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KOHLS Corp - Quarter Report: 2021 May (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended May 1, 2021

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition period from ________ to _________

 

Commission file number 1-11084

KOHL’S CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Wisconsin

 

39-1630919

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

N56 W17000 Ridgewood Drive,

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

 

53051

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (262) 703-7000

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading

Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on

which registered

Common Stock, $.01 par value

KSS

New York Stock Exchange

 

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 (§232.405 of this chapter) 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.

Large Accelerated Filer

 

 

Accelerated Filer

 

Non-Accelerated Filer

 

  

 

Smaller Reporting Company

 

 

 

 

 

Emerging Growth Company

 

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 pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by a 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 issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: May 28, 2021 Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per Share, 156,233,049 shares outstanding.

 

 

 


 

 

 

KOHL’S CORPORATION

INDEX

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements:

3

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

3

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

4

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

5

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

6

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

11

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

18

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

18

 

 

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

19

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

19

Item 6.

Exhibits

20

 

Signatures

21

 

 


Table of Contents

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

KOHL’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

(Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

January 30, 2021

May 2, 2020

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,609

 

$

2,271

 

$

2,039

 

Merchandise inventories

 

2,667

 

 

2,590

 

 

3,557

 

Other

 

919

 

 

974

 

 

574

 

Total current assets

 

5,195

 

 

5,835

 

 

6,170

 

Property and equipment, net

 

6,653

 

 

6,689

 

 

7,169

 

Operating leases

 

2,392

 

 

2,398

 

 

2,373

 

Other assets

 

449

 

 

415

 

 

157

 

Total assets

$

14,689

 

$

15,337

 

$

15,869

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

1,378

 

$

1,476

 

$

1,866

 

Accrued liabilities

 

1,289

 

 

1,270

 

 

1,138

 

Current portion of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance lease and financing obligations

 

112

 

 

115

 

 

124

 

Operating leases

 

159

 

 

161

 

 

159

 

Total current liabilities

 

2,938

 

 

3,022

 

 

3,287

 

Long-term debt

 

1,909

 

 

2,451

 

 

3,449

 

Finance lease and financing obligations

 

1,473

 

 

1,387

 

 

1,351

 

Operating leases

 

2,620

 

 

2,625

 

 

2,605

 

Deferred income taxes

 

242

 

 

302

 

 

165

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

390

 

 

354

 

 

222

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

4

 

 

4

 

 

4

 

Paid-in capital

 

3,333

 

 

3,319

 

 

3,289

 

Treasury stock, at cost

 

(11,663

)

 

(11,595

)

 

(11,593

)

Retained earnings

 

13,443

 

 

13,468

 

 

13,090

 

Total shareholders’ equity

$

5,117

 

$

5,196

 

$

4,790

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

14,689

 

$

15,337

 

$

15,869

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

KOHL’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollars in Millions, Except per Share Data)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Net sales

$

3,662

 

$

2,160

 

Other revenue

 

225

 

 

268

 

Total revenue

 

3,887

 

 

2,428

 

Cost of merchandise sold

 

2,233

 

 

1,787

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general, and administrative

 

1,170

 

 

1,066

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

211

 

 

227

 

Impairments, store closing, and other costs

 

 

 

66

 

Operating income (loss)

 

273

 

 

(718

)

Interest expense, net

 

67

 

 

58

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

201

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

5

 

 

(776

)

(Benefit) from income taxes

 

(9

)

 

(235

)

Net income (loss)

$

14

 

$

(541

)

Net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.09

 

$

(3.52

)

Diluted

$

0.09

 

$

(3.52

)

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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KOHL’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollars in Millions, Except per Share Data)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

$

4

 

$

4

 

Stock-based awards

 

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

$

4

 

$

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paid-in capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

$

3,319

 

$

3,272

 

Stock-based awards

 

14

 

 

17

 

Balance, end of period

$

3,333

 

$

3,289

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock, at cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

$

(11,595

)

 

(11,571

)

Treasury stock purchases

 

(46

)

 

(8

)

Stock-based awards

 

(22

)

 

(20

)

Dividends paid

 

 

 

6

 

