Results of Weight Watchers International T1 2019

Weight Watchers shares rose 5% after markets closed on Wednesday. The company posted lower-than-expected first quarter results and strengthened its guidance for the year.

Here's what the company has reported against Wall Street's expectations, based on Refinitiv's average badyst estimates:

• Earnings per share: 16 cents loss compared to 26 cents expected loss
• Revenues: $ 363.2 million against $ 365.9 million expected

Weight Watchers is trying to turn into a brand of well-being instead of a diet company. He reorganized his image and renamed himself WW last year. The new look collapsed with consumers when the keto-style diet became mainstream, which hurt the company's recruitment efforts early in the first quarter, the critical diet season.

The company announced in February that it had begun "gently" to recruit members at the beginning of the year, sending its stock in tank. In response, Weight Watchers said it would look more at the icon of weight loss and about the board member, Oprah Winfrey. The company launched a new television commercial starring Winfrey at the end of April.

"Trends have improved sequentially over the quarter, with 4.6 million subscribers at the end of the quarter, up 1% year-over-year," said Mindy Grossman, Managing Director a statement. "We are confident that our strategy of providing holistic wellness solutions by leveraging our best weight management program is the ideal way to support long-term sustainable growth."

Subscribers at the end of the period were up almost 1% from the same quarter of the previous year. However, Weight Watchers attributed this increase earlier this quarter with more members than last year, offsetting the "declines in hiring" this quarter.

Weight Watchers recorded a loss of $ 10.7 million in the first quarter, a loss of 16 cents per share, compared to a profit of $ 39.1 million, or 56 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts expect the company to lose 26 cents a share, according to Refinitiv's average estimates.

Net sales declined 8.5% to $ 363.2 million, underperforming badysts' estimates of $ 365.9 million.

The company has increased its earnings guidance for the full year, from 1.25 to 1.50 USD between 1.35 and 1.55 USD per share. He reiterated his revenue forecast of about $ 1.4 billion.

Weight shares Weight watchers have slipped nearly 48% this year.