GENESCO INC. REPORTS FISCAL 2023 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

--Revenue and Operating Income Well Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels-- 
--EPS Surpasses Expectations--

Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 Financial Summary

• Net sales of $535 million, a decrease of 4% from last year and an increase of 10% over Q2FY20
• Excluding the impact of lower exchange rates, net sales decreased 1% for Q2FY23 compared to Q2FY22
• Gross margin meets expectations
• E-commerce sales represented 18% of retail sales this year versus 19% of retail sales last year and 10% of retail sales in Q2FY20
• GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.59 vs. $0.74 last year and $0.05 in Q2FY20
• Non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $0.59¹ vs. $1.05 last year and $0.15 in Q2FY20
• Repurchased $45.4 million of stock during Q2FY23, with $54.9 million remaining on the current authorization
• Sequential retail sales improvement compared to FY22 throughout the quarter and into August
• Taking a more conservative approach to back half with revised expectations for adjusted EPS of $6.25 to $7.00

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported GAAP earnings from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.59 for the three months ended July 30, 2022, compared to $0.74 in the second quarter last year and $0.05 per diluted share three years ago, prior to the pandemic. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, the Company reported second quarter earnings from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.59, compared to $1.05 last year and $0.15 per diluted share pre-pandemic.

Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco board chair, president and chief executive officer, said, "We are pleased with our second quarter performance, which combined with our first quarter results, represent a strong start to Fiscal 2023 on top of last year's stimulus-induced spending environment. Strength from our Schuh and Johnston & Murphy businesses and careful expense control helped offset softness late in the quarter versus expectations at Journeys to deliver earnings ahead of projections. While we've seen nicely improved trends through August and we saw a good start to the back-to-school season, sales didn't achieve levels contemplated in our previous guidance. With these current trends and in light of the current impact inflation is having on consumer discretionary spending we believe it's prudent to take a more conservative approach to our back half outlook. We remain confident that our footwear focused strategy has created a much more resilient and fundamentally stronger business that we believe is better positioned to successfully navigate more difficult market conditions and outperform in favorable economic backdrops." 

Thomas A. George, Genesco chief financial officer, commented, "Our second quarter results were highlighted by solid revenue growth when compared to pre-pandemic levels as top line grew 10% versus the same period in Fiscal 2020 despite having 5% fewer stores. With gross margin in line with our expectations combined with the work we've done reshaping and reducing our cost structure, we more than doubled operating income, which along with $176 million in share repurchases over the past three years, allowed us to achieve adjusted EPS of $0.59 this quarter compared to $0.15 in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020. While we are pleased with the long-term direction of the business, the current operating environment has led us to take a more cautious approach to our guidance. We now expect adjusted earnings per share for Fiscal 2023 to range between $6.25 to $7.00. We believe somewhere close to the middle of the range is where we will land."  

Second Quarter Review
Net sales for the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 decreased 4% to $535 million from $555 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2022 and increased 10% from $487 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020, prior to the pandemic. The sales decrease compared to last year was driven by decreased comparable sales, as the Company continued to anniversary the significant stimulus distributed a year ago, which especially benefitted Journeys Group, and by foreign exchange pressure on the Schuh business from the strengthening dollar, partially offset by increased sales in the wholesale channel. Excluding the impact of lower exchange rates, net sales decreased 1% for the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 compared to the second quarter of Fiscal 2022. As a result of store closures during Fiscal 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Company's policy of removing any store closed for seven consecutive days from comparable sales, the Company has not included second quarter comparable sales for Fiscal 2022, except for comparable direct sales, as it believes that overall sales was a more meaningful metric for that period.

Overall sales for the second quarter this year compared to the second quarter of Fiscal 2022 were down 7% at Journeys, down 4% at Schuh and down 10% at Licensed Brands as we repositioned the distribution mix, partially offset by a 22% increase in sales at Johnston & Murphy. On a constant currency basis, Schuh sales were up 9% for the second quarter this year.

Second quarter gross margin this year was 47.5%, down 160 basis points compared with 49.1% last year and down 110 basis points compared with 48.6% in Fiscal 2020. The decrease as a percentage of sales as compared to Fiscal 2022 is due primarily to increased markdowns in the Journeys business as they returned to a more normalized promotional environment and higher freight and logistics costs in the Johnston & Murphy business. Additionally, the Company had the reversal of inventory reserves in the second quarter last year at Johnston & Murphy as the brand began to recover from the pandemic making for a difficult comparison this year.

