Citi Trends Inc - Quarter Report: 2018 November (Form 10-Q)

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

 

For the quarterly period ended November 3, 2018

 

OR

 

 

Commission File Number  000-51315

 

CITI TRENDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (912) 236-1561

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  ☒   No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes  ☒  No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ☐  No  ☒

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

 

 

CITI TRENDS, INC.

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

Citi Trends, Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

November 3, 2018 and February 3, 2018

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Citi Trends, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

Citi Trends, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

Thirteen Weeks Ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Citi Trends, Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

Citi Trends, Inc.

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

November 3, 2018

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

Citi Trends, Inc. and its subsidiary (the “Company”) operate as a value-priced retailer of urban fashion apparel and accessories for the entire family.  As of November 3, 2018, the Company operated 557 stores in 32 states.

 

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of November 3, 2018, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the thirty-nine and thirteen week periods ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the thirty-nine week periods ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017 have been prepared by the Company without audit. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of February 3, 2018 has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date, but does not include all required year-end disclosures.  In the opinion of management, such statements include all adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of November 3, 2018 and February 3, 2018, and its results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented.  These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2018.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.  Operating results for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending February 2, 2019.

 

The following contains references to fiscal years 2018 and 2017, which represent fiscal years ending or ended on February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018, respectively.  Fiscal 2018 has a 52-week accounting period and fiscal 2017 had a 53-week accounting period.

 

2. Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and use assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

The most significant estimates made by management include those used in the valuation of inventory, property and equipment, self-insurance liabilities, leases and income taxes. Management periodically evaluates estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements for continued reasonableness. Appropriate adjustments, if any, to the estimates used are made prospectively based on such periodic evaluations.

 

3. Cash and Cash Equivalents/Concentration of Credit Risk

 

For purposes of the condensed consolidated balance sheets and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities at date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents.  The Company places its cash and cash equivalents in what it believes to be high credit quality banks and institutional money market funds.  The Company maintains cash accounts that exceed federally insured limits.

 

4. Earnings per Share

 

Basic earnings per common share amounts are calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share amounts are calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the additional dilution for all potentially dilutive securities, such as nonvested restricted stock.  During loss periods, diluted loss

per share amounts are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, because the inclusion of common stock equivalents would be antidilutive.

 

The dilutive effect of stock-based compensation arrangements is accounted for using the treasury stock method.  The Company includes as assumed proceeds the amount of compensation cost attributed to future services and not yet recognized.  For the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017, there were 119,000 and 137,000 shares of nonvested restricted stock, respectively, excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because of antidilution.  For the thirteen weeks ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017, there were 166,000 and 124,000 shares of nonvested restricted stock, respectively, excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because of antidilution.

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of the average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate basic earnings per share to the number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding used in calculating diluted earnings per share for the thirty-nine and thirteen week periods ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017:

 

 

 

 

5. Fair Value Measurement

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market at the measurement date. Fair value is established according to a hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described below:

 

Level 1:  Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

 

Level 2:  Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.

 

Level 3:  Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. Level 3 inputs are given the lowest priority in the fair value hierarchy.

 

As of November 3, 2018, the Company’s investment securities are classified as held-to-maturity since the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investments to maturity.  Such securities are carried at amortized cost plus accrued interest and consist of the following (in thousands):

 

The amortized cost and fair market value of investment securities as of November 3, 2018 by contractual maturity are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

As of February 3, 2018, the Company’s investment securities were classified as held-to-maturity and consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

The amortized cost and fair market value of investment securities as of February 3, 2018 by contractual maturity were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

There were no changes among the levels in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018.

 

Fair market values of Level 2 investments are determined by management with the assistance of a third party pricing service.  Because quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are not available, these prices are determined by the third party pricing service using observable market information such as quotes from less active markets and quoted prices of similar securities.

 

6. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

If facts and circumstances indicate that a long-lived asset may be impaired, the carrying value is reviewed. If this review indicates that the carrying value of the asset will not be recovered as determined based on projected undiscounted cash flows related to the asset over its remaining life, the carrying value of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value.  Non-cash impairment expense related to leasehold improvements and fixtures and equipment at underperforming stores totaled $1.1 million and $0.1 million in the thirty-nine week periods ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017, respectively.

