SECAUCUS, N.J., Nov. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Children’s Place, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE), the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended October 31, 2020.

Jane Elfers, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “As expected, revenue during our peak back-to-school period was significantly impacted by the move to remote and hybrid learning models. Post the back-to-school peak, when our assortments converted to more casual options and the weather turned cooler, our sales improved. Importantly, we returned to profitability and generated positive cash flow from operations for the third quarter.”

Ms. Elfers continued, “Our digital sales penetration increased to 44% in the third quarter and year-to-date, our digital sales represent 55% of total sales. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, we have increased the number of new digital customers versus last year by approximately 100%, converted over 800,000 of our store-only customers to omni-channel customers, and increased our mobile app downloads by over 60% versus last year. Combined, these metrics provide a strong foundation for continued digital growth as digital adoption, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to drive online sales to an increasingly greater share of total sales. Importantly, we remain on track to close 300 stores by the end of fiscal 2021, with a plan of 200 store closures in fiscal 2020, inclusive of the 118 stores that have permanently closed in the first nine months of 2020, and 100 store closures in fiscal 2021.”

Ms. Elfers concluded, “We are approaching the fourth quarter with heightened caution and expect both sales and profitability to be under pressure due to the numerous headwinds created by the pandemic, specifically: the reduced demand for dress-up product, significantly reduced store traffic, recent nationwide spikes in COVID-19 cases resulting in additional temporary store closures, social distancing requirements, and reduced mall operating hours. In addition, the capacity constraints across the domestic transportation network resulting from the unprecedented level of expected online demand and the related freight surcharges imposed by our major carriers will put additional pressure on sales and margins during Q4. While we continue to manage through these short-term headwinds during this extraordinary time, our focus remains on successfully scaling our digital transformation investments and accelerating store closures to position the Company for accelerated operating margin expansion in a post-COVID environment.”

Third Quarter 2020 Results
Net sales decreased 19% to $425.6 million in the three months ended October 31, 2020 compared to $524.8 million in the three months ended November 2, 2019, primarily as a result of a decrease in back-to-school sales due to schools adopting remote and hybrid learning models, along with the impact of permanent and temporary store closures.

Gross profit was $146.1 million in the three months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $198.1 million in the three months ended November 2, 2019. Adjusted gross profit was $151.7 million in the three months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $198.1 million in the comparable period last year, and deleveraged 210 basis points to 35.7% of net sales. The decrease was primarily a result of increased penetration of our e-commerce business and its higher fulfillment costs, along with the deleverage of fixed expenses resulting from the decline in net sales, partially offset by higher merchandise margins in both our stores and e-commerce channels.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $106.6 million in the three months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $120.5 million in the three months ended November 2, 2019. Adjusted SG&A was $103.5 million in the three months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $116.6 million in the comparable period last year, and deleveraged 210 basis points to 24.3% of net sales, primarily as a result of the deleverage of fixed expenses resulting from the decline in net sales and higher incentive compensation accruals. This was partially offset by a reduction in store expenses resulting from our permanent store closures, as well as a reduction in operating expenses associated with actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operating income was $23.3 million in the three months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $58.0 million in the three months ended November 2, 2019. Adjusted operating income was $33.3 million in the three months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $63.4 million in the comparable period last year, and deleveraged 430 basis points to 7.8% of net sales.

Net income was $13.3 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, in the three months ended October 31, 2020, compared to net income of $43.0 million, or $2.77 per diluted share, in the three months ended November 2, 2019. Adjusted net income was $21.1 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $47.1 million, or $3.03 per diluted share, in the comparable period last year.

Fiscal Year-To-Date 2020 Results
Net sales decreased 22.7% to $1.050 billion in the nine months ended October 31, 2020 compared to $1.358 billion in the nine months ended November 2, 2019, primarily as a result of permanent and temporary store closures, along with a decrease in back-to-school sales beginning in mid-July due to schools adopting remote and hybrid learning models, partially offset by increased e-commerce sales.

