NWY New York & Company New York & Company, Inc.

~ Comparable Store Sales Increase of 2.2% ~

~ Highest Third Quarter Operating Income Since 2007 ~

~ GAAP Operating Income of $0.6 Million Improving by $2.7 Million Compared to Last Year ~

~ Non-GAAP Operating Income of $1.3 Million Improving by $3.8 Million Compared to Last Year ~

~ Gross Profit Margin Improves by 170 Basis Points from Last Year to Highest Level Since 2006 ~

New York & Company, Inc. [NYSE:NWY], a specialty women’s apparel chain with 459 retail stores, today announced results for the third quarter ended October 28, 2017.

Gregory Scott, New York & Company’s CEO stated: “We are pleased to report better-than-expected third quarter results, highlighted by positive comparable store sales, expansion in gross margin and continued expense discipline, which drove a $2.7 million increase in operating income as compared to the third quarter last year. Our results reflect the successful execution of our strategy to increase the differentiation in our assortment with celebrity and sub-brands, capitalize on our omni-channel capabilities to drive eCommerce sales and continue to increase efficiencies through our Project Excellence initiatives. During the quarter, our new collaboration with Gabrielle Union met with a strong response, our eCommerce sales grew at a double-digit pace and our in-store traffic significantly outpaced the mall average, all of which led to a 2.2% increase in comparable store sales. At quarter end, our balance sheet remained strong with cash per share of $1.08.

“As we enter the fourth quarter we were pleased to experience a strong November with improved comparable store sales versus the third quarter, driven by strength on Black Friday. We were pleased to see positive comparable store sales across all three channels and record breaking results in our eCommerce business on Black Friday. These results position us well for the quarter and are reflected in our guidance for positive comparable store sales and a significant improvement in operating results which would make us profitable for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year.”

Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Results (13-weeks ended October 28, 2017 compared to the 13-weeks ended October 29, 2016):

• Net sales were $214.2 million, increasing 0.1% as compared to $213.9 million in the prior year, reflecting growth in comparable sales driven by eCommerce, offset by the impact of a lower store count (459 this year versus 483 last year).
• Comparable store sales increased 2.2%, reflecting double-digit percentage growth in eCommerce partially offset by decreases in comparable store sales in brick-and-mortar stores.
• Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased 170 basis points to 31.6% versus 29.9% for the fiscal year 2016 third quarter, reflecting the highest gross margin rate achieved in the third quarter since 2006. The increase during the quarter reflects a 210 basis point improvement in the leverage of buying and occupancy costs, partially offset by a 40 basis point decrease in merchandise margin.The 40 basis point decrease in merchandise margin was driven by an increase in promotional activity combined with a $1.5 million increase in shipping costs resulting from significant growth in the eCommerce business, partially offset by a $3.0 million increase in royalties under the new private label credit card agreement.During the quarter, the Company continued to aggressively reduce expenses which led to a $4.3 million decrease in buying and occupancy costs, as compared to the third quarter of the prior year, leading to a 210 basis points improvement in the leverage of these expenses despite flat total sales dollars.

• Selling, general and administrative expenses were $67.0 million, as compared to $66.1 million in the prior year period; however, they included several items which affected comparability as follows:

              (Amounts in millions) Three monthsended

October 28, 2017*

Three monthsended

October 29, 2016

GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses $ 67.0 $ 66.1 Add back: non-operating charges (benefit) 0.8 (0.5 ) Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses 66.1 66.6 Add back: ADS marketing credits — 0.6   Non-GAAP adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses $ 66.1 $ 67.2         *   Subtotals do not foot due to rounding.  

Excluding the impact of the non-operating charges in the current year which were primarily due to severance related to an integration of brick-and-mortar channels, benefits in the prior year due to the reversal of a legal accrual, and changes in the classification of benefits received under the ADS private label credit card agreement, non-GAAP adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses have decreased by $1.1 million to $66.1 million, as compared to $67.2 million in the prior year period.

• GAAP operating income improved significantly to income of $0.6 million, as compared to a loss of $2.1 million, in the prior year’s third quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding $0.6 million of non-operating charges, adjusted operating income was $1.3 million, compared to the prior year’s non-GAAP operating loss of $2.6 million, which excluded a $0.5 million non-operating benefit.
• GAAP net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 was $0.4 million, or earnings of $0.01 per diluted share. This compares to the prior year’s GAAP net loss of $2.5 million, or a loss of $0.04 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, the Company’s third quarter 2017 adjusted net income was $1.0 million, or earnings of $0.02 per diluted share. This compares to prior year’s third quarter, non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $3.0 million, or a loss of $0.05 per diluted share.