 

7. Revolving Line of Credit

 

On October 27, 2011, the Company entered into a five-year, $50 million credit facility with Bank of America.  The facility was amended on August 18, 2015, extending the maturity date to August 18, 2020.  The amended facility provides a $50 million credit commitment and a $25 million uncommitted “accordion” feature that under certain circumstances could allow the Company to increase the size of the facility to $75 million.  Borrowings, if any, under the facility will bear interest (a) for LIBOR Rate Loans, at LIBOR plus either 1.25% or 1.5%, or (b) for Base Rate Loans, at a rate equal to the highest of (i) the prime rate plus either 0.25% or 0.5%, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus either 0.75% or 1.0%, or (iii) LIBOR plus either 1.25% or 1.5%, based in any such case on the average daily availability for borrowings under the facility.  The facility continues to be secured by the Company’s inventory, accounts receivable and related assets, but not its real estate, fixtures and equipment, and it contains one financial covenant, a fixed charge coverage ratio, which is applicable and tested only in certain circumstances. The facility has an unused commitment fee of 0.25% and permits the payment of cash dividends subject to certain limitations, including a requirement that there were no borrowings outstanding in the 30 days prior to the dividend payment and no borrowings are expected in the 30 days subsequent to the payment. The Company has had no borrowings under the credit facility.

 

8.  Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. 

 

ASC 740-270, Income Taxes – Interim Reporting, requires companies to calculate income taxes by applying their estimated full-year tax rate in each interim period unless the estimated full-year tax rate is not reliably predictable.  For the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017, the Company utilized this annual effective tax rate method to calculate income taxes.

 

For the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018, the effective income tax rate was 18.4%.  This compares with a rate of 31.2% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017.  The decrease in the effective income tax rate was due primarily to the decrease in the federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% which was the result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that went into effect on January 1, 2018.

 

 

9. Other Long-Term Liabilities

 

The components of other long-term liabilities as of November 3, 2018 and February 3, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

10. Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company from time to time is involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of its business, including claims by customers, employees or former employees.  Once it becomes probable that the Company will incur costs in connection with a legal proceeding and such costs can be reasonably estimated, it establishes appropriate reserves. While legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties and the outcome of any such matter is not predictable, the Company is not aware of any legal proceedings pending or threatened against it that it expects to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

11. Stock Repurchase Program and Cash Dividends

 

Repurchases of Common Stock

On March 16, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a program that authorized the repurchase of up to $25.0 million in shares of the Company’s common stock.  During the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018, the Company repurchased 866,748 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $25.0 million.  At November 3, 2018, there were no additional shares which could be repurchased pursuant to this authorization.  On November 28, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a program that authorized the repurchase of another $25.0 million in shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

Dividends

On February 13, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.08 per common share, which was paid on March 20, 2018 to stockholders of record as of March 6, 2018.  On May 22, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.08 per common share, which was paid on June 19, 2018 to stockholders of record as of June 5, 2018.  On August 21, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.08 per common share, which was paid on September 18, 2018 to stockholders of record as of September 4, 2018.  On November 28, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.08 per common share, payable on December 26, 2018 to stockholders of record as of December 11, 2018.  Any determination to declare and pay cash dividends for future quarters will be made by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

12. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”). The guidance requires an entity to recognize revenue on contracts with customers relating to the transfer of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  To achieve this, an entity is required to identify the contract with a customer; identify the separate performance obligations in the contract; determine the transaction price; allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations in the contract; and recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies each performance obligation.  In August of 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods in the year of adoption.  The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 in fiscal 2018 beginning February 4, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach.  The Company’s primary source of revenue is derived from the sale of clothing and accessories to its customers with the Company’s performance obligations satisfied immediately when the customer pays for their purchase and receives the merchandise. As such, adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, results of operations or cash flows.  Additionally, adoption of the ASU did not result in significant changes to the Company’s business processes, controls or systems.  

 

Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016–02”) which replaces the existing guidance in ASC 840, Leases. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model that requires a lessee to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months.  Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases – Targeted Improvements, which provides for an additional transition method that allows companies to apply the new lease standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings.  This transition method option is in addition to the existing modified retrospective transition approach that requires companies to apply the standard to the earliest period presented in the financial statements.  The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 in fiscal 2019, using the cumulative effect method.  The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the new lease guidance to determine the ultimate impact, but anticipates the new standard will result in significant right of use assets and related liabilities associated with its operating leases.  All of the Company’s retail store locations are subject to operating lease arrangements.  Being party to 557 leases for individual retail locations with an average remaining contractual rent period of 3 years, the Company has determined that the adoption of the new lease standard will have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and disclosures.