Balance, end of period

$

(11,663

)

$

(11,593

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retained earnings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

$

13,468

 

$

13,745

 

Net income (loss)

 

14

 

 

(541

)

Dividends paid

 

(39

)

 

(114

)

Balance, end of period

$

13,443

 

$

13,090

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders' equity, end of period

$

5,117

 

$

4,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares, beginning of period

 

377

 

 

375

 

Stock-based awards

 

 

 

2

 

Shares, end of period

 

377

 

 

377

 

Treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares, beginning of period

 

(219

)

 

(219

)

Treasury stock purchases

 

(1

)

 

 

Shares, end of period

 

(220

)

 

(219

)

Total shares outstanding, end of period

 

157

 

 

158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends paid per common share

$

0.25

 

$

0.704

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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KOHL’S CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

Quarter Ended

   (Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

14

 

$

(541

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

211

 

 

227

 

Share-based compensation

 

12

 

 

15

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(65

)

 

(91

)

Impairments, store closing, and other costs

 

 

 

51

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

201

 

 

 

Non-cash inventory costs

 

 

 

187

 

Non-cash lease expense

 

38

 

 

37

 

Other non-cash expense

 

7

 

 

5

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merchandise inventories

 

(75

)

 

(205

)

Other current and long-term assets

 

31

 

 

(180

)

Accounts payable

 

(99

)

 

660

 

Accrued and other long-term liabilities

 

42

 

 

(78

)

Operating lease liabilities

 

(39

)

 

(34

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

278

 

 

53

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

(59

)

 

(162

)

Proceeds from sale of real estate

 

2

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(57

)

 

(162

)

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of debt

 

500

 

 

2,097

 

Deferred financing costs

 

(5

)

 

(19

)

Treasury stock purchases

 

(46

)

 

(8

)

Shares withheld for taxes on vested restricted shares

 

(22

)

 

(20

)

Dividends paid

 

(39

)

 

(108

)

Reduction of long-term borrowings

 

(1,044

)

 

(497

)

Premium paid on redemption of debt

 

(192

)

 

 

Finance lease and financing obligation payments

 

(33

)

 

(23

)

Proceeds from stock option exercises

 

1

 

 

 

Proceeds from financing obligations

 

 

 

3

 

Other

 

(3

)

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(883

)

 

1,425

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(662

)

 

1,316

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

2,271

 

 

723

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

1,609

 

$

2,039

 

Supplemental information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid, net of capitalized interest

$

59

 

$

39

 

Income taxes paid

 

5

 

 

1

 

Property and equipment acquired through:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Finance lease liabilities

 

106

 

 

8

 

  Operating lease liabilities

 

30

 

 

20

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

KOHL’S CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for fiscal year end Consolidated Financial Statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and related footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021 (Commission File No. 1-11084) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Due to the seasonality of the business of Kohl’s Corporation (the “Company,” “Kohl’s,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) and the uncertainty surrounding the financial impact of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year.

We operate as a single business unit.

Restructuring Reserve

The following table summarizes changes in the restructuring reserve during the quarter ended May 1, 2021:

 

(Dollars In Millions)

Severance

Balance - January 30, 2021

$

13

 

Payments and reversals

 

(2

)

Balance - May 1, 2021

$

11

 

 

Charges related to corporate restructuring efforts are recorded in Impairments, store closing, and other costs. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

During the quarter ended May 1, 2021, we adopted the new accounting standard on simplifying the accounting for income taxes (ASU 2019-12). The transition method (retrospective, modified retrospective, or prospective basis) related to the amendments depends on the applicable guidance, and all amendments for which there is no transition guidance specified are to be applied on a prospective basis. There was no material impact on our financial statements due to adoption of the new standard.

2. Revenue Recognition

The following table summarizes net sales by line of business:

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Women's

$

1,117

 

$

593

 

Men’s

 

687

 

 

363

 

Home

 

634

 

 

483

 

Children's

 

468

 

 

269

 

Footwear

 

388

 

 

233

 

Accessories

 

368

 

 

219

 

Net Sales

$

3,662

 

$

2,160

 

 

Unredeemed gift cards and merchandise return card liabilities totaled $298 million as of May 1, 2021, $339 million as of January 30, 2021, and $301 million as of May 2, 2020. Revenue of $74 million was recognized during the current year from the January 30, 2021 ending balance.

