Earnings Labs

The Buckle, Inc. (BKE)

Q2 2016 Earnings Call· Fri, Aug 19, 2016

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to The Buckle second quarter earnings release. Members of The Buckle's management on the call today are Dennis Nelson, President and CEO; Karen Rhoads, Senior Vice President of Finance and CFO; Kelli Molczyk, Vice President of Women's Merchandising; Bob Carlberg, Senior Vice President of Men's Merchandising; Kyle Hanson, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; and Tom Heacock, Vice President of Finance, Treasurer and Corporate Controller. As they review the operating results for the second quarter, which ended July 30, 2016, they would like to reiterate their policy of not giving future sales or earnings guidance and have the following safe harbor statement. Safe harbor statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements made by the company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on factors which may be beyond the company's control. Accordingly, the company's future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that they -- that projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Additionally, the company does not authorize the reproduction or dissemination of transcripts or audio recordings of the company's quarterly conference calls without its express written consent. Any unauthorized reproductions or recordings of the call should not be relied upon as the information may be inaccurate. Today's conference call will also be recorded and available for replay. I would now like to turn the conference over to Karen Rhoads. Please go ahead.

Karen Rhoads

Management

Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining the call. Our August 19, 2016, press release reported that net income for the 13-week second quarter ended July 30, 2016, was $15.5 million or $0.32 per share on a diluted basis. And that compares to net income of $23.5 million or $0.49 per share on a diluted basis for the prior year 13-week second quarter that ended August 1, 2015. Our year-to-date net income for the 26-week period ended July 30, 2016, was $38.6 million or $0.80 per share on a diluted basis compared to net income of $57.1 million or $1.18 per share on a diluted basis for the prior year 26-week period ended August 1, 2015. Net sales for the 13-week second quarter decreased 10.1% to $212.2 million compared to net sales of $236.1 million for the prior year 13-week second quarter. Comparable-store sales for the quarter were down 10.8% in comparison to the same 13-week period in the prior year. And our online sales increased 1.4% to $20.4 million. Year-to-date net sales decreased 10.2% to $455.7 million for the 26-week fiscal period ended July 30, 2016, and that compares to net sales of $507.4 million for the prior year 26-week fiscal period ended August 1, 2015. Comparable-store sales for the year-to-date period were down 10.9% in comparison to the same 26-week period in the prior year. And online sales decreased 0.9% to $43.9 million. As noted in this morning's press release, net sales for the 13-week and 26-week fiscal periods ended July 30, 2016, are reported net of the impact of both reward redemption and accruals for estimated future rewards related to the company's new Guest Loyalty program, a loyalty program launched during the fiscal quarter that ended August -- or I'm sorry, April 30, 2016. Absent…

Thomas Heacock

Management

Good morning, and thanks for being with us this morning. I'd like to start by highlighting the performance from our various merchandise categories for the quarter. Men's merchandise sales for the quarter were down approximately 5%. Average denim price points decreased from $94.40 in the second quarter of fiscal 2015 to $92.80 in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. For the quarter, our men's business was approximately 48.5% of net sales compared to 46% last year, and our average men's price points decreased approximately 1% from $50.75 to $50.25. Women's merchandise sales for the quarter were down approximately 13%, with average denim price points decreased from $95.45 in the second quarter of fiscal 2015 to $87 in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. For the quarter, our women's business was approximately 51.5% of sales compared to 54% last year, and our average women's price points decreased approximately 6.5% from $46.50 to $43.40. For the quarter, combined accessories sales were down approximately 5.5%, and combined footwear sales were down approximately 9.5%. These 2 categories accounted for approximately 10% and 5.5%, respectively, of second quarter net sales, which compares to 10% and 5.5% for each in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Average accessory price points were up approximately 4%, and average footwear price points were down approximately 3.5%. For the quarter, denim accounted for approximately 33.5% of sales, and tops accounted for approximately 32.5%, which compares to 35% and 32.5% for each in the second quarter last year. Our private label business was down just slightly as a percentage of sales and represented approximately 32% of sales for the quarter. During the quarter, we opened 3 new stores, completed 6 full remodels and closed 1 store. As of the end of the quarter, 390 of our 470 stores were in our newest format. For full -- for the full year fiscal 2016, we still anticipate opening a total of 5 new stores, including 2 remaining for holiday. We also still anticipate completing 19 full remodels, including 3 that have already moved back into the remodeled space in August and 4 remaining for the rest of the year. And with that, we'll open it up to your questions.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] And our first question will come from the line of Jessica Schmidt with KeyBanc.

Jessica Schmidt

Analyst · KeyBanc

Just quickly, first, I just wanted to ask about some of the new merchandise that you've gotten into the store. Could you just talk a little bit about how that's resonating with the customer and if you think that some of the changes that you made are in the right direction?

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

Okay, thank you, Jessica. Bob, do you want to take the men's side, and then we'll have Kelli address that on the ladies?

Robert Carlberg

Analyst · KeyBanc

All right, sure. As far as new product goes, we've lowered some price points and brought in a few more basics. Otherwise, the [indiscernible], it's continuing fairly closely to where it's been.