 

13.  Revenue

 

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s primary source of revenue is derived from the sale of clothing and accessories to its customers with the Company’s performance obligations satisfied immediately when the customer pays for their purchase and receives the merchandise.  Sales taxes collected by the Company from customers are excluded from revenue.  Revenue from layaway sales is recognized at the point in time when the merchandise is paid for and control of the goods is transferred to the customer, thereby satisfying the Company’s performance obligation.  Non-refundable layaway service fees are recognized in revenue when collected by the Company from customers.  The Company defers revenue from the sale of gift cards and recognizes the associated revenue upon the redemption of the cards by customers to purchase merchandise.

 

Sales Returns

The Company allows customers to return merchandise for up to thirty days after the date of sale.  Expected refunds to customers are recorded based on estimated margin using historical return information.  Under ASU 2014-09, the Company recorded an estimated refund liability of $0.4 million, included in the line item “Accrued expenses,” and the carrying value of a return asset of $0.2 million, presented separately from inventory, included in the line item “Prepaid and other current assets” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The cumulative effect of the changes made to the November 3, 2018 condensed consolidated balance sheet from the modified retrospective adoption of ASU 2014-09 on retained earnings was immaterial.

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company’s retail operations represent a single operating segment based on the way the Company manages its business.  Operating decisions and resource allocation decisions are made at the Company level in order to maintain a consistent retail store presentation.  The Company’s retail stores sell similar products, use similar processes to sell those products, and sell their products to similar classes of customers.

 

In the following table, the Company’s revenue is disaggregated by major product line.  The percentage of net sales related to each classification of its merchandise assortment for the thirty-nine and thirteen week periods of fiscal 2018 and 2017 was approximately:

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Except for specific historical information, many of the matters discussed in this Form 10-Q may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives for future operations, growth or initiatives, statements of future economic performance, capital allocation expectations or statements regarding the outcome or impact of pending or threatened litigation. These, and similar statements, are forward-looking statements concerning matters that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual performance of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. All forward-looking information should be evaluated in the context of these risks, uncertainties and other factors. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “objective,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “could,” “will likely result,” or “will continue” and similar words and expressions generally identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such language. The Company believes the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

 

The factors that may result in actual results differing from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: transportation and distribution delays or interruptions; changes in freight rates; the Company’s ability to negotiate effectively the cost and purchase of merchandise; inventory risks due to shifts in market demand; the Company’s ability to gauge fashion trends and changing consumer preferences; changes in consumer spending on apparel; changes in product mix; interruptions in suppliers’ businesses; a deterioration in general economic conditions caused by acts of war or terrorism or other factors; the results of pending or threatened litigation; temporary changes in demand due to weather patterns; seasonality of the Company’s business; delays associated with building, opening and operating new stores; delays associated with building, opening or expanding new or existing distribution centers; and other factors described in the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 and in Part II, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any amendments thereto and in the other documents the Company files with the SEC, including reports on Form 8-K.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. Except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are advised, however, to read any further disclosures the Company may make on related subjects in its public disclosures or documents filed with the SEC, including reports on Form 8-K.

 

Overview

 

We are a value-priced retailer of urban fashion apparel and accessories for the entire family. Our merchandise offerings are designed to appeal to the fashion preferences of value-conscious consumers, particularly African-Americans. We operated 557 stores in both urban and rural markets in 32 states as of November 3, 2018.

 

Accounting Periods

 

The following discussion contains references to fiscal years 2018 and 2017, which represent fiscal years ending or ended on February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018, respectively.  Fiscal 2018 has a 52-week accounting period and fiscal 2017 had a 53-week accounting period.  This discussion and analysis should be read with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following discussion of the Company’s financial performance is based on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements set forth herein. The nature of the Company’s business is seasonal. Historically, sales in the first and fourth quarters have been higher than sales achieved in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year. Expenses and, to a greater extent, operating income, vary by quarter. Results of a period shorter than a full year may not be indicative of results expected for the entire year. Furthermore, the seasonal nature of the Company’s business may affect comparisons between periods.

Key Operating Statistics

 

We measure performance using key operating statistics. One of the main performance measures we use is comparable store sales growth. We define a comparable store as a store that has been opened for an entire fiscal year. Therefore, a store will not be considered a comparable store until its 13th month of operation at the earliest or until its 24th month at the latest. As an example, stores opened in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2018 are not considered comparable stores in fiscal 2018. Relocated and expanded stores are included in the comparable store sales results. We also use other operating statistics, most notably average sales per store, to measure our performance. As we typically occupy existing space in established shopping centers rather than sites built specifically for our stores, store square footage (and therefore sales per square foot) varies by store. We focus on overall store sales volume as the critical driver of profitability.

