Cabela's Inc. Announces First Quarter 2015 Results, a Good Start to 2015

SIDNEY, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cabela's Incorporated CAB today reported financial results for first quarter fiscal 2015.

For the quarter, total revenue increased 14.0% to $827.1 million; Retail store revenue increased 18.9% to $524.4 million; Direct revenue decreased 3.3% to $173.5 million; and Financial Services revenue increased 24.7% to $122.9 million. During the period, consolidated comparable store sales decreased 1.3%.

For the quarter, adjusted for certain items, net income increased 6.9% to $27.5 million compared to $25.7 million in the year ago quarter, and earnings per diluted share were $0.38 compared to $0.36 in the year ago quarter. The Company reported GAAP net income of $26.8 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.37 as compared to GAAP net income of $25.7 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.36 in the year ago quarter. First quarter 2015 GAAP results include incremental expenses related to the relocation of our distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, of $0.01 per diluted share. See the supporting schedules to this earnings release labeled "Reconciliation of GAAP Reported to Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures" for a reconciliation of the GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.

"We have started the year well and are pleased that the extreme volatility in firearms and ammunition over the past two years seems to have normalized," said Tommy Millner, Cabela's Chief Executive Officer. "We experienced strong growth in merchandise sales, sequential improvement in comparable store sales, and excellent performance from Cabela's CLUB^® and our new format stores. We were particularly pleased with the continued improvement in comparable store sales as hunting equipment, optics, camping, fishing, shooting, and powersports all comped positively in the quarter."

"Our new format stores continue to significantly outperform our legacy stores in sales and profit per square foot," Millner said. "As our business grows, we are excited as we accelerate the pace of our new store openings. During the first quarter, we opened two new stores and plan to open a total of five stores in the second quarter, four stores in the third quarter, and two stores in the fourth quarter."

U.S. comparable store sales decreased 0.4%. Consolidated comparable store sales decreased 1.3% largely due to currency declines in Canada. U.S. comparable store sales increased in six of thirteen merchandise subcategories and benefited from a 2.2% increase in average ticket.

Direct revenue decreased 3.3% in the quarter, representing the fourth quarter of sequential improvement. Particularly strong performance in women's and children's apparel, optics, home and gifts, as well as powersports all contributed to the sequential improvement in Direct revenue. During the quarter, it was clear that improvements to our omni-channel model, including simplified checkout and growth in mobile traffic, further enhanced our customers' shopping experience.

Merchandise gross margin decreased 60 basis points excluding the previously announced adjustment in the presentation of reimbursement between segments. The total decrease of 120 basis points in merchandise gross margin was attributable to the previously announced adjustment, merchandise mix headwind, and a slightly more promotional approach early in the quarter. As a reminder, the change in presentation of reimbursement was initiated in the second quarter of 2014 and negatively impacted merchandise gross margin by 60 basis points for the first quarter of 2015. This change has no impact on consolidated operating income or earnings per diluted share. See the "Selected Financial Data" table located herein for a more detailed explanation of this adjustment.

"Adjusted operating income increased by 12.0% to $45.7 million for the quarter," Millner said. "As we continue to focus on tightly managing expenses, we have identified new cost savings opportunities that are expected to further reduce costs." On a GAAP basis, operating income increased by 9.0% to $44.5 million for the quarter. See the supporting schedules to this earnings release labeled "Reconciliation of GAAP Reported to Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures" for a reconciliation of the GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.

The first quarter effective tax rate was 37.0% compared to 34.4% in the same quarter a year ago. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to changes in unrecognized tax benefits and deferred tax items, and an increase to our state effective tax rate. We expect the full-year 2015 effective tax rate to be between 35.5% and 36.5%.

