The Michaels Companies Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2017 Financial Results

The Michaels Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIK) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 29, 2017.

“I am encouraged with the improving trend in customer transactions this quarter, especially given the headwinds we faced as we anniversaried last year’s coloring trend,” said Chuck Rubin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to make progress on our 2017 and long term operational and strategic priorities, and we look forward to sharing more about our long-term goals at our upcoming analyst day.”

First Quarter Highlights

• Net sales were $1.16 billion, flat with net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Sales from the operation of 12 additional stores (net of closures) was offset by a decline in comparable store sales. Comparable store sales decreased 1.2% driven by a decrease in average ticket. During the quarter, the Company opened three new Michaels stores and closed one Michaels store and five Aaron Brothers stores. At the end of the first quarter, the Company operated 1,225 Michaels stores, 104 Aaron Brothers stores, and 35 Pat Catan’s stores.
• Gross profit increased 0.6% to $467.6 million, from $464.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit increased to 40.4% compared to 40.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The increase, as a percentage of net sales, was due to the comparison against $3.6 million of net non-recurring, inventory-related purchase accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of Lamrite West in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and higher merchandise margin. These benefits were offset by higher inventory shrinkage and occupancy cost deleverage.
• Selling, general and administrative expense, including store pre-opening costs, (“SG&A”) increased 2.8% to $328.4 million, or 28.3% of net sales, from $319.4 million, or 27.6% of net sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The increase in SG&A was primarily due to expenses associated with the operation of 12 additional stores (net of closures), marketing investments and higher health care expenses. The increase was partially offset by a comparison against $4.1 million of integration expenses recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 related to the acquisition of Lamrite West.
• Operating income decreased 4.2% to $139.3 million, or 12.0% of net sales, from $145.3 million, or 12.5% of net sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Excluding net non-recurring, inventory-related purchase accounting adjustments and integration expenses associated with the acquisition of Lamrite West, adjusted operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 was $153.0 million.
• Interest expense decreased $1.8 million to $30.4 million, from $32.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 due to interest rate savings from the refinancing of the revolving credit facility in the second quarter of fiscal 2016 and the refinancing of the term loan credit facility in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.
• The effective tax rate was 33.7%, compared to 37.2% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The lower effective tax rate is primarily due to benefits realized from our direct sourcing initiatives and the recognition of $0.9 million of excess tax benefits associated with the adoption of a new accounting standard related to share-based compensation.
• Net income increased 2.0% to $72.2 million, from $70.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Excluding net non-recurring, inventory-related purchase accounting adjustments and integration expenses associated with the acquisition of Lamrite West, adjusted net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 was $75.5 million.
• Diluted earnings per share increased 11.8% to $0.38, from $0.34 in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Excluding net non-recurring, inventory-related purchase accounting adjustments and integration expenses associated with the acquisition of Lamrite West, adjusted diluted earnings per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 was $0.36.
• The Company ended the first quarter of fiscal 2017 with $197.9 million in cash, $2.8 billion in debt and $727.6 million in availability under its asset-based revolving credit facility.
• Inventory at the end of the first quarter increased 4.2% to $1,102.3 million, compared to $1,057.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The increase in inventory was primarily due to additional inventory associated with the operation of 12 additional stores (net of closures). Average Michaels inventory on a per store basis, inclusive of distribution centers, in transit and inventory for the Company’s e-commerce site, increased 2.0% to $803,000, compared to $787,000 at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Capital expenditures for the quarter were $15.7 million, compared to $14.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• As previously announced, the Company purchased 4.8 million shares, or $99.3 million, of the Company’s common stock during the quarter, utilizing the remaining availability under the Company’s share repurchase authorization.

Second Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Outlook:

"Our operational expectations for the remainder of 2017 have not changed. We continue to believe that top-line trends will improve in the second half as we anniversary the 2016 coloring headwind, disruption created from store layout changes made in the third quarter last year, and the U.S. elections. However, the value of the Canadian dollar has weakened since we established our prior outlook, and we have adjusted our fiscal 2017 full year guidance to reflect our expectation this currency trend continues,” concluded Mr. Rubin.

