Q2 EPS More Than Triples vs. Last Year, $0.30 vs. $0.09
Company Raises Q3 Expectations
- July Comp Sales Up 10.7% -
Second Quarter Highlights
- All segments delivered revenue growth and improved operating margin
- Revenues increased 30% to $231.0 million; comparable store sales
up 17.4%
- Gross margin increased 270 basis points and SG&A expense rate decreased
240 basis points
- Operating margin improved 510 basis points to 9.5%
- Net earnings grew 230% to $13.7 million
Six Months Highlights
- Revenues grew 24% to $490.0 million; comparable store sales up 15.8%
- Operating margin improved 400 basis points to 9.8%
- Net earnings increased 136% to $29.1 million
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Guess?, Inc. (NYSE: GES) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended July 1, 2006.
Second Quarter Results
For the second quarter ended July 1, 2006, the Company reported that net earnings increased by 230% to $13.7 million compared to net earnings of $4.2 million for the quarter ended July 2, 2005. Diluted earnings per share increased 233.3% to $0.30 per share in the current quarter versus $0.09 per share in the second quarter last year.
Paul Marciano, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, commented, "We are very pleased with our financial performance this quarter. We exceeded revenue and earnings targets in all our businesses, and delivered record revenues and earnings for the period. Our revenue growth was driven by a very positive customer response to our product assortment and mix, improved execution within our North American retail and wholesale divisions, and the continued success of our European and licensing businesses. This performance underscores the global opportunities we have to continue to seek out new markets and to grow the Guess? brand internationally.
Mr. Marciano continued, "Our improved operating margin performance during the period highlights management's focus on the bottom line. We were able to increase gross margins and leverage SG&A expenses considerably. As we entered the back-to-school selling season, our inventories were very clean and the initial sell throughs for seasonal product have been very encouraging, as demonstrated by our July same store sales increase of 10.7%. While we remain cautious regarding consumer spending and customer traffic, we are confident about our business growth in Europe and licensing expansion in all categories."
Total net revenue for the second quarter of 2006 increased 29.6% to $231.0 million from $178.2 million in the second quarter of 2005. The Company's retail stores in the U.S. and Canada generated revenue of $163.9 million in the 2006 second quarter, a 23.4% increase from $132.9 million, as reported in the prior year period. Comparable store sales increased 17.4% during the second quarter of 2006 versus the prior year period. Net revenue from the Company's wholesale segment increased 18.2% to $30.8 million in the second quarter of 2006 from $26.1 million in the prior year period. Net revenue from the Company's European operations segment increased 130.1% to $22.8 million in the second quarter of 2006, compared to $9.9 million in the prior year period. Licensing segment net revenue increased 44.1% to $13.4 million in the second quarter of 2006 from $9.3 million in the prior year period. The Company operated 320 retail stores in the U.S. and Canada at second quarter-end 2006 versus 301 stores a year earlier.
Operating margin in the second quarter improved 510 basis points to 9.5%, compared to the prior year's quarter. This margin expansion was driven by a gross margin increase of 270 basis points to 40.0%, coupled with an SG&A expense rate reduction of 240 basis points to 30.5% in the period.
Six Months Results
For the six months ended July 1, 2006, the Company reported that net earnings increased 136.3% to $29.1 million compared to net earnings of $12.3 million for the six months ended July 2, 2005. Diluted earnings per share increased 128.6% to $0.64 per share in the current six-month period versus $0.28 per share in the comparable period last year. The six months ended July 1, 2006 had 182 days compared to 183 days in the six months ended July 2, 2005.
Total net revenue increased 24.4% to $490.0 million in the 2006 six-month period from $393.8 million in the prior year period. The Company's retail stores in the U.S. and Canada generated revenue of $302.9 million for the first six months of 2006, an increase of 21.5% from $249.4 million for the prior year period. Comparable store sales increased 15.8% during the first six months of 2006. Net revenue from the Company's wholesale segment in the first six months of 2006 increased 7.8% to $61.6 million from $57.1 million in the first six months of 2005. Net revenue from the Company's European operations segment increased 47.3% to $98.0 million in the first six months of 2006, compared to $66.6 million in the prior year period. Licensing segment net revenue was $27.5 million in the first six months of 2006, a 32.5% increase from $20.7 million for the same prior year period.
Operating margin for the first six months of 2006 improved 400 basis points to 9.8%, compared to the prior year's period. This margin expansion was driven by a gross margin increase of 220 basis points to 40.0% and better SG&A expense leverage, with a rate decrease of 180 basis points to 30.2% in the period.
July 2006 Retail Sales and Outlook Update
The Company also reported retail sales for its stores in the U.S. and Canada for fiscal July 2006. Total July retail sales for the month ended July 29, 2006 were $52.7 million, an increase of 16.3% from sales of $45.3 million for the month ended July 30, 2005. Comparable store sales for July 2006 increased 10.7% compared to July 2005.
The Company now expects overall revenues for the third quarter to increase slightly more than 20%, which represents an increase from its previous guidance for the period. This increase is primarily driven by the forecasted business for the Company's European and wholesale segments for the third quarter. The net impact of the change in guidance should result in a net earnings improvement over previous guidance for the third quarter in the range of $1.5 million to $2.0 million, or $0.03 to $0.04 per share.
The Company will hold a conference call at 4:30 pm (ET) on August 2, 2006 to discuss the news announced in this press release. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible at www.guess.com via the "Investor's Info" link from the "Guess?, Inc." section of the site. The webcast will be archived on the website for 30 days.
Guess?, Inc designs, markets, distributes and licenses a lifestyle collection of contemporary apparel, accessories and related consumer products. At July 1, 2006, the Company operated 320 retail stores in the United States and Canada. The Company also distributes its products through better department and specialty stores around the world. For more information about the Company, please visit www.guess.com.