The Cabela's CLUB Visa program had another excellent quarter and continued to build a base of extremely loyal customers. CLUB members shop more frequently and have higher average spend. During the quarter, growth in the average number of active credit card accounts was 7.0% due to new customer acquisitions in our Retail and Internet channels. Growth in the average balance per active credit card account was 5.0%, and growth in the average balance of credit card loans was 12.3% to $4.2 billion. For the quarter, net charge-offs remained at historically low levels of 1.53% compared to 1.80% in the prior year quarter. Increased Financial Services revenue was driven by increases in interest and fee income as well as interchange income.

The Company's Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program designed primarily to offset shareholder dilution resulting from the granting of equity-based compensation awards. As part of this program, the Company intends to repurchase up to two million shares of its common stock in open market transactions through February 2016.

"As the volatility in firearms and ammunition over the past two years subsides, we are confident in our outlook for full-year 2015," Millner said. "As a result, we reaffirm our expectations for a low-double-digit growth rate in revenue and a high-single to low-double-digit growth rate in diluted earnings per share for full-year 2015 as compared to full-year 2014 non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.88."

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss first quarter fiscal 2015 operating results is scheduled for today (Thursday, April 23, 2015) at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A webcast of the call will take place simultaneously and can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of Cabela's website at www.cabelas.com. A replay of the call will be archived on www.cabelas.com.

About Cabela's Incorporated

Cabela's Incorporated, headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is a leading specialty retailer, and the world's largest direct marketer, of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the Company's founding in 1961, Cabela's^® has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World's Foremost Outfitter^®. Through Cabela's growing number of retail stores and its well-established direct business, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela's also issues the Cabela's CLUB^® Visa credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program. Cabela's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CAB".

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical or current fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on the Company's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of future events, taking into account the information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's statements regarding opening a total of five stores in the second quarter, four stores in the third quarter, and two stores in the fourth quarter; cost saving opportunities further reducing costs; the full-year 2015 effective tax rate being between 35.5% and 36.5%; repurchasing up to two million shares of the Company's common stock through February 2016; and a low-double-digit growth rate in revenue and a high-single to low-double-digit growth rate in diluted earnings per share for full-year 2015 as compared to full-year 2014 non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.88. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or financial condition to differ materially from the expectations of future results, performance, or financial condition that the Company expresses or implies in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the state of the economy and the level of discretionary consumer spending, including changes in consumer preferences, demand for firearms and ammunition, and demographic trends; adverse changes in the capital and credit markets or the availability of capital and credit; the Company's ability to successfully execute its omni-channel strategy; increasing competition in the outdoor sporting goods industry and for credit card products and reward programs; the cost of the Company's products, including increases in fuel prices; the availability of the Company's products due to political or financial instability in countries where the goods the Company sells are manufactured; supply and delivery shortages or interruptions, and other interruptions or disruptions to the Company's systems, processes, or controls, caused by system changes or other factors; increased or adverse government regulations, including regulations relating to firearms and ammunition; the Company's ability to protect its brand, intellectual property, and reputation; the Company's ability to prevent cybersecurity breaches and mitigate cybersecurity risks; the outcome of litigation, administrative, and/or regulatory matters (including a Commissioner's charge the Company received from the Chair of the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in January 2011, audits by tax authorities, and compliance examinations by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation); the Company's ability to manage credit, liquidity, interest rate, operational, legal, regulatory capital, and compliance risks; the Company's ability to increase credit card receivables while managing credit quality; the Company's ability to securitize its credit card receivables at acceptable rates or access the deposits market at acceptable rates; the impact of legislation, regulation, and supervisory regulatory actions in the financial services industry; and other risks, relevant factors, and uncertainties identified in the Company's filings with the SEC (including the information set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2014), which filings are available at the Company's website at www.cabelas.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Given the risks and uncertainties surrounding forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on these statements. The Company's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Other than as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

