HanesBrands announced third-quarter 2017 net sales and earnings growth in line with company guidance and strong year-to-date net cash from operations.

For the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2017, net sales of $1.80 billion increased 2 percent, driven by double-digit International segment growth. Domestic sales were affected by apparel’s weaker-than-expected back-to-school retail environment, although the company held share for Innerwear basics.

On a GAAP basis, third-quarter operating profit of $253 million increased 11 percent and diluted EPS of $0.55 increased 22 percent. When excluding pretax acquisition-related and integration charges, adjusted operating profit of $270 million was comparable to a year ago, and adjusted EPS of $0.60 increased 7 percent.

Year-to-date net cash from operations of $331 million increased $123 million, or 59 percent.

“We returned to organic growth in the quarter as International results were stronger than expected, and we are tracking to the midpoint or higher of our cash flow guidance for the year,” said Hanes Chief Executive Officer Gerald W. Evans Jr. “The value of diversifying our portfolio with international and activewear acquisitions is evident, and we are making progress on several initiatives to adapt to the evolving and challenging retail environment in the United States.”

With one quarter remaining in the fiscal year, Hanes has updated its full-year guidance to reflect year-to-date results and factors related to the fourth-quarter, including additional incremental marketing investment to drive growth, the expected adverse effect of the Sears Canada bankruptcy, and the recently announced acquisition of Alternative Apparel. (See full guidance details in the 2017 Financial Guidance section later in this news release.)

“In the fourth quarter, we expect to once again achieve organic sales growth,” Evans said. “We are continuing to drive strong double-digit online sales growth across businesses and geographies. We are making progress on our goal to use our brands, innovations, acquisitions and online investment to create shareholder value and drive sustainable growth.”

Key Callouts for Third-Quarter 2017 Results

Company Returns to Organic Sales Growth. Hanes generated organic sales growth – as reported and in constant currency – for the first time in eight quarters. The company benefitted from increasing geographic diversification as International sales growth more than offset sluggish domestic sales. International sales, bolstered by Hanes Europe Innerwear, Champion Europe, and Hanes Australasia, accounted for 31 percent of sales in the third quarter. Global Champion sales increased 16 percent in the quarter.

Year-to-Date Cash Flow Growth Accelerates. Hanes generated $297 million in cash from operations in the third quarter and has generated $331 million year to date, up 59 percent from a year ago. Cash flow is benefitting from working capital improvements and increased profitability.

Double-Digit Online Sales Growth Continues. The growth percentage of third-quarter sales in the online channel globally was in the high 20s, and online sales represented approximately 9 percent of total sales. Online sales increased in every geography across product categories.

Business Segment Highlights

Innerwear Sales Affected by Difficult Back-to-School Environment. Innerwear net sales and operating profit each decreased 5 percent in the third quarter and were lower than expected as a result of a particularly challenging back-to-school retail season for the apparel sector. The company maintained market share in basics, while online sales, including those through traditional retailer websites, increased by more than 20 percent.

Activewear Results Benefit from Acquisition Contributions. Activewear net sales increased 1 percent and operating profit increased 8 percent. The acquisition of GTM Sportswear contributed approximately $15 million of sales in the quarter. The segment was affected by the muted back-to-school season at retail, but online sales increased by more than 30 percent and Champion sales in the midtier, sporting goods and college bookstore channels achieved double-digit growth.

International Segment Growth. Net sales increased 16 percent and operating profit increased 25 percent for the International segment in the third quarter. In constant currency, International net sales increased 14 percent and operating profit increased 23 percent. Champion growth in Europe and Asia, underwear and intimate apparel growth in Australia and Latin America, and widespread online growth drove results.

2017 Financial Guidance

Hanes has updated its full-year guidance, including narrowing the range for net sales and EPS, and revised operating profit guidance. The company now expects net cash from operations to meet or exceed the midpoint of its original guidance range.

For 2017, the company expects net sales of approximately $6.450 billion to $6.475 billion, GAAP operating profit of $830 million to $840 million, adjusted operating profit excluding actions of $925 million to $935 million, GAAP EPS for continuing operations of $1.68 to $1.70, adjusted EPS for continuing operations excluding actions of $1.93 to $1.95, and net cash from operations of $625 million to $725 million.

Implied Fourth-Quarter Guidance. Based on year-to-date results and full-year guidance, the company expects total net sales of approximately $1.625 billion to $1.650 billion in the fourth quarter, which represents organic growth of approximately 3 percent at the midpoint.

