NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, reported today financial results for its second quarter ended July 29, 2017.

Second Quarter Results
Net income for the Company's second quarter ended July 29, 2017 was $51 million, or $0.39 per share, compared with net income of $127 million, or $0.94 per share in the same period of 2016. This result included a $50 million pre-tax litigation charge related to a recent appeals court decision in a lawsuit against the Company involving the conversion of its pension plan in 1996. The Company previously recorded a $100 million pre-tax charge in the third quarter of 2015 related to the same litigation. Excluding this charge, which reduced after-tax earnings by 23 cents per share, non-GAAP earnings were $0.62 per share.

Second quarter comparable-store sales decreased 6.0 percent. Total sales decreased 4.4 percent, to $1,701 million this quarter, compared with sales of $1,780 million for the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the second quarter decreased 4.3 percent. The Company's gross margin rate decreased to 29.6 percent of sales from 33.0 percent a year ago, and the selling, general, and administrative expense rate increased 20 basis points to 19.9 percent of sales.

"While we believe our position in the market for premium sneakers remains very strong and our customers continue to look to us for compelling new athletic footwear and apparel styles," said Richard Johnson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, "sales of some recent top styles fell well short of our expectations and impacted this quarter's results. At the same time, we were affected by the limited availability of innovative new products in the market. We believe these industry dynamics will persist through 2017, and we expect comparable sales to be down three to four percent over the remainder of the year."

Mr. Johnson continued, "We are obviously disappointed in the results for the quarter, and our team is working quickly to adjust our operations to a changed retail landscape in which we are seeing our consumers move faster than ever from one source of inspiration or influence to another. In addition to working with our vendor partners to identify and capture new trends faster, we are also evaluating a realignment of our capital expenditure priorities and additional expense reductions so we can regain our momentum on both the top and bottom lines and deliver long-term value for our shareholders."

Year-To-Date Results
Net income for the Company's first six months of the year decreased to $231 million, or $1.74 per share on a GAAP basis, compared to net income of $318 million, or $2.33 per share, for the corresponding period in 2016. On a non-GAAP basis, earnings per share for the six-month period totaled $1.97, a 15 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2016. Year-to-date sales were $3,702 million, a decrease of 1.7 percent compared to sales of $3,767 million in the corresponding six-month period of 2016. Year-to-date, comparable store sales decreased 2.6 percent, while total year-to-date sales, excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, decreased by 1.1 percent.

Financial Position
At July 29, 2017, the Company's merchandise inventories were $1,290 million, 3.7 percent lower than at the end of the second quarter last year. Using constant currencies, inventory decreased 4.9 percent. The Company's cash totaled $1,043 million, while the debt on its balance sheet was $126 million. The Company spent $21 million to repurchase 350 thousand shares during the quarter and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share for $41 million.

"In addition to retaining our very strong overall financial position, we took aggressive action in the second quarter to ensure that our inventory levels remained in line with sales," said Lauren Peters, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "In light of the current sales challenges in this unprecedented retail environment, we are considering a range of expense alternatives, including adjustments to our largely productive store base; reductions in overall capital spending, as well as shifting of emphasis from real estate to digital and supply chain; and various additional expense initiatives to create a more flexible, efficient organization."

Store Base Update
During the second quarter, the Company opened 24 new stores, remodeled or relocated 38 stores, and closed 19 stores. As of July 29, 2017, the Company operated 3,359 stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, 68 franchised Foot Locker stores were operating in the Middle East, as well as 14 franchised Runners Point stores in Germany.

