to assess sustainability of earnings power .
- Ongoing shareholder-relations initiatives (website, capital return, listing strategy) remain an overhang from prior calls; concrete actions could be a secondary catalyst if executed .
- Near-term trading setup: guidance raise plus EPS beat are positive signals; risk factors include margin mix evolution and the pace of IR improvements .
- Medium-term thesis: multi-channel distribution platform (manufacturing + wholesale) offers scale and reach; balanced growth must translate into consistent margins and working capital discipline to support valuation .
Appendix — Guidance vs Actual (Q2 FY2018)
Sources:
- Q2 FY2018 8-K and press release (Exhibit 99.1) .
- Q1 FY2018 8-K and press release (Exhibit 99.1) .
- Q2 FY2017 8-K and press release (Exhibit 99.1) .
- FY2017 8-K and press release (Exhibit 99.1) .
- Q4 FY2017 earnings call transcript .
- Q2 FY2018 call announcement .
- External consensus context .