L BRANDS COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- L Brands, Inc. (NYSE: LB) today reported 2014 fourth quarter and full-year results.
Fourth Quarter Results
Earnings per share for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, 2015, increased 15% to $1.89 from $1.65 for the quarter ended Feb. 1, 2014. Fourth quarter operating income increased 11% to $957.0 million from $863.5 million last year. Net income increased 15% to $564.8 million compared to $489.6 million last year.
Net sales for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, 2015, were $4.069 billion, an increase of 7% compared to $3.818 billion for the quarter ended Feb. 1, 2014. Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, 2015, increased 6%.
Full-Year Results
Earnings per share for the year ended Jan. 31, 2015, increased 15% to $3.50 from $3.05 for the year ended Feb. 1, 2014. Operating income increased 12% to $1.953 billion in 2014 from $1.743 billion in 2013. Net income in 2014 increased 15% to $1.042 billion from $903.0 million in 2013.
Net sales were $11.454 billion for the year ended Jan. 31, 2015, an increase of 6% compared to $10.773 billion for the year ended Feb. 1, 2014. Comparable store sales for the year ended Jan. 31, 2015, increased 4%.
Leslie H. Wexner, chairman and chief executive officer, commented, "We focused on the execution of fundamentals in the business in 2014, and we continued to get better throughout the year. I am optimistic heading into 2015 ... we have great brands, with talented associates at every level, are well-positioned and have significant opportunities for growth."
2015 Outlook
The company currently expects 2015 full-year earnings per share to be between $3.45 and $3.65, including earnings per share between $0.50 and $0.55 in the first quarter.
The company expects to report February comparable store sales to increase in the mid-single digit range.
Earnings Call and Additional Information
L Brands will conduct its fourth quarter earnings call at 9 a.m. Eastern on Feb. 26. To listen, call 1-866-363-4673 (international dial-in number: 1-973-200-3978). For an audio replay, call 1-855-859-2056 (conference ID 33156271) (international replay number: 1-404-537-3406 (conference ID 33156271)) or log onto www.LB.com. Additional fourth quarter and full-year financial information is also available at www.LB.com.
ABOUT L BRANDS:
L Brands, through Victoria's Secret, PINK, Bath & Body Works, La Senza and Henri Bendel, is an international company. The company operates 2,969 company-owned specialty stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and its brands are sold in more than 600 additional franchised locations worldwide. The company's products are also available online at www.VictoriasSecret.com, www.BathandBodyWorks.com, www.HenriBendel.com and www.LaSenza.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
L Brands, Inc. cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this press release or the fourth quarter earnings call involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "planned," "potential" and any similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Risks associated with the following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this press release or the fourth quarter earnings call:
-- general economic conditions, consumer confidence, consumer spending
patterns and market disruptions including severe weather conditions,
natural disasters, health hazards, terrorist activities, financial
crises, political crises or other major events, or the prospect of these
events;
-- the seasonality of our business;
-- the dependence on a high volume of mall traffic and the availability of
suitable store locations on appropriate terms;
-- our ability to grow through new store openings and existing store
remodels and expansions;
-- our ability to successfully expand into global markets and related
risks;
-- our relationships with independent licensees and franchisees;
-- our direct channel businesses;
-- our failure to protect our reputation and our brand images;
-- our failure to protect our trade names, trademarks and patents;
-- the highly competitive nature of the retail industry generally and the
segments in which we operate particularly;
-- consumer acceptance of our products and our ability to keep up with
fashion trends, develop new merchandise and launch new product lines
successfully;
-- our ability to source, distribute and sell goods and materials on a
global basis, including risks related to:
-- political instability;
-- duties, taxes and other charges;
-- legal and regulatory matters;
-- volatility in currency exchange rates;
-- local business practices and political issues;
-- potential delays or disruptions in shipping and transportation and
related pricing impacts;
-- disruption due to labor disputes; and
-- changing expectations regarding product safety due to new
legislation;
-- fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
-- stock price volatility;
-- our failure to maintain our credit rating;
-- our ability to service or refinance our debt;
-- our ability to retain key personnel;
-- our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified employees and
manage labor-related costs;
-- the inability of our manufacturers to deliver products in a timely
manner and meet quality standards;
-- fluctuations in product input costs;
-- fluctuations in energy costs;
-- increases in the costs of mailing, paper and printing;
-- claims arising from our self-insurance;
-- our ability to implement and maintain information technology systems and
to protect associated data;
-- our failure to maintain the security of customer, associate, supplier or
company information;
-- our failure to comply with regulatory requirements;
-- tax matters; and
-- legal and compliance matters.
