Bear of the Day: Xerox (XRX)

Xerox XRX is a global leader in office and production print technology and related solutions, with a large and growing presence in Digital and IT Services.

Analysts have taken their earnings expectations for its current fiscal year lower over the last year, with the stock a current Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

Xerox Struggles

XRX shares have had a tough showing over the past three months, down 11% and widely underperforming relative to the S&P 500. The performance disparity widens significantly across longer timeframes as well, with shares down 80% over the last three years.

Below is a chart illustrating the stock’s performance relative to the S&P 500 over the past three months.

A plunge in sales over the past several years has been the main driving force impacting the stock, as shown below. The worldwide shift into the digital era has been a major thorn in the side of the company, helping explain the weak top-line action.

Steep margin pressures have also significantly eaten into profits, with the company struggling to show much earnings growth over recent years. Below is a chart illustrating the company’s gross margin on an annual basis.

Bottom Line

Analysts' negative earnings estimate revisions and a big sales plunge over recent years paint a challenging picture for the company’s shares.

Xerox XRX is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that analysts have taken a bearish stance on the company’s earnings outlook.

For those seeking strong stocks, a great idea would be to focus on stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). These stocks sport a notably stronger earnings outlook and the potential to deliver explosive gains in the near term.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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