Release Details

• Net sales $948 million, growth of 5%
• Diluted EPS $1.71, growth of 7%; adjusted diluted EPS $1.70, growth of 6%
• Returned $204 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017
• Company acquires licensee in Mexico
• Q4 fiscal 2017 outlook: net sales growth of 10%; adjusted diluted EPS growth of 21%
• Full year fiscal 2017 outlook: net sales growth of 6%; adjusted diluted EPS growth of 9%

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2017-- Carter’s, Inc. (NYSE:CRI), the largest branded marketer in North America of apparel exclusively for babies and young children, today reported its third quarter fiscal 2017 results.

“We achieved our third quarter sales and earnings objectives, despite the significant impact of hurricanes in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico,” said Michael D. Casey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our growth was led by our U.S. retail and international businesses, including the contribution of our Skip Hop brand which we acquired earlier this year. We also announced today the acquisition of our licensee in Mexico, an investment which we believe will strengthen our leading market position in North America. Given the strength of our fall and holiday product offerings, together with the contribution of our new opportunities with Skip Hop, Amazon, China, and Mexico, we believe we are on track to achieve our growth objectives this year, our 29th consecutive year of sales growth.”

Acquisition of Licensee in Mexico

On August 1, 2017, the Company acquired its licensee in Mexico. The licensee’s 2016 net sales, from wholesale and retail store operations, were approximately $525 million Mexican Pesos, or approximately $28 million U.S. Dollars at the current exchange rate.

Consolidated Results

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2017 compared to Third Quarter of Fiscal 2016

Net sales increased $46.8 million, or 5.2%, to $948.2 million, principally driven by growth in the Company’s U.S. Retail segment and the benefit of Skip Hop, which was acquired by the Company in February 2017. Skip Hop, a global lifestyle brand for families with young children, and the recently-acquired business in Mexico contributed $27.9 million and $4.5 million, respectively, to consolidated net sales growth in the third quarter of fiscal 2017. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2016 favorably affected consolidated net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 by $3.3 million, or 0.4%. On a constant currency basis (a non-GAAP measure), consolidated net sales increased 4.8% in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

Operating income in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 decreased $0.2 million, or 0.1%, to $130.7 million, compared to $130.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Operating margin decreased 70 basis points to 13.8%, compared to 14.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.

Adjusted operating income (a non-GAAP measure) decreased $0.2 million, or 0.2%, to $131.2 million, compared to $131.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted operating margin (a non-GAAP measure) decreased 80 basis points to 13.8%, compared to 14.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, which principally reflects increased investments in retail operations, marketing, and technology, partially offset by favorable product costs.

Net income in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 increased $1.7 million, or 2.1%, to $82.5 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, compared to $80.8 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.

Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) increased $1.0 million, or 1.3%, to $82.2 million, compared to $81.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted earnings per diluted share (a non-GAAP measure) in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 increased 5.8% to $1.70, compared to $1.61 in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.

First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2017 compared to First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2016

Net sales increased $108.1 million, or 4.8%, to $2.37 billion, principally driven by growth in the Company’s U.S. Retail segment and the benefit of the Skip Hop acquisition. The Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions contributed $63.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively, to consolidated net sales growth in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2016 favorably affected consolidated net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 by $2.1 million, or 0.1%. On a constant currency basis (a non-GAAP measure), consolidated net sales increased 4.7% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017.

Operating income in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 decreased $13.3 million, or 4.6%, to $273.8 million, compared to $287.1 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016. Operating margin decreased 120 basis points to 11.5%, compared to 12.7% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016.

Adjusted operating income (a non-GAAP measure) decreased $12.0 million, or 4.1%, to $277.4 million, compared to $289.4 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016. Adjusted operating margin (a non-GAAP measure) decreased 110 basis points to 11.7%, compared to 12.8% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016, which principally reflects increased investments in retail operations, marketing, and technology, partially offset by favorable product costs.

Net income in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 decreased $3.9 million, or 2.3%, to $167.1 million, or $3.43 per diluted share, compared to $171.0 million, or $3.34 per diluted share, in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016.

Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) decreased $3.7 million, or 2.1%, to $168.7 million, compared to $172.4 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016. Adjusted earnings per diluted share (a non-GAAP measure) in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 increased 2.7% to $3.46, compared to $3.37 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016.

Cash flow from operations in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 was $117.5 million compared to $116.6 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2016.

See the “Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Results” section of this release for additional disclosures and reconciliations regarding non-GAAP measures.

Business Segment Results

At the beginning of fiscal 2017, the Company combined its Carter’s Retail and OshKosh Retail segments into a single U.S. Retail operating segment, and its Carter’s Wholesale and OshKosh Wholesale segments into a single U.S. Wholesale operating segment, to reflect the sales-channel approach executive management now uses to evaluate business performance and manage operations in the U.S. The International segment was not affected by these changes. The Company’s reportable segments are now U.S. Retail, U.S. Wholesale, and International. Prior periods have been conformed to reflect this current segment structure.