We are not under any obligation and do not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the fourth quarter earnings call to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized. Additional information regarding these and other factors can be found in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
L BRANDS
FOURTH QUARTER 2014
Comparable Store Sales Increase (Decrease):
Fourth Quarter Fourth Quarter Year Year
2014 2013 2014 2013
---- ---- ---- ----
Victoria's Secret
Stores(1) 4% 2% 3% 2%
Bath & Body Works(1) 8% (1%) 6% 1%
L Brands 6% 1% 4% 2%
Victoria's Secret
Direct Sales (2%) (1%) (1%) (3%)
(1) - Results include company-owned stores in the United States and Canada.
Total Sales (Millions):
Fourth Fourth Year Year
Quarter Quarter 2014 2013
2014 2013
---- ----
Victoria's Secret
Stores(1) $1,914.2 $1,797.7 $5,700.2 $5,368.1
Victoria's Secret
Direct 492.1 504.5 1,507.4 1,516.1
Total Victoria's
Secret $2,406.3 $2,302.2 $7,207.6 $6,884.2
Bath & Body
Works(1) $1,276.7 $1,180.8 $3,047.8 $2,867.3
Bath & Body Works
Direct 127.3 101.6 301.8 250.6
Total Bath & Body
Works $1,404.0 $1,282.4 $3,349.6 $3,117.9
VS & BBW
International(2) $105.5 $75.3 $335.9 $221.8
Other(3) $152.9 $158.3 $561.0 $549.3
L Brands $4,068.7 $3,818.2 $11,454.1 $10,773.2
======== ======== ========= =========
(1) - Results include company-owned stores in the United States and Canada.
(2) - Results include retail sales from company-owned stores outside of the United States and Canada, royalties associated with franchised
stores and wholesale sales.
(3) - Results include La Senza, Henri Bendel and Mast external sales.
Total Company-Owned Stores:
Stores Stores
Operating Operating
at 2/1/14 Opened Closed at 1/31/15
--------- ------ ------ ----------
Victoria's
Secret
U.S. 977 12 (6) 983
PINK
U.S. 83 33 (1) 115
Victoria's
Secret
Canada 24 7 - 31
PINK
Canada 10 - - 10
Total
Victoria's
Secret 1,094 52 (7) 1,139
Bath &
Body
Works
U.S. 1,559 14 (15) 1,558
Bath &
Body
Works
Canada 79 10 (1) 88
Total
Bath &
Body
Works 1,638 24 (16) 1,646
Victoria's
Secret
U.K. 5 3 - 8
PINK
U.K. - 2 - 2
Henri
Bendel 29 - - 29
La
Senza
Canada 157 - (12) 145
Total L
Brands
Stores 2,923 81 (35) 2,969
===== === === =====
Total Franchise Stores:
Stores Stores
Operating Operating
at 2/1/14 Opened Closed at 1/31/15
--------- ------ ------ ----------
Victoria's
Secret
Beauty &
Accessories 198 99 (7) 290
Victoria's
Secret
International 4 9 - 13
PINK
International - 1 - 1
BBW
International 55 26 (1) 80
La Senza
International 331 6 (71) 266
--- --- --- ---
Total
Franchise
Stores 588 141 (79) 650
=== === === ===
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SOURCE L Brands, Inc.
