AEO Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Annual Revenue; Fourth Quarter EPS of $0.43; Annual EPS of $1.47 +30%

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) today reported EPS of $0.43 for the 13 weeks ended February 2, 2019. This compares to $0.52 for the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2018, which included the benefit of an extra week of sales due to the retail calendar. Adjusted EPS of $0.44 last year excluded $0.08 of tax benefit discussed below. No adjustments were recorded in Q4 of fiscal 2018.

For the 52 weeks ended February 2, 2019, the company reported EPS of $1.47. This compares to $1.13 for the 53 weeks ended February 3, 2018, which included the benefit of an extra week of sales due to the retail calendar. Adjusted EPS of $1.48 excludes $0.01 of restructuring charges and compares to adjusted EPS of $1.16 last year, which excluded $0.08 of tax benefit related to the U.S. tax legislation as discussed below and $0.11 of restructuring and related charges. The EPS figures refer to diluted earnings per share.

“Strong execution by the teams drove a record fourth quarter and fiscal 2018, as we reached a milestone of $4 billion in annual revenue with increased operating profit,” commented Jay Schottenstein, AEO’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “American Eagle and Aerie continued to deliver consistent performance by combining product innovation and great merchandise with an improved customer experience across channels. As we head into 2019, we will continue to leverage the strength of our brands, selling channels and the team’s commitment to continually raising the bar for our customers. I’m extremely proud of our results over the past several years. The strength of our balance sheet and free cash flow enables us to make important investments in our business to fuel market share gains, future growth and returns to our shareholders.”

Adjusted amounts represent Non-GAAP results, as described in the accompanying GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliations.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Results

• Total net revenue for the 13 weeks ended February 2, 2019 increased $15 million, or 1% to $1.24 billion compared to $1.23 billion for the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2018. Total revenue was adversely affected by approximately $60 million of lost revenue due to operating one less week in 2018, which is consistent with the retail calendar. Consolidated comparable sales increased 6% over the comparable period ending February 3, 2018, following an 8% increase last year. This marked the 16th consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales.
• By brand, American Eagle comparable sales increased 3%, building on a 5% increase last year. Aerie’s comparable sales increased 23%, following a 34% increase last year, marking the 17th consecutive quarter of double-digit comp growth.
• Gross profit increased $5 million or 1% to $431 million from gross profit of $425 million last year. The gross margin rate was flat at a rate of 34.6%. Lower markdowns were offset by higher distribution and compensation expense.
• Selling, general and administrative expense of $288 million increased 9% from $264 million last year. As a rate to revenue, SG&A rose 160 basis points to 23.1%. The dollar increase primarily supported key investments in our brands, the customer experience and our associates with increases in store payroll, higher wages and incentives, and incremental advertising expense.
• Depreciation and amortization expense decreased 5% to $41 million, improving 30 basis points to 3.3% as a rate to revenue.
• Operating income of $101 million compared to $116 million last year. As a rate to revenue, operating income decreased to 8.2% from 9.4% last year. One less week in the fourth quarter adversely affected operating income by approximately $18 million.
• Other income of $2.3 million consisted primarily of interest income.
• The effective tax rate of 26.5% compared to 21.7% (34.2% on an adjusted basis) last year.
• EPS of $0.43 compared to EPS of $0.52 last year, or adjusted EPS of $0.44, which included $0.08 of tax benefits last year related to U.S. tax legislation enacted in December 2017.

Fiscal Year 2018 Results

• Total net revenue for the 52 weeks ended February 2, 2019, increased $240 million, or 6% to a record $4.0 billion compared to $3.8 billion for the 53 weeks ended February 3, 2018. Total revenue was adversely affected by approximately $40 million of lost revenue due to operating one less week in 2018, which is consistent with the retail calendar.
• Consolidated comparable sales increased 8% over the comparable period ending February 3, 2018, following a 4% increase last year.
• By brand, American Eagle comparable sales increased 5%, building on a 2% increase last year. Aerie’s comparable sales increased 29%, following a 27% increase in 2017.
• Gross profit increased $117 million, or 8% to $1.5 billion. The gross margin rate increased 80 basis points to 36.9% of revenue compared to 36.1% last year. An improved markdown rate and rent leverage were partially offset by increased delivery costs due to a strong digital business and higher compensation.
• Selling, general and administrative expense of $981 million increased 11% from $880 million last year. As a rate to revenue, SG&A rose 110 basis points to 24.3%. The dollar increase primarily supported key investments in the customer experience and our associates with increases in store payroll, higher wages and incentives, and incremental advertising expense.
• Depreciation and amortization expense increased slightly to $168 million to $167 million last year, improving 20 basis points to 4.2% as a rate to revenue.
• Operating income of $337 million increased from $303 million last year. Adjusted operating income of $339 million increased 4% from $325 million last year. As a rate to revenue, adjusted operating income decreased to 8.4% from 8.6%. Adjusted figures exclude restructuring and related charges of approximately $2 million and $22 million in fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively. One less week in the year adversely affected operating profit by approximately $12 million.
• The effective tax rate decreased to 24.1% compared to 28.9% (34.4% on an adjusted basis) last year.
• EPS of $1.47 compared to EPS of $1.13 last year. Adjusted EPS of $1.48 excludes $0.01 of restructuring charges and increased 28% compared to adjusted EPS of $1.16 last year, which excluded $0.08 of tax benefit related to the U.S. tax legislation and $0.11 of restructuring and related charges.

