Wolverine Worldwide Reports Continued Strength in Performance and Work Brands for the Third Quarter

Rhea-AI Summary

Wolverine Worldwide reported Q3 2020 results with revenue of $493.1 million, down 14.1% year-over-year. Despite the decline, strong performance in eCommerce, which grew over 56%, was notable. The company’s gross margin decreased to 41.0%, and diluted earnings per share were $0.27, down from $0.57 last year. Cash flow from operations improved significantly to $96.5 million. Looking ahead, management expects Q4 revenue to decline by no more than 25% year-over-year, attributing challenges to the ongoing pandemic but expressing confidence in future growth opportunities.

Positive

• Owned eCommerce revenue surged by 56.4% year-over-year.
• Cash flow from operating activities increased significantly to $96.5 million.
• Inventory levels decreased by 22.0% compared to the prior year.

Negative

• Reported revenue declined by 14.1% year-over-year.
• Gross margin fell to 41.0% from 42.4% in the previous year.
• Diluted earnings per share dropped to $0.27 from $0.57 year-over-year.

Revenue, earnings, and cash flow exceed expectations for the quarter

ROCKFORD, Mich., Nov. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 26, 2020.

“The Company’s third quarter results significantly exceeded our expectations, reaffirming the inherent strength of our portfolio and strong brand positioning in winning product categories and distribution channels,” said Blake W. Krueger, Wolverine Worldwide’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Saucony and Chaco delivered double-digit revenue growth in the quarter compared to the prior year, while Merrell and our work brands drove meaningful sequential revenue improvement versus Q2. Innovative, fresh product paired with compelling storytelling continued to fuel demand, as evidenced by our owned eCommerce business, which grew over 56% compared to last year. Our relentless focus on product design and development of digital capabilities has served the business well and will remain central to our multi-year investment strategy. I am encouraged by our growing momentum in the face of the headwinds created by the global pandemic and excited about the growth opportunities in front of the Company for 2021 and beyond. Our strong digital strategy and improved visibility to wholesale demand should enable us to return to meaningful growth in Q1 of 2021.”

THIRD QUARTER 2020 REVIEW

• Reported revenue was $493.1 million, down 14.1% versus the prior year. On a constant currency basis, revenue was down 14.6% versus the prior year. Owned eCommerce revenue grew 56.4% versus the prior year.
• Reported gross margin was 41.0%, compared to 42.4% in the prior year.
• Reported operating margin was 8.6%, compared to 11.9% in the prior year. Adjusted operating margin was 10.6%, compared to 14.1% in the prior year. 
• Reported diluted earnings per share were $0.27, compared to earnings per share of $0.57 in the prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $0.35, and, on a constant currency basis, were $0.34, compared to $0.68 in the prior year.
• Inventory at the end of the quarter was down 22.0% versus the prior year and down 22.8% when excluding the impact of new stores and the incremental cost of new tariffs.
• Cash flow from operating activities in the quarter was $96.5 million, compared to $12.1 million in the prior year.
• Cash on hand at the end of the quarter was $342.0 million, compared to $125.2 million in the prior year.

“The Company continued to deliver quality results by executing on the key priorities we outlined earlier this year, which included a heightened focus on positive cash flow, a healthy balance sheet, profitability, and setting the Company up for growth in 2021,” said Mike Stornant, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “During the last two quarters, which were significantly impacted by the global pandemic, the Company delivered solid earnings and exceptional cash from operations of over $210 million. While consumer demand exceeded our expectations during this time, we have been able to service the business at a high level and manage our inventory levels down by 22% compared to last year at quarter-end. We expect that headwinds caused by the pandemic will persist in the near-term and that fourth quarter revenue will be down no more than 25% year-over-year, including the effects of a partial shift in revenue from our international business into the first quarter of 2021. We will continue to invest behind the ongoing momentum of our key brands to enable accelerated growth in the first quarter of 2021.” 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Measures referred to in this release as “adjusted” financial results (other than adjusted inventories) are non-GAAP measures that exclude environmental and other related costs net of recoveries, costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic including credit loss expenses, severance expenses and other related costs and reorganization expenses were excluded. The Company believes providing this adjusted information provides valuable supplemental information regarding results of operations, consistent with how the Company evaluates performance. The Company also presents constant currency information, which is a non-GAAP measure that excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company believes providing constant currency information provides valuable supplemental information regarding results of operations, consistent with how the Company evaluates performance. The Company calculates constant currency basis by converting the current-period local currency financial results using the prior period exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our current period reported results. In addition, the Company presents a non-GAAP measure for inventory, which excludes the impact of new stores and the incremental cost of new tariffs. The Company believes providing this inventory number provides valuable supplemental information regarding results of operations, consistent with how the Company evaluates performance. The Company calculates this inventory number by excluding the inventories related to new stores and incremental tariff costs capitalized into inventory.