Please refer to the “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in Exhibit 5 and Exhibit 6 of this press release, which delineates the non-operating adjustments for the three and nine months ended October 28, 2017 and October 29, 2016, respectively. GAAP is defined as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

• Total quarter-end inventory increased 1.4%, as compared to the end of last year’s third quarter, due to increased inventory in-transit, and increased levels of eCommerce inventory to support holiday selling, partially offset by a slight decrease in in-store inventory due to lower store count.
• Capital expenditures for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 were $3.1 million, as compared to $4.1 million in last year’s third quarter, primarily reflecting investments for two new stores with short-term leases under attractive terms, investments to refresh existing real estate, and investments in the Company’s information technology infrastructure to support its growing omni-channel business.
• The Company opened 2 New York & Company stores, refreshed 4 New York & Company stores, and closed 3 New York & Company stores, ending the third quarter with 459 stores, including 125 Outlet stores and 2.3 million selling square feet in operation.
• The Company ended the quarter with $69.2 million of cash on-hand, representing a $15.2 million increase to the prior year’s third quarter ending cash balance of $54.0 million. The cash on-hand balance of $69.2 million represents approximately $1.08 in cash per share and approximately $0.90 in cash per share, net of debt. The Company had no outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

Outlook:

As previously disclosed, the Company’s fiscal year is based upon a retail calendar and fiscal year 2017 is a 53-week year with an extra week of sales and expenses occurring late in the fourth quarter.

Regarding expectations for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company is providing the following guidance, which includes the extra week of sales and expenses:

• Net sales are expected to be up by a low single-digit percentage reflecting positive comparable store sales and the inclusion of the 53rd week in the fiscal calendar, partially offset by a decrease in store count.
• Comparable store sales are expected to be up in the low single-digit percentage range.
• Gross margin is expected to be up approximately 200 basis points to 250 basis points from the prior year’s fourth quarter rate reflecting improvements in product margin combined with continued benefits from Project Excellence through increased royalties, reductions in product costs, agent expenses and occupancy costs, partially offset by increased shipping costs associated with the significant growth in the omni-channel business.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses inclusive of the 53rd week in 2017 are expected to decrease $1 million to $2 million as compared to the prior year’s fourth quarter (which did not include the extra 53rd week), driven by $6.2 million in non-operating legal expense which occurred in the prior year period with no comparable expense in the fourth quarter of 2017, partially offset by increased payroll and expenses for the 53rd week, increased eCommerce fulfillment costs due to the significant increase in sales resulting from the positive comparable store sales and the 53rd week, anticipated increases in variable compensation programs, which are based upon annual profits, and investment in marketing, including increases in digital marketing, private label credit card marketing, and celebrity collaborations, in an effort to increase sales.
• For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, GAAP operating income is expected to be between $2 million and $4 million, as compared to a GAAP operating loss of $9.2 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter.

Additional Outlook:

• Total inventory at the end of the fourth quarter is expected to increase in the mid single-digit percentage range over the prior year fourth quarter largely reflecting increases in inventory in-transit due to timing differences resulting from the calendar shift relating to the 53rd week, and increases in eCommerce inventory to support higher sales. In-store inventory is expected to be down slightly due to lower store count.
• The Company continues to rationalize its real estate portfolio in an effort to reduce occupancy costs and maximize profitability per selling square foot. These efforts include maintaining a highly flexible real estate portfolio with approximately 67% of its leases expiring before fiscal year end 2019.
• Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017 are projected to be between $4.0 million and $6.0 million, as compared to $5.0 million of capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of last year.
• Depreciation expense for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017 is estimated to be approximately $5.0 million.
• The Company plans to end the full fiscal year 2017 with 431 stores, including 118 Outlet stores, and approximately 2.2 million selling square feet, having opened 8 New York & Company stores and 3 Outlet stores, remodeled/refreshed 14 existing stores and closed 38 New York & Company stores and 8 Outlet stores during the fiscal year.

