Tilly's, Inc. Announces Third Quarter Operating Results Introduces Fiscal 2022 Fourth Quarter Outlook

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tilly’s, Inc. (NYSE: TLYS, the "Company") today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2022 ended October 29, 2022.

"Our third quarter performance was better than we expected and we entered the fourth quarter with reduced inventory per square foot compared to last year," commented Ed Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although our November comparable net sales results were weaker than we expected, we saw an improved relative trend during the Black Friday weekend compared to earlier in the month. We are being cautious in our expectations for the fourth quarter, but believe we have the strategies in place to achieve improved performance in fiscal 2023."

Operating Results Overview

It should be noted that the Company's operating results for the comparative periods last year were fueled by unprecedented pent-up consumer demand and the impact of stimulus payments resulting from the pandemic, producing Company-record results for net sales, gross margin, operating income and earnings per share for the third quarter and first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2021.

Fiscal 2022 Third Quarter Operating Results Overview

The following comparisons refer to the Company's operating results for the third quarter of fiscal 2022 ended October 29, 2022 versus the third quarter of fiscal 2021 ended October 30, 2021.

• Total net sales were $177.8 million, a decrease of $28.2 million or 13.7%, compared to $206.1 million last year. Total comparable net sales, including both physical stores and e-commerce ("e-com"), decreased by 14.9%.
  • Net sales from physical stores were $141.5 million, a decrease of $23.7 million or 14.4%, compared to $165.3 million last year with a comparable store net sales decrease of 15.8%. Net sales from physical stores represented 79.6% of total net sales compared to 80.2% of total net sales last year. The Company ended the third quarter with 247 total stores compared to 243 total stores at the end of the third quarter last year.
  • Net sales from e-com were $36.3 million, a decrease of $4.5 million or 11.1%, compared to $40.8 million last year. E-com net sales represented 20.4% of total net sales compared to 19.8% of total net sales last year.
• Gross profit, including buying, distribution, and occupancy costs, was $54.6 million, or 30.7% of net sales, compared to $76.7 million, or 37.2% of net sales, last year. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs deleveraged by 360 basis points collectively due to carrying these costs against a significantly lower level of net sales this year. Product margins declined by 300 basis points primarily due to an increased markdown rate compared to last year, during which we experienced record full price selling with an abnormally low markdown rate.
• Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $48.3 million, or 27.1% of net sales, compared to $47.7 million, or 23.2% of net sales, last year. The increase in SG&A dollars was primarily attributable to the impact of wage inflation on store and corporate payroll expenses as well as operating 4 net additional stores compared to last year.
• Operating income was $6.3 million, or 3.6% of net sales, compared to $29.0 million, or 14.1% of net sales, last year, due to the combined impact of the factors noted above.
• Income tax expense was $1.8 million, or 26.3% of pre-tax income, compared to $8.2 million, or 28.1% of pre-tax income, last year.
• Net income was $5.1 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to $20.8 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, last year. Weighted average diluted shares were 30.0 million this year compared to 31.4 million last year.

Fiscal 2022 Year-to-Date Operating Results Overview

The following comparisons refer to the Company's operating results for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2022 ended October 29, 2022 versus the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2021 ended October 30, 2021.

• Total net sales were $491.9 million, a decrease of $79.3 million or 13.9%, compared to $571.2 million last year. Total comparable net sales, including both physical stores and e-com, decreased by 14.9%.
  • Net sales from physical stores were $396.1 million, a decrease of $61.4 million or 13.4%, compared to $457.6 million last year with a comparable store net sales decrease of 14.7%. Net sales from stores represented 80.5% of total net sales compared to 80.1% of total net sales last year.
  • Net sales from e-com were $95.8 million, a decrease of $17.8 million or 15.7%, compared to $113.6 million last year. E-com net sales represented 19.5% of total net sales compared to 19.9% of total net sales last year.
• Gross profit including buying, distribution, and occupancy costs, was $150.4 million, or 30.6% of net sales, compared to $206.3 million, or 36.1% of net sales, last year. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs deleveraged by 300 basis points collectively despite being $0.9 million lower than last year due to carrying these costs against a significantly lower level of net sales this year. Product margins declined by 250 basis points primarily due to an increased markdown rate compared to last year, during which we experienced record full price selling with an abnormally low markdown rate.
• SG&A expenses were $137.8 million, or 28.0% of net sales, compared to $136.0 million, or 23.8% of net sales, last year. The increase in SG&A dollars was primarily attributable to the impact of wage inflation on store payroll and operating 4 net additional stores compared to last year, as well as increased software as a service cost.
• Operating income was $12.6 million, or 2.6% of net sales, compared to $70.3 million, or 12.3% of net sales, last year.
• Income tax expense was $3.7 million, or 27.2% of pre-tax income, compared to $17.9 million, or 25.5% of pre-tax income, last year.
• Net income was $9.8 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, compared to $52.2 million, or $1.68 per diluted share, last year. Weighted average diluted shares were 30.4 million this year compared to 31.0 million last year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of October 29, 2022, the Company had $105.8 million of cash and marketable securities and no debt outstanding compared to $155.6 million and no debt outstanding at the end of the third quarter last year. Since the end of last year's third quarter, the Company paid cash dividends to stockholders of $30.9 million in December 2021 and repurchased 1,258,330 shares of its common stock for a total of $10.9 million pursuant to its previously-announced stock repurchase program.

