SHOE CARNIVAL INC - Quarter Report: 2017 July (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

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.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).

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 [X] 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 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).

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

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

Number of Shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, outstanding at August 25, 2017 was 17,019,769.

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

See notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Unaudited

See notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Unaudited

See notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Unaudited

See notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Unaudited

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

In our opinion, the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim financial information and contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position and the results of our operations and our cash flows for the periods presented. Certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been condensed or omitted according to the rules and regulations of the SEC, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017.

Note 2 - Net Income Per Share

The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share as shown on the face of the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:

Our basic and diluted earnings per share are computed using the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation that determines net income per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to their participation rights in dividends and undistributed earnings or losses. Non-vested restricted stock awards that include non-forfeitable rights to dividends are considered participating securities. During periods of undistributed losses, however, no effect is given to our participating securities since they do not share in the losses. Per share amounts are computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during each period. No options to purchase shares of common stock were excluded in the computation of diluted shares for the periods presented.

Note 3 - Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance on the recognition of revenue for all contracts with customers designed to improve comparability and enhance financial statement disclosures. Subsequently, the FASB has also issued accounting standards updates which clarify the guidance. The underlying principle of this comprehensive model is that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the payment to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB subsequently issued guidance which approved a one year deferral of the guidance until annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2017, which makes the guidance effective for us at the beginning of fiscal 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. While we have made progress on our scoping review and assessment phase, we are still evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our financial statements and related disclosures, and we are continuing to evaluate the method of adoption we will use when we transition to this guidance. At this time the key areas of focus include timing of recognizing revenue for our multi-channel business, recognition of breakage revenue for unredeemed gift cards, our customer loyalty program, and presentation of customer related return reserves on the balance sheet.

In July 2015, the FASB issued guidance on simplifying the measurement of inventory by requiring inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The new guidance does not apply to inventory measured using the last-in-first-out or the retail inventory valuation methods. We adopted the provisions of this guidance on January 29, 2017. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance which will replace most existing lease accounting guidance. This update requires an entity to recognize leased assets and the rights and obligations created by those leased assets on the balance sheet and to disclose key information about the entity’s leasing arrangements. The guidance will be effective at the beginning of fiscal 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year, and will be applied on a modified retrospective basis. We are evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The adoption of the guidance will require us to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities that will be material to our consolidated balance sheet.

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance intended to simplify several areas of accounting for share-based compensation arrangements, including the income tax impact, classification in the statement of cash flows and forfeitures. We adopted the provisions of this guidance on January 29, 2017. As a result of this adoption, all tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based payments in fiscal 2017 are presented as operating activities on the statements of cash flows, as we elected to adopt this portion of the guidance on a prospective basis. Additionally, we made an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures when they occur rather than estimating the number of awards that are expected to vest. As a result of this election, we recorded a cumulative-effect benefit of $188,000 to retained earnings as of the date of adoption.

In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance for restricted cash classification and presentation on the statement of cash flows, requiring restricted cash to be included within cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The guidance will be effective at the beginning of fiscal 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year, and will be applied on a retrospective basis. We do not believe the guidance will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies what constitutes a modification of a share-based payment award. The guidance will be effective at the beginning of fiscal 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year, and early adoption is permitted. The guidance requires adoption on a prospective basis for share-based payment awards modified on or after the adoption date We do not believe the guidance will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 4 - Fair Value Measurements

The accounting standards related to fair value measurements define fair value and provide a consistent framework for measuring fair value under the authoritative literature. Valuation techniques are based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect market assumptions. This guidance only applies when other standards require or permit the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities. The guidance does not expand the use of fair value measurements. A fair value hierarchy was established, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into three broad levels:

The following table presents assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at July 29, 2017,
January 28, 2017 and July 30, 2016. We have no material liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis.

The fair values of cash, receivables, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their carrying values because of their short-term nature. In addition, we believe that our credit facility obligation, which is recorded at historical cost and is classified as long-term debt on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of July 29, 2017, approximates fair value as the interest rate is adjusted based on current market rates.

