NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended August 1, 2015.

Second Quarter Results
Net income for the Company's second quarter ended August 1, 2015 was $119 million, or $0.84 per share, compared with net income of $92 million, or $0.63 per share, last year, a 33 percent increase. Second quarter comparable-store sales increased 9.6 percent. Total sales increased 3.3 percent, to $1,695 million this year, compared with sales of $1,641 million for the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the second quarter increased 9.9 percent.

"We extended the momentum with which we started 2015, generating outstanding quarterly sales and profits in the second quarter," said Richard Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continued to achieve broad-based and consistent strength across geographies, banners, channels, and categories. While we work every day to build on our position as a leading global retailer in the athletic industry and produce consistent improvement in our operational and financial performance, I want to pause to acknowledge the incredible team we have at our Company and thank each of them for their contributions in producing these excellent first half results."

The Company's gross margin rate improved to 32.6 percent of sales from 32.0 percent a year ago, while the selling, general, and administrative expense rate improved to 19.5 percent of sales from 20.9 percent. "With the strong top line gain, the team at Foot Locker was able to flow the incremental sales dollars through to the bottom line at a very healthy rate, leading to good progress on all of our long-term goals," said Lauren Peters, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Meanwhile, we continue to invest capital carefully in future growth opportunities, while also maintaining a meaningful return of cash to our shareholders through our dividend and share repurchase programs."

Year-To-Date Results
Net income for the Company's first six months of the year increased to $303 million, or $2.14 per share, compared to net income of $254 million, or $1.73 per share, for the corresponding period in 2014. Earnings per share for the six-month period increased 24 percent compared to the same period in 2014. Year-to-date sales were $3,611 million, an increase of 2.9 percent compared to sales of $3,509 million in the corresponding six-month period of 2014. Year-to-date comparable store sales have increased 8.7 percent. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales year-to-date have increased 8.9 percent.

Financial Position
At August 1, 2015, the Company's merchandise inventories were $1,317 million, 1.3 percent lower than at the end of the second quarter last year. Using constant currencies, inventory increased 3.3 percent.

The Company's cash totaled $970 million, while the debt on its balance sheet was $132 million. The Company spent approximately $76 million to repurchase 1.2 million shares during the quarter and paid its quarterly stock dividend of $0.25, spending $35 million.

Store Base Update
During the second quarter, the Company opened 21 new stores, remodeled or relocated 65 stores, and closed 21 stores. As of August 1, 2015, the Company operated 3,419 stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, 48 franchised Foot Locker stores were operating in the Middle East and South Korea, as well as 27 franchised Runners Point and Sidestep stores in Germany and Switzerland.

The Company is hosting a live conference call at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) today, August 21, 2015, to review these results, provide comments on the status of its current initiatives, and discuss trends in its business and the athletic industry. This conference call may be accessed live by dialing 1-800-745-9830 (U.S. and Canada) or +44 208-196-2146 (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 download any necessary software. 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 4, 2015.

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), 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 2014 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 August 1, 2015 and August 2, 2014

                                                                                                                                      (In millions, except per share amounts)


                                                                                            Second                             Second                                             YTD 2015 YTD 2014
                                                                                            Quarter                           Quarter

                                                                                                2015                               2014
                                                                                                ----                               ----

    Sales                                                                                                           $1,695                                                 $1,641                   $3,611                $3,509


    Cost of sales                                                                                                    1,142                                                  1,116                    2,388                 2,338

    SG&A                                                                                                               331                                                    343                      676                   698

    Depreciation and amortization                                                                                       36                                                     36                       71                    72

    Impairment and other charges (1)                                                                                     -                                                     2                        -                    3

    Interest expense, net                                                                                                1                                                      1                        2                     2

    Other Income                                                                                                         -                                                   (1)                     (1)                  (2)
                                                                                                                       ---                                                   ---                      ---                   ---

                                                                                                                     1,510                                                  1,497                    3,136                 3,111
                                                                                                                     -----                                                  -----                    -----                 -----


    Income before taxes                                                                                               $185                                                   $144                     $475                  $398

    Income tax expense                                                                                                  66                                                     52                      172                   144
                                                                                                                       ---                                                    ---                      ---                   ---

    Net income                                                                                                        $119                                                    $92                     $303                  $254
                                                                                                                      ====                                                    ===                     ====                  ====


