Big Lots Reports Q4 Adjusted Income From Continuing Operations Of $2.00 Per Share

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) today reported income from continuing operations of $94.7 million, or $1.91 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 ended January 30, 2016. This result includes an after tax expense of $4.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, associated with the termination of legacy pension plans. Excluding this expense, adjusted income from continuing operations totaled $99.3 million, or $2.00 per diluted share (see non-GAAP table included later in this release), which compares to our guidance of adjusted income of $1.95 to $2.00 per diluted share (non-GAAP) and to income from continuing operations of $94.0 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Comparable store sales for stores open at least fifteen months increased 0.7% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to our guidance of an increase of 1% to 2%. Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 decreased 0.6% to $1,584.0 million, compared to net sales from continuing operations of $1,593.3 million for the same period of fiscal 2014, as our comparable store sales increase was offset by a lower store count compared to last year.

Commenting on today's release, David Campisi, Chief Executive Officer and President of Big Lots, stated, "I'm pleased with our results and another strong year for the Company. Fourth quarter earnings were at the high end of our guidance range and comps increased for an eighth consecutive quarter, despite the disruption from winter storm Jonas and a later start to the tax refund season for our customers. Throughout 2015, we remained focused on our strategy and the consistency of our performance and Jennifer has responded positively."

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Adjusted income from continuing operations of $2.00 per diluted share (non-GAAP), a 14% increase compared to last year's income from continuing operations of $1.76 per diluted share
• Comparable store sales increase of 0.7%, representing the eighth consecutive quarter of growth

Inventory and Cash Management

Inventory ended fiscal 2015 at $850 million, compared to $852 million for fiscal 2014. Inventory levels per store were up slightly to last year, offset by a lower overall store count year-over-year.

We ended fiscal 2015 with $54 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $62 million of borrowings under our credit facility compared to $52 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $62 million of borrowings under our credit facility as of the end of fiscal 2014. Cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less cash used in investing activities) was focused on reinvesting in the Company's strategic initiatives to support long-term sustainable growth and returning cash to our shareholders.

FISCAL 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

• Adjusted income from continuing operations of $2.97 per diluted share (non-GAAP), representing a 21% increase compared to fiscal 2014 income from continuing operations of $2.46 per diluted share
• Comparable store sales increase of 1.8%
• Cash flow of $229 million
• Returned $239 million of cash to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases

FISCAL 2015

For fiscal 2015, income from continuing operations totaled $143.0 million, or $2.81 per diluted share. Excluding non-recurring merchandise-related legal contingency expenses and legacy pension termination costs, adjusted income from continuing operations for the full year period ended January 30, 2016, totaled $151.3 million, or $2.97 per diluted share (non-GAAP). This result represents a 21% increase compared with income from continuing operations of $136.7 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, for fiscal 2014. Net sales from continuing operations for fiscal 2015 increased 0.3% to $5,190.6 million compared to net sales from continuing operations of $5,177.1 million for fiscal 2014. Comparable store sales increased 1.8% for fiscal 2015. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP amounts to the most comparable GAAP amounts is provided later in this release.

Total Cash Returned To Shareholders

For fiscal 2015, we returned $239 million to shareholders in the form of quarterly dividend payments totaling $39 million and share repurchases totaling $200 million.

2016 GUIDANCE

• Forecasting fiscal 2016 adjusted income from continuing operations to be $3.20 to $3.35 per diluted share (non-GAAP) representing an 8% to 13% increase compared to fiscal 2015 adjusted income from continuing operations of $2.97 per diluted share (non-GAAP)
• Forecasting comparable store sales to increase in the low single digit range
• Forecasting cash flow of approximately $200 million
• Forecasting cash returned to shareholders of approximately $290 million, including share repurchases and quarterly dividend payments

We estimate fiscal 2016 adjusted income from continuing operations will be in the range of $3.20 to $3.35 per diluted share (non-GAAP), compared to adjusted income from continuing operations of $2.97 per diluted share (non-GAAP) for fiscal 2015. This guidance is based on a comparable store sales increase in the low single digit range and total sales approximately flat. We estimate this financial performance will result in cash flow of approximately $200 million.