The Company has provided a reconciliation of the above non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors to increase comparability of current period results to the prior period by adjusting for certain items that may not be indicative of core operating results and to better identify trends in our business. The adjusted financial results are used by management to, and allow investors to, evaluate the operating performance of the Company on a comparable basis. Management does not, nor should investors, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

EARNINGS CALL INFORMATION
The Company will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. EST to discuss these results and current business trends. The conference call will be broadcast live and accessible under the “Investor Relations” tab at www.wolverineworldwide.com. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website for a period of approximately 30 days.

ABOUT WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE
Founded in 1883 on the belief in the possibility of opportunity, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW) is one of the world’s leading marketers and licensors of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport, athletic, children’s and uniform footwear and apparel. Through a diverse portfolio of highly recognized brands, our products are designed to empower, engage and inspire our consumers every step of the way. The Company’s portfolio includes Merrell®, Sperry®, Hush Puppies®, Saucony®, Wolverine®, Keds®, Stride Rite®, Chaco®, Bates®, and HYTEST®. Wolverine Worldwide is also the global footwear licensee of the popular brands Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. Based in Rockford, Michigan, for more than 130 years, the Company’s products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in approximately 170 countries and territories. For additional information, please visit our website, www.wolverineworldwide.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations regarding its revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020 and growth in 2021 and beyond, its investments to accelerate growth in the first quarter of 2021 and the persistence of headwinds caused by the pandemic. In addition, words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “step,” “plans,” “predicts,” “focused,” “projects,” “outlook,” “is likely,” “expects,” “intends,” “should,” “will,” “confident,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions (“Risk Factors”) that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood, and degree of occurrence. Risk Factors include, among others: the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, operations, financial results and liquidity, including the duration and magnitude of such effects, which will depend on numerous evolving factors that the Company cannot currently accurately predict or assess, including: the duration and scope of the pandemic; the negative impact on global and regional markets, economies and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of its impact on unemployment rates, consumer discretionary spending and levels of consumer confidence; actions governments, businesses and individuals take in response to the pandemic; the effects of the pandemic, including all of the foregoing, on the Company’s distributors, manufacturers, suppliers, joint venture partners, wholesale customers and other counterparties, and how quickly economies and demand for the Company’s products recover after the pandemic subsides; changes in general economic conditions, employment rates, business conditions, interest rates, tax policies and other factors affecting consumer spending in the markets and regions in which the Company’s products are sold; the inability for any reason to effectively compete in global footwear, apparel and consumer-direct markets; the inability to maintain positive brand images and anticipate, understand and respond to changing footwear and apparel trends and consumer preferences; the inability to effectively manage inventory levels; increases or changes in duties, tariffs, quotas or applicable assessments in countries of import and export; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; currency restrictions; capacity constraints, production disruptions, quality issues, price increases or other risks associated with foreign sourcing; the cost and availability of raw materials, inventories, services and labor for contract manufacturers; labor disruptions; changes in relationships with, including the loss of, significant wholesale customers; risks related to the significant investment in, and performance of, the Company’s consumer-direct operations; risks related to expansion into new markets and complementary product categories; the impact of seasonality and unpredictable weather conditions; changes in general economic conditions and/or the credit markets on the Company’s distributors, suppliers and retailers; increases in the Company’s effective tax rates; failure of licensees or distributors to meet planned annual sales goals or to make timely payments to the Company; the risks of doing business in developing countries, and politically or economically volatile areas; the ability to secure and protect owned intellectual property or use licensed intellectual property; the impact of regulation, regulatory and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks, including compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, environmental remediation and other related costs, and litigation or other legal proceedings relating to the protection of the environment or environmental effects on human health; the potential breach of the Company’s databases or other systems, or those of its vendors, which contain certain personal information, payment card data or proprietary information, due to cyberattack or other similar events; problems affecting the Company’s distribution system, including service interruptions at shipping and receiving ports; strategic actions, including new initiatives and ventures, acquisitions and dispositions, and the Company’s success in integrating acquired businesses, and implementing new initiatives and ventures; the risk of impairment to goodwill and other intangibles; changes in future pension funding requirements and pension expenses; and additional factors discussed in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and exhibits thereto. The foregoing Risk Factors, as well as other existing Risk Factors and new Risk Factors that emerge from time to time, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these or other risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements.

 WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In millions, except earnings per share)

	Quarter Ended								Year-To-Date Ended
	September 26, 2020				September 28, 2019				September 26, 2020				September 28, 2019
Revenue	$	493.1			$	574.3			$	1,281.5			$	1,666.3
Cost of goods sold	291.1				331.0				750.5				972.4
Gross profit	202.0				243.3				531.0				693.9
Gross margin	41.0		%		42.4		%		41.4		%		41.6		%
Selling, general and administrative expenses	157.5				165.9				457.2				498.6
Environmental and other related costs, net of recoveries	1.9				9.1				6.8				19.1
Operating expenses	159.4				175.0				464.0				517.7
Operating expenses as a % of revenue	32.3		%		30.5		%		36.2		%		31.1		%
Operating profit	42.6				68.3				67.0				176.2
Operating margin	8.6		%		11.9		%		5.2		%		10.6		%
Interest expense, net	12.8				8.2				31.1				21.8
Debt extinguishment and other costs	—				—				0.2				—
Other income, net	(0.6)				(0.9)				(2.9)				(3.2)
Total other expenses	12.2				7.3				28.4				18.6
Earnings before income taxes	30.4				61.0				38.6				157.6
Income tax expense	8.7				12.4				6.0				28.2
Effective tax rate	28.5		%		20.3		%		15.5		%		17.9		%
Net earnings	21.7				48.6				32.6				129.4
Less: net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.7)				(0.1)				(1.2)				—
Net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	$	22.4			$	48.7			$	33.8			$	129.4
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.27			$	0.57			$	0.41			$	1.44
Supplemental information:
Net earnings used to calculate diluted earnings per share	$	21.8			$	47.7			$	33.0			$	126.9
Shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share	81.5				83.9				81.5				88.0
Weighted average shares outstanding	81.9				83.5				81.7				87.3

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In millions)

	September 26, 2020				September 28, 2019
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	342.0			$	125.2
Accounts receivables, net	332.1				357.3
Inventories, net	325.7				417.7
Other current assets	42.2				48.4
Total current assets	1,042.0				948.6
Property, plant and equipment, net	126.3				143.0
Lease right-of-use assets	148.3				163.9
Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles	1,042.3				1,041.5
Other noncurrent assets	142.2				171.5
Total assets	$	2,501.1			$	2,468.5
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	$	362.9			$	297.1
Lease liabilities	34.6				33.5
Current maturities of long-term debt	162.5				10.0
Borrowings under revolving credit agreements	—				493.3
Total current liabilities	560.0				833.9
Long-term debt	714.1				430.7
Lease liabilities, noncurrent	135.0				151.0
Other noncurrent liabilities	326.5				259.0
Stockholders’ equity	765.5				793.9
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,501.1			$	2,468.5

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In millions)

	Year-To-Date Ended
	September 26, 2020				September 28, 2019
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings	$	32.6			$	129.4
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	23.8				23.3
Deferred income taxes	(12.8		)		0.3
Stock-based compensation expense	21.5				17.3
Pension and SERP expense	6.4				4.2
Debt extinguishment costs	0.2				—
Environmental and other related costs, net of cash payments and recoveries received	25.2				(3.7		)
Other	(0.6		)		(9.5		)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	39.2				(145.3		)
Net cash provided by operating activities	135.5				16.0
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired	(5.5		)		(15.1		)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(6.0		)		(28.7		)
Proceeds from sale of assets	0.1				0.1
Investment in joint ventures	(3.5		)		(8.5		)
Proceeds from company-owned insurance policy liquidations	25.6				—
Other	(1.1		)		(1.2		)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	9.6				(53.4		)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payments under revolving credit agreements	(898.0		)		(249.0		)
Borrowings under revolving credit agreements	538.0				617.3
Borrowings of long-term debt	471.0				—
Payments on long-term debt	(28.5		)		(5.0		)
Payments of debt issuance and debt extinguishment costs	(6.4		)		(0.3		)
Cash dividends paid	(25.4		)		(25.4		)
Purchase of common stock for treasury	(21.0		)		(314.2		)
Employee taxes paid under stock-based compensation plans	(20.1		)		(16.7		)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options	4.0				7.0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1.8				5.7
Net cash provided by financing activities	15.4				19.4
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes	0.9				0.1
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	161.4				(17.9		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	180.6				143.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the quarter	$	342.0			$	125.2

The following tables contain information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company in the presentation of its financial results:

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.

