First Quarter 2009 Results
For the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company reported record net earnings of $47.8 million, an increase of 35% compared to net earnings of $35.5 million for the quarter ended May 5, 2007. Diluted earnings per share increased 34% to $0.51 in the current quarter versus $0.38 in the prior year quarter.
Paul Marciano, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are very pleased with our financial performance this quarter, especially considering the current economic environment in the U.S. We increased revenues by 29% and achieved earnings per share growth of 34%. Our strategy to expand our international business continues to yield strong results; in the first quarter, two-thirds of the revenue growth for the Company was generated by our European and Asian businesses. Our business continues to evolve into a highly diversified model where we do not depend on any one channel, territory or product category."
Mr. Marciano continued, "The strength of our brand was evident across all of our businesses, with each of our segments delivering double-digit revenue growth and all contributing to our earnings increase. Overall, our performance resulted in an operating margin expansion and a 35% increase in earnings, marking our 19th consecutive quarter of earnings growth. Along with our licensee partners, we have developed a lifestyle assortment of products that resonates extremely well with our customers worldwide. We continue to manage our business prudently and make investments globally to position the Company for profitable growth and to penetrate markets where the brand is well known but is not fully developed."
Total net revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased 29.4% to $489.2 million from $377.9 million in the prior-year quarter. The Company's retail stores in North America generated revenue of $211.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, an 18.1% increase from $179.5 million in the same period a year ago. Comparable store sales increased 7.0% for the first quarter of fiscal 2009, compared to the same period a year ago. This represents our 21st consecutive quarter of same store sales growth in North America. The Company operated 391 retail stores in the U.S. and Canada at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2009 versus 336 stores a year earlier.
Net revenue from the Company's wholesale segment, which includes the Company's Asian operations, increased 26.9% to $75.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, from $59.2 million in the prior-year period.
Net revenue from the Company's European segment increased 50.2% to $178.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, compared to $118.9 million in the prior-year period.
Licensing segment net revenue increased 15.7% to $23.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, from $20.3 million in the prior-year period.
Operating earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 increased 31% to $75.9 million (including a $5.9 million favorable currency translation benefit) from $57.9 million in the prior-year period. Operating margin in the first quarter increased 20 basis points to 15.5%, compared to the prior year's quarter. This margin expansion was a result of higher European product margins and a higher mix of European business, improved leverage over occupancy costs, partially offset by lower product margins in North America and increased costs related to infrastructure investments.
The Company's effective tax rate declined to 36.0% for the first quarter of fiscal 2009, from 38.7% for the first quarter of the prior year.
Outlook
The Company's expectations for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2009, are now as follows:
-- Consolidated net revenues are expected to range from $2.03 billion to
$2.08 billion.
-- Operating margin is expected to be about 17.7%.
-- Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $2.40 to
$2.48.
The Company also provided the following expectations for its second quarter of fiscal 2009, which will end August 2, 2008:
-- Consolidated net revenues are expected to range from $445 million to
$465 million.
-- Operating margin is expected to be about 15.5%.
-- Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.47 to
$0.49.
Dividend
The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend will be payable on July 3, 2008 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 18, 2008.
The Company will hold a conference call at 4:30 pm (ET) on June 3, 2008 to discuss the news announced in this press release. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible at http://www.guessinc.com via the "Investor's Info" link. The webcast will be archived on the website for 30 days.
Guess?, Inc. designs, markets, distributes and licenses a lifestyle collection of contemporary apparel, denim, handbags, watches, footwear and other related consumer products. As of May 3, 2008, the Company operated 391 retail stores in the United States and Canada and 607 retail stores outside of North America, of which 63 were directly owned. The Company also distributes its products through better department and specialty stores around the world. For more information about the Company, please visit http://www.guessinc.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 second quarter and full year of fiscal 2009, 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 our ability to, among other things, anticipate consumer preferences, effectively operate our various retail concepts, effectively manage inventories, successfully execute our strategies, including our supply chain and international growth strategies, currency fluctuations and domestic and international 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.
