Guess?, Inc. Reports Fiscal Year 2023 Third Quarter Results

Q3 Fiscal 2023 Revenues Reached $633 Million, Down 2% in U.S. Dollars and Up 10% in Constant Currency Compared to Q3 Fiscal 2022

Delivered Q3 Operating Margin of 8.6%; Adjusted Operating Margin of 9.1%

Q3 EPS of $0.34 and Adjusted EPS of $0.44

Expects Fiscal 2023 Revenue Growth of About 2.0% in U.S. Dollars, 10.5% in Constant Currency, and GAAP and Adjusted Operating Margins of 9.3% and 9.7%, Respectively

Expects Fiscal 2023 GAAP EPS of $1.82 and Adjusted EPS of $2.35

Guess?, Inc. (NYSE: GES) today reported financial results for its third quarter ended October 29, 2022.

Carlos Alberini, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased with our third quarter financial results, which exceeded our revenue and operating profit expectations in a challenging retail environment. Our revenues decreased by almost 2% in U.S. dollars but grew 10% in constant currency, driven primarily by the strength of our business in Europe. For the period, we managed the business well and delivered an 8.6% operating margin and $55 million in operating profit. Lower performance-based compensation helped us partially offset the gross margin pressure we experienced as a result of the adverse currency impact associated with the strong U.S. dollar and lower full price selling.”

Paul Marciano, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, commented, “Our focus remains on delivering great product to support our customers’ lifestyles with one global product line for our multiple categories of apparel and accessories. Through our focus on brand elevation, we have improved the quality and styling of our products. Our Guess and Marciano collections are both resonating well across our different customer groups. I am very pleased with how our teams continue to work well together to leverage our strong brand momentum and gain market share.”

Mr. Alberini concluded, “We are well positioned for our holiday period. We have a solid business plan and inventory levels are well aligned with our business trends. Our updated outlook for the fiscal year reflects these trends and the impact of further currency headwinds. We believe that the combination of our diversified business model, our global brands and our strong capital structure provides us with a significant competitive advantage in the current marketplace and remain confident in our long-term growth opportunities.”

Non-GAAP Information

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including certain adjusted results of operations and outlook measures, constant currency information and free cash flow measures. See the heading “Presentation of Non-GAAP Information” for further information and the accompanying tables for a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results

For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company recorded GAAP net earnings of $21.8 million, a 26.9% decrease from $29.9 million for the same prior-year quarter. GAAP diluted net earnings per share (“EPS”) decreased 24.4% to $0.34 for the third quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to $0.45 for the same prior-year quarter. The Company estimates a net positive impact from its adoption of the accounting guidance related to the Company’s convertible notes and share buybacks of $0.07 and a negative impact from currency of $0.22 on GAAP diluted EPS in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 when compared to the same prior-year quarter.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company’s adjusted net earnings were $24.7 million, a 40.4% decrease from $41.6 million for the same prior-year quarter. Adjusted diluted EPS decreased 29.0% to $0.44, compared to $0.62 for the same prior-year quarter. The Company estimates a net positive impact from its share buybacks of $0.07 and a negative impact from currency of $0.28 on adjusted diluted EPS in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 when compared to the same prior-year quarter.

Net Revenue. Total net revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 decreased 2% to $633.4 million from $643.1 million in the same prior-year quarter. In constant currency, net revenue increased by 10%.

• Americas Retail revenues decreased 2% in U.S. dollars and 1% in constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, decreased 1% in U.S. dollars and remained relatively flat in constant currency.
• Americas Wholesale revenues decreased 10% in U.S. dollars and 9% in constant currency.
• Europe revenues decreased 2% in U.S. dollars and increased 17% in constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, decreased 8% in U.S. dollars and increased 9% in constant currency.
• Asia revenues increased 10% in U.S. dollars and 28% in constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, decreased 2% in U.S. dollars and increased 13% in constant currency.
• Licensing revenues increased 4% in U.S. dollars and constant currency.

Earnings from Operations. GAAP earnings from operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 decreased 17% to $54.8 million (including $1.8 million in non-cash impairment charges taken on certain long-lived store related assets, $0.1 million net gains on lease modifications and an $11.9 million unfavorable currency translation impact), from $65.7 million (including $1.2 million in non-cash impairment charges taken on certain long-lived store related assets and $3.0 million net losses on lease modifications) in the same prior-year quarter. GAAP operating margin in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 decreased 1.6% to 8.6%, from 10.2% for the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by the unfavorable impact of currency, higher costs and markdowns, partially offset by leveraging of expenses. The negative impact of currency on operating margin for the quarter was approximately 190 basis points.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, adjusted earnings from operations decreased 18% to $58.0 million, from $70.4 million in the same prior-year quarter. Adjusted operating margin decreased 1.8% to 9.1%, from 10.9% for the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by the unfavorable impact of currency, higher costs and markdowns, partially offset by leveraging of expenses.

