Ralph Lauren Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results Ahead of Expectations and Raises Full Year Outlook

Business Wire 7-Nov-2024 8:01 AM

• Second Quarter Revenue Increased 6% on Both a Reported and Constant Currency Basis, Ahead of Expectations Led by Europe and Asia

• Global Direct-to-Consumer Comparable Store Sales Grew 10%, Driven by Positive Retail Comps Across All Regions

• Adjusted Gross and Operating Margin Expansion Exceeded Our Outlook, with Brand Elevation and Expense Discipline More than Offsetting Planned Investments in Marketing and Key City Expansion

• Maintained Healthy Balance Sheet Including $1.7 Billion in Cash and Short-Term Investments and Well Positioned Inventories Ahead of Holiday While Mitigating Global Supply Chain Disruptions

• Returned Approximately $375 Million to Shareholders Through Our Dividend and Repurchase of Class A Common Stock This Fiscal Year-to-Date

• Raised Full Year Fiscal 2025 Revenue and Adjusted Operating Margin Expansion Outlook, Reflecting Confidence in Brand Momentum and Business Trends

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL), a global leader in the design, marketing, and distribution of luxury lifestyle products, today reported earnings per diluted share of $2.31, up 5% to prior year on a reported basis and $2.54, up 21% on an adjusted basis, excluding restructuring-related and other net charges, for the second quarter of Fiscal 2025. This compared to earnings per diluted share of $2.19 on a reported basis and $2.10 on an adjusted basis, excluding restructuring-related and other net charges for the second quarter of Fiscal 2024.

"A spirit of optimism and the easy elegance of timeless style -- these are elements that have come to define our brand," said Ralph Lauren, Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer. "This summer was a celebration of all that we cherish, and as we turn our focus to holiday, we will continue inspiring people around the world to come together and step into their dreams."

"Our teams are executing well on our long-term strategy, injecting energy and excitement behind our storied brand through what continues to be a choppy global operating environment," said Patrice Louvet, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our strong business performance across every geography this quarter underscores the resilience of our diversified growth drivers and our elevated consumer base, giving us confidence to take up our financial outlook for the full fiscal year ahead of the all-important holiday season."

Key Achievements in Second Quarter Fiscal 2025

We delivered the following highlights across our Next Great Chapter: Accelerate priorities in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025:

• Elevate and Energize Our Lifestyle Brand
  • Drove continued momentum in new customer acquisition and loyalty with 1.5 million new consumers in our direct-to-consumer businesses, increases in brand consideration and net promoter scores, and more than 62 million social media followers, a low double-digit increase to last year
  • Created powerful, authentic connections with consumers through key moments, notably: our 2024 Paris Olympics campaign as official outfitter of Team USA; iconic sponsorships of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships; and our Spring 2025 World of Ralph Lauren fashion show, inspired by the natural beauty and quiet sophistication of coastal living in the Hamptons
• Drive the Core and Expand for More
  • Drove continued momentum in our Core business, up low double-digits, along with our high-potential categories (Women's Apparel, Outerwear, and Handbags), which increased mid-teens to last year in constant currency and outpaced total company growth
  • Product highlights this quarter included: our U.S. Open capsule, featuring modern sportswear inspired by the tournament's bold energy and timeless Polo style; "Denim Daydream," the 3rd drop in our Artist in Residence collaboration with Naiomi Glasses; and our Pink Pony collection, supporting Ralph Lauren's longstanding commitment to cancer care and research
  • Increased average unit retail ("AUR") by 10% across our direct-to-consumer network in the second quarter, above expectations and on top of a 9% increase last year, reflecting continued mix shift toward our full-price businesses and the durability of our multi-pronged elevation approach
• Win in Key Cities with Our Consumer Ecosystem
  • By geography, revenue growth was led by Asia, up 9% on a reported basis and 10% in constant currency, exceeding our expectations with China up low-teens on a reported and constant currency basis. Europe sales grew 7% on a reported basis and 6% in constant currency driven by continued brand momentum across the region. North America inflected to 3% growth as stronger direct-to-consumer performance more than offset a modest planned decline in wholesale
  • Continued to expand and scale our key city ecosystems with the opening of 25 new owned and partnered stores in the second quarter. Key store openings during the period included: Tulsa, Oklahoma; Giverny, France; and Shenzhen, China

Our business is supported by our fortress foundation, which we define through our five key enablers, including: our people and culture, best-in-class digital technology and analytics, superior operational capabilities, a powerful balance sheet, and leadership in citizenship and sustainability.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Income Statement Review

Net Revenue. In the second quarter of Fiscal 2025, revenue increased 6% to $1.7 billion on a reported basis and was also up 6% in constant currency. Foreign currency favorably impacted revenue growth by approximately 10 basis points in the second quarter.

