Guess?, Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2023 First Quarter Results

Q1 Fiscal 2023 Revenues Reached $593 Million, Up 14% in U.S. Dollars and 21% in Constant Currency Compared to Q1 Fiscal 2022

Delivered Q1 Operating Margin of 6.1%; Adjusted Operating Margin of 7.0%

Q1 EPS of $0.12 and Adjusted EPS of $0.24

Expects Fiscal 2023 Revenue Growth of About 4% in U.S. Dollars, 10% in Constant Currency, and Fiscal 2023 GAAP and Adjusted Operating Margins of 10.1% and 10.3%, Respectively

Entered Into $175 Million Accelerated Share Repurchase Arrangement

Guess?, Inc. (NYSE: GES) today reported financial results for its first quarter ended April 30, 2022.

Carlos Alberini, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are very pleased with our first quarter results which exceeded our expectations for top line and operating performance. Our Company’s revenues finished up 14% in U.S. dollars and 21% in constant currency with Europe, Americas Wholesale and Licensing performing better than expected. Overall, we delivered strong gross margin performance and leveraged expenses effectively, contributing to an expansion in operating margin and a significant increase in earnings from operations compared to the prior year. During the quarter, we continued to prioritize returning value to our shareholders and purchased over 500,000 shares of our stock in open market transactions and entered into a $175 million accelerated share repurchase program which is presently being executed.”

Paul Marciano, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, added, “We have continued to make great progress in enhancing our product offering and I strongly believe that our current collections are the best they have been across all product categories. As always, we stay true to our brand and values and focus on what we can control. During the last few years, we have transformed our business and elevated our brands very successfully and our customers are responding well to our offerings. Today, our Company is very well positioned to compete in the current marketplace and gain market share among our different product categories and territories. We are very proud of our teams and highly confident in our future.”

Mr. Alberini concluded, “As we look at the remainder of the year, we remain focused on carefully managing our business and believe we can deliver about 4% revenue growth and an operating margin above 10% for the current year, which includes a significant unfavorable currency impact versus the prior year due to the stronger U.S. dollar. While the environment remains challenging, we are well positioned to grow and capitalize on our diversified business model and the strong momentum of our Guess and Marciano brands.”

Non-GAAP Information

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including certain adjusted results of operations and outlook measures, constant currency information, free cash flow measures and return on invested capital (“ROIC”) data. See the heading “Presentation of Non-GAAP Information” for further information and the accompanying tables for a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure.

First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results

For the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company recorded GAAP net earnings of $8.0 million, a 33.6% decrease from $12.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2022. GAAP diluted EPS decreased 33.3% to $0.12 for the first quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to $0.18 for the same prior-year quarter. The Company estimates a net positive impact from its adoption of new accounting guidance related to the Company’s convertible notes and share buybacks of $0.04 and a negative impact from currency of $0.14 on GAAP diluted EPS in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 when compared to the same prior-year quarter.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company’s adjusted net earnings were $15.2 million, a 9.8% increase from $13.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2022. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 14.3% to $0.24, compared to $0.21 for the same prior-year quarter. The Company estimates a net positive impact from its share buybacks of $0.01 and a negative impact from currency of $0.14 on adjusted diluted EPS in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 when compared to the same prior-year quarter.

Net Revenue. Total net revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 increased 14% to $593.5 million from $520.0 million in the same prior-year quarter. In constant currency, net revenue increased by 21%.

• Americas Retail revenues increased 7% in U.S. dollars and constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, increased 3% both in U.S. dollars and constant currency.

• Americas Wholesale revenues increased 50% in U.S. dollars and constant currency.

• Europe revenues increased 14% in U.S. dollars and 26% in constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, decreased 6% in U.S. dollars and increased 3% in constant currency.

• Asia revenues increased 1% in U.S. dollars and 8% in constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, decreased 11% in U.S. dollars and 5% in constant currency.

• Licensing revenues increased 23% in U.S. dollars and constant currency.

Earnings from Operations. GAAP earnings from operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 increased 37% to $36.4 million (including $1.5 million in non-cash impairment charges taken on certain long-lived store related assets, $0.6 million net gains on lease modifications and a $6.4 million unfavorable currency translation impact), from $26.6 million (including $0.4 million in non-cash impairment charges taken on certain long-lived store related assets and $2.1 million net gains on lease modifications) in the same prior-year quarter. GAAP operating margin in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 increased 1.0% to 6.1%, from 5.1% for the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by overall leveraging of expenses, partially offset by higher store labor costs in Americas Retail and unfavorable currency impact. The negative impact of currency on operating margin for the quarter was approximately 100 basis points.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2023, adjusted earnings from operations increased 61% to $41.7 million, from $26.0 million in the same prior-year quarter. Adjusted operating margin increased 2.0% to 7.0%, from 5.0% for the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by overall leveraging of expenses, partially offset by higher store labor costs in Americas Retail and unfavorable currency impact.

• Operating margin for the Company’s Americas Retail segment decreased 4.4% to 8.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to 13.0% in the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by the unfavorable impact from higher store labor costs, higher markdowns and lower government subsidies compared to last year, partially offset by higher initial markups.

• Operating margin for the Company’s Americas Wholesale segment increased 0.1% to 25.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to 25.4% in the same prior-year quarter, due primarily to leveraging of expenses, partially offset by lower product margin.

• Operating margin for the Company’s Europe segment improved 4.8% to 6.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to 1.7% in the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by leveraging of expenses and lower markdowns, partially offset by lower initial markups.

• Operating margin for the Company’s Asia segment decreased 3.0% to negative 6.2% in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, from negative 3.2% in the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in certain markets.

• Operating margin for the Company’s Licensing segment increased 2.3% to 92.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to 90.3% in the same prior-year quarter, mainly due to leveraging of expenses.

Other expense, net. Other expense, net for the first quarter of fiscal 2023 was $16.5 million compared to $2.7 million for the same prior-year quarter. The change was primarily due to higher net unrealized and realized losses from foreign currency exposures and higher net unrealized losses on our SERP-related assets compared to the same prior-year quarter.

Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2023, assuming no meaningful COVID-related shutdowns, we expect revenues to be up around 1% in U.S. dollars (8% in constant currency) versus the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and operating margin to reach approximately 7.5%.

For the full fiscal year 2023, assuming no meaningful COVID-related shutdowns, we expect revenues to be up around 4% in U.S. dollars (10% in constant currency) versus fiscal 2022 and GAAP and adjusted operating margins to reach approximately 10.1% and 10.3%, respectively.

A reconciliation of the Company’s outlook for GAAP operating margin to adjusted operating margin for the second quarter and fiscal year ending January 28, 2023 is as follows:

Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 per share on the Company’s common stock. The dividend will be payable on June 24, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 8, 2022.

Share Repurchases

On March 14, 2022, the Board of Directors expanded its repurchase authorization by $100 million, leaving a new capacity of $249.0 million at that time.

On March 18, 2022, pursuant to the existing share repurchase authorization, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (“ASR”) with Barclays Bank PLC, to repurchase an aggregate of $175.0 million of the Company’s common stock. Under the ASR, it received up-front approximately 3.3 million shares of common stock on March 21, 2022 (representing approximately $70.0 million, or 40%, of the $175.0 million notional amount of the ASR), with the remaining portion expected to be completed by the end of July 2022. During the three months ended April 30, 2022, the Company also repurchased approximately 0.5 million shares of its common stock in open market transactions totaling $11.7 million. Combined, these transactions resulted in the repurchase of approximately 3.8 million shares for $81.7 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, with the remaining portion of the ASR to be determined based on the average volume-weighted price of the Company’s shares during the term of the ASR, less an agreed discount.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Information

The financial information presented in this release includes non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted results and outlook, constant currency financial information, free cash flows and ROIC. For the periods presented, the adjusted measures exclude the impact of certain professional service and legal fees and related (credits) costs, asset impairment charges, net gains on lease modifications, non-cash amortization of debt discount on the Company’s convertible senior notes, the related income tax effects of the foregoing items, the impact from changes in the income tax law on deferred income taxes in certain tax jurisdictions, net income tax settlements and adjustments to specific uncertain income tax positions, as well as certain discrete income tax adjustments related primarily to an intra-entity transfer of intellectual property rights to a wholly-owned Swiss subsidiary, in each case where applicable. These non-GAAP measures are provided in addition to, and not as alternatives for, the Company’s reported GAAP results and outlook.

The Company has excluded these items from its adjusted financial measures primarily because it believes these items are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business and the adjusted financial information provided is useful for investors to evaluate the comparability of the Company’s operating results and its future outlook (when reviewed in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial statements). A reconciliation of reported GAAP results to comparable non-GAAP results is provided in the accompanying tables.

This release includes certain constant currency financial information. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations affect the amount reported from translating the Company’s foreign revenue, expenses and balance sheet amounts into U.S. dollars. These rate fluctuations can have a significant effect on reported operating results under GAAP. The Company provides constant currency information to enhance the visibility of underlying business trends, excluding the effects of changes in foreign currency translation rates. To calculate net revenue and earnings (loss) from operations on a constant currency basis, actual or forecasted results for the current-year period are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates in effect during the comparable period of the prior year. The constant currency calculations do not adjust for the impact of revaluing specific transactions denominated in a currency different from the functional currency of that entity when exchange rates fluctuate. However, in calculating the estimated impact of currency on our earnings (loss) per share for our actual or forecasted results, the Company estimates gross margin (including the impact of merchandise-related hedges) and expenses using the appropriate prior-year rates, translates the estimated foreign earnings at the comparable prior-year rates, and excludes the year-over-year earnings impact of gains or losses arising from balance sheet remeasurement and foreign currency contracts not designated as merchandise hedges. The constant currency information presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The Company includes information regarding its free cash flows in this release. The Company calculates free cash flows as cash flows from operating activities less (i) purchases of property and equipment and (ii) payments for property and equipment under finance leases. Free cash flows are not intended to be an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity, but rather to provide additional visibility to investors regarding how much cash is generated for discretionary and non-discretionary items after deducting purchases of property and equipment and payments for property and equipment under finance leases. Free cash flow information presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of reported GAAP cash flows from operating activities to the comparable non-GAAP free cash flow measure is provided in the accompanying tables.