Except for historical information contained herein, certain matters discussed in this press release, including statements concerning the Company's future prospects and guidance for the third quarter of 2006, are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are only expectations, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from what is currently anticipated. Factors which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, our ability to anticipate consumer preferences, effectively operate our retail stores, effectively manage inventories, successfully execute our strategies, including our supply chain and international growth strategies, and general economic conditions and consumer confidence. In addition to these factors, the economic and other factors identified in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors discussed therein, could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
Contacts: Carlos Alberini
President & Chief Operating Officer
(213) 765-3582
Dennis R. Secor
SVP & Chief Financial Officer
(213) 765-3504
Joseph Teklits
Integrated Corporate Relations
(203) 682-8258
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
July 1, July 2,
2006 2005
$ % $ %
Net revenue
Product sales $217,601 94.2% $168,913 94.8%
Net royalties 13,436 5.8% 9,322 5.2%
231,037 100.0% 178,235 100.0%
Cost of product sales 138,584 60.0% 111,757 62.7%
Gross profit 92,453 40.0% 66,478 37.3%
Selling, general and administrative
expenses 70,595 30.5% 58,717 32.9%
Earnings from operations 21,858 9.5% 7,761 4.4%
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense 1,627 0.7% 1,508 0.8%
Interest income (1,411) (0.6%) (458) (0.2%)
Other, net (1,172) (0.5%) -- --
Earnings before income taxes 22,814 9.9% 6,711 3.8%
Income taxes 9,080 4.0% 2,547 1.5%
Net earnings $13,734 5.9% $4,164 2.3%
Net earnings per share:
Basic $0.30 $0.09
Diluted $0.30 $0.09
Weighted number of shares outstanding:
Basic 45,242 44,238
Diluted 45,933 44,703
Six Months Ended
July 1, July 2,
2006 2005
$ % $ %
Net revenue
Product sales $462,544 94.4% $373,107 94.7%
Net royalties 27,471 5.6% 20,736 5.3%
490,015 100.0% 393,843 100.0%
Cost of product sales 293,930 60.0% 245,142 62.2%
Gross profit 196,085 40.0% 148,701 37.8%
Selling, general and administrative
expenses 148,218 30.2% 125,786 32.0%
Earnings from operations 47,867 9.8% 22,915 5.8%
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense 3,271 0.7% 3,262 0.8%
Interest income (2,621) (0.5%) (893) (0.2%)
Other, net (1,172) (0.2%) -- --
Earnings before income taxes 48,389 9.8% 20,546 5.2%
Income taxes 19,259 3.9% 8,219 2.1%
Net earnings $29,130 5.9% $12,327 3.1%
Net earnings per share:
Basic $0.65 $0.28
Diluted $0.64 $0.28
Weighted number of shares outstanding:
Basic 45,105 44,219
Diluted 45,838 44,677
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Segment Data
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
July 1, July 2, July 1, July 2,
2006 2005 2006 2005
Net revenue:
Retail operations $163,948 $132,908 $302,906 $249,403
Wholesale operations 30,827 26,087 61,624 57,146
European operations 22,826 9,918 98,014 66,558
Licensing operations 13,436 9,322 27,471 20,736
$231,037 $178,235 $490,015 $393,843
Earnings (loss) from operations:
Retail operations $20,988 $13,457 $23,109 $10,049
Wholesale operations 3,550 279 5,930 2,406
European operations (2,326) (4,853) 18,853 11,000
Licensing operations 12,040 7,906 24,325 17,050
Corporate overhead (12,394) (9,028) (24,350) (17,590)
$21,858 $7,761 $47,867 $22,915
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(in thousands)
July 1, December 31, July 2,
2006 2005 2005
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $197,346 $171,549 $88,273
Receivables, net 75,782 81,762 74,399
Inventories, net 127,425 122,037 113,206
Other current assets 33,323 32,670 26,307
Property and equipment, net 158,675 144,007 121,430
Other assets 105,561 81,349 61,710
Total Assets $698,112 $633,374 $485,325
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current installments of notes payable,
long-term debt and capital lease $27,085 $35,051 $37,015
Other current liabilities 198,025 182,175 122,659
Notes payable, long-term debt and
capital lease, excluding current
installments 48,154 53,199 50,848
Other long-term liabilities 88,351 74,656 43,938
Stockholders' equity 336,497 288,293 230,865
Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity $698,112 $633,374 $485,325
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Data
(in thousands)
Six Months Ended
July 1, July 2,
2006 2005
Net cash provided by operating activities $63,272 $24,419
Net cash used in investing activities (32,004) (41,389)
Net cash used in financing activities (6,490) (334)
Effect of exchange rates on cash 1,019 (426)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents 25,797 (17,730)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of
the year 171,549 106,003
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of
the period $197,346 $88,273
Supplemental information:
Depreciation and amortization $17,580 $16,985
Rent 40,646 34,433
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Retail Store Data
U.S. and Canada
Six Months Ended
July 1, July 2,
2006 2005
Number of stores at the beginning of the year 315 287
Store openings 15 21
Store closures (10) (7)
Number of stores at the end of the period 320 301
Total store square footage at the end of
the period 1,567,000 1,508,000
SOURCE Guess?, Inc.
08/02/2006
CONTACT: Carlos Alberini, President & Chief Operating Officer,
+1-213-765-3582, or Dennis R. Secor, SVP & Chief Financial Officer,
+1-213-765-3504, both of Guess?, Inc.; or Joseph Teklits of Integrated
Corporate Relations, +1-203-682-8258, for Guess?, Inc.
Web site: http://www.guess.com
(GES)