Gross profit was $193.5 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $488.9 million in the nine months ended November 2, 2019. Adjusted gross profit was $313.9 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $488.4 million in the comparable period last year, and deleveraged 610 basis points to 29.9% of net sales, primarily as a result of increased penetration of our e-commerce business and its higher fulfillment costs, along with the deleverage of fixed expenses resulting from the decline in net sales.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $319.4 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $364.9 million in the nine months ended November 2, 2019. Adjusted SG&A was $295.1 million in the nine months ended October 31, 2020, compared to $359.3 million in the comparable period last year, and deleveraged 160 basis points to 28.1% of net sales, primarily as a result of the deleverage of fixed expenses resulting from the decline in net sales and higher incentive compensation accruals, partially offset by a reduction in store expenses resulting from our permanent store closures, as well as a reduction in operating expenses associated with actions taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operating loss was ($214.3) million in the nine months ended October 31, 2020, compared to operating income of $66.8 million in the nine months ended November 2, 2019. Adjusted operating loss was ($29.5) million in the nine months ended October 31, 2020, compared to adjusted operating income of $75.9 million in the comparable period last year, and deleveraged 840 basis points to (2.8%) of net sales.

Net loss was ($148.1) million, or ($10.13) per diluted share, in the nine months ended October 31, 2020, compared to net income of $49.1 million, or $3.10 per diluted share, in the nine months ended November 2, 2019. Adjusted net loss was ($29.2) million, or ($2.00) per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $55.9 million, or $3.53 per diluted share, in the comparable period last year.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation
The Company’s results are reported in this press release on a GAAP and as adjusted, non-GAAP basis. Adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share, adjusted gross profit, adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses, and adjusted operating income (loss) are non-GAAP measures, and are not intended to replace GAAP financial information, and may be different from non-GAAP measures reported by other companies. The Company believes the income and expense items excluded as non-GAAP adjustments are not reflective of the performance of its core business, and that providing this supplemental disclosure to investors will facilitate comparisons of the past and present performance of its core business.

For the three months ended October 31, 2020, the Company’s adjusted results exclude net expenses of approximately $10.0 million, primarily related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including incremental COVID-19 operating expenses, including incentive pay and personal protective equipment for our associates, and occupancy charges for rent at our stores temporarily closed.

The total impact on income taxes for the above items was approximately $2.2 million, including a provision of approximately $0.5 million, primarily resulting from the changes in operating loss carryback rules as a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.

For the nine months ended October 31, 2020, the Company recorded an inventory provision of approximately $63.2 million and approximately $37.9 million of impairment charges, including the right-of-use assets recorded in connection with the adoption of the new lease accounting standard. The inventory provision relates to the adverse business disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the store closures. The impairment charges were primarily a result of decreased net revenue and cash flow projections resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic disruption.

In addition to the inventory provision and impairment charges, the Company’s adjusted results for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 exclude net expenses of approximately $75.3 million, primarily related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including occupancy charges for rent at our stores temporarily closed; incremental COVID-19 operating expenses, including incentive pay and personal protective equipment for our associates; and payroll and benefits for certain store employees during the period our stores were closed, net of a payroll tax credit benefit resulting from the CARES Act.

Additionally, the Company excluded net costs of approximately $8.4 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2020, primarily related to restructuring costs.

The total impact on income taxes for the above items was approximately $65.9 million, including a benefit of approximately $16.9 million, primarily resulting from the changes in operating loss carryback rules as a result of the CARES Act.

Store Update
As of October 31, 2020, the Company had 99% of its stores open to the public in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Consistent with the Company’s store fleet optimization initiative, the Company permanently closed 16 stores in the three months ended October 31, 2020. The Company ended the quarter with 809 stores and square footage of 3.8 million, a decrease of 14.3% compared to the prior year. Since the Company’s fleet optimization initiative was announced in 2013, it has closed 389 stores.

The flexibility provided by lease actions allows the Company to target 200 store closures in fiscal 2020, including 118 stores closed in the first nine months of fiscal 2020, and 100 additional closures in fiscal 2021.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
As of October 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $64.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $179.4 million outstanding on its revolving credit facility. During the third quarter, the Company completed an $80 million term loan financing transaction and utilized the net proceeds to pay down its existing revolving credit facility. Additionally, the Company generated approximately $32.5 million in operating cash flow in the three months ended October 31, 2020.

Outlook
As a result of the continued uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is not providing financial guidance at this time.

About The Children’s Place

The Children’s Place is the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture, sells at retail and wholesale, and licenses to sell fashionable, high-quality merchandise predominantly at value prices, primarily under the proprietary “The Children’s Place”, “Place”, “Baby Place”, and “Gymboree” brand names. As of October 31, 2020, the Company had 809 stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, online stores at www.childrensplace.com and www.gymboree.com, and the Company’s eight international franchise partners had 252 international points of distribution in 19 countries.