Big Lots Reports Third Quarter EPS of $0.06 Per Diluted Share

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is reporting net income of $4.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 ended October 29, 2011.  This result is consistent with our communicated guidance and reflects both U.S. operations as well as results of our newly acquired Canadian operations.  This result compares to net income of $17.7 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 which included results of U.S. operations only. 

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For the year-to-date period ended October 29, 2011, net income on a consolidated basis totaled $92.3 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, compared to net income for U.S. operations of $112.5 million, or $1.41 per diluted share, for the same period in fiscal 2010. 

The third quarter results for fiscal 2011 include a loss from continuing operations of $7.1 million, or $0.11 per diluted share (non-GAAP) related to the Canadian 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 $11.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share (non-GAAP), for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  Year-to-date results for fiscal 2011 include a loss from continuing operations of $8.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share (non-GAAP) related to Canadian operations.  Excluding the impact of Canadian operations, income from continuing operations was $100.8 million, or $1.42 per diluted share (non-GAAP), for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2011.  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 third quarter and year-to-date results of fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 and is discussed later in this release. 

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Income from continuing operations of $0.06 per diluted share, consistent with company guidance 
• Comparable store sales for U.S. stores increased 1.7% while total U.S. sales increased 5.8%
• Opened 45 new stores
• Invested $77 million to repurchase 2.5 million company shares at a weighted average price of $31.12

Continuing Operations

U.S. Operations

Net sales for U.S. operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 increased 5.8% to $1,116.8 million, compared to $1,055.8 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 increased 1.7% for the quarter.   Operating profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 of $15.8 million was below last year's result of $26.9 million.  As anticipated, a lower gross margin rate was partially offset by comparable store sales growth and expense leverage as a percent of sales.  For the third quarter of fiscal 2011, interest expense was $0.9 million compared to interest expense of $0.8 million last year, and the effective income tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 was 23.7% compared to 32.3% last year.

Canadian Operations

Net sales for Canadian operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 totaled $21.5 million while incurring an operating loss of $6.9 million.  This result was favorable to our initial forecast of sales in the range of $14 to $17 million and an operating loss in the range of $10 to $12 million for the quarter.  As noted earlier in this press release, we acquired our Canadian operations on July 18, 2011 and based on materiality to our total operations are not required to and have not provided pro-forma information. 

Inventory and Cash Management

On a consolidated basis, Inventory ended the third quarter of fiscal 2011 at $1,100 million compared to $1,006 million last year.  The increase of approximately 9% represents the Canadian acquisition, 4% growth in the number of U.S. stores, and approximately 4% per store growth of inventory in our U.S. stores due primarily to timing of receipts in preparation for our holiday selling season.     

We ended the third quarter of fiscal 2011 with $60 million of cash and cash equivalents and $285 million of borrowings under our credit facility compared to $51 million of cash and cash equivalents and $129 million of borrowings under our credit facility as of the end of the third 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.    

Share Repurchase Activity

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we invested $77 million to repurchase 2.5 million shares at an average price of $31.12 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 Share Repurchase Program.  The remaining amount may 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 third quarter of fiscal 2011 was $0.1 million compared to net loss from discontinued operations of $0.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010.  On a year-to-date basis, the net loss from discontinued operations as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2011 totaled $0.1 million compared to a net loss of $0.1 million in the prior year.

2011 OUTLOOK

• Updating fiscal 2011 annual guidance for income from continuing operations to $2.85 to $2.92 per diluted share versus income from continuing operations of $2.83 per diluted share last year
• Increasing fourth quarter guidance for income from continuing operations to $1.59 to $1.66 per diluted share versus income from continuing operations of $1.46 per diluted share last year
• Estimating fourth quarter comparable store sales increase of 1% to 2% for U.S. stores

We are updating our fiscal 2011 earnings per share guidance to $2.85 to $2.92 per diluted share compared to prior guidance which called for $2.80 to $2.90 per diluted share.  This updated guidance reflects our third quarter results and an updated outlook for holiday and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.  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 the May 2011 Share Repurchase 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 third 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 Friday, December 16. A replay of the call will be available beginning December 2 at 12:00 noon (Eastern Time) through December 16 at midnight by dialing: 1.888.203.1112 (United States and Canada) or 1.719.457.0820 (International). The PIN number is 8249483.

Big Lots is North America's largest broadline closeout retailer.  As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2011 (October 29, 2011), we operated 1,445 BIG LOTS stores in the 48 contiguous United States and 85 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.