Cash Dividend
In light of the current strength of the Company’s business, cash flow generation, and balance sheet, the Company’s Board of Directors is reinstating its quarterly cash dividend at the previous rate of $0.05 per share of outstanding common stock. The Company has declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share of outstanding common stock, which will be paid on September 15, 2020 to stockholders of record as of September 1, 2020. This $0.10 cash dividend reflects the Company’s reinstated quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share for the third quarter, and also includes an additional $0.05 per share in recognition that the Company did not pay a dividend in the second fiscal quarter as it engaged in various efforts to conserve cash in response to the uncertainties of COVID-19.
Third Quarter Outlook
As discussed in this release and the Company’s other public filings, the Company has experienced dramatic swings in its sales trends due to the widespread closure of its stores and other disruptions related to COVID-19. While sales trends have been decidedly positive since the Company’s stores reopened, with same store sales up 31.9% for its July 2020 fiscal period, the dramatic shifts in customer demand and the uncertainties of these unprecedented circumstances, including any future impact on consumer spending from the potential expiration of stimulus benefits, make it difficult for the Company to accurately forecast the months ahead. In light of the uncertainty in the current environment, for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 the Company is providing wide sales and earnings guidance ranges and expects earnings to reflect expense savings primarily from reductions in advertising and store operating hours. So long as conditions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including any regulations issued in response to the pandemic, do not materially impact the Company’s ability to continue to operate its stores, the Company believes it is reasonable to expect same store sales over the remainder of the fiscal 2020 third quarter to increase in the range of 5% to 15% compared to the comparable period during fiscal 2019. Assuming the Company achieves sales within that range over the remainder of the quarter, the Company would expect same store sales for the full third quarter of fiscal 2020 to increase in the range of 14% to 20% compared to the comparable period during fiscal 2019 and for earnings per diluted share for the quarter to be in the range of $1.00 to $1.30, compared to a same store sales increase of 0.3% and earnings per diluted share of $0.30 in the third quarter of fiscal 2019.
Store Openings
As previously announced, the Company did not open any new stores or permanently close any stores during the second quarter, ending with 431 stores in operation. However, beginning on March 20, 2020, the Company temporarily closed approximately one-half of its stores in response to state and local shelter orders related to the COVID-19 outbreak. At the end of April, approximately one-quarter of the Company’s stores remained temporarily closed. As of the end of May, all of the Company’s stores that were temporarily closed due to COVID-19 had reopened in some capacity, with less than 10% of the open stores operating for curbside business only in compliance with local regulations. As of the end of the second quarter all of the Company’s stores that were temporarily closed due to COVID-19 had reopened for in-store shopping, subject to appropriate social distancing restrictions and with reduced operating hours. Additionally, during the second quarter, four of the Company’s stores were temporarily closed due to damage incurred in connection with civil unrest, three of which reopened prior to the end of the second quarter and one of which reopened in the third quarter. During the second quarter, the Company also reopened its Pasadena, California store, which had been closed for an extended period due to a fire. During the third quarter, the Company has temporarily closed one store due to indoor mall closures required in California in response to COVID-19. Including that temporarily closed store, the Company currently has 431 stores in operation, which compares to 434 stores in operation at the same time in the prior year. For the fiscal 2020 full year, the Company does not currently anticipate opening any new stores and expects to permanently close approximately four stores, including three stores that were permanently closed during the first quarter, all of which were previously selected for closure prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.