The Company is hosting a live conference call at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) today, August 18, 2017, to review these results and discuss the outlook for the remainder of 2017. This conference call may be accessed live by dialing 1-800-897-4057 (U.S. and Canada) or +44 207-855-8974 (International), or via the Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com. Please log on to the website 15 minutes prior to the call in order to register. A replay of the call will be available via webcast from the same Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com through September 1, 2017.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Other than statements of historical facts, all statements which address activities, events, or developments that the Company anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, such things as future capital expenditures, expansion, strategic plans, financial objectives, dividend payments, stock repurchases, growth of the Company's business and operations, including future cash flows, revenues, and earnings, and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors which are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the effects of currency fluctuations, customer demand, fashion trends, competitive market forces, uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and pricing, customer acceptance of the Company's merchandise mix and retail locations, the Company's reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor), cybersecurity breaches, pandemics and similar major health concerns, unseasonable weather, deterioration of global financial markets, economic conditions worldwide, deterioration of business and economic conditions, any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist activities in the United States or in other parts of the world and related U.S. military action overseas, the ability of the Company to execute its business and strategic plans effectively with regard to each of its business units, and risks associated with global product sourcing, including political instability, changes in import regulations, and disruptions to transportation services and distribution.

For additional discussion on risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" disclosed in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.


                                                                                 FOOT LOCKER, INC.

                                                                  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                                                                    (unaudited)


                                                                   Periods ended July 29, 2017 and July 30, 2016

                                                                      (In millions, except per share amounts)



                                        Second Quarter                Year-to-Date

                                          2017         2016              2017                               2016
                                          ----         ----              ----                               ----

    Sales                             $                     1,701              $                                  1,780   $ 3,702   $  3,767

    Cost of sales (1)                                       1,198                                                 1,193     2,519      2,484
    ----------------                                        -----                                                 -----     -----      -----

    Gross margin                                              503                                                   587     1,183      1,283


    SG&A                                                      339                                                   350       710        711

    Depreciation and amortization                              42                                                    39        83         78
    -----------------------------                             ---                                                   ---       ---        ---

    Income from operations                                    122                                                   198       390        494


    Litigation charge                                          50                                                     -       50          -

    Interest (income)/expense, net                            (1)                                                    1       (1)         1

    Other income                                                -                                                  (1)      (1)       (3)
    ------------                                              ---                                                  ---       ---        ---

    Income before income taxes                                 73                                                   198       342        496

    Income tax expense                                         22                                                    71       111        178
    ------------------                                        ---                                                   ---       ---        ---

    Net income                        $                        51              $                                    127   $   231   $    318
    ==========                      ===                       ===            ===                                    === ===   === ===    ===


    Diluted EPS                       $                      0.39              $                                   0.94   $  1.74   $   2.33

    Weighted-average diluted shares                         132.0                                                 135.5     132.3      136.6
         outstanding
         -----------



    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Results:



                                                      Second Quarter                           Year-to-Date

                                                        2017           2016                 2017                     2016
                                                        ----           ----                 ----                     ----

                                                After                                 After                               After                     After
                                                -----                                 -----                               -----                     -----

                                                 Tax               EPS      Tax             EPS                  Tax       EPS        Tax       EPS
                                                 ---               ---      ---             ---                  ---       ---        ---       ---

    GAAP net income                                        $51                  $0.39                       $127                $0.94      $231            $1.74  $318  $2.33


    After-tax adjustments:

    Litigation charge (2)                                   30                   0.23                          -                   -       30             0.23     -     -
    --------------------                                   ---                   ----                        ---                 ---      ---             ----   ---   ---

    Non-GAAP results                                       $81                  $0.62                       $127                $0.94      $261            $1.97  $318  $2.33
    ================                                       ===                  =====                       ====                =====      ====            =====  ====  =====



    Footnotes:
    ----------


    (1)             Cost of sales includes: the cost of
                    merchandise, freight, distribution,
                    shipping and handling, occupancy
                    and buyers' compensation. Occupancy
                    costs include rent, common area
                    maintenance charges, real estate
                    taxes, general maintenance, and
                    utilities. Cost of sales is
                    exclusive of depreciation and
                    amortization, which is shown
                    separately.


    (2)             During the second quarter of 2017,
                    the Company recorded a pre-tax
                    charge of $50 million ($30 million
                    after-tax, applying a marginal tax
                    rate, or $0.23 per diluted share)
                    in connection with its U.S.
                    retirement plan litigation. The
                    Company had previously recorded a
                    pre-tax charge for $100 million
                    during 2015. This charge reflects
                    the Company's revised estimate of
                    its exposure for this matter,
                    bringing the total pre-tax amount
                    accrued to $150 million. The
                    Company will continue to vigorously
                    defend itself in this case. In
                    light of the uncertainties involved
                    in this matter, there is no
                    assurance that the ultimate
                    resolution will not differ from the
                    amount currently accrued by the
                    Company.



