Zumiez (ZUMZ) 8-K Zumiez Inc. Announces Fiscal 2017 Fourth Quarter Results

EXHIBIT 99.1

Zumiez Inc. Announces Fiscal 2017 Fourth Quarter Results

February 2018 Comparable Sales Increased 9.2%

LYNNWOOD, Wash., March 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ:ZUMZ) today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended February 3, 2018. 

Total net sales for the fourth quarter ended February 3, 2018 (14 weeks) increased 16.9% to $308.2 million from $263.6 million in the quarter ended January 28, 2017 (13 weeks). Comparable sales for the 14-week period ended February 3, 2018 increased 7.5% compared to the same fourteen-week period ended February 4, 2017. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 was $19.9 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared to net income of $18.2 million, or $0.74 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year. Fourth-quarter fiscal 2017 results include $3.8 million in net sales related to the recognition of deferred revenue due to changes in our STASH loyalty program estimated redemption rate and $3.4 million of charges in our provision for income taxes due to a valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets in Europe, partially offset by a $0.5 million benefit related to U.S. federal tax legislation.  The combined impact of these items reduced net income and earnings per share by $0.5 million and $0.02 respectively.

Total net sales for fiscal 2017 (53 weeks) increased 10.9% to $927.4 million from $836.3 million in fiscal 2016 (52 weeks).  Comparable sales for the fifty-three-week period ended February 3, 2018 increased 5.9% compared to the same fifty-three-week period ended February 4, 2017.  Net income in fiscal 2017 increased to $26.8 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, compared to net income in the prior fiscal year of $25.9 million, or $1.04 per diluted share.  Fiscal 2017 was also impacted by the deferred revenue and tax items referred to above in our fourth quarter results. The combined impact of these items reduced net income and earnings per share by $0.5 million and $0.02 respectively for fiscal 2017.  At February 3, 2018, the Company had cash and current marketable securities of $121.9 million, an increase of 54.7% compared to cash and current marketable securities of $78.8 million at January 28, 2017. The increase in cash and current marketable securities was driven by cash generated through operations partially offset by capital expenditures.

Rick Brooks, Chief Executive Officer of Zumiez Inc., stated, "We concluded 2017 with strong fourth quarter comparable sales performance which came on top of a successful holiday selling period in the prior year fourth quarter.  The top-line momentum exhibited by our business underscores the benefits of our differentiated merchandising strategies, integrated sales channels, and best in class customer service.  While we are pleased with our recent top-line results, we believe the company is positioned to deliver accelerated earnings growth in 2018 through a combination of positive comparable sales, margin enhancement programs, improved expense leverage, and lower taxes.  I am optimistic about Zumiez future prospects and I’m confident that our approach to expanding market share will lead to increased value for our shareholders over the long-term.”

February 2018 Sales

Total net sales for the four-week period ended March 3, 2018 increased 23.2% to $63.4 million, compared to $51.5 million for the four-week period ended February 25, 2017. The Company's comparable sales increased 9.2% for the four-week period ended March 3, 2018 compared to a comparable sales decrease of 3.1% for the four-week period ended February 25, 2017.

Fiscal 2018 First Quarter Outlook

The Company is introducing guidance for the three months ending May 5, 2018.  Net sales are projected to be in the range of $198 million to $202 million including anticipated comparable sales growth of between 4.0% and 6.0%.  Consolidated operating margins are expected to be between negative 2.6% and negative 1.7% resulting in a net loss per share of approximately $0.18 to $0.13.  The Company currently intends to open approximately 13 new stores in fiscal 2018, including up to 6 stores in the United States, 5 stores in Europe and 2 stores in Australia.

A conference call will be held today to discuss fourth quarter fiscal 2017 results and will be webcast at 5:00 p.m. ET on http://ir.zumiez.com. Participants may also dial (574) 990-9934 followed by the conference identification code of 7259038.

About Zumiez Inc.

Zumiez is a leading specialty retailer of apparel, footwear, accessories and hardgoods for young men and women who want to express their individuality through the fashion, music, art and culture of action sports, streetwear, and other unique lifestyles. As of March 3, 2018 we operated 698 stores, including 607 in the United States, 50 in Canada, 34 in Europe and 7 in Australia. We operate under the names Zumiez, Blue Tomato and Fast Times. Additionally, we operate ecommerce web sites at zumiez.com, blue-tomato.com and fasttimes.com.au

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release and oral statements relating thereto made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements include, without limitation, predictions and guidance relating to the Company's future financial performance, brand and product category diversity, ability to adjust product mix, integration of acquired businesses, growing customer demand for our products and new store openings. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as, "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.  These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations but they involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, those described in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 4, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.  You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.  The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