Inventory

Total ending inventory at cost increased 7% to $424 million, consistent with our expectations.

Capital Expenditures

In 2018 capital expenditures totaled $189 million. For fiscal 2019, the company expects capital expenditures to be in the range of $200 to $215 million, with more than half related to store remodeling projects and new openings, and the balance to support the digital business, omni-channel tools and general corporate maintenance.

Shareholder Returns, Cash and Investments

During 2018, the company returned $242 million to shareholders through cash dividends and share repurchases. We paid dividends of $97 million and repurchased 7.3 million shares for $144 million. The company ended the year with total cash and short-term investments of $425 million, an increase of $12 million compared to the end of 2017.

Store Information

We ended the year with a total of 1,055 stores. During the year, the company opened 16 AE stores and closed 15, ending the year with 934 AE stores. Included in the AE store count are 147 Aerie side-by-side locations, of which 29 opened in 2018. Additionally, the company opened 12 Aerie stand alone stores and closed 6, ending the year with 115 Aerie stand alone locations and 262 total Aerie stores. . Internationally, the company ended the year with 231 licensed stores. For additional information, see accompanying table.

Income Taxes

U.S. tax legislation was enacted on December 22, 2017, referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The legislation contained several key tax provisions and, as required, the company included reasonable estimates of the income tax effects of the changes in tax law in its fourth quarter and fiscal 2017 financial results. As a result, the company realized $0.08 per share of tax benefit, which is excluded from adjusted results. Specifically, these one-time items relate to:

• Benefit from a lower blended U.S. corporate tax rate in fiscal 2017.
• A net benefit from the re-measurement of deferred tax balances and the one-time transition tax on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries.
• A benefit from the acceleration of certain deductions into fiscal 2017.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the company finalized its accounting for the one-time mandatory transition tax on undistributed foreign earnings and the re-measuring of deferred tax balances due to the Tax Act in accordance within the one-year measurement period allowed by the SEC.

First Quarter 2019 Outlook

Based on an anticipated comparable sales increase in the low single digits, management expects first quarter 2019 EPS to be approximately $0.19 to $0.21. This guidance excludes potential asset impairment and restructuring charges. Last year’s first quarter reported EPS of $0.22 included $0.01 of restructuring charges. Excluding these items last year’s adjusted EPS was $0.23. See the accompanying table for the GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation.

Conference Call and Supplemental Financial Information

Today, management will host a conference call and real time webcast at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call, dial 1-877-407-0789 or internationally dial 1-201-689-8562 or go to www.aeo-inc.com to access the webcast and audio replay. Additionally, a financial results presentation is posted on the company’s website.

Non-GAAP Measures

This press release includes information on non-GAAP financial measures (“non-GAAP” or “adjusted”), including earnings per share information and the consolidated results of operations excluding non-GAAP items. These financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management believes that this non-GAAP information is useful for an alternate presentation of the company’s performance, when reviewed in conjunction with the company’s GAAP financial statements. These amounts are not determined in accordance with GAAP and therefore, should not be used exclusively in evaluating the company’s business and operations.

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. The company operates more than 1,000 stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Hong Kong, and ships to 81 countries worldwide through its websites. American Eagle Outfitters and Aerie merchandise also is available at more than 200 international locations operated by licensees in 24 countries. For more information, please visit 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 our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including first quarter 2019 results. All forward-looking statements made by the company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on many important factors, some of which may be beyond the company’s control. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," “potential,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. 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 the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2019 and in any subsequently-filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed 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 for the first quarter 2019 and beyond 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 changes in global economic 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.

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