Levi Strauss & Co. Reports First-Quarter 2022 Financial Results, Exceeding Expectations

REPORTED NET REVENUES OF $1.6 BILLION UP 22% VERSUS Q1 2021

OPERATING MARGIN WAS 14.7%; ADJUSTED EBIT MARGIN WAS 14.9% VERSUS 13.3% IN Q1 2021

DILUTED EPS WAS $0.48; ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS WAS $0.46 UP 35% VERSUS Q1 2021

COMPANY REAFFIRMS ANNUAL GUIDANCE

Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE: LEVI) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended February 27, 2022.

"We started the year with strong consumer demand and solid momentum across geographies, channels and categories," said Chip Bergh, president and chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co. "Our teams’ disciplined execution of our strategic priorities enabled us to deliver strong top and bottom-line growth as we capitalize on structural tailwinds and successfully manage a dynamic operating environment. The strength of our brands and strategy position us to deliver sustainable growth well into the future."

Financial Highlights for the First Quarter

• Reported net revenues of $1.6 billion up 22%, and 26% on a constant-currency basis, versus Q1 2021 driven by strong growth across all geographical segments
  • Global Direct-to-Consumer reported net revenues up 35% versus Q1 2021; reflecting a 48% increase in company-operated stores and a 10% increase in e-commerce
  • Global Wholesale reported net revenues up 15% versus Q1 2021
  • Net revenues through all digital channels grew 16% and represented approximately 25% of total first quarter net revenues
  • Supply chain constraints impacted net revenues by approximately $60 million
• Gross margin was 59.3%; Adjusted gross margin was 59.4%, up 170 basis points from Q1 2021
• Operating margin was 14.7%; Adjusted EBIT margin of 14.9%, up from 13.3% in Q1 2021
• Net income was $196 million; Adjusted net income was $189 million up from $140 million in Q1 2021
• The effective income tax rate was 20.4% compared to 7.9% in Q1 2021
• Diluted EPS was $0.48; Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.46, up from $0.34 in Q1 2021

"We achieved excellent financial results in the first quarter, driving strong double-digit revenue growth and record gross margin enabling us to deliver adjusted EBIT margin of 14.9 percent," said Harmit Singh, chief financial officer of Levi Strauss & Co. "The ongoing consumer demand across our portfolio of brands and our proven ability to deliver profitable growth give us the confidence to reaffirm our full-year outlook despite the incremental headwinds from ongoing macro challenges."

Highlights include:

First-Quarter 2022 Details:

• Net revenues of $1.6 billion increased 22% on a reported basis, and 26% on a constant-currency basis excluding $38 million in unfavorable currency impacts.

– DTC net revenues increased 35%, driven by both company-operated stores and e-commerce. As a percentage of first quarter company net revenues, sales from DTC stores and e-commerce comprised 30% and 9%, respectively, for a total of 39%.

– Wholesale net revenues increased 15% reflecting strong demand for the Levi's® brand globally.

– The company’s global digital net revenues grew approximately 16% compared to the same period in the prior year and comprised approximately 25% of first quarter fiscal 2022 net revenues.

• Gross profit was $944 million, as compared to $760 million in the same quarter in the prior year. Gross margin was 59.3% of net revenues, up from 58.2% in the same quarter of the prior year. Adjusted gross margin, which excludes COVID-19 and acquisition-related charges, was 59.4%, an increase of 170 basis points compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in gross margin reflects a higher proportion of sales in our DTC channel, lower promotions, higher share of full price sales and price increases, partially offset by higher product costs.

• Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $709 million compared to $583 million in the same quarter in the prior year. Adjusted SG&A in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $708 million compared to $579 million in the same quarter in the prior year. As a percentage of net revenues, adjusted SG&A was 44.5%, approximately 20 basis points higher than the prior year period, reflecting higher investments in advertising and promotion and higher distribution expenses, partially offset by leverage in selling expenses.

• Operating income of $234 million compared to $177 million in the same quarter in the prior year. Adjusted EBIT of $238 million compared to $174 million in the same quarter of the prior year. The increases were primarily due to higher net revenues and gross margin partially offset with higher SG&A expenses in the current year.

• Net income was $196 million compared to $143 million in the same quarter of the prior year and Adjusted net income was $189 million compared to $140 million in the same quarter of the prior year. The company recognized lower interest expense offset with higher income taxes. Additionally, the company recognized a COVID-19 government subsidy gain within net income in the current year.

