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Urban Outfitters Reports Q3 Earnings

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Urban Outfitters, Inc. (Nasdaq:URBN), a leading lifestyle consumer products company operating under the Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters brands, today announced earnings of $34.5 million and $80.5 million for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2006, respectively. Earnings per diluted share were $0.21 for the quarter and $0.48 for the nine months.

As stated in the Company's previous sales release on November 7, 2006, net sales for the quarter increased by 7%, to $308.4 million. The growth was primarily driven by a 24% increase in the number of stores in operation contributing to new and non-comparable stores sales gains of $35.6 million, a 15% increase in Free People Wholesale sales and a 17% rise in direct-to-consumer sales through the Company's catalogs and web sites.

These factors offset a 10% decrease in total Company comparable store sales during the third quarter. By brand, 'comp' store sales decreased by 10% at Anthropologie, 10% at Urban Outfitters and increased by 9% at Free People. In the prior year's third quarter, 'comps' at these brands increased by 7%, 19% and 21%, respectively, and total Company 'comps' rose by 13%.

"I see significant opportunity for our brands in the coming quarters," stated Richard A. Hayne, Chairman and President. "More customers are embracing the new fashion silhouette, we begin to anniversary weaker 'comp' store sales and we continue to make headway on improving our fashion offering. In addition, we enter the fourth quarter with appropriately conservative inventory levels, store related operating expenses are tightly controlled and our new store opening schedule is on-track for our two largest brands," added Mr. Hayne.

Net sales for the three and nine months were as follows:


                              Three months ended    Nine months ended
                                 October 31,           October 31,
                               2006       2005       2006       2005
                               ----       ----       ----       ----
                               (in thousands)        (in thousands)
 Urban Outfitters store
  sales                      $143,510   $137,483   $386,232   $363,901
 Anthropologie store sales    106,093    101,410    313,761    279,320
 Direct-to-consumer sales      36,070     30,921    101,074     87,916
 Free People sales             22,682     18,987     62,854     42,381
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
    Total net sales          $308,355   $288,801   $863,921   $773,518
                             ========   ========   ========   ========

For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2006, gross profit margins decreased by 339 basis points and 474 basis points, respectively, versus the prior year's comparable periods. These reductions were primarily due to a higher rate of fixed store occupancy expense caused by 'comp' store sales decreases, additional markdowns to clear seasonal inventories and increases in inventory related valuation reserves.

As of October 31, 2006, total Company inventories grew by $9.4 million or 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. The acquisition of inventory to stock new retail stores was the primary factor for this increase. Total comparable store inventories fell by 13.2%.

For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2006, selling, general and administrative expenses, expressed as a percentage of net sales, increased by 288 and 189 basis points, respectively, versus the same periods last year. The increase was primarily caused by the effect of 'comp' store sales declines on fixed store related expenses and the anniversary of a one-time gain on the sale of property of $1.6 million (55 and 21 basis point impact for the quarter and year, respectively) which occurred during the third quarter of last fiscal year.

As well during the third quarter, the Company's annual effective tax rate improved by approximately 450 basis points based upon receipt of certification for work performed on the development of its new offices that qualifies for certain one-time federal tax incentives. The Company believes it will receive an additional and similar one-time benefit that it can realize upon further certification of additional work related to the same project, for which it has not yet applied. The Company anticipates it will recognize the additional benefit during the fourth quarter of this fiscal year or early next fiscal year. For the three and nine months, the adjustment impacted net income by $4.4 million. Without the adjustment, diluted earnings per share would have been $0.18 and $0.45 for the quarter and nine months ended October 31, 2006, respectively.

The Company plans to open a total of 32-33 new stores by the end of the current fiscal year. During the first nine months of this fiscal year, the Company has opened 22 new stores.

