VF Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results; Raises Full Year Fiscal 2019 Outlook

VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) has reported financial results for its third quarter ended December 29, 2018. All per share amounts are presented on a diluted basis. This release refers to “reported” and “constant dollar” amounts, terms that are described under the heading “Constant Currency - Excluding the Impact of Foreign Currency.” Unless otherwise noted, “reported” and “constant dollar” amounts are the same. This release also refers to “continuing” and “discontinued” operations amounts, which are concepts described under the heading “Discontinued Operations - Nautica®Brand Business and Licensing Business.” Unless otherwise noted, results presented are based on continuing operations. This release also refers to “adjusted” amounts, terms that are described under the heading “Adjusted Amounts - Excluding Williamson-Dickie, Icebreaker®, Altra®, Reef®, and Jeans Spin-Off Transaction and Deal Related Expenses, Costs Related to Office Relocations and the Provisional Impact of U.S. Tax Legislation.” Unless otherwise noted, “reported” and “adjusted” amounts are the same.

“VF's third quarter results were fueled by strong growth in our largest brands and balanced growth across the core dimensions of our portfolio,” said Steve Rendle, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Based on the strength of our third quarter performance and the growth trajectory we see for the remainder of fiscal 2019, we are again increasing our full year outlook, including an additional $45 million of growth-focused investments aimed at accelerating growth and value creation into fiscal year 2020. We remain sharply focused on executing our integrated growth strategy and transforming VF into a purpose-led, performance-driven enterprise committed to delivering superior returns to shareholders."

Constant Currency - Excluding the Impact of Foreign Currency

This release refers to “reported” amounts in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which include translation impacts from foreign currency exchange rates. This release also refers to “constant dollar” amounts, which exclude the impact of translating foreign currencies into U.S. dollars. Reconciliations of GAAP measures to constant currency amounts are presented in the supplemental financial information included with this release, which identifies and quantifies all excluded items, and provides management’s view of why this information is useful to investors.

Discontinued Operations - Nautica® Brand Business and Licensing Business

On April 30, 2018, the company completed the sale of its Nautica® brand business. On April 28, 2017, the company completed the sale of its Licensed Sports Group ("LSG") business, including the Majestic® brand. In conjunction with the LSG divestiture, VF executed its plan to entirely exit the licensing business and completed the sale of the assets of the JanSport® brand collegiate business in the fourth quarter of 2017. Accordingly, the company has included the operating results of these businesses in discontinued operations through their respective dates of sale.

Adjusted Amounts - Excluding Williamson-Dickie, Icebreaker®, Altra®, Reef®, and Jeans Spin-Off Transaction and Deal Related Expenses, Costs Related to Office Relocations and the Provisional Impact of U.S. Tax Legislation

This release refers to adjusted amounts that exclude transaction and deal related expenses associated with the acquisitions and integration of Williamson-Dickie, Icebreaker® and Altra®, and expenses and losses on sale related to the divestitures of the Reef® brand and the Van Moer business, which was acquired in connection with the Williamson-Dickie acquisition. The release also refers to transaction expenses associated with the planned spin-off of the Jeans business. Total transaction and deal related expenses, including the losses on sale, were approximately $63 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 and $135 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

This release also refers to adjusted amounts that exclude costs primarily associated with the previously announced relocations of VF’s global headquarters and certain brands to Denver, Colorado. Total costs were approximately $6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 and $17 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

Adjusted amounts in this release also exclude the provisional amounts recorded due to recent U.S. tax legislation. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Measurement period adjustments related to the provisional net charge resulted in a net expense of approximately $10 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 and $23 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

Combined, the above net charges negatively impacted earnings per share by $0.16 during the third quarter of fiscal 2019 and $0.36 during the first nine months of fiscal 2019. All adjusted amounts referenced herein exclude the effects of these amounts.

Reconciliations of measures calculated in accordance with GAAP to adjusted amounts are presented in the supplemental financial information included with this release, which identifies and quantifies all excluded items, and provides management’s view of why this information is useful to investors.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2019 Income Statement Review

Revenue increased 8 percent (up 10 percent in constant dollars) to $3.9 billion. Excluding acquisitions net of divestitures, revenue increased 7 percent (up 9 percent in constant dollars), driven by VF’s largest brands, international and direct-to-consumer platforms, as well as strength from the Active, Outdoor and Work segments.
Gross margin increased 40 basis points to 51.9 percent, driven by a mix-shift toward higher margin businesses. On an adjusted basis, gross margin increased 60 basis points to 52.2 percent.
Operating income on a reported basis was $592 million. On an adjusted basis, operating income increased 30 percent to $656 million, including a $7 million contribution from acquisitions net of divestitures. Operating margin on a reported basis increased 170 basis points to 15.0 percent. Adjusted operating margin increased 270 basis points to 16.6 percent. Adjusted operating margin, excluding acquisitions net of divestitures, increased 280 basis points to 16.8 percent.
Earnings per share was $1.16 on a reported basis. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share increased 30 percent (up 31 percent in constant dollars) to $1.31, including a 1-percentage point growth contribution from acquisitions net of divestitures.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Inventories were up 9 percent compared with the same period last year. Excluding the impact of acquisitions net of divestitures, inventories increased 7 percent. The company also returned approximately $700 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. The company has $3.8 billion remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.

Adjusted Full Year Fiscal 2019 Outlook

The following outlook for fiscal year 2019 is on an adjusted basis and has been updated to include the following:

Revenue is now expected to be at least $13.8 billion, reflecting an increase of approximately 12 percent (up 13 percent in constant dollars). This compares to the previous expectation of at least $13.7 billion, which reflected an 11 percent increase. By segment, revenue for Outdoor is now expected to increase 8 percent versus the previous expectation of a 7 percent to 8 percent increase; revenue for Active is now expected to increase 16 percent versus the previous expectation of a 14 percent to 15 percent increase; revenue for Work is now expected to increase 39 percent versus the previous expectation of a more than 35 percent increase; and, revenue for Jeans is now expected to decline 3 percent versus the previous expectation of a 1 percent to 2 percent decline.
International revenue is now expected to increase 10 percent to 11 percent (up about 13 percent in constant dollars) versus the previous expectation of a 12 percent to 13 percent increase.
Direct-to-consumer revenue is now expected to increase 13 percent (up 14 percent in constant dollars) versus the previous expectation of a 12 percent to 14 percent increase. Digital revenue is still expected to increase more than 30 percent.
Adjusted gross margin is expected to be at least 51 percent.
Adjusted operating margin is expected to increase 90 basis points to 13.6 percent.
Adjusted earnings per share is now expected to be $3.73, including an additional $45 million, or $0.09 per share, of incremental investment, reflecting an increase of 19 percent (up 20 percent in constant dollars). This compares to the previous expectation of $3.65.
Cash flow from operations is still expected to approximate $1.8 billion.
Other full year assumptions include an effective tax rate of about 16 percent and capital expenditures of approximately $275 million.

Dividend Declared

VF’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.51 per share, payable on March 18, 2019, to shareholders of record on March 8, 2019.