lululemon athletica inc. Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results, Board of Directors Authorizes $1.0 Billion Stock Repurchase Program

Revenue increased 19% to $2.2 billion

Comparable sales increased 13%, or increased 14% on a constant dollar basis

GAAP EPS of $1.96, Adjusted EPS of $2.53

lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

Calvin McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, stated: "This was another strong quarter for lululemon as our innovative product offerings and community activations continued to powerfully resonate with our guests globally. As we enter the holiday season, we are pleased with our early performance and are well-positioned to deliver for our guests in the fourth quarter. I am energized by the significant opportunities ahead, and would like to thank our incredible teams around the world for their continued passion and commitment to our brand."

The adjusted non-GAAP financial measures below exclude certain inventory provisions, asset impairments, and restructuring costs recognized in relation to lululemon Studio, and the related income tax effects of these items.

For the third quarter of 2023, compared to the third quarter of 2022:

• Net revenue increased 19% to $2.2 billion.
  • Net revenue increased 12% in North America, and increased 49% internationally.
• Total comparable sales increased 13%, or 14% on a constant dollar basis.
  • Comparable store sales increased 9%.
  • Direct to consumer net revenue increased 18%, or 19% on a constant dollar basis.
• Direct to consumer net revenue represented 41% of total net revenue compared to 41% for the third quarter of 2022.
• Gross profit increased 21% to $1.3 billion. Adjusted gross profit increased 23% to $1.3 billion.
• Gross margin increased 110 basis points to 57.0%. Adjusted gross margin increased 220 basis points to 58.1%.
• Income from operations decreased 4% to $338.1 million. Adjusted income from operations increased 24% to $436.3 million.
• Operating margin decreased 370 basis points to 15.3%. Adjusted operating margin increased 80 basis points to 19.8%.
• Income tax expense increased 2% to $99.2 million. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2023 was 28.5% compared to 27.6% for the third quarter of 2022. The adjusted effective tax rate was 28.1% for the third quarter of 2023.
• The Company has entered into a partnership with Peloton Interactive, Inc. for the provision of digital fitness content and will no longer produce its own content for the lululemon Studio Mirror. While the Company will continue to service and support existing subscribers, it has ceased selling the Mirror hardware. The Company recognized post-tax asset impairment and other charges related to lululemon Studio totaling $72.1 million during the third quarter.
• Diluted earnings per share were $1.96 compared to $2.00 in the third quarter of 2022. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.53 in the third quarter of 2023.
• The Company opened 14 net new company-operated stores during the third quarter, ending with 686 stores.

Meghan Frank, Chief Financial Officer, stated: "Our third quarter performance, which exceeded our expectations on the top- and bottom-line, reflects the ongoing strength of our business model and our teams' ability to successfully execute at a high level amid an uncertain macro environment. As we look to the end of our fiscal year and into 2024, we remain focused on driving long-term growth and creating value for all our stakeholders."

Stock Repurchase Program

During the third quarter of 2023, the Company repurchased 0.6 million shares of its own common stock at an average price of $380.88 per share for a cost of $210.8 million. As of October 29, 2023, the Company had $243.2 million of authorization remaining on its previously authorized stock repurchase program.

On November 29, 2023, the board of directors approved an additional stock repurchase program for up to $1.0 billion of the Company's common shares.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The Company ended the third quarter of 2023 with $1.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents and the capacity under its committed revolving credit facility was $393.4 million.

Inventories at the end of the third quarter of 2023 decreased 4% to $1.664 billion compared to $1.742 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2022.

2023 Outlook

For the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company expects net revenue to be in the range of $3.135 billion to $3.170 billion, representing growth of 13% to 14%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $4.85 to $4.93 for the quarter. This assumes a tax rate of approximately 30%.

For 2023, the Company expects net revenue to be in the range of $9.549 billion to $9.584 billion, representing growth of 18%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $11.77 to $11.85 for the year, and excluding certain inventory provisions, asset impairments, and restructuring costs recognized in relation to lululemon Studio, and their related tax effects, adjusted diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $12.34 to $12.42. This assumes a tax rate of approximately 29.5%.

The guidance does not reflect potential future repurchases of the Company's shares.

The guidance and outlook forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on management's expectations as of the date of this press release and does not incorporate future unknown impacts, including macroeconomic trends. The Company undertakes no duty to update or to continue to provide information with respect to any forward-looking statements or risk factors, whether as a result of new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, including those stated below.

Power of Three ×2

The Company's Power of Three ×2 growth plan calls for a doubling of the business from 2021 net revenue of $6.25 billion to $12.5 billion by 2026. The key pillars of the plan are product innovation, guest experience, and market expansion and the growth strategy includes a plan to double men's, double direct to consumer, and quadruple international net revenue relative to 2021.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss third quarter results is scheduled for today, December 7, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Those interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-800-319-4610 or 1-604-638-5340, if calling internationally, approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online at: https://corporate.lululemon.com/investors/news-and-events/events-and-presentations. A replay will be made available online approximately two hours following the live call for a period of 30 days.