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3. Debt

Long-term debt, which includes draws on the revolving credit facility, consists of the following unsecured and secured senior debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding

Maturity

(Dollars in Millions)

Effective

Rate

Coupon

Rate

May 1,

2021

January 30, 2021

May 2,

2020

2023

 

3.25

%

 

3.25

%

$

164

 

$

350

 

$

350

 

2023

 

4.78

%

 

4.75

%

 

111

 

 

184

 

 

184

 

2025

 

9.50

%

 

9.50

%

 

113

 

 

600

 

 

600

 

2025

 

4.25

%

 

4.25

%

 

353

 

 

650

 

 

650

 

2029

 

7.36

%

 

7.25

%

 

42

 

 

42

 

 

42

 

2031

 

3.40

%

 

3.38

%

 

500

 

 

 

2033

 

6.05

%

 

6.00

%

 

112

 

 

113

 

 

113

 

2037

 

6.89

%

 

6.88

%

 

101

 

 

101

 

 

101

 

2045

 

5.57

%

 

5.55

%

 

427

 

 

427

 

 

427

 

  Outstanding unsecured senior debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,923

 

 

2,467

 

 

2,467

 

  Unamortized debt discounts and deferred financing costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14

)

 

(16

)

 

(18

)

  Unsecured senior debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,909

 

 

2,451

 

 

2,449

 

  Effective interest rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.89

%

 

5.90

%

 

5.90

%

  Secured senior debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,000

 

  Total long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,909

 

$

2,451

 

$

3,449

 

 

Our unsecured senior long-term debt is classified as Level 1, financial instruments with unadjusted, quoted prices listed on active market exchanges. The estimated fair value of our unsecured senior debt was $2.1 billion at May 1, 2021, $2.8 billion at January 30, 2021 and $2.2 billion at May 2, 2020.

No borrowing amounts were outstanding on the credit facility in place as of May 1, 2021 or January 30, 2021. At May 2, 2020, $1.0 billion was outstanding on the credit facility.

In March 2021, we issued $500 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.375% notes with semi-annual interest payments beginning in November 2021. The notes include coupon rate step ups if our long-term debt is downgraded to below a BBB- credit rating by S&P Global Ratings or Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. The notes mature in May 2031. Proceeds of the issuance and cash on hand were used to pay the principal, premium, and accrued interest of the notes which were purchased as part of the cash tender offer in April 2021.

In April 2021, we completed a cash tender offer for $1.0 billion of senior unsecured debt. We recognized a $201 million loss on extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2021, which includes the $192 million tender premium paid to tendering note holders in accordance with the terms of the tender offer, a $6 million non-cash write-off of deferred financing costs and original issue discounts associated with the extinguished debt, and $3 million in other fees.

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4. Stock-Based Awards

The following table summarizes our stock-based awards activity for the quarter ended May 1, 2021:

 

 

Stock Options

Nonvested Stock Awards

Performance Share Units

(Shares and Units in Thousands)

Shares

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

Shares

Weighted

Average

Grant Date

Fair Value

Units

Weighted

Average

Grant Date

Fair Value

Balance - January 30, 2021

 

36

 

$

52.15

 

 

3,451

 

$

32.09

 

 

1,037

 

$

49.95

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

546

 

 

57.16

 

 

197

 

 

59.62

 

Exercised/vested

 

(11

)

 

55.20

 

 

(838

)

 

35.87

 

 

(211

)

 

72.21

 

Forfeited/expired

 

(1

)

 

51.27

 

 

(78

)

 

30.95

 

 

(33

)

 

30.42

 

Balance - May 1, 2021

 

24

 

$

50.86

 

 

3,081

 

$

35.54

 

 

990

 

$

47.78

 

 

In 2019, we granted 1,747,441 of stock warrants. The total vested and unvested warrants as of May 1, 2021 were 698,977 and 1,048,464, respectively.

