The Children’s Place Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results
The Children’s Place, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE) reported Q3 2022 GAAP EPS of $3.26, down from $5.30 in Q3 2021. Adjusted EPS decreased to $3.33 versus $5.43 in the prior year. Net sales fell 8.8% to $509.1 million, mainly due to inflation and reduced consumer demand. Gross profit dropped by $67.9 million, with adjusted gross margin at 34.8%. Digital sales now represent 50% of retail sales. The company anticipates a challenging Q4, adjusting guidance to $4.05-$4.30 for FY 2022 EPS. They aim to optimize inventory levels amid economic pressures.
- Digital sales accounted for 50% of retail sales, up from 48% in 2021.
- Successful marketing campaigns contributed to a 118% increase in Amazon sales.
- Introduction of PJ Place brand aimed at capturing new customer demographics.
- Net sales decreased 8.8% year-over-year, indicating a slowdown in consumer demand.
- Gross profit fell by $67.9 million year-over-year.
- Adjusted operating income decreased to 11.6% of net sales.
Reports Q3 GAAP EPS of
Reports Q3 Adjusted EPS of
Updates Full Year 2022 Adjusted EPS Guidance to
SECAUCUS, N.J., Nov. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Children’s Place, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE), the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended October 29, 2022.
Jane Elfers, President and Chief Executive Officer announced, “Our Q3 sales were slightly stronger than our projections. August top line represented approximately
Ms. Elfers continued, “Digital represented
Ms. Elfers continued, “Our Q3 marketing results were very encouraging, with U.S. acquisition up
Ms. Elfers continued, “We are very excited about our newest brand, PJ Place, which launched online on October 12th. PJ Place is the ultimate sleepwear destination. PJ Place provides us with two market share growth opportunities by bringing together all of our branded sleepwear offerings from The Children’s Place, Gymboree and Sugar & Jade in one location on our website, providing a one-stop-shop where our omni customers can easily fulfill all their sleepwear needs. First, for our current shoppers, PJ Place offers an easy and seamless shopping experience, allowing them to shop sleepwear for their kids, their family, and now, for themselves, while allowing us to cross-promote other branded products under our family of brands. Second, for new shopper audiences, PJ Place enables us to acquire a new generation of young Millennial and Gen Z customers by providing us with the opportunity to engage and build relationships before they become parents. This provides us with the opportunity to maintain and retain these relationships, and eventually migrate them to our stable of children’s brands when they become parents.”
Ms. Elfers continued, “We delivered another strong quarter with Amazon, with sales up
Ms. Elfers continued, “We have reduced our top and bottom-line expectations for the fourth quarter and the full year, due to the combination of an increasingly challenging macro-economic environment and continued supply chain cost pressure. Sales for the first two weeks of November were below expectations and we anticipate that the record levels of inflation impacting our core consumer will continue to result in lower demand this holiday season. We are now planning for a significantly heightened promotional environment in the fourth quarter, and we are focused on right-sizing our inventory levels during the quarter and anticipate that, due to our planned actions, our inventory will be better positioned ending Q4 at up approximately high single digits.”
Ms. Elfers concluded, “Through the collective efforts of our entire team, and with the help of our best-in-class outside partners, we have successfully made the pivot to a digital first retailer. We believe we are uniquely positioned to increase shareholder value over time through our structural reset to our business model, combined with our ability to drive strong results through targeted marketing strategies. Looking ahead, we believe that these strategic shifts, combined with normalized input costs and lower supply chain costs, will provide a path to higher operating margin and EPS.”
Financial Results
The Company’s results are reported in this press release on a GAAP and as adjusted, non-GAAP basis. A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP financial information is provided at the end of this press release.
