Williams-Sonoma, Inc. announces fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 results

Business Wire 19-Mar-2025 9:00 AM

Q4 comparable brand revenue +3.1% Record Q4 operating margin of 21.5%; Q4 diluted EPS of $3.28 Quarterly dividend increase of 16%

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) today announced operating results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 2, 2025 (fiscal 2024). The fourth quarter fiscal 2024 consisted of 14 weeks, and the fourth quarter fiscal 2023 consisted of 13 weeks. Fiscal 2024 consisted of 53 weeks, and fiscal 2023 consisted of 52 weeks.

"We are proud of our strong finish to 2024. In Q4, our comp came in above expectations at positive 3.1%. We exceeded profitability estimates with an operating margin of 21.5% and earnings per share of $3.28. This success was fueled by the strength of our operating model, our standout seasonal offerings, our impactful collaborations, and a strong improvement in both retail and online furniture sales. On the full year, our comp ran down 1.6%. We delivered a record annual operating margin of 17.9% with full-year earnings per share of $8.50," said Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Alber concluded, "Looking to 2025, we are confident in our strategies and competitive positioning. Despite an uncertain backdrop, we have been, and will continue to be, focused on returning to growth, enhancing our world-class customer service, and driving earnings. We are innovators and operators and are well set up for a great 2025."

FOURTH QUARTER 2024 HIGHLIGHTS

• Comparable brand revenue +3.1%.
• Gross margin of 47.3% +130bps to LY driven by (i) occupancy leverage of +80bps, (ii) higher merchandise margins of +40bps and (iii) supply chain efficiencies of +10bps. Occupancy costs of $205 million, -1.6% to LY.
• SG&A rate of 25.8% -10bps to LY driven by lower general expenses, partially offset by higher performance-based incentive compensation and advertising expenses. SG&A of $635 million, +7.6% to LY.
• Operating income of $530 million with a record operating margin of 21.5%. +140bps to LY.
• Diluted EPS of $3.28 per share. +20.6% to LY.
• For the fourth quarter fiscal 2024, we estimate this additional week contributed +510bps to revenue growth and +60bps to operating margin. 

FISCAL YEAR 2024 HIGHLIGHTS

• Comparable brand revenue -1.6%.
• Gross margin of 46.5%, including a benefit of +70bps from the out-of-period freight adjustment in Q1 FY24. Without this adjustment, gross margin of 45.8%, which increased +320bps to LY GAAP basis, driven by (i) higher merchandise margins of +170bps, (ii) supply chain efficiencies of +130bps and (iii) occupancy leverage of +20bps. Occupancy costs of $793 million, -2.6% to LY GAAP basis.
• Gross margin of 46.5%, including a benefit of +70bps from the out-of-period freight adjustment in Q1 FY24. Without this adjustment, gross margin of 45.8% which increased +310bps to LY non- GAAP basis, driven by (i) higher merchandise margins of +160bps, (ii) supply chain efficiencies of +130bps and (iii) occupancy leverage of +20bps. Occupancy costs of $793 million, -2.6% to LY non-GAAP basis.
• SG&A rate of 27.9% +130bps to LY GAAP basis driven by higher performance-based incentive compensation and advertising expense, partially offset by lower general expenses. SG&A of $2.15 billion, +4.5% to LY GAAP basis.
• SG&A rate of 27.9% +160bps to LY non-GAAP basis driven by higher performance-based incentive compensation and advertising expense, partially offset by lower general expenses. SG&A of $2.15 billion, +5.7% to LY non-GAAP basis.
• Operating income of $1.43 billion with an operating margin of 18.6%, including a benefit of +70bps from the out-of-period freight adjustment in Q1 FY24. Without this adjustment, operating income of $1.38 billion with an operating margin of 17.9%, +180bps to LY GAAP basis and +150bps to LY non-GAAP basis.
• Diluted EPS of $8.79, including a benefit of $0.29 per share from the out-of-period freight adjustment in Q1 FY24. Without this adjustment, diluted EPS of $8.50 per share, +16.8% to LY GAAP basis and +14.4% to LY non-GAAP basis.
• ROIC of 54.0% driven primarily by net earnings.
• Maintained strong liquidity position of $1.2 billion in cash and $1.4 billion in operating cash flow enabling the company to deliver returns to stockholders of nearly $1.1 billion through $807 million in stock repurchases and $280 million in dividends. Stock repurchase authorization of $1.2 billion remaining under our stock repurchase programs.
• Fiscal 2024 results included a 53rd week, which we estimate contributed +150bps to revenue growth and +20bps to operating margin in fiscal 2024.

DIVIDENDS AUTHORIZATION

• Increased our quarterly dividend 16%, or $0.09, to $0.66 per share.

OUTLOOK

• Fiscal 2025 is a 52-week year. Our financial statements will be prepared on a 52-week basis in fiscal 2025 versus 53-week basis in fiscal 2024. However, we will report comps on a 52-week versus 52-week comparable basis. All other year-over-year comparisons will be 52-weeks in fiscal 2025 versus 53-weeks in fiscal 2024.
• In fiscal 2025, we expect annual net revenues in the range of -1.5% to +1.5% due to the impact from the 53rd week in fiscal 2024, with comps in the range of flat to +3.0%; and an operating margin between 17.4% to 17.8%, inclusive of the impact of 20bps from the 53rd week in fiscal 2024.
• Over the long term, we continue to expect mid-to-high single-digit annual net revenue growth with an operating margin in the mid-to-high teens. 