5. Contingencies

We are subject to certain legal proceedings and claims arising out of the conduct of our business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of these proceedings and litigation will not have a material adverse impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

6. Income Taxes

The first quarter of 2021 resulted in a net benefit for income taxes driven by the recognition of favorable tax items. The net benefit, when compared to a low GAAP income, results in a large negative tax rate. The effective income tax rate from the first quarter of 2020 was driven by the net loss in the first quarter of 2020 due to the temporary closure of our stores and the benefit of the net loss carryback to years with a federal statutory tax rate of 35%.

7. Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic Net income (loss) per share is Net income (loss) divided by the average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted Net income (loss) per share includes incremental shares assumed for share-based awards and stock warrants. Potentially dilutive shares include stock options, unvested restricted stock units and awards, and warrants outstanding during the period, using the treasury stock method. Potentially dilutive shares are excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) if their effect would be anti-dilutive.

The information required to compute basic and diluted Net income (loss) per share is as follows:

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollar and Shares in Millions, Except per Share Data)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Numerator—Net income (loss)

$

14

 

$

(541

)

Denominator—Weighted-average shares:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

154

 

 

154

 

Dilutive impact

 

2

 

 

 

Diluted

 

156

 

 

154

 

Net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.09

 

$

(3.52

)

Diluted

$

0.09

 

$

(3.52

)

 

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The following potential shares of common stock were excluded from the diluted Net income (loss) per share calculation because their effect would have been anti-dilutive:

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Anti-dilutive shares

 

3

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

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

For purposes of the following discussion, unless noted, all references to "the quarter” and “the first quarter” are for the three fiscal months (13 weeks) ended May 1, 2021 or May 2, 2020.

This Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” made within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "may," "intends," "will," "should," "expects," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the information under “2021 Outlook,” as well as statements about our future sales or financial performance and our plans, performance, and other objectives, expectations, or intentions, such as statements regarding our liquidity, debt service requirements, planned capital expenditures, future store initiatives, and adequacy of capital resources and reserves. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s then-current views and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any such forward-looking statements are qualified by the important risk factors, described in Part I Item 1A of our 2020 Form 10-K or disclosed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the date initially made and we undertake no obligation to update them.

Executive Summary

As of May 1, 2021, we operated 1,162 Kohl's stores, a website (www.Kohls.com), and 12 FILA outlets. Our Kohl's stores and website sell moderately-priced private and national brand apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, and home products. Our Kohl's stores generally carry a consistent merchandise assortment with some differences attributable to local preferences. Our website includes merchandise which is available in our stores, as well as merchandise that is available only online.

Key financial results for the quarter included:

 

First quarter net sales and earnings exceeded company expectations

 

Strengthened financial position during the quarter by reducing long-term debt by over $500 million and ending with $1.6 billion in cash

 

69.5% increase over the prior year period in net sales

 

2,173 basis point increase over the prior year period in gross margin as a percent of net sales

 

1,379 basis point decrease from the prior year period in SG&A as a percentage of total revenue

 

7.0% operating margin

 

$0.09 diluted earnings per share

 

$1.05 diluted earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis

COVID-19

As discussed in our 2020 Form 10-K, the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant adverse effects on our business. We are closely monitoring the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its continued impact on our business. We cannot estimate with certainty the length or severity of this pandemic, or the extent to which the disruption may materially impact our Consolidated Financial Statements. During the first quarter of 2021, we did see momentum in our business returning to pre-pandemic levels which allowed us to resume our capital allocation strategy including reinstating dividends, resuming our share repurchase program, and employing liability management strategies.

 

 

 

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Our Vision and Strategy

In 2020, the Company announced a new strategic framework with a vision to be “the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle.” This strategy is designed to create long-term shareholder value and has four key focus areas: driving top line growth, expanding operating margin, maintaining disciplined capital management, and sustaining an agile, accountable, and inclusive culture.