Financial results for the third quarter and year-to-date 2022 reported in this press release are compared against both third quarter and year-to-date 2021 and third quarter and year-to-date 2019 given that management believes a comparison to 2019 is relevant to measuring the Company’s progress against its 2019 pre-pandemic performance, resulting from the significant structural changes made to the Company’s operating model since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Third Quarter 2022 Results
Net sales decreased
Gross profit decreased
Selling, general, and administrative expenses were
Operating income was
Net interest expense was
Net income was
Fiscal Year-To-Date 2022 Results
Net sales decreased
Gross profit decreased
Selling, general, and administrative expenses were
Operating income was
Net interest expense was
Net income was
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
The Company’s results are reported in this press release on a GAAP and as adjusted, non-GAAP basis. Adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, adjusted gross profit, adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses, adjusted operating income, and adjusted provision for income taxes are non-GAAP measures, and are not intended to replace GAAP financial information, and may be different from non-GAAP measures reported by other companies. The Company believes the income and expense items excluded as non-GAAP adjustments are not reflective of the performance of its core business, and that providing this supplemental disclosure to investors will facilitate comparisons of the past and present performance of its core business.
The Company excluded net expenses of
The Company excluded net income of
Store Update
The Company ended the third quarter of 2022 with 658 stores and square footage of 3.1 million, a decrease of
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
As of October 29, 2022, the Company had
Inventories were
Capital Return Program
During the three months ended October 29, 2022, the Company repurchased 434 thousand shares for approximately
Outlook
The Company is providing guidance for the fourth quarter and updated guidance for the full year fiscal 2022. The Company’s outlook reflects:
- Continued challenging macroeconomic environment and record inflation.
- Significantly heightened promotional environment.
- Meaningful progress on right-sizing inventory levels.
- Lapping record results in Q4 2021.
- Elevated freight and supply chain costs.
- Lower incentive compensation.
- Reduced discretionary spending.
- Continued investment in marketing.
- Cumulative benefit of share repurchases.
For the fourth quarter, the Company expects:
- Net sales in the range of
$460 million to$470 million . - A low-teens percent decrease in comparable retail sales.
- Adjusted operating income in the range of
2.5% to3.3% of net sales. - Adjusted earnings per diluted share in the range of
$0.50 t o$0.75 .
For fiscal 2022, the Company expects:
- Net sales in the range of
$1.71 3 billion to$1.72 3 billion. - A low-double digit decrease in comparable retail sales.
- Adjusted operating income in the range of
4.7% to4.8% of net sales. - Adjusted earnings per diluted share in the range of
$4.05 t o$4.30 .
Conference Call Information
The Children’s Place will host a conference call on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its third quarter fiscal 2022 results.
The call will be broadcast live at http://investor.childrensplace.com. An audio archive will be available on the Company’s website approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call.
About The Children’s Place
The Children’s Place is the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture, sells at retail and wholesale, and licenses to sell fashionable, high-quality merchandise predominantly at value prices, primarily under the proprietary “The Children’s Place”, “Place”, “Baby Place”, “Gymboree”, “Sugar & Jade” and “PJ Place” brand names. The Company has online stores at www.childrensplace.com, www.gymboree.com, www.sugarandjade.com and www.pjplace.com and, as of October 29, 2022, the Company had 658 stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico and the Company’s five international franchise partners had 213 international points of distribution in 16 countries.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains or may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to statements relating to the Company’s strategic initiatives and adjusted net income per diluted share. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company’s current expectations and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022. Included among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially are the risk that the Company will be unsuccessful in gauging fashion trends and changing consumer preferences, the risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of the Company’s business and its dependence on consumer spending patterns, which may be affected by changes in economic conditions, the risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business or the economy in general (including decreased customer traffic, schools adopting remote and hybrid learning models, closures of businesses and other activities causing decreased demand for our products and negative impacts on our customers’ spending patterns due to decreased income or actual or perceived wealth, and the impact of legislation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including any changes to such legislation), the risk that the Company’s strategic initiatives to increase sales and margin are delayed or do not result in anticipated improvements, the risk of delays, interruptions and disruptions in the Company’s global supply chain, including resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or other disease outbreaks, foreign sources of supply in less developed countries, more politically unstable countries, or countries where vendors fail to comply with industry standards or ethical business practices, including the use of forced, indentured or child labor, the risk that the cost of raw materials or energy prices will increase beyond current expectations or that the Company is unable to offset cost increases through value engineering or price increases, various types of litigation, including class action litigations brought under consumer protection, employment, and privacy and information security laws and regulations, the imposition of regulations affecting the importation of foreign-produced merchandise, including duties and tariffs, and the uncertainty of weather patterns. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact: Investor Relations (201) 558-2400 ext. 14500
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Third Quarter Ended | Year-to-Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 509,120 | $ | 558,225 | $ | 1,252,355 | $ | 1,407,561 | ||||||||
Cost of sales | 332,189 | 313,394 | 817,915 | 806,663 | ||||||||||||
Gross profit | 176,931 | 244,831 | 434,440 | 600,898 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 106,631 | 115,563 | 330,480 | 337,921 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 12,463 | 14,204 | 39,320 | 44,157 | ||||||||||||
Asset impairment charges | — | 1,254 | 1,379 | 1,254 | ||||||||||||
Operating income | 57,837 | 113,810 | 63,261 | 217,566 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (3,786 | ) | (3,959 | ) | (8,080 | ) | (13,066 | ) | ||||||||
Income before provision for income taxes | 54,051 | 109,851 | 55,181 | 204,500 | ||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | 11,196 | 30,983 | 5,794 | 56,332 | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 42,855 | $ | 78,868 | $ | 49,387 | $ | 148,168 | ||||||||
Earnings per common share | ||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 3.28 | $ | 5.38 | $ | 3.72 | $ | 10.08 | ||||||||
Diluted | $ | 3.26 | $ | 5.30 | $ | 3.68 | $ | 9.89 | ||||||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
Basic | 13,064 | 14,668 | 13,277 | 14,706 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | 13,162 | 14,873 | 13,409 | 14,979 |
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO GAAP (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Third Quarter Ended | Year-to-Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 42,855 | $ | 78,868 | $ | 49,387 | $ | 148,168 | ||||||||
Non-GAAP adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
Asset impairment charges | — | 1,254 | 1,379 | 1,254 | ||||||||||||
Provision for foreign settlement | — | — | 375 | — | ||||||||||||
Accelerated depreciation | — | 496 | 746 | 2,274 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring costs | 966 | 127 | 1,195 | 1,218 | ||||||||||||
Professional and consulting fees | 111 | — | 721 | — | ||||||||||||
Fleet optimization | 191 | 310 | 342 | 1,344 | ||||||||||||
Incremental COVID-19 operating expenses | — | 515 | — | 2,950 | ||||||||||||
Contract termination costs | — | — | — | 750 | ||||||||||||
Aggregate impact of non-GAAP adjustments | 1,268 | 2,702 | 4,758 | 9,790 | ||||||||||||
Income tax effect(1) | (331 | ) | (765 | ) | (1,167 | ) | (2,672 | ) | ||||||||
Settlement of tax examination | — | — | (6,379 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Net impact of non-GAAP adjustments | 937 | 1,937 | (2,788 | ) | 7,118 | |||||||||||
Adjusted net income | $ | 43,792 | $ | 80,805 | $ | 46,599 | $ | 155,286 | ||||||||
GAAP net income per common share | $ | 3.26 | $ | 5.30 | $ | 3.68 | $ | 9.89 | ||||||||
Adjusted net income per common share | $ | 3.33 | $ | 5.43 | $ | 3.48 | $ | 10.37 | ||||||||
(1) The tax effects of the non-GAAP items are calculated based on the statutory rate of the jurisdiction in which the discrete item resides. |
Third Quarter Ended | Year-to-Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 57,837 | $ | 113,810 | $ | 63,261 | $ | 217,566 | ||||||||
Non-GAAP adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
Asset impairment charges | — | 1,254 | 1,379 | 1,254 | ||||||||||||
Provision for foreign settlement | — | — | 375 | — | ||||||||||||
