Destination Maternity Reports Q3 Earnings And Provides Updated Earnings Guidance For Fiscal 2012 And Initial Earnings Guidance For Fiscal 2013

PHILADELPHIA, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Destination Maternity Corporation (Nasdaq: DEST), the world's leading maternity apparel retailer, today announced operating results for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, which ended June 30, 2012.  The Company's diluted earnings per share for its third quarter of fiscal 2012 was in line with its July 10, 2012 updated earnings guidance range of $0.51-$0.53 per share, but below the low end of its April 26, 2012 earnings guidance of $0.57 to $0.70 per share.  On July 25, 2012 the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.175 per share payable September 28, 2012.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2012 Financial Results

• GAAP net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was $6.9 million, a decrease compared to GAAP net income of $9.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  GAAP diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was $0.52, a decrease compared to $0.72 for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  This third quarter fiscal 2012 GAAP diluted earnings per share performance was in line with the Company's revised guidance of $0.51-$0.53 provided in its July 10, 2012 press release, but was lower than its prior guidance, provided in its April 26, 2012 press release, of between $0.57 and $0.70.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $16.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, a decrease compared to the $20.0 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  Adjusted EBITDA is defined in the financial tables at the end of this press release.
• Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased 5.3% to $138.8 million from $146.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  The decrease in sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 resulted primarily from a decrease in comparable sales, decreased sales from the Company's licensed relationship and decreased sales related to the Company's continued efforts to close underperforming stores.  The net sales of $138.8 million for the third quarter were below the low end of the Company's guidance range of $142 to $147 million provided in April 2012.
• Comparable sales (which include Internet sales) for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased 2.4% versus a comparable sales decrease of 1.6% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  The comparable sales decrease of 2.4% during the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was below the low end of the Company's guidance range for third quarter comparable sales of flat to up 4.0% provided in April 2012.  The Company estimates that reported comparable sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were hurt by approximately 1.0 percentage points due to a calendar shift which helped March sales at the expense of April, with April 2012 having one less Friday and Saturday compared to April 2011.  Adjusting out this 'calendar shift' adverse impact, the Company's days-adjusted comparable sales for the third quarter was a decrease of approximately 1.4%.  The Company's Internet sales, which are included in the Company's reported comparable sales, increased 30% for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, on top of an 18% increase in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

First Nine Months of Fiscal 2012 Financial Results

• GAAP net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was $14.2 million, a decrease compared to GAAP net income of $20.3 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.  GAAP diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was $1.07, a decrease compared to $1.55 for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.
• GAAP net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 included a reduction of state income tax expense, net of federal tax benefit, of $0.9 million, or $0.07 per share (diluted), related to settlements of uncertain income tax positions.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $37.2 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2012, a decrease compared to the $45.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.
• Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 decreased 0.7% to $413.0 million from $416.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.  Comparable sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 decreased 1.1% versus a comparable sales increase of 0.6% for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Trailing Twelve Months Financial Results

• For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2012, Adjusted EBITDA was $46.1 million.
• For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2012, GAAP net income was $16.9 million, or $1.27 per share (diluted) and non-GAAP adjusted net income (before stock-based compensation expense and loss on extinguishment of debt) was $18.4 million, or $1.39 per share (diluted).

Financing and Related Activities

• The Company made an optional prepayment of $10.0 million of its Term Loan during the third quarter of fiscal 2012, and has made optional prepayments of $15.0 million of its Term Loan since the beginning of fiscal 2012.
• On July 25, 2012 the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.175 per share, payable September 28, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 7, 2012.  On July 25, 2012, the Company also announced that its Board of Directors extended and amended the Company's authorized stock repurchase program, so that it now authorizes the repurchase of up to $10 million of the Company's outstanding common stock and expires on July 31, 2014.
• The Company is currently in the process of evaluating financing proposals related to:  (1) a new multi-year credit facility to replace the Company's current credit facility, which matures on January 13, 2013, and (2) potential new term loan financing to refinance the Company's Term Loan, which matures on March 13, 2013.  Note that, as of June 30, 2012, the Company has total debt of $15.7 million, including $13.7 million of the Term Loan.  As of June 30, 2012, the Company has no outstanding borrowings under its credit facility.