2021 Outlook

Our updated expectations for fiscal 2021 are as follows:

 

 

 

Net sales

Increase mid-to-high teens %

Operating margin

5.7% - 6.1%

Earnings per diluted share (a)

$3.80 - $4.20

Capital expenditures

$550 - $600 million

Share repurchases

$200 - $300 million

 

(a)

Excluding non-recurring charges

Results of Operations

Total Revenue

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Change

Net sales

$

3,662

 

$

2,160

 

$

1,502

 

Other revenue

 

225

 

 

268

 

 

(43

)

Total revenue

$

3,887

 

$

2,428

 

$

1,459

 

 

Net sales increased 69.5% for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020.

 

The increase in net sales shows that our key strategic initiatives are gaining traction and resonating with our customers. Store sales more than doubled year over year lapping last year’s store closures.

 

Digital sales increased 14% for the first quarter of 2021. Digital penetration represented 30% of net sales for the first quarter of 2021 compared to 45% of net sales for the first quarter of 2020.

 

All lines of business reported increases in sales for the first quarter of 2021 with Men’s, Women’s, Children’s, and Accessories outperforming the Company average.

 

Active continues to be a key strategic initiative and outperformed the rest of the Company growing to 23% of sales.

Comparable sales is a measure that highlights the performance of our stores and digital channel by measuring the change in sales for a period over the comparable, prior-year period of equivalent length. Comparable sales includes all store and digital sales, except sales from stores open less than 12 months, stores that have been closed, and stores where square footage has changed by more than 10%. We measure the change in digital sales by including all sales initiated online or through mobile applications, including omnichannel transactions which are fulfilled through our stores.

As our stores were closed for a period during the first quarter of 2020, we have not included a discussion of comparable sales as we do not believe it is a meaningful metric over this period of time.

We measure digital penetration as digital sales over net sales. These amounts do not take into consideration fulfillment node, digital returns processed in stores, and coupon behaviors.

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Digital penetration calculations vary across the retail industry. As a result, our digital penetration calculation may not be consistent with the similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The decrease in Other revenue of $43 million for the first quarter of 2021 was driven by a decline in credit revenue due to lower accounts receivable balances associated with a decrease in sales in 2020 as well as a higher payment rate resulting in less interest, late fees, and write-off activity.

Cost of Merchandise Sold and Gross Margin

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Change

Net sales

$

3,662

 

$

2,160

 

$

1,502

 

 

Cost of merchandise sold

 

2,233

 

 

1,787

 

 

446

 

 

Gross margin

$

1,429

 

$

373

 

$

1,056

 

 

Gross margin as a percent of net sales

 

39.0

%

 

17.3

%

 

2,173

 

bps

 

Cost of merchandise sold includes the total cost of products sold, including product development costs, net of vendor payments other than reimbursement of specific, incremental, and identifiable costs; inventory shrink; markdowns; freight expenses associated with moving merchandise from our vendors to our distribution centers; shipping expenses for digital sales; terms cash discount; and depreciation of product development facilities and equipment. Our cost of merchandise sold may not be comparable with that of other retailers because we include distribution center and buying costs in selling, general, and administrative expenses while other retailers may include these expenses in cost of merchandise sold.

Gross margin as a percent of sales was 39%, increasing 2,173 bps from the COVID-19 impacted gross margin as a percent of sales of 17.3% in the first quarter of 2020. The increase was driven by pricing and promotion optimization, strong inventory management resulting in less permanent markdowns, and decreased shipping costs due to the decrease in digital sales penetration. Gross margin in the first quarter of 2020 was negatively impacted by $187 million of inventory related charges, including a $163 million reserve required to address excess seasonal inventory as our stores were closed.

Gross margin benefited from a favorable industry backdrop which provided for a greater percentage of full price selling. While we expect some of the industry tailwinds to ease as inventory rebuilds, we remain confident in our ability to further enhance our margin structure through our strategic initiatives. We are monitoring cost headwinds related to industry-wide supply chain disruptions. We have navigated the challenges to date, but acknowledge there still remains a lot of uncertainty as we look to the balance of the year.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expense (“SG&A”)

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Change

SG&A

$

1,170

 

$

1,066

 

$

104

 

 

As a percent of total revenue

 

30.1

%

 

43.9

%

 

(1,379

)

bps

 

SG&A includes compensation and benefit costs (including stores, corporate, buying, and distribution centers); occupancy and operating costs of our retail, distribution, and corporate facilities; freight expenses associated with moving merchandise from our distribution centers to our retail stores and among distribution and retail facilities other than expenses to fulfill digital sales; marketing expenses, offset by vendor payments for reimbursement of specific, incremental, and identifiable costs; expenses related to our credit card operations; and other administrative revenues and expenses. We do not include depreciation and amortization in SG&A. The classification of these expenses varies across the retail industry.

