Additional information reflecting European Innerwear as discontinued operations in prior periods can be found on the investors section of the HanesBrands corporate website at www.Hanes.com/Investors.
First-quarter GAAP gross margin of 40.0% increased 520 basis points compared to the prior year period. Adjusted gross margin of 40.2% increased 360 basis points over the comparable prior year period. The year-over-year improvement in gross margin was driven predominantly by the leverage of higher sales volume from strong point-of-sale growth and the one-time items referenced above.
Also contributing to gross margin improvement in the quarter were favorable product mix, foreign exchange rates and a modest benefit from sales related to the company’s SKU reduction initiative. These were partially offset by higher transportation costs, which resulted from increased shipping rates globally as well as costs associated with expediting product to meet stronger-than-expected customer demand.
First-quarter GAAP operating profit increased 297% to $190 million from $48 million in the comparable prior year period. GAAP operating margin of 12.6% increased 860 basis points over prior year. Adjusted operating profit, which excludes $19 million of charges related to the Full Potential plan, increased 190% to $210 million from $72 million in the prior year period. Adjusted operating margin increased 790 basis points over prior year to 13.9%. The strong improvement in operating margin was driven by gross margin performance as well as SG&A leverage from higher sales, which more than offset increased investments in brand marketing in the quarter.
The GAAP and adjusted effective tax rate for the first quarter were 10% and 16%, respectively, which compares to a GAAP and adjusted effective tax rate of 12% and 14%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2020.
First-quarter GAAP income from continuing operations totaled $128 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted income from continuing operations excluding after-tax charges totaled $136 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to adjusted income from continuing operations of $26 million, or $0.07 per diluted share in the prior year period.
(See the Note on Reconciliation of Select GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures later in this news release for additional discussion and details of actions, which include pandemic-related and Full Potential plan charges.)
Virtual Investor Day to Unveil Full Potential Strategic Growth Plan and Three-year Financial Framework
HanesBrands will host a virtual investor day at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The event, which will consist of prepared presentations followed by a live question-and-answer session, as well as an Investor Day Handout, may be accessed via the investors section of the HanesBrands corporate website, www.Hanes.com/Investors. The event is expected to conclude by 11:30 a.m. EDT. Replays of the event will be available on the investors section of the HanesBrands corporate website.