EX-99.1 2 d831387dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

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Williams-Sonoma, Inc. reports strong results for the third quarter of 2019

Revenues grew 6.3% with comparable brand revenue growth of 5.5%

GAAP diluted EPS of $0.94; Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.02, a 7.4% increase over Q3 18

Raises low end of 2019 full-year guidance

San Francisco, CA, November 21, 2019 – Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) today announced operating results for the third fiscal quarter ended November 3, 2019 (“Q3 19”) versus the third fiscal quarter ended October 28, 2018 (“Q3 18”).

Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Q3 marks another quarter of strong performance. Comparable revenues accelerated to 5.5%, non-GAAP operating margins held flat to last year despite increased tariff headwinds and non-GAAP EPS grew 7.4%. Our results and continued success relative to the industry reflect that our strong value proposition of high quality, design-led, sustainable products is resonating with our customers. In a fragmented home furnishings industry, it is hard to overstate how important it has been for us to continually evolve to stay ahead of the pack and remain at the forefront of driving profitable growth. Importantly, our digital-first model is a key component of our success.”

Alber continued, “Our year-to-date performance gives us the confidence that we can carry this momentum forward in the holiday season and beyond. As a result, we are raising the low end of our full-year 2019 guidance and reiterating our long term financial targets.”

THIRD QUARTER 2019

 

   

Net revenue growth of 6.3% to $1.442 billion

   

Comparable brand revenue growth of 5.5%, primarily driven by West Elm at 14.1% and Pottery Barn at 3.4%

   

GAAP operating margin of 7.1%; non-GAAP operating margin of 7.6%, in-line with Q3 18

   

GAAP diluted EPS of $0.94; non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.02, a 7.4% increase compared to Q3 18

GUIDANCE

 

   

Raises low end of fiscal year 2019 guidance

   

Reiterates long-term financial targets

Fiscal Year 2019*

 

   

Total Net Revenues: $5.770 billion – $5.900 billion

   

Comparable Brand Revenue Growth: 3.5% – 6%

   

Non-GAAP Operating Margin: In-line with FY 18

   

Non-GAAP Diluted EPS: $4.65 – $4.80

   

Non-GAAP Income Tax Rate: 23% – 24%

   

Depreciation and Amortization: $185 million – $195 million

   

Net 25 store closures for a total store count of 601 by the end of FY 19

   

Capital Spending: $200 million – $220 million

   

Return to Shareholders: quarterly cash dividend of $0.48 per share and continued share buybacks under our multi-year share repurchase authorization of approximately $600 million

 

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Long-Term Financial Targets*

 

   

Total Net Revenues growth of mid to high single digits

   

Non-GAAP Operating Income growth in-line with revenue growth, driving Operating Margin stability

   

Above-industry average ROIC

*We have not provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to the corresponding GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis due to the potential variability and limited visibility of excluded items. Guidance assumptions include the financial impact from all China tariffs.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will host a live conference call today, November 21, 2019, at 2:00 P.M. (PT). The call, hosted by Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer, will be open to the general public via live webcast and can be accessed at http://ir.williams-sonomainc.com/events. A replay of the webcast will be available at http://ir.williams-sonomainc.com/events.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Julie Whalen EVP, Chief Financial Officer – (415) 616 8524

Elise Wang VP, Investor Relations – (415) 616 8571

SEC REGULATION G — NON-GAAP INFORMATION

This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures. Exhibit 1 provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”). We have not provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to the corresponding GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis due to the potential variability and limited visibility of excluded items; these excluded items include expenses related to the operations of Outward, Inc. and employment-related expense. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, can provide meaningful supplemental information for investors regarding the performance of our business and facilitate a meaningful evaluation of current period performance on a comparable basis with prior periods. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in order to have comparable financial results to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter. In addition, certain other items may be excluded from non-GAAP financial measures when the company believes this provides greater clarity to management and investors. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for or superior to the GAAP financial measures presented in this press release and our financial statements and other publicly filed reports. Non-GAAP measures as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not fully materialize or are proven incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to: our ability to capture significant opportunities in the home furnishings industry; increase our market share; our ability to continue to improve performance; our focus on operational excellence; our ability to improve customers’ experience; our optimism about the future; our ability to maximize growth and maintain high profitability; our FY 2019 and long-term financial guidance; our stock repurchase program and dividend expectations; and our proposed store openings and closures.

