rue21, inc. Announces Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2012 Financial Results


Net Sales Up 15.6% for the Quarter and 17.1% for the Year

GAAP EPS $0.33; Adjusted EPS $0.41

WARRENDALE, Pa., Nov. 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- rue21, inc. (Nasdaq:RUE) today announced sales and earnings results for the third quarter ended October 27, 2012.

Third Quarter and Fiscal Year-to-Date Summary:

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased 15.6% to $225.2 million, driven by new store growth and comparable store sales growth of 0.2%. Gross margin for the third quarter was 37.8% of sales, compared to 36.7% in the same period last year. The increase was driven by merchandise margin improvement of 120 bps. Net income and diluted earnings per share for the third fiscal quarter were impacted by a $2.9 million pre-tax litigation expense, or approximately $0.08 per share, related to the prospective settlement and related costs of wage and hour claims in California. When excluding this item, adjusted net income for the third quarter was $10.0 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $0.41, a 17% increase over $0.35 per share in the third quarter of 2011. The Company opened 29 new stores in the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

For the first nine months of fiscal 2013, net sales were $632.8 million, a 17.1% increase over last year, and comparable store sales increased 0.8% over the same period last year. Gross margin for the first nine months was 38.6% of sales versus 38.2% for the comparable period last year. Adjusted net income for the period increased 17.9% to $30.7 million. The Company opened 108 new stores in the first nine months of fiscal year 2012.

The Company ended the third quarter with approximately $44.3 million in cash and short term investments on its balance sheet.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is included in the schedules accompanying the consolidated financial statements included with this release.

Bob Fisch, rue21's President and CEO, stated: "We executed our plan for the third quarter and continued our history of quality top and bottom line earnings growth, highlighted by a record third quarter gross margin. We achieved solid comp store sales growth above our plan in the junior's sportswear division, which is our largest category and will benefit the overall business going forward. Even more exciting for rue, our 2012 new stores have given us some of the best performances of any stores in our history and we have already secured store locations in 2013 in markets similar to those that opened with such success this past year."

Stock Repurchase Program:

During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company repurchased 332,200 shares for $9.2 million. The stock repurchase program had a positive impact of $0.01 per share on diluted earnings per share in the third quarter. At the end of the third quarter, $27.8 million of the $50 million stock repurchase program remained available for future share repurchases. 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 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.

2012 Outlook:

The Company is raising its prior guidance and expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.83 to $1.86 as compared to $1.55 in fiscal 2011. This incorporates 25.0 million average diluted shares expected for fiscal 2012 as compared to 25.1 million average diluted shares in fiscal 2011. This guidance is based on low single digit comparable store sales in the fourth quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter are expected to be in the range of $0.60 to $0.63 compared to $0.52 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.

Mr. Fisch continued: "We are very focused on achieving our results for the fourth quarter and we were excited by the record sales gains we achieved over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend without increasing our promotional cadence from last year. We have great momentum going into December in addition to strong opportunities and initiatives that we believe will bring us a very happy holiday season and position us well for 2013."                                  

Conference Call Information:

A conference call to discuss third quarter fiscal 2012 financial results is scheduled for today, November 28, 2012 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. To participate, dial toll-free (877) 795-3648 or 1-719-325-4841 (international). The conference call will also be webcast live at www.rue21.com under the Investor Relations section. A replay of this call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.rue21.com, within two hours of the conclusion of the call and will remain on the website for ninety days.

About rue21, inc.

rue21 is a leading specialty apparel retailer offering exclusive branded merchandise and the newest trends at a great value. rue21 currently operates 879 stores in 47 states. Learn more at www.rue21.com

Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements herein, including statements relating to future store openings and growth strategies, are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and actual results of operations may differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the strength of the economy, consumer spending, our ability to effectively identify and respond to changing fashion trends, our ability to compete with other retailers, our strategy and expansion plans, implementation of systems upgrades, reliance on key personnel, trade restrictions, events that may affect our vendors or their ability to finance their operations, availability of suitable new store locations and other factors which are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 27, 2012, and in all filings with the SEC made by the Company subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

Management has presented its operating results in accordance with GAAP and on an "adjusted" (or non-GAAP) basis for the thirteen week and thirty-nine week periods ended October 27, 2012. The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplementary information to and facilitates additional analysis by investors. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in connection with assessing its financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in conformity with GAAP.

