UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 20, 2018

 

Foot Locker, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

New York 1-10299 13-3513936
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

330 West 34th Street, New York, New York 10001
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 720-3700

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On November 20, 2018, Foot Locker, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2018. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which, in its entirety, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The Company is making reference to financial measures not presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in both the press release and the conference call. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest comparable GAAP financial measures is contained in the attached press release. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors because they allow for a more direct comparison of the Company’s performance for the third quarter of 2018 to the Company’s performance in the comparable prior-year period. The non-GAAP financial measures are provided in addition to, and not as an alternative to, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation to GAAP is provided in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
   
(d) Exhibits.
   
Exhibit No. Description
   
99.1 Press Release, dated November 20, 2018, issued by Foot Locker, Inc.
 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  FOOT LOCKER, INC.
     
Date: November 20, 2018 By:  /s/ Lauren B. Peters
    Name:  Lauren B. Peters
    Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Contact: James R. Lance
Vice President,
Corporate Finance and Investor Relations
Foot Locker, Inc.
(212) 720-4600

 

 

FOOT LOCKER, INC. REPORTS 2018 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

       
  · Comparable Store Sales Increased 2.9 Percent  
  · Gross Margin expanded by 60 basis points to 31.6%  
  · Net Income of $130 Million, or $1.14 Per Share  
  ·        Non-GAAP Net Income of $108 Million, or $0.95 Per Share                                 

 

NEW YORK, NY, November 20, 2018 – Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, reported today financial results for its third quarter ended November 3, 2018.

 

Third Quarter Results

Net income for the Company’s third quarter ended November 3, 2018 was $130 million, or $1.14 per share, compared to net income of $102 million, or $0.81 per share in the same period of fiscal 2017.

 

This result included a $2 million million pre-tax charge related to the Company’s previously-disclosed pension litigation judgment, offset by $23 million of tax benefits related to last year’s tax reform bill for 1) a decrease to the tax on the deemed repatriation of foreign earnings, and 2) a decrease to tax expense for IRS accounting method changes and timing difference true-ups. Excluding these items, which increased after-tax earnings by 19 cents per share, non-GAAP earnings were $0.95 per share, a 9 percent increase over the non-GAAP earnings of $0.87 per share in the comparable 13-week period in 2017. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the tables below.

 

Third quarter comparable store sales increased 2.9 percent. Total third quarter sales decreased 0.5 percent, to $1,860 million this year, compared to sales of $1,870 million for the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations, total sales for the third quarter increased 0.4 percent. Additionally, the 53rd week shift impact reduced sales by approximately $60 million during the third quarter.

 

The Company’s gross margin rate increased to 31.6 percent from 31.0 percent a year ago, while the SG&A expense rate increased to 21.4 percent from 19.7 percent in the third quarter of 2017.

 

“Our accelerating comparable sales and improving bottom line reflect the strategic partnerships with our vendors, as well as our efforts to inspire and empower youth culture and create deeper connections with local communities,” said Richard Johnson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe we are well positioned to produce even stronger results in the all-important holiday selling season and the fourth quarter overall.”

 

Year-To-Date Results

Net income for the Company’s first nine months of the year increased to $383 million, or $3.28 per share on a GAAP basis, compared to net income of $333 million, or $2.55 per share, for the corresponding period in 2017. On a non-GAAP basis, earnings per share for the nine-month period totaled $3.16, an 11 percent increase compared to the same period in 2017. Year-to-date sales were $5,667 million, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to sales of $5,572 million in the corresponding nine-month period of 2017. Year-to-date comparable store sales increased 0.1 percent, while total year-to-date sales, excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, increased 0.7 percent.

 

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Financial Position

As of November 3, 2018, the Company’s merchandise inventories were $1,305 million, 0.6 percent lower than at the end of the third quarter last year. Using constant currencies, inventory increased 0.5 percent.

 

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $748 million, while the debt on its balance sheet was $124 million. The Company repurchased approximately 2.2 million shares for $108 million during the quarter and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.345 per share, spending $39 million.

 

“We’re encouraged by the second consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth, more full-price selling, and greater than expected gross margin expansion,” noted Lauren Peters, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “In addition to the improving performance, our strong balance sheet gives us the flexibility to continue investing in the business for the long term, while returning cash to our shareholders.”