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Many of our expenses, including store payroll and distribution costs, are variable in nature. These costs generally increase as sales increase and decrease as sales decrease. We measure both the change in these variable expenses and the expense as a percent of revenue. If the expense as a percent of revenue decreased from the prior year, the expense "leveraged". If the expense as a percent of revenue increased over the prior year, the expense "deleveraged".

The following table summarizes the increases (decreases) in SG&A by expense type:

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollars In Millions)

May 1, 2021

Corporate and other

$

51

 

Store expenses

 

48

 

Distribution

 

20

 

Technology

 

(15

)

Total increase

$

104

 

 

SG&A expenses increased $104 million, or 9.8%, to $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2021. As a percentage of revenue, SG&A leveraged by 1,379 bps. The increase in SG&A was primarily driven by increases in store expenses due to an increase in sales as our stores were closed for part of the period last year due to COVID-19, an increase in Corporate expenses due to the retention credit benefit we were eligible for under The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) in 2020, and an increase in distribution expenses driven by higher transportation and payroll costs to support the increased sales volume. Partially offsetting the increase in SG&A expense was a decrease in technology expense driven by a more balanced staffing model.

Other Expenses

 

 

Quarter Ended

(Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Change

Depreciation and amortization

$

211

 

$

227

 

$

(16

)

Impairments, store closing, and other costs

 

 

 

66

 

 

(66

)

Interest expense, net

 

67

 

 

58

 

 

9

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

201

 

 

 

 

201

 

 

Depreciation and amortization decreases were driven by reduced capital spending in 2020 due to COVID-19.

In the first quarter of 2020, we incurred $66 million of Impairments, store closing, and other costs. We incurred $51 million in asset write-offs and $2 million in other costs related to capital reductions and strategy changes due to COVID-19 and $13 million in brand exit costs.

Net interest expense increased in the first quarter of 2021 as a result of higher interest expense due to the $600 million notes issued in April 2020 partially offset by liability management strategies employed during the first quarter of 2021.

In the first quarter of 2021, we completed a cash tender offer and recognized a loss of $201 million from the extinguishment of debt.

Income Taxes

 

 

Quarter Ended

   (Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Change

(Benefit) for income taxes

$

(9

)

$

(235

)

$

226

 

Effective tax rate

 

(184.5

%)

 

30.3

%

 

 

 

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The first quarter of 2021 resulted in a net benefit for income taxes driven by the recognition of favorable tax items. The net benefit, when compared to a low GAAP income, results in a large negative tax rate. The effective income tax rate from the first quarter of 2020 was driven by the net loss in the first quarter of 2020 due to the temporary closure of our stores and the benefit of the net loss carryback to years with a federal statutory tax rate of 35%.

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation

 

(Dollars in Millions, Except per Share Data)

Operating

Income (Loss)

Income (Loss) before

Income Taxes

Net Income (Loss)

Earnings (Loss) Per Diluted

Share

Quarter Ended May 1, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

$

273

 

$

5

 

$

14

 

$

0.09

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

201

 

 

201

 

 

1.29

 

Impairments, store closing, and other costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax impact of items noted above

 

 

 

 

 

(50

)

 

(0.33

)

Adjusted (non-GAAP)

$

273

 

$

206

 

$

165

 

$

1.05

 

Quarter Ended May 2, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

$

(718

)

$

(776

)

$

(541

)

$

(3.52

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairments, store closing, and other costs

 

66

 

 

66

 

 

66

 

 

0.43

 

Income tax impact of items noted above

 

 

 

 

 

(20

)

 

(0.13

)

Adjusted (non-GAAP)

$

(652

)

$

(710

)

$

(495

)

$

(3.22

)

 

We believe the adjusted results in the table above are useful because they provide enhanced visibility into our results for the periods excluding the impact of certain items such as those included in the table above. However, these non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace the comparable GAAP measures.