CABELA'S INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in Thousands Except Earnings Per Share)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 28, 2015				March 29, 2014
Revenue:
Merchandise sales	$	697,654			$	620,197
Financial Services revenue	122,913				98,578
Other revenue	6,509				7,048
Total revenue	827,076				725,823
Cost of revenue:
Merchandise costs (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	466,219				406,643
Cost of other revenue	220				1,322
Total cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	466,439				407,965
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses	316,104				277,005
Operating income	44,533				40,853
Interest expense, net	(3,774		)		(3,685		)
Other non-operating income, net	1,740				2,102
Income before provision for income taxes	42,499				39,270
Provision for income taxes	15,725				13,521
Net income	$	26,774			$	25,749
Earnings per basic share	$	0.38			$	0.36
Earnings per diluted share	$	0.37			$	0.36
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	71,272,064				70,766,568
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	71,603,575				71,758,033

CABELA'S INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in Thousands Except Par Values)
(Unaudited)
	March 28, 2015				December 27, 2014				March 29, 2014
ASSETS
CURRENT
Cash and cash equivalents	$	267,686			$	142,758			$	484,586
Restricted cash of the Trust	30,641				334,812				24,609
Accounts receivable, net	30,699				62,358				27,959
Credit card loans (includes restricted credit card loans of the Trust of $4,185,397, $4,440,520, and $3,726,122),
net of allowance for loan losses of $55,942, $56,572, and $51,010	4,157,410				4,421,185				3,698,529
Inventories	810,633				760,293				742,021
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	101,824				93,929				92,650
Income taxes receivable and deferred income taxes	140,188				122,337				58,229
Total current assets	5,539,081				5,937,672				5,128,583
Property and equipment, net	1,665,178				1,608,153				1,366,298
Economic development bonds	83,083				82,074				80,056
Other assets	47,723				47,418				43,689
Total assets	$	7,335,065			$	7,675,317			$	6,618,626
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT
Accounts payable, including unpresented checks of $10,775, $38,790, and $26,824	$	264,016			$	335,969			$	250,181
Gift instruments, credit card rewards, and loyalty rewards programs	316,351				339,782				277,185
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	183,747				216,274				123,723
Time deposits	294,849				273,081				212,141
Current maturities of secured variable funding obligations of the Trust	—				480,000				—
Current maturities of secured long-term obligations of the Trust	212,500				467,500				255,000
Current maturities of long-term debt	8,438				8,434				8,422
Deferred income taxes	—				—				757
Total current liabilities	1,279,901				2,121,040				1,127,409
Long-term time deposits	518,173				532,975				728,000
Secured long-term obligations of the Trust, less current maturities	2,898,500				2,579,750				2,452,250
Long-term debt, less current maturities	663,063				491,281				540,587
Long-term deferred income taxes	12,579				6,546				7,346
Other long-term liabilities	130,528				126,215				131,090
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; Authorized – 10,000,000 shares; Issued – none	—				—				—
Common stock, $0.01 par value:
Class A Voting, Authorized – 245,000,000 shares
Issued and outstanding – 71,575,434, 71,093,216, and 71,009,175 shares	716				711				710
Additional paid-in capital	368,272				365,973				348,162
Retained earnings	1,489,306				1,462,532				1,286,566
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(25,973		)		(11,706		)		(3,494		)
Total stockholders' equity	1,832,321				1,817,510				1,631,944
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	7,335,065			$	7,675,317			$	6,618,626

CABELA'S INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 28, 2015				March 29, 2014
Components of Total Consolidated Revenue:
Retail	$	524,440			$	440,949
Direct	173,479				179,416
Financial Services (1)	122,913				98,578
Other	6,244				6,880
Total consolidated revenue as reported	$	827,076			$	725,823
As a Percentage of Total Consolidated Revenue:
Retail revenue	63.4		%		60.8		%
Direct revenue	21.0				24.7
Financial Services revenue (1)	14.9				13.6
Other revenue	0.7				0.9
Total	100.0		%		100.0		%
Operating Income (Loss) by Segment:
Retail	$	55,555			$	52,298
Direct	26,042				33,130
Financial Services	48,477				33,102
Other	(85,541		)		(77,677		)
Total consolidated operating income as reported	$	44,533			$	40,853
Operating Income by Segment as a Percentage of Segment Revenue:
Retail operating income	10.6		%		11.9		%
Direct operating income	15.0				18.5
Financial Services operating income	40.9				33.6
Total operating income by segment as a percentage of total segment revenue	5.4				5.6

