Men's Wearhouse Reports Fiscal 2014 Second Quarter And Six Month Results

FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Men's Wearhouse (NYSE: MW) today announced consolidated financial results for the fiscal second quarter and six months ended August 2, 2014. 

GAAP diluted EPS for fiscal second quarter 2014 was $0.25 and adjusted EPS was $1.10 excluding non-operating items⁽¹⁾.  Results for Jos. A. Bank are included in our financial statements beginning June 18, 2014, the date of the closing of the acquisition.

Doug Ewert, Men's Wearhouse president and chief executive officer, commented, "During the second quarter, we closed the Jos. A. Bank acquisition and we are pleased with the progress we are making on the integration.

"Second quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.10 were driven by strong performances at Men's Wearhouse, Moores and K&G, posting comparable sales increases of 4.4%, 10.2% and 5.6%, respectively.  Additional highlights include excellent results in tuxedo rental, with a U.S. comparable sales increase of 9.1%, and from our Joseph Abboud roll out, which will be complete in the coming weeks.

"While we are very early in the Jos. A. Bank integration process, we look forward to communicating our progress and continue to expect between $100 million to $150 million in synergies.  Subsequent to the end of the second quarter, we secured the early termination of the Jim's Formal Wear contract to supply tuxedo rental inventory to Jos. A. Bank.  We will begin leveraging our tuxedo rental inventory and logistics to serve the Jos. A. Bank rental customers for the 2015 wedding season," concluded Ewert.

FISCAL SECOND QUARTER SALES REVIEW

The tables that follow are a summary of net sales for fiscal 2014 second quarter and fiscal six months ended August 2, 2014.  The dollars shown are U.S. dollars in millions and due to rounded numbers may not sum.  The Moores comparable sales change is based on the Canadian dollar.  The comparable sales shown below for Jos. A. Bank are a comparison to the full periods, not a comparison of the acquisition period since June 18, 2014. Comparable sales exclude the net sales of a store for any month of one period if the store was not open throughout the same month of the prior period and include e-commerce net sales. 

Net sales at our largest brand, Men's Wearhouse stores, which represented 56% of total second quarter sales, were up 5.6% from last year's second quarter and comparable sales increased 4.4%.  On a comparable basis an increase in average transactions per store more than offset a decrease in clothing product average unit retails (or the net selling price per unit). The higher margin tuxedo rental revenues comparable sales increased 9.1% in the second quarter of 2014. 

Jos. A. Bank was 14% of the Company's total second quarter sales reflecting sales since June 18, 2014, the acquisition date.  Comparable sales for the full second quarter increased 1.0% with increases in units sold per transaction which offset decreases in clothing product average unit retails and transactions per store.   Moores, our Canadian retail brand, was 10% of the total second quarter sales and had a comparable sales increase of 10.2% due to increases in units sold per transaction, average transactions per store and clothing product average unit retails.  Net sales change for Moores only increased 4.7% due to an unfavorable change in the currency translation rate.   K&G was 11% of the Company's total second quarter sales with a comparable sales increase of 5.6% due to increases in average transactions per store and units sold per transaction which more than offset a decrease in average unit retails.  The Corporate Apparel segment, which represented 8% of total second quarter sales, had a sales increase of 23.9%.

FISCAL SECOND QUARTER CONSOLIDATED RESULTS REVIEW

Sales
Total net sales increased 24.1% or $155.8 million to $803.1 million from $647.3 million. 

Retail segment sales for the quarter increased by 24.1% or $143.0 million due to $113.7 million in sales at Jos. A. Bank since the closing of the acquisition and an increase in comparable sales at all other retail brands. 

Corporate apparel sales increased by 23.9% or $12.8 million.

Gross Margin
Total GAAP gross margin was $358.5 million.  Adjusted consolidated gross margin of $365.3 million increased $56.5 million or 18.3% compared to the prior year quarter.  The total adjusted gross margin rate decreased 222 basis points primarily due to lower retail margin related to the Jos. A. Bank acquisition.

Adjusted retail segment gross margin increased $53.7 million or 18.4%.  The adjusted retail segment gross margin rate decreased 224 basis points including Jos. A. Bank and increased 10 basis points excluding Jos. A. Bank. 

Corporate apparel gross margin increased $2.8 million or 16.2% yet decreased 197 basis points.

SG&A
GAAP SG&A expenses increased $83.3 million to $315.8 million, an increase of 35.8% or 341 basis points.  Adjusted SG&A expenses were 160 basis points favorable to the prior year.  On an absolute dollar basis adjusted SG&A increased by $42.4 million or 18.5% primarily due to the addition of Jos. A. Bank SG&A and an increase in advertising expense primarily related to the rollout of Joseph Abboud. 

Operating Income
GAAP operating income was $42.7 million compared to GAAP operating income of $66.8 million last year.  Adjusted operating income was $93.3 million, an increase of $14.1 million or 17.8% over the prior year adjusted operating income of $79.2 million.

Interest and Taxes
Net interest expense for the second quarter was $13.1 million, impacting adjusted diluted EPS by $0.18. The effective tax rate for the second quarter was 55.0%.  Excluding the impact of non-deductible transaction costs, the adjusted effective tax rate was 33.9%.

Net Earnings
GAAP net earnings were $12.3 million compared to GAAP net earnings of $42.9 million last year.  Adjusted net earnings were $52.9 million, or $1.10 adjusted earnings per share compared to adjusted net earnings of $51.0 million, or $1.01 adjusted diluted earnings per share last year.

