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Tilly's, Inc. Announces Third Consecutive Quarter of Record Quarterly Net Sales and Earnings per Share

December 2, 2021 at 4:05 PM EST

Introduces Fiscal 2021 Fourth Quarter Outlook

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2021-- Tilly’s, Inc. (NYSE: TLYS, the "Company") today announced record-setting financial results for the third quarter and first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2021 ended October 30, 2021.

"Fiscal 2021 continues to be a record-setting year for us so far, which we believe has been driven by our strong product assortment, an improved consumer spending environment, and the hard work and dedication of our entire team. Each of the first three quarters have produced record net sales and earnings per share," commented Ed Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The fourth quarter is off to a strong start and, despite all of the challenges in the current environment, we remain optimistic about our business prospects for the remainder of fiscal 2021 and into fiscal 2022 at this time."

Fiscal 2021 Third Quarter Operating Results Overview

The following comparisons refer to the Company's operating results for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 versus the third quarter of fiscal 2020 ended October 31, 2020:

  • Total net sales were $206.1 million, an increase of $65.8 million or 46.9%, compared to $140.3 million last year.
    • Net sales from physical stores were $165.3 million, an increase of $60.7 million or 58.1%, compared to $104.6 million last year, which was primarily due to a much more normalized back-to-school season this year that was free of pandemic-forced closures. Net sales from stores represented 80.2% of total net sales compared to 74.5% of total net sales last year. The Company ended the third quarter with 243 total stores compared to 238 total stores at the end of the third quarter last year.
    • Net sales from e-commerce were $40.8 million, an increase of $5.1 million or 14.3%, compared to $35.7 million last year. E-commerce net sales represented 19.8% of total net sales compared to 25.5% of total net sales last year.
    • Total comparable net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the pre-pandemic third quarter of fiscal 2019 increased by 27.4%. Comparable net sales from physical stores increased by 18.3%, with increases across all geographic markets, and e-commerce net sales increased by 80.5%. In the third quarter of fiscal 2019, total net sales from physical stores represented 85.3% of total net sales while net sales from e-commerce represented 14.7% of total net sales.
  • Gross profit was $76.7 million, or 37.2% of net sales, a record in the Company's history as a public company, compared to $40.7 million, or 29.0% of net sales, last year. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs improved by 690 basis points collectively, despite increasing by $2.7 million in total, due to leveraging these costs against higher net sales. Occupancy costs improved by 540 basis points despite increasing by $0.5 million with 5 net new stores. Distribution costs improved by 110 basis points despite increasing by $2.1 million. Buying costs improved by 40 basis points despite increasing by $0.1 million. Product margins improved by 130 basis points versus last year and by 200 basis points compared to fiscal 2019's third quarter due to lower markdowns.
  • Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $47.7 million, or 23.2% of net sales, compared to $37.1 million, or 26.5% of net sales, last year. SG&A improved by 330 basis points as a percentage of net sales, despite increasing by $10.6 million, due to leveraging these costs over higher net sales compared to last year. Primary causes of the SG&A dollar increase included higher store payroll and related benefit costs of $7.6 million, primarily due to operating all stores for the entirety of the quarter and serving significantly higher net sales, corporate bonus accruals of $1.8 million due to the Company's strong operating performance thus far in fiscal 2021, and increased marketing expenses of $1.2 million.
  • Operating income improved to $29.0 million, or 14.1% of net sales, compared to $3.5 million, or 2.5% of net sales, primarily due to the significant increase in net sales.
  • Income tax expense was $8.2 million, or 28.1% of pre-tax income, compared to $1.4 million, or 39.8% of pre-tax income, last year. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to the prior year impact of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"), which provided for net operating losses in fiscal 2020 to be carried back to earlier tax years with higher tax rates.
  • Net income improved to $20.8 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, which are third quarter records for the Company as a public company, compared to $2.1 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, last year. Weighted average shares were 31.4 million this year compared to 29.8 million last year.

