Tilly's, Inc. Announces Third Quarter Operating Results, Net Loss Beats Prior Outlook

Tilly’s, Inc. (NYSE: TLYS, the "Company") today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 ended October 28, 2023.

"Our third quarter results represent a sequential improvement over the first and second quarters of the fiscal year. We continue to work towards protecting product margins, managing inventories and controlling operating expenses amid a continuing difficult economic environment, particularly for our young customer demographic," commented Ed Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although more promotionally driven than in years past, we were pleased to produce comparable net sales growth compared to last year over Black Friday weekend."

Operating Results Overview

Fiscal 2023 Third Quarter Operating Results Overview

The following comparisons refer to the Company's operating results for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 ended October 28, 2023 versus the third quarter of fiscal 2022 ended October 29, 2022.

• Total net sales were $166.5 million, a decrease of $11.4 million or 6.4%, compared to $177.8 million last year. Total comparable net sales, including both physical stores and e-commerce ("e-com"), decreased by 9.0%.
  • Net sales from physical stores were $132.4 million, a decrease of $9.1 million or 6.4%, compared to $141.5 million last year, with a comparable store net sales decrease of 9.1%. Net sales from physical stores represented 79.6% of total net sales both this year and last year. The Company ended the third quarter with 249 total stores compared to 247 total stores at the end of the third quarter last year.
  • Net sales from e-com were $34.0 million, a decrease of $2.3 million or 6.2%, compared to $36.3 million last year. E-com net sales represented 20.4% of total net sales both this year and last year.
• Gross profit, including buying, distribution, and occupancy costs, was $48.7 million, or 29.3% of net sales, compared to $54.6 million, or 30.7% of net sales, last year. Buying, distribution, and occupancy costs deleveraged by 90 basis points, despite being $1.0 million lower than last year primarily due to a decrease in distribution costs resulting from reduced freight costs, partially offset by higher occupancy costs as a result of two net additional stores compared to last year. Product margins declined by 50 basis points primarily due to increased markdowns and estimated inventory valuation reserves.
• Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $51.2 million, or 30.8% of net sales, compared to $48.3 million, or 27.1% of net sales, last year. Primary SG&A increases were attributable to non-cash store impairment charges of $1.7 million, marketing expenses of $0.7 million, and combined store and corporate payroll and related benefits expenses of $0.7 million.
• Operating loss was $(2.5) million, or (1.5)% of net sales, compared to operating income of $6.3 million, or 3.6% of net sales, last year, due to the combined impact of the factors noted above.
• Other income was $1.3 million compared to $0.7 million last year, primarily attributable to earning significantly higher rates of return on our marketable securities compared to last year.
• Income tax benefit was $(0.3) million, or 28.0% of pre-tax loss, compared to income tax expense of $1.8 million, or 26.3% of pre-tax income, last year. The increase in the effective income tax rate was primarily attributable to decrease in pre-tax income and discrete income tax items associated with stock-based compensation.
• Net loss was $(0.8) million, or $(0.03) per share, compared to net income of $5.1 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, last year. Weighted average shares were 29.9 million this year compared to 30.0 million diluted shares last year.

Fiscal 2023 Year-to-Date Third Quarter Operating Results Overview

The following comparisons refer to the Company's operating results for the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2023 ended October 28, 2023 versus the first thirty-nine weeks of fiscal 2022 ended October 29, 2022.