• The effective income tax rate was 20.4% for the first quarter, compared to 7.9% for the same prior-year period. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily driven by lower tax benefit from the foreign derived intangible income deduction and stock-based compensation equity awards in the quarter as compared to the same prior-year period.

• Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to $0.46 as compared to $0.34 for the same prior-year period.

Additional information regarding Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBIT margin, Adjusted net income, Adjusted diluted earnings per share, as well as amounts presented on a constant-currency basis, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures, is provided at the end of this press release.

First-Quarter Segment Overview

Reported net revenues and operating income for the quarter are set forth in the table below:

• In the Americas, net revenues grew 26% on a reported basis and 27% on a constant-currency basis, driven by growth across both our DTC and wholesale channels. DTC net revenues increased 31% due to strength in company-operated stores as consumers returned to in-person shopping. Wholesale net revenues grew 24%, driven by strong performance across brands, particularly the Levi’s® brand. Net revenues through all digital channels grew 24% and represented 24% of the segment's sales in the quarter.
  
  
  
  Operating income for the segment increased due to higher net revenues and gross margins.

• In Europe, net revenues grew 13% on a reported basis and 21% on a constant-currency basis. DTC net revenues increased 46%, driven by strength in company-operated stores as the severity of the pandemic lessened, allowing consumers to return to our stores. Wholesale net revenues decreased 4% on a reported basis while increasing 3% on a constant-currency basis. Net revenues through all digital channels declined 8% following an 84% increase in the same period last year and represented 29% of the segment's sales in the quarter.
  
  
  
  Operating income for the segment increased due to higher net revenue and gross margins, partially offset by higher SG&A expenses as a percentage of net revenues.

• In Asia, net revenues increased 11% on a reported basis and 14% on a constant-currency basis. The increase in net revenues was driven by both our DTC and wholesale channels and most markets, despite a few markets continuing to experience COVID-related impacts. DTC net revenues increased 17% driven by strong performance in our company-operated stores, as well as e-commerce, which was up 22%. Wholesale net revenues increased 5% driven by strength of the Levi’s® brand across several markets. Net revenues through all digital channels grew 17% and represented 14% of the segment's sales in the quarter.
  
  
  
  Operating income for the region increased due to higher net revenue, gross margin, and lower SG&A expenses as a percentage of net revenues.

• For Other Brands, Dockers® and Beyond Yoga® combined, net revenues and operating income increased, reflecting growth across channels for the Dockers® brand, and the acquisition of Beyond Yoga®, which had net revenues of approximately $26 million.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

• Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022 of $678 million and short-term investments of $99 million were complemented by $837 million available under the company's revolving credit facility, resulting in a total liquidity position of approximately $1.6 billion.

• Net debt at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $248 million. The company’s leverage ratio was 1.1 at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022, as compared to 6.8 at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

• Cash from operations for the first three months of fiscal 2022 increased to $86 million as compared to $69 million for the first three months of fiscal 2021. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily driven by higher collections of trade receivables, partially offset by higher spending on inventory and SG&A expenses, reflective of the increase in sales in comparison to the same period in prior year.

• Adjusted free cash flow for the first three months of fiscal 2022 was negative $124 million, a decrease of $115 million compared to the first three months of fiscal 2021, primarily reflecting higher repurchases of common stock, higher capital expenditures, and higher dividends, partially offset by higher cash from operations.

• Total inventories increased 20% compared to the end of the corresponding prior-year period as the company builds core inventory through the first half of the year to mitigate supply chain risk and capture consumer demand.

• The company declared a dividend of $0.10 per share totaling approximately $40 million, payable in cash on or after May 24, 2022 to the holders of record of Class A common stock and Class B common stock at the close of business on May 6, 2022.

• During the three months ended February 27, 2022, 3 million shares were repurchased. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company completed its $200 million share repurchase program by repurchasing an additional 2 million shares for $40 million.

Additional information regarding net debt, leverage ratio, and Adjusted free cash flow, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures, is provided at the end of this press release.

Guidance

The company reaffirms expectations for fiscal 2022 and are as follows:

• Net revenues growth of 11% to 13% compared to FY 2021, between $6.4 billion and $6.5 billion.
• Adjusted diluted EPS of $1.50-to-$1.56.

The company plans to share additional details during its investor conference call. The company's outlook assumes no significant worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures or dramatic incremental closure of global economies.