Fiscal 2021 Year-to-Date Results Overview

The following comparisons refer to the Company's operating results for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2021 versus the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2020 ended October 31, 2020:

  • Total net sales were $571.2 million, an increase of $217.8 million or 61.6%, compared to $353.4 million last year.
    • Net sales from physical stores were $457.6 million, an increase of $222.2 million or 94.4%, compared to $235.4 million last year, primarily due to the various periods of government-mandated store closures during the first thirty-nine weeks of last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Net sales from stores represented 80.1% of total net sales compared to 66.6% of total net sales last year.
    • Net sales from e-commerce were $113.6 million, a decrease of $(4.4) million or (3.7)%, compared to $118.1 million last year, primarily due to the anniversary of last year's substantial increase in e-commerce net sales during the period of government-mandated store closures. E-commerce net sales represented 19.9% of total net sales compared to 33.4% of total net sales last year.
    • Total comparable net sales for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2021 compared to the first thirty-nine weeks of pre-pandemic fiscal 2019 increased 22.5% with comparable net sales from physical stores up 13.7% and e-commerce net sales up 74.5%. In the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2019, total net sales from physical stores represented 85.4% of total net sales while net sales from e-commerce represented 14.6% of total net sales.
  • Gross profit was $206.3 million, or 36.1% of net sales, compared to $83.9 million, or 23.7% of net sales, last year. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs improved by 1050 basis points collectively, despite increasing by $5.9 million in total, due to leveraging these costs against higher net sales. Product margins improved by 190 basis points due to reduced markdowns.
  • SG&A expenses were $136.0 million, or 23.8% of net sales, compared to $101.1 million, or 28.6% of net sales, last year. The 480 basis point improvement in SG&A as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to leveraging these expenses against higher net sales as a result of all stores being in operation for the entirety of the first thirty-nine weeks of the current year. Of the $34.9 million increase in SG&A, $24.0 million was attributable to store payroll and related benefits due to operating all stores for the entirety of the current year and serving significantly higher net sales, $6.0 million was attributable to corporate bonus accruals associated with strong operating performance thus far in fiscal 2021, $2.4 million was attributable to increased credit card fees associated with higher net sales, $2.2 million was attributable to increased marketing expenses, and $2.2 million was attributable to increased corporate payroll and related benefits due to being more fully staffed this year compared to significant furloughs and temporary management pay reductions during last year’s store shutdown period. Partially offsetting these SG&A increases is a net year-to-date decrease of $3.4 million attributable to a $1.7 million disputed California sales tax assessment originally recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, which was subsequently resolved in the Company's favor and reversed in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.
  • Operating income improved to $70.3 million, or 12.3% of net sales, compared to an operating loss of $(17.2) million, or (4.9)% of net sales, last year, as a result of the combined impact of the factors described above.
  • Income tax expense was $17.9 million, or 25.5% of pre-tax income, compared to an income tax benefit of $(6.4) million, or 39.2% of pre-tax loss, last year. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily due to deferred income tax benefits of $1.0 million derived from employee stock option exercise activity this year and the prior year impact of the CARES Act, which provided for net operating losses in fiscal 2020 to be carried back to earlier tax years with higher tax rates.
  • Net income improved to $52.2 million, or $1.68 per diluted share, which exceeds the earnings of any full fiscal year, compared to a net loss of $(10.0) million, or $(0.34) per share, last year. Weighted average diluted shares were 31.0 million this year compared to 29.7 million basic shares last year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of October 30, 2021, the Company had $155.6 million of cash and marketable securities and no debt outstanding. This compares to $125.3 million at the end of the third quarter last year, which included an aggregate of $12.4 million of withheld store lease payments, and no debt outstanding. The Company ended the third quarter with inventories per square foot up 29.4% relative to the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020 as the Company seeks to support the current momentum of its business and position itself for the holiday season amid the ongoing supply chain challenges.

On November 18, 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share, or approximately $31 million in the aggregate, to all Class A and Class B common stockholders of record as of December 7, 2021. This dividend will be paid on December 15, 2021.

Fiscal 2021 Fourth Quarter Business Update and Outlook

Last year's fourth quarter was the first full period since the pandemic began in which the Company was fully operational. Total comparable net sales through November 30, 2021, increased by 19.6% compared to last year, with comparable net sales increases from physical stores of 27.6% and from e-commerce of 3.9%. Based on current and historical trends, and assuming that all of the Company's stores and e-commerce will remain in operation throughout the fourth quarter and that global supply chain challenges will not have a material negative impact on the Company's fiscal 2021 fourth quarter net sales results, the Company would expect its fourth quarter net sales to be in the range of approximately $210 million to $215 million and earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $0.42 to $0.50. This outlook is based on the Company's expectations that its product margins will improve by 50 to 100 basis points relative to last year's fourth quarter based on an assumption of a less promotional environment (last year's fourth quarter product margins were up 210 basis points compared to fiscal 2019's fourth quarter), its SG&A expenses will be approximately 26% of net sales, its estimated effective income tax rate will be 27%, and its weighted average diluted shares will be approximately 31.6 million. The Company currently expects to have 243 total stores at the end of fiscal 2021 compared to 238 at the end of fiscal 2020. This outlook range compares to $178 million in total net sales and $0.29 in earnings per diluted share during last year's fourth quarter.