 

In addition to sales, we measure cost of sales as a percentage of sales and store operating expenses, with a particular focus on labor, as a percentage of sales. These results translate into store level contribution, which we use to evaluate overall performance of each individual store. Finally, we monitor corporate expenses against budgeted amounts.  All of the statistics discussed above are critical components of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and Adjusted EBITDA (comprised of EBITDA, as adjusted for non-cash asset impairment expense and expenses related to our proxy contest in fiscal 2017), which are considered our most important operating statistics.  We believe that excluding non-cash impairment expense and proxy contest expenses from our financial results reflects operating results that are more indicative of our ongoing operating performance while improving comparability to prior and future periods, and as such, provides an enhanced understanding of our past financial performance and prospects for the future.

 

Although non-GAAP measures such as EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information on an operating cash flow basis, they are limited measures in that they exclude the impact of cash requirements for capital expenditures, income taxes and interest expense.  Therefore, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should be used as supplements to results of operations and cash flows as reported under U.S. GAAP and should not be used as a singular measure of operating performance or as a substitute for U.S. GAAP results.  Furthermore, such non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

Provided below is a reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and to Adjusted EBITDA for the thirty-nine and thirteen week periods ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017

 

Net Sales.  Net sales increased $25.3 million, or 4.7%, to $568.4 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 from $543.1 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017.  Sales comparisons to the prior year for fiscal 2018 are affected by the calendar shift caused by last year having 53 weeks.  Each of the first three quarters in fiscal 2018 begins and ends one week later than the same quarter of fiscal 2017, which can have an impact on quarterly sales comparisons if the beginning and ending weeks of the quarter have different sales volumes.  The increase in sales was due to a 2.8% increase in comparable store sales (2.0% increase on a comparable weeks basis) and the opening of 14 new stores since last year’s third quarter, partially offset by the impact of closing six stores since the third quarter of 2017.  The increase in comparable store sales on a comparable weeks basis was reflected in a 1.5% increase in the average number of items per transaction, together with a 1% increase in the average unit sale, partially offset by a decrease in the number of customer transactions of less than 1%.  Comparable store sales changes by major merchandise class were as follows in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2018: Home +15%; Accessories +3%; Men’s +2%; Children’s +1%; and Ladies’ -1%. 

 

The 2.0% increase in comparable store sales on a comparable weeks basis resulted in an increase of $10.8 million in sales, store opening and closing activity resulted in a net increase of $10.6 million in sales, and the aforementioned calendar shift contributed $3.9 million to the sales increase.

 

Cost of Sales (exclusive of depreciation).  Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation) increased $15.5 million, or 4.7%, to $350.2 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 from $334.7 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017.  Cost of sales as a percentage of sales was unchanged at 61.6% in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017.  A 30 basis points reduction in shrinkage and a 10 basis points improvement in the core merchandise margin (initial mark-up, net of markdowns) were offset by a 40 basis points increase in freight costs related to pressures on the trucking industry and higher fuel costs.  The factors impacting freight costs are expected to continue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $5.1 million, or 2.8%, to $186.5 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 from $181.4 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017 due primarily to normal inflationary pressure on expenses such as rent and payroll, together with the impact on expenses of opening 14 new stores since last year’s third quarter. These factors that caused the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses were partially offset by $2.5 million in expenses incurred last year in connection with our proxy contest.  As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 32.8% in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2018 from 33.4% in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2017 due primarily to last year’s non-recurring proxy contest expenses.

 

Depreciation.  Depreciation expense increased $0.4 million, or 2.8%, to $14.3 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2018 from $13.9 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2017 due primarily to the acceleration of our store opening pace in relation to previous years, along with the completion of an expansion of our Roland, Oklahoma distribution center.

 

Asset Impairment.  Impairment charges related to property and equipment at certain underperforming stores totaled $1.1 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2018 and $0.1 million during the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2017.

 

Income Tax Expense.  Income tax expense decreased $1.0 million, or 25.6%, to $3.2 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2018 from $4.2 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2017, due to a decrease in the effective income tax rate from 31.2% to 18.3%.  This decrease was a result of the reduction in the federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that went into effect on January 1, 2018. 