Comparable Store Sales:

A store is included in the comparable store sales calculation after it has completed 13 full fiscal months of operations from the store's opening date or once it has been reopened after remodeling if the gross square footage did not change by more than 20%. Sales from the Company's eCommerce store and private label credit card royalties and related revenue are included in comparable store sales.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss third quarter of fiscal year 2017 results is scheduled for today, Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (800) 281-7973 and reference conference ID number 4583122 approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be web-cast live at www.nyandcompany.com. A replay of this call will be available at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on November 29, 2017 until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 6, 2017 and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 and entering conference ID number 4583122.

About New York & Company

New York & Company, Inc. is an omni-channel women’s fashion retailer designing on-trend and versatile collections at a great value. The specialty retailer, first incorporated in 1918, has grown to now operate 459 retail and outlet locations in 39 states while also growing a substantial eCommerce business. Its branded merchandise, including collaborations with Eva Mendes and Gabrielle Union, is sold exclusively at these locations and online at www.nyandcompany.com. Additionally, certain product, press release and SEC filing information concerning the Company are available at the Company's website: www.nyandcompany.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements made within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some of these statements can be identified by terms and phrases such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” and similar expressions and references to assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable and relate to its future prospects, developments and business strategies. Such statements, including information under “Outlook” and “Additional Outlook” above, are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These include, but are not limited to: (i) the Company’s dependence on mall traffic for its sales and the continued reduction in the volume of mall traffic; (ii) the Company’s ability to anticipate and respond to fashion trends; (iii) the impact of general economic conditions and their effect on consumer confidence and spending patterns; (iv) changes in the cost of raw materials, distribution services or labor; (v) the potential for economic conditions to negatively impact the Company's merchandise vendors and their ability to deliver products; (vi) the Company’s ability to open and operate stores successfully; (vii) seasonal fluctuations in the Company’s business; (viii) competition in the Company’s market, including promotional and pricing competition; (ix) the Company’s ability to retain, recruit and train key personnel; (x) the Company’s reliance on third parties to manage some aspects of its business; (xi) the Company’s reliance on foreign sources of production; (xii) the Company’s ability to protect its trademarks and other intellectual property rights; (xiii) the Company’s ability to maintain, and its reliance on, its information technology infrastructure; (xiv) the effects of government regulation; (xv) the final closing of the acquisition of certain assets from Fashion to Figure®, and the Company’s ability to effectively manage the related assets upon closing; (xvi) the control of the Company by its sponsors and any potential change of ownership of those sponsors; and (xvii) other risks and uncertainties as described in the Company’s documents filed with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any future events or circumstances.

               

Exhibit (1)

New York & Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

  (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)   Three monthsended

October 28, 2017

% ofnet sales Three monthsended

October 29, 2016

% ofnet sales Net sales $ 214,182 100.0 % $ 213,901 100.0 %   Cost of goods sold, buying and occupancy costs 146,584 68.4 % 149,917   70.1   %   Gross profit 67,598 31.6 % 63,984 29.9 %   Selling, general and administrative expenses 66,980 31.3 % 66,087   30.9   %   Operating income (loss) 618 0.3 % (2,103 ) (1.0 ) %   Interest expense, net of interest income 161 0.1 % 320   0.1   %   Income (loss) before income taxes 457 0.2 % (2,423 ) (1.1 ) %   Provision for income taxes 105 — % 109   0.1   %   Net income (loss) $ 352 0.2 % $ (2,532 ) (1.2 ) %     Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.01 $ (0.04 )   Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.01 $ (0.04 )   Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic shares of common stock 63,242 63,459   Diluted shares of common stock 64,099 63,459     Selected operating data: (Dollars in thousands, except square foot data)   Comparable store sales increase (decrease) 2.2 % (0.7 ) % Net sales per average selling square foot (a) $ 93 $ 86 Net sales per average store (b) $ 467 $ 442 Average selling square footage per store (c) 5,026 5,113 Ending store count 459 483  

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(a)   Net sales per average selling square foot is defined as net sales divided by the average of beginning and monthly end of period selling square feet. (b) Net sales per average store is defined as net sales divided by the average of beginning and monthly end of period number of stores. (c) Average selling square footage per store is defined as end of period selling square feet divided by end of period number of stores.                