Urban Outfitters, Inc. is an innovative specialty retailer and wholesaler which offers a variety of lifestyle merchandise to highly defined customer niches through 102 Urban Outfitters stores in the United States, Canada, and Europe, an Urban Outfitters web site and catalog; 87 Anthropologie stores in the United States; an Anthropologie web site and catalog, and Free People, the Company's wholesale segment, which sells its product to approximately 1,500 specialty stores, department stores and catalogs, as well as through 8 Free People stores, a web site and catalog, as of October 31, 2006.

A conference call will be held today to discuss third quarter results and will be web cast at 11:00 a.m. EST on: http://ir.urbanoutfittersinc.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=URBN&script=1010&item_id=1411158

This news release is being made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain matters contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Any one, or all, of the following factors could cause actual financial results to differ materially from those financial results mentioned in the forward-looking statements: the difficulty in predicting and responding to shifts in fashion trends, changes in the level of competitive pricing and promotional activity and other industry factors, overall economic and market conditions and the resultant impact on consumer spending patterns, including any effects of terrorist acts or war, availability of suitable retail space for expansion, timing of store openings, seasonal fluctuations in gross sales, the departure of one or more key senior managers, import risks, including potential disruptions and changes in duties, tariffs and quotas and other risks identified in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that actual results may differ materially from any projected results expressed or implied therein.


                        URBAN OUTFITTERS, INC.
             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
           (in thousands, except share and per share data)
                             (unaudited)


                      Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended
                      ------------------          -----------------
                         October  31,                October  31,
                         ------------                ------------
                      2006          2005          2006          2005
                      ----          ----          ----          ----

 Net sales         $ 308,355     $ 288,801     $ 863,921     $ 773,518
 Cost of sales,
  including
  certain buying,
  distribution
  and occupancy
  costs              190,407       168,550       544,453       450,814
                   ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
      Gross profit   117,948       120,251       319,468       322,704
 Selling,
  general and
  administrative
  expenses            72,484        59,592       203,744       167,802
                   ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
      Income from
       operations     45,464        60,659       115,724       154,902
 Other income, net     1,365         1,021         4,527         3,111
                   ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
      Income
       before
       income
       taxes          46,829        61,680       120,251       158,013
 Income tax
  expense             12,315        24,518        39,776        62,810
                   ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
      Net income   $  34,514     $  37,162     $  80,475     $  95,203
                   =========     =========     =========     =========

 Net income per
  common share:
    Basic          $    0.21     $    0.23     $    0.49     $    0.58
                   =========     =========     =========     =========
    Diluted        $    0.21     $    0.22     $    0.48     $    0.56
                   =========     =========     =========     =========

 Weighted average
  common shares
  and common share
  equivalents
  outstanding:
    Basic        164,707,980   163,953,135   164,760,387   163,698,505
                 ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========
    Diluted      168,306,967   170,328,859   168,675,078   169,934,178
                 ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========


 AS A PERCENT OF
  NET SALES:
 Net sales             100.0%        100.0%        100.0%        100.0%
 Cost of sales,
  including
  certain buying,
  distribution
  and occupancy
  costs                 61.8%         58.4%         63.0%         58.3%
                        ----          ----          ----          ----
      Gross profit      38.2%         41.6%         37.0%         41.7%
 Selling,
  general and
  administrative
  expenses              23.5%         20.6%         23.6%         21.7%
                        ----          ----          ----          ----
      Income from
       operations       14.7%         21.0%         13.4%         20.0%
 Other income, net       0.5%          0.4%          0.5%          0.4%
                        ----          ----          ----          ----
      Income
       before
       income
       taxes            15.2%         21.4%         13.9%         20.4%
 Income tax
  expense                4.0%          8.5%          4.6%          8.1%
                        ----          ----          ----          ----
      Net income        11.2%         12.9%          9.3%         12.3%
                        ====          ====          ====          ====



                     URBAN OUTFITTERS, INC.
             Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
        (in thousands, except share and per share data)
                         (unaudited)


                                  Oct. 31,      Jan. 31,      Oct. 31,
                                    2006          2006          2005
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------