From time to time, we measure certain assets at fair value on a non-recurring basis, specifically long-lived assets evaluated for impairment.  These are typically store specific assets, which are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that recoverability of their carrying value is questionable.  If the expected, undiscounted future cash flows related to a store’s assets are less than their carrying value, an impairment loss would be recognized for the difference between estimated fair value and carrying value and recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. We estimate the fair value of store assets using an income-based approach considering the cash flows expected over the remaining lease term for each location. These projections are primarily based on management’s estimates of store-level sales, gross margins, direct expenses, exercise of future lease renewal options and resulting cash flows and, by their nature, include judgments about how current initiatives will impact future performance. External factors, such as the local environment in which the store resides, including strip-mall traffic and competition, are evaluated in terms of their effect on sales trends. Changes in sales and operating income assumptions or unfavorable changes in external factors can significantly impact the estimated future cash flows. An increase or decrease in the projected cash flow can significantly decrease or increase the fair value of these assets, which would have an effect on the impairment recorded.

During the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017, we recorded an impairment charge of $916,000 on long-lived assets. Subsequent to this impairment, these long-lived assets had a remaining unamortized basis of $286,000. During the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017, we recorded an impairment charge of $1.6 million on long-lived assets. Subsequent to this impairment, these long-lived assets had a remaining unamortized basis of $1.3 million. There were no impairments of long-lived assets recorded during the thirteen or twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016.

Note 5 - Stock-Based Compensation

At our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders held on June 13, 2017, our shareholders approved a new equity incentive plan, the Shoe Carnival, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), which replaces our 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2000 Plan”). According to the terms of the 2017 Plan, upon approval of the 2017 Plan by our shareholders, no further awards may be made under the 2000 Plan. A maximum of 1,000,000 shares of our common stock are available for issuance and sale under the 2017 Plan. In addition, any shares of our common stock subject to an award granted under the 2017 Plan, or to an award granted under the 2000 Plan that was outstanding on the date our shareholders approved the 2017 Plan, that expires, is cancelled or forfeited, or is settled for cash will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement, automatically become available for future awards under the 2017 Plan.

Stock-based compensation includes stock options, cash-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs) and restricted stock awards. Additionally, we recognize stock-based compensation expense for the discount on shares sold to employees through our employee stock purchase plan. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017, stock-based compensation expense for the employee stock purchase plan was $9,000 before the income tax benefit of $3,000 and $20,000 before the income tax benefit of $8,000, respectively. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016, stock-based compensation expense for the employee stock purchase plan was $11,000 before the income tax benefit of $4,000 and $24,000 before the income tax benefit of $9,000, respectively.

No stock options have been granted since fiscal 2008. All outstanding options had vested as of the end of fiscal 2011; therefore no unrecognized compensation expense remains. In the first six months of fiscal 2017 there were 3,500 options exercised and there were 3,500 options outstanding and exercisable as of July 29, 2017.

The following section summarizes the share transactions for our restricted stock awards:

The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock awards granted during the twenty-six week periods ended July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016 was $24.10 and $24.94, respectively. The total fair value at grant date of restricted stock awards that vested during the first six months of fiscal 2017 was $782,000. The total fair value at grant date of restricted stock awards that vested during the first six months of fiscal 2016 was $854,000. Of the 151,953 shares of restricted stock that were forfeited or that expired in the first six months of fiscal 2017, 135,000 shares were restricted stock awards that expired unvested in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, as the performance measures were not achieved. These awards represented the three tiers of the restricted stock awards granted on March 15, 2011.

The following table summarizes information regarding stock-based compensation expense recognized for restricted stock awards:

The $1.1 million of expense recognized in the first six months of fiscal 2017 was comprised of compensation expense of $2.1 million, partially offset by income of $916,000. The income was attributable to the reversal of the cumulative prior period expense for performance-based awards, which were deemed by management as no longer probable to vest prior to their expiration.

As of July 29, 2017, approximately $6.2 million of unrecognized compensation expense remained related to both our performance-based and service-based restricted stock awards. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.6 years. This incorporates our current assumptions with respect to the estimated requisite service period required to achieve the designated performance conditions for performance-based stock awards.

The following table summarizes the SARs activity:

SARs were granted during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 to certain non-executive employees, such that one-third of the shares underlying the SARs will vest and become fully exercisable on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of the grant and were assigned a five-year term from the date of grant, after which any unexercised SARs will expire. Each SAR entitles the holder, upon exercise of their vested shares, to receive cash in an amount equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of exercise less the exercise price, with a maximum amount of gain defined. The SARs granted during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 were issued with a defined maximum gain of $10.00 over the exercise price of $24.26.

