GENESCO INC. REPORTS FISCAL 2023 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

-- Profitability Exceeds Expectations --

-- Reaffirms Fiscal 2023 Outlook --

First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Financial Summary

• Net sales of $521 million, a decrease of 3% from last year and an increase of 5% over Q1FY20 with 90 fewer stores compared with three years ago
• Gross margin increased 50 basis points over last year
• GAAP operating income decreased 47% from last year and down 9% over Q1FY20
• Non-GAAP operating income decreased 50% from last year and increased 14% over Q1FY20
• E-commerce sales decreased 29% from last year and increased 74% from Q1FY20
• E-commerce sales represented 19% of retail sales this year versus 25% of retail sales last year and 11% of retail sales in Q1FY20
• GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.37 vs. $0.60 last year and $0.36 in Q1FY20
• Non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.44¹ vs. $0.79 last year and $0.33 in Q1FY20
• Sequential retail sales improvement in April and May to-date compared with last year

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported GAAP earnings from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.37 for the three months ended April 30, 2022, compared to $0.60 in the first quarter last year and $0.36 per diluted share three years ago, prior to the pandemic. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the Company reported first quarter earnings from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.44, compared to $0.79 last year and $0.33 per diluted share pre-pandemic.

Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco board chair, president and chief executive officer, said, "We are very pleased with our start to fiscal 2023, particularly our ability to exceed profitability expectations. While the year ago period posed a difficult comparison due to government stimulus-fueled consumer spending, especially for our Journeys business, our top and bottom line performance on a multi-year basis underscores the success of our footwear focused strategy and our conviction that our company is fundamentally stronger than prior to the pandemic. Importantly, our business accelerated sequentially in April and thus far in May versus last year as inventory levels improved. Our work on increasing digital penetration, improving store economics, and growing branded sales has put us in a great position to drive profitable growth across all channels. We believe these results are a good indication of the positive things to come as we move into the back to school and holiday selling seasons."

Thomas A. George, Genesco chief financial officer, commented, "Our first quarter results were highlighted by strong full priced selling as we continue to experience healthy demand for our merchandise offerings. While sales would have been higher if not for inventory shortfalls, we are pleased that our top-line grew 5% versus the same pre-pandemic period three years ago with 90 fewer stores and adjusted operating income increased 14%. This combined with share repurchases, allowed us to achieve a 33% increase in adjusted EPS compared with pre-pandemic levels with the more efficient use of capital to drive these results.  With this first quarter performance and updated outlook on the remainder of the year, we are reaffirming our expectations for adjusted earnings per share for Fiscal 2023 to range between $7.00 and $7.75. We still believe somewhere close to the middle of the range is where we will land.

Net sales for the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 decreased 3% to $521 million from $539 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2022 and increased 5% from $496 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020, prior to the pandemic. The sales decrease compared to last year was driven by decreased comparable direct sales, partially offset by increased sales in the wholesale and store channels. The store channel increase was led by our Schuh business as their stores were only open 19% of possible days in the first quarter last year. As a result of store closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has not included first quarter comparable sales for this year or last year, except for comparable direct sales, as it believes that overall sales is a more meaningful metric for these periods. Comparable direct sales for the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 were down 26% compared to an increase of 43% for the first quarter of Fiscal 2022.

The overall sales decrease of 3% for the first quarter this year compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2022 was led by Journeys where sales were down 16%, as Journeys was the biggest beneficiary of government stimulus in the first quarter last year and experienced a lack of inventory in the first quarter this year due to the impact of supply chain disruptions. The sales decrease in Journeys was partially offset by sales increases of 28% at Schuh, 46% at Johnston & Murphy and 5% at Licensed Brands.

First quarter gross margin this year was 48.3%, up 50 basis points, compared with 47.8% last year and down 110 basis points compared with 49.4% in Fiscal 2020. The increase as a percentage of sales as compared to Fiscal 2022 is due primarily to lower shipping and warehouse expense as a result of lower e-commerce penetration, increased full-priced selling and price increases partially offset by the channel mix impact of increased wholesale sales and increased freight and logistics costs.

Selling and administrative expense for the first quarter this year increased 230 basis points as a percentage of sales as compared with last year and decreased 90 basis points compared with Fiscal 2020.  Adjusted selling and administrative expense for the first quarter this year increased 220 basis points as a percentage of sales compared with last year and decreased 120 basis points compared with Fiscal 2020. The increase as compared to Fiscal 2022 is due in large part to one-time benefits for rent credits and government tax relief in the first quarter of Fiscal 2022.  In addition, increased selling salaries were partially offset by decreased performance-based compensation expense.

Genesco's GAAP operating income for the first quarter was $8.2 million, or 1.6% of sales this year, compared with $15.5 million, or 2.9% of sales in the first quarter last year, and $9.1 million, or 1.8% of sales in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, operating income for the first quarter was $9.5 million this year compared to $18.8 million last year and $8.4 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. Adjusted operating margin was 1.8% of sales in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, 3.5% in the first quarter last year and 1.7% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. 

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 36.7% in Fiscal 2023 compared to 40.1% in the first quarter last year and 30.7% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. The adjusted tax rate, reflecting Excluded Items, was 34.7% in in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 compared to 35.7% in the first quarter of last year and 31.3% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. The lower adjusted tax rate for Q1 this year as compared to Q1 last year reflects a reduction in the amount of foreign losses for which we are unable to recognize a tax benefit.