              Assets

 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents      $  30,544     $  49,912     $  20,067
  Marketable securities             96,048       141,883       136,273
  Accounts receivable, net
   of allowance for doubtful
   accounts of $1,238, $445
   and $855, respectively           19,553        14,324        18,509
  Inventories                      179,592       140,377       170,232
  Prepaid expenses, deferred
   taxes and other current
   assets                           33,197        38,687        27,170
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------
 Total current assets              358,934       385,183       372,251

 Property and equipment,
  net                              426,430       299,291       255,091
 Marketable securities              58,636        64,748        65,946
 Deferred income taxes and
  other assets                      21,204        19,983        17,165
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------
                                 $ 865,204     $ 769,205     $ 710,453
                                 =========     =========     =========


              Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable               $  61,988     $  41,291     $  53,299
  Accrued expenses, accrued
   compensation and other
   current liabilities              88,015        92,217        74,409
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------
 Total current liabilities         150,003       133,508       127,708

 Deferred rent and other
  liabilities                       80,626        74,817        66,392
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------
 Total liabilities                 230,629       208,325       194,100
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------

 Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred shares; $.0001
   par value, 10,000,000
   shares authorized, none
   issued                               --            --            --
  Common shares; $.0001 par
   value, 200,000,000 shares
   authorized, 164,663,037,
   164,831,477 and 164,434,327
   issued and outstanding,
   respectively                         17            16            17
  Additional paid-in capital       124,970       134,146       125,125
  Retained earnings                506,665       426,190       390,597
  Accumulated other
   comprehensive income              2,923           528           614
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------
 Total shareholders' equity        634,575       560,880       516,353
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------
                                 $ 865,204     $ 769,205     $ 710,453
                                 =========     =========     =========




                          URBAN OUTFITTERS, INC.
              Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                           (in thousands)
                             (unaudited)



                                                Nine Months Ended
                                                  October  31,
                                           --------------------------
                                              2006             2005
                                              ----             ----


 Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                               $ 80,475          $ 95,203
  Adjustments to reconcile net
   income to net cash provided
   by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization            39,239            28,483
    Excess tax benefits from
     stock-based compensation                (5,014)               --
    Stock-based compensation
     expense                                  2,515               862
    Loss (gain) on disposition of
     property and equipment, net              1,236            (1,562)
    Changes in assets and
     liabilities:
      Increase in receivables                (5,178)          (10,187)
      Increase in inventories               (38,694)          (71,546)
      Decrease (increase) in
       prepaid expenses and other
       assets                                 4,720            (7,628)
      Increase in payables,
       accrued expenses and
       other liabilities                     30,686            34,076
                                           --------          --------
  Net cash provided by operating
   activities                               109,985            67,701
                                           --------          --------

 Cash flows from investing
  activities:
    Cash paid for property and
     equipment                             (168,243)          (78,093)
    Proceeds from disposition of
     building                                    --             3,769
    Purchases of marketable
     securities                            (114,913)         (396,716)
    Sales and maturities of
     marketable securities                  165,724           381,854
                                           --------          --------
  Net cash used in investing
   activities                              (117,432)          (89,186)
                                           --------          --------

 Cash flows from financing
  activities:
    Exercise of stock options                 4,430            11,937
    Excess tax benefits from
     stock-based compensation                 5,014                --
    Share repurchases                       (20,801)               --
                                           --------          --------
  Net cash (used in) provided
   by financing activities                  (11,357)           11,937
                                           --------          --------

  Effect of exchange rate changes
   on cash and cash equivalents                (564)             (116)
                                           --------          --------

  Decrease in cash and cash
   equivalents                              (19,368)           (9,664)

  Cash and cash equivalents at
   beginning of period                       49,912            29,731
                                           --------          --------
  Cash and cash equivalents at
   end of period                           $ 30,544          $ 20,067
                                           ========          ========

CONTACT: Urban Outfitters, Inc.
John E. Kyees, Chief Financial Officer
(215) 454-5500