• Total net sales were $450.1 million, a decrease of $41.9 million or 8.5%, compared to $491.9 million last year. Total comparable net sales, including both physical stores and e-com, decreased by 11.3%.
  • Net sales from physical stores were $360.0 million, a decrease of $36.1 million or 9.1%, compared to $396.1 million last year, with a comparable store net sales decrease of 12.3%. Net sales from physical stores represented 80.0% of total net sales compared to 80.5% of total net sales last year.
  • Net sales from e-com were $90.0 million, a decrease of $5.8 million or 6.1%, compared to $95.8 million last year. E-com net sales represented 20.0% of total net sales compared to 19.5% of total net sales last year.
• Gross profit, including buying, distribution, and occupancy costs, was $119.0 million, or 26.4% of net sales, compared to $150.4 million, or 30.6% of net sales, last year. Buying, distribution, and occupancy costs deleveraged by 260 basis points and increased by $2.3 million collectively, predominantly due to occupancy costs, as a result of operating two net additional stores and carrying these costs against a lower level of net sales this year, partially offset by a decrease in distribution costs resulting from reduced freight costs. Product margins declined by 150 basis points primarily due to increased markdowns and estimated inventory valuation reserves.
• SG&A expenses were $141.4 million, or 31.4% of net sales, compared to $137.8 million, or 28.0% of net sales, last year. Primary SG&A increases were attributable to non-cash store impairment charges of $2.6 million and corporate payroll and related benefits expenses of $1.4 million, primarily due to the impact of wage increases associated with employee retention. These increases were partially offset by smaller reductions in store supplies and store payroll.
• Operating loss was $(22.5) million, or (5.0)% of net sales, compared to operating income of $12.6 million, or 2.6% of net sales, last year, due to the combined impact of the factors noted above.
• Other income was $3.6 million compared to $0.9 million last year, primarily due to earning significantly higher rates of return on our marketable securities compared to last year.
• Income tax benefit was $(4.9) million, or 26.0% of pre-tax loss, compared to income tax expense of $3.7 million, or 27.2% of pre-tax income, last year. The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily attributable to a decrease in pre-tax income and discrete income tax items associated with stock-based compensation.
• Net loss was $(13.9) million, or $(0.47) per share, compared to net income of $9.8 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, last year. Weighted average shares were 29.8 million this year compared to 30.4 million diluted shares last year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of October 28, 2023, the Company had $93.9 million of cash and marketable securities and no debt outstanding compared to $105.8 million and no debt outstanding at the end of the third quarter last year. The Company ended the third quarter with inventories at cost up 0.8% per square foot while unit inventories were down 3.2% per square foot compared to last year.

Total year-to-date capital expenditures at the end of the third quarter were $10.5 million this year compared to $11.9 million last year. The Company currently expects its total capital expenditures for fiscal 2023 will be approximately $13 million, inclusive of 7 total new stores and upgrades to certain distribution and information technology systems.

Fiscal 2023 Fourth Quarter Outlook

This year's fourth quarter includes an additional week, making it a 14-week quarter compared to 13 weeks last year. Total comparable net sales through November 28, 2023, decreased by (6.5)% with a comparable net sales decrease in physical stores of (13.6)% and an increase in e-commerce comparable net sales of 11.0%. Based on current quarter-to-date comparable net sales results and current and historical trends, the Company currently estimates that its fiscal 2023 fourth quarter net sales will be in the range of approximately $172 million to $178 million, translating to an estimated comparable net sales decrease in the range of approximately (6)% to (9)% compared to last year. The Company currently estimates its SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 to be approximately $55 million to $56 million, pre-tax loss to be in the range of approximately $(5.0) million to $(8.0) million, and estimated income tax rate to be approximately 26%. The Company currently expects its loss per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 to be in the range of $(0.12) to $(0.20) based on estimated weighted average shares of approximately 29.9 million. The Company currently expects to have 248 stores open at the end of the fiscal year, a net decrease of one store from the end of last fiscal year.

Fiscal 2024 New Store and Capital Expenditure Plans

The Company currently expects its total capital expenditures for fiscal 2024 not to exceed $15 million, primarily for the construction of 4 new stores and continued upgrades to certain distribution and information technology systems.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss these financial results is scheduled for today, November 30, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT). Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 300-8521 (domestic) or (412) 317-6026 (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 7, 2023, by dialing (844) 512-2921 (domestic) or (412) 317-6671 (international) and entering the conference identification number: 10183514.

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 252 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 our current operating expectations in light of historical results, the impacts of inflation and potential recession on us and our customers, including on our future financial condition or operating results, expectations regarding customer traffic, our supply chain, 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 impact of inflation on consumer behavior and our business and operations, supply chain difficulties, 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, or enhance awareness of our brand and brand image, general consumer spending patterns and levels, including changes in historical spending patterns, 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.

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