Retail Locations

The table below summarizes store opening and closing activity for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2012 and 2011, as well as the Company's store, total retail location and total international franchised location count at the end of each fiscal period.  The decrease in leased department locations at the end of June 2012 versus June 2011 predominantly reflects the closure of the Company's 291 remaining leased departments within Kmart® locations in October 2011.  Kmart represented only a small portion of the overall sales generated by the Company's leased department relationship with Sears® and Kmart through the Company's agreement with Sears Holdings Corporation.  The Company continues to operate leased departments in Sears stores throughout the United States.  As of June 30, 2012, the Company operates 515 leased department locations in Sears stores.

Commentary

Ed Krell, Chief Executive Officer of Destination Maternity Corporation, noted, "We are disappointed that our sales and earnings for the third quarter were weaker than expected.  Our sales for the quarter were lower than planned, as our strong early sales of Spring/Summer product in February and March did not continue into the April-June period.  Our gross margin was also lower than planned, due to increased price promotional activity and additional markdowns taken to spur sales and manage inventory levels.  With this lower than planned sales and gross margin, partially offset by our continued tight management of expenses, our GAAP diluted earnings per share for the third quarter was $0.52 per share, in line with our updated guidance range of $0.51 to $0.53 from July 10, 2012, but below our prior earnings guidance range of $0.57 to $0.70 per share from April 26, 2012.

"Our key focus continues to be improving our sales performance through initiatives to enhance our merchandise assortments, merchandise presentation and customer experience.  Although we recognize the increasingly challenging macroeconomic environment of recent months, we remain focused on the things that we can control, not on external factors that we cannot control.  Over the past several months, we have made many changes to drive improvements in our merchandise assortments and the way these assortments are presented in store, and we are disappointed that the strong sales results we saw early in the Spring product selling season did not continue throughout the Spring/Summer product selling season.  We believe this weaker than planned third quarter sales may well have partially reflected a shift in demand for Spring/Summer product from the third quarter to the second quarter due to earlier than normal warm weather conditions in February and March, which had resulted in higher than planned second quarter sales.  However, we are cautiously optimistic that we will begin to see the results of our efforts in an improved sales trend beginning in our fiscal fourth quarter, as we enter the selling season for our Fall 2012 merchandise assortments."

Guidance for Fiscal 2012

"Looking forward, we are confident that we can improve our sales performance and position our Company for continued future growth, by enhancing our merchandise assortments, merchandise presentation and customer experience, and continuing to focus on our strategic plan as summarized in our five key goals and strategic objectives discussed later under "Company Strategy."  

"Our financial guidance for the full year fiscal 2012 is as follows:

