Genesco Sees Q4 EPS At Low End Of Guidance

Genesco Inc. announced that comparable sales, including both stores and direct sales, increased 1 percent for the quarter-to-date period ended January 4, 2018.  Same store sales decreased 2 percent and sales for the company’s e-commerce businesses increased 17 percent on a comparable basis for that period.  Comparable sales changes for each retail segment for the period were as follows:

The company also announced that it continues to expect adjusted earnings per diluted share for the fiscal year ending February 3, 2018, in the range of $3.05 to $3.35.

Robert J. Dennis, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Genesco, said, “Our fourth quarter results to date continue to be the tale of two businesses.  After a successful back-to-school season, Journeys’ momentum built during the holidays, while Lids’ challenges expanded.  We also experienced a promotionally-driven holiday in the U.K. at Schuh.  We still anticipate that comparable sales for the quarter will be flat to 1 percent, but we also expect to give up more gross margin in order to achieve those sales and end the year in an optimal inventory position.  Based on quarter-to-date results and current trends, we expect adjusted earnings per share within our most recently announced guidance range for fiscal 2018, with greater confidence toward the lower end of that range.”

The company’s adjusted earnings per share expectations for Fiscal 2018 do not include the non-cash goodwill impairment charge, fixed asset impairments and other charges, estimated in the range of $186.3 million to $187.4 million pretax, or $8.27 to $8.31 per share after tax, for the full fiscal year.  They also do not include certain tax effects related to equity grants pursuant to the newly effective ASU 2016-09, estimated at $0.11 per share after tax.  This does not include the impact of the recently enacted federal tax reform, which the company expects will result in a fiscal year tax rate that is approximately 1 percent lower than previously announced.  In addition, earnings do not include one-time charges related to tax reform.  A reconciliation of the adjusted financial measures cited in the guidance to their corresponding measures as reported pursuant to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is included in Schedule A to this press release.

Genesco plans to announce its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2018 results on March 15, 2018.

Management will be meeting with analysts and investors and presenting at the ICR Conference in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday January 9, 2018.