Accelerated depreciation | — | 496 | 746 | 2,274 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring costs | 966 | 127 | 1,195 | 1,218 | ||||||||||||
Professional and consulting fees | 111 | — | 721 | — | ||||||||||||
Fleet optimization | 191 | 310 | 342 | 1,344 | ||||||||||||
Incremental COVID-19 operating expenses | — | 515 | — | 2,950 | ||||||||||||
Contract termination costs | — | — | — | 750 | ||||||||||||
Aggregate impact of non-GAAP adjustments | 1,268 | 2,702 | 4,758 | 9,790 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted operating income | $ | 59,105 | $ | 116,512 | $ | 68,019 | $ | 227,356 |
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO GAAP (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
Third Quarter Ended | Year-to-Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
Gross profit | $ | 176,931 | $ | 244,831 | $ | 434,440 | $ | 600,898 | ||||||||
Non-GAAP adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
Fleet optimization | — | — | (621 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Incremental COVID-19 operating expenses | — | 184 | — | 1,387 | ||||||||||||
Aggregate impact of non-GAAP adjustments | — | 184 | (621 | ) | 1,387 | |||||||||||
Adjusted gross profit | $ | 176,931 | $ | 245,015 | $ | 433,819 | $ | 602,285 |
Third Quarter Ended | Year-to-Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | |||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 106,631 | $ | 115,563 | $ | 330,480 | $ | 337,921 | ||||||||
Non-GAAP adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
Fleet optimization | (191 | ) | (310 | ) | (963 | ) | (1,344 | ) | ||||||||
Provision for foreign settlement | — | — | (375 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Restructuring costs | (966 | ) | (127 | ) | (1,195 | ) | (1,218 | ) | ||||||||
Professional and consulting fees | (111 | ) | — | (721 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Incremental COVID-19 operating expenses | — | (331 | ) | — | (1,563 | ) | ||||||||||
Contract termination costs | — | — | — | (750 | ) | |||||||||||
Aggregate impact of non-GAAP adjustments | (1,268 | ) | (768 | ) | (3,254 | ) | (4,875 | ) | ||||||||
Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 105,363 | $ | 114,795 | $ | 327,226 | $ | 333,046 |
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||
October 29, 2022 | January 29, 2022* | October 30, 2021 | ||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 19,244 | $ | 54,787 | $ | 67,062 | ||||||
Accounts receivable | 48,820 | 21,863 | 38,758 | |||||||||
Inventories | 548,719 | 428,813 | 441,817 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 48,012 | 76,075 | 59,628 | |||||||||
Total current assets | 664,795 | 581,538 | 607,265 | |||||||||
Property and equipment, net | 154,975 | 155,006 | 159,243 | |||||||||
Right-of-use assets | 160,041 | 194,653 | 209,430 | |||||||||
Tradenames, net | 71,091 | 71,692 | 71,892 | |||||||||
Other assets, net | 33,715 | 34,571 | 40,536 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,084,617 | $ | 1,037,460 | $ | 1,088,366 | ||||||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity: | ||||||||||||
Revolving loan | $ | 265,000 | $ | 175,318 | $ | 174,384 | ||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | — | — | 28,270 | |||||||||
Accounts payable | 221,432 | 183,758 | 173,055 | |||||||||
Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 77,070 | 91,097 | 94,122 | |||||||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 120,166 | 141,653 | 154,567 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities | 683,668 | 591,826 | 624,398 | |||||||||
Long-term debt | 49,735 | 49,685 | 48,892 | |||||||||
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities | 104,073 | 134,761 | 154,325 | |||||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 34,965 | 35,716 | 38,503 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | 872,441 | 811,988 | 866,118 | |||||||||
Stockholders' equity | 212,176 | 225,472 | 222,248 | |||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 1,084,617 | $ | 1,037,460 | $ | 1,088,366 | ||||||
* Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022. |
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
Year-to-Date Ended | ||||||||
October 29, 2022 | October 30, 2021 | |||||||
Net income | $ | 49,387 | $ | 148,168 | ||||
Non-cash adjustments | 127,044 | 165,940 | ||||||
Working capital | (193,396 | ) | (246,660 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (16,965 | ) | 67,448 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (31,614 | ) | (21,952 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 14,010 | (41,948 | ) | |||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (974 | ) | (34 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (35,543 | ) | 3,514 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 54,787 | 63,548 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 19,244 | $ | 67,062 |
FAQ
What is The Children’s Place's Q3 2022 earnings per share (EPS)?
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