The fair value of these liability awards are re-measured, using a trinomial lattice model, at each reporting period until the date of settlement. Increases or decreases in stock-based compensation expense are recognized over the vesting period, or immediately for vested awards. The weighted-average fair value of outstanding, non-vested SAR awards as of July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016 was $1.97 and $4.86, respectively.

The fair value was estimated using a trinomial lattice model with the following assumptions:

The risk free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the end of the reporting period. The expected dividend yield was based on our historical quarterly cash dividends, with the assumption that quarterly dividends would continue at that rate. Expected volatility was based on the historical volatility of our common stock. The exercise multiple and employee exit rate were based on historical option data.

The following table summarizes information regarding stock-based compensation recognized for SARs:

As of July 29, 2017, approximately $23,000 in unrecognized compensation expense remained related to non-vested SARs. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 0.7 years.

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Factors That May Affect Future Results

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in the areas of the continental United States in which our stores are located and the impact of the ongoing economic crisis in Puerto Rico on sales at, and cash flows of, our stores located in Puerto Rico; the effects and duration of economic downturns and unemployment rates; changes in the overall retail environment and more specifically in the apparel and footwear retail sectors; our ability to generate increased sales at our stores; our ability to successfully navigate the increasing use of on-line retailers for fashion purchases and the impact on traffic and transactions in our physical stores; our ability to attract customers to our e-commerce website and to successfully grow our e-commerce sales; the potential impact of national and international security concerns on the retail environment; changes in our relationships with key suppliers; the impact of competition and pricing; our ability to successfully manage and execute our marketing initiatives and maintain positive brand perception and recognition; changes in weather patterns, consumer buying trends and our ability to identify and respond to emerging fashion trends; the impact of disruptions in our distribution or information technology operations; the effectiveness of our inventory management; the impact of natural disasters on our stores, as well as on consumer confidence and purchasing in general; risks associated with the seasonality of the retail industry; the impact of unauthorized disclosure or misuse of personal and confidential information about our customers, vendors and employees; our ability to manage our third-party vendor relationships; our ability to successfully execute our business strategy, including the availability of desirable store locations at acceptable lease terms, our ability to open new stores in a timely and profitable manner, including our entry into major new markets, and the availability of sufficient funds to implement our business plans; higher than anticipated costs associated with the closing of underperforming stores; the inability of manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; changes in the political and economic environments in, and continued favorable trade relations with China, and other countries which are the major manufacturers of footwear; the impact of regulatory changes in the United States and the countries where our manufacturers are located; the resolution of litigation or regulatory proceedings in which we are or may become involved; our ability to meet our labor needs while controlling costs; and future stock repurchases under our stock repurchase program and future dividend payments. For a more detailed discussion of certain risk factors, see the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017.

General

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to provide information to assist the reader in better understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations. We encourage you to read this in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017, as filed with the SEC.

Overview of Our Business

Shoe Carnival, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest family footwear retailers, providing the convenience of shopping at any of our store locations or online at shoecarnival.com. Our stores combine competitive pricing with a promotional, in-store marketing effort that encourages customer participation and injects fun and surprise into every shopping experience. We believe this fun and promotional atmosphere results in various competitive advantages, including increased multiple unit sales; the building of a loyal, repeat customer base; the creation of word-of-mouth advertising; and enhanced sell-through of in-season goods. A similar customer experience is reflected in our e-commerce site through special promotions and limited time sales, along with relevant product stories featured on our home page.

Our objective is to be the destination retailer-of-choice for a wide range of consumers seeking value priced, current season name brand and private label footwear. Our product assortment includes dress and casual shoes, sandals, boots and a wide assortment of athletic shoes for the entire family in four general categories - women’s, men’s, children’s and athletics. Our e-commerce site offers customers an opportunity to choose from a large selection of products in all of the same categories of footwear with a depth of sizes and colors that may not be available in some of our smaller stores, and introduces our concept to consumers who are new to Shoe Carnival, in both existing and new markets.

