Footlocker’s Q2 Net Income Jumps

Footlocker’s Q2 Net Income Jumps

Foot Locker, Inc. reported net income rose 11.9 percent in its second quarter ended Aug. 3, to $66 million, or 44 cents per share, compared with net income of $59 million, or 39 cents, last year. Comparable-store sales increased 1.8 percent. Excluding costs tied to the acquisition of Runners Point Group and the closing of the CCS Retail stores, EPS increased 23 percent but was slightly below Wall Street’s consensus target.

Total second quarter sales increased 6.4 percent, to $1.45 billion this year, compared with sales of $1.37 billion for the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the second quarter increased 5.9 percent.  Total second quarter sales results include one month of Runners Point Group’s operations.

Year-To-Date Results

Net income for the company’s first six months of the year increased to $204 million, or $1.34 per share, compared to net income of $187 million, or $1.21 per share, for the corresponding period in 2012.   Earnings per share for the six month period have increased 11 percent compared to the same period in 2012.  Year-to-date sales were $3,092 million, an increase of 5 percent compared to sales of $2,945 million in the corresponding six month period of 2012.   Year-to-date comparable store sales increased 3.5 percent. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales year-to-date increased 4.9 percent.

Non-GAAP Adjustment

During the second quarter, the company incurred approximately $5 million, pre-tax, in costs related to the acquisition of Runners Point Group and the closing of the CCS Retail stores. Excluding these expenses, second quarter earnings were 46 cents per share on a non-GAAP basis, an increase of 21 percent compared to the 38 cents that the company earned in the second quarter last year. Results were slightly below Wall Street’s consensus estimate of 48 cents a share.

For the first six months of 2013, non-GAAP net income was $1.37 per share, an increase of 14 percent over the $1.20 per share earned in the corresponding period of 2012.

“Sales in the second quarter were more challenging than we planned for, especially in the United States.  Despite this headwind, we produced second quarter ongoing profit and sales results that were our best ever as Foot Locker, Inc., demonstrating that the execution of our strategic priorities continues to deliver solid financial and operational results for our shareholders and other stakeholders” said Ken C. Hicks, chairman of the board and chief executive officer.  “We remain confident that we can achieve a mid-single digit comparable sales gain and a double digit percentage profit increase for fiscal 2013, as we build momentum in our operational and financial performance now and over the long term.”