For fiscal 2017, a 53-week year, the Company expects:

• Total net sales growth of 2.2% to 3.7%, or 2.5% to 4.0% on a constant currency basis, including the impact of the 53rd week, which is planned to be approximately $80 million;
• Comparable store sales to be down 0.2% to up 1.3%, or flat to up 1.5% on a constant currency basis;
• To open 18 new stores, including 17 new Michaels stores and one new Pat Catan’s store, and close 11 Aaron Brothers stores;
• Operating income to be in the range of $723 million to $756 million;
• Interest expense to be approximately $131 million;
• The effective tax rate to be between 34% and 35%;
• Diluted earnings per common share to be between $2.03 and $2.15, based on diluted weighted average common shares of approximately 190 million; and
• Capital expenditures to be between $125 million and $135 million.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company expects:

• Comparable store sales to decrease 0.5% to 1.5%, or be approximately flat to down 1.0% on a constant currency basis;
• To open four new Michaels stores, relocate two Michaels stores and close four Aaron Brothers stores;
• Operating income to be between $75 million and $80 million;
• Interest expense to be approximately $30 million;
• The effective tax rate to be between 34% and 35%; and
• Diluted earnings per common share to be between $0.15 and $0.17, based on diluted weighted average common shares of 189 million.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss first quarter financial results is scheduled for today, June 6, 2017, at 8:00 am Central Time. Investors who would like to join the conference call are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call using the following link: http://dpregister.com/10107108. Callers who pre-register will be given a phone number and a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

Investors without internet access or who are unable to pre-register can join the call by dialing (866) 777-2509 or (412) 317-5413.

The conference call will also be webcast at http://investors.michaels.com/. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin to register and download any necessary audio software. The webcast will be accessible for 30 days after the call. Additionally, a telephone replay will be available until June 20, 2017, by dialing (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, access code 10107108.

Non-GAAP Information

This press release includes non-GAAP measures including Adjusted EBITDA; operating income excluding integration costs and non-recurring, inventory-related purchase accounting entries related to the acquisition of Lamrite West (“Adjusted operating income”); and net income excluding integration costs, non-recurring, inventory-related purchase accounting entries related to the acquisition of Lamrite West, (“Adjusted net income”); and earnings per share excluding integration costs, non-recurring, inventory-related purchase accounting entries related to the acquisition of Lamrite West (“Adjusted earnings per share”). The Company has reconciled these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in a table accompanying this release. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures not only provide its management with comparable financial data for internal financial analysis but also provide meaningful supplemental information to investors. Specifically, these non-GAAP financial measures allow investors to better understand the performance of the Company's business and facilitate a meaningful evaluation of its quarterly and fiscal 2017 diluted earnings per common share and actual results on a comparable basis with its quarterly and fiscal 2016 results.

In evaluating these non-GAAP financial measures, investors should be aware that in the future the Company may incur expenses or be involved in transactions that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. The Company's presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed to imply that its future results will be unaffected by any such adjustments. The Company has provided this information as a means to evaluate the results of its ongoing operations. Other companies in the Company's industry may calculate these items differently than it does. Each of these measures is not a measure of performance under GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views and estimates regarding the Company's industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning its market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, share repurchases, liquidity and capital resources, and other financial and operating information. The words "anticipate", "assume", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "future", "guidance", "imply", "intend", "may", "outlook", "plan", "potential", "predict", "project", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The Company cannot assure investors that future developments affecting the Company will be those that it has anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to risks relating to the effect of economic uncertainty, substantial changes to fiscal and tax policies; our reliance on foreign suppliers; regulatory changes; the seasonality of our business; changes in customer demand; damage to the reputation of the Michaels brand or our private and exclusive brands; unexpected or unfavorable consumer responses to our promotional or merchandising programs; our failure to adequately maintain security and prevent unauthorized access to electronic and other confidential information; increased competition including internet-based competition from other retailers; and other risks and uncertainties including those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which is available at www.sec.gov, and other filings that the Company may make with the SEC in the future. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this news release speaks only as of the date on which the Company makes it. Factors or events that could cause the Company's actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. The Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

About The Michaels Companies, Inc.:

The Michaels Companies, Inc. is North America's largest specialty provider of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall décor, and seasonal merchandise for the hobbyist and do-it-yourself home decorator.

As of April 29, 2017, the Company owned and operated 1,364 stores in 49 states and Canada under the brands Michaels, Aaron Brothers, and Pat Catan’s. The Michaels Companies, Inc., also owns Artistree, a manufacturer of high quality custom and specialty framing merchandise, and Darice, a premier wholesale distributor in the craft, gift and decor industry. The Michaels Companies, Inc. produces a number of private brands including Recollections®, Studio Decor®, Bead Landing®, Creatology®, Ashland®, Celebrate It®, ArtMinds®, Artist’s Loft®, Craft Smart®, Loops & Threads®, Make Market®, Foamies®, LockerLookz®, Imagin8®, and Sticky Sticks®. Learn more about Michaels at www.michaels.com.

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