It’s Getting Cold in Burlington

September 6, 2022

Burlington Stores (BURL) reported earnings on August 25 that beat on profits but missed on revenue. Same-store sales fell 17%, more than analysts expected. The reasons should sound familiar by now – consumers coming under increasing price pressures and too much inventory. More significantly, BURL slashed its quarterly and full-year earnings forecast.

Analysts, as usual, are right on with their assessment of the stock. Despite the price being cut in half this year, BURL has an average “buy” rating. I’m not sure what chart they’re looking at. In fact, there are more “buy” and “strong buy” ratings now than in June. Go figure. To their credit, most analysts lowered their price targets for the off-price retailer. But the average target of $176 is still 23% above Friday’s close.

The stock was hammered after the report, dropping 10% to fall below both the 50-day (blue line) and 20-day (red line) moving averages. And it hasn’t recovered since then. We are thus playing a bearish credit spread with the short call (green line) sitting on the 20-day moving average, which is rolling over. Thus, the stock will have to break above two points of resistance to move the spread into the money.

If you agree that BURL will struggle to break through resistance, consider the following trade that relies on the stock staying below $155 through expiration in seven weeks:

Buy to Open the BURL 21Oct 160 call (BURL221021C160)
Sell to Open the BURL 21Oct 155 call (BURL221021C155) for a credit of $1.55 (selling a vertical)

This credit is $0.05 less than the mid-point price of the spread at Friday’s $143.46 close. Unless BURL falls quickly, you should be able to get close to that price.

The commission on this trade should be no more than $1.30 per spread. Each spread would then yield $153.70. This trade reduces your buying power by $500, making your net investment $346.30 per spread ($500 – $153.70). If BURL closes below $155 on October 21, both options will expire worthless and your return on the spread would be 44% ($153.70/$346.30).