 

Net Income.  Net income increased $4.7 million, or 50.4%, to $14.0 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2018 from $9.3 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2017 due to the factors discussed above.

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended November 3, 2018 and October 28, 2017

 

Net Sales.  Net sales decreased $1.5 million, or 0.9%, to $175.4 million in the thirteen weeks ended November 3, 2018 from $176.9 million in the thirteen weeks ended October 28, 2017.  Sales comparisons to the prior year for each quarter of fiscal 2018 are affected by the calendar shift caused by last year having 53 weeks.  The decrease in sales was due to a 2.3% decrease in comparable store sales (increased 0.6% on a comparable weeks basis) and the impact of closing six stores since last year’s third quarter, partially offset by the opening of 14 new stores since the third quarter of 2017.  The increase in comparable store sales on a comparable weeks basis was reflected in a 3% increase in the average unit sale, partially offset by a 2% decrease in the number of customer transactions and a

decrease in the average number of items per transaction of less than 1%.  Comparable store sales changes by major merchandise class were as follows in the third quarter of 2018:  Home +13%; Accessories +4%; Children’s less than +1%; Men’s +0%; and Ladies’ -7%.

 

The aforementioned calendar shift resulted in a $5.0 million sales decrease, while store opening and closing activity resulted in a net increase of $2.4 million in sales, and the 0.6% comparable store sales increase on a comparable weeks basis contributed $1.1 million.

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation).  Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation) increased $0.3 million, or 0.3%, to $110.4 million in the third quarter of 2018 from $110.1 million in last year’s third quarter.  Cost of sales as a percentage of sales increased to 63.0% in the third quarter of 2018 from 62.2% in last year’s third quarter due primarily to a 70 basis points increase in freight costs, resulting from the deleveraging of freight as a percentage of sales associated with the calendar shift which moved $5.0 million in sales out of the third quarter into the second quarter this year, together with pressures on the trucking industry and higher fuel costs.  In addition, the core merchandise margin (initial mark-up, net of markdowns) declined 30 basis points due to higher markdowns.  Partially offsetting these margin declines was a 20 basis points reduction in shrinkage in the third quarter this year versus last year.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.1 million, or 0.1%, to $61.2 million in the third quarter of 2018 from $61.1 million in last year’s third quarter due primarily to the impact on expenses of opening 14 new stores since last year’s third quarter, together with normal inflationary pressure on expenses such as rent and payroll, partially offset by a $1.4 million decrease in incentive compensation expense resulting from less favorable earnings results in relation to target.  As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 34.9% in the third quarter of 2018 from 34.5% in the third quarter of 2017 due primarily to the deleveraging effect resulting from negative comparable store sales which includes the impact of the calendar shift on the third quarter.

 

Depreciation.  Depreciation expense decreased $0.4 million, or 7.6%, to $4.6 million in the third quarter of 2018 from $5.0 million in the third quarter of 2017.

 

Asset Impairment.  Impairment charges related to property and equipment at an underperforming store totaled $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2018, and $0.0 million in the third quarter of 2017.

 

Income Tax Benefit (Expense).  Income tax benefit was $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2018 as compared to an expense of $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, with the change due primarily to having a pretax loss of $0.7 million this year compared with pretax income of $0.9 million last year.

 

Net (Loss) Income.  Net income decreased to a loss of $0.5 million in the third quarter of 2018 from $0.6 million of income in the third quarter of 2017 due to the factors discussed above.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our cash requirements are primarily for working capital and capital expenditures for new and existing stores, distribution infrastructure and information systems.  In addition, in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2018, we initiated and completed a share repurchase program of $25.0 million of our common stock and paid dividends of $3.2 million.  In recent years, we have met these cash requirements using cash flow from operations and short-term trade credit.  We expect to be able to meet future cash requirements with cash flow from operations, short-term trade credit, existing balances of cash and investment securities and, if necessary, borrowings under our revolving credit facility described in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

 

Current Financial Condition. As of November 3, 2018, we had total cash and cash equivalents of $28.4 million compared to $48.5 million as of February 3, 2018.  Additionally, we had $42.9 million and $10.3 million of short-term and long-term investment securities, respectively, as of November 3, 2018, compared with $31.5 million and $25.5 million, respectively, as of February 3, 2018.  These securities are comprised of bank certificates of deposit and obligations of the U.S. Treasury, states and municipalities. Inventory represented 46.5% of our total assets as of November 3, 2018, compared to 42.1% as of February 3, 2018.  Management’s ability to manage our inventory can have a significant impact on our cash flows from operations during a given interim period or fiscal year. In addition, inventory purchases can be seasonal in nature, such as the purchase of warm-weather or Christmas-related merchandise.