FIRST QUARTER 2024 OUT-OF-PERIOD FREIGHT ADJUSTMENT

Subsequent to the filing of our fiscal 2023 Form 10-K, in April 2024, we determined that we over-recognized freight expense in fiscal 2021, 2022 and 2023 for a cumulative amount of $49 million. We evaluated the error, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and determined that no prior interim or annual periods were materially misstated. We then evaluated whether the cumulative amount of the over-accrual was material to our projected fiscal 2024 results, and determined the cumulative amount was not material. Therefore, our Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal 2024 include an out-of-period adjustment of $49 million, recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, to reduce cost of goods sold and accounts payable, which corrected the cumulative error on the balance sheet as of January 28, 2024.

SECOND QUARTER 2024 COMMON STOCK SPLIT

On July 9, 2024, we effected a 2-for-1 stock split of our common stock through a stock dividend. All historical share and per share amounts in this release have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will host a live conference call today, March 19, 2025, at 7:00 A.M. (PT). The call will be open to the general public via live webcast and can be accessed at http://ir.williams-sonomainc.com/events. A replay of the webcast will be available at http://ir.williams-sonomainc.com/ events.

SEC REGULATION G — NON-GAAP INFORMATION

This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures. Exhibit 1 provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"). We have not provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to the corresponding GAAP measures on a forward- looking basis as we cannot do so without unreasonable efforts due to the potential variability and limited visibility of excluded items; these excluded items may include exit costs, reduction-in-force initiatives, impairment and early termination charges, among others. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of such excluded items. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, can provide meaningful supplemental information for investors regarding the performance of our business and facilitate a meaningful evaluation of current period performance on a comparable basis with prior periods. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in order to have comparable financial results to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter. In addition, certain other items may be excluded from non-GAAP financial measures when the company believes this provides greater clarity to management and investors. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for or superior to the GAAP financial measures presented in this press release and our financial statements and other publicly filed reports. Non-GAAP measures as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not fully materialize or are proven incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements in the quotes of our President and Chief Executive Officer, our fiscal year 2025 outlook and long-term financial targets and dividend expectations.

The risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: our ability to provide sustainable products at competitive prices; changes in U.S. (federal, state and local) and international tax laws and trade policies and regulations; the impact of current and potential future tariffs and our ability to mitigate such impacts; the plans, strategies, initiatives and objectives of management for future operations; our ability to execute strategic priorities and growth initiatives; our beliefs about our competitive advantages and areas of potential future growth in the market; the impact of general economic conditions, inflationary pressures, consumer disposable income, fuel prices, recession and fears of recession, unemployment, war and fears of war, outbreaks of disease, adverse weather, availability of consumer credit, consumer debt levels, conditions in the housing market, elevated interest rates, sales tax rates and rate increases, consumer confidence in future economic and political conditions, and consumer perceptions of personal well-being and security; the impact of periods of decreased home purchases; our ability to anticipate consumer preferences and buying trends overall and as they apply to specific brands; dependence on timely introduction and customer acceptance of our merchandise; effective inventory management; timely and effective sourcing of merchandise from our foreign and domestic suppliers and delivery of merchandise through our supply chain to our stores and customers; factors, including but not limited to fuel costs, labor disputes, union organizing activity, geopolitical instability, acts of terrorism and war, that can affect the global supply chain, including our third-party providers; our belief in the reasonableness of the steps taken to protect the security and confidentiality of the information we collect; multi-channel and multi-brand complexities; our brands, products and related initiatives, including our ability to introduce new products, product lines, new brands, brand extensions and bring in new customers; challenges associated with our increasing global presence; our global business and expansion efforts; disruptions in the financial markets; our ability to control employment, occupancy, supply chain, product, transportation and other operating costs; the adequacy of our insurance coverage; payment of dividends; the growth from our emerging brands; our ability to drive long-term sustainable returns; our capital allocation strategy in fiscal 2025; our planned use of cash in fiscal 2025; projections of earnings, revenues, growth and other financial items; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our public announcements, reports to stockholders and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2024 and all subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. We have not filed our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2025. As a result, all financial results described here should be considered preliminary, and are subject to change to reflect any necessary adjustments or changes in accounting estimates that are identified prior to the time we file the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2025. All forward- looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

ABOUT WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the world's largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer. The company's products, representing distinct merchandise strategies — Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, Mark and Graham, and GreenRow — are marketed through e-commerce websites, retail stores and direct-mail catalogs. These brands are also part of The Key Rewards, our loyalty and credit card program that offers members exclusive benefits across the Williams-Sonoma family of brands. We operate in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, offer international shipping to customers worldwide, and have unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico, South Korea and India, as well as e-commerce websites in certain locations.

WSM-IR

Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC")

We believe ROIC is a useful financial measure for investors in evaluating the efficient and effective use of capital, and is an important component of long-term stockholder return.

The following table presents the calculation of ROIC, together with a reconciliation of net earnings to non-GAAP net operating profit after tax ("NOPAT"):

SEC Regulation G – Non-GAAP Information

These tables include non-GAAP occupancy costs, gross profit, gross margin, selling, general and administrative expense, operating income, Adjusted Operating Income, operating margin, income taxes, effective tax rate and diluted EPS. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information for investors regarding the performance of our business and facilitate a meaningful evaluation of our quarterly actual results on a comparable basis with prior periods. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in order to have comparable financial results to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

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Jeff Howie EVP, Chief Financial Officer – (415) 402 4324 -or- Jeremy Brooks SVP, Chief Accounting Officer & Head of Investor Relations – (415) 733 2371