Revenue performance for the Company's reportable segments in the second quarter compared to the prior year period was as follows:

• North America Revenue. North America revenue in the second quarter increased 3% to $739 million. In retail, comparable store sales in North America increased 6%, with a 9% increase in brick and mortar stores more than offsetting a 2% decrease in digital commerce. North America wholesale revenue decreased 3%, in-line with our outlook.

• Europe Revenue. Europe revenue in the second quarter increased 7% to $566 million on a reported basis and 6% in constant currency. In retail, comparable store sales in Europe increased 15%, significantly exceeding our expectations, with a 15% increase in brick and mortar stores and a 14% increase in digital commerce. Europe wholesale revenue increased 2% to prior year on a reported basis and increased slightly on a constant currency basis, with stronger re-order trends more than offsetting a timing shift of receipts into the second half of the year.

• Asia Revenue. Asia revenue in the second quarter increased 9% to $380 million on a reported basis and 10% in constant currency, ahead of our expectations. Comparable store sales in Asia increased 11%, with a 10% increase in our brick and mortar stores and a 19% increase in digital commerce.

Gross Profit. Gross profit for the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 was $1.2 billion and gross margin was 67.0%. Adjusted gross margin was also 67.0%, 160 basis points above the prior year. Gross margin expansion was driven by favorable product, channel and geographic mix shifts, lower cotton costs and AUR growth across all regions.

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 were $977 million on a reported basis. On an adjusted basis, operating expenses were $958 million, up 7% to last year. Adjusted operating expense rate was 55.5%, compared to 54.9% in the prior year period, driven by higher marketing investments due to the planned timing of key campaigns. Excluding marketing expenses, adjusted operating expense rate was flat compared to the prior year period.

Operating Income. Operating income for the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 was $179 million and operating margin was 10.4% on a reported basis. On an adjusted basis, operating income was $197 million and operating margin was 11.4%, 90 basis points above the prior year. Operating income for the Company's reportable segments in the second quarter compared to the prior year period was as follows:

• North America Operating Income. North America operating income in the second quarter was $122 million on both a reported and adjusted basis. Adjusted North America operating margin was 16.5%, up 140 basis points to last year.

• Europe Operating Income. Europe operating income in the second quarter was $146 million on both a reported and adjusted basis. Adjusted Europe operating margin was 25.8%, up 70 basis points to last year. Foreign currency negatively impacted adjusted operating margin rate by 20 basis points in the second quarter.

• Asia Operating Income. Asia operating income in the second quarter was $86 million on both a reported and adjusted basis. Adjusted Asia operating margin was 22.7%, up 310 basis points to last year. Foreign currency negatively impacted adjusted operating margin rate by 80 basis points in the second quarter.

Net Income and EPS. Net income in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 was $148 million, or $2.31 per diluted share on a reported basis. On an adjusted basis, net income was $162 million, or $2.54 per diluted share. This compared to net income of $147 million, or $2.19 per diluted share on a reported basis, and net income of $141 million, or $2.10 per diluted share on an adjusted basis, for the second quarter of Fiscal 2024.

In the second quarter of Fiscal 2025, the Company had an effective tax rate of approximately 21% on both a reported and adjusted basis. This compared to an effective tax rate of approximately 11% on a reported basis and 18% on an adjusted basis in the prior year period. The increase was driven primarily by the absence of favorable discrete tax benefits realized in the prior year period, more than offsetting a favorable stock compensation adjustment as compared to prior year.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Review

The Company ended the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 with $1.7 billion in cash and short-term investments and $1.1 billion in total debt, compared to $1.5 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively, at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2024.

Inventory at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 was $1.1 billion, down 6% compared to the prior year period, primarily driven by strategic reductions in North America.

The Company repurchased approximately $100 million of Class A Common Stock in the second quarter.

Full Year Fiscal 2025 and Third Quarter Outlook

The Company's outlook is based on its best assessment of the current geopolitical and macroeconomic environment, including inflationary pressures, other consumer spending-related headwinds, global supply chain disruptions and foreign currency volatility, among others. The full year Fiscal 2025 and third quarter guidance excludes any potential restructuring-related and other net charges that may be incurred in future periods, as described in the "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" section of this press release.

