Pier 1 Imports, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2018 Financial Results

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (NYSE:PIR) today reported financial results for the 14-week fourth quarter and 53-week fiscal year ended March 3, 2018. Except where indicated, fourth quarter and full year comparisons reflect the 14-week and 53-week periods ended March 3, 2018, and the 13-week and 52-week periods ended February 25, 2017.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2018 Highlights

• Net sales decreased 3.1% to $512.2 million, which includes approximately $27.5 million from the 14th week in the Company’s fiscal 2018 fourth quarter;
• Company comparable sales on a 13-week basis decreased 7.5%;
• E-Commerce sales penetration reached approximately 25%; and
• Earnings per share of $0.19 (GAAP) and adjusted earnings per share of $0.21 (non-GAAP), including an estimated benefit of approximately $0.04 per share from the 14th week in the Company’s fiscal 2018 fourth quarter.

Full Year Fiscal 2018 Highlights

• Net sales decreased 1.6% to $1.8 billion;
• Company comparable sales on a 52-week basis decreased 2.0%;
• E-Commerce sales exceeded $450 million, with sales penetration reaching approximately 26%;
• Earnings per share of $0.14 (GAAP) and adjusted earnings per share of $0.21 (non-GAAP);
• Generated positive cash flow from operations of $66 million; and
• Established new executive leadership team and developed three-year strategic plan now in initial phase of implementation.

“Our financial performance in fiscal 2018, and specifically the fourth quarter, underscores the urgent need for change, which we are addressing in the three-year strategic plan we will present tomorrow,” said Alasdair James, President and CEO. “In fiscal 2019, we will be investing in the tools and resources needed to execute against the plan. We are confident in the potential of the business to respond and have already begun implementing new initiatives across sourcing, supply chain, stores, merchandising, marketing and promotions. These investments will pressure profitability in the near-term, bringing us to an expected net loss for the full year in fiscal 2019, but are expected to drive sales growth and profitability in fiscal 2020 and 2021 and are necessary to help us return the business to a sustainable growth trajectory. We look forward to sharing our three-year strategic plan and financial outlook tomorrow at our Analyst Day.”

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2018 Results of Operations

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 decreased 3.1% to $512.2 million, compared to $528.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. Company comparable sales on a 13-week basis decreased 7.5% versus the year-ago period. E-Commerce represented approximately 25% of net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, as compared to approximately 20% of net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. Taking into account e-Commerce orders placed in or picked up in-store, approximately 90% of the Company’s fourth quarter fiscal 2018 net sales directly touched a store.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 totaled $189.7 million, or 37.0% of net sales, compared to $206.9 million, or 39.2% of net sales, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. Merchandise margin (the result of adding back delivery and fulfillment net costs and store occupancy costs to gross profit) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 totaled $284.8 million, or 55.6% of net sales, compared to $299.5 million, or 56.7% of net sales, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, reflecting increased promotional activity. Contribution from operations (gross profit less compensation for operations and operational expenses) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 totaled $99.5 million, compared to $118.5 million last year.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 were $148.2 million, or 28.9% of net sales, compared to $148.5 million, or 28.1% of net sales, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. The following table details the breakdown of SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 as compared to last year (in millions).

Operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was $27.9 million compared to $44.8 million last year. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 totaled $15.1 million, or $0.19 per share. Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was $16.6 million, or $0.21 per share, and excludes $1.5 million, or $0.02 per share related to the tax effect of regulatory costs relating to an ongoing Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) inquiry. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, net income was $26.6 million, or $0.33 per share, and adjusted net income (non-GAAP) was $27.8 million, or $0.34 per share. Adjusted net income in the fiscal 2017 period excludes costs related to the departure of the Company’s former CEO and the related tax benefit. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was $41.5 million compared to $58.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP is provided below.

Full-Year Results of Operations

Net sales for the fiscal year ended March 3, 2018, were $1.8 billion, a decrease of 1.6% from fiscal 2017. Company comparable sales on a 52-week basis decreased 2.0%. E-Commerce represented approximately 26% of net sales in fiscal 2018, compared to approximately 20% in fiscal 2017.

Gross profit for the fiscal year ended March 3, 2018, totaled $658.1 million, or 36.6% of net sales, compared to $697.3 million, or 38.1% of net sales, for the fiscal year ended February 25, 2017. Merchandise margin for fiscal year 2018 totaled $1.0 billion, or 57.1% of net sales, compared to $1.0 billion, or 57.3% of net sales, for fiscal year 2017, reflecting increased promotional activity, partially offset by supply chain cost savings. Contribution from operations totaled $329.5 million for fiscal year 2018, compared to $360.1 million last year.

Fiscal 2018 SG&A expenses were $576.9 million, or 32.1% of net sales, compared to $587.8 million, or 32.1% of net sales, during fiscal 2017, reflecting ongoing cost control measures. The following table details the breakdown of SG&A expenses for the fiscal year ended March 3, 2018, as compared to last year (in millions).

Operating income for the fiscal year ended March 3, 2018, was $27.7 million, compared to $54.9 million for fiscal 2017. Fiscal 2018 net income was $11.6 million, or $0.14 per share. Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) for fiscal 2018 was $16.8 million, or $0.21 per share and excludes $6.6 million ($5.2 million, or $0.07 per share, net of tax) of expense related to legal and regulatory costs related to California wage-and-hour litigation and the CPSC matter noted above. The Company estimates that the 53rd week contributed approximately $27.5 million to net sales and $0.04 to earnings per share. Fiscal 2017 net income totaled $30.1 million, or $0.37 per share, and adjusted net income (non-GAAP) was $35.7 million, or $0.44 per share. Adjusted net income for the fiscal 2017 period excludes costs related to the departure of the Company’s former CEO and the related tax benefit. EBITDA for the fiscal year ended March 3, 2018, totaled $82.7 million, or $89.3 million as adjusted for legal and regulatory costs, compared to EBITDA of $110.6 million last year, or $120.4 million as adjusted for the former CEO departure costs noted above.

