25 Oct Skechers Achieves Record Net Sales In Third Quarter
Skechers USA Inc. reported net earnings rose 13.7 percent in the third quarter on a 15.1 percent revenue gain.
Third Quarter Highlights
- Record quarterly sales of $1.354 billion, an increase of 15.1 percent, or 17.2 percent on a constant currency basis
- International sales increased 21.9 percent, or 25.7 percent on a constant currency basis
Comparable same store sales increased 7.7 percent, including increases of 6.8 percent domestically and 9.9 percent internationally - International sales represented a record high 58.8 percent of sales
- Diluted earnings per share of $0.67, an increase of 15.5 percent, or $0.71 per diluted share on a constant currency basis, an increase of 22.4 percent
Skechers had guided earnings to come in the range of 65 to 70 cents a shares. Sales were expected to come in the range of $1.325 billion to $1.350 billion.
“Skechers is firing on all cylinders. Our global marketing efforts are creating awareness and generating demand. Our product is innovative, relevant and comfortable. Importantly, we achieved a new sales record of $1.354 billion in the third quarter,” stated Robert Greenberg, chief executive officer of Skechers. “In the last three months, we saw our chunky fashion footwear on fashion week runways in New York, London, and Milan; our Skechers GO Run Hyper win its fifth award this year—Gear of the Year from Runner’s World; we also won the Schuhkurier award in Germany for Brand of the Year, and launched unique collaborations in Asia, North America, and other regions. We continue to lead the walking footwear category and delivered technical and innovative work, golf, sport and kids footwear. We supported our key initiatives with a 360-degree approach to marketing by adding a comprehensive digital strategy to our traditional television campaigns. Our product offering is vast and reaches every demographic, and at its core, comfort is what consumers have come to know and expect from Skechers. This, and our comprehensive marketing, differentiates Skechers from other brands, and is why we achieved growth across our domestic, international and direct-to-consumer businesses. We believe our holiday sales will be stronger across all channels of our business, and we’re looking forward to 2020 and the launch of our first campaign with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw.”
“Skechers achieved a new quarterly sales record as our international business continued to drive growth with wholesale sales increases of 21.7 percent and direct-to-consumer sales increases of 22.3 percent. Further, our domestic direct-to-consumer business improved 8.7 percent, and our domestic wholesale business returned to growth with an increase of 5.0 percent,” began David Weinberg, chief operating officer of Skechers. “We believe these results are an indication of the global strength of our brand with strong increases around the world—from Germany, the UK and Spain, to India, Turkey and the U.A.E., as well as China, Russia and Japan. With the strength of our international business as well as the growth of our direct-to-consumer channel—with more than 3,300 Skechers stores worldwide, of which 779 are Company-owned, we are investing in both our logistics and inventory to meet the growing demand. Based on feedback from recent meetings with our international partners and domestic accounts, as well as our incoming order rate, we believe the momentum will continue in the fourth quarter and into 2020.”
Sales grew 15.1 percent as a result of a 21.9 percent increase in the Company’s international business, or 25.7 percent on a constant currency basis, and a 6.7 percent increase in its domestic business. On a constant currency basis, the Company’s sales increased 17.2 percent. By segments, the Company’s international wholesale business increased 21.7 percent, its Company-owned direct-to-consumer business increased 13.3 percent, and the Company’s domestic wholesale business increased 5.0 percent. Comparable same store sales in Company-owned stores and e-commerce increased 7.7 percent, including 6.8 percent in the United States and 9.9 percent internationally.
Gross margins increased as a result of improved retail pricing and product mix in its international businesses, partially offset by an increase in the average cost per unit in its domestic business.
SG&A expenses were flat as a percentage of sales but increased in line with sales by 15.1 percent in the quarter. Selling expenses increased by $7.4 million primarily due to higher international advertising expenditures. General and administrative expenses increased by $59.7 million, reflecting additional spending of $24.4 million to support the growth of its international business, including in China and the addition of operations in Mexico, and $18.5 million associated with 37 additional Company-owned Skechers stores, including 14 that opened in the third quarter.
Earnings from operations increased $23.5 million, or 19.0 percent, to $147.4 million.
Net earnings were $103.1 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.67. On a constant currency basis, diluted earnings per share were $0.71, an increase of 22.4 percent.
In the third quarter, the Company’s effective income tax rate was 15.8 percent.
Nine Month 2019 Financial Results
For the nine-month period, sales grew 9.2 percent, or 11.9 percent on a constant currency basis. By segments, the Company’s international wholesale business increased 15.9 percent, its Company-owned direct-to-consumer business increased 11.8 percent and its domestic wholesale business decreased 4.0 percent. The Company’s international business grew 16.8 percent and its domestic business grew by 0.4 percent.
Gross margins decreased slightly as a result of promotional efforts to clear seasonal inventory in select international markets earlier in the year.
SG&A expenses improved for the nine-month period as a percentage of sales from 38.5 percent in 2018 to 37.2 percent in 2019. Selling expenses decreased $7.4 million from lower domestic advertising earlier in the year while general and administrative expenses increased $84.7 million mainly due to 37 additional Company-owned stores and investments to grow its operations internationally.
Earnings from operations increased $70.3 million, or 19.9 percent, to $424.4 million.
Net earnings were $287.0 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.86. On a constant currency basis, diluted earnings per share were $1.96, an increase of 21.0 percent.
Balance Sheet
At quarter-end, cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $1.022 billion, a decrease of $44.4 million, or 4.2 percent from December 31, 2018, and an increase of $40.5 million, or 4.1 percent, compared to September 30, 2018. The decrease in cash as compared to December 31, 2018 is mainly attributable to investments the Company made to acquire the minority interest in its former India joint venture and to form a new joint venture in Mexico.
Total inventory, including inventory in transit, was $890.4 million, a $27.1 million increase from December 31, 2018, and a $135.3 million increase over September 30, 2018. The majority of the year-over-year inventory increase is to support growth in its international wholesale business and expansion of its direct-to-consumer business globally.
Working capital was $1.52 billion at September 30, 2019, a $101.4 million decrease over December 31, 2018, and a $95.5 million decrease from September 30, 2018, partially attributable to the inclusion of current operating lease liabilities totaling $172.9 million arising from the adoption of ASU 842 as of January 2019.
“Our extremely strong third quarter results reflect both the success of our product and the strength of our global execution capabilities,” said John Vandemore, chief financial officer of Skechers. “This quarter’s comprehensive increase in sales and improved profitability are a testament to the soundness of our strategy and a validation of the investments in global infrastructure we have made to drive that strategy. We will continue to invest in our business to grow our brand across the globe and to increase our direct-to-consumer reach.”
Outlook
For the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company believes it will achieve sales in the range of $1.225 billion to $1.250 billion, and diluted earnings per share of $0.35 to $0.40. The guidance is based on continued growth in each of the Company’s three segments in the fourth quarter, and a full-year effective tax rate of between 17 and 19 percent.