VF Corp. reported revenue climbed 23 percent in its second quarter ended October 2, led by a 31 percent gain at The North Face. Vans sales grew 8 percent and Dickies grew 21 percent. Companywide earnings and sales were slightly below Wall Street’s targets but VF reaffirmed its full-year earnings outlook.

“As we move through the halfway point of our fiscal year, I remain encouraged by the underlying momentum across the portfolio, and the broad-based nature of this strength gives me confidence that we are driving the right strategy to accelerate growth in the quarters ahead,” said Steve Rendle, VF’s chairman, president and CEO. “While the recovery has been impacted by further pandemic-related disruptions, we continue to see accelerating demand signals across our business, and our ability to reaffirm our Fiscal 2022 revenue and earnings outlook is a clear testament to the resiliency and optionality of our model.”

Second Quarter Fiscal 2022 Income Statement Review

  • Revenue increased 23 percent (up 21 percent in constant dollars) to $3.2 billion. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, revenue increased 19 percent (up 17 percent in constant dollars) driven by the EMEA and North American regions, which experienced a negative impact from COVID-19 in the prior-year period. VF’s wholesale business continues to be materially impacted by the timing of shipments due to port delays and logistics challenges;
  • Active segment revenue increased 16 percent (up 14 percent in constant dollars) including an 8 percent (7 percent in constant dollars) increase in Vans brand revenue and an 8 percentage point revenue growth contribution from acquisitions;
  • Outdoor segment revenue increased 31 percent (up 28 percent in constant dollars) including a 31 percent (29 percent in constant dollars) increase in The North Face brand revenue;
  • Work segment revenue increased 18 percent (up 17 percent in constant dollars) including a 21 percent (19 percent in constant dollars) increase in Dickies brand revenue;
  • International revenue increased 18 percent (up 15 percent in constant dollars) including a 2 percentage point revenue growth contribution from acquisitions; Europe revenue increased 19 percent (up 17 percent in constant dollars); Greater China revenue increased 9 percent (up 3 percent in constant dollars), including a 9 percent (2 percent in constant dollars) increase in Mainland China;
  • Direct-to-Consumer revenue increased 32 percent (up 31 percent in constant dollars) including an 11 percentage point revenue growth contribution from acquisitions; Digital revenue increased 24 percent (up 22 percent in constant dollars) versus the prior year including a 19 percentage point revenue growth contribution from acquisitions, excluding acquisitions. Digital revenue increased 54 percent versus the second quarter of fiscal 2020;
  • Gross margin increased 290 basis points to 53.7 percent, primarily driven by reduced promotional activity. On an adjusted basis, gross margin increased 300 basis points, including a 20 basis point positive impact from acquisitions, to 53.9 percent.
  • Operating income on a reported basis was $558 million. On an adjusted basis, operating income increased 56 percent (53 percent in constant dollars) to $534 million, including an $8 million contribution from acquisitions. 
  • Operating margin on a reported basis was 17.5 percent. Adjusted operating margin increased 360 basis points, including a 30 basis point negative impact from acquisitions, to 16.7 percent.
  • Earnings per share were $1.18 on a reported basis. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share increased 66 percent (up 63 percent in constant dollars) to $1.11, including a $0.02 contribution from acquisitions.

Revenues of $3.2 billion came in just short of Wall Street’s consensus estimate of $3.5 billion. Adjusted EPS of $1.10 was below Wall Street’s consensus target of $1.16. 

COVID-19 Update
To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and in response to public health advisories and governmental actions and regulations, VF has modified its business practices, including the temporary closing of offices and retail stores, instituted travel bans and restrictions, and implemented health and safety measures, including social distancing and quarantines.

The majority of VF’s supply chain is currently operational. Suppliers are complying with local public health advisories and governmental restrictions which have resulted in isolated product delays. The resurgence of COVID-19 lockdowns in key sourcing countries has resulted in additional manufacturing capacity constraints during the second quarter. Continued port congestion, equipment availability and other logistics challenges have also contributed to increasing product delays. VF is working with its suppliers to minimize disruption and is using expedited freight as needed. VF’s distribution centers are operational in accordance with local government guidelines while maintaining enhanced health and safety protocols.

