FOSSIL, INC. REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER AND FIS FOSSIL, INC. REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR 2012 RESULTS
Fourth Quarter Net Sales Increase 14% to a Record $948 Million
Fourth Quarter EPS Increases 34% to a Record $2.51; Adjusted EPS Reaches $2.27
Provides First Quarter and Fiscal 2013 Guidance
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Richardson, TX. February 12, 2013 -- Fossil, Inc. (NASDAQ: FOSL) (the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 29, 2012.
Fourth Quarter Operating Highlights
? Net sales grew in all segments, compared to the prior fiscal year period:
? North America wholesale sales increased 15%
? Europe wholesale sales increased 4%
? Asia wholesale sales increased 19%
? Direct to consumer sales increased 20%
? Global retail comps increased 2.4%, the 19th consecutive quarter of positive comps
? Operating income increased 17% and operating margin expanded 60 basis points to 21.6%
Full Fiscal Year 2012 Operating Highlights
? Net sales increased in all segments compared to the prior fiscal year
? Global retail comps increased 3.1%
? Operating income grew 4% and operating margin declined 130 basis points to 17.1%
? Invested $261 million to repurchase 3.0 million shares of Fossil common stock
? EPS increased 21%, reaching a record of $5.59
The Company reported record net earnings of $151.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, a 28% increase compared to $117.9 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Diluted earnings per share increased 34% to $2.51, also a record, compared to $1.87 for the prior fiscal year fourth quarter.
“We are pleased to report strong fourth quarter sales and earnings, concluding another record year of growth and significant progress toward our long-term goals,” stated Kosta Kartsotis, Chief Executive Officer. “During the quarter, we grew sales in each of our major geographies and improved the overall profitability of our business, validating the strength of our business model and driven by our compelling portfolio of brands. Globally, consumers recognize Fossil for design innovation, and that drove our 19th consecutive quarter of comparable store sales increases. The year was equally strong, with Asia delivering our highest growth rate, as we continue to focus our resources on the long-term potential of this region. We achieved our third consecutive year of double-digit watch sales growth, successfully integrated and positioned our newly-acquired SKAGEN® brand for long term growth and added key management talent to our global team. We managed our resources tightly and once again generated strong cash flows, allowing us to continue to invest substantial capital in our share repurchase program.”
“Last year’s accomplishments position us well for the future,” continued Mr. Kartsotis. “Our global distribution and supply chain, our design and management talent and our dynamic portfolio of brands afford us a significant competitive advantage. We see many markets around the world with compelling prospects to leverage that advantage and gain market share. We remain positioned to capitalize on our opportunities and deliver sustained and consistent growth, as we grow our watch business and our FOSSIL® and SKAGEN lifestyle brands around the world. We will continue to invest in our infrastructure and build a world-class management team, dedicated to enhancing productivity and profitability. Above all, our goal is to build a diversified, scalable and predictable business model that generates solid cash flows and delivers outstanding returns for our shareholders.”
Operating Results
The translation impact of a stronger U.S. dollar decreased the Company’s reported net sales by approximately $5.8 million and $56.7 million during the fourth quarter and full fiscal year, respectively. The following discussion of the Company’s net sales is based on constant dollar performance.
Fourth quarter fiscal 2012 worldwide net sales rose 14.8% or $122.7 million, as sales grew in each segment compared to the prior fiscal year’s fourth quarter. The net sales growth was driven by the continued double-digit expansion of the global watch portfolio. Additionally, the April 2012 SKAGEN brand acquisition generated $43.5 million of net sales in the fourth quarter. Sales in the Company’s jewelry category increased modestly, while sales in other categories, including leathers, declined in the quarter. For the full fiscal year, worldwide net sales increased by 13.5% or $347.0 million, with sales increasing in each segment. SKAGEN branded sales contributed $93.8 million to fiscal 2012.
Net sales from the North America wholesale segment in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter increased 15.0%, or $46.0 million, which included the anticipated positive impact of a shift in certain wholesale customer shipments to the fourth quarter from the third quarter. The North American sales growth resulted from an increase in watch sales, the addition of the SKAGEN brand, where sales reached $15.0 million, and a modest increase in jewelry sales. These improvements were partially offset by lower shipments in other categories, including leathers. Wholesale shipments increased in the U.S., Canada and Mexico as well as to third party distributors.
