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8-K - FORM 8-K - Childrens Place, Inc.v328287_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2012 FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

Management Updates Fiscal 2012 Earnings Guidance

 

Secaucus, New Jersey – November 15, 2012 – The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE), the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America, today announced third quarter net sales increased 3% to $500.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 27, 2012, compared to $484.1 million in the third quarter of 2011. Comparable retail sales increased 1.1% in the quarter.

 

GAAP net income was $35.0 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2012. As adjusted, net income was $39.0 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2012, compared to $33.7 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2011.

 

Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP measure. The Company believes the excluded transactions are not indicative of the performance of its core business and that by providing this supplemental disclosure to investors it will facilitate comparisons of its past and present performance. A reconciliation of net income as reported is included in this press release in Table 3.

 

“Our third quarter earnings per share exceeded our expectations. We had strong sales results in our e-commerce and outlet channels, and continued positive momentum in our big kids business throughout the quarter,” commented Jane Elfers, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Entering the fourth quarter, Hurricane Sandy had a devastating impact on our region, and our deepest sympathy goes out to all who were affected. Over 280 of our stores and our Northeast e-commerce business, which together account for approximately 31% of total company revenues, were impacted. We still expect to deliver positive comparable retail sales, but we are adjusting the margin and earnings outlook for the quarter and fiscal 2012 due to the heightened promotional environment post-Sandy.”

 

Fiscal Year-to-Date

Net sales increased 3% to $1,300.3 million fiscal year-to-date 2012, compared to $1,258.4 million for the same period last year. Comparable retail sales increased 1.1% fiscal year-to-date 2012.

 

GAAP net income for fiscal year-to-date 2012 was $40.6 million, or $1.66 per diluted share. As adjusted, net income was $51.0 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, compared to $53.0 million, or $2.05 per diluted share, for the same period last year.

 

Store Openings and Closures

During the third quarter of 2012, The Children’s Place opened 23 stores and closed one. Fiscal year-to-date 2012, the Company has opened 60 stores and closed seven.

 

Share Repurchase Program

During the third quarter, the Company repurchased 222 thousand shares for approximately $12.8 million. During the first nine months of fiscal 2012, the Company repurchased 935 thousand shares for approximately $47.7 million. At the end of the quarter, there was approximately $21.6 million remaining of the $50 million share repurchase program which was authorized by the Board of Directors in March 2012. Under the 2012 share repurchase program, the Company may repurchase shares in the open market at current market prices at the time of purchase or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased under

 

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PLCE – Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results

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the program will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, and other market and business conditions. The Company may suspend or discontinue the program at any time, and may thereafter reinstitute purchases, all without prior announcement.

 

Outlook

The Company updated its earnings guidance for fiscal 2012 and now projects that non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share will be between $3.10 and $3.15, compared to its previous guidance of $3.20 to $3.30, assuming positive low-single digit comparable retail sales.

 

The Company provided initial guidance for the fourth quarter of 2012, and is forecasting non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share between $1.01 and $1.06, assuming positive low-single digit comparable retail sales.

 

The Company now expects gross margin to expand 170 to 190 basis points in the fourth quarter, and to deleverage 50 to 70 basis points for fiscal 2012. SG&A is expected to be flat as a percent of sales in the fourth quarter, and to deleverage 10 to 20 basis points for fiscal 2012.

 

This earnings guidance assumes that currency exchange rates will remain consistent with today’s rates, and does not include the impact of further potential share repurchases.

 

Conference Call Information

The Children’s Place will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2012 results today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live at http://investor.childrensplace.com. An audio archive will be available on the Company’s website approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call.

 

About The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.

The Children’s Place is the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture and sells fashionable, high-quality merchandise at value prices, primarily under the proprietary “The Children's Place” brand name. As of October 27, 2012, the Company operated 1,102 stores and an online store at www.childrensplace.com.