The Company ended the third quarter with inventories per square foot down 6.9% compared to last year, a significant improvement from being up 4.1% relative to last year at the end of this year's second quarter.

Total year-to-date capital expenditures at the end of the third quarter were $11.9 million this year compared to $10.9 million last year. For fiscal 2022 as a whole, the Company expects its total capital expenditures to be approximately $19 million inclusive of 11 new store openings.

Fiscal 2022 Fourth Quarter Outlook

Total comparable net sales through November 29, 2022, including both physical stores and e-com, decreased by 18.5% relative to the comparable period last year. For Thanksgiving weekend, Thursday through Cyber Monday, total comparable net sales decreased by 13.4% compared to last year. Based on these results, current and historical trends, and anticipating that fourth quarter sales performance will revert to a more traditional holiday cadence, including being the largest sales quarter of the year, the Company currently estimates that its fiscal 2022 fourth quarter net sales will be in the range of approximately $183 million to $188 million. The Company currently expects SG&A expenses to be in the range of approximately $54 million to $55 million, pre-tax income to be in the range of approximately $0.8 million to $2.6 million, and estimated income tax rate to be approximately 27%. The Company currently expects its earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $0.02 to $0.06 based on estimated weighted average diluted shares of approximately 29.9 million. This compares to $204.5 million in net sales and $0.38 in earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter of last year.

The current business environment remains subject to many unpredictable risks and uncertainties including with respect to, among others, the current inflationary environment, continuing supply chain difficulties, labor challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical concerns, and how consumer behavior may change relative to any of these factors as well as last year's historical anomalies of pent-up demand coming out of pandemic-related restrictions and federal stimulus payments. As a result, the Company's estimates concerning its projected business performance may change at any time and there can be no guarantee that the Company's current estimates will be accurate.

Fiscal 2023 Capital Expenditure Plans

The Company currently expects its total capital expenditures for fiscal 2023 not to exceed $25 million, inclusive of up to 15 new stores and upgrades to certain distribution and information technology systems.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss these financial results is scheduled for today, December 1, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT). Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial [phone] (domestic) or [phone] (international). The conference call will also be available to interested parties through a live webcast at www.tillys.com. Please visit the website and select the “Investor Relations” link at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary software. A telephone replay of the call will be available until December 8, 2022, by dialing [phone] (domestic) or [phone] (international) and entering the conference identification number: 13734299.

About Tillys

Tillys is a leading, destination specialty retailer of casual apparel, footwear, accessories and hardgoods for young men, young women, boys and girls with an extensive selection of iconic global, emerging, and proprietary brands rooted in an active, outdoor and social lifestyle. Tillys is headquartered in Irvine, California and currently operates 249 total stores across 33 states, as well as its website, www.tillys.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding the overall effect of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including its impacts on us, our operations, or our future financial condition or operating results, our current operating expectations in light of historical results, expectations regarding customer traffic, our supply chain, and inflation, our ability to properly manage our inventory levels, and any other statements about our future cash position, financial flexibility, expectations, plans, intentions, beliefs or prospects expressed by management are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, but they involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (including any surges in the number of cases related thereto, or other weather, epidemics, pandemics, or other public health issues), supply chain difficulties, and inflation on our business and operations, and our ability to respond thereto, our ability to respond to changing customer preferences and trends, attract customer traffic at our stores and online, execute our growth and long-term strategies, expand into new markets, grow our e-commerce business, effectively manage our inventory and costs, effectively compete with other retailers, attract talented employees, enhance awareness of our brand and brand image, general consumer spending patterns and levels, the markets generally, our ability to satisfy our financial obligations, including under our credit facility and our leases, and other factors that are detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including those detailed in the section titled “Risk Factors” and in our other filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.tillys.com under the heading “Investor Relations”. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake any obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This release should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Form 10-K.