Fiscal 2022 New Store and Capital Expenditure Plans

During fiscal 2022, we currently plan to open approximately 15 to 20 new stores within existing markets, primarily in California, Texas and the Northeast, assuming we are able to negotiate what we believe to be acceptable lease economics. We expect our total capital expenditures for fiscal 2022 to be in the range of approximately $25 million to $30 million, inclusive of our new store plans, investments in website and mobile app upgrades, distribution efficiencies, and other information technology infrastructure investments.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss these financial results is scheduled for today, December 2, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT). Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 407-4018 (domestic) or (201) 689-8471 (international). The conference call will also be available to interested parties through a live webcast at www.tillys.com. Please visit the website and select the “Investor Relations” link at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary software. A telephone replay of the call will be available until December 9, 2021, by dialing (844) 512-2921 (domestic) or (412) 317-6671 (international) and entering the conference identification number: 13724650.

About Tillys

Tillys is a leading, destination specialty retailer of casual apparel, footwear and accessories for young men, young women, boys and girls with an extensive selection of iconic global, emerging, and proprietary brands rooted in an active, outdoor and social lifestyle. Tillys is headquartered in Irvine, California and currently operates 244 total stores across 33 states, as well as its website, www.tillys.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding the overall effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including its impacts on the Company, its operations, or its future financial condition or operating results, the actions taken or to be taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impacts thereof on the Company, its operations, or its future financial condition or operating results, expectations regarding future customer traffic and sales activities, the effects of guidance from local, state and federal governments and health organizations on its future business operations, the possibility of repaying withheld store rents, its ability to properly manage inventory levels, and any other statements about its future cash position, financial flexibility, expectations, plans, intentions, beliefs or prospects expressed by management are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, but they involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (or other weather, epidemics, pandemics, or other public health issues) on the Company's business and operations, and its ability to respond thereto (including any future surges in the number of cases or new strains or variants related thereto and the effects of the emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic on its business), its ability to respond to changing customer preferences and trends, attract customer traffic at its stores and online, execute its growth and long-term strategies, expand into new markets, continue to grow its e-commerce business, effectively manage its inventory and costs, effectively compete with other retailers, attract talented employees, enhance awareness of its brand and brand image, general consumer spending patterns and levels, the markets generally, its ability to satisfy its financial obligations, including under its credit facility and its leases, and other factors that are detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including those detailed in the section titled “Risk Factors” and in its other filings with the SEC, which are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and from the Company's website at www.tillys.com under the heading “Investor Relations”. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Form 10-K.

Tilly’s, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except par value)
(unaudited)

 

October 30,
2021

 

January 30,
2021

 

October 31,
2020

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

59,392

 

 

$

76,184

 

 

$

99,309

 

Marketable securities

96,237

 

 

64,955

 

 

25,987

 

Receivables

8,881

 

 

8,724

 

 

11,397

 

Merchandise inventories

86,692

 

 

55,698

 

 

65,936

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

9,926

 

 

6,595

 

 

5,557

 

Total current assets

261,128

 

 

212,156

 

 

208,186

 

Operating lease assets

226,547

 

 

229,864

 

 

236,443

 

Property and equipment, net

49,392

 

 

52,639

 

 

54,756

 

Other assets

13,170

 

 

12,797

 

 

9,150

 

Total assets

$

550,237

 

 

$

507,456

 

 

$

508,535

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

46,378

 

 

$

24,983

 

 

$

36,245

 

Accrued expenses

20,084

 

 

30,682

 

 

21,984

 

Deferred revenue

13,568

 

 

13,492

 

 

11,051

 

Accrued compensation and benefits

17,106

 

 

9,899

 

 

10,096

 

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

54,299

 

 

54,503

 

 

62,747

 

Other

727

 

 

632

 

 

316

 

Total current liabilities

152,162

 

 

134,191

 

 

142,439

 

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities

204,325

 

 

211,292

 

 

214,052

 

Other

1,112

 

 

1,351

 

 

838

 

Total liabilities

357,599

 

 

346,834

 

 

357,329

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock (Class A)

24

 

 

22

 

 

22

 

Common stock (Class B)

7

 

 

8

 

 

8

 