(1) Includes the effect of the reimbursement from our Financial Services segment to our Retail and Direct segments for the costs of promotions eliminated in consolidation. This adjustment in the presentation of reimbursement between segments, initially made in the second quarter of fiscal year 2014, totaled $4,477 for the three months ended March 28, 2015, and will be ongoing. This adjustment did not result in a change to consolidated earnings per share.

CABELA'S INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

COMPONENTS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES REVENUE

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

Financial Services revenue consists of activity from the Company's credit card operations and is comprised of interest and fee income, interchange income, other non-interest income, interest expense, provision for loan losses, and customer rewards costs. The following table details the components and amounts of Financial Services revenue as reported for the periods presented below.

	Three Months Ended
	March 28, 2015				March 29, 2014
Interest and fee income	$	111,928			$	94,219
Interest expense	(15,619		)		(15,886		)
Provision for loan losses	(13,230		)		(12,714		)
Net interest income, net of provision for loan losses	83,079				65,619
Non-interest income:
Interchange income	87,694				82,427
Other non-interest income	682				755
Total non-interest income	88,376				83,182
Less: Customer rewards costs	(48,542		)		(50,223		)
Financial Services revenue as reported	$	122,913			$	98,578

The following table sets forth the components of Financial Services revenue as reported as a percentage of average total credit card loans, including any accrued interest and fees, for the periods presented below.

	Three Months Ended
	March 28, 2015			March 29, 2014
Interest and fee income	10.6	%		10.0	%
Interest expense	(1.5	)		(1.7	)
Provision for loan losses	(1.3	)		(1.4	)
Interchange income	8.3			8.8
Other non-interest income	0.1			0.1
Customer rewards costs	(4.6	)		(5.3	)
Financial Services revenue as reported	11.6	%		10.5	%

CABELA'S INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

KEY STATISTICS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES BUSINESS

(Unaudited)

Key statistics reflecting the performance of the Financial Services business are shown in the following table for the periods presented below.

	Three Months Ended
	March 28, 2015				March 29, 2014				Increase				%
									(Decrease)				Change
	(Dollars in Thousands Except Average Balance per Active Account )
Average balance of credit card loans (1)	$	4,220,546			$	3,757,216			$	463,330			12.3	%
Average number of active credit card accounts	1,886,045				1,762,782				123,263				7.0
Average balance per active credit card account (1)	$	2,238			$	2,131			$	107			5.0
Purchases on credit card accounts, net	$	4,477,012			$	4,255,757			$	221,255			5.2
Net charge-offs on credit card loans (1)	$	16,176			$	16,919			$	(743	)		(4.4	)
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average credit card loans (1)	1.53		%		1.80		%		(0.27		)%
(1) Includes accrued interest and fees

CABELA'S INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP REPORTED TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED FINANCIAL MEASURES (1)

(Unaudited)

To supplement our consolidated statements of income presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), we are providing non-GAAP adjusted financial measures of operating results that exclude certain items. Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses; operating income; operating income as a percentage of total revenue; income before provision for income taxes; provision for income taxes; net income; and earnings per diluted share are presented below both as GAAP reported and non-GAAP financial measures excluding incremental expenses related to the transition to a third-party logistics provider and the closing of our distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. In light of the nature and magnitude, we believe these items should be presented separately to enhance a reader's overall understanding of the Company's ongoing operations. These non-GAAP adjusted financial measures should be considered in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures.

We believe these non-GAAP adjusted financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of our ongoing operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. In addition, we evaluate results using non-GAAP adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per diluted share. These non-GAAP adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income, earnings per diluted share, or any other measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. The following tables reconcile these financial measures to the related GAAP adjusted financial measures for the periods presented.

