AEO Inc. Reports Record Second Quarter Revenue and Meaningful Operating Margin Expansion; Updates Full-Year Operating Income Outlook to the High-End of Prior Guidance
- Record second quarter revenue of $1.3 billion, rose 8% to last year
- Operating profit of $101 million, up 55% to last year
- Aerie achieved all-time high second quarter revenue, with comps up 4%
- American Eagle continued to see strong momentum, with comps increasing 5%
- Updates full-year operating income outlook to $455 to $465 million, the high-end of prior guidance range
August 29, 2024
PITTSBURGH — (BUSINESS WIRE) – American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) today announced financial results for the second quarter fiscal 2024 ended August 3, 2024.
“Our Powering Profitable Growth strategy is off to a great start, locking in a strong first half and setting us on track to achieve the high end of our prior operating profit outlook for 2024. The second quarter marked our sixth consecutive quarter of record revenue and we successfully leveraged our cost base – advancing a number of strategic priorities to fuel growth across brands and channels and drive operating efficiencies,” commented Jay Schottenstein, AEO’s Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
“I am pleased with the positive reception we’ve seen to our early Fall collections. Our winning formula of outstanding quality and style offered at a great value remains a cornerstone of our brands, positioning us perfectly for today’s consumers. In a dynamic macroeconomic environment, we will remain disciplined and focused on delivering profitable growth and long-term shareholder value,” he continued.
Second Quarter 2024 Results:
- Second quarter 2024 results are presented for the 13 weeks ended August 3, 2024 compared to the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2023. Comparable sales metrics are presented for the 13 weeks ended August 3, 2024 compared to the 13 weeks ended August 5, 2023.
- Total net revenue of $1.3 billion rose 8%. This included an approximately $55 million positive impact from the retail calendar shift.
- Store revenue rose 7%. Digital revenue increased 12%.
- Aerie revenue of $416 million rose 9%, with comp sales up 4%. American Eagle revenue of $828 million increased 8%, with comp sales growing 5%.
- Gross profit of $499 million increased 10%, reflecting a gross margin rate of 38.6%, expanding 90 basis points. Merchandise margins increased, led by favorable product costs. Gross margin expansion also reflected leverage on expenses, primarily in rent and digital delivery costs.
- Selling, general and administrative expense of $345 million was up 4% and leveraged 90 basis points. The improvement was driven by leverage across compensation, including incentive costs, store and corporate payroll. Professional fees and services and supplies and maintenance costs, also improved as a rate to revenue.
- Operating income of $101 million increased 55%. This included an approximately $20 million positive impact from the retail calendar shift. The operating margin expanded 240 basis points to 7.8%.
- Diluted earnings per share was $0.39. Average diluted shares outstanding were 198 million.
Inventory
Total ending inventory increased 4% to $664 million. Inventory levels are healthy and well positioned for the balance of the season.
Shareholder Returns
In the second quarter, the company returned $120 million in cash to shareholders, bringing year-to-date returns to $180 million. This included 4.5 million shares repurchased in the second quarter for $96 million, bringing year-to-date repurchases to 6 million shares and $131 million. The company continues to have 24 million shares remaining for repurchase under the current authorization.
Additionally, the company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share, or approximately $24 million, bringing year-to-date cash dividends to $49 million.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures totaled $61 million in the second quarter and $97 million year-to-date. For fiscal 2024, management continues to expect capital expenditures to approximate $200 to $250 million.
Outlook
For the third quarter, the company expects operating income to be in the range of $120 to $125 million. This reflects approximately $20 million of profit that shifted into the second quarter from the third quarter, due to the retail calendar. The company expects comparable sales to increase in the range of 3% to 4%, with total revenue flat to up slightly, also reflecting the impact from the retail calendar. SG&A is expected to leverage, with dollars down slightly, driven by efficiencies across key focus areas.
For the year, the company is updating its operating income outlook to $455 to $465 million, the high end of prior guidance. The company expects comparable sales to increase approximately 4%, with total revenue up 2% to 3%, including the impact from one less selling week, as previously discussed.
Webcast and Supplemental Financial Information
Management will host a conference call and real time webcast today at 11:00 am Eastern Time. To listen to the call, dial 1-877-407-0789 or internationally dial 1-201-689-8562 or go to http://www.aeo-inc.com to access the webcast and audio replay. Additionally, a financial results presentation is posted on the company’s website.
About American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. Our purpose is to show the world that there’s REAL power in the optimism of youth. The company operates stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Hong Kong and ships to approximately 80 countries worldwide through its websites. American Eagle and Aerie merchandise also is available at more than 300 international locations operated by licensees in approximately 30 countries. To learn more about AEO and the company’s commitment to Planet, People and Practices, please visit http://www.aeo-inc.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This release and related statements by management contain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which represent management’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including, without limitation, third fiscal quarter and annual fiscal 2024 results. Words such as “outlook,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “potential,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All forward-looking statements made by the company are inherently uncertain because they are based on assumptions and expectations concerning future events and are subject to change based on many important factors, some of which may be beyond the company’s control. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise and even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. The following factors, in addition to the risks disclosed in Item 1A., Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024 and in any other filings that we may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the company’s financial performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by management: the risk that the company’s operating, financial and capital plans may not be achieved; our inability to anticipate customer demand and changing fashion trends and to manage our inventory commensurately; seasonality of our business; our inability to achieve planned store financial performance; our inability to react to raw material cost, labor and energy cost increases; our inability to gain market share in the face of declining shopping center traffic; our inability to respond to changes in e-commerce and leverage omni-channel demands; our inability to expand internationally; difficulty with our international merchandise sourcing strategies; challenges with information technology systems, including safeguarding against security breaches; and global economic, public health, social, political and financial conditions, and the resulting impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, as well as other changes in consumer discretionary spending habits, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and liquidity.
The use of the “company,” “AEO,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in this release refers to American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