 

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The risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include: continuing changes in general economic conditions, and the impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending; new interpretations of or changes to current accounting rules; our ability to anticipate consumer preferences and buying trends; dependence on timely introduction and customer acceptance of our merchandise; changes in consumer spending based on weather, political, competitive and other conditions beyond our control; delays in store openings; competition from companies with concepts or products similar to ours; timely and effective sourcing of merchandise from our foreign and domestic vendors and delivery of merchandise through our supply chain to our stores and customers; effective inventory management; our ability to manage customer returns; successful catalog management, including timing, sizing and merchandising; uncertainties in e-marketing, infrastructure and regulation; multi-channel and multi-brand complexities; our ability to introduce new brands and brand extensions; challenges associated with our increasing global presence; dependence on external funding sources for operating capital; disruptions in the financial markets; our ability to control employment, occupancy and other operating costs; our ability to improve our systems and processes; changes to our information technology infrastructure; general political, economic and market conditions and events, including war, conflict or acts of terrorism; the impact of current and potential future tariffs and our ability to mitigate impacts; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our public announcements, reports to stockholders and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2019 and all subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

ABOUT WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home. These products, representing distinct merchandise strategies — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, Pottery Barn Teen, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, and Mark and Graham — are marketed through e-commerce websites, direct-mail catalogs and retail stores. These brands are also part of The Key Rewards, our free-to-join loyalty program that offers members exclusive benefits across the Williams-Sonoma family of brands. We operate in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, offer international shipping to customers worldwide, and have unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico and South Korea, as well as e-commerce websites in certain locations. In 2017, we acquired Outward, Inc., a 3-D imaging and augmented reality platform for the home furnishings and décor industry.

WSM-IR

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (unaudited)

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended     Thirty-nine Weeks Ended  
    November 3, 2019     October 28, 2018     November 3, 2019     October 28, 2018  

In thousands, except per share amounts

  $     % of
Revenues
    $     % of
Revenues
    $     % of
Revenues
    $     % of
Revenues
 

Net revenues

  $ 1,442,472       100   $ 1,356,983       100   $ 4,054,418       100   $ 3,835,157       100

Cost of goods sold

    924,300       64.1       861,999       63.5       2,608,054       64.3       2,444,067       63.7  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    518,172       35.9       494,984       36.5       1,446,364       35.7       1,391,090       36.3  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    416,281       28.9       400,600       29.5       1,184,176       29.2       1,155,990       30.1  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

    101,891       7.1       94,384       7.0       262,188       6.5       235,100       6.1  

Interest expense, net

    2,564       0.2       2,288       0.2       7,486       0.2       5,073       0.1  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

    99,327       6.9       92,096       6.8       254,702       6.3       230,027       6.0  

Income taxes

    24,614       1.7       10,631       0.8       64,685       1.6       51,681       1.3  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings

  $ 74,713       5.2   $ 81,465       6.0   $ 190,017       4.7   $ 178,346       4.7
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share (EPS):

               

Basic

  $ 0.96       $ 1.01       $ 2.43       $ 2.17    

Diluted

  $ 0.94       $ 1.00       $ 2.39       $ 2.15    

Shares used in calculation of EPS:

               

Basic

    77,897         80,475         78,356         82,070    

Diluted

    79,191         81,641         79,465         82,951    

 

3rd Quarter Net Revenues and Comparable Brand Revenue Growth (Decline) by Concept*

 

     Net Revenues
(Millions)
    Comparable Brand Revenue
Growth (Decline)
 
     Q3 19     Q3 18     Q3 19     Q3 18         

Pottery Barn

  $ 557     $ 533       3.4     1.4  

West Elm

    390       339       14.1       8.3    

Williams Sonoma

    205       204       (2.1     2.1    

Pottery Barn Kids and Teen

    228       227       4.0       0.0    

Other

    62       54       N/A       N/A          

Total

  $ 1,442     $ 1,357       5.5     3.1  
                                         
                                         

*See the Company’s 10-K filing for the definition of comparable brand revenue, which is calculated on a 13-week to 13-week basis for Q3 2019.