Preferred stock

 

 

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

165,983

 

 

155,437

 

 

154,894

 

Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit)

26,616

 

 

5,135

 

 

(3,736)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

8

 

 

20

 

 

18

 

Total stockholders’ equity

192,638

 

 

160,622

 

 

151,206

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

550,237

 

 

$

507,456

 

 

$

508,535

 

Tilly’s, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 

October 30, 2021

 

October 31, 2020

 

October 30, 2021

 

October 31, 2020

Net sales

$

206,096

 

 

$

140,275

 

 

$

571,205

 

 

$

353,409

 

Cost of goods sold (includes buying, distribution, and occupancy costs)

129,357

 

 

99,615

 

 

364,900

 

 

269,481

 

Gross profit

76,739

 

 

40,660

 

 

206,305

 

 

83,928

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

47,742

 

 

37,122

 

 

136,007

 

 

101,082

 

Operating income (loss)

28,997

 

 

3,538

 

 

70,298

 

 

(17,154)

 

Other (expense) income, net

(1)

 

 

(28)

 

 

(219)

 

 

692

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

28,996

 

 

3,510

 

 

70,079

 

 

(16,462)

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

8,162

 

 

1,397

 

 

17,888

 

 

(6,446)

 

Net income (loss)

$

20,834

 

 

$

2,113

 

 

$

52,191

 

 

$

(10,016)

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share of Class A and Class B common stock

$

0.67

 

 

$

0.07

 

 

$

1.72

 

 

$

(0.34)

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per share of Class A and Class B common stock

$

0.66

 

 

$

0.07

 

 

$

1.68

 

 

$

(0.34)

 

Weighted average basic shares outstanding

30,915

 

 

29,708

 

 

30,429

 

 

29,693

 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

31,352

 

 

29,810

 

 

31,016

 

 

29,693

 

Tilly’s, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(unaudited)

 

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 

October 31,
2021

 

October 30,
2020

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

52,191

 

 

$

(10,016)

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

13,123

 

 

14,571

 

Insurance proceeds from casualty loss

117

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

1,417

 

 

1,517

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

136

 

 

929

 

Loss on disposal of assets

52

 

 

67

 

Gain on sales and maturities of marketable securities

(101)

 

 

(685)

 

Deferred income taxes

57

 

 

(1,142)

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Receivables

1,847

 

 

(3,912)

 

Merchandise inventories

(31,111)

 

 

(9,035)

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(3,698)

 

 

1,912

 

Accounts payable

21,402

 

 

16,130

 

Accrued expenses

(9,804)

 

 

2,392

 

Accrued compensation and benefits

7,207

 

 

2,906

 

Operating lease liabilities

(5,205)

 

 

6,224

 

Deferred revenue

76

 

 

(710)

 

Other liabilities

(856)

 

 

(115)

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

46,850

 

 

21,033

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

(10,911)

 

 

(6,395)

 

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

17

 

 

 

Insurance proceeds from casualty loss

29

 

 

 

Purchases of marketable securities

(126,420)

 

 

(30,946)

 

Proceeds from marketable securities

95,224

 

 

75,157

 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

(42,061)

 

 

37,816

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

Proceeds from line of credit

 

 

23,675

 

Repayment of line of credit

 

 

(23,675)

 

Dividends paid

(30,710)

 

 

(29,677)

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

9,129

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

(21,581)

 

 

(29,677)

 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

(16,792)

 

 

29,172

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

76,184

 

 

70,137

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

59,392

 

 

$

99,309

 

Tilly's, Inc.
Store Count and Square Footage

 

Store

Count at

Beginning of Quarter

 

New Stores

Opened

During Quarter

 

Stores

Permanently Closed

During Quarter

 

Store Count at

End of Quarter

 

Total Gross

Square Footage

End of Quarter

(in thousands)

2020 Q1

240

 

 

1

 

239

 

1,768

2020 Q2

239

 

 

1

 

238

 

1,760

2020 Q3

238

 

1

 

1

 

238

 

1,753

2020 Q4

238

 

1

 

1

 

238

 

1,751

2021 Q1

238

 

2

 

2

 

238

 

1,753

2021 Q2

238

 

6

 

 

244

 

1,788

2021 Q3

244

 

 

1

 

243

 

1,781

Note: The store counts noted above do not reflect the impact of stores temporarily closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic during fiscal 2020.

 

Michael Henry, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(949) 609-5599, ext. 17000
irelations@tillys.com

Source: Tilly’s, Inc.