Chico's FAS, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2019 Results

FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

• Chico's FAS delivers 2.2% comparable sales growth with all brands reporting positive
• Improved product assortment favorably impacting sales
• Fourth quarter GAAP loss of $0.04 per diluted share; Adjusted loss of $0.03 per diluted share

Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) (the "Company") today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2019 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 1, 2020.

Bonnie Brooks, CEO and President of the Company, said, "We are extremely pleased with the significant sequential turnaround in our business, resulting in our first quarter of positive comparable sales for all three brands since the fourth quarter of 2014. Our strong performance can be primarily attributed to our disciplined focus on driving sales through improved and elevated product aligned more closely to our customer's expectations. In Q4, we continued to deliver on each of our strategic priorities, with a renewed rigor and relentless attention to every detail of operating our businesses. We are especially pleased with both our significant digital growth and frontline growth, as we continue to work towards delivering our unique and personal service through all channels of the company."

For the thirteen weeks ended February 1, 2020 ("the fourth quarter"), the Company reported a net loss of $4.3 million, or $0.04 loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $16.6 million, or $0.14 loss per diluted share, for the thirteen weeks ended February 2, 2019 ("last year's fourth quarter"). The Company reported a fourth quarter adjusted net loss of $3.5 million, or $0.03 loss per diluted share, compared to an adjusted net loss of $8.6 million, or $0.07 loss per diluted share, in last year's fourth quarter, as presented in the related accompanying GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation.

For the fifty-two weeks ended February 1, 2020 ("fiscal 2019"), the Company reported a net loss of $12.8 million, or $0.11 loss per diluted share, compared to net income of $35.6 million, or $0.28 earnings per diluted share, for the fifty-two weeks ended February 2, 2019 ("fiscal 2018"). The Company reported a fiscal 2019 adjusted net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.02 loss per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $38.8 million, or $0.31 earnings per diluted share, in fiscal 2018, as presented in the related accompanying GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation.

Fiscal 2019 Fourth Quarter Business Highlights

The following fiscal 2019 fourth quarter business highlights reflect the Company's progress executing on its three strategic priorities: (i) driving stronger sales through improved product and marketing; (ii) optimizing the customer journey by simplifying, digitizing and extending the Company's unique and personalized service; and (iii) transforming sourcing and supply chain operations to increase product speed to market and improve quality.

• Chico's^® reported positive comparable sales, reflecting strong progress in our assortment with improvements in quality, design and newness, as well as elevated marketing.
• White House Black Market^® ("WHBM") reported positive comparable sales enabled by our ability to quickly edit our assortment and bring in new product. The rigors and discipline that we put in place are working.
• Soma^® delivered its sixth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales, driven by a strong response to our holiday offering, including record breaking sales during peak holiday period. Soma continues to offer innovative and solution-oriented assortments that we believe our customers love.
• The Company continues to focus on reducing its overall China penetration and diversifying its country of origin mix, which are tracking ahead of schedule. The Company is making significant progress in securing partnerships with key vendors to create a leaner, more efficient supply chain.

Net Sales

For the fourth quarter, net sales were $527.1 million compared to $524.7 million in last year's fourth quarter. This 0.4% increase reflects a comparable sales improvement of 2.2%, partially offset by the impact of 77 net store closures since last year's fourth quarter. The comparable sales improvement was driven by higher average dollar sale and an increase in transaction count.

For fiscal 2019, net sales were $2.0 billion compared to $2.1 billion in fiscal 2018. This 4.4% decrease reflects a comparable sales decline of 3.4% as well as the impact of 77 net store closures since fiscal 2018. The comparable sales decline was driven by lower average dollar sale and a decrease in transaction count.

Comparable Sales

Gross Margin

For the fourth quarter, gross margin was $171.4 million, or 32.5% of net sales, compared to $158.7 million, or 30.2% of net sales, in last year's fourth quarter. This 230-basis point increase primarily reflects a 180-basis point favorable net impact resulting from lower impairment and accelerated depreciation charges related to our retail fleet optimization plan, combined with a 150-basis point improvement in occupancy and omnichannel program costs as a percent of sales, partially offset by an approximate 100-basis point impact of incremental tariffs on maintained margin.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

For the fourth quarter, selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $177.0 million, or 33.6% of net sales, compared to $180.8 million, or 34.4% of net sales, for last year's fourth quarter. This $3.9 million decrease primarily reflects a reduction in employee-related expenses and lower outside consultant costs.