 

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

 

In thousands, except per share amounts

   November 3, 2019     February 3, 2019     October 28, 2018  

Assets

      

Current assets

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 155,025     $ 338,954     $ 164,414  

Accounts receivable, net

     110,131       107,102       113,582  

Merchandise inventories, net

     1,258,541       1,124,992       1,197,554  

Prepaid expenses

     115,288       101,356       94,071  

Other current assets

     20,260       21,939       21,805  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,659,245       1,694,343       1,591,426  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

     915,740       929,635       931,361  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

     1,194,061       —         —    

Deferred income taxes, net

     41,763       44,055       45,999  

Goodwill

     85,355       85,382       85,649  

Other long-term assets, net

     67,660       59,429       64,324  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 3,963,824     $ 2,812,844     $ 2,718,759  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

      

Current liabilities

      

Accounts payable

   $ 444,279     $ 526,702     $ 487,733  

Accrued expenses

     140,789       163,559       132,398  

Gift card and other deferred revenue

     296,157       290,445       275,567  

Borrowings under revolving line of credit

     100,000       —         60,000  

Income taxes payable

     13,182       21,461       9,903  

Operating lease liabilities

     225,530       —         —    

Other current liabilities

     68,973       72,645       71,119  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,288,910       1,074,812       1,036,720  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred rent and lease incentives

     29,388       201,374       205,143  

Long-term debt

     299,769       299,620       299,571  

Long-term operating lease liabilities

     1,127,403       —         —    

Other long-term liabilities

     86,461       81,324       85,388  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,831,931       1,657,130       1,626,822  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

      

Preferred stock: $.01 par value; 7,500 shares authorized; none issued

     —         —         —    

Common stock: $.01 par value; 253,125 shares authorized; 77,612, 78,813 and 80,282 shares issued and outstanding at November 3, 2019, February 3, 2019 and October 28, 2018, respectively

     777       789       803  

Additional paid-in capital

     594,991       581,900       570,924  

Retained earnings

     550,774       584,333       532,172  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (13,708     (11,073     (11,757

Treasury stock, at cost

     (941     (235     (205
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     1,131,893       1,155,714       1,091,937  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 3,963,824     $ 2,812,844     $ 2,718,759  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

     Thirty-nine
Weeks Ended
 

In thousands

   November 3,
2019
    October 28,
2018
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net earnings

   $ 190,017     $ 178,346  

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     140,495       141,167  

Loss on disposal/impairment of assets

     682       5,290  

Amortization of deferred lease incentives

     (5,985     (19,728

Non-cash lease expense

     160,138       —    

Deferred income taxes

     (10,937     12,170  

Tax benefit related to stock-based awards

     13,648       10,361  

Stock-based compensation expense

     49,516       40,953  

Other

     14       (389

Changes in:

    

Accounts receivable

     (2,842     (21,851

Merchandise inventories

     (133,637     (143,723

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     (24,157     (50,171

Accounts payable

     (92,101     8,689  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (24,148     19,002  

Gift card and other deferred revenue

     5,848       24,048  

Deferred rent and lease incentives

     —         23,695  

Operating lease liabilities

     (168,308     —    

Income taxes payable

     (8,293     (48,358
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     89,950       179,501  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (121,154     (128,326

Other

     470       1,804  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (120,684     (126,522
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Payment of dividends

     (113,159     (105,654

Repurchases of common stock

     (112,714     (220,221

Borrowings under revolving line of credit

     100,000       60,000  

Tax withholdings related to stock-based awards

     (26,623     (13,906
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (152,496     (279,781
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

     (699     1,080  

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (183,929     (225,722

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     338,954       390,136  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 155,025     $ 164,414  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Retail Store Data

(unaudited)

 

      August 4, 2019      Openings      Closings      November 3, 2019      October 28, 2018  

Williams Sonoma

     218        —          —          218        226  

Pottery Barn

     205        —          —          205        205  

West Elm

     112        2        —          114        112  

Pottery Barn Kids

     78        1        —          79        82  

Rejuvenation

     10        —          —          10        8  

Total

     623        3        —          626        633  
                                              
                                              

 

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Exhibit 1

 

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation

(unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended     Thirteen Weeks Ended     Thirty-nine Weeks Ended     Thirty-nine Weeks Ended  
     November 3, 2019     October 28, 2018     November 3, 2019     October 28, 2018  
      $     % of
revenues
    $     % of
revenues
    $     % of
revenues
    $     % of
revenues
 

