Genesco Inc. Reports Fiscal 2025 Second Quarter Results

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 6, 2024--

Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported second quarter results for the three months ended August 3, 2024.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Summary

• Total net sales increased to $525 million; comparable sales decreased 2%
• Comparable e-commerce sales increased 8%; comparable store sales decreased 4%
• E-commerce sales represented 22% of retail sales compared to 21% last year
• GAAP EPS was ($0.91) and Non-GAAP EPS was ($0.83) 1
• Inventory decreased 8% year-over-year
• Repurchased $9.3 million of stock with $42.8 million remaining on the expanded share repurchase authorization announced in June 2023
• Increases fiscal 2025 sales and reaffirms EPS outlook

Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco’s Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We delivered another quarter that surpassed our top- and bottom-line expectations, as the improvement in our Journeys business continues to gain traction. Armed with a more elevated and diversified product assortment, Journeys capitalized on the early Back-to-School demand, which drove a positive inflection in comparable sales as the quarter progressed. Thus far in the third quarter, Journeys’ store traffic and sales trends have accelerated further, bolstering our confidence in the product pipeline for the back half and the initiatives underway to enhance the Journeys brand and experience for our consumers.”

Vaughn continued, “I am pleased with the momentum building at Journeys and the progress we’re making to meet the evolving needs of our consumers. That said, the operating environment remains choppy, and our outlook reflects this, as well as a more conservative near-term view for our other businesses. Looking ahead, I feel confident that our strategic initiatives and efforts to improve the efficiency of our operating model will enable us to unlock our full earnings potential and create value for our shareholders.”

Second Quarter Review

Net sales for the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 of $525 million were up compared to $523 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2024. The sales increase includes approximately $20 to $25 million due to the move of a strong week of back-to-school sales from the third quarter last year to the second quarter this year related to the 53-week calendar shift along with an 8% increase in e-commerce comparable sales, partially offset by a decline in store sales, the impact of net store closings and decreased wholesale sales.

The overall sales increase for the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 compared to the second quarter of Fiscal 2024 was driven by an increase of 4% at Journeys and an increase of 1% at Schuh, partially offset by a decrease of 9% at Johnston & Murphy and a 13% or $4 million decrease at Genesco Brands. On a constant currency basis, Schuh sales were also up 1% for the second quarter this year.

Second quarter gross margin this year was 46.8% compared with 47.7% last year. Adjusted gross margin for the second quarter this year decreased 90 basis points as a percentage of sales compared to last year. The decrease as a percentage of sales compared to Fiscal 2024 is due primarily to a higher mix of sale product at Schuh and changes in product mix at Journeys.

Selling and administrative expense for the second quarter this year decreased 100 basis points as a percentage of sales to 48.6% compared to 49.6% last year. The decrease as a percentage of sales compared to Fiscal 2024 reflects a decrease in occupancy expense, a favorable change in certain non-income taxes, decreased royalty expense and decreased performance-based compensation expense, partially offset by increased selling salaries and depreciation expense.

Genesco’s GAAP operating loss for the second quarter was $10.3 million, or 2.0% of sales this year, compared with $38.6 million, or 7.4% of sales in the second quarter last year. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the operating loss for the second quarter was $9.3 million this year compared to $10.0 million last year. Adjusted operating margin was a loss of 1.8% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 compared to a loss of 1.9% in the second quarter last year.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 15.2% in Fiscal 2025 compared to 23.1% in the second quarter last year. The adjusted tax rate, reflecting Excluded Items, was 15.1% in Fiscal 2025 compared to 23.4% in the second quarter last year. The lower adjusted tax rate for the second quarter this year compared to the second quarter last year reflects a reduction in the tax benefit recorded year to date due to lower projected earnings and taxes from our foreign jurisdictions.

GAAP loss from continuing operations was $9.9 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 compared to $31.6 million in the second quarter last year. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the second quarter loss from continuing operations was $9.1 million, or $0.83 per share, in Fiscal 2025, compared to $9.6 million, or $0.85 per share, in the second quarter last year.

Cash, Borrowings and Inventory
Cash as of August 3, 2024, was $45.9 million, compared with $37.4 million as of July 29, 2023. Total debt at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 was $77.8 million compared with $131.5 million at the end of last year’s second quarter. Inventories decreased 8% on a year-over-year basis, reflecting decreased inventory for Journeys, Schuh and Johnston & Murphy, partially offset by an increase at Genesco Brands.

Capital Expenditures and Store Activity
For the second quarter this year, capital expenditures were $8 million, related primarily to retail stores and digital and omnichannel initiatives. Depreciation and amortization was $13 million. During the quarter, the Company opened five stores and closed 12 stores. The Company ended the quarter with 1,314 stores compared with 1,375 stores at the end of the second quarter last year, or a decrease of 4%. Square footage was down 3% on a year-over-year basis.

Share Repurchases
The Company repurchased 381,711 shares during the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 for $9.3 million, or $24.49 per share. The Company currently has $42.8 million remaining on its expanded share repurchase authorization announced in June 2023.