• Net sales in the $538.5 to $543.0 million range, representing a projected sales decrease of between 0.4% and 1.3% versus fiscal 2011 net sales of $545.4 million.  This sales guidance range is based on a projected comparable sales decrease of between 0.1% and 1.1%.  The Company projects the cannibalization impact of the Macy's leased department expansion to hurt fiscal 2012 comparable sales by approximately 1 percentage point.  
• Gross margin for fiscal 2012 is expected to decrease between 85 and 105 basis points versus fiscal 2011, with improved year-over-year gross margin projected for the fourth quarter.
• Total selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) are planned to be roughly equal to fiscal 2011 in dollar terms and slightly higher than fiscal 2011 as a percentage of net sales.  The projected SG&A expense for the full year reflects increased marketing and advertising expenses and additions of talent to drive sales, as well as inflationary expenses and additional operating expenses resulting from the full year impact of the Macy's leased department expansion in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, substantially offset by continued tight expense controls and additional cost reductions.
• Operating income in the $28.5 to $30.9 million range, a projected decrease compared to fiscal 2011 operating income of $38.2 million.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share of between $1.24 and $1.35 per share for fiscal 2012, a projected decrease compared to earnings of $1.75 per share (diluted) for fiscal 2011.
• Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per common share (before restructuring and other charges, stock-based compensation expense, and loss on extinguishment of debt) of between $1.35 and $1.46 per share for fiscal 2012, a projected decrease versus non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.87 per share for fiscal 2011.
• Adjusted EBITDA in the $45.5 to $47.9 million range, a projected decrease compared to the fiscal 2011 Adjusted EBITDA of $54.4 million.
• Open 9 to 10 new stores during the year, including 7 to 8 new multi-brand Destination Maternity stores, and close approximately 40 to 41 stores, with 13 to 14 of these planned store closings related to openings of new Destination Maternity stores.
• Capital expenditures planned at between $10.0 and $12.0 million compared to fiscal 2011 capital expenditures of $12.3 million.  After deducting projected tenant construction allowance payments to us from store landlords, the Company expects net cash outlay for capital projects to be between $6.7 million and $8.7 million, compared to $9.1 million in fiscal 2011.
• Inventory at fiscal 2012 year end planned to be approximately flat to $2 million lower than fiscal 2011 year end.
• Given these assumptions, the Company plans to generate free cash flow (defined as net cash provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures) of approximately $22 to $27 million for the full year fiscal 2012, a projected increase from fiscal 2011 free cash flow of $9.2 million.  Based on the Company's current quarterly dividend rate of $0.175 per share, the dividend will use approximately $9.3 million of cash flow for fiscal 2012. 

"Our financial guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 is as follows:

• Net sales in the $125.5 to $130.0 million range.
• A projected comparable sales change of between a decrease of 1% and an increase of 3%.
• GAAP diluted earnings per common share of between $0.17 and $0.28 per share, versus the GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.20 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.
• Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per common share (before stock-based compensation expense and loss on extinguishment of debt) of between $0.20 and $0.31 per share, versus comparably adjusted non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.23 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011."

Guidance for Fiscal 2013

"Our preliminary financial guidance for the full year fiscal 2013 is as follows:

• A projected net sales change of between a decrease of 0.5% and an increase of 1.5% compared to the $538.5 to $543.0 million sales guidance range for fiscal 2012.
• A projected comparable sales increase of between 1% and 3%.
• A projected increase in GAAP diluted earnings per share of between 10% and 20% from our $1.24 to $1.35 guidance range for fiscal 2012.
• Open approximately 6 to 12 new stores during the year, including approximately 2 to 5 new multi-brand Destination Maternity stores, and close approximately 25 to 40 stores, with approximately 6 to 12 of these planned store closings related to openings of new Destination Maternity stores."

Company Strategy

Mr. Krell added, "As we plan and execute our business for both this year and beyond, we continue to be guided by our five key goals and strategic objectives:

1.      Be a profitable global leader in the maternity apparel business, treating all our partners and 
         stakeholders with respect and fairness.

2.      Increase the profitability of our U.S. business, focusing on the following:

         a.       Increase comparable sales, through continued improvement of merchandise
                   assortments, merchandise presentation and customer experience, providing a more
                   shoppable store environment for our customers, and through enhanced marketing and
                   advertising. 

         b.      Reduce our expenditures and continue to be more efficient in operating our business—
                  streamline, simplify and focus.

         c.      Continue to expand our multi-brand Destination Maternity store chain where ROI
                  hurdles are met, with the goal of operating fewer but larger stores over time; and

         d.      Continue to close underperforming stores.