Contact: Guess?, Inc.
Investor Relations
(213) 765-5578
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
May 3, May 5,
2008 2007
$ % $ %
Net revenue
Product sales $465,735 95.2% $357,643 94.6%
Net royalties 23,485 4.8% 20,306 5.4%
489,220 100.0% 377,949 100.0%
Cost of product sales 267,981 54.8% 210,367 55.7%
Gross profit 221,239 45.2% 167,582 44.3%
Selling, general and administrative
expenses 145,314 29.7% 109,648 29.0%
Earnings from operations 75,925 15.5% 57,934 15.3%
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense 1,025 0.2% 924 0.2%
Interest income (1,533) (0.3%) (1,712) (0.5%)
Other, net 908 0.2% 891 0.3%
Earnings before income taxes and
minority interest 75,525 15.4% 57,831 15.3%
Income taxes 27,189 5.5% 22,363 5.9%
Minority interest 535 0.1% (59) ---
Net earnings $47,801 9.8% $35,527 9.4%
Net earnings per share:
Basic $0.51 $0.39
Diluted $0.51 $0.38
Weighted number of shares outstanding:
Basic 92,950 91,886
Diluted 94,039 93,240
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Segment Data
(dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended
May 3, May 5, %
2008 2007 chg
Net revenue:
Retail operations $211,937 $179,529 18%
Wholesale operations 75,134 59,195 27%
European operations 178,664 118,919 50%
Licensing operations 23,485 20,306 16%
$489,220 $377,949 29%
Earnings (loss) from operations:
Retail operations $22,844 $19,892 15%
Wholesale operations 12,554 10,701 17%
European operations 39,961 27,717 44%
Licensing operations 20,247 17,357 17%
Corporate overhead (19,681) (17,733) 11%
$75,925 $57,934 31%
Operating margins:
Retail operations 10.8% 11.1%
Wholesale operations 16.7% 18.1%
European operations 22.4% 23.3%
Licensing operations 86.2% 85.5%
Total Company 15.5% 15.3%
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(in thousands)
May 3, February 2, May 5,
2008 2008 2007
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $260,390 $275,595 $189,396
Receivables, net 315,598 254,400 206,383
Inventories, net 202,804 232,159 164,500
Other current assets 46,767 52,585 39,373
Property and equipment, net 237,193 229,917 176,722
Other assets 146,819 141,572 126,412
Total Assets $1,209,571 $1,186,228 $902,786
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current portion of borrowings and
capital lease obligations $47,562 $35,254 $37,547
Other current liabilities 303,712 353,037 253,171
Borrowing and capital lease
obligations 18,453 18,724 17,796
Other long-term liabilities 120,295 116,250 103,328
Minority interest 7,511 5,989 4,548
Stockholders' equity 712,038 656,974 486,396
Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity $1,209,571 $1,186,228 $902,786
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Data
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended
May 3, May 5,
2008 2007
Net cash used in operating activities $(232) $(11,357)
Net cash used in investing activities (23,836) (24,867)
Net cash provided by financing activities 7,626 16,440
Effect of exchange rates on cash 1,237 1,563
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (15,205) (18,221)
Cash and cash equivalents at the
beginning of the period 275,595 207,617
Cash and cash equivalents at the end
of the period $260,390 $189,396
Supplemental information:
Depreciation and amortization $13,813 $12,702
Rent 37,513 25,875
Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Retail Store Data
U.S. and Canada
Three Months Ended
May 3, May 5,
2008 2007
Number of stores at the beginning of the year 373 334
Store openings 19 8
Store closures (1) (6)
Number of stores at the end of the period 391 336
Total store square footage at the end
of the period 1,817,000 1,603,000
SOURCE Guess?, Inc.
http://www.guess.com