Store Closing and Cost Savings Update

• The Company closed 12 Journeys stores in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 (for a total of 29 Journeys stores closed to date in Fiscal 2025) and continues to evaluate up to 50 Journeys store closures in Fiscal 2025
• The Company's cost savings program remains on track to achieve a reduction in the annualized run rate of $45 to $50 million by the end of Fiscal 2025

Fiscal 2025 Outlook
For Fiscal 2025, the Company:

• Now expects total sales to decrease 1% to 2% compared to Fiscal 2024, or flat to down 1% excluding the 53 rd week in Fiscal 2024 versus prior expectations for a total sales decrease of 2% to 3%, or down 1% to 2% excluding the 53 rd week in Fiscal 2024
• Continues to expect adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $0.60 to $1.00 2
• Guidance assumes no further share repurchases and a tax rate of 27%

Conference Call, Management Commentary and Investor Presentation
The Company has posted detailed financial commentary and a supplemental financial presentation of second quarter results on its website, www.genesco.com, in the investor relations section. The Company's live conference call on September 6, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. (Central time), may be accessed through the Company's website, www.genesco.com. To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software.

Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding future sales, earnings, operating income, gross margins, expenses, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization, tax rates, store openings and closures, cost reductions, ESG progress and all other statements not addressing solely historical facts or present conditions. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as “intend,” “expect,” “feel,” “should,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “confident” and similar terminology. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations reflected in these statements. A number of factors could cause differences. These include adjustments to projections reflected in forward-looking statements, including those resulting from weakness in store and shopping mall traffic, restrictions on operations imposed by government entities and/or landlords, changes in public safety and health requirements, and limitations on the Company’s ability to adequately staff and operate stores. Differences from expectations could also result from store closures and effects on the business as a result of civil disturbances; the level and timing of promotional activity necessary to maintain inventories at appropriate levels; our ability to pass on price increases to our customers; the imposition of tariffs on product imported by the Company or its vendors as well as the ability and costs to move production of products in response to tariffs; the Company’s ability to obtain from suppliers products that are in-demand on a timely basis and effectively manage disruptions in product supply or distribution, including disruptions as a result of pandemics or geopolitical events, including shipping disruptions in the Red Sea; unfavorable trends in fuel costs, foreign exchange rates, foreign labor and material costs, and other factors affecting the cost of products; our ability to renew our license agreements; impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, and other sources of market weakness in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland; the effectiveness of the Company's omnichannel initiatives; costs associated with changes in minimum wage and overtime requirements; wage pressure in the U.S. and the U.K.; weakness in the consumer economy and retail industry;

competition and fashion trends in the Company's markets; risks related to the potential for terrorist events; risks related to public health and safety events; changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers; retained liabilities associated with divestitures of businesses including potential liabilities under leases as the prior tenant or as a guarantor; and changes in the timing of holidays or in the onset of seasonal weather affecting period-to-period sales comparisons. Additional factors that could cause differences from expectations include the ability to secure allocations to refine product assortments to address consumer demand; the ability to renew leases in existing stores and control or lower occupancy costs, to open or close stores in the number and on the planned schedule, and to conduct required remodeling or refurbishment on schedule and at expected expense levels; the Company’s ability to realize anticipated cost savings, including rent savings; the amount and timing of share repurchases; the Company’s ability to achieve expected digital gains and gain market share; deterioration in the performance of individual businesses or of the Company's market value relative to its book value, resulting in impairments of fixed assets, operating lease right of use assets or intangible assets or other adverse financial consequences and the timing and amount of such impairments or other consequences; unexpected changes to the market for the Company's shares or for the retail sector in general; our ability to meet our sustainability, stewardship, emission and diversity, equity and inclusion related ESG projections, goals and commitments; costs and reputational harm as a result of disruptions in the Company’s business or information technology systems either by security breaches and incidents or by potential problems associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems; the Company’s ability to realize any anticipated tax benefits in both the amount and timeframe anticipated; and the cost and outcome of litigation, investigations, environmental matters and other disputes involving the Company. Additional factors are cited in the "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of, and elsewhere in, the Company’s SEC filings, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC website, www.sec.gov, or by contacting the investor relations department of Genesco via the Company’s website, www.genesco.com. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this release are beyond Genesco's ability to control or predict. Genesco undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of 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. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements.

About Genesco Inc.
Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) is a footwear focused company with distinctively positioned retail and lifestyle brands and proven omnichannel capabilities offering customers the footwear they desire in engaging shopping environments, including approximately 1,314 retail stores and branded e-commerce websites. Its Journeys, Little Burgundy and Schuh brands serve teens, kids and young adults with on-trend fashion footwear inspired by youth culture in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Johnston & Murphy serves the successful, affluent man and woman with premium footwear, apparel and accessories in the U.S. and Canada, and Genesco Brands Group sells branded lifestyle footwear to leading retailers under licensed brands including Levi’s, Dockers and G.H. Bass. Founded in 1924, Genesco is based in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com.

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CONTACT: Genesco Financial Contact

Thomas A. George

(615) 367-7465

tgeorge@genesco.comGenesco Media Contact

Claire S. McCall

(615) 367-8283

cmccall@genesco.com

KEYWORD: TENNESSEE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEN ONLINE RETAIL OTHER RETAIL LUXURY LIFESTYLE SPECIALTY CONSUMER FASHION RETAIL OTHER CONSUMER WOMEN FOOTWEAR

SOURCE: Genesco Inc.

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