Genesco Inc. Reports Fiscal 2024 Second Quarter Results

Genesco Inc. (NYSE:GCO) today reported second quarter results for the three months ended July 29, 2023.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Summary

• Net sales of $523 million decreased 2% compared to Q2FY23
• Comps down 2%, with stores down 6% and direct up 14%
• E-commerce sales represented 21% of retail sales compared to 18% last year
• Gross margin improved 20 basis points
• GAAP EPS from continuing operations was ($2.79) vs. $0.59 last year
• Non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations was ($0.85)¹ vs. $0.59 last year
• Repurchased $22.9 million of stock or 8% of outstanding shares during Q2FY24, with $52.1 million remaining on the expanded share repurchase authorization announced in June 2023

Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco's Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "As we expected, the operating environment remained challenging in the second quarter. However, relative to earlier this year, we were encouraged to see some improvement in the trend within our Journeys business as the quarter progressed, leading us to deliver results ahead of our prior expectations. In the meantime, Schuh and Johnston & Murphy continue to outperform, each delivering another quarter of record sales despite the challenging backdrop, and we continued to make progress on our plans to close roughly 100 Journeys stores and reduce costs by $40 million. Moving forward, I remain confident that we are implementing the right strategic initiatives to weather the current environment, including specific actions to elevate and accelerate Journeys performance and evolve it for the longer term to drive value in an even stronger competitive position."

Vaughn continued, "Thus far in the third quarter, sales trends for the Back-to-School season improved a little further with consumers shopping when there is a reason and much closer to need. Given the ongoing lack of visibility into consumer demand patterns in the near-term and other pressures, we are maintaining our cautious view and reiterating our outlook for Fiscal 2024."

Second Quarter Review

Net sales for the second quarter of Fiscal 2024 of $523 million decreased 2% compared to $535 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023. The sales decrease compared to last year was driven by decreased store sales in Journeys Group and decreased wholesale sales, partially offset by a 14% increase in e-commerce comparable sales, strong store performance at Schuh and Johnston & Murphy and a favorable foreign exchange impact.

The overall sales decrease of 2% for the second quarter of Fiscal 2024 compared to the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 was driven by a decrease of 11% at Journeys and a 7% decrease at Genesco Brands, partially offset by an increase of 21% at Schuh and an increase of 4% at Johnston & Murphy. On a constant currency basis, Schuh sales were up 17% for the second quarter this year.

Second quarter gross margin this year was 47.7%, up 20 basis points compared with 47.5% last year. The increase as a percentage of sales compared to Fiscal 2023 is due primarily to increased markdowns at Journeys being offset by improved margins in all the remaining businesses.

Selling and administrative expense for the second quarter this year increased 380 basis points as a percentage of sales compared with last year. Adjusted selling and administrative expense for the second quarter this year increased 400 basis points as a percentage of sales compared with last year. The increase as a percentage of sales compared to Fiscal 2023 reflects the deleverage of expenses as a result of decreased revenue in the second quarter of Fiscal 2024. The increase in expense was primarily related to a prior year reversal of performance-based compensation expense, along with increased compensation expense, and higher IT expenses to drive technology initiatives in the second quarter this year.

Genesco's GAAP operating loss for the second quarter was ($38.6) million, or (7.4)% of sales this year, compared with operating income of $9.1 million, or 1.7% of sales in the second quarter last year. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the operating loss for the second quarter was ($10.0) million this year compared to operating income of $10.0 million last year. Adjusted operating margin was (1.9)% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2024 and 1.9% in the second quarter last year.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 23.1% in Fiscal 2024 compared to 11.3% in the second quarter last year. The adjusted tax rate, reflecting Excluded Items, was 23.4% in Fiscal 2024 compared to 19.5% in the second quarter last year. The higher adjusted tax rate for the second quarter this year compared to the second quarter last year reflects that we are no longer subject to valuation allowance in certain jurisdictions.

GAAP loss from continuing operations was ($31.6) million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2024 compared to earnings from continuing operations of $7.7 million in the second quarter last year. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the second quarter loss from continuing operations was ($9.6) million, or ($0.85) per share, in Fiscal 2024, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $7.7 million, or $0.59 per share, in the second quarter last year.

Impairment Charges

Due to a dispute with a Genesco Brands Group licensor regarding renewal of their current license in the normal course and based on the requirements of ASC 350, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other," the Company identified possible indicators of impairment in the second quarter of Fiscal 2024. As a result, the Company recognized the full impairment of goodwill in its Genesco Brands Group and recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $28.5 million pretax, or $1.93 per diluted share after tax.

Cash, Borrowings and Inventory

Cash as of July 29, 2023 was $37.4 million, compared with $44.9 million as of July 30, 2022. Total debt at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2024 was $131.5 million compared with $48.9 million at the end of last year's second quarter. Inventories decreased 3% on a year over year basis, primarily reflecting a decrease in Journeys inventory, partially offset by increased inventory for the Johnston & Murphy and Schuh businesses to support higher levels of sales, while Genesco Brands inventories were flat.

Capital Expenditures and Store Activity

For the second quarter this year, capital expenditures were $18 million, related primarily to digital and omnichannel initiatives and retail stores. Depreciation and amortization was $12 million. During the quarter, the Company opened ten stores and closed 31 stores. The Company ended the quarter with 1,375 stores compared with 1,412 stores at the end of the second quarter last year, or a decrease of 3%. Square footage was down 1% on a year-over-year basis.

Share Repurchases

The Company repurchased 1,006,295 shares during the second quarter of Fiscal 2024 at a cost of $22.9 million or an average of $22.71 per share. The Company currently has $52.1 million remaining on its expanded share repurchase authorization announced in June 2023.

Store Closing and Cost Savings Update

• The Company expects to close approximately 100 Journeys stores in Fiscal 2024
• The Company anticipates up to $40 million in cost reductions by the end of Fiscal 2025, with approximately $20 million realized in Fiscal 2024

Reaffirms Fiscal 2024 EPS Outlook

For Fiscal 2024, the Company:

• Now expects sales to be down 2% to 4%, or down 3% to 5% excluding the 53^rd week this year, compared to Fiscal 2023
• Continues to expect adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $2.00 to $2.50, with an expectation that EPS will be near the mid-point of the range ²
• Guidance assumes no further share repurchases and a tax rate of 24%

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 August 31, 2023, 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, 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," "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; 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; the effects of the British decision to exit the European Union, 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 1,400 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 that inspires 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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