Investor Conference Call

The company’s first-quarter 2022 investor conference call will be available through a live audio webcast at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/y4c6jge4 on April 6, 2022, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time / 5 p.m. Eastern Time or via the following phone numbers: +1.833.693.0541 in the United States and Canada or +1.661.407.1582 internationally; I.D. No. 7585107. A replay is available the same date on http://investors.levistrauss.com and will be archived for one quarter. A telephone replay is also available through April 13, 2022, via the following phone numbers: +1.855.859.2056 in the United States and Canada or +1.404.537.3406 internationally; I.D. No. 7585107. Please see http://www.levistrauss.com/investors/earnings-webcast for a discussion and reconciliation of non- GAAP measures referenced on the investor conference call.

About Levi Strauss & Co.

Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world's largest brand-name apparel companies and a global leader in jeanswear. The company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi's®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™, Denizen® and Beyond Yoga® brands. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of approximately 3,100 brand-dedicated stores and shop-in-shops. Levi Strauss & Co.'s reported 2021 net revenues were $5.8 billion. For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com, and for company news and announcements go to http://investors.levistrauss.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release and related conference call contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements, including statements related to: the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company’s business; emerging from the pandemic as a stronger company; future financial results, including revenues, adjusted EBIT margins, return on invested capital levels, adjusted gross margins, adjusted SG&A, tax rate, and adjusted diluted EPS; capital expenditures; pricing initiatives; new store openings; inflationary pressures; global economic conditions; investments in high growth initiatives; future dividend payments; and efforts to diversify product categories and distribution channels, and the related revenue projections. The company has based these forward-looking statements on its current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. Words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “will,” “so we can,” “when,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Investors should consider the information contained in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2021 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 27, 2022, especially in the “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release and related conference call may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated or, if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release and related conference call. The company is not under any obligation and does not intend to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and related conference call to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this press release and related conference call or to reflect the occurrence of future events, even if such circumstances or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company reports its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) and the rules of the SEC. To supplement its financial statements prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, the company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted gross profit, Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted EBIT (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), Adjusted EBIT margin (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), Adjusted net income (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), Adjusted diluted earnings per share (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), constant-currency net revenues, net debt, leverage ratio, Adjusted free cash flow and return on invested capital to provide investors with additional useful information about its financial performance, to enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and to allow for greater transparency with respect to important metrics used by management for financial and operating decision-making. The company presents these non-GAAP financial measures to assist investors in seeing its financial performance from management's view and because it believes they provide an additional tool for investors to use in computing the company's core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in its industry. The tables found below present Adjusted gross profit, Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted EBIT (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), Adjusted EBIT margin (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), Adjusted net income (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), Adjusted net income margin (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), Adjusted diluted earnings per share (both reported and on a constant-currency basis), constant-currency net revenues, net debt, leverage ratio, and Adjusted free cash flow, and corresponding reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Certain items that may be excluded or included in non-GAAP financial measures may be significant items that could impact the company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows and should therefore be considered in assessing the company’s actual financial condition and performance. Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgment by management in determining how they are formulated. Some specific limitations include but are not limited to, the fact that such non-GAAP financial measures: (a) do not reflect cash outlays for capital expenditures, contractual commitments or liabilities including pension obligations, post-retirement health benefit obligations and income tax liabilities; (b) do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital requirements; and (c) do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on indebtedness. In addition, non-GAAP financial measures may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be directly comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. As a result, non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplementing, and not as an alternative or substitute for, the company's financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company urges investors to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures included in this press release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business. See “RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES” below for reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Constant-currency

The company reports certain operating results on a constant-currency basis in order to facilitate period-to-period comparisons of its results without regard to the impact of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates. The term foreign currency exchange rates refers to the exchange rates used to translate the company's operating results for all countries where the functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar into U.S. Dollars. Because the company is a global company, foreign currency exchange rates used for translation may have a significant effect on its reported results. In general, the company's financial results are affected positively by a weaker U.S. Dollar and are affected negatively by a stronger U.S. Dollar as compared to the foreign currencies in which it conducts its business. References to operating results on a constant-currency basis mean operating results without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

The company believes disclosure of constant-currency results is helpful to investors because it facilitates period-to-period comparisons of its results by increasing the transparency of the underlying performance by excluding the impact of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates. However, constant-currency results are non-GAAP financial measures and are not meant to be considered as an alternative or substitute for comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Constant-currency results have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP, are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should be read in conjunction with the company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Constant-currency results have limitations in their usefulness to investors and may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be directly comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The company calculates constant-currency amounts by translating local currency amounts in the prior-year period at actual foreign exchange rates for the current period. Constant-currency results do not eliminate the transaction currency impact, which primarily include the realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized from the measurement and remeasurement of purchases and sales of products in a currency other than the functional currency. Additionally, gross margin is impacted by gains and losses related to the procurement of inventory, primarily products sourced in EUR and USD, by the company's global sourcing organization on behalf of its foreign subsidiaries.