In addition to footwear, our stores carry complementary accessories such as socks, belts, shoe care items, handbags, sport bags, backpacks, jewelry, scarves and wallets. Our e-commerce site also carries certain accessories such as handbags, sport bags and backpacks.

Critical Accounting Policies

It is necessary for us to include certain judgments in our reported financial results.  These judgments involve estimates based in part on our historical experience and incorporate the impact of the current general economic climate and company-specific circumstances.  However, because future events and economic conditions are inherently uncertain, our actual results could differ materially from these estimates.  Our accounting policies that require more significant judgments include those with respect to merchandise inventories, valuation of long-lived assets, insurance reserves and income taxes and are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017.

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017. See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information on recently issued accounting pronouncements.

Results of Operations Summary Information

Comparable store sales for the periods indicated include stores that have been open for 13 full months after such store’s grand opening prior to the beginning of the period, including those stores that have been relocated or remodeled. Therefore, stores opened or closed during the periods indicated are not included in comparable store sales. We include e-commerce sales in our comparable store sales. Due to our multi-channel retailer strategy, we view e-commerce sales as an extension of our physical stores.

The following table sets forth our results of operations expressed as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:

Executive Summary for Second Quarter Ended July 29, 2017

We had positive momentum early in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 with comparable store sales up low single-digits in May. As the quarter progressed and we started to enter the important back-to-school selling period, comparable store sales flattened as certain markets experienced later back-to-school dates, which shifted sales from the second quarter to the third quarter. As a result, we ended the quarter with a 0.4% increase in comparable store sales. Faced with an uncertain retail environment, we continue to remain focused on effectively managing inventory and maintaining tight controls over our cost structure in fiscal 2017. Highlights for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 are as follows:

Results of Operations for the Second Quarter Ended July 29, 2017

Net Sales

Net sales increased $3.2 million to $235.1 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2017, a 1.4% increase over the prior year’s second quarter net sales of $231.9 million. Of this increase in net sales, $800,000 was attributable to the 0.4% increase in comparable store sales and $5.7 million was attributable to sales generated by the 28 new stores opened since the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016. These increases were partially offset by a loss in sales of $3.3 million from the 14 stores closed since the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased to $68.2 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to gross profit of $67.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2016, primarily due to the increase in net sales. Our gross profit margin remained flat at 29.0% compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Our merchandise margin, along with buying, distribution and occupancy costs as a percentage of sales, remained flat compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 to $61.8 million compared to $60.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. As a percentage of sales, these expenses increased to 26.3% in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 from 26.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The overall increase in selling, general and administrative expenses during the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was primarily due to a $1.0 million increase in expenses for new stores net of expense reductions for stores that have closed and a $916,000 increase in impairments of long-lived assets. These increases were partially offset by decreases in stock-based compensation and incentive compensation expense totaling $849,000.

Pre-opening costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $234,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to $353,000 in the second quarter last year. We opened five new stores in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to nine new stores in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Pre-opening costs, such as advertising, payroll and supplies, incurred prior to the opening of a new store are charged to expense in the period in which they are incurred. The total amount of pre-opening expense incurred will vary by store depending on the specific market and the promotional activities involved.

Store closing costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.6 million, or 0.7% as a percentage of sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Store closing costs were $74,000 in the second quarter last year. Four stores were closed in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to no store closings in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Included in store closing costs in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 were impairments of long-lived assets of $916,000. There were no impairments of long-lived assets recorded during the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was 37.9% as compared to 38.0% for the same time period in fiscal 2016. Our provision for income tax expense is based on the current estimate of our annual effective tax rate and is adjusted as necessary for quarterly events.

Results of Operations for Six Month Period Ended July 29, 2017

Net Sales

Net sales decreased $3.9 million to $488.5 million for the six-month period ended July 29, 2017, a 0.8% decrease compared to net sales of $492.4 million for the six-month period ended July 30, 2016. Of this decrease in net sales, $8.9 million was attributable to the 1.9% decrease in comparable store sales and $6.8 million was attributable to a loss in sales from the 18 stores closed since the beginning of fiscal 2016. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in sales of $11.8 million generated by the 31 new stores opened since the beginning of fiscal 2016.

