Big Lots Reports Second Quarter EPS of $0.50 Per Diluted Share

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is reporting net income of $35.7 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 ended July 30, 2011.  This compares to net income of $38.9 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2010.  For the year-to-date period ended July 30, 2011, net income totaled $88.2 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, compared to net income of $94.8 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, for the same period in fiscal 2010.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20011026/BIGLOTSLOGO )

Both second quarter and year-to-date results for fiscal 2011 include a loss from continuing operations of $1.2 million, or $0.02 per diluted share (non-GAAP), related to the Canadian retail operations we assumed through our acquisition of all outstanding shares of Liquidation World Inc on July 18, 2011.  Excluding the impact of our new Canadian operations, income from continuing operations was $36.9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share (non-GAAP), for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 and $89.4 million, or $1.22 per diluted share (non-GAAP), for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2011. The impact of the acquisition was not previously included in the guidance provided by management; therefore, we have included a calculation and reconciliation of the diluted earnings per share by segment in our "Segment Operating Performance" schedule attached to this press release.  We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure should facilitate analysis by investors and others who follow our performance.

Results also include discontinued operations activity which was minimal for both the second quarter and year-to-date results of fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 and is discussed later in this release.  

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Income from continuing operations of $0.50 per diluted share versus income from continuing operations of $0.48 per diluted share last year
• Opened 15 new stores
• Invested $236 million to repurchase 7.2 million shares, or approximately 10% of our outstanding shares
• Announced completion of new $700 million revolving credit facility to support future growth both domestically and internationally
• Completed the acquisition of Liquidation World, Inc. (now known as Big Lots Canada, Inc.), a Canadian retailer, marking our first expansion outside of the U.S.

Continuing Operations

For the second quarter of fiscal 2011, income from continuing operations was $35.7 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $38.8 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, for the same period of fiscal 2010.  

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 increased 2.2% to $1,167.1 million, compared to $1,142.3 million for the same period in fiscal 2010.  Comparable store sales for U.S. stores open at least two years at the beginning of the fiscal year decreased 1.5% for the quarter.  

Operating profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 was $59.8 million compared to second quarter of fiscal 2010 operating profit of $63.2 million.  As anticipated, our operating profit dollar performance was a result of lower comparable store sales and gross margin rate, partially offset by expense leverage as a percent of sales.  For the second quarter of fiscal 2011, interest expense was $1.3 million compared to interest expense of $0.5 million last year, and the effective income tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 was 38.9% compared to 38.3% last year.

Inventory and Cash Management

Inventory ended the second quarter of fiscal 2011 at $780 million compared to $734 million last year.  The increase of approximately 6% represents the Canadian acquisition, growth in the number of U.S. stores, and approximately 2% per store growth of inventory in our U.S. stores.    

We ended the second quarter of fiscal 2011 with $58 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $60 million of borrowings under our credit facility compared to $171 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and no borrowings under our credit facility as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010.  The use of cash and debt by our business over the last 12 months was the result of share repurchase activity and the acquisition and funding to date of our Canadian operations, partially offset by positive cash flow (defined as operating activities less investing activities) generated by our U.S. business.    

During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we announced the signing of a new $700 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility which includes a $200 million Canadian Dollar sub-facility allowing us to efficiently support the growth of our newly acquired Canadian operations. The new facility replaced our prior $500 million credit facility which was set to expire in April 2012.  Further details are available in our Form 8-K filed on July 27, 2011.

Share Repurchase Activity

As a reminder, to begin the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we had $58 million available to invest under a $400 million share repurchase program ("March 2010 Program") authorized by our Board of Directors in March 2010.  Additionally, on May 25, 2011, our Board of Directors unanimously approved a new share repurchase program ("May 2011 Program") providing for the repurchase of up to $400 million of our common shares.  The May 2011 Program was eligible to begin after the completion of the March 2010 Program.  

During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we completed our March 2010 Program and began our May 2011 Program by investing $236 million to repurchase 7.2 million shares at an average price of $32.67 per share.  Subsequent to the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we continued to invest in our repurchase efforts and through yesterday (August 24, 2011) we have invested $77 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 to repurchase 2.5 million shares at an average price of $31.11 per share.  Year to date for fiscal 2011, we have invested $313 million to repurchase 9.7 million shares, or approximately 13% of our outstanding shares, at an average price of $32.28 per share.  Today, we have $145 million remaining under our $400 million May 2011 Program.  The remaining amount will 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 repurchase program will be available to meet obligations under equity compensation plans and for general corporate purposes.  The repurchase program will continue until exhausted.

Discontinued Operations

As discussed in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2011, activity related to KB Toys, our former division, as well as the operating results and costs associated with 130 Big Lots stores closed in January 2006 are classified as discontinued operations.  Net loss from discontinued operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 was less than $0.1 million compared to net income from discontinued operations of $0.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2010.  On a year to date basis, the net loss from discontinued operations as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2011 totaled $0.1 million compared to a net loss of less than $0.1 million in the prior year.

2011 OUTLOOK

• Updating fiscal 2011 annual guidance for income from continuing operations to $2.80 to $2.90 per diluted share versus income from continuing operations of $2.83 per diluted share last year
• Updating Cash Flow guidance to $145 million, which includes expected cash outflow related to our recently acquired Canadian operations
• $313 million of company stock, or 13% of outstanding shares, repurchased year to date and included in our updated EPS guidance  

We are updating our fiscal 2011 earnings per share guidance to $2.80 to $2.90 per diluted share compared to prior guidance which called for $2.75 to $2.90 per diluted share.  This updated guidance reflects our outperformance during the second quarter and the forecasted positive impact of recent share repurchase activity, partially offset by the expected impact of our recently acquired Canadian business.  On a year to date basis, we have repurchased $313 million of company stock.  For guidance purposes, we are not including any additional investment of the $145 million currently remaining under May 2011 Program.

Conference Call/Webcast

We will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss our financial results for the second quarter and provide commentary on our outlook for the balance of fiscal 2011.  We invite you to listen to the webcast of the conference call through the Investor Relations section of our website (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 (www.biglots.com) beginning two hours after the call ends and will remain available through midnight on Thursday, September 8. A replay of the call will be available beginning August 25 at 12:00 noon (Eastern Time) through September 8 at midnight by dialing: 1.888.203.1112 (United States and Canada) or 1.719.457.0820 (International). The PIN number is 9515945.

Big Lots is North America's largest broadline closeout retailer.  As of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2011 (July 30, 2011), we operated 1,415 BIG LOTS stores in the 48 contiguous United States and 88 LIQUIDATION WORLD and LW stores in Canada. Wholesale operations are conducted through BIG LOTS WHOLESALE, CONSOLIDATED INTERNATIONAL, and WISCONSIN TOY and with online sales at www.biglotswholesale.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, the current economic and credit crisis, 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.

SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.