For Fiscal 2025, the Company now expects constant currency revenues to increase in a range of approximately 3% to 4%. Based on current exchange rates, foreign currency is expected to negatively impact revenues by approximately 40 to 60 basis points in Fiscal 2025.

The Company now expects operating margin for Fiscal 2025 to expand approximately 110 to 130 basis points in constant currency, driven by gross margin expansion and operating expense leverage. Gross margin is expected to increase approximately 80 to 120 basis points in constant currency. Foreign currency is expected to negatively impact gross and operating margins by approximately 20 basis points.

For the third quarter, the Company expects constant currency revenues to grow approximately 3% to 4%. Foreign currency is expected to benefit revenue growth by approximately 10 to 50 basis points.

Operating margin for the third quarter is expected to expand approximately 100 to 140 basis points in constant currency, driven by gross margin expansion. Foreign currency is expected to have a roughly neutral impact on gross and operating margins in the third quarter.

The Company's full year Fiscal 2025 tax rate is now expected to be in the range of approximately 22% to 23%, increasing from 19% in the prior year, following discrete tax benefits recognized in the prior year period. The third quarter tax rate is expected to be approximately 22%.

The Company expects capital expenditures for Fiscal 2025 of approximately $250 million to $300 million.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call and live online webcast today, Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 9:00 A.M. Eastern. Listeners may access a live broadcast of the conference call on the Company investor relations website at http://investor.ralphlauren.com or by dialing 517-623-4963 or 800-857-5209. To access the conference call, listeners should dial in by 8:45 A.M. Eastern and request to be connected to the Ralph Lauren Second Quarter 2025 conference call.

An online archive of the broadcast will be available by accessing the Company's investor relations website at http://investor.ralphlauren.com. A telephone replay of the call will be available from 12:00 P.M. Eastern, Thursday, November 7, 2024 through 6:00 P.M. Eastern, Thursday, November 14, 2024 by dialing 203-369-3811 or 800-568-3705 and entering passcode 2719.

