“Finishing such a challenging year with a positive fourth quarter comp, a significantly stronger e-com business, and improved earnings per share compared to last year’s fourth quarter, along with a strong, debt-free balance sheet was a remarkable accomplishment,” commented Ed Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Fiscal 2020 Fourth Quarter Results Overview
The following comparisons refer to operating results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 versus the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 ended February 1, 2020:
*Total net sales were $177.9 million, an increase of $5.4 million or 3.2%, compared to $172.5 million last year. Total comparable net sales, including both physical stores and e-commerce, increased by 2.5% compared to last year.
*Net sales from physical stores were $122.5 million, a decrease of $16.7 million or 12.0%, compared to $139.2 million last year. Comparable net sales from physical stores decreased by 12.3%. Store traffic decreased by 25% compared to last year’s fourth quarter, partially offset by increases in conversion rate and average transaction value. Net sales from stores represented 68.9% of total net sales compared to 80.7% of total net sales last year. The Company ended the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 with 238 total stores, substantially all of which were open to the public but subject to government restrictions on customer traffic and with reduced operating hours as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This compares to 240 total stores, all of which were open to the public without restrictions, last year.
*Net sales from e-commerce were $55.4 million, an increase of $22.1 million or 66.5% compared to approximately $33.3 million last year. E-commerce net sales represented 31.1% of total net sales compared to 19.3% of total net sales last year.
*Gross profit was $58.3 million, an increase of $6.1 million compared to $52.1 million last year. Gross margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, was 32.7%, an improvement of 250 basis points compared to 30.2% last year. Product margins improved by 210 basis points as a percentage of net sales primarily due to reduced total markdowns. Total buying, distribution and occupancy costs improved by 40 basis points as a percentage of net sales. Occupancy costs improved by 170 basis points as a percentage of net sales and by $2.3 million in the aggregate, primarily due to favorable lease negotiations and a decrease in depreciation compared to last year. Distribution costs deleveraged by 140 basis points as a percentage of net sales and increased by $2.8 million, primarily due to an increase in e-commerce shipping charges of $3.1 million associated with the significant increase in e-commerce orders. Buying costs improved by 10 basis points.
*Operating income was $14.1 million, or 7.9% of net sales, compared to $8.5 million, or 4.9% of net sales, last year. The $5.6 million increase in operating income was primarily due to the combined impact of the factors noted above.
Fiscal 2020 Full Year Results Overview
The following comparisons refer to operating results for the fifty-two weeks of fiscal 2020 versus the fifty-two weeks of fiscal 2019:
*Total net sales were $531.3 million, a decrease of $88.0 million or 14.2%, compared to $619.3 million last year primarily as a result of the various periods of store closures, reduced store operating hours, and restrictions on customer traffic into physical stores resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
*Net sales from physical stores were $357.9 million, a decrease of $162.9 million or 31.3%, compared to $520.8 million last year. In terms of total available store operating days in fiscal 2020, physical stores were open for 50% of the first quarter, 65% of the second quarter, 94% of the third quarter, and substantially all of the fourth quarter. Net sales from stores represented 67.4% of total net sales compared to 84.1% of total net sales last year.
*Net sales from e-commerce were $173.4 million, an increase of $74.9 million or 76.2%, compared to $98.5 million last year. E-commerce net sales represented 32.6% of total net sales compared to 15.9% last year.
*Gross profit was $142.2 million, a decrease of $44.5 million or 23.8%, compared to $186.7 million last year. Gross margin was 26.8%, a decrease of 330 basis points as a percentage of net sales, compared to 30.1% last year. Product margins improved 60 basis points as a percentage of net sales primarily due to reduced total markdowns. Total buying, distribution and occupancy costs improved by 400 basis points as a percentage of net sales. Occupancy costs deleveraged 200 basis points as a percentage of net sales, despite being reduced by $4.1 million and having two fewer stores compared to last year, against lower total net sales. Distribution costs deleveraged 190 basis points as a percentage of net sales primarily due to an increase in e-commerce shipping charges of $8.5 million resulting from a greater volume of e-commerce orders. Buying costs deleveraged 10 basis points as a percentage of net sales.
*Operating loss was $(3.0) million, or (0.6)% of net sales, compared to operating income of $28.5 million, or 4.6% of net sales, last year. The decrease in operating results was primarily attributable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business as noted above.
details at: https://tillys.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tillys-inc-announces-fiscal-2020-fourth-quarter-and-full-year