Cash Flows From Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $14.3 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 compared to $24.4 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017.  Sources of cash provided during the first thirty-nine weeks of 2018 included net income adjusted for noncash expenses such as depreciation, asset impairment, loss on disposal of property and equipment, insurance proceeds from operating activities, deferred income taxes and stock-based compensation expense, totaling $30.2 million (compared to $26.7 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2017).  Another significant source of cash in the the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 was a $1.6 million increase in layaway deposits (compared to a $1.4 million increase in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2017) due to the seasonality of layaway transactions, which are low at the end of our fiscal year because all balances have to be redeemed by customers or they are cancelled by the middle of December each year.

Significant uses of cash from operating activities in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2018 were (1) a $7.6 million decrease in accounts payable (compared to a $7.4 million decrease in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2017) due to apparel retail seasonality, which has an effect on the timing of merchandise receipts during the two months leading up to fiscal year end versus the end of the third quarter;  since this higher level of purchases occurred in the last two months of fiscal 2017, nearly all of such purchases would have still been in accounts payable as of February 3, 2018; (2) a $5.9 million decrease in accrued compensation (compared with a $5.2 million increase in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2017) primarily as a result of lower incentive compensation accruals this year due to diminished financial performance relative to target in 2018, and our balance sheet as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2018 including accrued payroll for one week, while our 2017 year-end balance sheet included accrued payroll for two weeks due to the timing of our bi-weekly payroll; (3) a $2.2 million increase in inventory (compared to a $0.5 million decrease in the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2017) due to the effect of the calendar shift caused by last year having 53 weeks, therefore, the third quarter of 2018 ended one week closer to the holiday shopping season; and (4) a $1.9 million change in the income tax payable/receivable (compared to a $0.5 million change in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2017) due to estimated tax payments made during the year.

 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities was $5.1 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 compared to $9.6 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017.  Cash used for purchases of property and equipment totaled $9.0 million and $18.4 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Sales/redemptions of investment securities, net of purchases, provided cash of $3.7 million and $8.3 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities. Cash used in financing activities was $29.3 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 compared to $29.1 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017.  Cash was used for the repurchase of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $25.0 million during the first thirty-nine weeks of both 2018 and 2017.  Dividends paid to stockholders used cash of $3.2 million and $3.1 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

 

Cash Requirements

 

Our principal sources of liquidity consist of: (i) cash and cash equivalents (which equaled $28.4 million as of November 3, 2018); (ii) short-term and long-term investment securities (which equaled $42.9 million and $10.3 million, respectively, as of November 3, 2018); (iii) short-term trade credit; (iv) cash generated from operations on an ongoing basis as we sell our merchandise inventory; and (v) a $50 million revolving credit facility (under which we have no borrowings outstanding). Trade credit represents a significant source of financing for inventory purchases and arises from customary payment terms and trade practices with our vendors.  Historically, our principal liquidity requirements have been for working capital and capital expenditure needs.

 

We believe that our existing sources of liquidity will be sufficient to fund our operations and anticipated capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See discussion of Recent Accounting Pronouncements in Note 12 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. There have been no material changes to the Critical Accounting Policies outlined in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2018.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

There have been no material changes in our market risk during the thirty-nine weeks ended November 3, 2018 compared to the disclosures in Part II, Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2018.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

We have carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of November 3, 2018 pursuant to Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information has been accumulated and communicated to our management, including the officers who certify our financial reports, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosures.

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the controls and procedures will meet their objectives. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended November 3, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

We are from time to time involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business, including claims by customers, employees or former employees.  Once it becomes probable that we will incur costs in connection with a legal proceeding and such costs can be reasonably estimated, we establish appropriate reserves. While legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties and the outcome of any such matter is not predictable, we are not aware of any legal proceedings pending or threatened against us that we expect to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors described under the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

Information on Share Repurchases

 

The number of shares of common stock that we repurchased during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and the average price paid per share are as follows: 

 

 

(1) Includes commissions for the shares repurchased under the stock repurchase program.

(2) On March 16, 2018, we announced a $25.0 million stock repurchase program, under which no additional shares remained available as of November 3, 2018.  Repurchases under the stock repurchase program could be made at management’s discretion from time to time on the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, and could be made in part under one or more Rule 10b5-1 plans.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

 

Not applicable.