ZUMIEZ INC.
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

		Three Months Ended
		February 3,		% of		January 28,		% of
		2018		Sales		2017		Sales
		(Unaudited)
Net sales	$	308,245		100.0	%	$	263,635	100.0	%
Cost of goods sold		193,583		62.8	%		169,613	64.3	%
Gross profit		114,662		37.2	%		94,022	35.7	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		77,714		25.2	%		66,115	25.0	%
Operating profit		36,948		12.0	%		27,907	10.7	%
Interest income, net		211		0.1	%		11	0.0	%
Other (expense) income, net		(53	)	0.0	%		195	0.1	%
Earnings before income taxes		37,106		12.1	%		28,113	10.8	%
Provision for income taxes		17,170		5.6	%		9,929	3.8	%
Net income	$	19,936		6.5	%	$	18,184	7.0	%
Basic earnings per share	$	0.81				$	0.74
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.80				$	0.74
Weighted average shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic		24,729					24,506
Diluted		24,953					24,691

ZUMIEZ INC.
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

		Fiscal Year Ended
		February 3,		% of		January 28,		% of
		2018		Sales		2017		Sales
		(Unaudited)
Net sales	$	927,401		100.0	%	$	836,268	100.0	%
Cost of goods sold		617,527		66.6	%		561,266	67.1	%
Gross profit		309,874		33.4	%		275,002	32.9	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		261,114		28.2	%		235,259	28.1	%
Operating profit		48,760		5.2	%		39,743	4.8	%
Interest income, net		495		0.0	%		32	0.0	%
Other (expense) income, net		(852	)	0.0	%		449	0.0	%
Earnings before income taxes		48,403		5.2	%		40,224	4.8	%
Provision for income taxes		21,601		2.3	%		14,320	1.7	%
Net income	$	26,802		2.9	%	$	25,904	3.1	%
Basic earnings per share	$	1.09				$	1.05
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.08				$	1.04
Weighted average shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic		24,679					24,727
Diluted		24,878					24,908

           
ZUMIEZ INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

	February 3, 2018		January 28, 2017
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	24,041	$	20,247
Marketable securities		97,864		58,579
Receivables		17,027		12,538
Inventories		125,826		106,924
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		14,405		13,075
Total current assets		279,163		211,363
Fixed assets, net		128,852		129,651
Goodwill		62,912		56,001
Intangible assets, net		16,696		14,610
Deferred tax assets, net		4,174		7,041
Other long-term assets		7,713		8,017
Total long-term assets		220,347		215,320
Total assets	$	499,510	$	426,683
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Trade accounts payable	$	37,861	$	25,529
Accrued payroll and payroll taxes		20,650		14,914
Income taxes payable		5,796		1,866
Deferred rent and tenant allowances		8,073		8,344
Other liabilities		26,867		22,944
Total current liabilities		99,247		73,597
Long-term deferred rent and tenant allowances		39,275		41,066
Other long-term liabilities		5,073		4,969
Total long-term liabilities		44,348		46,035
Total liabilities		143,595		119,632
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred stock, no par value, 20,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding		—		—
Common stock, no par value, 50,000 shares authorized; 25,249 shares issued and outstanding at February 3, 2018 and 24,945 shares issued and outstanding at January 28, 2017		146,523		140,984
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		35		(16,488	)
Retained earnings		209,357		182,555
Total shareholders’ equity		355,915		307,051
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	499,510	$	426,683

ZUMIEZ INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

	Fiscal Year Ended
	February 3, 2018			January 28, 2017
	(Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	26,802		$	25,904
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		27,288			27,916
Deferred taxes		3,282			(2,555	)
Stock-based compensation expense		5,032			4,578
Other		2,344			1,564
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(3,216	)		413
Inventories		(14,848	)		(7,984	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(960	)		(1,793	)
Trade accounts payable		11,584			3,261
Accrued payroll and payroll taxes		5,359			2,313
Income taxes payable		3,575			(3,713	)
Deferred rent and tenant allowances		(2,494	)		(2,673	)
Other liabilities		1,766			1,227
Net cash provided by operating activities		65,514			48,458
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to fixed assets		(24,062	)		(20,400	)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—			(5,395	)
Purchases of marketable securities and other investments		(129,036	)		(86,826	)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities and other investments		89,128			61,106
Net cash used in investing activities		(63,970	)		(51,515	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities		21,466			23,079
Payments on revolving credit facilities		(20,700	)		(22,429	)
Repurchase of common stock		—			(21,607	)
Proceeds from issuance and exercise of stock-based awards		698			1,014
Payments for tax withholdings on equity awards		(191	)		(134	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		1,273			(20,077	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		977			218
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		3,794			(22,916	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		20,247			43,163
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	24,041		$	20,247
Supplemental disclosure on cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	$	14,851		$	20,462
Accrual for purchases of fixed assets		1,300			1,191
Accrual for repurchase of common stock		—			—

Company Contact: 
Darin White
Director of Finance & 
Investor Relations
Zumiez Inc.
(425) 551-1500, ext. 1337

Investor Contact:
ICR
Brendon Frey
(203) 682-8200