Tilly’s, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except par value) (unaudited)
	October 29, 2022		January 29, 2022			October 30, 2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	75,786	$	42,201		$	59,392
Marketable securities		29,985		97,027			96,237
Receivables		11,352		6,705			8,881
Merchandise inventories		81,589		65,645			86,692
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		16,036		16,400			9,682
Total current assets		214,748		227,978			260,884
Operating lease assets		222,664		216,508			226,547
Property and equipment, net		51,279		47,530			49,392
Deferred tax assets		10,261		11,446			11,894
Other assets		1,488		1,361			1,520
TOTAL ASSETS	$	500,440	$	504,823		$	550,237
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	30,225	$	28,144		$	46,378
Accrued expenses		17,239		19,073			20,084
Deferred revenue		13,859		17,096			13,568
Accrued compensation and benefits		9,756		17,056			17,106
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		50,047		51,504			51,717
Current portion of operating lease liabilities, related party		2,771		2,533			2,582
Other liabilities		806		761			727
Total current liabilities		124,703		136,167			152,162
Long-term liabilities:
Noncurrent portion of operating lease liabilities		176,621		171,965			182,700
Noncurrent portion of operating lease liabilities, related party		23,129		21,000			21,625
Other liabilities		455		978			1,112
Total long-term liabilities		200,205		193,943			205,437
Total liabilities		324,908		330,110			357,599
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock (Class A)		23		24			24
Common stock (Class B)		7		7			7
Preferred stock		—		—			—
Additional paid-in capital		168,749		166,929			165,983
Retained earnings		6,634		7,754			26,616
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		119		(1	)		8
Total stockholders’ equity		175,532		174,713			192,638
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	500,440	$	504,823		$	550,237

Tilly’s, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income (In thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended					Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 29, 2022		October 30, 2021			October 29, 2022		October 30, 2021
Net sales	$	177,847	$	206,096		$	491,930	$	571,205
Cost of goods sold (includes buying, distribution, and occupancy costs)		122,346		128,612			338,870		362,751
Rent expense, related party		918		745			2,680		2,149
Total cost of goods sold (includes buying, distribution, and occupancy costs)		123,264		129,357			341,550		364,900
Gross profit		54,583		76,739			150,380		206,305
Selling, general and administrative expenses		48,134		47,609			137,405		135,607
Rent expense, related party		134		133			400		400
Total selling, general and administrative expenses		48,268		47,742			137,805		136,007
Operating income		6,315		28,997			12,575		70,298
Other income (expense), net		675		(1	)		862		(219	)
Income before income taxes		6,990		28,996			13,437		70,079
Income tax expense		1,841		8,162			3,656		17,888
Net income	$	5,149	$	20,834		$	9,781	$	52,191
Basic earnings per share of Class A and Class B common stock	$	0.17	$	0.67		$	0.32	$	1.72
Diluted earnings per share of Class A and Class B common stock	$	0.17	$	0.66		$	0.32	$	1.68
Weighted average basic shares outstanding		29,894		30,915			30,226		30,429
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding		30,050		31,352			30,428		31,016

Tilly’s, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) (unaudited)
	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	October 29, 2022			October 30, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	9,781		$	52,191
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		10,515			13,123
Insurance proceeds from casualty loss		—			117
Stock-based compensation expense		1,764			1,417
Impairment of assets		14			136
Loss on disposal of assets		64			52
Gain on sales and maturities of marketable securities		(230	)		(101	)
Deferred income taxes		1,167			57
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(705	)		1,847
Merchandise inventories		(15,944	)		(31,111	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		557			(3,698	)
Accounts payable		2,068			21,402
Accrued expenses		(4,253	)		(9,804	)
Accrued compensation and benefits		(7,300	)		7,207
Operating lease liabilities		(4,637	)		(5,205	)
Deferred revenue		(3,237	)		76
Other liabilities		(706	)		(856	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(11,082	)		46,850
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities		117,189			95,224
Purchases of marketable securities		(49,779	)		(126,420	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(11,897	)		(10,911	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		—			17
Insurance proceeds from casualty loss		—			29
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		55,513			(42,061	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Share repurchases related to share repurchase program		(10,902	)		—
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		56			9,129
Dividends paid		—			(30,710	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(10,846	)		(21,581	)
Change in cash and cash equivalents		33,585			(16,792	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		42,201			76,184
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	75,786		$	59,392

Tilly's, Inc. Store Count and Square Footage
	Store Count at Beginning of Quarter	New Stores Opened During Quarter	Stores Permanently Closed During Quarter	Store Count at End of Quarter	Total Gross Square Footage End of Quarter (in thousands)
2021 Q1	238	2	2	238	1,753
2021 Q2	238	6	—	244	1,788
2021 Q3	244	—	1	243	1,781
2021 Q4	243	1	3	241	1,764
2022 Q1	241	—	—	241	1,764
2022 Q2	241	2	1	242	1,767
2022 Q3	242	5	—	247	1,800