• Operating margin for the Company’s Americas Retail segment decreased 7.3% to 6.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, from 14.2% in the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by the unfavorable impact from higher markdowns and inventory obsolescence reserves, higher costs and lower government subsidies compared to the same prior-year quarter, partially offset by higher initial markups.
• Operating margin for the Company’s Americas Wholesale segment decreased 10.1% to 19.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, from 29.3% in the same prior-year quarter, due primarily to higher markdowns and higher expenses.
• Operating margin for the Company’s Europe segment decreased 2.3% to 11.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, from 13.5% in the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by the unfavorable impact of currency and higher costs, partially offset by leveraging of expenses.
• Operating margin for the Company’s Asia segment increased 4.2% to a relative breakeven point in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, from negative 4.2% in the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by leveraging of expenses.
• Operating margin for the Company’s Licensing segment decreased 2.2% to 89.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, from 91.8% in the same prior-year quarter, mainly due to higher expenses.

Other expense, net. Other expense, net for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $15.2 million compared to $7.8 million for the same prior-year quarter. The change was primarily due to net unrealized losses on the Company’s SERP-related assets compared to net unrealized gains in the same prior-year quarter and, to a lesser extent, higher unrealized losses from foreign currency exposures.

Nine-Month Period Results

For the nine months ended October 29, 2022, the Company recorded GAAP net earnings of $53.8 million, a 47.8% decrease from $102.9 million for the same prior-year period. GAAP diluted EPS decreased 48.4% to $0.80 for the nine months ended October 29, 2022, compared to $1.55 during the same prior-year period. The Company estimates a net positive impact from its adoption of the accounting guidance related to the Company’s convertible notes and share buybacks of $0.16 and a negative impact from currency of $0.53 on GAAP diluted EPS for the nine months ended October 29, 2022 when compared to same prior-year period.

For the nine months ended October 29, 2022, the Company recorded adjusted net earnings of $62.9 million, a 47.4% decrease from $119.5 million for the same prior-year period. Adjusted diluted EPS decreased 40.8% to $1.06, compared to $1.79 for the same prior-year period. The Company estimates its share buybacks had a net positive impact of $0.12, and currency had a negative impact of $0.61 on adjusted diluted EPS during the nine months ended October 29, 2022 when compared to same prior-year period.

Net Revenue. Total net revenue for the nine months ended October 29, 2022 increased 4% to $1.87 billion, from $1.79 billion in the same prior-year period. In constant currency, net revenue increased by 14%.

• Americas Retail revenues remained consistent in U.S. dollars and increased 1% in constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, decreased 2% in U.S. dollars and 1% in constant currency.
• Americas Wholesale revenues increased 11% in U.S. dollars and 12% in constant currency.
• Europe revenues increased 5% in U.S. dollars and 21% in constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, decreased 6% in U.S. dollars and increased 8% in constant currency.
• Asia revenues increased 5% in U.S. dollars and 17% in constant currency. Retail comp sales, including e-commerce, decreased 5% in U.S. dollars and increased 5% in constant currency.
• Licensing revenues increased 13% in U.S. dollars and constant currency.

Earnings from Operations. GAAP earnings from operations for the nine months ended October 29, 2022 decreased 19% to $144.6 million (including $5.3 million in non-cash impairment charges taken on certain long-lived store related assets, $1.7 million net gains on lease modifications and a $25.6 million unfavorable currency translation impact), from $179.6 million (including $3.1 million in non-cash impairment charges taken on certain long-lived store related assets and $0.4 million net losses on lease modifications) in the same prior-year period. GAAP operating margin in the nine months ended October 29, 2022 decreased 2.3% to 7.7%, from 10.0% in the same prior-year period, driven primarily by the unfavorable currency impact, higher markdowns, higher costs and lower rent relief, partially offset by overall leveraging of expenses. The negative impact of currency on operating margin for the nine months ended October 29, 2022 was approximately 140 basis points.

For the nine months ended October 29, 2022, adjusted earnings from operations decreased 16% to $155.4 million, from $184.9 million in the same prior-year period. Adjusted operating margin decreased 2.0% to 8.3%, from 10.3% for the same prior-year period, driven primarily by the unfavorable currency impact, higher markdowns, higher costs and lower rent relief, partially offset by overall leveraging of expenses.