Gross Profit

Gross profit decreased $2.4 million to $140.4 million in the first six months of fiscal 2017 primarily due to the decrease in net sales. The gross profit margin for the first six months of fiscal 2017 decreased to 28.7% from 29.0% as reported in the comparable prior year period. The merchandise margin increased 0.2%, but buying, distribution and occupancy costs increased 0.5% as a percentage of sales compared to the same period last year primarily due to the deleveraging effect of lower same store sales on occupancy costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.9 million in the first six months of fiscal 2017 to $120.7 million compared to the same period last year. As a percentage of sales, these expenses increased to 24.7% in the first six months of fiscal 2017 from 24.1% in the first six months of fiscal 2016. The overall increase in selling, general and administrative expenses during the first six months of fiscal 2017 was primarily due to a $2.2 million increase in expenses for new stores net of expense reductions for stores that have closed, a $1.6 million increase in impairments of long-lived assets and a $1.1 million increase in employee healthcare expense. These increases were partially offset by a $2.2 million decrease in selling expenses associated with our comparable store base and decreases in stock-based compensation and incentive compensation expense totaling $1.4 million.

In the first six months of fiscal 2017, pre-opening costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $517,000, or 0.1% as a percentage of sales, compared to 463,000, or 0.1% as a percentage of sales, in the same period last year. Pre-opening costs, such as advertising, payroll and supplies, incurred prior to the opening of a new store are charged to expense in the period in which they are incurred. The total amount of pre-opening expense incurred will vary by store depending on the specific market and the promotional activities involved.

Store closing costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.7 million, or 0.5% as a percentage of sales, in the first six months of fiscal 2017. Store closing costs were $296,000, or 0.1% as a percentage of sales, in the first six months of last year. We closed nine stores in the first six months of fiscal 2017 and four stores were closed in the first six months of fiscal 2016. Included in the store closing costs in the first six months of fiscal 2017 were impairments of long-lived assets of $1.6 million. There were no impairments of long-lived assets recorded during the first six months of fiscal 2016.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for the first six months of fiscal 2017 was 37.7% compared to 38.1% for the same period in fiscal 2016. Our provision for income tax expense is based on the current estimate of our annual effective tax rate and is adjusted as necessary for quarterly events. The decrease in the effective income tax rate between periods was primarily due to changes in state tax rates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash generated from operations and availability under our credit facility. We believe these resources will be sufficient to fund our cash needs, as they arise, for at least the next 12 months. Our primary uses of cash are for working capital, which are principally inventory purchases, store initiatives, potential dividend payments, potential share repurchases under our share repurchase program, the financing of capital projects, including investments in new systems, and various other commitments and obligations.

Cash Flow - Operating Activities

Our net cash used in operating activities was $26.5 million in the first six months of fiscal 2017 compared to cash provided by operating activities of $12.6 million in the first six months of fiscal 2016. These amounts reflect our income from operations adjusted for non-cash items and working capital changes. The year-over-year decrease in operating cash flow was primarily driven by an increase in merchandise inventories required to meet peak demand for the back-to-school season and by the timing of payments for accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

Working capital increased to $271.6 million at July 29, 2017 from $269.9 million at July 30, 2016, primarily due to the decrease in accounts payable and an increase in merchandise inventory, partially offset by the decrease in cash and cash equivalents compared to the end of the second quarter of the prior year. The current ratio was 3.4 as of July 29, 2017, compared to 3.0 at July 30, 2016.

Cash Flow - Investing Activities

Our cash outflows for investing activities are primarily for capital expenditures. During the first six months of fiscal 2017, we expended $12.7 million for the purchase of property and equipment, of which $8.1 million was for new stores, remodeling and relocations. During the first six months of fiscal 2016, we expended $11.9 million for the purchase of property and equipment, of which $11.7 million was for new stores, remodeling and relocations. The remaining capital expenditures in both periods were for continued investments in technology and normal asset replacement activities.

Cash Flow - Financing Activities

Cash outflows for financing activities have represented cash dividend payments, share repurchases and payments on our credit facility. Shares of our common stock can be either acquired as part of a publicly announced share repurchase program or withheld by us in connection with employee payroll tax withholding upon the vesting of restricted stock awards. Our cash inflows from financing activities have represented proceeds from the issuance of shares as a result of stock option exercises, purchases under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan and borrowings under our credit facility.