Kelli Molczyk

Analyst · KeyBanc

Okay. On the women's side, we are starting to introduce new brands and new fashion trends just to kind of tap into the trends we're seeing within the consumer behavior as well as trends within the market. And so far, the response has been good.

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

Was there anything else, Jessica?

Jessica Schmidt

Analyst · KeyBanc

Great, and then just -- no, it -- that was helpful. And then just on the inventory positioning, I guess, I know that you've been working to clear through a lot of that old merchandise, but now that inventories are sort of beginning to realign more with sales trends, how do you feel about the inventory position on the old merchandise and then your inventory position with some of the new merchandise?

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

I would say we feel good about our inventory situation, and the older merchandise, I think, is accounted for appropriately. So we're looking forward to proceeding, and the stores are giving us a good response on the new selections. So thank you.

Robert Carlberg

Analyst · KeyBanc

I think one additional comment on the men's is that we are getting cleaner in some respects as well, which is addressing a new guest for us.

Operator

Operator

Next, we'll go to the line of Simeon Siegel with Nomura Securities.

Julie Kim

Analyst

This is Julie Kim on for Simeon Siegel. So it looks like online sales growth has slowed down in the past couple of quarters. Could you talk about what the main drivers are for that?

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

Yes. We changed platforms toward the end of May. We've kind of needed to move off our existing Web-based platform, so we did have some bugs to work through as we did that. Kyle, do you have any other comments on that?

Kyle Hanson

Analyst

I think we're just continuing to optimize the guest experience with the new Web platform, as you mentioned, Dennis, and excited to see how the new guests are using it on mobile and on any channel that they wish to shop in.

Julie Kim

Analyst

Great. And can you give any more color on how the -- how performance has changed at all from the website, from online considering the new change to the new website platform?

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

Well, we did have some disruption as we started, but as we worked through those, that is getting more to a normal case.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] We will go to the line of Adrienne Yih with Wolfe Research.

Doug Drummond

Analyst

This is Doug Drummond on for Adrienne today. You obviously ratcheted back your inventory in 2Q '16. How much of this pullback is related to slowing down denim purchases? And you mentioned that you saw an uptick in markdown inventory. Was that planned? And are you comfortable with those levels now?

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

Yes. As I mentioned before, we are comfortable with our inventory and our markdown level. I would say that we're starting to bring in some new denim, but the denim is running close to last year levels, as I remember. And it's just being smarter on certain categories, and some of the cold-weather merchandise of sweaters and outerwear, we are bringing in more into the season. So we're happy with where we're at on our inventory at this time.

Doug Drummond

Analyst

Okay. And just like a follow-up on the markdowns. When you do clear through that, do you have a preference between utilizing online or in-store? And how do you guys view that?

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

We do a combination, and we balance markdown inventory, like we do our other product, for stores that are selling certain categories and online. So we kind of take a company approach to move through it. Online works pretty well with that, though. So...

Operator

Operator

And next, we will go to the line of Tiffany Kanaga with Deutsche Bank.

Tiffany Kanaga

Analyst

Would you walk us through the puts and takes for how you're looking to keep SG&A in check as the top line is still under pressure? Where do you see opportunity to reduce spend? And where do you think further investment is necessary to help drive traffic and sales?

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

On the expense part, we're continuing to review the sales expense in the store and trying to be smarter on that. In several areas, I think we continue to always work smart about our supplies and this part of it. We'll also review our marketing expense to -- going forward to see if we can be more value for the money on that particular category. But overall, we'll look at that as well as, in the future, review store leases as they come up to see where we can benefit as well.

Tiffany Kanaga

Analyst

And if I could follow up and build on the prior question, would you give us an update as to how you're thinking about price points in both men's and women's denim? And where do you anticipate the average price point ultimately settling for you?

Dennis Nelson

Analyst · KeyBanc

Well, I think on the price points, we -- they covered today, I think that's going to be pretty close going over the next 6 months. We certainly brought down inventories to some of our higher-price brand levels due to -- balance the inventory with the sales as well as several of our new brands are more in the $60 to $70 range, so that's had an effect on our denim pricing in the stores. And so I think it was about 10% down from the quarter, and I would say that's probably close going forward just as we see the value or the styling as such that there's not as much in the higher-price brands that we will be able to put in the stores at this time.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] In a few moments, I'm showing no further questions in queue. Please continue.

Karen Rhoads

Management

All right. Cynthia, if we have no further questions, we would again like to thank everyone who joined the call today. And hopefully, we were able to answer the questions that were presented. So thanks, and wish everyone a good weekend.

Operator

Operator

Thank you. And ladies and gentlemen, today's conference call will be available for replay after 11 a.m. today until midnight, September 9. You may access the AT&T TeleConference replay system by dialing 1 (800) 475-6701 and entering the access code of 399570. International participants may dial (320) 365-3844. That does conclude your conference call for today. Thank you for your participation and for using AT&T Executive TeleConference Service. You may now disconnect.