• Operating margin for the Company’s Americas Retail segment decreased 6.5% to 9.6% in the nine months ended October 29, 2022, from 16.1% in the same prior-year period, driven primarily by the unfavorable impact from higher markdowns, higher store labor costs and lower government subsidies compared to last year, partially offset by higher initial markups.
• Operating margin for the Company’s Americas Wholesale segment decreased 4.4% to 22.7% in the nine months ended October 29, 2022, from 27.1% in the same prior-year period, due primarily to higher markdowns.
• Operating margin for the Company’s Europe segment decreased 1.7% to 9.5% in the nine months ended October 29, 2022, from 11.2% in the same prior-year period, driven primarily by unfavorable currency impact and lower initial markups, partially offset by leveraging of expenses.
• Operating margin for the Company’s Asia segment increased 1.6% to negative 4.0% in the nine months ended October 29, 2022 from negative 5.6% in the prior-year period, due primarily to leveraging of expenses.
• Operating margin for the Company’s Licensing segment decreased 2.1% to 89.3% in the nine months ended October 29, 2022, from 91.4% in the same prior-year period, mainly due to higher expenses.

Other expense, net. Other expense, net for the nine months ended October 29, 2022 was $40.7 million compared to $11.5 million in the same prior-year period. The change was primarily due to higher net unrealized and realized losses from foreign currency exposures and, to a lesser extent, net unrealized losses on our SERP-related assets compared to net unrealized gains in the same prior-year period.

Outlook

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, we expect revenues to be down around 3.5% in U.S. dollars (up 3.5% in constant currency) versus the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. For the full fiscal 2023, we expect revenues to be up around 2.0% in U.S. dollars (10.5% in constant currency) versus fiscal 2022.

A reconciliation of the Company’s outlook for GAAP operating margin to adjusted operating margin and GAAP diluted EPS to adjusted diluted EPS for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2023 is as follows:

Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 per share on the Company’s common stock. The dividend will be payable on December 23, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 7, 2022.

Share Repurchases

In March 2022, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (“ASR”), pursuant to which it initially received approximately 3.3 million shares of common stock (representing approximately $70.0 million, or 40%) of the $175.0 million notional amount of the ASR. The Company received a final delivery of an additional 5.2 million shares under the ASR on June 24, 2022. During the nine months ended October 29, 2022, the Company also repurchased approximately 0.5 million shares of its common stock in open market transactions totaling $11.7 million. Combined, these transactions resulted in the repurchase of approximately 9.0 million shares for $186.7 million during the nine months ended October 29, 2022, all of which occurred during the six months ended July 30, 2022.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Information

The financial information presented in this release includes non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted results and outlook, constant currency financial information and free cash flows. The adjusted measures exclude the impact of certain professional service and legal fees and related (credits) costs, asset impairment charges, net (gains) losses on lease modifications, non-cash amortization of debt discount on the Company’s convertible senior notes, the related income tax effects of the foregoing items, the impact from changes in the income tax law on deferred income taxes in certain tax jurisdictions, net income tax settlements and adjustments to specific uncertain income tax positions, as well as certain discrete income tax adjustments related primarily to an intra-entity transfer of intellectual property rights from certain U.S. entities to a wholly-owned Swiss subsidiary, in each case where applicable. These non-GAAP measures are provided in addition to, and not as alternatives for, the Company’s reported GAAP results and outlook.

The Company has excluded these items from its adjusted financial measures primarily because it believes these items are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business and the adjusted financial information provided is useful for investors to evaluate the comparability of the Company’s operating results and its future outlook (when reviewed in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial statements). A reconciliation of reported GAAP results to comparable non-GAAP results is provided in the accompanying tables.

This release includes certain constant currency financial information. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations affect the amount reported from translating the Company’s foreign revenue, expenses and balance sheet amounts into U.S. dollars. These rate fluctuations can have a significant effect on reported operating results under GAAP. The Company provides constant currency information to enhance the visibility of underlying business trends, excluding the effects of changes in foreign currency translation rates. To calculate net revenue and earnings (loss) from operations on a constant currency basis, actual or forecasted results for the current-year period are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates in effect during the comparable period of the prior year. The constant currency calculations do not adjust for the impact of revaluing specific transactions denominated in a currency different from the functional currency of that entity when exchange rates fluctuate. However, in calculating the estimated impact of currency on our earnings (loss) per share for our actual or forecasted results, the Company estimates gross margin (including the impact of merchandise-related hedges) and expenses using the appropriate prior-year rates, translates the estimated foreign earnings at the comparable prior-year rates, and excludes the year-over-year earnings impact of gains or losses arising from balance sheet remeasurement and foreign currency contracts not designated as merchandise hedges. The constant currency information presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The Company includes information regarding its free cash flows in this release. The Company calculates free cash flows as cash flows from operating activities less (i) purchases of property and equipment and (ii) payments for property and equipment under finance leases. Free cash flows are not intended to be an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity, but rather to provide additional visibility to investors regarding how much cash is generated for discretionary and non-discretionary items after deducting purchases of property and equipment and payments for property and equipment under finance leases. Free cash flow information presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of reported GAAP cash flows from operating activities to the comparable non-GAAP free cash flow measure is provided in the accompanying tables.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call at 4:45 pm (ET) on November 22, 2022 to discuss the news announced in this press release. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible at www.guess.com via the “Investor Relations” link. The webcast will be archived on the website for 30 days.

