NEW YORK, March 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended on February 1, 2014.

Fourth Quarter Results
The Company reported net income of $121 million, or $0.81 per share, for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2014. This represents an increase of 19 percent over earnings per share of $0.68 for the 14-week period ended February 2, 2013. On a non-GAAP basis, the Company earned $0.82 cents per share, a 28 percent increase over the comparable 13-week non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.64 in 2012.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the tables below.

Total fourth quarter sales increased 4.6 percent, to $1,791 million this year, compared with sales of $1,713 million in 2012, which included $81 million of sales in the extra week last year. Fourth quarter comparable-store sales increased 5.3 percent.

Fiscal Year Results
For fiscal year 2013, the Company reported net income of $429 million, or $2.85 per share. In the 53-week period in 2012, the Company reported net income of $397 million, or $2.58 per share. On a non-GAAP basis, earnings were $2.87 per share in 2013, an increase of 16 percent over the $2.47 per share earned on a comparable basis in 2012. In 2013 the Company generated its fourth consecutive double digit percentage increase in annual earnings per share. It is also the third consecutive year in which the Company achieved record earnings as Foot Locker, Inc.

Total sales increased 5.2 percent in 2013 to $6,505 million, the highest level of sales ever recorded by the Company as Foot Locker, Inc., compared with sales of $6,182 million last year. Comparable-store sales increased 4.2 percent in 2013.

"The driver in achieving our best-ever financial results was the excellent execution by our team of the many initiatives we have underway," said Ken C. Hicks, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Foot Locker, Inc. "I am very proud of the progress that the entire team at Foot Locker, Inc. is making towards reaching our long term goals and objectives. While we accomplished a great deal in 2013, we have many more opportunities to improve the business further. We believe these opportunities, such as the children's business, our store banner.com development, the expansion of shop-in-shops in partnership with our vendors, and the improvements we are making in our assortments, should continue to drive our performance to new heights for the next few years. Specifically for 2014, we believe we can build on our momentum and generate a mid-single digit comparable sales gain and another double digit percentage increase in earnings per share.

"Looking out longer term, we have opportunities such as our store remodel programs, expansion in Europe, technology investments, a growing team sales and services business, and our women's business that we believe will enable us to reach our long-range financial and operational objectives."

"The team at Foot Locker, Inc. worked hard to improve our productivity measures in 2013," added Lauren B. Peters, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Despite a challenging retail environment, we maintained our gross margin rate at the record high set last year, and we improved our SG&A expense rate to 20.4 percent. Our sales per gross square foot increased to $460, our EBIT margin improved to 10.4 percent, and our net income margin came in at 6.6 percent, all of which were record-best performances for our Company."

Financial Position
The Company's merchandise inventory at February 1, 2014 was $1,220 million, which was $53 million, or 4.5 percent, higher than at the end of last year.

At year-end 2013, the Company's cash and short-term investments totaled $867 million, while the debt on its balance sheet was $139 million. During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company repurchased approximately 1.6 million shares of its common stock for $63 million. For the full year, the Company repurchased 6.4 million shares for $229 million.

"Our strong financial position enabled our Board of Directors in February to authorize another double digit percentage increase in our quarterly dividend, to 22 cents per share," said Ms. Peters. "The Board has also authorized a capital expenditure program in 2014 of $220 million, based on the successful results to date of the store remodel and other capital initiatives we have underway."

Store Base Update
The Company opened 84 new stores, remodeled or relocated 320 stores, and closed 140 stores during fiscal 2013. Including 193 Runners Point Group stores, the Company operated 3,473 stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as of February 1, 2014. In addition, 46 franchised 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. (EST) today to discuss these results and provide its current outlook for 2014, comment on the status of its current initiatives, and discuss trends in its business and the athletic industry. This conference call may be accessed live from the Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com, and following the link for webcasts. The conference call will be available for webcast replay until 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, March 21, 2014.

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 2012 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.

Contact:
John A. Maurer
Vice President,
Treasurer and Investor Relations
Foot Locker, Inc.
(212) 720-4092



                                                              FOOT LOCKER, INC.

                                               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

                                                                 (unaudited)

                                             Periods ended February 1, 2014 and February 2, 2013

                                                   (In millions, except per share amounts)



                              Fourth Quarter                             Full Year

                             2013            2012(3)                            2013             2012(3)
                             ----             ------                            ----              ------

    Sales                           $1,791                         $1,713                         $6,505  $6,182


    Cost of sales                    1,209                          1,149                          4,372   4,148

    SG&A                               365                            363                          1,334   1,294

    Depreciation &
     amortization                       36                             30                            133     118

    Impairment and other
     charges(1)                          -                             12                              2      12

    Interest expense, net                1                              2                              5       5

    Other income                        (1)                            (1)                            (4)     (2)
                                       ---                            ---                            ---     ---

                                     1,610                          1,555                          5,842   5,575
                                     -----                          -----                          -----   -----


    Income before taxes               $181                           $158                           $663    $607

    Income tax expense                  60                             54                            234     210
                                       ---                            ---                            ---     ---

    Net income                        $121                           $104                           $429    $397
                                      ====                           ====                           ====    ====


    Diluted EPS                      $0.81                          $0.68                          $2.85   $2.58