		Reconciliation of GAAP Reported to Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures (1)
		Three Months Ended
						March 28, 2015								March 29, 2014
		GAAP Basis				Non-GAAP				Non-GAAP				GAAP Basis
		As Reported				Adjustments				Amounts				As Reported
		(Dollars in Thousands Except Earnings Per Share)
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses (2)		$	316,104			$	(1,207	)		$	314,897			$	277,005
Operating income		$	44,533			$	1,207			$	45,740			$	40,853
Operating income as a percentage of total revenue		5.4		%		0.1		%		5.5		%		5.6		%
Income before provision for income taxes		$	42,499			$	1,207			$	43,706			$	39,270
Provision for income taxes (3)		$	15,725			$	447			$	16,172			$	13,521
Net income		$	26,774			$	760			$	27,534			$	25,749
Earnings per diluted share		$	0.37			$	0.01			$	0.38			$	0.36

(1) The presentation includes non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, and do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP.

(2) For the three months ended March 28, 2015, reflects incremental expenses related to the transition to a third-party logistics provider and the closing of our distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

(3) Reflects the estimated income tax provision on the non-GAAP adjusted income before provision for income taxes.

CABELA'S INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP REPORTED TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED FINANCIAL MEASURES (1)

(Unaudited)

To supplement our consolidated statements of income presented in accordance with GAAP, we are providing non-GAAP adjusted financial measures of operating results that exclude certain items. Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses; impairment and restructuring charges; operating income; operating income as a percentage of total revenue; income before provision for income taxes; provision for income taxes; net income; and earnings per diluted share are presented below both as GAAP reported and non-GAAP financial measures excluding (i) incremental expenses primarily related to the transition to a third-party logistics provider and the closing of our distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, (ii) impairment and restructuring charges recognized in 2014, and (iii) adjustments to the provision for income taxes related to changes in our assessments of uncertain tax positions recognized in 2014. In light of the nature and magnitude, we believe these items should be presented separately to enhance a reader's overall understanding of the Company's ongoing operations. These non-GAAP adjusted financial measures should be considered in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures.

We believe these non-GAAP adjusted financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of our ongoing operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. In addition, we evaluate results using non-GAAP adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per diluted share. These non-GAAP adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income, earnings per diluted share, or any other measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. The following tables reconcile these financial measures to the related GAAP adjusted financial measures for the periods presented.

	Reconciliation of GAAP Reported to Non-GAAP Adjusted Financial Measures (1)
	Fiscal Year Ended
	December 27, 2014
	GAAP Basis				Non-GAAP				Non-GAAP
	As Reported				Adjustments				Amounts
	(Dollars in Thousands Except Earnings Per Share)
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses (2)	$	1,251,325			$	(1,842	)		$	1,249,483
Impairment and restructuring charges (3)	$	641			$	(641	)		$	—
Operating income	$	335,395			$	2,483			$	337,878
Operating income as a percentage of total revenue	9.2		%		0.1		%		9.3		%
Income before provision for income taxes	$	318,477			$	2,483			$	320,960
Provision for income taxes (4)	$	116,762			$	(2,861	)		$	113,901
Net income	$	201,715			$	5,344			$	207,059
Earnings per diluted share	$	2.81			$	0.07			$	2.88

(1) The presentation includes non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, and do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP.

(2) Reflects incremental expenses primarily related to the transition to a third-party logistics provider and the closing of our distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

(3) Reflects a restructuring charge related to the transition to a third-party logistics provider for our distribution needs in Canada and the closing of our distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

(4) Reflects (i) the estimated income tax provision on the non-GAAP adjusted income before provision for income taxes, (ii) offsetting positions from a net operating loss carry forward, and (iii) tax adjustments related to changes in assessments of uncertain tax positions.