lululemon athletica inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2015 Results

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

lululemon athletica inc. LULU today announced financial results for the second quarter ended August 2, 2015.

For the second quarter ended August 2, 2015:

• Net revenue for the quarter increased 16% to $453.0 million from $390.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
• Total comparable sales, which includes comparable store sales and direct to consumer, increased by 11% for the second quarter on a constant dollar basis.
• Comparable store sales for the second quarter increased by 6% on a constant dollar basis and direct to consumer revenue increased 35% on a constant dollar basis.
• Direct to consumer net revenue increased 30% to $82.2 million, or 18.2% of total Company revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, an increase from 16.2% of total Company revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
• Gross profit for the quarter increased by 7% to $212.0 million, and as a percentage of net revenue gross profit was 46.8% for the quarter compared to 50.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
• Income from operations for the quarter decreased by 2% to $66.6 million, and as a percentage of net revenue was 14.7% compared to 17.4% of net revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
• The effective tax rate for the quarter was 29.3% compared to 30.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
• Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $0.34 on net income of $47.7 million, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.33 on net income of $48.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014.
• During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company repurchased 1.0 million shares of the Company's common stock at an average cost of $63.96 per share.

The Company ended the second quarter of fiscal 2015 with $541.3 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $725.1 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Inventory at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2015 totaled $280.6 million compared to $180.5 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2014. The Company ended the quarter with 336 stores.

Laurent Potdevin, lululemon's CEO, stated: "We exceeded our revenue targets for the past quarter, supported by strong performance from both our store and e-commerce channels. Looking to the remainder of the year, our team is laser focused on meeting our strategic key goals: grow our global collective, relentlessly innovate our product lines and continue to create transformational experiences for our guests." Mr. Potdevin continued: "As our momentum continues to build, we are excited by the progress made with our international expansion, the launch of our new women's pant wall last week, and successful brand-building events occurring around the globe."

Updated Outlook

For the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we expect net revenue to be in the range of $477 million to $482 million based on total comparable sales in the high single digits on a constant dollar basis. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.35 to $0.37 for the quarter. This guidance assumes 141.6 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding and a 30.2% tax rate. The guidance does not reflect potential future repurchases of the Company's shares.

For the full fiscal 2015, we now expect net revenue to be in the range of $2.025 billion to $2.055 billion based on total comparable sales in the high single digits on a constant dollar basis. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $1.87 to $1.92 for the full year. This guidance assumes 141.8 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding and a 30.2% tax rate. The guidance does not reflect potential future repurchases of the Company's shares.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss second quarter results is scheduled for today, September 10, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. Those interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-877-303-3203 approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be webcast live at www.lululemon.com. The webcast will be accessible on our website for approximately 30 days after the call.

About lululemon athletica inc.

lululemon athletica inc. LULU is a yoga-inspired athletic apparel company with products that create transformational experiences for people to live happy, healthy, fun lives. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional designs, lululemon works with yogis and athletes in local communities for continuous research and product feedback. For more information, visit www.lululemon.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Total comparable sales in constant dollars, comparable store sales in constant dollars, and changes in direct to consumer net revenue in constant dollars are not United States generally accepted accounting principle ("GAAP") performance measures.

We provide constant dollar total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and changes in direct to consumer net revenue because we use these measures to understand the underlying growth rate of net revenue excluding the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates, which are not under management's control. We believe that disclosing these measures on a constant dollar basis is useful to investors because it enables them to better understand the level of growth of our business.

The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in the accompanying financial tables, which includes more detail on the GAAP financial measure that is most directly comparable to each non-GAAP financial measure, and the related reconciliations between these financial measures.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our future financial condition or results of operations and our prospects and strategies for future growth. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "outlook," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations but they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: our ability to maintain the value and reputation of our brand, including any negative publicity regarding our products or the production methods of our suppliers or manufacturers; the acceptability of our products to our guests, including receiving products that comply with our technical specifications and quality standards; our reliance on and limited control over third-party suppliers to provide fabrics for and to produce our products; an economic downturn or economic uncertainty in our key markets; our highly competitive market and increasing competition; increasing product costs and decreasing selling prices; our ability to anticipate consumer preferences and successfully develop and introduce new, innovative and updated products; our ability to accurately forecast customer demand for our products; our ability to safeguard against security breaches with respect to our information technology systems; any material disruption of our information systems; our ability to manage our growth and the increased complexity of our business effectively; the fluctuating costs of raw materials; our ability to expand internationally in light of our limited operating experience and limited brand recognition in new international markets; our ability to deliver our products to the market and to meet customer expectations if we have problems with our distribution system; imitation by our competitors; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; our ability to cancel store leases if an existing or new store is not profitable; increasing labor costs and other factors associated with the production of our products in South and South East Asia; our ability to successfully open new store locations in a timely manner; our ability to comply with trade and other regulations; the continued service of our senior management; seasonality; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the operations of many of our suppliers are subject to international and other risks; our ability to source our merchandise profitably or at all; our exposure to various types of litigation; actions of activist stockholders; and other risks and uncertainties set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov, including, without limitation, our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