    Weighted-average diluted
     shares outstanding

                                     148.4                          153.2                          150.5   154.0




    Reconciliation of GAAP                Fourth Quarter                 Full Year

    to Non-GAAP results                              2013           2012                      2013 2012
                                                     ----           ----                      ---- ----

                                             After tax    EPS               After tax    EPS            After tax    EPS       After tax    EPS
                                             ---------    ---               ---------    ---            ---------    ---       ---------    ---

    GAAP results                                     $121     $0.81                 $104     $0.68              $429     $2.85         $397     $2.58


    Add back:

    CCS charges(1)                                      -         -                    7      0.05                 1      0.01            7      0.05

    RPG acquisition/integration costs (2)               1     $0.01                    -         -                 5      0.03            -         -


    Deduct:

    53rd week(3)                                        -         -                   14      0.09                 -         -           14      0.09

    Tax items(4)                                        -         -                    -         -                 3      0.02           10      0.07
                                                      ---       ---                  ---       ---               ---      ----          ---      ----

    Non-GAAP results                                 $122     $0.82                  $97     $0.64              $432     $2.87         $380     $2.47
                                                     ====     =====                  ===     =====              ====     =====         ====     =====



    Footnote to explain adjustments
    -------------------------------


             (1)   Includes store closing costs
                   related to CCS in 2013, and
                   impairment of CCS trade names
                   and fixed assets in 2012.

             (2)   Integration and transaction
                   costs associated with the
                   acquisition of Runners Point
                   Group, after tax.

             (3)   2012 represents the 14 and 53
                   weeks ended February 2, 2013.

             (4)   In the third quarter of 2013,
                   the Company recorded a tax
                   benefit of $3 million, or
                   $0.02 per diluted share,
                   related to the conclusion of
                   a foreign tax audit that
                   resulted in a reduction of
                   tax reserves established in
                   prior periods. Included in
                   the third quarter of 2012 is
                   a similar tax benefit of $9
                   million, or $0.06 per diluted
                   share.  Also included in the
                   2012 year-to-date results
                   is a benefit of $1 million,
                   or $0.01 per diluted share,
                   which represented Canadian
                   provincial tax rate changes.



                                                   FOOT LOCKER, INC.

                                         Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                      (unaudited)

                                                     (In millions)




                                                          February 1,          February 2,

                                                                        2014                 2013
                                                                        ----                 ----

    Assets


    CURRENT ASSETS

    Cash, cash
     equivalents and
     short-term
     investments                                                        $867                 $928

    Merchandise
     inventories                                                       1,220                1,167

    Other current assets                                                 263                  268


                                                                       2,350                2,363


    Property and
     equipment, net                                                      590                  490

    Deferred tax assets                                                  241                  257

    Other assets                                                         306                  257
                                                                         ---                  ---

                                                                      $3,487               $3,367
                                                                      ======               ======


    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity


    CURRENT LIABILITIES

    Accounts payable                                                    $263                 $298

    Accrued and other
     liabilities                                                         360                  338

    Current portion of
     capital lease
     obligations                                                           3                    -


                                                                         626                  636


    Long-term debt and
     obligations under
     capital leases                                                      136                  133

    Other liabilities                                                    229                  221

    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                               2,496                2,377
                                                                       -----                -----

                                                                      $3,487               $3,367
                                                                      ======               ======

                                                             FOOT LOCKER, INC.

                                                          Store and Square Footage

                                                                (unaudited)



    Store activity is as follows:


                                  February 2,                                          February 1,       Relocations/
                                                                                                           Remodels
                                               2013 Opened                  Closed                  2014
                                               ---- ------                  ------                  ----

    Foot Locker
     US                                       1,072              7                  35             1,044              153

    Foot Locker
     Europe                                     590             26                  12               604               23

    Foot Locker
     Canada                                     129              -                   1               128               15

    Foot Locker
     Asia Pacific                                92              3                   3                92                9

    Lady Foot
     Locker                                     303              8                  54               257                3

    Kids Foot
     Locker                                     305             31                   -               336               24

    Footaction                                  283              1                   7               277               24

    Champs Sports                               539              6                   3               542               69

    CCS                                          22              -                  22                 -                -

    Runners Point
     Group (1)                                    -            196                   3               193                -

    Total                                     3,335            278                 140             3,473              320



    (1)          The Company acquired 194 existing
                 Runners Point Group stores in July
                 2013; subsequently, the Company
                 opened 2 additional stores in
                 2013.



    Selling and gross square footage is as follows:


                                                    February 2, 2013                   February 1, 2014
                                                    ----------------                   ----------------

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

    Foot Locker US                                                  2,515        4,311                          2,492        4,301

    Foot Locker Europe                                                808        1,770                            836        1,815

    Foot Locker Canada                                                262          404                            270          423

    Foot Locker Asia Pacific                                          128          206                            126          205

    Lady Foot Locker                                                  398          685                            351          592

    Kids Foot Locker                                                  423          729                            477          830

    Footaction                                                        817        1,299                            811        1,287

    Champs Sports                                                   1,876        2,861                          1,894        2,886

    CCS                                                                34           51                              -            -

    Runners Point Group                                                 -            -                            214          366

    Total                                                           7,261       12,316                          7,471       12,705

SOURCE Foot Locker, Inc.