During the first six months of fiscal 2017, net cash used in financing activities was $5.2 million compared to net cash used in financing activities of $27.9 million in the first six months of fiscal 2016. The decrease in cash used in financing activities between the two respective periods was primarily attributable to net borrowings of $26.7 million, partially offset by an increase of $4.1 million in common stock repurchased under our share repurchase program compared to the first six months of fiscal 2016.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures for fiscal 2017, including actual expenditures during the first six months, are expected to be between $22 million and $23 million, with approximately $14 million to be used for new stores, relocations and remodels. The remaining capital expenditures are expected to be incurred for continued investments in technology and normal asset replacement activities. Lease incentives to be received from landlords during fiscal 2017, including actual amounts received during the first six months, are expected to be approximately $4 to $5 million. The actual amount of cash required for capital expenditures for store operations depends in part on the number of new stores opened and relocated, the amount of lease incentives, if any, received from landlords and the number of stores remodeled.

Store Openings and Closings

We aim to realize positive long-term financial performance for our store portfolio. We utilize a formal review process in our evaluation of potential new store sites as well as for decisions surrounding leases on existing store locations. Our approach is both qualitative and quantitative in nature. We look to continually enhance this process with tools such as real estate software used for portfolio analysis that aid in identifying viable locations for future expansion and identifying potential store closings and relocations.

In fiscal 2017, we anticipate opening 19 new stores. We opened 12 stores in the first six months of fiscal 2017. Pre-opening expenses, including rent, freight, advertising, salaries and supplies, are presently expected to total approximately $1.4 million for fiscal 2017, or an average of $72,000 per store. During fiscal 2016, we opened 19 new stores and expended $1.6 million on pre-opening expenses, or an average of $85,000 per store.

We anticipate closing 25 to 27 stores in fiscal 2017. We closed nine stores during the first six months of fiscal 2017. Four stores were closed during the first six months of fiscal 2016. The timing and actual amount of expense recorded in closing a store can vary significantly depending, in part, on the period in which management commits to a closing plan, the remaining basis in the long-lived assets to be disposed of at closing and the cost incurred in terminating the lease.

We believe that a continued, disciplined approach to new store openings is very important as we leverage our multi-channel strategy and pursue opportunities for brick-and-mortar stores across large, mid and smaller markets. Over the past several years, we have analyzed our entire portfolio of stores, with a concentration on underperforming stores, to meet our long-term goal of increasing shareholder value through increasing operating income. Our objective is to identify and address underperforming stores that produce low or negative contribution and either renegotiate lease terms, relocate or close the store. Based on this analysis, we have identified 30 to 35 stores that we plan to close in fiscal 2018 if we cannot improve the performance of those stores to meet our minimum contribution level. Even though this would reduce our overall net sales volume, we believe this strategy would realize long-term improvement in operating income and diluted earnings per share. We expect new store openings for fiscal 2018 will be in the low single digit range. We remain committed to long-term strategic store growth; however, with the changing landscape in brick-and-mortar stores, we believe more attractive real estate opportunities will become available in the marketplace if we remain diligent in our approach.

Dividends

On June 13, 2017, our Board of Directors approved the payment of our second quarter cash dividend to our shareholders.  The dividend of $0.075 per share was paid on July 17, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 3, 2017.

The declaration and payment of any future dividends are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, business conditions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. Our credit agreement (described below) permits the payment of cash dividends as long as no default or event of default exists under the credit agreement both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the cash dividends, and the aggregate amount of cash dividends for a fiscal year do not exceed $10.0 million.