lululemon athletica inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Unaudited; Expressed in thousands, except per share amounts
		Thirteen Weeks				Thirteen Weeks				Twenty-Six				Twenty-Six
		Ended				Ended				Weeks Ended				Weeks Ended
		August 2, 2015				August 3, 2014				August 2, 2015				August 3, 2014
Net revenue		$	453,010			$	390,708			$	876,554			$	775,326
Costs of goods sold		240,985				193,401				458,652				382,275
Gross profit		212,025				197,307				417,902				393,051
As a percent of net revenue		46.8		%		50.5		%		47.7		%		50.7		%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		145,446				129,419				283,287				255,362
As a percent of net revenue		32.1		%		33.1		%		32.3		%		32.9		%
Income from operations		66,579				67,888				134,615				137,689
As a percent of net revenue		14.7		%		17.4		%		15.4		%		17.8		%
Other income, net		842				1,890				1,371				3,533
Income before provision for income taxes		67,421				69,778				135,986				141,222
Provision for income taxes		19,753				21,030				40,508				73,493
Net income		$	47,668			$	48,748			$	95,478			$	67,729
Basic earnings per share		$	0.34			$	0.34			$	0.67			$	0.47
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.34			$	0.33			$	0.67			$	0.46
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		141,372				145,180				141,656				145,282
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		141,644				145,544				141,977				145,715

lululemon athletica inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited; Expressed in thousands
		August 2, 2015				February 1, 2015
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	541,262			$	664,479
Inventories		280,607				208,116
Other current assets		96,400				78,417
Total current assets		918,269				951,012
Property and equipment, net		324,093				296,008
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		25,611				26,163
Deferred income tax assets and other non-current assets		26,248				23,030
Total assets		$	1,294,221			$	1,296,213
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	7,488			$	9,339
Accrued inventory liabilities		35,545				22,296
Accrued compensation and related expenses		33,050				29,932
Income taxes payable		1,239				20,073
Unredeemed gift card liability		36,148				46,252
Other accrued liabilities		34,638				31,989
Total current liabilities		148,108				159,881
Deferred income tax liabilities		3,545				3,633
Other non-current liabilities		47,100				43,131
Stockholders' equity		1,095,468				1,089,568
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	1,294,221			$	1,296,213

lululemon athletica inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited; Expressed in thousands
		Twenty-Six Weeks				Twenty-Six Weeks
		Ended				Ended
		August 2, 2015				August 3, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income		$	95,478			$	67,729
Items not affecting cash		38,152				57,209
Other, including net changes in other non-cash balances		(101,469		)		(953		)
Net cash provided by operating activities		32,161				123,985
Net cash used in investing activities		(65,118		)		(52,102		)
Net cash used in financing activities		(78,837		)		(57,167		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(11,423		)		11,708
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(123,217		)		26,424
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		$	664,479			$	698,649
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	541,262			$	725,073

lululemon athletica inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Constant dollar total comparable sales (unaudited)
		Thirteen Weeks Ended August 2, 2015			Thirteen Weeks Ended August 3, 2014
Total comparable sales1		6	%		(1	)%
Adjustments due to foreign exchange rate changes		5			1
Total comparable sales in constant dollars1		11	%		—	%

__________

¹ Total comparable sales includes comparable store sales and direct to consumer sales. Comparable store sales reflects net revenue at company-operated stores that have been open for at least 12 months.

Constant dollar comparable store sales (unaudited)
		Thirteen Weeks			Thirteen Weeks
		Ended			Ended
		August 2, 2015			August 3, 2014
Comparable store sales1		1	%		(7	)%
Adjustments due to foreign exchange rate changes		5			2
Comparable store sales in constant dollars1		6	%		(5	)%

__________

¹Comparable store sales reflects net revenue at company-operated stores that have been open for at least 12 months.

Constant dollar changes in direct to consumer revenue (unaudited)
		Thirteen Weeks Ended August 2, 2015			Thirteen Weeks Ended August 3, 2014
Change in direct to consumer revenue		30	%		29	%
Adjustments due to foreign exchange rate changes		5			1
Change in direct to consumer revenue in constant dollars		35	%		30	%

lululemon athletica inc.
Store Count and Square Footage1
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 2, 2015
Square Footage Expressed in Thousands
		Number of Stores Open at the Beginning of the Quarter			Number of Stores Opened During the Quarter2			Number of Stores Closed During the Quarter2			Number of Stores Open at the End of the Quarter
1st Quarter		302			14			—			316
2nd Quarter		316			20			—			336
		Total Gross Square Feet at the Beginning of the Quarter			Gross Square Feet Added During the Quarter2,3			Gross Square Feet Lost During the Quarter2,3			Total Gross Square Feet at the End of the Quarter
1st Quarter		894			37			—			931
2nd Quarter		931			54			—			985

__________

¹ Store count and square footage summary includes company-operated stores which are branded lululemon athletica or ivivva athletica.

² Number of stores opened/closed during the quarter that are branded lululemon athletica or ivivva athletica.

³ Gross square feet added/lost during the quarter includes net square foot additions for company-operated stores which have been renovated or relocated in the quarter.

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