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August 11, 2011- Little Rock, Arkansas - Dillard's, Inc. (DDS-NYSE) (the "Company" or "Dillard's") announced operating results for the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011. This release contains certain forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Company's cautionary statements regarding forward-looking information included below under "Forward-Looking Information".
Highlights of the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 included:
Dillard's Chief Executive Officer, William T. Dillard, II, stated, "Our strong second quarter operating results solidified a very successful first half of 2011, essentially doubling our earnings per share to $1.66 from $0.80. While we are monitoring the macro-economic environment closely, we will continue to work to create clear distinction at Dillard's with enhanced service levels to match our improving merchandise mix."
Income
Dillard's reported pretax income (income before income taxes and income on and equity in losses of joint ventures) of $24.3 million for the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 compared to $7.6 million for the 13 weeks ended July 31, 2010.
Net income for the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 was $17.6 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to net income for the 13 weeks ended July 31, 2010 of $6.8 million, or $0.10 per share. Included in net income for the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 is a $2.1 million pretax gain ($1.4 million after tax or $0.02 per share) relating to the sale of an interest in a mall joint venture.
Included in net income for the 13 weeks ended July 31, 2010 is a $4.0 million pretax gain on the sale of a store building ($2.6 million after tax or $0.04 per share) and a $2.0 million income tax benefit ($0.03 per share) primarily related to a state administrative settlement.
Net Sales/Total Revenues
Net sales for the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 were $1.442 billion compared to net sales for the 13 weeks ended July 31, 2010 of $1.389 billion. Net sales include the operations of the Company's construction business, CDI Contractors, LLC ("CDI").
Total merchandise sales (which exclude CDI) for the 13-week period ended July 30, 2011 were $1.426 billion compared to $1.359 billion for the 13-week period ended July 31, 2010. Total merchandise sales increased 5% during the second quarter. Sales in comparable stores increased 6%.
Gross Margin/Inventory
Gross margin from retail operations (which excludes CDI) was maintained at 33.7% of sales during the period ended July 30, 2011 on a comparable store sales increase for the quarter of 6%. Inventory in comparable stores increased 3% at July 30, 2011 compared to July 31, 2010 as management has planned more aggressively in light of improved sales trends.
Consolidated gross margin (which includes CDI) improved 20 basis points of sales during the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 compared to the 13 weeks ended July 31, 2010.
Advertising, Selling, Administrative and General Expenses Advertising, selling, administrative and general expenses ("operating expenses") improved approximately 70 basis points of sales during the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011 compared to the 13 weeks ended July 31, 2010. Operating expenses were $396.0 million (27.5% of sales) and $392.0 million (28.2% of sales), respectively. The $4.0 million increase in operating expenses was primarily driven by increases in selling payroll, supplies and services purchased partially offset by decreased net advertising and utilities expenses.
Share Repurchase
During the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011, Dillard's announced that the board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $250 million of the Company's Class A Common Stock. At July 30, 2011, $250.0 million of authorization remained under the share repurchase program.
Total shares outstanding (Class A and Class B Common Stock) at July 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010 were 54.4 million and 66.8 million, respectively.
Credit Facility
As of July 30, 2011, there were no short-term borrowings outstanding under the Company's $1.0 billion revolving credit facility. The credit agreement expires on December 12, 2012, and there are no financial covenants under this facility provided its availability exceeds $100 million. Letters of credit totaling $86.0 million were outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of July 30, 2011.
Store Information
During the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2011, Dillard's completed the closures of its Highland Mall location in Austin, Texas (190,000 square feet), its Decatur Mall location in Decatur, Alabama (128,000 square feet) and its Westminster Mall location in Westminster, Colorado (159,000 square feet).
At July 30, 2011, the Company operated 291 Dillard's locations and 14 clearance centers spanning 29 states and an Internet store at www.dillards.com. Total square footage at July 30, 2011 was 53.0 million.
Forward-Looking Information
The foregoing contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the definition of federal securities laws. The following are or may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: statements including (a) words such as "may," "will," "could," "believe," "expect," "future," "potential," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "continue," or the negative or other variations thereof, and (b) statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements contained in this report are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of management and information available to management at the time of such statements and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements of the Company involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors. Actual future performance, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company and its management as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Representative examples of those factors include (without limitation) general retail industry conditions and macro-economic conditions; economic and weather conditions for regions in which the Company's stores are located and the effect of these factors on the buying patterns of the Company's customers, including the effect of changes in prices and availability of oil and natural gas; the availability of consumer credit; the impact of competitive pressures in the department store industry and other retail channels including specialty, off-price, discount and Internet retailers; changes in consumer spending patterns, debt levels and their ability to meet credit obligations; changes in legislation, affecting such matters as the cost of employee benefits or credit card income; adequate and stable availability and pricing of materials, production facilities and labor from which the Company sources its merchandise; changes in operating expenses, including employee wages, commission structures and related benefits; system failures or data security breaches; possible future acquisitions of store properties from other department store operators; the continued availability of financing in amounts and at the terms necessary to support the Company's future business; fluctuations in LIBOR and other base borrowing rates; potential disruption from terrorist activity and the effect on ongoing consumer confidence; epidemic, pandemic or other public health issues; potential disruption of international trade and supply chain efficiencies; world conflict and the possible impact on consumer spending patterns and other economic and demographic changes of similar or dissimilar nature. The Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011, contain other information on factors that may affect financial results or cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Julie J. Bull
(501) 376-5965
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