Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2018 Financial Results

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: OLLI) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended August 4, 2018 and raised sales and earnings guidance for the full-year fiscal 2018.

Second Quarter Summary:

• Total net sales increased 13.1% to $288.1 million.
  
  
• Comparable store sales increased 4.4%.
  
  
• The Company opened six stores and entered one new state during the quarter, ending the period with a total of 282 stores in 22 states, an increase in store count of 12.8% year over year.
  
  
• Operating income increased 16.9% to $34.9 million and operating margin increased 40 basis points to 12.1%.
  
  
• Net income increased 51.4% to $29.8 million and net income per diluted share increased 50.0% to $0.45.
  
  
• Adjusted net income⁽¹⁾ increased 46.2% to $26.1 million and adjusted net income per diluted share⁽¹⁾ increased 48.1% to $0.40.
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ increased 15.4% to $40.3 million.

Mark Butler, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are extremely pleased with our results for the quarter, which were strong across the board.  We once again exceeded our sales and earnings expectations, delivering total sales growth of 13% and adjusted net income per diluted share growth of 48%.  This was our 17^th consecutive quarter of positive comparable store sales, with a 4.4% comparable store sales increase on top of an 8.0% increase on a two-year stack basis.  With the continued momentum of our business and a robust closeout environment, we are raising our sales and earnings guidance for fiscal 2018.  Our philosophy of buying cheap and selling cheap, coupled with tight expense control and successful new store growth, has driven our business for 36 years and we feel very good about our ability to continue executing against our strategic growth initiatives this year and beyond.”   

Second Quarter Results

Net sales increased 13.1% to $288.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 from $254.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The increase in net sales was driven by a 12.8% increase in the number of stores and a 4.4% increase in comparable store sales. The Company opened six stores in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 and ended the period with 282 locations, compared to 250 stores at the end of the comparable prior year period.

Gross profit increased 12.4% to $112.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 from $100.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Gross margin decreased 30 basis points to 39.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 from 39.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The decrease in gross margin is due to higher supply chain costs as a percentage of net sales, partially offset by an increased merchandise margin.

Operating income increased 16.9% to $34.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 from $29.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Operating margin increased 40 basis points to 12.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 from 11.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2017, largely due to tight expense control and leveraging of selling, general and administrative expenses.

Net income increased 51.4% to $29.8 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 from $19.7 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.  Diluted earnings per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017 included a benefit of $0.06 and $0.03, respectively, due to excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation.  Adjusted net income ⁽¹⁾, which excludes these benefits, increased 46.2% to $26.1 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 from $17.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ increased 15.4% to $40.3 million, or 14.0% of net sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 from $34.9 million, or 13.7% of net sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-cash stock-based compensation expense and non-cash purchase accounting items.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

The Company's cash balance as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2018 was $29.4 million compared to $24.8 million as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2017.  The Company had no borrowings outstanding under its $100 million revolving credit facility and $95.4 million of availability under the facility as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2018. The Company ended the second quarter of fiscal 2018 with total borrowings of $21.8 million compared to $129.2 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

Inventory as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2018 increased 13.6% to $287.4 million compared to $253.0 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2017, primarily due to new store growth and timing of deal flow.

Capital expenditures in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 totaled $5.5 million compared to $5.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017.

Outlook   

Based on year-to-date results and expectations for the second half of fiscal 2018, Ollie’s is raising sales and earnings guidance for the full-year fiscal 2018.  The Company is now estimating the following:

• Total net sales of $1.222 billion to $1.227 billion;
  
  
• Comparable store sales growth of 2.5% to 3.0%;
  
  
• The opening of 36 to 38 new stores and one relocation;
  
  
• Operating income of $154.0 million to $156.0 million;
  
  
• Adjusted net income⁽²⁾ of $114.0 million to $116.0 million and adjusted net income per diluted share⁽²⁾ of $1.73 to $1.76, both of which exclude excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation and the after-tax loss on extinguishment of debt;
  
