NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Peter D. Brown
Vice President, Treasurer
and Investor Relations
Foot Locker, Inc.
(212) 720-4254
· 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
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.
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 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.”
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.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
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 (1) (2) | 38 | (1) | |
| Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax (3) | --- | (1) | |
| 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 (1) (2) | 0.24 | (0.01) | |
| 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.”
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| October 30, 2004 | --- | November 1, 2003 | |
| Assets | |||
| Current Assets | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 249 | $ 305 | |
| Merchandise inventories | 1,291 | 1,077 | |
| Other current assets | 155 | 104 | |
| 1695 | 1,486 | ||
| Property and equipment, net | 700 | 620 | |
| Deferred tax assets | 204 | 253 | |
| Other assets | 507 | 339 | |
| $ 3,106 | $ 2,698 | ||
| Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | |||
| Current Liabilities | |||
| Accounts payable | $ 420 | $ 375 | |
| Accrued liabilities | 243 | 265 | |
| Current liabilities and reserves for restructuring and discontinued operations | 10 | 22 | |
| Current portion of long-term debt and obligations under capital leases | 18 | --- | |
| 691 | 662 | ||
| Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases | 346 | 336 | |
| Other liabilities | 324 | 438 | |
| Shareholders' Equity | 1,745 | 1,262 | |
| $ 3,106 | $ 2,698 |
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Store and Estimated Square Footage – Continuing Operations
| October 30, 2004 | November 1, 2003 | January 31, 2004 | |
| Foot Locker U.S. | |||
| Number of stores | 1,429 | 1,457 | 1,448 |
| Gross square footage | 5,821 | 5,935 | 5,916 |
| Selling square footage | 3,393 | 3,453 | 3,447 |
| Footaction | |||
| Number of stores | 349 | --- | --- |
| Gross square footage | 1,689 | --- | --- |
| Selling square footage | 1,052 | --- | --- |
| Lady Foot Locker | |||
| Number of stores | 567 | 592 | 584 |
| Gross square footage | 1,265 | 1,319 | 1,303 |
| Selling square footage | 705 | 732 | 723 |
| Kids Foot Locker | |||
| Number of stores | 346 | 359 | 357 |
| Gross square footage | 837 | 870 | 863 |
| Selling square footage | 497 | 518 | 514 |
| Champs Sports | |||
| Number of stores | 574 | 591 | 581 |
| Gross square footage | 3,192 | 3,295 | 3,239 |
| Selling square footage | 2,192 | 2,293 | 2,244 |
| Foot Locker International | |||
| Number of stores | 690 | 620 | 640 |
| Gross square footage | 1,975 | 1,752 | 1,823 |
| Selling square footage | 1,055 | 965 | 992 |
| Total Athletic Group | |||
| Number of stores | 3,955 | 3,619 | 3,610 |
| Gross square footage | 14,779 | 13,171 | 13,144 |
| Selling square footage | 8,894 | 7,961 | 7,920 |