  • In North America, no stores were closed during the second quarter. Currently, all stores are open.
  • In the EMEA region, no stores were closed during the second quarter. Currently, all stores are open.
  • In the APAC region, including Mainland China, 5 percent of stores were closed at the beginning of the second quarter. Stores have since re-opened and nearly all stores are open at the end of the quarter.

VF is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak globally and will comply with guidance from government entities and public health authorities to prioritize the health and well-being of its employees, customers, trade partners and consumers. As COVID-19 uncertainty continues, VF expects ongoing disruption to its business operations.

Discontinued Operations, Occupational Workwear Business
On June 28, 2021, VF completed the sale of its Occupational Workwear business. The Occupational Workwear business was comprised primarily of the following brands and businesses: Red Kap, VF Solutions, Bulwark, Workrite, Walls, Terra, Kodiak, Work Authority, and Horace Small. The business also included a license for certain Dickies occupational workwear products that have historically been sold through the business-to-business channel. Accordingly, the company has reported the related held-for-sale assets and liabilities as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations and included the operating results and cash flows of the business in discontinued operations for all periods, through the date of sale.

Adjusted Amounts, Excluding Transaction and Deal-Related Activities and Costs Related to Specified Strategic Business Decisions
The adjusted amounts in this release exclude transaction and deal-related activities associated with the acquisition of the Supreme brand. Total transaction and deal-related activities include a decrease in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration liability of $35 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and $108 million in the first six months of fiscal 2022, and integration costs of approximately $1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and $6 million in the first six months of fiscal 2022.

The adjusted amounts in this release exclude costs related to VF’s business model transformation, a transformation initiative for our Asia-Pacific regional operations and certain cost optimization activities and other charges indirectly related to the divestiture of the Occupational Workwear business. Total costs were approximately $10 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and $24 million in the first six months of fiscal 2022.

Combined, the above items positively impacted earnings per share by $0.07 during the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and $0.19 during the first six months of fiscal 2022. All adjusted amounts referenced herein exclude the effects of these amounts.

Balance Sheet Highlights
Inventories were up 2 percent compared with the same period last year. During the quarter, VF returned approximately $192 million of cash to shareholders through dividends. VF is reinstating its share repurchase program, under which it is authorized to repurchase up to $2.8 billion of its common stock. This plan was suspended on April 7, 2020 as a precaution due to the pandemic.

Full Year Fiscal 2022 Outlook
VF’s full-year outlook assumes no material deterioration to the company’s current business operations as a result of COVID-19 and related governmental actions and regulations. VF’s full-year fiscal 2022 outlook includes the following:

  • Revenue is still expected to be approximately $12.0 billion, reflecting growth of around 30 percent, including an approximate $600 million contribution from the Supreme brand. By segment, revenue for Outdoor is now expected to increase between 25 percent and 27 percent versus the previous expectation of a 24 to 26 percent increase; revenue for Active is now expected to increase between 35 percent and 37 percent versus the previous expectation of 37 percent to 39 percent increase; revenue for Work is now expected to increase between 19 and 21 percent versus the previous expectation of a 16 to 18 percent increase.
  • International revenue is still expected to increase between 24 percent and 26 percent. By geographic region, in the EMEA region, revenue is still expected to increase between 30 percent and 32 percent. In the Asia Pacific region, revenue is still expected to increase between 12 percent and 14 percent. And, in the Americas (non-U.S.) region, revenue is still expected to increase between 30 percent and 32 percent.
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue is now expected to increase between 34 percent and 36 percent versus the previous expectation of 39 percent and 41 percent, including Digital revenue growth of about 20 percent versus the previous expectation of 29 and 31 percent.
  • Adjusted gross margin is expected to be around 56.0 percent, which represents an estimated increase of around 270 basis points.
  • Adjusted operating margin is still expected to increase around 500 basis points to around 13.0 percent.
  • Adjusted earnings per share are still expected to be around $3.20, including an approximate $0.25 contribution from the Supreme brand.
  • Adjusted cash flow from operations is still expected to exceed $1.0 billion.
  • Other full-year assumptions include a tax rate of approximately 15 percent and capital expenditures of approximately $350 million.

Dividend Declared
VF’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share, payable on December 20, 2021, to shareholders of record on December 10, 2021. Subject to approval by its Board of Directors, VF intends to continue to pay its regularly scheduled dividend and is not currently contemplating the suspension of its dividend.

Photo courtesy The North Face