Land’s End: Announces third quarter fiscal 2018 results

Company continues sales growth with improved profitability

DODGEVILLE, Wis., Dec. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lands’ End, Inc. (NASDAQ:LE) today announced financial results for the Third Quarter ended November 2, 2018.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2018 Highlights:

  • Net revenue for the third quarter increased 4.9% to $341.6 million from $325.5 million in the third quarter last year. Direct segment net revenue increased 8.1% to $313.8 million, as compared to the same period last year. Retail segment net revenue decreased 21.0% to $27.8 million, from $35.2 million in the third quarter last year, due to the reduction in Lands’ End Shops at Sears locations. Same store sales increased by 11.8% overall, with U.S. Company operated stores increasing by 15.1% and same store sales in Lands’ End Shops at Sears increasing by 11.7%. At the end of the third quarter, there were 63 fewer Lands’ End Shops at Sears.
     
  • Gross margin increased approximately 60 basis points to 44.2% from 43.6% in the third quarter last year.
     
  • Net income was $3.3 million, or $0.10 earnings per diluted share, as compared to Net income of $0.2 million, or $0.01 earnings per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.
     
  • Adjusted EBITDA(1) grew 22.1% to  $15.7 million compared to $12.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

Jerome S. Griffith, Chief Executive Officer and President, stated, “Our third quarter results marked the sixth consecutive quarter of sales growth and the fifth consecutive quarter of Adjusted EBITDA increases. We were pleased to see accelerated growth in our Direct segment, which grew approximately 8% as compared to last year, driven by strength in our U.S. eCommerce business, which grew double digits. We have continued the rollout of our own retail stores, and believe we have a viable, profitable and expandable store model which complements our successful online presence. We are extremely pleased to see the momentum across our business continued through the Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday period. Our inventory position is very strong, and we have depth in key items to drive sales over the remainder of the holiday period. As we look forward, we will continue to execute on our strategic plan focusing on product, digitalization, uni-channel distribution and infrastructure to drive consistent performance across the business.”

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights
Cash and cash equivalents were $105.9 million as of November 2, 2018, compared to $92.9 million on October 27, 2017. Net cash used in operations was $52.2 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2018, compared to net cash used in operations of $87.8 million for the same period last year.

Inventory was $432.0 million as of November 2, 2018, and $423.5 million as of October 27, 2017.

The Company had $152.4 million of availability under its asset-based senior secured credit facility and had $483.4 million of Long-term debt, net as of November 2, 2018.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, December 6, 2018, at 8:30 a.m. ET to review its third quarter financial results and related matters. The call may be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://investors.landsend.com or by dialing (866) 753-5836.

About Lands’ End, Inc.

Lands’ End, Inc. (NASDAQ:LE) is a leading multi-channel retailer of casual clothing, accessories, footwear and home products. We offer products through catalogs, online at www.landsend.com, international websites, third party online marketplaces, and through retail locations. We are a classic American lifestyle brand with a passion for quality, legendary service and real value, and seek to deliver timeless style for women, men, kids and the home.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding our belief that our retail store model is viable, profitable and expandable; the strength of our inventory position; the depth in key items to drive holiday sales; the impact of continued business momentum and inventory on future performance; and our plans to focus on product, digitalization, uni-channel distribution, and infrastructure.  All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, those with respect to our goals, plans, expectations and strategies set forth herein are forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: we may be unsuccessful in implementing our strategic initiatives, or our initiatives may not have their desired impact on our business; our ability to offer merchandise and services that customers want to purchase; changes in customer preference from our branded merchandise; customers’ use of our digital platform, including customer acceptance of our efforts to enhance our e-commerce websites; customer response to our marketing efforts across all types of media; our maintenance of a robust customer list; our retail store strategy may be unsuccessful and we may be unable to open retail stores in locations and on terms that are acceptable to us; our dependence on information technology and a failure of information technology systems, including with respect to our e-commerce operations, or an inability to upgrade or adapt our systems; the success of our ERP and Enterprise Order Management systems implementations; fluctuations and increases in costs of raw materials; impairment of our relationships with our vendors; our failure to maintain the security of customer, employee or company information; our failure to compete effectively in the apparel industry; if Sears Holdings Corporation sells or disposes of its retail stores, including as part of the Chapter 11 proceedings instituted by Sears Holdings Corporation on October 15, 2018 or pursuant to the recapture rights granted to Seritage Growth Properties, and other parties or if its retail business does not attract customers or does not adequately provide services to the Lands’ End Shops at Sears; legal, regulatory, economic and political risks associated with international trade and those markets in which we conduct business and source our merchandise; our failure to protect or preserve the image of our brands and our intellectual property rights; increases in postage, paper and printing costs; failure by third parties who provide us with services in connection with certain aspects of our business to perform their obligations; our failure to timely and effectively obtain shipments of products from our vendors and deliver merchandise to our customers; reliance on promotions and markdowns to encourage customer purchases; our failure to efficiently manage inventory levels; unseasonal or severe weather conditions; the adverse effect on our reputation if our independent vendors do not use ethical business practices or comply with applicable laws and regulations; assessments for additional state taxes; incurrence of charges due to impairment of goodwill, other intangible assets and long-lived assets; the impact on our business of adverse worldwide economic and market conditions, including economic factors that negatively impact consumer spending on discretionary items; the failure of Sears Holdings or its subsidiaries to perform under various agreements or our failure to have necessary systems and services in place when such agreements expire; potential indemnification liabilities to Sears Holdings pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement in connection with our separation from Sears Holdings; the ability of our principal shareholders to exert substantial influence over us; potential liabilities under fraudulent conveyance and transfer laws and legal capital requirements; and other risks, uncertainties and factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2018, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We intend the forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time made and do not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available, except as required by law.

CONTACTS:

Lands’ End, Inc.
James Gooch
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
(608) 935-9341

Investor Relations:
ICR, Inc.
Jean Fontana
(646) 277-1214
Jean.Fontana@icrinc.com