 

Store Base Update

During the third quarter, the Company opened 10 new stores, remodeled or relocated 13 stores, and closed 20 stores. As of November 3, 2018, the Company operated 3,266 stores in 26 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, 108 franchised Foot Locker stores were operating in the Middle East, as well as 10 franchised Runners Point stores in Germany.

 

The Company is hosting a live conference call at 5:00 p.m. (ET) today, November 20, 2018, to review these results and discuss the outlook for the remainder of 2018. This conference call may be accessed live by dialing 1-800-936-2724 (U.S. and Canada) or +44 203-107-0289 (International), with the passcode 4999748, or via the Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com. Please log on to the website 15 minutes prior to the call in order to register. An archived replay of the conference call can be accessed approximately two hours following the end of the call at 1-855-859-2056 (U.S. and Canada) or +1 404-537-3406 (International) with passcode 4999748 through December 4, 2018. A replay of the call will also be available via webcast from the same Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com.

 

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Other than statements of historical facts, all statements which address activities, events, or developments that the Company anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, such things as future capital expenditures, expansion, strategic plans, financial objectives, dividend payments, stock repurchases, growth of the Company’s business and operations, including future cash flows, revenues, and earnings, and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors which are detailed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

These forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and judgments and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control. For additional discussion on risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” disclosed in the 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

Periods ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

   Third Quarter   Year-to-Date 
   2018   2017   2018   2017 
Sales  $1,860   $1,870   $5,667   $5,572 
Cost of sales   1,272    1,290    3,874    3,809 
SG&A   398    368    1,163    1,078 
Depreciation and amortization   44    44    133    127 
Litigation and other charges   2    13    17    63 
Income from operations   144    155    480    495 
Interest income, net   (2)       (5)   (1)
Other income       (1)   (5)   (2)
Income before income taxes   146    156    490    498 
Income tax expense   16    54    107    165 
Net income  $130   $102   $383   $333 
                     
Diluted EPS  $1.14   $0.81   $3.28   $2.55 
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding   115.0    126.4    117.1    130.3 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

In addition to reporting the Company’s financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company reports certain financial results that differ from what is reported under GAAP. In the following table, we have presented certain financial measures identified as non-GAAP, such as adjusted income before income taxes, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share. We present these non-GAAP measures because we believe they assist investors in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core business or which affect comparability. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are useful in assessing our progress in achieving our long-term financial objectives.

 

Also, we present certain amounts as excluding the effects of foreign currency fluctuations, which are also considered non-GAAP measures. Where amounts are expressed as excluding the effects of foreign currency fluctuations, such changes are determined by translating all amounts in both years using the prior-year average foreign exchange rates. Presenting amounts on a constant currency basis is useful to investors because it enables them to better understand the changes in our businesses that are not related to currency movements.

 

The non-GAAP financial information is provided in addition to, and not as an alternative to, our reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(unaudited)

Periods ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results:

 

   Third Quarter   Year-to-Date 
   2018   2017   2018   2017 
     
Pre-tax income:                    
Income before income taxes  $146   $156   $490   $498 
Pre-tax adjustments excluded from GAAP:                    
Litigation and other charges (1)   2        17    50 
Reorganization costs (2)       13        13 
Adjusted income before income taxes (non-GAAP)  $148   $169   $507   $561 
                     
After-tax income:                    
Net income  $130   $102   $383   $333 
After-tax adjustments excluded from GAAP:                    
Litigation and other charges, net of income tax benefit of $1, $-, $5 and $20 million, respectively (1)   1        12    30 
Reorganization costs, net of income tax benefit of $5 million (2)       8        8 
U.S. tax reform (3)   (23)       (24)    
Tax benefit related to enacted change in foreign branch currency regulations (4)           (1)    
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)  $108   $110   $370   $371 
                     
Earnings per share:                    
Diluted EPS  $1.14   $0.81   $3.28   $2.55 
Diluted EPS amounts excluded from GAAP:                    
Litigation and other charges (1)   0.01        0.10    0.23 
Reorganization costs (2)       0.06        0.06 
U.S. tax reform (3)   (0.20)       (0.21)    
Tax benefit related to enacted change in foreign branch currency regulations (4)           (0.01)    
Adjusted diluted EPS (non-GAAP)  $0.95   $0.87   $3.16   $2.84 

 

Notes on Non-GAAP Adjustments:

 

(1)

The Company recorded pre-tax charges of $2 million ($1 million after-tax) and $17 million ($12 million after-tax) in the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018, respectively, in connection with its U.S. retirement plan litigation and required plan reformation. A pre-tax charge of $50 million ($30 million after-tax) was recorded in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017 related to the same matter. Administrative costs associated with the reformation incurred during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 were $2 million and $4 million, respectively. The thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 included interest costs associated with the reformation of $6 million and a $7 million adjustment reflecting updated estimates of the cost of reformation. The Company applied a marginal tax rate on the non-GAAP adjustment.