3.      In addition to achieving increased comparable sales, we aim to grow our sales where we can
         do so profitably, including the following areas of focus:

         a.      International expansion.

         b.      Potential growth of our leased department and licensed relationships.

         c.      Increased utilization of the Internet to drive sales, targeting both increased direct 
                  Internet sales and enhanced web marketing initiatives to drive store sales.

         d.      Selective new store openings and relocations in the U.S. and Canada; and

         e.      Continued focus on enhancing our overall customer relationship, including our
                  marketing partnership programs.

4.      Focus on generating free cash flow to drive increased shareholder value.

5.      Maintain and intensify our primary focus on delivering great maternity apparel product and
         service in each of our brands and store formats, to serve the maternity apparel customer like
         no one else can."

Mr. Krell concluded, "Although we are proud of what we have accomplished in the past four years to significantly improve our Company's profitability and financial position, even in the face of a challenging sales environment, we have not been satisfied with our sales results or our current year earnings results.  While we recognize that over the past four years we have faced the dual challenges of a deep recession followed by a weak recovery, as well as an 8% decrease in births in the United States since 2007, we remain focused on driving improvement in our sales performance through initiatives to enhance our merchandise assortments, merchandise presentation and customer experience.  We are confident in our ability to continue to manage our business through this uncertain consumer environment, to turn around our sales performance, and to continue to make progress towards our key corporate goals." 

Conference Call Information

As announced previously, the Company will hold a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, regarding the Company's third quarter fiscal 2012 earnings and future financial guidance.  You can participate in this conference call by calling (800) 414-9222 in the United States and Canada or (847) 413-3402 outside of the United States and Canada.  Please call ten minutes prior to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  The conference call (listen only) will also be available on the investor section of our website at http://investor.destinationmaternity.com.  The passcode for the conference call is "32913556."  In the event that you are unable to participate in the call, a replay will be available through Thursday, August 9, 2012 by calling (888) 843-7419 in the United States and Canada or (630) 652-3042 outside of the United States and Canada.  The passcode for the replay is "32913556."

Destination Maternity Corporation is the world's largest designer and retailer of maternity apparel.   In the United States and Canada, as of June 30, 2012, Destination Maternity operates 2,016 retail locations, including 636 stores, predominantly under the tradenames Motherhood Maternity®, A Pea in the Pod®, and Destination Maternity®, and 1,380 leased department locations, and sells on the web through its DestinationMaternity.com and brand-specific websites.  Destination Maternity also distributes its Oh Baby by Motherhood® collection through a licensed arrangement at over 1,100 Kohl's® stores throughout the United States and on Kohls.com.  In addition, Destination Maternity is expanding internationally and has exclusive store franchise and product supply relationships in India, the Middle East and South Korea.  As of June 30, 2012, Destination Maternity has 101 international franchised locations, including 85 shop-in-shop locations and 16 Destination Maternity branded stores.

The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this press release or made from time to time by management of the Company, including those regarding earnings, net sales, comparable sales, other results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, and various business initiatives, involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various important factors.  The following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements: the continuation of the economic recovery of the retail industry in general and of apparel purchases in particular, our ability to successfully manage our various business initiatives, the success of our international business and its expansion, our ability to successfully manage and retain our leased department and licensed relationships and marketing partnerships, future sales trends in our existing store base and through the Internet, unusual weather patterns, changes in consumer spending patterns, raw material price increases, overall economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer confidence, demographics and other macroeconomic factors that may impact the level of spending for maternity apparel,  expense savings initiatives, our ability to anticipate and respond to fashion trends and consumer preferences, unanticipated fluctuations in our operating results, the impact of competition and fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products, availability of suitable store locations, continued availability of capital and financing, our ability to hire and develop senior management and sales associates, our ability to develop and source merchandise, our ability to receive production from foreign sources on a timely basis, potential stock repurchases, potential debt prepayments, the continuation of the regular quarterly cash dividend, the trading liquidity of our common stock, changes in market interest rates, war or acts of terrorism and other factors set forth in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or in materials incorporated therein by reference.

SOURCE Destination Maternity Corporation