Europe wholesale net sales rose 7.6%, or $17.0 million, in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter compared to the prior fiscal year period. Sales growth was driven by increases in the watch category as well as the addition of the SKAGEN brand, which generated sales of $19.2 million. Sales in other categories declined in the quarter, as shipments were affected by overall economic conditions as well as the repositioning of the FOSSIL jewelry product. Growth was strongest in the UK and France, while shipments declined in Germany and Italy.
Asia Pacific wholesale net sales rose 18.6%, or $16.1 million, in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter in comparison to the prior fiscal year fourth quarter, including $4.5 million from the SKAGEN brand. The period-over-period growth in sales was driven primarily by the strong performance of the watch category.
Direct to consumer net sales for the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter increased by 20.4%, or $43.6 million, compared to the prior fiscal year fourth quarter. The sales increase was primarily driven by expansion of the global retail store base coupled with a 2.4% increase in comparable store sales. Growth in watches and leathers drove the sales increase, along with higher sales from the Company’s repositioned jewelry products.
The Company’s fourth quarter fiscal 2012 operating profit increased 17.4%, or $30.4 million, compared to the prior fiscal year period, including a negative impact of $13.9 million related to foreign currency translation. Fourth quarter operating margin expanded 60 basis points to 21.6%, compared to 21.0% for the same period a year earlier. Despite currency headwinds, gross margin expanded as a result of fewer off-price sales, as the Company grows its outlet channel, select price increases across certain business, production efficiencies and the favorable net impact of product and segment mix. In addition, the Company’s operating expense rate increased 20 basis points to 35.3% compared to 35.1% in the prior fiscal year quarter. In the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, operating expenses increased in comparison to the prior fiscal year quarter, primarily as a result of the addition of Skagen, expansion of the Company’s store base and infrastructure investments in the Asia Pacific region and in corporate. Fiscal 2012 fourth quarter operating expenses also benefited $6.4 million as a result of the revaluation of the Company’s liability related to the Skagen purchase.
For the full fiscal year, operating profit increased 3.6%, or $16.8 million, compared to the prior fiscal year, including a negative impact of $43.8 million related to foreign currency translation. Full fiscal 2012 operating margin declined 130 basis points to 17.1%, compared to 18.4% a year earlier. Full fiscal 2012 gross margin increased slightly as the impact of outlet expansion, select price increases, product mix, production efficiencies and the increase in the direct to consumer and Asia Pacific wholesale distribution channels more than offset the negative impact of foreign currency translation. The Company’s operating expense rate increased for the full 2012 fiscal year, as infrastructure investments to drive growth in newer markets and support the Company’s global initiatives, including the expansion of retail stores, more than offset leverage on the Company’s existing expense structure.
Other income expense, net, which primarily relates to gains and losses on foreign currency contracts and account balances was $2.4 million in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, compared to a $4.5 million net charge in the prior fiscal year quarter. For the full 2012 fiscal year, other net income, net was $8.5 million, compared to an $18.0 million net charge for fiscal 2011. The Company’s effective income tax rate declined from 27.3% in the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter, to 25.6% in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, including a $10.8 million audit settlement benefit. The full year effective income tax rate declined from 31.9% in fiscal 2011, to 28.0% in fiscal 2012.
Share Repurchase
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company invested $65.0 million in repurchasing 744,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an average price of $87.33 per share. As of December 29, 2012, the Company had remaining authority to purchase $1.068 billion of its common stock.
Sales and Earnings Guidance
For the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company expects:
? Net sales to increase approximately 10%
? Operating margin in a range of 12.5% to 13.5%
? Diluted earnings per share in a range of $0.93 to $0.98
For the full fiscal year 2013, the Company expects:
? Net sales to increase between 10% and 11%
? Operating margin in a range of 12.5% to 13.0%
? Diluted earnings per share in a range of $5.85 to $6.15
The Company’s expectations assume that current foreign currency exchange rates that affect the Company’s financial results remain at prevailing levels. The Company’s first quarter and full fiscal year 2013 diluted earnings per share guidance includes a negative $0.05 per share impact related to this year’s misalignment between the Company’s fiscal calendar and the National Retail Federation calendar, on which many of the Company’s customers operate.
https://www.fossil.com/attachments/en_US/financials/earnings/20130212.pdf
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