Urban Outfitters, Inc. announced earnings of $9.5 million for the second quarter ended July 31, 2003, a 51% increase over the comparable quarter last year. Second quarter earnings per diluted share rose to $0.47 this year versus $0.32 in the prior year.
Net sales for the quarter increased by 22% to a record $122.9 million. This increase over the prior year was fueled by:
$ a 20% increase in the number of stores in operation
$ a total Company comparable store sales increase of 11%
$ a direct-to-consumer sales increase of 37%
$ a wholesale sales increase of 3%
During the quarter, comparable store sales increased by 10% at Urban Outfitters Retail and by 12% at Anthropologie Retail. New and noncomparable store sales increases for the quarter totaled $9.8 million.
Richard A. Hayne, Chairman and President of Urban Outfitters, Inc., said, “We had an outstanding second quarter, delivering double-digit 'comp' store sales gains, improving margins, and leveraging both occupancy and SG&A expenses. This allowed us to post our most profitable quarter in the Company's thirty-three year history. In addition, we are very pleased with the initial customer reaction to our Fall merchandise offerings in all three brands. August sales, thus far, continue to exceed our plan, and we are optimistic about our Fall selling season.”
The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a two-for-one split of its common stock. This split will be accomplished in the form of a stock dividend of one share of the Company's common stock for each share outstanding. The additional shares issued as a result of the stock split will be distributed on or about September 19, 2003 to shareholders of record on September 5, 2003. After giving effect to the split, the Company will have approximately 39.4 million shares outstanding.
“We are very excited to deliver both a record financial performance and a two-for-one stock split,” added Mr. Hayne. “Our brands are distinctive and resonate powerfully with the customer, and given that each brand is in a relatively early stage of growth, we believe the Company has tremendous potential. This stock split is an affirmation of that belief.”
Net sales for the three and six months ended July 31, 2003 were as follows:
Three months ended July 31, Six months ended July 31,
2003 2002 2003 2002
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(in thousands) (in thousands)
Urban Outfitters
store sales $60,750 $51,142 $112,859 $96,930
Anthropologie
store sales 47,874 38,415 88,828 75,030
Direct-to-consumer
sales 9,204 6,709 18,731 13,791
Free People sales 5,051 4,735 9,489 9,324
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Total net
sales $122,879 $101,001 $229,907 $195,075
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For the quarter and the six months, the Company's gross profit margins increased by 175 and 153 basis points, respectively, versus the comparable prior year periods. These gains were due primarily to higher initial merchandise margins, decreased markdowns and the leveraging of occupancy expenses.
As of July 31, 2003, total Company inventories grew by $9.8 million on a year-over-year basis. This increase was primarily due to the acquisition of inventory to stock new retail stores. On a comparable store basis, inventories grew by 3.7% versus the prior year.
For the quarter and the six months, selling, general and administrative expenses, expressed as percentages of sales, decreased by approximately 43 and 25 basis points, respectively, versus the same periods for the prior year. The leveraging of store-related expenses more than offset additional costs associated with the successful mailing of approximately 650,000 Urban Direct catalogs in July.
Thus far this fiscal year, the Company has opened four new Anthropologie stores and one new Urban Outfitters store. Management plans to open approximately thirteen to fifteen additional new stores during the remainder of Fiscal 2004.
The Company also reported three personnel announcements. First, Freeman Zausner, a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an Urban Outfitters employee from 1980 through 1996, accepted an offer to fill the newly created position of Chief Administrative Officer where he will oversee, among other tasks, the strategic planning and implementation function of the Company. Freeman, prior to re-joining the Company, had been working as a consultant for the Company coordinating its strategic planning efforts for the past eight months. Second, David Frankel, President of the Free People brand, will now report to Glen Senk, Executive Vice President of the Company. And third, Steve Feldman, Chief Financial Officer, has announced that he will leave the Company to pursue other business opportunities.
“My congratulations to Freeman,” said Mr. Hayne. “He is a tireless worker and a wonderful strategic thinker, I know he will add a lot to the Company. I also congratulate Glen with his additional responsibilities within the Company. I believe that Glen will help the Free People team realize their growth goals. As for Steve, over the five years since he joined the Urban team, the Company has more than doubled its sales and profits. Steve has made significant contributions to those results, and we thank him for those efforts. The entire Urban team wishes him the very best in the future.”
Urban Outfitters, Inc. is an innovative specialty retailer and wholesaler that offers a variety of lifestyle merchandise to highly defined customer niches through 54 Urban Outfitters stores in the United States, Canada, and Europe; an Urban Outfitters web site and catalog; 43 Anthropologie stores in the United States; an Anthropologie catalog and web site; and Free People, the Company's wholesale division, which sells its product to approximately 1,100 specialty stores, department stores and catalogs, as well as through one Free People store.
A conference call will be held today to discuss second quarter results and will be web cast at 11:00 a.m. EDT at: www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=URBN&script=1010&item_ id=768226. (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field.) Notes of the Company's conference call presentation will be available on www.urbanoutfittersinc.com.
This news release is being made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain matters contained in this filing may constitute forward-looking statements. Any one, or all, of the following factors could cause actual financial results to differ materially from those financial results mentioned in the forward-looking statements: the difficulty in predicting and responding to shifts in fashion trends, changes in the level of competitive pricing and promotional activity and other industry factors, overall economic and market conditions and the resultant impact on consumer spending patterns, including any effects of terrorist acts or war, availability of suitable retail space for expansion, timing of store openings, seasonal fluctuations in gross sales, the departure of one or more key senior managers, import risks, including potential disruptions and changes in duties, tariffs and quotas and other risks identified in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that actual results may differ materially from any projected results expressed or implied therein.
URBAN OUTFITTERS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
July 31, July 31,
2003 2002 2003 2002
--------------------------------------------
Net sales $122,879 $101,001 $229,907 $195,075
Cost of sales, including
certain buying,
distribution and
occupancy costs 77,231 65,244 146,326 127,148
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Gross profit 45,648 35,757 83,581 67,927
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 30,147 25,209 57,420 49,211
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Income from
operations 15,501 10,548 26,161 18,716
Other income (expense),
net 410 (35) 494 (212)
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Income before
income taxes 15,911 10,513 26,655 18,504
Income tax expense 6,444 4,258 10,795 7,494
--------------------------------------------
Net income $9,467 $6,255 $15,860 $11,010
============================================
Net income per common
share:
Basic $0.48 $0.33 $0.81 $0.60
============================================
Diluted $0.47 $0.32 $0.79 $0.58