U.S. Retail Segment

In the third quarter and the first three fiscal quarters of fiscal 2017, the Company believes that U.S. Retail segment comparable sales were negatively affected by hurricanes in Texas, the Southeast, and Puerto Rico, as well as abnormally warm weather throughout much of the United States during the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2017 compared to Third Quarter of Fiscal 2016

U.S. Retail segment sales increased $32.3 million, or 7.7%, to $454.0 million. U.S. Retail comparable sales increased 2.6%, comprised of comparable eCommerce sales growth of 20.9%, partially offset by a comparable stores sales decline of 3.2%. Skip Hop contributed $1.8 million to segment net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company opened 12 stores and closed one store in the United States.

First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2017 compared to First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2016

U.S. Retail segment sales increased $81.1 million, or 7.2%, to $1.21 billion. U.S. Retail comparable sales increased 1.7%, comprised of comparable eCommerce sales growth of 22.5%, partially offset by a comparable stores sales decline of 4.3%. Skip Hop contributed $3.0 million to segment net sales in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017.

In the first three quarters of fiscal 2017, the Company opened 38 stores and closed nine stores in the United States.

As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company operated 821 retail stores in the United States, comprised of 608 single brand and 213 dual-brand stores.

U.S. Wholesale Segment

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2017 compared to Third Quarter of Fiscal 2016

U.S. wholesale segment net sales decreased $4.2 million, or 1.1%, to $369.6 million, reflecting a decrease in demand for Carter’s and OshKosh products, partially offset by the benefit of the Skip Hop acquisition. Skip Hop contributed $16.3 million to segment net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2017 compared to First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2016

U.S. wholesale segment net sales decreased $1.1 million, or 0.1%, to $879.8 million, reflecting a decrease in demand for Carter’s and OshKosh products, partially offset by the benefit of the Skip Hop acquisition. Skip Hop contributed $38.1 million to segment net sales in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017.

International Segment

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2017 compared to Third Quarter of Fiscal 2016

International segment net sales increased $18.6 million, or 17.6%, to $124.6 million, reflecting the benefits of the Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions and growth in Canada and China, partially offset by decreased wholesale demand in other markets outside of the U.S. The Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions contributed $9.9 million and $4.5 million, respectively, to segment net sales growth in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2016 favorably affected international segment net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 by $3.3 million, or 3.1%. On a constant currency basis (a non-GAAP measure), international segment net sales increased 14.5%.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2017, Canada retail comparable sales increased 0.7%, comprised of comparable eCommerce sales growth of 60.7%, mostly offset by a comparable stores sales decline of 3.9%. In the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company opened four stores in Canada.

First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2017 compared to First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2016

International segment net sales increased $28.1 million, or 11.0%, to $283.6 million, reflecting the benefits of the Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions and growth in Canada and China, partially offset by decreased wholesale demand in other markets outside of the U.S. The Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions contributed $22.2 million and $4.5 million, respectively, to segment net sales growth in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017.

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2016 favorably affected international segment net sales in the first three quarters of fiscal 2017 by $2.1 million, or 0.8%. On a constant currency basis (a non-GAAP measure), international segment net sales increased 10.2%.

For the first three quarters of fiscal 2017, Canada retail comparable sales increased 0.3%, comprised of comparable eCommerce sales growth of 50.4%, offset by a comparable stores sales decline of 3.3%.

In the first three quarters of fiscal 2017, the Company opened 10 stores and closed two stores in Canada. As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company operated 172 retail stores in Canada and 40 retail stores in Mexico.

Return of Capital

In the third quarter and first three quarters of fiscal 2017, the Company returned to shareholders, through share repurchases and cash dividends, a total of $70.4 million and $204.4 million, respectively, as described below.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company repurchased and retired 596,178 shares of its common stock for $52.7 million at an average price of $88.47 per share. In the first three quarters of fiscal 2017, the Company repurchased and retired 1,727,587 shares of its common stock for $151.0 million at an average price of $87.39 per share. Fiscal year-to-date through October 25, 2017, the Company repurchased and retired a total of 1,850,762 shares for $162.6 million at an average price of $87.83 per share. All shares were repurchased in open market transactions pursuant to applicable regulations for such transactions. As of October 25, 2017, the total remaining capacity under the Company’s previously announced repurchase authorizations was approximately $112 million.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.37 per share totaling $17.6 million. In the first three quarters of fiscal 2017, the Company paid cash dividends totaling $1.11 per share, or $53.4 million. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of related record and payment dates will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors based on a number of factors, including the Company’s future financial performance and other considerations.