On March 1, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program ("2016 Share Repurchase Program") providing for the repurchase of up to $250 million of our common shares. The $250 million authorization is expected to be utilized to repurchase shares in the open market and/or in privately negotiated transactions at our discretion, subject to market conditions and other factors. Common shares acquired through the 2016 Share Repurchase Program will be available to meet obligations under equity compensation plans and for general corporate purposes. The 2016 Share Repurchase Program is eligible to begin on March 9, 2016 and will continue until exhausted.

As announced in a separate press release earlier today, on March 1, 2016, the Board of Directors increased the Company's quarterly dividend payment rate by approximately 11% by declaring a quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 of $0.21 per common share. This dividend is payable on April 1, 2016, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 18, 2016.

Fiscal Q1 2016 Guidance

For the first quarter of fiscal 2016, we estimate adjusted income from continuing operations in the range of $0.66 to $0.72 per diluted share (non-GAAP) representing a 10% to 20% increase compared to last year's income from continuing operations of $0.60 per diluted share. This guidance assumes a comparable store sales increase in the low single digit range.

Conference Call/Webcast

We will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. to discuss our financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 and provide commentary on our outlook for fiscal 2016. We invite you to listen to the webcast of the conference call through the Investor Relations section of our website http://www.biglots.com. If you are unable to join the live webcast, an archive of the call will be available through the Investor Relations section of our website after 12:00 noon today and will remain available through midnight on Friday, March 18, 2016. A replay of this call will also be available beginning today at 12:00 noon through March 18 by dialing 1.888.203.1112 (Toll Free USA and Canada) or 1.719.457.0820 (International), and entering Replay Passcode 8658064. All times are Eastern Time.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a unique, non-traditional, discount retailer operating 1,449 BIG LOTS stores in 47 states with product assortments in the merchandise categories of Food, Consumables, Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Hard Home, and Electronics & Accessories. Our vision is to be recognized for providing an outstanding shopping experience for our customers, valuing and developing our associates, and creating growth for our shareholders. Big Lots supports the communities it serves through the Big Lots Foundation, a charitable organization focused on four areas of need: hunger, housing, healthcare, and education. For more information about the Company, visit www.biglots.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the Act. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of our objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Although we believe the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, any one or a combination of which could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Forward-looking statements that we make herein and in other reports and releases are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, current economic and credit conditions, the cost of goods, our inability to successfully execute strategic initiatives, competitive pressures, economic pressures on our customers and us, the availability of brand name closeout merchandise, trade restrictions, freight costs, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our public announcements and SEC filings.

The above adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted income from continuing operations, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are "non-GAAP financial measures" as that term is defined by Rule 101 of Regulation G (17 CFR Part 244) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR Part 229). These non-GAAP financial measures exclude from the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") items associated with the Company's decision to freeze benefits and terminate the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans, including curtailment and settlement charges and professional fees in support of the actions to facilitate the plan termination, which totaled $7,615 ($4,604, net of tax).

The above adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted income from continuing operations, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are "non-GAAP financial measures" as that term is defined by Rule 101 of Regulation G (17 CFR Part 244) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR Part 229). These non-GAAP financial measures exclude from the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"): (1) a pretax accrual of a loss contingency associated with merchandise-related legal matters of $4,487 ($2,711, net of tax); and (2) items associated with the Company's decision to freeze benefits and terminate the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans, including curtailment and settlement charges and professional fees in support of the actions to facilitate the plan termination, which totaled $9,234 ($5,582, net of tax). 

Our management believes that the disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors because the non-GAAP financial measures present an alternative and more relevant method for measuring our operating performance, excluding special items included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, that management believes is more indicative of our on-going operating results and financial condition. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures, along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating performance.

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SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.

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