Selling and administrative expense for the second quarter this year increased 30 basis points as a percentage of sales compared with last year but decreased 180 basis points compared with Fiscal 2020. Adjusted selling and administrative expense for the second quarter this year increased 30 basis points as a percentage of sales compared with last year but decreased 200 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 relief in the second quarter of Fiscal 2022. Excluding these one-time benefits last year, decreased performance-based compensation expense more than offset the deleverage in selling salaries and marketing expenses.

Genesco's GAAP operating income for the second quarter was $9.1 million, or 1.7% of sales this year, compared with $12.9 million, or 2.3% of sales in the second quarter last year, and $3.0 million, or 0.6% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, operating income for the second quarter was $10.0 million this year compared to $21.1 million last year and $4.7 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020. Adjusted operating margin was 1.9% of sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023, 3.8% in the second quarter last year and 1.0% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020. 

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 11.3% in Fiscal 2023 compared to 11.1% in the second quarter last year and 70.7% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020. The adjusted tax rate, reflecting Excluded Items, was 19.5% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 compared to 25.1% in the second quarter of last year and 45.2% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020. The lower adjusted tax rate for the second quarter this year as compared to the second quarter last year reflects a reduction in the effective tax rate the Company expects for jurisdictions in which it is profitable combined with the impact of foreign activity for which it has historically been unable to recognize a tax benefit.

GAAP earnings from continuing operations were $7.7 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023, compared to $10.9 million in the second quarter last year and $0.8 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020.

Adjusted for the Excluded Items in all periods, second quarter earnings from continuing operations were $7.7 million, or $0.59 per share, in Fiscal 2023, compared to $15.3 million, or $1.05 per share, in the second quarter of last year and $2.5 million, or $0.15 per share, in the second quarter of Fiscal 2020.

Cash, Borrowings and Inventory
Cash and cash equivalents at July 30, 2022, were $44.9 million, compared with $304.0 million at July 31, 2021. Total debt at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 was $48.9 million compared with $20.0 million at the end of last year's second quarter. The $288 million decrease in net cash position over the past 12 months was driven primarily by replenishment of inventory totaling $150 million and significant share repurchases totaling $135 million. Inventories increased 55% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 on a year-over-year basis, as outsized stimulus demand and supply chain limitations resulted in extremely low inventory last year. Inventories increased 14% this year when compared to the second quarter of Fiscal 2020, prior to the pandemic, driven by late arriving Spring inventory, back-to-school product, core carryover product and vendor cost increases.

Capital Expenditures and Store Activity
For the second quarter, capital expenditures excluding the new corporate headquarters building were $9 million, related primarily to investments in retail stores and digital and omnichannel initiatives. Depreciation and amortization was $11 million. During the quarter, the Company opened four stores and closed six stores. The Company ended the quarter with 1,412 stores compared with 1,439 stores at the end of the second quarter last year, or a decrease of 2%. Square footage was down 2% on a year-over-year basis.

Share Repurchases
The Company repurchased 826,034 shares during the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 at a cost of $45.4 million or an average of $54.99 per share. The Company currently has $54.9 million remaining on its expanded share repurchase authorization announced in February 2022.

Fiscal 2023 Outlook
The Company revises its Fiscal 2023 full year guidance:

• Sales are now expected to be down 3% to flat, compared to FY22, versus prior guidance of up 1% to 3%.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $6.25 to $7.00², with an expectation that adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year will be near the mid-point of the range, versus the prior expectation for adjusted diluted earnings per share to be near the mid-point of $7.00 to $7.75.

Please refer to the Q2FY23 conference call and Q2FY23 Summary Results presentation for details regarding guidance assumptions.

ESG Report
Genesco recently published its inaugural ESG Report on www.genesco.com outlining the Company's most recent ESG work, policies and metrics. "We are proud of the progress we've made on ESG," said Vaughn. "Our business continues to incorporate ESG as a factor in key operating decisions such as redesigning and reducing shoe box sizes and participating in energy reduction programs at the store level. We're committed to do more and look forward to updating you on our future progress."

Conference Call, Management Commentary and Investor Presentation
The Company has posted detailed financial commentary and a supplemental financial presentation of second quarter results on its website, www.genesco.com, in the investor relations section. The Company's live conference call on September 1, 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.

Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding future sales, earnings, operating income, gross margins, expenses, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization, tax rates, stores openings and closures, ESG progress 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, impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, 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; our ability to meet our sustainability, stewardship, emission and diversity, equity and inclusion related ESG projections, goals and commitments; 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.

About Genesco Inc.
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.