Big Lots Reports Record Q4 EPS Exceeding Expectations

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) today reported income of $104.8 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 ended February 3, 2018. This result includes a provisional tax expense of $4.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, associated with the revaluation of deferred tax assets resulting from new corporate tax legislation (impact described later in this release). Excluding this expense, adjusted income totaled $109.3 million, or $2.57 per diluted share (see non-GAAP table included later in this release), which exceeds our previously communicated guidance of income of $2.35 to $2.40 per diluted share, and represents a 14% increase compared to adjusted income of $102.0 million, or $2.26 per diluted share (non-GAAP), for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. As a reminder, the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 included an extra week of operations as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 due to a shift in the retail calendar. We estimate the impact of the extra week was approximately $0.09 per diluted share. Comparable store sales decreased 0.1% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to our guidance of flat to an increase of 2%. Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 were $1,642.1 million compared to $1,579.2 million for the same period last year with the increase resulting from the extra week, partially offset by a lower store count year-over-year.

FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Adjusted income of $2.57 per diluted share (non-GAAP), a 14% increase compared to last year's adjusted income of $2.26 per diluted share (non-GAAP)
• Seventeenth consecutive quarter of EPS equal to or better than guidance

FISCAL 2017 HIGHLIGHTS

• Adjusted income of $4.45 per diluted share (non-GAAP), a 22% increase compared to fiscal 2016 adjusted income of $3.64 per diluted share (non-GAAP)
• Returned $195 million of cash to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases

FISCAL 2017

For fiscal 2017, income totaled $189.8 million, or $4.38 per diluted share. Excluding a gain on insurance recoveries reported in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 and the provisional expense associated with the revaluation of deferred tax assets noted above, adjusted income for the full year period ended February 3, 2018, totaled $192.5 million, or $4.45 per diluted share (non-GAAP), a 22% increase compared to adjusted income of $167.2 million, or $3.64 per diluted share (non-GAAP), for fiscal 2016. Comparable store sales increased 0.4% for fiscal 2017. Net sales for fiscal 2017 were $5,271.0 million compared to $5,200.4 with the increase resulting from the extra week of operations partially offset by a lower store count year-over-year. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP amounts to the most comparable GAAP amounts is provided later in this release.

Inventory and Cash Management

Inventory ended fiscal 2017 at $873 million, a 1.6% increase compared to $859 million for fiscal 2016. Inventory levels per store increased 3% compared to last year, partially offset by a lower store count year-over-year.

We ended fiscal 2017 with $51 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $200 million of borrowings under our credit facility compared to $51 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $106 million of borrowings under our credit facility as of the end of fiscal 2016. Cash flow (cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) was focused on returning cash to our shareholders.

Total Cash Returned To Shareholders

For fiscal 2017, we returned $195 million of cash to shareholders in the form of quarterly dividend payments totaling $45 million and share repurchases totaling $150 million.

Impact of Corporate Tax Reform

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Job Act was enacted into law with new tax provisions effective January 1, 2018. The legislation reduces the U.S. corporate tax rate which lowered the Big Lots blended tax rate for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2017, and in the future. As a result of the lower tax rate, the Company revalued its ending net deferred tax assets resulting in a provisional tax expense of $4.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

The Company also expects to realize a cash benefit from a lower tax rate in fiscal 2018 and is planning to reinvest into the business approximately 70% of the expected benefit while returning approximately 30% of the expected benefit to shareholders. In terms of reinvestment, the Company plans to strategically focus our reinvestment primarily toward our Associates to increase engagement, improve competitive positioning, and enhance our comprehensive benefits offering with the goal of becoming more of an employer of choice.