    Diluted EPS                                                                                                      $0.84                                                  $0.63                    $2.14                 $1.73


    Weighted-average diluted shares

    outstanding                                                                                                      141.3                                                  146.4                    141.7                 147.0





    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP results                                                                                                Second                                                       YTD 2014
                                                                                                                                              Quarter
                                                                                                                                                     2014
                                                                                                                                                     ----

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

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


    GAAP net income                                                                                                                                   $92                   $0.63                                          $254      $1.73


    After-tax adjustments:

    RPG integration costs (2)                                                                                                                           -                      -                                            1          -

    Impairment and other charges(1)                                                                                                                     1                    0.01                                             2       0.02
                                                                                                                                                      ---                    ----                                           ---       ----


    Non-GAAP results                                                                                                                                  $93                   $0.64                                          $257      $1.75
                                                                                                                                                      ===                   =====                                          ====      =====



    Footnote to explain adjustments in 2014
    ---------------------------------------

    (1) For the second quarter of 2014, represents the impairment of the CCS trade name. YTD 2014 also includes the impairment of a trade name.

    (2)  Integration costs associated with the Runners Point Group.




                                                FOOT LOCKER, INC.

                                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                   (unaudited)

                                                  (In millions)

                                                         August 1,          August 2,

                                                                     2015               2014
                                                                     ----               ----

    Assets


    CURRENT ASSETS

    Cash, cash equivalents
     and short-term
     investments                                                     $970               $957

    Merchandise inventories                                         1,317              1,335

    Other current assets                                              268                260


                                                                    2,555              2,552


    Property and equipment,
     net                                                              644                604

    Deferred tax assets                                               222                247

    Other assets                                                      283                295
                                                                      ---                ---

                                                                   $3,704             $3,698
                                                                   ======             ======


    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity


    CURRENT LIABILITIES

    Accounts payable                                                 $359               $392

    Accrued and other
     liabilities                                                      380                356

    Current portion of
     capital lease
     obligations                                                        2                  3
                                                                      ---                ---

                                                                      741                751


    Long-term debt and
     obligations under
     capital leases                                                   130                134

    Other liabilities                                                 254                231

    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                            2,579              2,582
                                                                    -----              -----

                                                                   $3,704             $3,698
                                                                   ======             ======



                                                  FOOT LOCKER, INC.

                                              Store and Square Footage

                                                     (unaudited)

    Store activity is as follows:


                                  January 31,                                       August 1,        Relocations

                                               2015             Opened    Closed              2015      /Remodels
                                               ----             ------    ------              ----      ---------

    Foot Locker US                            1,015                     6        24              997               33

    Foot Locker Europe                          603                     4         5              602               16

    Foot Locker Canada                          126                     1         1              126                5

    Foot Locker Asia
     Pacific                                     91                     3         -              94                2

    Lady Foot Locker/
     SIX:02                                     213                     7        15              205                -

    Kids Foot Locker                            357                    20         7              370               28

    Footaction                                  272                     6         5              273                9

    Champs Sports                               547                     6         4              549               26

    Runners Point                               116                     3         -             119                1

    Sidestep                                     83                     2         1               84                -

    Total                                     3,423                    58        62            3,419              120

    Selling and gross square footage are as follows:


                                                     January 31, 2015                    August 1, 2015
                                                     ----------------                    --------------

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

    Foot Locker US                                                    2,494        4,298                        2,491        4,299

    Foot Locker Europe                                                  846        1,839                          852        1,856

    Foot Locker Canada                                                  270          422                          276          430

    Foot Locker Asia Pacific                                            125          204                          127          208

    Lady Foot Locker/SIX:02                                             299          501                          291          490

    Kids Foot Locker                                                    529          912                          578          989

    Footaction                                                          789        1,258                          794        1,267

    Champs Sports                                                     1,913        2,927                        1,931        2,949

    Runners Point                                                       143          244                          154          251

    Sidestep                                                             75          129                           78          130

    Total                                                             7,483       12,734                        7,572       12,869



    Contact:                   John A. Maurer

                               Vice President,

                                Treasurer and Investor
                                Relations

                               Foot Locker, Inc.

                               212) 720-4092

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SOURCE Foot Locker, Inc.