Retail Fleet Optimization Plan

In the fourth quarter, the Company recorded pre-tax accelerated depreciation charges of property and equipment within cost of goods sold ("COGS") of $1.2 million related to our retail fleet optimization plan. On an after-tax basis, the fourth quarter impact of these charges was $0.8 million, or $0.01 earnings per diluted share. In last year's fourth quarter, the Company recorded pre-tax impairment and accelerated depreciation charges of property and equipment within COGS of $9.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively. On an after-tax basis, the impact of these charges on last year's fourth quarter was $8.1 million, or $0.07 earnings per diluted share.

Income Tax

For the fourth quarter, the effective tax rate was a benefit of 21.6% compared to a benefit of 24.5% for last year's fourth quarter. The unfavorability in the effective rate compared to last year's fourth quarter primarily reflects a smaller pre-tax loss than projected in the fourth quarter, the benefit of which was partially offset by foreign withholding taxes and state and local income tax liabilities in separate-filing jurisdictions.

The fiscal 2019 effective tax rate was a provision of (6.7)% compared to a fiscal 2018 provision of 17.8%. The fiscal 2019 effective tax rate primarily reflects an income tax benefit on an annual operating loss, offset by a valuation allowance on certain deferred tax assets and other adjustments for charitable contributions with limitations and employee share-based compensation expense. The favorable fiscal 2018 effective tax rate was primarily the result of the acceleration of deductions into the 2017 federal tax return as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ("Tax Act").

Cash, Marketable Securities and Debt

At the end of the fourth quarter, cash and marketable securities totaled $127.9 million while debt totaled $42.5 million.

Inventories

At the end of fiscal 2019, inventories totaled $246.7 million compared to $235.2 million at the end of fiscal 2018. This $11.5 million increase, or 4.9%, primarily reflects the ongoing investment in Soma inventory to fund growth.

Fiscal 2020 First Quarter and Full-Year Outlook

The Company is initiating outlook for fiscal 2020, which includes the incremental impact of tariffs while excluding fiscal 2019 net charges related to the Company's retail fleet optimization plan and the impact of severance and other related net charges ("Severance Charges"). The outlook for both the first quarter and fiscal year excludes the potential impact related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition, the Company expects any incremental tariff impacts to be largely offset by sourcing initiatives.

For the fiscal 2020 first quarter, compared to the fiscal 2019 first quarter:

• The Company anticipates a low single-digit increase in total net sales and consolidated comparable sales, reflecting continued progress and momentum in the business.
• The Company expects gross margin as a percent of net sales to increase approximately 20 to 40 basis points, due primarily to strategic reductions in promotional depth as well as leverage of fixed costs on higher sales.
• SG&A expenses are expected to be approximately flat, reflecting ongoing cost management, offset by investments in marketing and a return to target incentive compensation levels.

For full year fiscal 2020, compared to the full year fiscal 2019:

• The Company anticipates a low single-digit increase in total net sales and consolidated comparable sales.
• The Company expects gross margin as a percent of net sales to increase approximately 50 to 100 basis points, due primarily to strategic reductions in promotional depth as well as leverage of fixed costs on higher sales.
• SG&A expenses are expected to increase approximately $10 million, reflecting investments in marketing and a return to target incentive compensation levels, partially offset by ongoing cost management.
• The Company estimates a fiscal 2020 tax expense in the range of $3 to $5 million.
• Capital and cloud-based expenditures are expected to be approximately $45 to $50 million, primarily driven by technology enhancements and targeted reinvestments in stores.

Conference Call Information

The Company is hosting a live conference call on Thursday, February 27, 2020 beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET to review the operating results for the fourth quarter. The conference call is being webcast live over the Internet, which you may access in the Investors section of the Company's corporate website, www.chicosfas.com. A replay of the webcast will remain available online for one year at http://chicosfas.com/investors/events-and-presentations.

The phone number for the call is 1-877-883-0383. International callers should use 1-412-902-6506. The Elite Entry number, 9354763, is required to join the conference call. Interested participants should call 10-15 minutes prior to the 8:00 a.m. start to be placed in queue.

ABOUT CHICO'S FAS, INC.           

The Company, through its brands – Chico's, White House Black Market, Soma and TellTale™ is a leading omnichannel specialty retailer of women's private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates and complementary accessories.