Seasonality and Inflation

Our business, like that of other retailers, is subject to seasonal influences. Sales and income are typically higher during the back-to-school and holiday seasons. Because of the seasonality of our business, results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year. Due to the impact of COVID-19, typical sales patterns may not occur this year.

In addition to COVID-19, we expect that our operations will continue to be influenced by general economic conditions, including food, fuel, and energy prices, higher unemployment, wage inflation, and costs to source our merchandise, including tariffs. There can be no assurances that such factors will not impact our business in the future.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table presents our primary uses and sources of cash:

 

Cash Uses

 

Cash Sources

Operational needs, including salaries, rent, taxes, and other operating costs

Capital expenditures

Inventory

Share repurchases

Dividend payments

Debt reduction

 

Cash flow from operations

Short-term trade credit, in the form of extended payment terms

Line of credit under our revolving credit facility

Issuance of debt

 

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Our working capital and inventory levels typically build throughout the fall, peaking during the November and December holiday selling season.

 

 

Quarter Ended

   (Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Change

Net cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

$

278

 

$

53

 

$

225

 

Investing activities

 

(57

)

 

(162

)

 

105

 

Financing activities

 

(883

)

 

1,425

 

 

(2,308

)

 

Operating Activities

Operating activities generated $278 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to $53 million in the first quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net income resulting from increased sales due to the impact of COVID-19 last year and changes in other current and long-term assets partially offset by extending payment terms with our vendors last year.

Investing Activities

Investing activities used $57 million in the first quarter of 2021 and $162 million in the first quarter of 2020. The decrease was due to reductions in capital expenditures in 2021 driven by the timing of the construction of our Sephora shops beginning in the second quarter of 2021.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $883 million in the first quarter of 2021 and generated $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2020.

In March 2021, we issued $500 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.375% notes with semi-annual interest payments beginning in November 2021. The notes mature in May 2031.

In April 2021, we completed a cash tender offer for $1.0 billion of senior unsecured debt. We recognized a $201 million loss on extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2021 which includes the $192 million tender premium paid to tendering note holders in accordance with the terms of the tender offer, a $6 million non-cash write-off of deferred financing costs and original issue discounts associated with the extinguished debt, and $3 million in other fees.

In March 2020, we fully drew down our $1.0 billion senior unsecured revolver. In April 2020, we replaced and upsized the unsecured credit facility with a $1.5 billion senior secured, asset based revolving credit facility maturing in July 2024. At May 2, 2020, $1.0 billion was outstanding on the credit facility bearing an effective interest rate of 3.41%.

In April 2020, we issued $600 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.50% notes with semi-annual interest payments beginning in November 2020. The notes mature in May 2025. We used part of the net proceeds from this offering to repay $500 million of the borrowings under our senior secured, asset based revolving credit facility with the remainder for general corporate purposes.

We paid cash for treasury stock purchases of $46 million in the first quarter of 2021 and $8 million in the first quarter of 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, we reinstated our share repurchase program which had been suspended in the first quarter of 2020 in response to COVID-19. Share repurchases are discretionary in nature. The timing and amount of repurchases are based upon available cash balances, our stock price, and other factors.

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Cash dividend payments were $39 million ($0.25 per share) in the first quarter of 2021 and $108 million ($0.704 per share) in the first quarter of 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, we reinstated our dividend program which had been suspended beginning in the second quarter of 2020 in response to COVID-19. On May 12, 2021, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on our common stock of $0.25 per share. The dividend is payable June 23, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 9, 2021.