About lululemon athletica inc.

lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is a technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories company for yoga, running, training, and most other activities, creating transformational products and experiences that build meaningful connections, unlocking greater possibility and wellbeing for all. Setting the bar in innovation of fabrics and functional designs, lululemon works with yogis and athletes in local communities around the world for continuous research and product feedback. For more information, visit lululemon.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Constant dollar changes and adjusted financial results are non-GAAP financial measures. A constant dollar basis assumes the average foreign currency exchange rates for the period remained constant with the average foreign currency exchange rates for the same period of the prior year. The Company provides constant dollar changes in its results to help investors understand the underlying growth rate of net revenue excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Adjusted gross profit, gross margin, income from operations, operating margin, income tax expense, effective tax rates, net income, and diluted earnings per share exclude certain inventory provisions, asset impairments, and restructuring costs recognized in relation to lululemon Studio, the gain on disposal of assets for the sale of an administrative office building, and the related income tax effects of these items.

The Company believes these adjusted financial measures are useful to investors as they provide supplemental information that enable evaluation of the underlying trend in its operating performance, and enable a comparison to its historical financial information. Further, due to the finite and discrete nature of these items, it does not consider them to be normal operating expenses that are necessary to run the business, or impairments or disposal gains that are expected to arise in the normal course of its operations.

Management uses these adjusted financial measures and constant currency metrics internally when reviewing and assessing financial performance.

The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or with greater prominence to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in the accompanying financial tables, which includes more detail on the GAAP financial measure that is most directly comparable to each non-GAAP financial measure, and the related reconciliations between these financial measures.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes estimates, projections, statements relating to the Company's business plans, objectives, and expected operating results that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "outlook," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements also include the Company's guidance and outlook statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations but they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: the Company's ability to maintain the value and reputation of its brand; changes in consumer shopping preferences and shifts in distribution channels; the acceptability of its products to guests; its highly competitive market and increasing competition; increasing costs and decreasing selling prices; its ability to anticipate consumer preferences and successfully develop and introduce new, innovative and updated products; its ability to accurately forecast guest demand for its products; its ability to expand in light of its limited operating experience and limited brand recognition in new international markets and new product categories; its ability to manage its growth and the increased complexity of its business effectively; its ability to successfully open new store locations in a timely manner; seasonality; disruptions of its supply chain; its reliance on a relatively small number of vendors to supply and manufacture a significant portion of its products; suppliers or manufacturers not complying with its Vendor Code of Ethics or applicable laws; its ability to deliver its products to the market and to meet guest expectations if it has problems with its distribution system; increasing labor costs and other factors associated with the production of its products in South Asia and South East Asia; its ability to safeguard against security breaches with respect to its technology systems; its compliance with privacy and data protection laws; any material disruption of its information systems; its ability to have technology-based systems function effectively and grow its e-commerce business globally; climate change, and related legislative and regulatory responses; increased scrutiny regarding its environmental, social, and governance, or sustainability responsibilities; an economic recession, depression, or downturn or economic uncertainty in its key markets; global or regional health events such as the current COVID-19 pandemic and related government, private sector, and individual consumer responsive actions; global economic and political conditions; its ability to source and sell its merchandise profitably or at all if new trade restrictions are imposed or existing trade restrictions become more burdensome; changes in tax laws or unanticipated tax liabilities; its ability to comply with trade and other regulations; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; imitation by its competitors; its ability to protect its intellectual property rights; conflicting trademarks and patents and the prevention of sale of certain products; its exposure to various types of litigation; and other risks and uncertainties set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov, including, without limitation, its most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

lululemon athletica inc.

The fiscal year ending January 28, 2024 is referred to as "2023", the fiscal year ended January 29, 2023 is referred to as "2022".

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

Unaudited; Expressed in thousands, except per share amounts

lululemon athletica inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

Unaudited; Expressed in thousands

lululemon athletica inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Unaudited; Expressed in thousands

lululemon athletica inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Unaudited; Expressed in thousands, except per share amounts

Constant dollar changes

The below changes show the change for the third quarter of 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022.

Adjusted financial measures

The following tables reconcile adjusted financial measures with the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The 2023 adjustments relate to certain inventory provisions, asset impairments, and restructuring costs recognized in relation to lululemon Studio and their related tax effects. The 2022 adjustments relate to the gain on sale of an administrative office building and its related tax effects. Please refer to Note 3. Impairment of Assets and Restructuring Costs and Note 4. Gain on Disposal of Assets included in Item 1 of Part I of the Company's Report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the SEC on or about December 7, 2023 for further information on the nature of these amounts.

Expected adjusted earnings per share

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Company-operated Store Count and Square Footage⁽¹⁾

Square Footage Expressed in Thousands

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