GAAP earnings from continuing operations were $5.0 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, compared to $8.9 million in the first quarter last year and $6.5 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, first quarter earnings from continuing operations were $5.9 million, or $0.44 per share, in Fiscal 2023, compared to $11.6 million, or $0.79 per share, in the first quarter of last year and $5.9 million, or $0.33 per share, in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020.

Cash and cash equivalents at April 30, 2022, were $200.6 million, compared with $258.0 million at May 1, 2021. Total debt at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 was $14.7 million compared with $44.2 million at the end of last year's first quarter. Inventories increased 33% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 on a year-over-year basis and increased 9% versus the first quarter of Fiscal 2020.

For the first quarter, capital expenditures excluding the new headquarters building were $11 million, related primarily to digital and omnichannel initiatives. Depreciation and amortization was $11 million. During the quarter, the Company opened four stores and closed 15 stores. The Company ended the quarter with 1,414 stores compared with 1,444 stores at the end of the first quarter last year, or a decrease of 2%. Square footage was down 2% on a year-over-year basis.

The Company repurchased 102,895 shares during the first quarter of Fiscal 2023 at a cost of $6.5 million or an average of $63.17 per share. The Company currently has $100.3 million remaining on its expanded share repurchase authorization announced in February 2022.

The Company reaffirms its Fiscal 2023 full year EPS guidance:

• Sales to be up 1% to 3%, compared to FY22, incorporating the impact of the lower exchange rates with a stronger U.S. dollar.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $7.00 to $7.75, with an expectation that earnings per share for the year will be near the mid-point of the range.²

Please refer to the Q1FY23 conference call and Q1FY23 Summary Results presentation for details regarding guidance assumptions.

The Company has posted detailed financial commentary and a supplemental financial presentation of first quarter results on its website, www.genesco.com, in the investor relations section. The Company's live conference call on May 26, 2022, at 7:30 a.m. (Central time), may be accessed through the Company's website, www.genesco.com. To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding future sales, earnings, gross margins, expenses, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization, tax rates, stores openings and closures and all other statements not addressing solely historical facts or present conditions. Forward- looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as "intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "optimistic" and similar terminology. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations reflected in these statements. A number of factors could cause differences. These include adjustments to projections reflected in forward-looking statements, including those resulting from the effects of COVID-19 on the Company's business, including COVID-19 case spikes in locations in which the Company operates, additional stores closures due to COVID-19, weakness in store and shopping mall traffic, restrictions on operations imposed by government entities and/or landlords, changes in public safety and health requirements, and limitations on the Company's ability to adequately staff and operate stores.  Differences from expectations could also result from stores closures and effects on the business as a result of civil disturbances; the level and timing of promotional activity necessary to maintain inventories at appropriate levels; our ability to pass on price increases to our customers; the imposition of tariffs on product imported by the Company or its vendors as well as the ability and costs to move production of products in response to tariffs; the Company's ability to obtain from suppliers products that are in-demand on a timely basis and effectively manage disruptions in product supply or distribution, including disruptions as a result of COVID-19 or geopolitical events; unfavorable trends in fuel costs, foreign exchange rates, foreign labor and material costs, and other factors affecting the cost of products; the effects of the British decision to exit the European Union and other sources of market weakness in the U.K. and Republic of Ireland; the effectiveness of the Company's omnichannel initiatives; costs associated with changes in minimum wage and overtime requirements; wage pressure in the U.S. and the U.K.; weakness in the consumer economy and retail industry; competition and fashion trends in the Company's markets; risks related to the potential for terrorist events; risks related to public health and safety events; changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers; retained liabilities associated with divestitures of businesses including potential liabilities under leases as the prior tenant or as a guarantor; and changes in the timing of holidays or in the onset of seasonal weather affecting period-to-period sales comparisons. Additional factors that could cause differences from expectations include the ability to renew leases in existing stores and control or lower occupancy costs, and to conduct required remodeling or refurbishment on schedule and at expected expense levels; the Company's ability to realize anticipated cost savings, including rent savings; the amount and timing of share repurchases; the Company's ability to achieve expected digital gains and gain market share; deterioration in the performance of individual businesses or of the Company's market value relative to its book value, resulting in impairments of fixed assets, operating lease right of use assets or intangible assets or other adverse financial consequences and the timing and amount of such impairments or other consequences; unexpected changes to the market for the Company's shares or for the retail sector in general; costs and reputational harm as a result of disruptions in the Company's business or information technology systems either by security breaches and incidents or by potential problems associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems; the Company's ability to realize any anticipated tax benefits; and the cost and outcome of litigation, investigations and environmental matters involving the Company.  Additional factors are cited in the "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of, and elsewhere in, the Company's SEC filings, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC website, www.sec.gov, or by contacting the investor relations department of Genesco via the Company's website, www.genesco.com. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this release are beyond Genesco's ability to control or predict. Genesco undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of 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. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements.

Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer and branded company, sells footwear and accessories in more than 1,410 retail stores throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Little Burgundy, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.journeys.ca, www.littleburgundyshoes.com, www.schuh.co.uk, www.schuh.ie, www.schuh.eu, www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.johnstonmurphy.ca, www.nashvilleshoewarehouse.com, and www.dockersshoes.com. In addition,

Genesco sells footwear at wholesale under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the licensed Levi's brand, the licensed Dockers brand, the licensed Bass brand, and other brands. Genesco is committed to progress in its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and the Company's environmental, social and governance stewardship. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com.

SOURCE Genesco Inc.