Balance Sheet
In connection with the acquisition of Jos. A. Bank, debt at the end of the second quarter was $1.7 billion.  Inventories increased $444.7 million to $1,044.5 million from $599.8 million.  Approximately $425 million is due to the Jos. A. Bank acquisition and inventory at the Joseph Abboud factory.  Additionally, approximately $10 million of the increase was related to an inventory build for our corporate apparel business to service existing customers and the remaining increase was primarily driven by new store openings at Men's Wearhouse.

FISCAL SIX MONTH CONSOLIDATED RESULTS REVIEW

Sales
Total net sales increased 13.4% or $169.8 million to $1,433.6 million from $1,263.8 million. 

Year-to-date retail segment sales increased by 13.6% or $156.5 million due to $113.7 million in sales at Jos. A. Bank since the closing of the acquisition and an increase in comparable sales at all other retail brands. 

Corporate apparel sales increased by 12.1%, or $13.3 million.

Gross Margin
Total GAAP gross margin was $641.9 million.  Adjusted consolidated gross margin of $648.7 million increased $62.0 million or 10.6% compared to the prior year quarter.  The total adjusted gross margin rate decreased 118 basis points primarily due to lower retail margin related to the Jos. A. Bank acquisition.

Adjusted retail segment gross margin increased $59.5 million or 10.8%.  The adjusted retail segment gross margin rate decreased 117 basis points including Jos. A. Bank and increased 3 basis points excluding Jos. A. Bank. 

Corporate apparel gross margin increased $2.5 million or 7.1% yet decreased 139 basis points.

SG&A
GAAP SG&A expenses increased $114.0 million to $571.9 million, an increase of 24.9% or 367 basis points.  Adjusted SG&A expenses were 101 basis points favorable to the prior year.  On an absolute dollar basis adjusted SG&A increased by $46.7 million or 10.3% primarily due to the addition of Jos. A. Bank SG&A and an increase in advertising expense. 

Operating Income
GAAP operating income was $70.0 million compared to GAAP operating income of $119.3 million last year.  Adjusted operating income was $147.0 million, an increase of $15.3 million or 11.6% over the prior year adjusted operating income of $131.7 million.

Interest and Taxes
Net interest expense for the six months was $14.1 million, impacting adjusted diluted EPS by $0.19.

The effective tax rate for the six months was 46.3%.  Excluding the impact of non-deductible transaction costs, the adjusted effective tax rate was 35.2%.

Net Earnings
GAAP net earnings were $28.7 million compared to GAAP net earnings of $76.0 million last year.  Adjusted net earnings were $86.0 million, or $1.78 adjusted earnings per share compared to adjusted net earnings of $84.1 million, or $1.66 adjusted diluted earnings per share last year.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION

At 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, September 11, 2014, Company management will host a conference call and real time webcast to review fiscal 2014 second quarter and six month results.

To access the conference call, dial 719-457-2604.  To access the live webcast presentation, visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://ir.menswearhouse.com. A telephonic replay will be available through September 18, 2014 by calling 719-457-0820 and entering the access code of 7619322#, or a webcast archive will be available free on the website for approximately 90 days.

STORE INFORMATION

Founded in 1973, Men's Wearhouse is one of North America's largest specialty retailers of men's apparel with 1,756 stores.  The Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores and K&G stores carry a full selection of suits, sport coats, furnishings and accessories in exclusive and non-exclusive merchandise brands and Men's Wearhouse and Tux stores carry a limited selection.  Most K&G stores carry a full selection of women's apparel.  Tuxedo rentals are available in the Men's Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, Moores and Men's Wearhouse and Tux stores.  Additionally, Men's Wearhouse operates a global corporate apparel and workwear group consisting of Twin Hill in the United States and Dimensions, Alexandra and Yaffy in the United Kingdom.    

This press release contains forward-looking information.  The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or expected results expressed in or suggested by these forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements may be significantly impacted by various factors, including, but not limited to: actions by governmental entities, domestic and international economic activity and inflation, success, or lack thereof, in executing our internal operating plans and new store and new market expansion plans, including successful integration of acquisitions, performance issues with key suppliers, disruption in buying trends due to homeland security concerns, severe weather, foreign currency fluctuations, government export and import policies, aggressive advertising or marketing activities of competitors; and legal proceedings. Future results will also be dependent upon our ability to continue to identify and complete successful expansions and penetrations into existing and new markets and our ability to integrate such expansions with our existing operations.

These forward-looking statements are based upon management's current beliefs or expectations and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements: (1) the possibility that the expected benefits from the Jos. A. Bank transaction will not be realized within the anticipated time period, (2) the risks related to the costs and difficulties related to the integration of Jos. A. Bank's business and operations with Men's Wearhouse's business and operations, (3) the inability to obtain, or delays in obtaining, cost savings and synergies from the transaction, (4) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction, (5) litigation relating to the transaction, (6) the inability to retain key personnel and (7) the possible disruption that may be caused by the transaction to the business and operations of Men's Wearhouse and its relationships with customers, employees and other third parties.

The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Except for the ongoing obligations of Men's Wearhouse to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, Men's Wearhouse undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.  Other factors that may impact the forward-looking statements are described in Men's Wearhouse's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.  For additional information on Men's Wearhouse, please visit the Company's websites at www.menswearhouse.com, www.josbank.com, www.mooresclothing.com, www.kgstores.com, www.twinhill.com, www.dimensions.co.uk and www.alexandra.co.uk.

Contact:
Kelly Dilts, SVP, Finance & IR
(281) 776-7239

Ken Dennard
Dennard ▪ Lascar Associates
(713) 529-6600

(1) Adjusted EPS is non-GAAP financial information provided to enhance the user's overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance. Reconciliations of adjusted financial information to GAAP results are included in the tables at the end of this release.

SOURCE Men's Wearhouse