Analysts: GNC's Q4 Numbers Should "Reduce Negative Sentiment"

• Analysts increased their earnings per share projection for GNC's fiscal year 2015 to $2.91.
• Analysts doubled down on their "Outperform" rating and $45 12-month target.
• GNC will release Q4 reports Feb. 11.

Positive Q4 numbers from GNC GNC should reverse "extreme" negative sentiment that has been building over the stock, which has lost about a quarter of its value in the first weeks of 2016, according to Max Rakhlenko and Bob Summers of Macquarie.

GNC reported that same-store sales rose 0.8% in Q4 2015. "[This increase] marks an important inflection point as the prior seven quarters were negative," Rakhlenko and Summers write.

The analysts expressed confidence in GNC's strategy. "The sales improvement suggests the company’s strategic efforts are beginning to drive intended results."