Chico’s FAS, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

Chico’s FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) (the “Company” or “Chico’s FAS”) today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2020 third quarter ended October 31, 2020 (the “third quarter”).

Molly Langenstein, Chief Executive Officer and President, Chico’s FAS said: “Eighteen months ago, we prioritized digital as the primary growth engine for all three of our brands, making major strategic shifts and investments to pivot us to a digital-first company. In March of this year, as our business became 100% digital overnight, we accelerated that transformation through innovation and state-of-the art technology enhancements. Even with our stores now reopened, we continue to generate year-over-year double-digit digital sales increases. As a digital-first company, we believe we are competitively positioned to accelerate growth and gain market share in 2021 and beyond.”

“We are pleased that we achieved another quarter of sequential performance improvement, with total sales increasing by 14.8%, driven by strong digital performance and a rebound in store sales, and gross margin rate rising more than 700 basis points,” Langenstein added.

Langenstein also noted, “During the third quarter, we significantly enhanced our financial liquidity and flexibility with the $300 million credit facility and commitments for $65 million in rent abatements and reductions. We are also on track to realize SG&A expense savings of 23% compared to our original plan for the year. All of these actions have created a solid financial foundation for Chico’s FAS that we believe has positioned us to emerge a stronger company. I remain optimistic about the future of Chico’s FAS.”

Business Highlights
Recent highlights include:
-Chico’s FAS continued its evolution to a digital-first company, fast tracking several investments in innovative digital technology, leading to higher customer engagement and improved sales.
-For the third quarter, total sales improved 14.8% from the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2020 (the “second quarter”), driven by robust digital performance and rebounding store revenues.
-Third quarter digital sales grew by double digits for the second quarter in a row. Year-over-year digital sales grew in all three brands, and Soma led the way with 67% growth compared to the thirteen weeks ended November 2, 2019 (“last year’s third quarter”).
-Soma achieved a 10.5% total comparable sales growth for the third quarter compared to last year’s third quarter.
-Total third quarter gross margin rate was up 740 basis points compared to the second quarter, reflecting a higher percentage of full-price selling on leaner inventory, reduced inventory write-offs and leverage of fixed occupancy costs.
-In October, the Company meaningfully enhanced its liquidity and financial flexibility by amending and extending its credit facility for $300.0 million, which matures in October 2025. The Company’s balance sheet remains strong with $145.2 million in cash and cash equivalents at quarter end.
-The Company achieved commitments of $65.0 million to date in rent abatements and reductions resulting from its comprehensive real estate and lease portfolio review. On a cash basis, management expects approximately $44.0 million of this amount will be realized in fiscal 2020, with the balance realized primarily in fiscal 2021. For income statement purposes, these rent abatements and reductions will be recognized pro rata over the remaining lease terms.
-The Company continued the process of streamlining and refining its organizational structure, materially reducing its expense base to appropriately support its business needs. Excluding rent, management has identified approximately $235.0 million, or 23%, in annual expense savings compared to the original fiscal 2020 plan. The Company expects certain of these cost savings initiatives will benefit future years and reflect a cultural shift in how the business is managed.

Overview of Financial Results
For the thirteen weeks ended October 31, 2020 (the “third quarter”), the Company reported a net loss of $55.9 million, or $0.48 loss per diluted share. The third quarter net loss includes the after-tax impact of impairment charges of $6.3 million, or $0.06 per share. For last year’s third quarter, the net loss was $8.1 million, or $0.07 loss per diluted share. Last year’s third quarter net loss includes after-tax accelerated depreciation charges of $1.5 million, or $0.01 per share and the after-tax impact of severance and other related net charges (collectively, “Severance Charges”) of $2.1 million, or $0.02 per share.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2020, the Company reported a net loss of $281.0 million, or $2.43 loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $8.4 million, or $0.07 loss per diluted share, for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2019. The net loss for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2020 includes the after-tax impact of goodwill impairment charges of $72.9 million, or $0.63 per share; impairments on other indefinite-lived intangible assets of $24.6 million, or $0.21 per share; inventory write-offs of $34.1 million, or $0.29 per share; long-lived store asset impairments of $13.9 million, or $0.12 per share; impairment on right of use assets of $1.8 million, or $0.02 per share; and impairment on other long-lived assets of $6.3 million, or $0.06 per share. These charges represent $197.9 million of the pre-tax net loss and $153.7 million of the after-tax loss, or $1.33 per share, for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 31, 2020. The net loss for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2019 includes after-tax accelerated depreciation charges of $7.2 million, or $0.06 per share, and Severance Charges of $2.1 million, or $0.02 per share.

For the third quarter, net sales were $351.4 million, an improvement of 14.8% from the second quarter, reflecting robust digital performance and rebounding store revenues. Sales decreased approximately 27.5% from last year’s third quarter, reflecting a decline in store sales as well as the impact of 63 net permanent store closures since last year’s third quarter, partially offset by double-digit growth in digital sales.

For the third quarter, gross margin was $77.2 million, or 22.0% of net sales, up 740 basis points from the second quarter. Gross margin in last year’s third quarter was $171.0 million, or 35.3% of net sales. The third quarter year-over-year decrease in gross margin rate primarily reflects deleverage of fixed occupancy costs as well as lower maintained margin in the third quarter. Lower maintained margin in part reflects the impact of our Semi-Annual Sale which was extended an additional week due to the timing of Labor Day this year.
more detail at: https://chicosfas.com/investors/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Chicos-FAS-Inc.-Reports-Third-Quarter-Results/default.aspx

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