The Company includes information regarding its ROIC in this release. The Company defines ROIC as adjusted net operating profit after income taxes divided by two-year average invested capital. The Company believes ROIC is a useful financial measure for investors in evaluating how efficiently the Company deploys its capital. The Company’s method of calculating ROIC is provided in the accompanying tables and may differ from other companies’ methods and, therefore, might not be comparable.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call at 4:45 pm (ET) on May 25, 2022 to discuss the news announced in this press release. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible at www.guess.com via the “Investor Relations” link. The webcast will be archived on the website for 30 days.

About Guess?

Guess?, Inc. designs, markets, distributes and licenses a lifestyle collection of contemporary apparel, denim, handbags, watches, eyewear, footwear and other related consumer products. Guess? products are distributed through branded Guess? stores as well as better department and specialty stores around the world. As of April 30, 2022, the Company directly operated 1,073 retail stores in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Company’s partners and distributors operated 565 additional retail stores worldwide. As of April 30, 2022, the Company and its partners and distributors operated in approximately 100 countries worldwide. For more information about the Company, please visit www.guess.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, certain matters discussed in this press release or the related conference call and webcast, including statements concerning the potential actions and impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic; results of the ASR and cash needs; statements concerning the Company’s future outlook, including with respect to the second quarter and full year of fiscal 2023; statements concerning share repurchase plans; statements concerning the Company’s expectations, goals, future prospects, and current business strategies and strategic initiatives; and statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results and growth opportunities are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, which are frequently indicated by terms such as “expect,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “goal,” “strategy,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “outlook,” “plan,” “create,” “see,” and similar terms, are only expectations, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from what is currently anticipated.

Factors which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from current expectations include, among others: our ability to maintain our brand image and reputation; domestic and international economic or political conditions, including economic and other events that could negatively impact consumer confidence and discretionary consumer spending; recent sanctions and export controls targeting Russia and other impacts related to the war in Ukraine; the continuation or worsening of impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic; risks relating to our indebtedness; changes to estimates related to impairments, inventory and other reserves, which were made using the best information available at the time; changes in the competitive marketplace and in our commercial relationships; our ability to anticipate and adapt to changing consumer preferences and trends; our ability to manage our inventory commensurate with customer demand; the high concentration of our Americas Wholesale business; risks related to the costs and timely delivery of merchandise to our distribution facilities, stores and wholesale customers; unexpected or unseasonable weather conditions; our ability to effectively operate our various retail concepts, including securing, renewing, modifying or terminating leases for store locations; our ability to successfully and/or timely implement our growth strategies and other strategic initiatives; our ability to successfully enhance our global omni-channel capabilities; our ability to expand internationally and operate in regions where we have less experience, including through joint ventures; risks relating to our $300 million 2.0% convertible senior notes due 2024, including our ability to settle the liability in cash; disruptions at our distribution facilities; our ability to attract and retain management and other key personnel; obligations or changes in estimates arising from new or existing litigation, income tax and other regulatory proceedings; risks related to the income tax treatment of our third quarter fiscal 2022 intra-entity transfer of intellectual property rights from certain U.S. entities to a wholly-owned Swiss subsidiary; the occurrence of unforeseen epidemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; other catastrophic events; changes in U.S. or foreign income tax or tariff policy, including changes to tariffs on imports into the U.S.; accounting adjustments to our unaudited financial statements identified during the completion of our annual independent audit of financial statements and financial controls or from subsequent events arising after issuance of this release; risk of future non-cash asset impairments, including goodwill, right-of-use lease assets and/or other store asset impairments; violations of, or changes to, domestic or international laws and regulations; risks associated with the acts or omissions of our licensees and third party vendors, including a failure to comply with our vendor code of conduct or other policies; risks associated with cyber-attacks and other cyber security risks; risks associated with our ability to properly collect, use, manage and secure consumer and employee data; risks associated with our vendors’ ability to maintain the strength and security of information technology systems; changes in economic, political, social and other conditions affecting our foreign operations and sourcing, including the impact of currency fluctuations, global income tax rates and economic and market conditions in the various countries in which we operate; impacts of inflation and further inflationary pressures; fluctuations in quarterly performance; slowing in-person customer traffic; increases in labor costs; increases in wages; risks relating to activist investor activity; and the significant voting power of our family founders.

In addition to these factors, the economic, technological, managerial, and other risks identified in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors discussed therein, could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. The current global economic climate, length and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty surrounding potential changes in U.S. policies and regulations may amplify many of these risks. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The reconciliations of reported GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses to adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, reported GAAP earnings from operations to adjusted earnings from operations, reported GAAP net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. to adjusted net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. and reported GAAP income tax expense to adjusted income tax expense follows:

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