Q3 2020 RECONCILIATION TABLES

RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED REVENUE
TO ADJUSTED REVENUE ON A CONSTANT CURRENCY BASIS*
(Unaudited)
(In millions)

	GAAP Basis 2020-Q3				Foreign Exchange Impact				Constant Currency Basis 2020-Q3				GAAP Basis 2019-Q3				Constant Currency Growth (Decline)			Reported Growth (Decline)
REVENUE
Wolverine Michigan Group	$	287.3			$	(1.0	)		$	286.3			$	318.8			(10.2)	%		(9.9)	%
Wolverine Boston Group	193.8				(1.5		)		192.3				241.3				(20.3)			(19.7)
Other	12.0				—				12.0				14.2				(15.5)			(15.5)
Total	$	493.1			$	(2.5	)		$	490.6			$	574.3			(14.6)	%		(14.1)	%

RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED OPERATING MARGIN
TO ADJUSTED OPERATING MARGIN*
(Unaudited)
(In millions)

	GAAP Basis				Adjustments (1)				As Adjusted
Operating Profit - Fiscal 2020 Q3	$	42.6			$	9.7			$	52.3
Operating margin	8.6		%						10.6		%
Operating Profit - Fiscal 2019 Q3	$	68.3			$	12.5			$	80.8
Operating margin	11.9		%						14.1		%
(1)  Q3 2020 adjustments reflect $1.9 million of environmental and other related costs net of recoveries, expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic including $5.5 million of severance expenses and $2.3 million of other costs. Q3 2019 adjustments reflect $9.1 million of environmental and other related costs, $2.5 million of reorganization costs, $0.6 million of business development related costs and $0.3 million of other costs.

RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
TO ADJUSTED SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES*
(Unaudited)
(In millions)

	GAAP Basis				Adjustment (1)				As Adjusted
Selling, general and administrative expenses - Fiscal 2020 Q3	$	159.4			$	7.9			$	151.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses - Fiscal 2019 Q3	$	175.0			$	12.2			$	162.8
(1)   Q3 2020 adjustments reflect $1.9 million of environmental and other related costs net of recoveries, expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic including $5.5 million of severance expenses, and $0.5 million of other costs. Q3 2019 adjustments reflect $9.1 million of environmental and other related costs, $2.5 million of reorganization costs and $0.6 million of business development related costs.

RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED DILUTED EPS TO ADJUSTED
DILUTED EPS ON A CONSTANT CURRENCY BASIS*
(Unaudited)

	GAAP Basis				Adjustments (1)				As Adjusted				Foreign Exchange Impact				As Adjusted EPS On a Constant Currency Basis
EPS - Fiscal 2020 Q3	$	0.27			$	0.08			$	0.35			$	(0.01	)		$	0.34
EPS - Fiscal 2019 Q3	$	0.57			$	0.11			$	0.68
(1)  Q3 2020 adjustments reflect environmental and other related costs net of recoveries, expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic including severance expenses and other costs. Q3 2019 adjustments reflect environmental and other related costs, reorganization costs, business development related costs and other costs.

RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED INVENTORIES
TO ADJUSTED INVENTORIES*
(Unaudited)
(In millions)

	GAAP Basis				Adjustments (1)				As Adjusted
Inventories, net - Fiscal 2020 Q3	$	325.7			$	(3.6	)		$	322.1
Inventories, net - Fiscal 2019 Q3	$	417.7			$	—			$	417.7
(1)  Q3 2020 adjustments reflect $2.5 million of new store inventories and $1.1 million of incremental tariff costs capitalized into inventory.

^∗ To supplement the consolidated condensed financial statements presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the Company describes what certain financial measures would have been if environmental and other related costs net of recoveries, costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic including credit loss expenses, severance expenses and other related costs and reorganization expenses were excluded. The Company also describes what inventories would have been if new store inventories and incremental tariff costs within inventories were excluded. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors to increase comparability to the prior period by adjusting for certain items that may not be indicative of core operating measures and to better identify trends in our business. The adjusted financial results are used by management to, and allow investors to, evaluate the operating performance of the Company on a comparable basis.

The constant currency presentation, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company believes providing constant currency information provides valuable supplemental information regarding results of operations, consistent with how the Company evaluates performance. The Company calculates constant currency by converting the current-period local currency financial results using the prior period exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our current period reported results.

Management does not, nor should investors, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitution for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP measures included in this press release, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are found in the financial tables above.

CONTACT:  Michael D. Stornant
(616) 866-5728

FAQ

What were the Q3 2020 revenue figures for Wolverine Worldwide?

Wolverine Worldwide reported revenue of $493.1 million for Q3 2020, a decline of 14.1% compared to the prior year.

How did Wolverine Worldwide’s eCommerce performance change in Q3 2020?

Owned eCommerce revenue for Wolverine Worldwide grew by 56.4% compared to the same quarter last year.

What is the adjusted diluted earnings per share for Wolverine Worldwide in Q3 2020?

The adjusted diluted earnings per share for Q3 2020 was $0.35.

What is the outlook for Wolverine Worldwide's revenue in Q4 2020?

Wolverine Worldwide expects Q4 revenue to decline by no more than 25% year-over-year.

How much cash flow did Wolverine Worldwide generate in Q3 2020?

Wolverine Worldwide generated cash flow from operating activities of $96.5 million in Q3 2020.