Balance Sheet Highlights and Share Repurchase Program

As of March 3, 2018, the Company had $135.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, $193.0 million outstanding under its senior secured term loan and no working capital borrowings outstanding under its $350 million secured revolving credit facility. Inventories at the end of fiscal 2018 decreased 13.4% to $347.4 million, compared to $401.0 million a year ago.

The Company did not repurchase any shares under its common stock repurchase plan during the quarter ended March 3, 2018. Of the Company’s $200 million share repurchase program announced in April 2014, $26.6 million remains available for repurchases. The Board of Directors has determined to discontinue share repurchases at the present time under the Company’s existing share repurchase program.

Real Estate Optimization Initiative

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company opened 1 and closed 9 stores. The Company closed a total of 15 net stores in fiscal year 2018.

Store Statistics

Company Discontinues Common Stock Dividend

The Board of Directors has determined to discontinue the common stock dividend, which will enable the Company to allocate greater resources toward implementing its three-year strategic plan to drive sales and earnings growth and increase shareholder value. Discontinuing the quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share is expected to contribute approximately $22 million of incremental cash flow in fiscal 2019.

Tax Reform

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”) was signed into law. The Tax Act revised many aspects of the U.S. corporate income tax including, but not limited to, a decrease in the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. Based on Pier 1’s fiscal calendar, the Company is subject to a blended U.S. corporate income tax rate of 32.7% for fiscal year 2018 ended March 3, 2018. The lower federal tax rate for fiscal year 2018, combined with our provisional estimate of the remeasurement of our federal deferred tax assets and liabilities at the new lower U.S. corporate income tax rate, resulted in a net tax benefit of $0.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. The Company expects to complete its analysis within the one-year measurement period allowed by the SEC, and any necessary adjustment to the provisional estimate of the remeasurement of our federal deferred tax assets and liabilities will be recorded in tax expense in fiscal year 2019.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2018 Financial Results Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2018 financial results at 4:00 p.m. Central Time/5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. A live audio webcast will be accessible at the Company’s website at https://investors.pier1.com. The call can also be accessed domestically at (866) 378-2926 and internationally at (409) 350-3152, conference ID 1199178.

Outlook

The Company will present its three-year strategic plan and outlook, and provide financial guidance for the first quarter and full year of fiscal 2019 at its Analyst Day being held Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The event will be webcast live and archived on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investors.pier1.com.

Financial Disclosure Advisory

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). This press release references non-GAAP financial measures including merchandise margin, contribution from operations, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share.

The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release allow management and investors to understand and compare results in a more consistent manner for the 14-week and 53-week periods ended March 3, 2018, and the 13-week and 52-week periods ended February 25, 2017. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental and not a substitute for the Company’s results reported in accordance with GAAP for the periods presented.

Merchandise margin represents the result of adding back delivery and fulfillment net costs and store occupancy costs to gross profit. Contribution from operations represents gross profit less compensation for operations (which includes store and customer service payroll) and operational expenses. EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Management believes merchandise margin, contribution from operations and EBITDA are meaningful indicators of the Company’s performance which provide useful information to investors regarding its financial condition and results of operations. Management uses merchandise margin, contribution from operations and EBITDA, together with financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, to assess the Company’s operating performance, to enhance its understanding of core operating performance and to compare the Company’s operating performance to other retailers. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or used as an alternative to GAAP financial measures and do not purport to be an alternative to net income or gross profit as a measure of operating performance. A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA to contribution from operations to merchandise margin is shown below for the periods indicated (in millions).

This press release also references adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, each of which excludes legal and regulatory costs related to California wage-and-hour litigation and an ongoing CPSC inquiry in fiscal 2018, and CEO departure-related costs in fiscal 2017. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in comparing the Company’s year-over-year operating performance and should be considered supplemental and not a substitute for the Company’s net income or earnings per share results reported in accordance with GAAP for the periods presented.

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this press release or otherwise made by our management in connection with the subject matter of this press release are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors. This press release includes forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current estimates or expectations of future events or future results. These statements are not historical in nature and can generally be identified by such words as “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “intend” and similar expressions. Management’s expectations and assumptions regarding future results are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the impact of new initiatives implemented in connection with the Company’s three-year strategic plan; the effectiveness of the Company’s marketing campaigns, merchandising and promotional strategies and customer databases; consumer spending patterns; inventory levels and values; the Company’s ability to implement planned cost control measures; expected benefits from the real estate optimization initiative, including cost savings and increases in efficiency; risks related to U.S. import policy; and changes in foreign currency values relative to the U.S. Dollar. These and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other filings with the SEC. Refer to the Company’s most recent SEC filings for any updates concerning these and other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company’s operations and performance. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which are only current as of the date they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements.

Pier 1 Imports is dedicated to offering customers exclusive, one-of-a-kind products that reflect high quality at a great value. Starting with a single store in 1962, Pier 1 Imports’ product is now available in retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada and online at pier1.com. For more information about Pier 1 Imports or to find the nearest store, please visit pier1.com.

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