Source: Levi Strauss & Co. Investor Relations

The notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements in the company's Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements in the company's Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements in the company's Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements in the company's Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements in the company's Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022

The following information relates to non-GAAP financial measures and should be read in conjunction with the investor call held on April 6, 2022, discussing the company’s financial condition and results of operations as of and for the quarter ended February 27, 2022. Adjusted gross profit, Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBIT margin, Adjusted net income, Adjusted diluted earnings per share, net debt, Adjusted free cash flow, constant-currency net revenues, constant-currency Adjusted EBIT and leverage ratio are not financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. As used in this press release: (1) Adjusted gross profit, represents gross profit excluding COVID-19 related inventory costs and acquisition related charges and Adjusted gross margin, represents Adjusted gross profit as a percentage of net revenues; (2) Adjusted SG&A represents SG&A less charges related to changes in fair value on cash-settled stock-based compensation, COVID-19 related charges, acquisition and integration related charges, and restructuring and restructuring related charges, severance and other, net; (3) Adjusted EBIT represents net income (loss) excluding income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, other (income) expense, net, loss on early extinguishment of debt, impact of changes in fair value on cash-settled stock-based compensation, COVID-19 related inventory costs and other charges, acquisition and integration related charges, and restructuring and restructuring related charges, severance and other, net, and Adjusted EBIT margin as Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of net revenues; (4) Adjusted EBITDA represents Adjusted EBIT excluding depreciation and amortization expense; (5) Adjusted net income represents net income (loss) excluding charges related to the impact of changes in fair value on cash-settled stock-based compensation, loss on early extinguishment of debt, COVID-19 related inventory costs and other charges, net with a COVID-19 government subsidy gain, acquisition and integration related charges, and restructuring and restructuring related charges, severance and other, net, pension settlement losses and tax impact of adjustments and Adjusted net income margin as Adjusted net income as a percentage of net revenues; (6) Adjusted diluted earnings per share represents Adjusted net income per weighted-average number of diluted common shares; (7) net debt represents total debt, excluding finance leases, less cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments in marketable securities; (8) leverage ratio represents total debt, excluding finance leases, divided by the last twelve months of Adjusted EBITDA; (9) Adjusted free cash flow represents cash from operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment, plus proceeds on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting, less repurchase of common stock, tax withholdings on equity award exercises, and cash dividends to stockholders; (10) return on invested capital represents the trailing four quarters of earnings before interest and after taxes (Adjusted net income plus interest expense and income tax expense less an income tax adjustment) divided by the average trailing five quarters of total invested capital (total debt plus shareholders' equity less cash and short-term investments); (11) constant-currency net revenues represents net revenues without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; (12) constant-currency Adjusted EBIT represents Adjusted EBIT without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; (13) constant-currency Adjusted net income represents Adjusted net income without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; and (14) constant-currency Adjusted diluted earnings per share represents Adjusted diluted earnings per share without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Return on Invested Capital:

We define Return on invested capital ("ROIC") as the trailing four quarters of Adjusted net income before interest and after taxes divided by the average trailing five quarters of total invested capital. We define earnings before interest and after taxes as Adjusted net income plus interest expense and income tax expense less an income tax adjustment. We define total invested capital as total debt plus shareholders' equity less cash and short-term investments. We believe ROIC is useful to investors as it quantifies how efficiently we generated operating income relative to the capital we have invested in the business.

Our calculation of ROIC is considered a non-GAAP financial measure because we calculate ROIC using the non-GAAP metric Adjusted net income. Although ROIC is a standard financial metric, numerous methods exist for calculating a company's ROIC. As a result, the method we use to calculate our ROIC may differ from the methods used by other companies. This metric is not defined by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to earnings measures defined by GAAP.

The table below sets forth the calculation of ROIC for each of the periods presented.

Constant-Currency:

We calculate constant-currency amounts by translating local currency amounts in the comparison period at actual foreign exchange rates for the current period.

The table below sets forth the calculation of net revenues for each of our operating segments on a constant-currency basis for the prior-year comparison period applicable to the three-month period ended February 27, 2022:

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220406005934/en/