 
 
rue21, inc. and subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
         
         
  Thirteen weeks ended Thirty-nine weeks ended
  October 27, October 29, October 27, October 29,
  2012 2011 2012 2011
  (Unaudited)
  (in thousands, except per share data)
         
Net sales  $ 225,158  $ 194,761  $ 632,832  $ 540,406
Cost of goods sold (includes certain buying, occupancy and distribution center expenses)  140,052  123,361  388,514  334,130
Gross profit  85,106  71,400  244,318  206,276
         
Selling, general, and administrative expense  63,738  50,805  175,333  145,045
Depreciation and amortization expense  8,522  6,843  24,067  19,356
Income from operations  12,846  13,752  44,918  41,875
         
Interest (income) expense, net  (12)  16  (64)  (25)
Income before income taxes  12,858  13,736  44,982  41,900
         
Provision for income taxes  4,693  4,995  16,124  15,870
Net income  $ 8,165  $ 8,741  $ 28,858  $ 26,030
         
Basic income per common share  $ 0.34  $ 0.36  $ 1.18  $ 1.07
Diluted income per common share  $ 0.33  $ 0.35  $ 1.15  $ 1.04
         
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding  23,939  24,461  24,371  24,407
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding  24,555  25,066  24,990  25,057
 
 
rue21, inc. and subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
       
  October 27, January 28, October 29,
  2012 2012 2011
  (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
  (in thousands, except per share data)
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 7,347  $ 41,960  $ 36,071
Short term investments  37,000  30,000  –
Accounts receivable  10,634  6,675  10,961
Merchandise inventory, net  180,609  131,136  142,869
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  13,660  11,767  11,062
Deferred tax assets  6,079  5,121  6,527
Total current assets  255,329  226,659  207,490
       
Property and equipment, net  139,443  117,798  115,109
       
Other assets  3,505  3,565  3,661
Total assets  $ 398,277  $ 348,022  $ 326,260
Liabilities and stockholders' equity      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable  $ 129,410  $ 103,914  $ 104,618
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  21,304  16,570  16,020
Accrued payroll and related taxes  9,939  12,045  10,099
Deferred rent and tenant allowances, current portion  9,945  8,652  8,630
Accrued income and franchise taxes  –  1,068  2,252
Total current liabilities  170,598  142,249  141,619
       
Non-current liabilities:      
Deferred rent, tenant allowances and other long-term liabilities  57,850  46,965  46,212
Deferred tax liabilities  7,006  11,585  5,599
Total non-current liabilities  64,856  58,550  51,811
       
       
Commitments and Contingencies  –  –  –
       
Stockholders' equity:      
Preferred stock-- par value $0.001 per share, 10,000 shares  authorized; none issued or outstanding  –  –  –
Common stock-- par value $0.001 per share; 200,000 shares authorized; 24,651, 24,476 and 24,463 shares issued; 23,811, 24,476 and 24,463 outstanding, respectively.  25  24  24
Additional paid in capital  46,950  37,696  36,224
Treasury stock, 840, -0-, and -0- shares, respectively  (22,512)  –  –
Retained earnings  138,360  109,503  96,582
Total stockholder's equity  162,823  147,223  132,830
       
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 398,277  $ 348,022  $ 326,260
       
       
rue21, inc. and subsidiaries      
Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings      
(In thousands, except per share data)      
(Unaudited)      
       
  Thirteen Weeks Ended October 27, 2012
       
       
  GAAP Legal Costs (1) As Adjusted
       
Income from Operations   $ 12,846  $ 2,900  $ 15,746
Interest (income), net   (12)    (12)
       
Income before income taxes   12,858    15,758
Provision for income taxes  4,693  1,059  5,752
       
Net income  $ 8,165    $ 10,006
       
Basic income per common share  $ 0.34    $ 0.42
Diluted income per common share  $ 0.33    $ 0.41
       
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding  23,939    23,939
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding  24,555    24,555
       
  Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended October 27, 2012
       
       
  GAAP Legal Costs (1) As Adjusted
       
Income from Operations   $ 44,918  $ 2,900  $ 47,818
Interest (income), net   (64)    (64)
       
Income before income taxes   44,982    47,882
Provision for income taxes  16,124  1,059  17,183
       
Net income  $ 28,858    $ 30,699
       
Basic income per common share  $ 1.18    $ 1.26
Diluted income per common share  $ 1.15    $ 1.23
       
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding  24,371    24,371
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding  24,990    24,990
       
       
1 Estimated adjusted basic and diluted earnings per common share represents management's estimate of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the periods presented, before expenses associated with our legal settlement for California wage and hour litigation in October 2012. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per common share is presented because management believes it is a useful adjunct to basic and diluted earnings per common share under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States since it is a meaningful measure of the Company's ongoing operating performance excluding the non-recurring costs for our California wage and hour litigation costs. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per common share is not a measure of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should not be considered as an alternative to basic and diluted earnings per common share.      


            

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