Exhibit (2)

New York & Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

  (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)   Nine monthsended

October 28, 2017

% ofnet sales Nine monthsended

October 29, 2016

% ofnet sales Net sales $ 648,155 100.0 % $ 662,758 100.0 %   Cost of goods sold, buying and occupancy costs 447,574 69.1 % 471,837 71.2 %   Gross profit 200,581 30.9 % 190,921 28.8 %   Selling, general and administrative expenses 198,659 30.6 % 197,082 29.7 %   Operating income (loss) 1,922 0.3 % (6,161) (0.9) %   Interest expense, net of interest income 678 0.1 % 925 0.1 %   Income (loss) before income taxes 1,244 0.2 % (7,086) (1.0) %   Provision for income taxes 316 0.1 % 217 0.1 %   Net income (loss) $ 928 0.1 % $ (7,303) (1.1) %     Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.01 $ (0.12)   Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.01 $ (0.12)   Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic shares of common stock 63,213 63,399 Diluted shares of common stock 63,842 63,399   Selected operating data: (Dollars in thousands, except square foot data)   Comparable store sales increase (decrease) 0.1 % (0.9) % Net sales per average selling square foot (a) $ 279 $ 266 Net sales per average store (b) $ 1,406 $ 1,361 Average selling square footage per store (c) 5,026 5,113   (a)   Net sales per average selling square foot is defined as net sales divided by the average of beginning and monthly end of period selling square feet. (b) Net sales per average store is defined as net sales divided by the average of beginning and monthly end of period number of stores. (c) Average selling square footage per store is defined as end of period selling square feet divided by end of period number of stores.    

Exhibit (3)

New York & Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

      (Amounts in thousands) October 28, 2017 January 28, 2017* October 29, 2016 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 69,235 $ 88,369 $ 54,012 Accounts receivable 16,242 11,837 37,076 Income taxes receivable 115 144 47 Inventories, net 125,604 78,044 123,819 Prepaid expenses 17,648 18,746 18,790 Other current assets 2,587 824 1,226 Total current assets 231,431 197,964 234,970   Property and equipment, net 78,796 87,070 88,703 Intangible assets 14,879 14,879 14,879 Other assets 1,635 1,675 2,026 Total assets $ 326,741 $ 301,588 $ 340,578 Liabilities and stockholders’ equity Current liabilities: Current portion—long-term debt $ 841 $ 841 $ 841 Accounts payable 105,419 68,068 109,586 Accrued expenses 61,714 69,294 54,584 Income taxes payable — 174 149 Total current liabilities 167,974 138,377 165,160   Long-term debt, net of current portion 10,854 11,485 11,695 Deferred rent 28,192 30,039 31,211 Other liabilities 38,498 42,518 44,145 Total liabilities 245,518 222,419 252,211   Total stockholders’ equity 81,223 79,169 88,367 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 326,741 $ 301,588 $ 340,578   *  

Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2017.

   

Exhibit (4)

New York & Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

   

(Amounts in thousands)

Nine months

ended

October 28, 2017

Nine months

ended

October 29, 2016

  Operating activities Net income (loss) $ 928 $ (7,303 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 16,354 17,291 Loss from impairment charges 611 271 Amortization of deferred financing costs 142 142 Share-based compensation expense 1,756 2,720 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (4,455 ) (28,868 ) Income taxes receivable 29 — Inventories, net (47,560 ) (36,042 ) Prepaid expenses 1,098 652 Accounts payable 37,351 27,361 Accrued expenses (7,872 ) 1,330 Income taxes payable (174 ) (90 ) Deferred rent (1,847 ) (3,140 ) Other assets and liabilities   (4,978 )   34,199   Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities   (8,617 )   8,523     Investing activities Capital expenditures (7,794 ) (13,332 ) Insurance recoveries   50         —   Net cash used in investing activities   (7,744 )       (13,332 )   Financing activities Repayment of long-term debt (750 ) (750 ) Principal payments on capital lease obligations (1,199 ) (760 ) Repurchase of treasury stock (622 ) (909 ) Shares withheld for payment of employee payroll taxes (202 ) (312 ) Proceeds from exercise of stock options   —     120   Net cash used in financing activities   (2,773 )   (2,611 )   Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (19,134 ) (7,420 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   88,369     61,432   Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 69,235   $ 54,012   Non-cash capital lease transactions $ 818   $ 4,102      

Exhibit (5)

New York & Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

  A reconciliation of the Company’s GAAP to non-GAAP financial statement information for the three months ended October 28, 2017 and October 29, 2016 is indicated below. This information reflects, on a non-GAAP basis, the Company’s adjusted operating results after excluding certain non-operating adjustments. This non-GAAP financial information is provided to enhance the user’s overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance. Specifically, the Company believes the non-GAAP adjusted results provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding expenses and credits that the Company believes are not indicative of the Company’s continuing operating results. The non-GAAP financial information should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or as being superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.    

