Dillard's, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter And Fiscal Year Results

February 24, 2014

Dillard's, Inc. announced operating results for the 13 and 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014, including record fiscal year earnings per share adjusted for certain items of $6.99 versus $6.33 in the prior year. 

Summary of the Company's Fourth Quarter Performance

• A 2% increase in comparable store sales
• Diluted earnings per share excluding certain items of $2.69 versus $2.87
• Retail gross margin decline of 180 basis points of sales
• Operating expense improvement of 90 basis points of sales

Fourth Quarter Results

Dillard's reported net income for the 13 week period ended February 1, 2014 of $119.1 million ($2.71 per share) compared to net income of $161.4 million ($3.36 per share) for the 14 weeks ended February 2, 2013.  Included in net income for the 13 week period ended February 1, 2014 is an after tax credit of $0.8 million ($0.02 per share) representing the reversal of asset impairment charges on a store held for sale.  Excluding this item, Dillard's would have reported $118.3 million ($2.69 per share) for the 13 week period ended February 1, 2014.

Included in net income for the prior year 14 week period ended February 2, 2013 is a net after-tax credit totaling $23.9 million ($.50 per share) comprised of the following items:

• a $6.8 million after-tax gain ($0.14 per share) related to the sale of a former retail store location
• after-tax asset impairment and store closing charges of $1.1 million ($0.02 per share)
• approximately $18.1 million ($0.38 per share) in tax benefit due to a one-time deduction related to dividends paid to the Dillard's, Inc. Investment and Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Excluding these items, Dillard's would have reported $137.6 million ($2.87 per share) for the 14 week period ended February 2, 2013.

Dillard's Chief Executive Officer, William T. Dillard, II, stated, "Although it was a profitable fourth quarter, we are disappointed in our gross margin performance, as lower than anticipated sales necessitated heavier markdowns.  We are pleased with our expense control as well as with our strong cash flow for the year."

Fiscal Year Results

Dillard's reported net income for the 52 week period ended February 1, 2014 of $323.7 million ($7.10 per share) compared to net income of $336.0 million ($6.87 per share for the 53 week period ended February 2, 2013.

Included in net income for the 52 week peroid ended February 1, 2014 is a net after-tax credit totaling $5.1 million ($0.11 per share) comprised of the following three items:

• A $7.6 million after-tax gain ($0.17 per share) related to the sale of an investment
• A $1.0 million after-tax credit ($0.02 per share) related to a pension adjustment
• After-tax asset impairment and store closing charges of $3.5 million ($0.08 per share)

Excluding this credit, Dillard's would have reported net income of $318.6 million ($6.99 per share) for the 52 week period ended February 1, 2014, marking a record setting fiscal year earnings per share performance.

Included in net income for the prior year 53 week period ended February 2, 2013 is a net after-tax credit totaling $26.2 million ($0.54 per share) comprised of the following items:

• after-tax gains of $7.4 million ($0.15 per share) related to the sale of three former retail store locations
• after-tax asset impairment and store closing charges of $1.0 million ($0.02 per share)
• approximately $1.7 million ($0.03 per share) in tax benefit due to the reversal of a valuation allowance related to a deferred tax asset consisting of a capital loss carryforward
• approximately $18.1 million ($0.37 per share) in tax benefit due to a one-time deduction related to dividends paid to the Dillard's, Inc. Investment and Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Excluding these items, Dillard's would have reported $309.8 million ($6.33 per share) for the 53 week period ended February 2, 2013.

Net Sales - 13 Weeks

Total merchandise sales for the 13 week period ended February 1, 2014 were $2.013 billion and $2.087 billion for the 14 week period ended February 2, 2013.  Similar to many other retailers, the Company follows the retail 4-5-4 reporting calendar which included an extra week of operations in the fourth quarter of 2012.  Based upon comparable 13 week periods ended February 1, 2014 and February 2, 2013, total merchandise sales increased 1% and sales in comparable stores increased 2% for the fourth quarter.

Sales trends for the fourth quarter were strongest in ladies' accessories and lingerie followed by shoes.  Sales trends were strongest in the Central region, followed by the Eastern and Western regions, respectively.

Net sales (which include the operations of the Company's construction business, CDI Contractors, LLC ("CDI") for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2014 were $2.034 billion and $2.106 billion for the 14 weeks ended February 2, 2013.

Net Sales - Fiscal Year

Total merchandise sales for the 52 week period ended February 1, 2014 were $6.439 billion and $6.489 billion for the 53 week period ended February 2, 2013.  Based upon comparable 52 week periods ended February 1, 2014 and February 2, 2013, total sales increased 1% and sales in comparable stores increased 1% for the fiscal year.

Net sales (including CDI) for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014 were $6.532 billion and $6.593 billion for the 53 weeks ended February 2, 2013.

Gross Margin/Inventory

Gross margin from retail operations (which excludes CDI) decreased 180 basis points of sales to 32.8% for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2014 compared to 34.6% for the 14 weeks ended February 2, 2013.  The decline resulted from increased markdowns in response to lower than anticipated sales.  Consolidated gross margin for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2014 decreased 180 basis points of sales to 32.6% from 34.4% during the 14 weeks ended February 2, 2013.

Gross margin from retail operations decreased 40 basis points of sales to 35.7% for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014 compared to 36.1% for the 53 weeks ended February 2, 2013.  Consolidated gross margin for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014 decreased 30 basis points of sales to 35.3% from 35.6% during the 53 weeks ended February 2, 2013.

Inventory increased 4% at February 1, 2014 compared to February 2, 2013.

Selling, General & Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("operating expenses") decreased 90 basis points of sales during the fourth quarter ended February 1, 2014.  Operating expenses were $439.2 million and $474.9 million for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2014 and 14 weeks ended February 2, 2013, respectively.  The $35.7 million decline in operating expenses is primarily due to the additional week of operations in the prior year fourth quarter.

Operating expenses decreased 40 basis points of sales during the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014.  Operating expenses were $1632.0 million and $1671.5 million for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014 and 53 weeks ended February 2, 2013, respectively.

Share Repurchase

During the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014, the Company repurchased $301.6 million (3.9 million shares) of Class A Common Stock at an average price of $78.30 per share under the Company's share repurchase plan.  No shares were repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2013.  Remaining authorization under the share repurchase programs at February 1, 2014 was $290.4 million.

Total shares outstanding (Class A and Class B Common Stock) at February 1, 2014 and February 2, 2013 were 43.9 million and 47.8 million, respectively.

Store Information

During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company closed its University Mall location in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (64,000 square feet), its Collin Creek Mall location in Plano, Texas (195,000 square feet) and its Twin Peaks Mall location in Longmont, Colorado (90,000 square feet).  The Company closed six locations during fiscal year 2013.

Dillard's plans to open two new stores in October of 2014:

• The Shops at Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada (200,000 square feet)
• The Mall at University Town Center, Sarasota, Florida (180,000 square feet)

At February 1, 2014, the Company operated 278 Dillard's locations and 18 clearance centers spanning 29 states and in Internet store at www.dillards.com.  Total square footage at February 1, 2014 was 50.5 million.

Source: Dillard's, Inc. Investor Relations