| | shrink, lower merchandise margins, higher supply chain costs, and deleverage of salon expenses, partially offset by strong growth in other revenue and leverage of store fixed costs. |
| ● | Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased 22.2% to $612.1 million compared to $501.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses increased to 23.2% compared to 21.4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, primarily due to deleverage of store payroll and benefits, deleverage of corporate overhead due to strategic investments, and deleverage of marketing expenses, partially offset by leverage of incentive compensation and store expenses. |
| ● | Operating income increased 1.0% to $442.1 million, or 16.8% of net sales, compared to $437.7 million, or 18.7% of net sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. |
| ● | Interest income, net increased to $7.3 million compared to interest expense, net of $0.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, due to higher average interest rates and higher average cash balances during the quarter. |
| ● | Tax rate decreased to 22.8% compared to 24.2% in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, primarily due to benefits from income tax accounting for stock-based compensation. |
| ● | Net income increased 4.7% to $347.1 million compared to $331.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. |
| ● | Diluted earnings per share increased 9.2% to $6.88, including a $0.14 benefit due to income tax accounting for stock-based compensation, compared to $6.30, including a $0.02 benefit due to income tax accounting for stock-based compensation, in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. |
Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2023 totaled $636.4 million.
Merchandise inventories, net at the end of first quarter of fiscal 2023 increased to $1.75 billion compared to $1.57 billion at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022. The increase is due to inventory to support higher demand, product cost increases, 41 net new stores, new brand launches, and brand expansions.
Share Repurchase Program
During the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company repurchased 541,108 shares of its common stock at a cost of $285.8 million, including excise tax. As of April 29, 2023, $816.5 million remained available under the $2.0 billion share repurchase program announced in March 2022.
Store Update
Real estate activity in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 included five new stores located in Boulder, CO; Denton, TX; Seattle, WA; Surprise, AZ; and Warrensville Heights, OH. In addition, the Company closed one store, relocated one store, and remodeled two stores.
At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2023 the Company operated 1,359 stores totaling 14.2 million square feet.