ABOUT RALPH LAUREN

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of luxury lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, footwear & accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren has sought to inspire the dream of a better life through authenticity and timeless style. Its reputation and distinctive image have been developed across a wide range of products, brands, distribution channels and international markets. The Company's brand names — which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Double RL, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children and Chaps, among others — constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. For more information, go to https://investor.ralphlauren.com.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company, may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our current expectations about the Company's future operating results and financial condition, the implementation and results of our strategic plans and initiatives, store openings and closings, capital expenses, our plans regarding our quarterly cash dividend and Class A common stock repurchase programs, and our ability to meet citizenship and sustainability goals. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are indicated by words or phrases such as "aim," "anticipate," "outlook," "estimate," "ensure," "commit," "expect," "project," "believe," "envision," "goal," "target," "can," "will," and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include, among others: the loss of key personnel, including Mr. Ralph Lauren, or other changes in our executive and senior management team or to our operating structure, including any potential changes resulting from the execution of our long-term growth strategy, and our ability to effectively transfer knowledge and maintain adequate controls and procedures during periods of transition; the potential impact to our business resulting from inflationary pressures, including increases in the costs of raw materials, transportation, wages, healthcare, and other benefit-related costs; the impact of economic, political, and other conditions on us, our customers, suppliers, vendors, and lenders, including potential business disruptions related to ongoing military conflicts taking place in various parts of the world, most notably the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, other recent hostilities in the Middle East, and militant attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea, civil and political unrest, diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and other countries, high interest rates, and bank failures, among other factors described herein; the potential impact to our business resulting from supply chain disruptions, including those caused by capacity constraints, closed factories and/or labor shortages (stemming from pandemic diseases, labor disputes, strikes, or otherwise), scarcity of raw materials, port congestion, and scrutiny or detention of goods produced in certain territories resulting from laws, regulations, or trade restrictions, such as those imposed by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act ("UFLPA") or the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act ("CAATSA"), which could result in shipment approval delays leading to inventory shortages and lost sales, as well as potential shipping delays, inventory shortages, and/or higher freight costs resulting from port strikes, the recent Red Sea crisis, and/or disruptions to major waterways such as the Suez and Panama canals; uncertainty surrounding potential impacts of the 2024 U.S. presidential and congressional elections on the economy, including the potential for business disruptions resulting from any subsequent protests, and the potential impact to consumer demand and our business resulting from any significant changes in legislation, policies, and regulations, including, but not limited to, labor, taxation, monetary policies, and trade agreements; our ability to effectively manage inventory levels and the increasing pressure on our margins in a highly promotional retail environment; our exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations from both a transactional and translational perspective; our ability to recruit and retain qualified employees to operate our retail stores, distribution centers, and various corporate functions; the impact to our business resulting from a recession or changes in consumers' ability, willingness, or preferences to purchase discretionary items and luxury retail products, which tends to decline during recessionary periods, and our ability to accurately forecast consumer demand, the failure of which could result in either a build-up or shortage of inventory; our ability to successfully implement our long-term growth strategy; our ability to continue to expand and grow our business internationally and the impact of related changes in our customer, channel, and geographic sales mix as a result, as well as our ability to accelerate growth in certain product categories; our ability to open new retail stores and concession shops, as well as enhance and expand our digital footprint and capabilities, all in an effort to expand our direct-to-consumer presence; our ability to respond to constantly changing fashion and retail trends and consumer demands in a timely manner, develop products that resonate with our existing customers and attract new customers, and execute marketing and advertising programs that appeal to consumers; our ability to competitively price our products and create an acceptable value proposition for consumers; our ability to continue to maintain our brand image and reputation and protect our trademarks; our ability to achieve our goals regarding citizenship and sustainability practices, including those related to climate change, our human capital, and our supply chain; our ability and the ability of our third-party service providers to secure our respective facilities and systems from, among other things, cybersecurity breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, ransomware, or similar Internet or email events; our efforts to successfully enhance, upgrade, and/or transition our global information technology systems and digital commerce platforms; the potential impact to our business if any of our distribution centers were to become inoperable or inaccessible; the potential impact to our business resulting from pandemic diseases such as COVID-19, including periods of reduced operating hours and capacity limits and/or temporary closure of our stores, distribution centers, and corporate facilities, as well as those of our customers, suppliers, and vendors, and potential changes to consumer behavior, spending levels, and/or shopping preferences, such as willingness to congregate in shopping centers or other populated locations; the potential impact on our operations and on our suppliers and customers resulting from man-made or natural disasters, including pandemic diseases, severe weather, geological events, and other catastrophic events, such as terrorist attacks, military conflicts, and other hostilities; our ability to achieve anticipated operating enhancements and cost reductions from our restructuring plans, as well as the impact to our business resulting from restructuring-related charges, which may be dilutive to our earnings in the short term; the impact to our business resulting from potential costs and obligations related to the early or temporary closure of our stores or termination of our long-term, non-cancellable leases; our ability to maintain adequate levels of liquidity to provide for our cash needs, including our debt obligations, tax obligations, capital expenditures, and potential payment of dividends and repurchases of our Class A common stock, as well as the ability of our customers, suppliers, vendors, and lenders to access sources of liquidity to provide for their own cash needs; the potential impact to our business resulting from the financial difficulties of certain of our large wholesale customers, which may result in consolidations, liquidations, restructurings, and other ownership changes in the retail industry, as well as other changes in the competitive marketplace, including the introduction of new products or pricing changes by our competitors; our ability to access capital markets and maintain compliance with covenants associated with our existing debt instruments; a variety of legal, regulatory, tax, political, and economic risks, including risks related to the importation and exportation of products which our operations are currently subject to, or may become subject to as a result of potential changes in legislation, and other risks associated with our international operations, such as compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or violations of other anti-bribery and corruption laws prohibiting improper payments, and the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, including tax laws, trade and labor restrictions, and related laws that may reduce the flexibility of our business; the impact to our business resulting from the potential imposition of additional duties, tariffs, taxes, and other charges or barriers to trade, including those resulting from trade developments between the U.S. and China or other countries, and any related impact to global stock markets, as well as our ability to implement mitigating sourcing strategies; changes in our tax obligations and effective tax rate due to a variety of factors, including potential changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws and regulations, accounting rules, or the mix and level of earnings by jurisdiction in future periods that are not currently known or anticipated; the potential impact to the trading prices of our securities if our operating results, Class A common stock share repurchase activity, and/or cash dividend payments differ from investors' expectations; our ability to maintain our credit profile and ratings within the financial community; our intention to introduce new products or brands, or enter into or renew alliances; changes in the business of, and our relationships with, major wholesale customers and licensing partners; our ability to make strategic acquisitions and successfully integrate the acquired businesses into our existing operations; and other risk factors identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.