About Guess?

Guess?, Inc. designs, markets, distributes and licenses a lifestyle collection of contemporary apparel, denim, handbags, watches, eyewear, footwear and other related consumer products. Guess? products are distributed through branded Guess? stores as well as better department and specialty stores around the world. As of October 29, 2022, the Company directly operated 1,064 retail stores in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Company’s partners and distributors operated 566 additional retail stores worldwide. As of October 29, 2022, the Company and its partners and distributors operated in approximately 100 countries worldwide. For more information about the Company, please visit www.guess.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, certain matters discussed in this press release or the related conference call and webcast, including statements concerning the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and other events impacting the markets in which we operate; statements concerning the Company’s future outlook, including with respect to the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2023; statements concerning the Company’s expectations, goals, future prospects, and current business strategies and strategic initiatives; and statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results and growth opportunities are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, which are frequently indicated by terms such as “expect,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “goal,” “strategy,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “outlook,” “plan,” “create,” “see,” and similar terms, are only expectations, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from what is currently anticipated.

Factors which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from current expectations include, among others: our ability to maintain our brand image and reputation; domestic and international economic or political conditions, including economic and other events that could negatively impact consumer confidence and discretionary consumer spending; sanctions and export controls targeting Russia and other impacts related to the war in Ukraine; impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health crises; risks relating to our indebtedness; changes to estimates related to impairments, inventory and other reserves; changes in the competitive marketplace and in our commercial relationships; our ability to anticipate and adapt to changing consumer preferences and trends; our ability to manage our inventory commensurate with customer demand; the high concentration of our Americas Wholesale business; risks related to the costs and timely delivery of merchandise to our distribution facilities, stores and wholesale customers; unexpected or unseasonable weather conditions; our ability to effectively operate our various retail concepts, including securing, renewing, modifying or terminating leases for store locations; our ability to successfully and/or timely implement our growth strategies and other strategic initiatives; our ability to successfully enhance our global omni-channel capabilities; our ability to expand internationally and operate in regions where we have less experience, including through joint ventures; risks relating to our $300 million, 2.0% convertible senior notes due 2024, including our ability to settle the liability in cash; disruptions at our distribution facilities; our ability to attract and retain management and other key personnel; obligations or changes in estimates arising from new or existing litigation, income tax and other regulatory proceedings; risks related to the income tax treatment of our third quarter fiscal 2022 intra-entity transfer of intellectual property rights from certain U.S. entities to a wholly-owned Swiss subsidiary; catastrophic events or natural disasters; changes in U.S. or foreign income tax or tariff policy, including changes to tariffs on imports into the U.S.; accounting adjustments to our unaudited financial statements identified during the completion of our annual independent audit of financial statements and financial controls or from subsequent events arising after issuance of this release; risk of future non-cash asset impairments, including goodwill, right-of-use lease assets and/or other store asset impairments; violations of, or changes to, domestic or international laws and regulations; risks associated with the acts or omissions of our licensees and third party vendors, including a failure to comply with our vendor code of conduct or other policies; risks associated with cyber security incidents and other cyber security risks; risks associated with our ability to properly collect, use, manage and secure consumer and employee data; risks associated with our vendors’ ability to maintain the strength and security of information technology systems; changes in economic, political, social and other conditions affecting our foreign operations and sourcing, including the impact of currency fluctuations, global income tax rates and economic and market conditions in the various countries in which we operate; impacts of inflation and further inflationary pressures; fluctuations in quarterly performance; slowing in-person customer traffic; increases in labor costs; increases in wages; risks relating to activist investor activity; and the significant voting power of our family founders.

In addition to these factors, the economic, technological, managerial, and other risks identified in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors discussed therein, could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. The current global economic climate, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty surrounding potential changes in U.S. policies and regulations may amplify many of these risks. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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