As of February 1, 2020, the Company operated 1,341 stores in the U.S. and Canada and sold merchandise through 70 international franchise locations in Mexico and 2 domestic franchise airport locations. The Company's merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com, www.chicosofftherack.com, www.whbm.com, www.soma.com and www.mytelltale.com as well as through third party channels. For more detailed information on the Company, please go to our corporate website at www.chicosfas.com. The information on our corporate website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this press release or incorporated into our federal securities law filings.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect our current views with respect to certain events that could have an effect on our future financial performance. These statements, including without limitation statements made in Ms. Brooks' quote and in the section entitled "Fiscal 2020 First Quarter and Full-Year Outlook," relate to expectations concerning matters that are not historical fact and may include the words or phrases such as "will," "should," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "estimates," "approximately," "our planning assumptions," "future outlook," and similar expressions. Except for historical information, matters discussed in such statements are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based largely on information currently available to our management and on our current expectations, assumptions, plans, estimates, judgments and projections about our business and our industry, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those currently anticipated. Although we believe our expectations are based on reasonable estimates and assumptions, we cannot guarantee their accuracy or our future performance, and there are a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other factors (many of which are outside our control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, there is no assurance that our expectations will, in fact, occur or that our estimates or assumptions will be correct, and we caution investors and all others not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, changes in the general economic and business environment; changes in the general or specialty retail or apparel industries, including the extent of the market demand and overall level of spending for women's private branded clothing and related accessories; the availability of quality store sites; the effectiveness of our brand strategies, awareness and marketing programs; the ability to successfully execute and achieve the expected results of our business strategies and particular strategic initiatives (including, but not limited to, the Company's revised organizational structure, retail fleet optimization plan and three operating priorities which are driving stronger sales through improved product and marketing; optimizing the customer journey by simplifying, digitizing and extending the Company's unique and personalized service; and transforming sourcing and supply chain operations to increase product speed to market and improve quality), sales initiatives and multi-channel strategies; customer traffic; our ability to appropriately manage our inventory and allocation processes; our ability to leverage inventory management and targeted promotions; the successful recruitment of leadership and the successful integration of new members of our senior management team; uncertainties regarding future unsolicited offers to buy the Company and our ability to respond effectively to them as well as to actions of activist shareholders and others; changes in the political environment that create consumer uncertainty; the risk that our investments in merchandise or marketing initiatives may not deliver the results we anticipate; significant changes to product import and distribution costs (such as unexpected consolidation in the freight carrier industry, and the ability to remain competitive with customer shipping terms and costs pertaining to product deliveries and returns); the potential impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on manufacturing operations in China and our supply chain; new or increased taxes or tariffs (particularly with respect to China) that could impact, among other things, our sourcing from foreign suppliers; significant shifts in consumer behavior; and those other factors described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" and in the "Forward-Looking Statements" disclosure in Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our latest annual report on Form 10-K and in Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" and the "Forward-Looking Statements" disclosure in Part I, Item 2. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" of our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in other reports we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that the actual future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur. All forward-looking statements that are made or attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized.

(Financial Tables Follow)

Investor Relations Contact:

Tom Filandro

ICR, Inc.

(646) 277-1235

tom.filandro@icrinc.com

Chico's FAS, Inc. • 11215 Metro Parkway • Fort Myers, Florida 33966 • (239) 277-6200

Chico's FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
	February 1, 2020			February 2, 2019
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	63,972		$	124,128
Marketable securities, at fair value	63,893			61,987
Inventories	246,737			235,218
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	48,200			63,845
Total Current Assets	422,802			485,178
Property and Equipment, net	315,382			370,932
Right of Use Assets	648,397			—
Other Assets:
Goodwill	96,774			96,774
Other intangible assets, net	38,930			38,930
Other assets, net	20,374			15,220
Total Other Assets	156,078			150,924
	$	1,542,659		$	1,007,034
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	134,204		$	143,404
Current lease liabilities	157,043			—
Other current and deferred liabilities	114,498			131,820
Total Current Liabilities	405,745			275,224
Noncurrent Liabilities:
Long-term debt	42,500			57,500
Long-term lease liabilities	555,922			—
Other noncurrent and deferred liabilities	8,188			89,109
Deferred taxes	212			5,237
Total Noncurrent Liabilities	606,822			151,846
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred stock	—			—
Common stock	1,184			1,169
Additional paid-in capital	492,129			486,406
Treasury stock, at cost	(494,395)			(494,395)
Retained earnings	531,602			587,145
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(428)			(361)
Total Shareholders' Equity	530,092			579,964 Back to top | Back to home page LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY Rev. Al Sharpton 9 to 11 am EST Rev. Jesse Jackson 10 to noon CST LIVE BROADCASTS Sounds Make the News ® Atlanta - WAOK-Urban Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive Chicago - WVON-Urban Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese New York - WADO-Spanish New York - WBAI - Progressive Washington - WOL-Urban To Reach Us Email: news@blackradionetwork.com news@minoritynews.net news@minoritynewsservice.com Address: Black Radio Network 375 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016 Phone Numbers: Ph # (212) 686-6850 Fx # (212) 686-7308 Advertiser Inquiries Welcomed © 2024 Black Radio Network, Inc. All rights reserved. About | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Archive