                                                                 
    FOOT LOCKER, INC.
                                                        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                                                     (unaudited)
                                                                    (In millions)



                                                                                              July 29,         July 30,

                                                                                                   2017             2016
                                                                                                   ----             ----

    ASSETS


    Current assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                           $1,043             $945

    Merchandise inventories                                                                              1,290            1,339

    Other current assets                                                                                   311              301
    --------------------                                                                                   ---              ---

                                                                                                         2,644            2,585

    Property and equipment, net                                                                            821              726

    Deferred taxes                                                                                         167              174

    Other assets                                                                                           314              277
    ------------                                                                                           ---              ---

                                                                                                        $3,946           $3,762
                                                                                                        ======           ======


    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


    Current liabilities:

    Accounts payable                                                                                      $162             $348

    Accrued and other liabilities                                                                          308              326

    Current portion of capital lease obligations                                                             -               1
    --------------------------------------------                                                           ---             ---

                                                                                                           470              675

    Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases                                                    126              128

    Other liabilities                                                                                      456              381
    -----------------                                                                                      ---              ---

    Total liabilities                                                                                    1,052            1,184
    -----------------                                                                                    -----            -----

    Total shareholders' equity                                                                           2,894            2,578
    --------------------------                                                                           -----            -----

                                                                                                        $3,946           $3,762
                                                                                                        ======           ======



                                                 
    FOOT LOCKER, INC.
                                              Store and Square Footage
                                                     (unaudited)



    Store activity is as follows:



                                  January 28,                                          July 29,        Relocations/

                                                2017             Opened     Closed              2017       Remodels
                                                ----             ------     ------              ----       --------

    Foot Locker US                               948                      3         19             932               25

    Foot Locker Europe                           622                      9          7             624               22

    Foot Locker Canada                           119                      1          3             117                3

    Foot Locker Asia Pacific                      95                      3          1              97                7

    Kids Foot Locker                             411                     24          3             432               19

    Lady Foot Locker                             124                      -        12             112                -

    Champs Sports                                545                      3          2             546               10

    Footaction                                   261                      8          7             262               13

    Runners Point                                122                      1          1             122                -

    Sidestep                                      86                      -         2              84                -

    SIX:02                                        30                      2          1              31                -
    ------                                       ---                    ---        ---             ---              ---

    Total                                      3,363                     54         58           3,359               99
    -----                                      -----                    ---        ---           -----              ---



    Selling and gross square footage are as follows:



                                                     January 28, 2017                 July 29, 2017
                                                     ----------------                 -------------

    (in thousands)                                        Selling        Gross                      Selling       Gross
    -------------                                         -------        -----                      -------       -----

    Foot Locker US                                                 2,453        4,250                       2,452        4,261

    Foot Locker Europe                                               907        1,971                         922        1,999

    Foot Locker Canada                                               265          432                         273          443

    Foot Locker Asia Pacific                                         134          220                         138          230

    Kids Foot Locker                                                 688        1,175                         736        1,257

    Lady Foot Locker                                                 167          280                         152          256

    Champs Sports                                                  1,930        2,978                       1,949        3,013

    Footaction                                                       786        1,309                         815        1,361

    Runners Point                                                    162          267                         156          267

    Sidestep                                                          81          135                          77          132

    SIX:02                                                            61          101                          63          106
    ------                                                           ---          ---                         ---          ---

    Total                                                          7,634       13,118                       7,733       13,325
    -----                                                          -----       ------                       -----       ------



    Contact:                   John A. Maurer

                               Vice President,

                                Treasurer and Investor
                                Relations

                               Foot Locker, Inc.

                               (212) 720-4092

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/foot-locker-inc-reports-2017-second-quarter-results-300506367.html

SOURCE Foot Locker, Inc.