 

(2)

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a charge of $13 million ($8 million after-tax) comprised primarily of severance and benefit continuation costs in connection with its organizational changes. The Company applied a marginal tax rate on the non-GAAP adjustment.

 

(3)

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted tax reform legislation that included a broad range of business tax provisions. During the fourth quarter of 2017 the Company recognized a $99 million provisional charge for the mandatory deemed repatriation of foreign sourced net earnings and a corresponding change in our permanent reinvestment assertion under ASC 740-30. For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018, the Company reduced its provisional amount by $23 million and $24 million, respectively. For the year-to-date period, these adjustments reflect a $17 million reduction in the deemed repatriation tax and a $7 million benefit related to IRS accounting method changes and timing difference adjustments. Our accounting for the new legislation is not complete and we have made reasonable estimates for some tax provisions and will continue to make and refine calculations as additional analysis is completed. We exclude the discrete U.S. tax reform effect from our adjusted diluted EPS as it does not reflect our ongoing tax obligations under U.S. tax reform.

 

(4) During the second quarter of 2018, the U.S. Treasury issued a notice that delayed the effective date of regulations under Internal Revenue Code Section 987. These regulations, which were promulgated in December 2016, changed our method for determining the tax effects of foreign currency translation gains and losses for our foreign businesses that are operated as branches and are reported in a currency other than the currency of their parent. As a result of the delay in the effective date, during the second quarter of 2018 the Company updated its calculations for the effect of these regulations, which resulted in an increase to deferred tax assets and a corresponding reduction in our income tax provision in the amount of $1 million.

 

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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

(In millions)

 

   November 3,   October 28, 
   2018   2017 
ASSETS          
           
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $748   $890 
Merchandise inventories   1,305    1,313 
Other current assets   325    295 
    2,378    2,498 
Property and equipment, net   824    835 
Deferred taxes   107    164 
Other assets   371    316 
   $3,680   $3,813 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $383   $241 
Accrued and other liabilities   312    326 
    695    567 
Long-term debt   124    126 
Other liabilities   410    463 
Total liabilities   1,229    1,156 
Total shareholders’ equity   2,451    2,657 
   $3,680   $3,813 

 

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Store and Square Footage

(unaudited)

 

Store activity is as follows:

 

   February 3,           November 3,   Relocations/ 
   2018   Opened   Closed   2018   Remodels 
Foot Locker US   910    1    13    898    27 
Foot Locker Europe   636    15    7    644    28 
Foot Locker Canada   111        4    107    7 
Foot Locker Pacific   98    2    5    95    5 
Foot Locker Asia       4        4     
Kids Foot Locker   436    2    9    429    4 
Lady Foot Locker   85        12    73     
Champs Sports   541    3    7    537    9 
Footaction   260    4    10    254    6 
Runners Point   118    3    6    115    1 
Sidestep   83        4    79    2 
SIX:02   32        1    31     
Total   3,310    34    78    3,266    89 

 

Selling and gross square footage are as follows:

 

   February 3, 2018   November 3, 2018 
(in thousands)  Selling   Gross   Selling   Gross 
Foot Locker US   2,430    4,225    2,422    4,214 
Foot Locker Europe   957    2,071    994    2,156 
Foot Locker Canada   264    431    263    426 
Foot Locker Pacific   140    230    141    231 
Foot Locker Asia           17    30 
Kids Foot Locker   747    1,285    740    1,273 
Lady Foot Locker   115    195    99    170 
Champs Sports   1,934    2,994    1,919    2,979 
Footaction   829    1,374    820    1,371 
Runners Point   150    258    147    255 
Sidestep   76    131    72    129 
SIX:02   65    109    63    106 
Total   7,707    13,303    7,697    13,340 

 

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