The sales guidance reflects several factors, including: a cautious outlook for the U.S. sales environment; an estimated $15 million in sales expected from the acquisition of Alternative Apparel; and the expected adverse effect of the Sears Canada bankruptcy.

GAAP EPS for the fourth quarter is expected to be $0.47 to $0.49, and adjusted EPS is expected to be $0.51 to $0.53. The guidance for both measures reflects an estimated 5 cents effect of increased marketing investment to drive organic growth, a higher mix of International segment sales than earlier expectations, and the estimated impact from the Sears Canada bankruptcy, partially offset by higher-than-expected acquisition synergies.

Other fourth-quarter implied guidance includes expectations for GAAP operating profit of $227 million to $237 million, and adjusted operating profit of $241 million to $251 million. The company expects a tax rate of roughly 5 percent and approximately 369 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

Additional Full-Year Guidance. The company expects more than $20 million in synergy cost benefits in 2017.

Including the acquisition of Alternative Apparel, the company expects to incur an estimated $95 million of pretax charges for acquisition and integration-related actions.

The company expects capital expenditures of approximately $90 million in 2017. The company is not required to make a pension contribution in 2017 and does not anticipate making a voluntary contribution.

Hanes expects interest expense and other expenses to be approximately $180 million combined.

Hanes has updated its quarterly frequently-asked-questions document, which is available at www.Hanes.com/faq.

Note on Adjusted Measures and Reconciliation to GAAP Measures

To supplement our financial guidance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, we provide quarterly and full-year results and guidance concerning certain non‐GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EPS, adjusted net income, adjusted operating profit (and margin), adjusted SG&A, adjusted gross profit (and margin) and EBITDA. The company also discusses organic sales, defined as net sales excluding contributions from acquisitions until the closest period end to the acquisition’s anniversary date.

Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted EPS from continuing operations excluding actions and the tax effect on actions. Adjusted net income is defined as net income from continuing operations excluding actions and the tax effect on actions. Adjusted operating profit is defined as operating profit excluding actions. Adjusted gross profit is defined as gross profit excluding actions. Adjusted SG&A is defined as selling, general and administrative expenses excluding actions.

Actions during the periods presented include adjustments for acquisition-related and integration costs. These costs include legal fees, consulting fees, bank fees, severance costs, certain purchase accounting items, facility closures, inventory write-offs, information technology integration costs, and similar charges. While these costs are not operational in nature and are not expected to continue for any singular transaction on an ongoing basis, similar types of costs, expenses and charges have occurred in prior periods and may recur in the future as the company continues to integrate prior acquisitions and pursues any future acquisitions.

Hanes has chosen to present these non‐GAAP measures, as well as organic sales, to investors to enable additional analyses of past, present and future operating performance and as a supplemental means of evaluating operations absent the effect of acquisitions and other actions. Hanes believes these non-GAAP measures provide management and investors with valuable supplemental information for analyzing the operating performance of the company’s ongoing business during each period presented without giving effect to costs associated with the execution and integration of any of the aforementioned actions taken.

In addition, the company has chosen to present EBITDA to investors because it considers that measure to be an important supplemental means of evaluating operating performance. EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Hanes believes that EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the industry, and management uses EBITDA for planning purposes in connection with setting its capital allocation strategy. EBITDA should not, however, be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to invest in the growth of the business.

Non‐GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, the non-GAAP measures presented may be different from non-GAAP measures with similar or identical names presented by other companies.

Hanes expects to incur approximately $95 million in pretax charges in 2017 related to acquisition integrations of Hanes Europe Innerwear, Hanes Australasia, Champion Europe, Knights Apparel, and Alternative Apparel, along with an effective tax rate of approximately 5 percent. In the fourth quarter of 2017, Hanes expects approximately $14 million in pretax charges related to acquisition integrations, along with an effective tax rate of roughly 5 percent.

The company expects approximately 369 million and approximately 370 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the fourth quarter and full-year 2017, respectively.

To calculate organic sales for the third quarter, net sales were reduced by the approximately $15 million contributed by the acquisition of GTM Sportswear. For the fourth quarter, organic sales will exclude the contributions of Alternative Apparel, which is expected to be approximately $15 million. With the third-quarter anniversary of the GTM acquisition, GTM sales in the fourth quarter will be considered organic.