Gross profit

   $ 518,172       35.9   $ 494,984       36.5   $ 1,446,364       35.7   $ 1,391,090       36.3

Outward-related1

     726         (124       2,140         727    

Employment-related expense2

     —           —           30         —      

Impairment and early termination charges3

     —                 190               —                 909          

Non-GAAP gross profit

   $ 518,898       36.0   $ 495,050       36.5   $ 1,448,534       35.7   $ 1,392,726       36.3
                                                                  
                                                           

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 416,281       28.9   $ 400,600       29.5   $ 1,184,176       29.2   $ 1,155,990       30.1

Outward-related1

     (6,636       (6,128       (18,864       (17,192  

Employment-related expense2

     (623       (1,869       (7,742       (5,445  

Impairment and early termination charges3

     —                 (937             —                 (5,515        

Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 409,022       28.4   $ 391,666       28.9   $ 1,157,570       28.6   $ 1,127,838       29.4
                                                                  
                                                           

Operating income

   $ 101,891       7.1   $ 94,384       7.0   $ 262,188       6.5   $ 235,100       6.1

Outward-related1

     7,362         6,004         21,004         17,919    

Employment-related expense2

     623         1,869         7,772         5,445    

Impairment and early termination charges3

     —                 1,127               —                 6,424          

Non-GAAP operating income

   $ 109,876       7.6   $ 103,384       7.6   $ 290,964       7.2   $ 264,888       6.9
                                                                  
             Tax rate            Tax rate            Tax rate            Tax rate  

Income taxes

   $ 24,614       24.8   $ 10,631       11.5   $ 64,685       25.4   $ 51,681       22.5

Outward-related1

     1,511         1,300         4,475         3,822    

Employment-related expense2

     480         479         (302       1,349    

Impairment and early termination charges3

     —           303         —           1,592    

Tax legislation4

     (98       10,564         (98       4,378    

Impact of equity accounting rules5

     —                 —                 —                 (1,146        

Non-GAAP income taxes

   $ 26,507       24.7   $ 23,277       23.0   $ 68,760       24.3   $ 61,676       23.7
                                                                  
                                                           

Diluted EPS

   $ 0.94       $ 1.00       $ 2.39       $ 2.15    

Outward-related1

     0.07         0.06         0.21         0.17    

Employment-related expense2

     —           0.02         0.10         0.05    

Impairment and early termination charges3

     —           0.01         —           0.06    

Tax legislation4

     —           (0.13       —           (0.05  

Impact of equity accounting rules5

     —                 —                 —                 0.01          

Non-GAAP diluted EPS*

   $ 1.02             $ 0.95             $ 2.70             $ 2.39          
                                                                  
*

Per share amounts may not sum due to rounding to the nearest cent per diluted share

 

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SEC Regulation G – Non-GAAP Information

These tables include non-GAAP gross profit, gross margin, selling, general and administrative expense, operating income, operating margin, income taxes, effective tax rate and diluted EPS. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information for investors regarding the performance of our business and facilitate a meaningful evaluation of our quarterly actual results on a comparable basis with prior periods. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in order to have comparable financial results to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Notes to Exhibit 1:

 

  1

During Q3 and year-to-date 2019, we incurred approximately $7.4 million and $21.0 million, respectively, of expense, which includes acquisition-related compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets, as well as the operations of Outward, Inc. During Q3 and year-to-date 2018, we incurred approximately $6.0 million and $17.9 million, respectively, of expense.

  2

During Q3 and year-to-date 2019, we incurred approximately $0.6 million and $7.8 million, respectively, of employment-related expense. During Q3 and year-to-date 2018, we incurred approximately $1.9 million and $5.4 million, respectively, of employment-related expense.

  3

During Q3 and year-to-date 2018, we incurred approximately $1.1 million and $6.4 million, respectively, of expense, primarily associated with impairment and early lease termination charges.

  4

During Q3 and year-to-date 2019, we recorded income tax expense of approximately $0.1 million, which is associated with tax legislation changes. During Q3 and year-to-date 2018, we recorded a net income tax benefit of approximately $10.6 million and $4.4 million, respectively, associated with tax legislation changes.

  5

During Q1 18, we recorded income tax expense of approximately $1.1 million associated with the adoption of accounting rules related to stock-based compensation.

 

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