 

Forward Looking Statements

This press release (and the above referenced call) may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding future circumstances, including statements relating to the Company’s positioning, and forecasts regarding store openings and earnings per diluted share from continuing operations. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk Factors” section of its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012. Included among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially are the risk that the Company will be unsuccessful in gauging fashion trends and changing consumer preferences, the risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of the Company’s business and its dependence on consumer spending patterns, which may be affected by the continued weakness in the economy or by other factors such as increases in the cost of gasoline and food, and the uncertainty of weather patterns. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.

 

Contact: Jane Singer, Vice President, Investor Relations, (201) 453-6955

 

(Tables Follow)

 

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    Table 1            
    THE CHILDREN’S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.            
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS            
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)            
    (Unaudited)            

  

   Third Quarter Ended   Year-to-Date Ended 
   October 27,   October 29,   October 27,   October 29, 
   2012   2011   2012   2011 
                 
Net sales  $500,928   $484,085   $1,300,262   $1,258,399 
Cost of sales   294,725    284,034    803,029    759,136 
Gross profit   206,203    200,051    497,233    499,263 
Selling, general and administrative expenses   131,832    126,741    374,292    355,348 
Asset impairment charges   539    369    2,069    1,747 
Other costs   570    -    4,466    - 
Depreciation and amortization   23,023    18,493    57,723    54,722 
Operating income   50,239    54,448    58,683    87,446 
Interest (expense), net   (23)   (70)   (104)   (655)
Income before taxes   50,216    54,378    58,579    86,791 
Provision for income taxes   15,192    20,686    17,952    33,792 
Net income  $35,024   $33,692   $40,627   $52,999 
                     
                     
Earnings per common share                    
Basic  $1.45   $1.34   $1.67   $2.07 
Diluted  $1.44   $1.33   $1.66   $2.05 
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding                    
Basic   24,086    25,121    24,290    25,657 
Diluted   24,293    25,279    24,453    25,868 

 

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  Table 2              
  THE CHILDREN’S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.              
  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS              
  (In thousands)              
  (Unaudited)              

  

   October 27,   January 28,   October 29, 
    2012    2012*    2011 
Assets:               
Cash and cash equivalents  $203,101   $176,655   $152,621 
Accounts receivable   25,948    17,382    25,867 
Inventories   266,400    212,916    256,425 
Other current assets   54,821    66,372    54,448 
Total current assets   550,270    473,325    489,361 
                
Property and equipment, net   335,953    323,863    326,623 
Other assets, net   53,682    53,461    58,196 
Total assets  $939,905   $850,649   $874,180 
                
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:               
Accounts payable  $99,342   $55,516   $54,960 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   113,175    76,039    94,161 
Total current liabilities   212,517    131,555    149,121 
                
Other liabilities   112,164    109,728    118,418 
Total liabilities   324,681    241,283    267,539 
                
Stockholders' equity   615,224    609,366    606,641 
                
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $939,905   $850,649   $874,180 

 

* Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012.

  

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  Table 3              
  THE CHILDREN’S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.              
  RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO GAAP              
  (In thousands, except per share amounts)              
  (Unaudited)              

  

   Third Quarter Ended   Year-to-Date Ended 
   October 27,   October 29,   October 27,   October 29, 
   2012   2011   2012   2011 
                 
Net income  $35,024   $33,692   $40,627   $52,999 
                     
Non-GAAP adjustments:                    
Expenses:                    
Store Impairment due to early termination   -    -    1,250    - 
DC exit costs   6,256    -    10,152    - 
Restructuring severance costs   -    -    1,971    - 
Obsolete supply and fixture costs   -    -    883    - 
Legal Settlement   -    -    1,087    - 
Accelerated depreciation for Canadian store remodels   272    -    1,630    - 
Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments   6,528    -    16,973    - 
Income tax effect   (2,574)   -    (6,568)   - 
Net impact of Non-GAAP adjustments   3,954    -    10,405    - 
                     
Adjusted net income  $38,978   $33,692   $51,032   $52,999 
                     
GAAP net income per common share  $1.44   $1.33   $1.66   $2.05 
                     
Adjusted net income per common share  $1.60   $1.33   $2.09   $2.05 

 

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