 

Three months ended October 28, 2017

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Cost of goods

sold, buying

and occupancy

costs

 

Gross

profit

 

Selling, general

and

administrative

expenses

 

Operating

income

  Net income  

Earnings

per diluted

share

GAAP as reported $ 146,584 $ 67,598 $ 66,980 $ 618 $ 352 $ 0.01

Adjustments affecting comparability

Certain severance expense (206 ) (206 ) 633 427 427 Consulting expense — — 114 114 114 Legal settlement fees   —     —     102   102     102     Total adjustments (1)   (206 )   (206 )   849   643     643     0.01  

Non-GAAP as adjusted

$ 146,790   $ 67,392   $ 66,131   $ 1,261   $ 995   $ 0.02    

 

Three months ended October 29, 2016

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Cost of goods

sold, buying

and occupancy

costs

Gross

profit

Selling, general

and

administrative

expenses

Operating

loss

Net loss

Loss per

diluted

share

GAAP as reported $ 149,917 $ 63,984 $ 66,087 $ (2,103 ) $ (2,532 ) $ (0.04 )

Adjustments affecting comparability

Legal accrual reduction   —     —     (473 ) (473 )   (473 )   Total adjustments (1)   —     —     (473 ) (473 )   (473 )   (0.01 )

Non-GAAP as adjusted

$ 149,917   $ 63,984   $ 66,560   $ (2,576 ) $ (3,005 ) $ (0.05 )   (1)   The tax effect of $0.6 million and $0.5 million of non-operating adjustments during the three months ended October 28, 2017 and October 29, 2016, respectively, is offset by a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.    

Exhibit (6)

New York & Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited)

  A reconciliation of the Company’s GAAP to non-GAAP financial statement information for the nine months ended October 28, 2017 and October 29, 2016 is indicated below. This information reflects, on a non-GAAP basis, the Company’s adjusted operating results after excluding certain non-operating adjustments. This non-GAAP financial information is provided to enhance the user’s overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance. Specifically, the Company believes the non-GAAP adjusted results provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding expenses and credits that the Company believes are not indicative of the Company’s continuing operating results. The non-GAAP financial information should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or as being superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.    

 

Nine months ended October 28, 2017

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

Cost of goods

sold, buying

and occupancy

costs

  Gross profit  

Selling, general

and

administrative

expenses

 

Operating

income

  Net income  

Earnings

per diluted

share

GAAP as reported $ 447,574 $ 200,581 $ 198,659 $ 1,922 $ 928 $ 0.01

Adjustments affecting comparability

Certain severance expense 342 342 633 975 975 Consulting expense — — 1,195 1,195 1,195 Certain executive relocation expense — — 401 401 401 Legal settlement fees net accrual reversal (trademark infringement case)  

—

 

—

  (2,051 ) (2,051 )   (2,051 )   Total adjustments (1)   342   342   178   520     520     0.01  

Non-GAAP as adjusted

$ 447,232 $ 200,923 $ 198,481   $ 2,442   $ 1,448   $ 0.02    

 

Nine months ended October 29, 2016

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

Cost of goods

sold, buying

and occupancy

costs

Gross profit

Selling, general

and

administrative

expenses

Operating

loss

Net loss

Loss per

diluted

share

GAAP as reported $ 471,837 $ 190,921 $ 197,082 $ (6,161 ) $ (7,303 ) $ (0.12 )

Adjustments affecting comparability

Legal accrual reduction   —   —   (473 ) (473 )   (473 )   Total adjustments (1)   —   —   (473 ) (473 )   (473 )   —  

Non-GAAP as adjusted

$ 471,837 $ 190,921 $ 197,555   $ (6,634 ) $ (7,776 ) $ (0.12 )   (1)   The tax effect of $0.5 million of non-operating adjustments during the nine months ended October 28, 2017 and October 29, 2016 is offset by a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171129006238/en/

Investor/Media Contact:ICR, Inc.(203) 682-8200Investor: Allison Malkin