Kontoor Brands reports third quarter 2022 results and updates outlook for full year 2022

• Q3'22 revenue of $607 million decreased 7 percent (5 percent in constant currency) compared to Q3'21
  

• Q3'22 reported EPS of $0.90, adjusted EPS of $1.11 compared to Q3'21 reported EPS of $1.07, adjusted EPS of $1.28
  

• 2022 revenue is now expected to increase approximately 4 percent (6 percent in constant currency) compared to 2021 and prior guidance of increasing approximately 6 percent
  

• 2022 adjusted EPS is now expected to be in the range of $4.35 to $4.40, compared to prior guidance of $4.40 to $4.50
  

Despite the difficult environment, we are encouraged by the sell-through of our brands including continued POS share gains, in the third quarter in our largest market. However, as expected, sell-in was adversely impacted and global revenue tempered as U.S. retailer inventory rebalancing efforts and COVID-related lockdowns in China continued. Mix benefits, strategic pricing, and tight expense controls helped offset inflationary pressures and allowed us to deliver upside to our profit expectations,” said Scott Baxter, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Kontoor Brands.

“We expect challenging global macroeconomic conditions, particularly inflation, should continue to weigh on consumer discretionary spend, and ongoing inventory reduction actions will pressure near-term margins. However, we anticipate revenue to sequentially accelerate in the fourth quarter due to improved U.S. retail inventory levels, continued POS momentum, share gains and new business development activities. Further, our cash generation is expected to remain strong over time, giving us confidence in our capital allocation flexibility, as evidenced by our recently announced dividend increase,” added Baxter.

This release refers to “adjusted” amounts from 2022 and 2021 and “constant currency” amounts, which are further described in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below. All per share amounts are presented on a diluted basis. Unless otherwise noted, “reported” and “constant dollar” amounts are the same. 

Third Quarter 2022 Income Statement Review

Revenue was $607 million, a 7 percent decrease (5 percent decrease in constant currency) over the same period in the prior year. Revenue decreases were primarily driven by significant U.S. retailer inventory rebalancing efforts in the quarter and the impacts of lockdowns in China. Challenges in domestic wholesale and China were somewhat offset by continued strength in Digital own.com, as well as gains in the EMEA region.

U.S. revenue was $452 million, decreasing 8 percent over last year, with reductions in both the Wrangler and Lee brands. Lower shipments due to retailer inventory rebalancing weighed on U.S. wholesale, which was down 9 percent compared to the third quarter 2021. These pressures were somewhat offset by continued strength in Digital own.com, with U.S. own.com revenue increasing 14 percent compared to last year.

International revenue was $154 million, a 3 percent decrease (7 percent increase in constant currency) over the same period in the prior year. As expected, due to COVID lockdowns in the region, China decreased 24 percent (20 percent decrease in constant currency) compared to the third quarter 2021, sequentially improving from decreases of 50 percent in the second quarter of 2022. Europe increased 7 percent (27 percent increase in constant currency), driven by Digital and aided by a shift in the timing of shipments associated with the ERP implementation last year, from the third quarter to the second quarter of 2021.

Wrangler brand global revenue was $406 million, a 4 percent decrease (2 percent decrease in constant currency) from the same period in the prior year. Wrangler U.S. revenue decreased 5 percent compared to last year, primarily driven by the aforementioned reduction of shipments in U.S. wholesale due to significant retailer inventory rebalancing, somewhat offset by broad-based channel and category strength including Western, Workwear, T-shirts and Female. U.S. Wrangler.com increased 16 percent compared to last year. Wrangler international revenue increased 3 percent (15 percent increase in constant currency) compared to the third quarter 2021.

Lee brand global revenue was $198 million, a 13 percent decrease (9 percent decrease in constant currency) from the same period in the prior year. Lee U.S. revenue decreased 19 percent compared to last year, primarily driven by the aforementioned reduction of shipments due to significant retailer inventory rebalancing. Globally, non-denim categories such as T-shirts experienced significant year-over-year gains in the quarter. U.S. Lee.com increased 10 percent compared to last year. Lee international revenue decreased 6 percent (3 percent increase in constant currency) from the third quarter 2021. Strength in Europe was offset by expected reductions in China due to the impact of COVID lockdowns.

Other global revenue was $2 million, a 33 percent decrease compared to the same period in the prior year.

Gross margin decreased to 43.5 percent, a decrease of 90 basis points on a reported basis and 60 basis points on an adjusted basis, compared to the third quarter 2021. Higher inflationary pressures on input costs, inventory provisions, elevated ocean freight rates and foreign currency primarily drove the decline. The decline was partially offset by strategic pricing, channel and product mix, as well as moderating transitory costs such as air freight.

Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses were $189 million on a reported basis, and $174 million on an adjusted basis. As a percent of revenue, adjusted SG&A was 28.7 percent, increasing 20 basis points compared to adjusted SG&A during the same period in the prior year. As expected, tight controls of discretionary expenses as well as lower compensation costs were somewhat offset by higher distribution expenses, as well as continued strategic investments in digital and IT.

Operating income was $75 million on a reported basis and $90 million on an adjusted basis. Adjusted operating margin of 14.8 percent decreased 80 basis points compared to adjusted operating margin during the same period in the prior year. Higher inflationary pressures on input costs, inventory provisions and elevated ocean freight more than offset the benefits of strategic pricing and tight control of expenses.

Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) was $82 million on a reported basis and $97 million on an adjusted basis. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.9 percent decreased 100 basis points compared to adjusted EBITDA margin during the same period in the prior year.

Earnings per share was $0.90 on a reported basis and $1.11 on an adjusted basis compared to reported EPS of $1.07 and adjusted EPS of $1.28, in the same period in the prior year.

October 1, 2022, Balance Sheet and Liquidity Review

The Company ended the third quarter 2022 with $58 million in cash and cash equivalents, and approximately $0.8 billion in long-term debt.

As of October 1, 2022, the Company had $40 million in outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and $448 million available for borrowing against this facility.

As previously announced, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $0.02 or 4 percent increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend to $0.48 per share, payable on December 19, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 9, 2022. With a combination of share repurchases and payout of the dividend, the Company returned a total of $140 million to shareholders during the first three quarters of 2022.

Inventory at the end of the third quarter 2022 was $678 million, up 66 percent compared to the prior-year period and 24 percent with pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Approximately 90 percent of inventory at the end of the third quarter was core product. The Company is taking proactive actions and expects inventory to return to more historical levels in mid-2023.

2022 Outlook

In consideration of impacts from retailer inventory rebalancing in the third quarter, inflation, ongoing lockdowns in China and foreign currency, the Company is revising its 2022 outlook, including the following:

Revenue is now expected to increase approximately 4 percent (increase 6 percent in constant currency) compared to 2021 and compared to prior guidance of up approximately 6 percent. The updated revenue guidance includes an incremental 1-point negative impact from foreign currency.

Gross margin is now expected to approximate 43.0 percent compared to adjusted gross margin of 44.6 percent achieved in 2021 and compared with prior guidance of 43.5 percent. The updated gross margin guidance includes the incremental impacts from capacity downtime, geographic mix and foreign currency. The benefits from continued structural mix shifts to accretive channels such as Digital, ongoing cost saving initiatives and strategic pricing are anticipated to help offset these higher costs.

Adjusted SG&A is expected to increase at a low single-digit rate compared to adjusted SG&A in 2021. Investments will continue to be made in the Company’s brands and capabilities, including demand creation, Digital, and international expansion. Given the uncertain macroeconomic conditions, the Company expects continued tight expense control on non-strategic and discretionary items, to assist in funding strategic investments. Adjusted SG&A excludes one-time restructuring charges related to the globalization of the Company’s operating model and relocation of the European headquarters, which are anticipated to be approximately $16 million for the year.

Adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of $4.35 to $4.40, compared to prior guidance of $4.40 to $4.50. Adjusted EPS excludes one-time restructuring charges related to the globalization of the Company’s operating model and relocation of the European headquarters, which are anticipated to be approximately $0.23 per share for the year.

Capital Expenditures are expected to be in the range of $30 million to $35 million, primarily to support manufacturing, distribution, and information technology projects, down from $35 million to $40 million prior.

The Company expects an effective tax rate of approximately 20 percent in 2022. Interest expense is expected to be in the range of $30 million to $35 million in 2022. Average shares outstanding in 2022 are expected to be approximately 57 million, excluding the impact of additional share repurchases.

Webcast Information

Kontoor Brands will host its third quarter 2022 conference call beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today, November 3, 2022. The conference will be broadcast live via the Internet, accessible at https://www.kontoorbrands.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, an archived version will be available at the same location.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted Amounts - This release refers to “adjusted” amounts. Adjustments during 2022 represent charges related to the globalization of the Company’s operating model and relocation of the European headquarters. Adjustments during 2021 primarily represent costs associated with the Company’s global ERP implementation and information technology infrastructure build-out. Additional information regarding adjusted amounts is provided in notes to the supplemental financial information included with this release.

Constant Currency - This release refers to “reported” amounts in accordance with GAAP, which include translation and transactional impacts from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. This release also refers to “constant currency” amounts, which exclude the translation impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are presented in the supplemental financial information included with this release that identifies and quantifies all reconciling adjustments and provides management's view of why this non-GAAP information is useful to investors. While management believes that these non-GAAP measures are useful in evaluating the business, this information should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternate for, reported results under GAAP. The non-GAAP measures used by the Company in this release may be different from similarly titled measures used by other companies.

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