As of May 1, 2021, our credit ratings were as follows:

 

 

Moody’s

Standard &

Poor’s

Fitch

Long-term debt

Baa2

BBB-

BBB-

Outlook

Negative

Stable

Stable

 

Key Financial Ratios

Key financial ratios that provide certain measures of our liquidity are as follows:

 

(Dollars in Millions)

May 1, 2021

May 2, 2020

Working capital

$

2,257

 

$

2,883

 

Current ratio

 

1.77

 

 

1.88

 

 

The decrease in our working capital and current ratio are primarily due to lower cash balances as a result of the debt liability management actions we employed to reduce our long-term borrowings as well as lower inventory balances offset by a decrease in accounts payable as we extended payment terms with our vendors in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Debt Covenant Compliance

As of May 1, 2021, we were in compliance with all covenants in our debt instruments and expect to remain in compliance during the remainder of fiscal 2021.

Contractual Obligations

During the first quarter of 2021, we issued $500 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.375% notes due in 2031. We also completed a cash tender offer for $1.0 billion of our senior unsecured debt. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" for additional details about these financing activities. See Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details about outstanding debt. There have been no other significant changes in the contractual obligations disclosed in our 2020 Form 10-K.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not provided any financial guarantees as of May 1, 2021.

We have not created and are not a party to, any special-purpose or off-balance sheet entities for the purpose of raising capital, incurring debt, or operating our business. We do not have any arrangements or relationships with entities that are not consolidated into our financial statements that are reasonably likely to materially affect our financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, or capital resources.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. Management has discussed the development, selection, and disclosure of its estimates and assumptions with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. There have been no significant changes in the critical accounting policies and estimates discussed in our 2020 Form 10-K.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our operating results are subject to interest rate risk as the $500 million of notes issued in March 2021 include coupon rate step ups if our long-term debt is downgraded to below a BBB- credit rating by S&P Global Ratings or Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. There have been no other significant changes in the Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk described in our 2020 Form 10-K.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (the “Evaluation”) at a reasonable assurance level as of the last day of the period covered by this report.

Based upon the Evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level. Disclosure controls and procedures are defined by Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") as controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls, and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

It should be noted that the design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving our stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended May 1, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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Table of Contents

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no significant changes in the Risk Factors described in our 2020 Form 10-K.

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

In April 2021, our Board of Directors increased the remaining share repurchase authorization under our existing share repurchase program to $2.0 billion. Purchases under the repurchase program may be made in the open market, through block trades, and other negotiated transactions. We expect to execute the share repurchase program primarily in open market transactions, subject to market conditions. There is no fixed termination date for the repurchase program, and the program may be suspended, discontinued, or accelerated at any time.

The following table contains information for shares of common stock repurchased and shares acquired from employees in lieu of amounts required to satisfy minimum tax withholding requirements upon the vesting of the employees’ stock-based compensation during the three fiscal months ended May 1, 2021:

 

(Dollars in Millions, Except per Share Data)

Total Number

of Shares

Purchased

Average

Price

Paid Per

Share

Total Number

of Shares

Purchased as

Part of

Publicly

Announced

Plans or

Programs

Approximate

Dollar Value

of Shares

that May Yet

Be Purchased

Under the Plans

or Programs

January 31 - February 27, 2021

 

4,293

 

$

49.98

 

 

 

$

726

 

February 28 - April 3, 2021

 

779,680

 

 

58.33

 

 

407,842

 

 

702

 

April 4 - May 1, 2021

 

382,996

 

 

59.63

 

 

376,180

 

 

1,984

 

Total

 

1,166,969

 

$

58.72

 

 

784,022

 

$

1,984

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit

 

Description

10.1

 

Settlement Agreement, dated as of April 13, 2021, by and among Kohl’s Corporation, Macellum Badger Fund, LP and the other persons and entities listed on Schedule A thereto, Legion Partners Holdings, LLC and the other persons and entities listed on Schedule B thereto, 4010 Partners, LP and the other persons and entities listed on Schedule C thereto, and Ancora Advisors, LLC and the other persons and entities listed on Schedule D thereto, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 13, 2021.

10.2

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for persons party to an Employment Agreement

10.3

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for persons party to an Executive Compensation Agreement

10.4

 

Form of Performance Stock Unit Agreement

31.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS

 

Inline XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

101.DEF

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

101.LAB

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

101.PRE

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibits 101)

 

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Kohl’s Corporation

(Registrant)

 

 

Date: June 3, 2021

/s/ Jill Timm

 

Jill Timm

On behalf of the Registrant and as Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

21