  
• An effective tax rate of 26.0%, which excludes excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation;
  
  
• Diluted weighted average shares outstanding of 66.0 million; and
  
  
• Capital expenditures of $70.0 million to $75.0 million, largely reflecting the Company’s recent purchase of 12 former Toys “R” Us properties.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss second quarter fiscal 2018 financial results is scheduled for today, September 5, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts can participate on the conference call by dialing (800) 219-7052 or (574) 990-1029 and using conference ID #5695397.  Interested parties can also listen to a live webcast or replay of the conference call by logging on to the Investor Relations section on the Company’s website at http://investors.ollies.us/.  The replay of the conference call webcast will be available at the investor relations website for one year.

About Ollie’s                              

We are a highly differentiated and fast growing, extreme value retailer of brand name merchandise at drastically reduced prices. We are known for our assortment of merchandise offered as Good Stuff Cheap®.  We offer name brand products, Real Brands! Real Bargains!®, in every department, including housewares, food, books and stationery, bed and bath, floor coverings, toys, health and beauty aids and other categories.  We currently operate 285 stores in 22 states throughout the Eastern half of the United States. For more information, visit www.ollies.us.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “could,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “continues,” “projects” and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections, the outlook for the Company’s future business, prospects, financial performance, including our fiscal 2018 business outlook or financial guidance, and industry outlook. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, including recently enacted tax legislation, and the following: our failure to adequately procure and manage our inventory or anticipate consumer demand; changes in consumer confidence and spending; risks associated with intense competition; our failure to open new profitable stores, or successfully enter new markets, on a timely basis or at all; our failure to hire and retain key personnel and other qualified personnel; our inability to obtain favorable lease terms for our properties; the loss of, or disruption in the operations of, our centralized distribution centers; fluctuations in comparable store sales and results of operations, including on a quarterly basis; risks associated with our lack of operations in the growing online retail marketplace; our inability to successfully implement our marketing, advertising and promotional efforts; the seasonal nature of our business; risks associated with the timely and effective deployment and protection of computer networks and other electronic systems; the risks associated with doing business with international manufacturers; changes in government regulations, procedures and requirements; and our ability to service our indebtedness and to comply with our financial covenants together with the other factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. Ollie’s undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.  You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our public announcements and SEC filings.

Investor Contact:
Jean Fontana
ICR
646-277-1214
Jean.Fontana@icrinc.com

Media Contact:
Dan Haines
Vice President – Marketing & Advertising
717-657-2300
dhaines@ollies.us

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.
Supplemental Information
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). We have included the non-GAAP measures of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share in this press release as these are key measures used by our management and our board of directors to evaluate our operating performance and the effectiveness of our business strategies, make budgeting decisions, and evaluate compensation decisions.  Management believes it is useful to investors and analysts to evaluate these non-GAAP measures on the same basis as management uses to evaluate the Company’s operating results. We believe that excluding items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, our core operating results, and that may vary in frequency or magnitude from net income and net income per diluted share, enhances the comparability of our results and provides a better baseline for analyzing trends in our business. 

The tables below reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted net income to net income, adjusted net income per diluted share to net income per diluted share, and EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income, in each case the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
           
Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share give effect to the after-tax loss on extinguishment of debt and excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation, which may not occur with the same frequency or magnitude in future periods. We define EBITDA as net income before net interest expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, depreciation and amortization expenses and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA as further adjusted for non-cash stock-based compensation expense and non-cash purchase accounting items, which we do not consider representative of our ongoing operating performance. 

Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplementing, and not as an alternative to or substitute for, the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Certain of the items that may be excluded or included in non-GAAP financial measures may be significant items that could impact the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows and should therefore be considered in assessing the Company's actual financial condition and performance. The methods used by the Company to calculate its non-GAAP financial measures may differ significantly from methods used by other companies to compute similar measures. As a result, any non-GAAP financial measures presented herein may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies.