Signet Reports Record Second Quarter EPS of $0.85
Kay Same Store Sales Increase 12.5%
(firmenpresse) - HAMILTON, BERMUDA -- (Marketwire) -- 08/23/12 -- Signet Jewelers Limited ("Signet") (NYSE: SIG) (LSE: SIG), the largest specialty retail jeweler in the US and UK, today reported sales and earnings growth for the 13 and 26 weeks ended July 28, 2012 ("Q2 Fiscal 2013" or "second quarter of Fiscal 2013").
Mike Barnes, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We delivered strong second quarter results driven by a 12.5% increase in same store sales at Kay and positive same store sales in the UK. This combined with expansion in operating margin drove a double digit increase in earnings per share. I would like to thank all at Signet who contributed to these results.
As we begin the second half of the year, we remain focused on delivering an exceptional customer experience with exciting merchandise programs, new enhanced marketing programs, and further development of our digital sales capabilities; as always, driven by our talented team. We believe these strengths leave us well positioned to deliver our objectives for the year."
Guidance is being provided principally due to the complexity of calendar shifts occurring in Fiscal 2013.
Same store sales in the third quarter are expected to be in the low to mid single digit range, which includes the impact of a one-time watch event at Jared in the third quarter of Fiscal 2012. Fully diluted earnings per share are expected to range from $0.34 - $0.38 based on an estimated 81.0 million weighted average shares outstanding.
Fiscal 2013 is a 53 week year with the 53rd week occurring in the Company's fiscal fourth quarter. The additional week is expected to increase sales by approximately $50 million. However, this will have a negative impact on the same store sales calculation for the fourth quarter and fiscal year as the sales in the comparable calendar week were $89.3 million, which included a promotional event ahead of Valentine's Day that shifts into Fiscal 2014. As we previously stated, this additional week is expected to result in an operating loss of $2 million - $4 million, reflecting advertising expense which remains in Fiscal 2013 and the calendar shift that impacts sales.
In the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, Signet's same store sales were up 7.1%, compared to an increase of 9.9% in the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 ("second quarter of Fiscal 2012"). Total sales were $853.9 million as compared to $797.6 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, up $56.3 million or 7.1%, compared to an increase of 10.8% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012. eCommerce sales were $24.2 million as compared to $17.3 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, up $6.9 million or 39.9%.
In the US division, sales were $701.9 million as compared to $643.0 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, up $58.9 million or 9.2%. Same store sales increased 8.2% compared to an increase of 12.2% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, driven by strong results for Mother's Day, which included a promotional timing change and continued favorable customer response to our merchandise offering, including branded differentiated and exclusive merchandise and bridal.
In the UK division, sales were $152.0 million as compared to $154.6 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, down $2.6 million or 1.7%. Same store sales increased 2.1% compared to an increase of 1.4% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, driven by branded jewelry, watches and the bridal category.
1. Non-GAAP measure.
2. Includes stores selling under the Leslie Davis nameplate.
In the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, gross margin was $311.2 million or 36.4% of sales as compared to $294.8 million or 37.0% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Gross margin dollars in the US increased $21.3 million compared to the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, as the impact of increased sales was partially offset by a decrease in gross merchandise margin of 20 basis points primarily due to changes in the sales mix. The US net bad debt to US sales ratio was relatively consistent at 4.5% as compared to 4.4% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Gross margin dollars in the UK decreased by $4.9 million as compared to the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, primarily as a result of a decrease in gross merchandise margin of 210 basis points caused by customers' preference for promotional merchandise and merchandise mix, which were partially offset by lower store occupancy expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $240.3 million or 28.1% of sales as compared to $224.5 million or 28.2% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012. The decrease of 10 basis points reflected control of store expenses partially offset by increased advertising expenses.
Other operating income, net was $40.0 million or 4.7% of sales as compared to $32.0 million or 4.0% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012. This increase primarily reflected interest income earned from higher outstanding receivable balances and a change in the mix of finance programs selected by customers.
Operating income increased to $110.9 million or 13.0% of sales as compared to $102.3 million or 12.8% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
In the US division, operating income was $117.3 million or 16.7% of sales as compared to $104.4 million or 16.2% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
In the UK division, operating loss was $0.3 million or (0.2)% of sales as compared to operating income of $2.8 million or 1.8% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Income tax expenses were $39.5 million as compared to $33.5 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012. The effective tax rate was 35.8% as compared to 33.6% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, which included the recognition of $1.9 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits.
Net income was $70.7 million or 8.3% of sales as compared to $66.3 million or 8.3% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Diluted earnings per share increased $0.09 to $0.85 as compared to $0.76 in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, up 11.8%. The weighted average diluted number of common shares outstanding was 83.0 million as compared to 87.1 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Cash and cash equivalents were $237.5 million as compared to $440.2 million at July 30, 2011, with the major reason for the change being the execution of the share repurchase program.
Signet repurchased 4,469,149 shares in the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 at an average cost of $43.97. In the 26 weeks ended July 28, 2012, Signet repurchased 6,425,296 shares at an average cost of $44.70, which represents 7.4% of the shares outstanding at the start of the fiscal year. In the prior year comparable periods, no share repurchases were executed. On July 17, 2012, Signet announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a $50 million increase in the existing repurchase program, which expires in January 2014, bringing the total authorization to $350 million, of which $50.1 million remained available as of July 28, 2012.
Net accounts receivable were $1,032.2 million, up 13.8% as compared to $906.8 million as of July 30, 2011, reflecting both higher sales and a greater participation of in-house customer financing, which increased by 190 basis points to 57.5% as compared to 55.6% as of the 26 weeks ended July 30, 2011.
Net inventories were $1,312.8 million, up by 9.1% as compared to $1,202.8 million as of July 30, 2011. The increased level of inventory reflected primarily the impact of higher diamond and gold costs, partially offset by management actions to improve inventory turn.
Signet operated 1,845 stores (US division: 929 Kay stores, 184 Jared stores and 210 regional brand stores; UK division: 328 H.Samuel stores and 194 Ernest Jones stores) versus 1,850 stores (US division: 910 Kay stores, 180 Jared stores and 224 regional brand stores; UK division: 336 H.Samuel stores and 200 Ernest Jones stores) a year ago. Further information on Signet is available at . See also , , and .
There will be a conference call today at 8.30 a.m. Eastern Time (1.30 p.m. BST and 5.30 a.m. Pacific Time) and a simultaneous audio webcast and slide presentation available at . The slides are available to be downloaded from the website ahead of the conference call. To help ensure the conference call begins in a timely manner, all participants should dial in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. The call details are:
A replay of the conference call and a transcript of the call will be posted on Signet's website as soon as is practical after the call has ended.
Signet will be taking part in the Goldman Sachs Consumer Conference in New York on Thursday, September 6, 2012. Present will be Mike Barnes, Chief Executive Officer, and Ronald Ristau, Chief Financial Officer. A link to the question and answer session, which is scheduled for 9.45 a.m. Eastern Time, will be available on .
Signet will be attending the Citi Consumer Conference, in London, UK on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Present will be Tim Jackson, Investor Relations Director.
Signet will be hosting an IR Day and store visits for professional investors in New York on Monday, October 1, 2012. Details are available on .
The third quarter results for the 13 weeks ending October 28, 2012 are expected to be announced on Tuesday, November 20, 2012.
This release contains statements which are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, based upon management's beliefs and expectations as well as on assumptions made by and data currently available to management, appear in a number of places throughout this release and include statements regarding, among other things, Signet's results of operation, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which Signet operates. The use of the words "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimates," "predicts," "believes," "should," "potential," "may," "forecast," "objective," "plan," or "target," and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to general economic conditions, the merchandising, pricing and inventory policies followed by Signet, the reputation of Signet and its brands, the level of competition in the jewelry sector, the cost and availability of diamonds, gold and other precious metals, regulations relating to consumer credit, seasonality of Signet's business, financial market risks, deterioration in consumers' financial condition, exchange rate fluctuations, changes in consumer attitudes regarding jewelry, management of social, ethical and environmental risks, security breaches and other disruptions to Signet's information technology infrastructure and databases, inadequacy in and disruptions to internal controls and systems, changes in assumptions used in making accounting estimates relating to items such as extended service plans and pensions, and risks relating to Signet being a Bermuda corporation.
For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially, see the "Risk Factors" section of Signet's Fiscal 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2012. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Signet undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.
Tim Jackson
Investor Relations Director
Signet Jewelers
+1 (441) 296 5872
Alecia Pulman
ICR, Inc
+1 (203) 682 8224
Jonathan Glass
Brunswick
+44 (0)20 7404 5959
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Datum: 23.08.2012 - 05:30 Uhr
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