2017 Business Outlook

For fiscal 2017, the Company projects net sales to increase approximately 6% compared to fiscal 2016 and adjusted earnings per diluted share to increase approximately 9% compared to adjusted earnings per diluted share of $5.14 in fiscal 2016. This forecast for fiscal 2017 adjusted earnings per diluted share excludes: (1) anticipated expenses of approximately $4.6 million related to acquisitions, $2.7 million related to retail store restructuring, and $0.3 million related to the Company's direct sourcing initiative, which includes severance and relocation costs, and (2) a benefit of approximately $3.6 million related to an acquisition contingency fair value adjustment.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company projects net sales to increase approximately 10% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and adjusted earnings per diluted share to increase approximately 21% compared to adjusted earnings per diluted share of $1.79 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. This forecast for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 adjusted earnings per diluted share excludes anticipated expenses of approximately $0.5 million related to acquisitions

The Company believes non-GAAP measurements, including adjusted earnings per diluted share, provide investors with a meaningful view of the Company’s core operating results, and are the same measurements used by the Company's executive management to assess the Company's performance.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call with investors to discuss third quarter fiscal 2017 results and its business outlook on October 26, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. To participate in the call, please dial 719-457-2602. To listen to a live broadcast via the internet, please visit www.carters.com and select the “Q3 2017 Earnings Conference Call” link under the “Investor Relations” tab. Presentation materials for the call can be accessed under the same tab by selecting the link for “News & Events” followed by “Webcasts & Presentations”. A replay of the call will be available shortly after the broadcast through November 4, 2017, at 888-203-1112 (U.S. / Canada) or 719-457-0820 (international), passcode 2017321. The replay will also be archived on the Company’s website under the “Investor Relations” tab.

About Carter’s, Inc.

Carter’s, Inc. is the largest branded marketer in North America of apparel and related products exclusively for babies and young children. The Company owns the Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh brands, two of the most recognized brands in the marketplace. These brands are sold in leading department stores, national chains, and specialty retailers domestically and internationally. They are also sold through more than 1,000 Company-operated stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and on-line at www.carters.com, www.oshkosh.com, and www.cartersoshkosh.ca. The Company’s Just One You, Precious Firsts, and Genuine Kids brands are available at Target, its Child of Mine brand is available at Walmart, and its Simple Joys brand is available on Amazon. The Company also owns Skip Hop, a global lifestyle brand for families with young children. Carter’s is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional information may be found at www.carters.com.

Cautionary Language

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to the Company’s future performance, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s anticipated financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 and fiscal year 2017, or any other future period, assessments of the Company’s performance and financial position, and drivers of the Company’s sales and earnings growth. Such statements are based on current expectations only, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or not materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, or projected. Certain of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially are described in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time under the headings “Risk Factors”. Included among the risks and uncertainties that may impact future results are the risks of: losing one or more major customers, vendors, or licensees, due to competition, inadequate quality of the Company’s products, or otherwise; financial difficulties for one or more of the Company’s major customers, vendors, or licensees, or an overall decrease in consumer spending; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our products not being accepted in the marketplace, due to quality concerns, changes in consumer preference and fashion trends, or otherwise; negative publicity, including as a result of product recalls or otherwise; failure to protect the Company’s intellectual property; various types of litigation, including class action litigation brought under various consumer protection, employment, and privacy and information security laws; a breach of the Company’s consumer databases, systems, or processes; the risk of slow-downs, disruptions, or strikes along the Company’s supply chain, including disruptions resulting from foreign supply sources, the Company’s distribution centers, or in-sourcing capabilities; unsuccessful expansion into international markets or failure to successfully manage legal, regulatory, political and economic risks of the Company’s existing international operations, including maintaining compliance with worldwide anti-bribery laws; and an inability to obtain additional financing on favorable terms. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

RECONCILIATION OF U.S. GAAP AND NON-GAAP INFORMATION
(unaudited)

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental financial measures that are not defined or prepared in accordance with GAAP. We define EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted for the items listed in the table above.

We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we consider them important supplemental measures of our performance and believe they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. These measures also afford investors a view of what management considers to be the Company's core performance.

The use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA instead of net income or cash flows from operations has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not represent net income or cash flow from operations as those terms are defined by GAAP and do not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. While EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and similar measures are frequently used as measures of operations and the ability to meet debt service requirements, these terms are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to the potential inconsistencies in the method of calculation. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters that we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations. Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as discretionary cash available to us for working capital, debt service and other purposes.

RECONCILIATION OF U.S. GAAP AND NON-GAAP INFORMATION
(dollars in millions)
(unaudited)

The tables below reflect the calculation of constant currency for total net sales of the International segment and consolidated net sales for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2017:

The Company evaluates its net sales on both an “as reported” and a “constant currency” basis. The constant currency presentation, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates that occurred between the comparative periods. Constant currency net sales results are calculated by translating current period net sales in local currency to the U.S. dollar amount by using the currency conversion rate for the prior comparative period. The Company consistently applies this approach to net sales for all countries where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. The Company believes that the presentation of net sales on a constant currency basis provides useful supplemental information regarding changes in our net sales that were not due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and such information is consistent with how the Company assesses changes in its net sales between comparative periods.

Note: Results may not be additive due to rounding.

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Source: Carter’s, Inc.

Carter’s, Inc.
Sean McHugh, 678-791-7615
Vice President & Treasurer