NEWS RELEASE

 

                                                                                                                                CONTACT:              Peter D. Brown

Vice President, Treasurer

and Investor Relations

Foot Locker, Inc.

(212) 720-4254

 

FOOT LOCKER, INC. REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

 

·         Net Income Per Share Increases 15 Percent to $0.47

·         Fourth Quarter EPS Expected to Increase 10 to 20 percent

·         Company is Operating 11 Stores Acquired in the Republic of Ireland

·         Cash Position Remains Strong

·         Quarterly Common Stock Dividend Increased 25 Percent to $0.075 Per Share – Equivalent to an Annualized Rate of $0.30 Per Share

 

 

NEW YORK, NY, November 18, 2004 – Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended October 30, 2004.

 

Third Quarter Results

Net income increased 15 percent to $0.47 per share, or $74 million, from $0.41 per share, or $62 million last year.  For the third quarter period, sales increased 14.4 percent to $1,366 million this year compared with sales of $1,194 million in the year-ago period.  Third quarter comparable-store sales increased 1.2 percent.

 

Year-to-Date Results

Year-to-date net income increased 42 percent, to $1.31 per share, or $204 million, compared with $0.92 per share, or $136 million last year.  Results from discontinued operations reflect an income tax benefit of $38 million, or $0.24 per share, in the second quarter of 2004, versus a loss related to revisions in estimates to discontinued reserves of $1 million, or $0.01 per share, in 2003.  Income from continuing operations increased 15 percent, to $1.07 per share, or $166 million, versus $0.93 per share, or $138 million last year.  Year-to-date sales increased 10.9 percent to $3,820 million, compared with sales of $3,445 million last year.  Comparable-store sales increased 0.3 percent.

 

“Our 15 percent increase in third quarter EPS was in line with our guidance range, reflecting a strong top-line sales increase and our very disciplined approach to expense management,” stated Matthew D. Serra, Foot Locker, Inc.’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “While our gross margin rate declined, primarily due to an unfavorable comparison to last year’s very strong performance, we expect our fourth quarter gross margin rate to improve versus last year as we plan to continue to temper our promotional posture and benefit from a lower occupancy rate.”   

 

Mr. Serra continued, “We are also optimistic that the improving comparable-store sales trend in our U.S. stores will continue and contribute to a successful fourth quarter.  We remain encouraged by new product launches that will be available in our U.S. stores, including gaining access to additional quantities of certain marquee products that were missing from our stores last year.  As a result of these factors, we expect our fourth quarter earnings per share to increase by 10 to 20 percent.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-  MORE -

 

 

 

 

Operating Highlights

During the third quarter, Foot Locker continued to manage and expand its worldwide store base to provide for maximum long-term growth and profitability.  The Company opened 21 new stores, remodeled/relocated 37 stores and closed 24 stores.  At October 30, 2004, the Company operated 3,955 stores in 17 countries in North America, Europe and Australia.  As previously announced, the Company also purchased 11 stores in the Republic of Ireland during the third quarter.  These stores have since been remodeled and are currently operating under the Foot Locker banner.

 

Financial Position/Dividend Increase

The Company continued to utilize its internally generated cash flow to fund its store expansion plans, reduce its liabilities and increase its cash dividends to shareholders.  At the end of the quarter, the Company’s cash position stood at $249 million.  During the quarter, the Company also contributed an additional $56 million to its U.S. pension plan in advance of ERISA requirements.

 

As previously announced, on November 17, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors increased Foot Locker, Inc.’s quarterly common stock dividend 25 percent from its previous amount to $0.075 per share, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of $0.30 per share.  The increased dividend will be payable January 28, 2005 to shareholders of record on January 14, 2005.

 

The Company is hosting a live conference call at 10:00 am (EST) on Friday, November 19, 2004.  This conference call may be accessed live from the Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at    http://www.footlocker-inc.com.  The conference call will be available for webcast replay until 5:00 pm on Monday, November 29, 2004.

 

 

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s current views of future events and financial performance.  These forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the effects of currency fluctuations, customer demand, fashion trends, competitive market forces, uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and pricing, customer acceptance of the Company’s merchandise mix and retail locations, the Company’s reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor), unseasonable weather, risks associated with foreign global sourcing, including political instability, changes in import regulations, disruptions to transportation services and distribution, and the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome, economic conditions worldwide, any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist activities in the United States or in other parts of the world and related U.S. military action overseas, the ability of the Company to execute its business plans effectively with regard to each of its business units, including its plans for the marquee and launch footwear component of its business, and its plans for the integration of the Footaction stores.  Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-  MORE -

 

 

FOOT LOCKER, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

Periods ended October 30, 2004 and November 1, 2003

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

 

Third Quarter

2004

 

Third Quarter

2003

Sales

           $  1,366

 

    $  1,194

 

                              

 

 

Cost of sales

       941     

 

          805

Selling, general and administrative expenses

      270    

 

          250

Depreciation and amortization

        38    

 

           37

Interest expense, net

          4         

 

             5

 

    1,253  

 

       1,097

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

       113      

 

           97

Income tax expense

        39     

 

           35

Income from continuing operations

        74     

 

           62

 

 

 

 

Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax

         ---      

 

          ---

Net income

 $       74   

 

   $      62

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS:

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 $    0.47

 

    $    0.41

Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax

       ---

 

           --- 

Net  income

           $    0.47

 

    $    0.41

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding

    157.4

 

       153.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year-To-Date

2004

 

Year-To-Date

2003

Sales

            $  3,820         

 

   $  3,445

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

                2,667

 

       2,380

Selling, general and administrative expenses

                  786

 

          724

Depreciation and amortization

                  109

 

          112

Restructuring charge

                      2

 

              1

Interest expense, net

                    12

 

            14

 

               3,576

 

        3,231

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

                  244

 

         214

Income tax expense

                    78

 

           76

Income from continuing operations

                  166

 

         138

 

 

 

 

Income/(loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax

                    38(1)

 

              (1) (2)

Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax 

                    ---

 

              (1) (3)

Net income

            $     204

 

   $   136

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS:

 

 

 

Income/(loss) from continuing operations

            $    1.07

 

    $   0.93

Income/(loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax

                  0.24(1)

 

          (0.01)(2)

Net  income

            $    1.31

 

    $   0.92

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding

                156.9

 

       152.2

 

 

 

 

        

(1)     Income tax benefit related to discontinued businesses

(2)     Represents revisions in estimates to reserves for discontinued businesses.

(3)     Related to adoption of SFAS No. 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

-  MORE -

 

FOOT LOCKER, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

(In millions)

 

 

 

October 30,

2004

 

November 1,

2003

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

     $   249

 

$   305

Merchandise inventories

1,291

 

1,077

Other current assets