Credit Facility

On March 27, 2017, we entered into a second amendment of our current unsecured credit agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”) to extend the expiration date by five years to March 27, 2022, and to renegotiate certain terms and conditions. The Credit Agreement, as amended, continues to provide for up to $50.0 million in cash advances and commercial and standby letters of credit with borrowing limits based on eligible inventory, which amount may be increased from time to time by up to an additional $50.0 million, without the consent of any lender, if certain conditions are met. The Credit Agreement contains covenants which stipulate: (1) Total Shareholders’ Equity (as defined in the Credit Agreement) will not fall below $250.0 million at the end of each fiscal quarter; (2) the ratio of funded debt plus three times rent to EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus rent will not exceed 2.5 to 1.0; (3) the aggregate amount of cash dividends for a fiscal year will not exceed $10.0 million; and (4) distributions in the form of redemptions of our common stock may be made solely with cash on hand so long as before and immediately after such distributions there are no revolving loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement. We were in compliance with these covenants as of July 29, 2017. Should a default condition be reported, the lenders may preclude additional borrowings and call all loans and accrued interest at their discretion. The credit facility bears interest, at our option, at (1) the agent bank’s prime rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 1%, with the prime rate defined as the greater of (a) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% or (b) the interest rate announced from time to time by the agent bank as its “prime rate” or (2) LIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.50%, depending on our achievement of certain performance criteria. A commitment fee is charged at 0.20% to 0.35% per annum, depending on our achievement of certain performance criteria, on the unused portion of the bank group’s commitment. As of July 29, 2017, there was $26.7 million of borrowings outstanding under the credit facility and letters of credit outstanding were $1.4 million. As of July 29, 2017, $21.9 million was available to us for additional borrowings under the credit facility. As of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we had no outstanding borrowings under our credit facility.

Share Repurchase Program

On December 6, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program for up to $50 million of outstanding common stock, effective January 1, 2017. The purchases may be made in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, from time-to-time through December 31, 2017, and in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. On January 27, 2017, we entered into a stock repurchase plan for the purpose of repurchasing shares of our common stock in accordance with guidelines specified under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Rule 10b5-1 Plan”). The Rule 10b5-1 Plan was established pursuant to, and as part of, our share repurchase program and permitted shares to be repurchased in accordance with pre-determined criteria when repurchases would otherwise be prohibited, such as during self-imposed blackout periods, or under insider trading laws. The Rule 10b5-1 Plan was to expire on May 26, 2017, but we terminated the plan on May 17, 2017 to ensure we remained in compliance with the covenant in our Credit Agreement regarding redemptions of our common stock described above. Under the terms of our Credit Agreement, we are not permitted to repurchase any shares of our common stock while there are outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Our share repurchase program may be amended, suspended or discontinued at any time and does not commit us to repurchase shares of our common stock. We have funded, and intend to continue to fund, the share repurchase program from cash on hand, and any shares acquired will be available for stock-based compensation awards and other corporate purposes. The actual number and value of the shares to be purchased will depend on the performance of our stock price and other market conditions.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we repurchased 469,000 shares of common stock at a total cost of $10.2 million under the new share repurchase program. As of July 29, 2017, approximately 1.5 million shares at an aggregate cost of $36.5 million had been repurchased under the new share repurchase program. The amount that remained available under the share repurchase program at July 29, 2017 was $13.5 million.

Seasonality and Quarterly Results

Our quarterly results of operations have fluctuated, and are expected to continue to fluctuate in the future, primarily as a result of seasonal variances and the timing of sales and costs associated with opening new stores and closing underperforming stores. Non-capital expenditures, such as advertising and payroll, incurred prior to the opening of a new store are charged to expense as incurred. The timing and actual amount of expense recorded in closing an individual store can vary significantly depending, in part, on the period in which management commits to a closing plan, the remaining basis in the fixed assets to be disposed of at closing and the cost incurred in terminating the lease. Therefore, our results of operations may be adversely affected in any quarter in which we incur pre-opening expenses related to the opening of new stores or incur store closing costs related to the closure of underperforming stores.

We have three distinct peak selling periods: Easter, back-to-school and Christmas. To prepare for our peak shopping seasons, we must order and keep in stock significantly more merchandise than we would carry during other parts of the year. Any unanticipated decrease in demand for our products during these peak shopping seasons could require us to sell excess inventory at a substantial markdown, which could reduce our net sales and gross margins and negatively affect our profitability. Our operating results depend significantly upon the sales generated during these periods.

ITEM  3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk in that the interest payable under our credit facility is based on variable interest rates and therefore is affected by changes in market rates. We do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to changes in market interest rates. A 1% change in the weighted average interest rate charged under the credit facility would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating by approximately $21,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation as of July 29, 2017, that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted by us under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There has been no significant change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended July 29, 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties we describe both in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017 before deciding to invest in, or retain, shares of our common stock. If any of these risks or uncertainties actually occur, we may not be able to conduct our business as currently planned and our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

ITEM 6.   EXHIBITS

SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
SIGNATURE

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.