FISCAL 2018 GUIDANCE

• Forecasting fiscal 2018 income in the range of $4.75 to $4.95 per diluted share representing a 7% to 11% increase compared to fiscal 2017 adjusted income of $4.45 per diluted share (non-GAAP)
• Forecasting comparable store sales to increase in the low single digit range
• Forecasting cash flow of approximately $120 to $130 million
• Forecasting cash returned to shareholders of approximately $150 million, including share repurchases and quarterly dividend payments

We estimate fiscal 2018 income will be in the range of $4.75 to $4.95 per diluted share, compared to adjusted income of $4.45 per diluted share (non-GAAP) for fiscal 2017. This guidance is based on a comparable store sales increase in the low single digit range and total sales flat to up slightly. We estimate this financial performance will result in cash flow of approximately $120 to $130 million.

On March 7, 2018, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program ("2018 Share Repurchase Program") providing for the repurchase of up to $100 million of our common shares. The $100 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 2018 Share Repurchase Program will be available to meet obligations under equity compensation plans and for general corporate purposes. The 2018 Share Repurchase Program is eligible to begin on March 12, 2018 and will continue until exhausted.

As announced in a separate press release earlier today, on March 7, 2018, the Board of Directors increased the Company's quarterly dividend payment rate approximately 20% by declaring a quarterly cash dividend for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 of $0.30 per common share. This dividend is payable on April 6, 2018, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 23, 2018.

Fiscal Q1 2018 Guidance

For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we estimate income in the range of $1.15 to $1.22 per diluted share representing flat to a 6% increase compared to last year's income of $1.15 per diluted share. This guidance assumes a comparable store sales increase in the range of flat to slightly negative.

COMPANY UPDATES CEO STATUS

As previously announced, the Company noted that David Campisi, President and CEO, took a medical leave of absence in early December 2017 and remains on leave. During his medical leave, Mr. Campisi's executive responsibilities are continuing to be overseen by Lisa M. Bachmann, Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising & Operating Officer, and Timothy A. Johnson, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Financial Officer. In addition, James R. Chambers, the Company's non-executive chair of the Board, continues to be available to spend additional time in Columbus with the leadership team during the duration of the medical leave.

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 2017 and provide commentary on our outlook for the first quarter and full year of fiscal 2018. 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 http://www.biglots.com/ after 12:00 noon today and will remain available through midnight on Friday, March 23, 2018. A replay of this call will also be available beginning today at 12:00 noon through March 23 by dialing 1.888.203.1112 (Toll Free USA and Canada) or 1.719.457.0820 (International), and entering Replay Passcode 1281773. All times are Eastern Time.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a community retailer operating 1,416 BIG LOTS stores in 47 states, dedicated to friendly service, trustworthy value, and affordable solutions in every season and category – furniture, food, décor, and more. We exist to serve everyone like family, providing a better 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.

BIG LOTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The following tables reconcile: selling and administrative expenses, selling and administrative expense rate, operating profit, operating profit rate, income tax expense, effective income tax rate, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2017, the full year 2017, the fourth quarter of 2016, and the full year 2016 (GAAP financial measures) to 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 net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP financial measures).

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 net income, 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") the impact to deferred taxes resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 of $4,517.

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 net income, 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 GAAP (1) a pretax gain on insurance recoveries associated with merchandise-related legal matters of $3,000 ($1,851, net of tax); and (2) the impact to deferred taxes resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 of $4,517.

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 net income, 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) all costs associated with the Company's pension plans, as the Company completed termination and distribution proceedings in the fourth quarter of 2016, which totaled $23,693 ($14,329, net of tax); and (2) a pretax adjustment for a gain on the sale of real estate of $3,823 ($2,411, net of tax).  The pension costs encompass all items associated with net periodic benefit costs, including curtailment and settlement charges, and professional fees associated with the plan and plan termination proceedings.

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 net income, 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 GAAP: (1) all costs associated with the Company's pension plans, as the Company completed termination and distribution proceedings in 2016, which totaled $27,766 ($16,790, net of tax); and (2) a pretax adjustment for a gain on the sale of real estate of $3,823 ($2,411, net of tax). The pension costs encompass all items associated with net periodic benefit costs, including curtailment and settlement charges, and professional fees associated with the plan and plan termination proceedings.

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.

SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.