COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- L Brands, Inc. (NYSE: LB) today reported 2014 second quarter results.

Second Quarter Results

Earnings per share for the second quarter ended Aug. 2, 2014, were $0.63 compared to $0.61 for the quarter ended Aug. 3, 2013. Second quarter operating income increased 5 percent to $375.9 million compared to $357.8 million last year, and net income was $188.4 million compared to $178.9 million last year.

The company reported net sales of $2.675 billion for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 2, 2014, an increase of 6 percent compared to sales of $2.516 billion for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 3, 2013. The company reported a comparable store sales increase of 3 percent for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 2, 2014.

2014 Outlook

The company stated that it expects 2014 third quarter earnings per share to be $0.26 to $0.31, and raised its full-year earnings forecast to $3.03 to $3.18 per share from $3.00 to $3.15 previously, which includes the previously announced estimated full-year negative impact of about $0.10 to $0.12 ($0.03 to $0.04 in the third quarter) related to the exit of certain non-core categories in the Victoria's Secret direct and beauty businesses to allow the brand to focus on faster growing, more profitable product lines.

Earnings Call Information

L Brands will conduct its second quarter earnings call at 9 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 21. To listen, call 1-866-583-6618 (international dial-in number: 1-937-200-3978). For an audio replay, call 1-866-639-7583 (international replay number: 1-706-902-3452) or log onto www.LB.com. Additional second quarter 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 2,942 company-owned specialty stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and its brands are sold in about 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 second 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 second 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 second 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
                                                           SECOND QUARTER 2014


    Comparable Store Sales Increase (Decrease):


                                                Second                         Second        Year-       Year-

                                                Quarter                        Quarter        to-         to-

                                                        2014                            2013    Date        Date

                                                                                                    2014         2013
                                                                                                    ----         ----


    Victoria's Secret(1)                                  3%                             1%           3%          2%

    Bath & Body Works(1)                                  3%                             3%           3%          3%

    L Brands                                              3%                             2%           3%          2%

    Victoria's Secret

    Direct Sales                                          0%                           (6%)           0%        (6%)

(1) - Results include company-owned stores in the United States and Canada.



    Total Sales (Millions):


                                                Second           Year-          Year-

                                Second          Quarter           to-            to-

                                Quarter                    2013   Date           Date

                                           2014                           2014           2013
                                           ----                           ----           ----


    Victoria's Secret Stores(1)        $1,363.0         $1,281.6       $2,608.4       $2,466.3

    Victoria's Secret Direct              382.4            383.7          740.6          742.7
                                                          -----          -----

      Total Victoria's Secret          $1,745.4         $1,665.3       $3,349.0       $3,209.0

    Bath & Body Works(1)                 $638.3           $611.3       $1,168.5       $1,128.5

    Bath & Body Works Direct               66.4             56.6          117.8          100.3
                                                           ----          -----

      Total Bath & Body Works            $704.7           $667.9       $1,286.3       $1,228.8

    VS & BBW International(2)             $79.3            $46.3         $150.3          $86.7

    Other                                $145.9           $136.5         $280.9         $259.4
                                                         ------         ------

    L Brands                           $2,675.3         $2,516.0       $5,066.5       $4,783.9
                                       ========         ========       ========       ========

(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.



    Total Company-Owned Stores:


                                  Stores                        Stores

                                Operating                     Operating

                                         at 2/1/14 Opened        Closed      at 8/2/14
                                         --------- ------       ------       ---------


    Victoria's Secret U.S.                     977          3            (2)         978

    PINK U.S.                                   83         15            (1)          97

    Victoria's Secret Canada                    24          4              -          28

    PINK Canada                                 10          -             -          10

       Total Victoria's Secret               1,094         22            (3)       1,113


    Bath & Body Works U.S.                   1,559          4            (8)       1,555

    Bath & Body Works Canada                    79          7            (1)          85

       Total Bath & Body Works               1,638         11            (9)       1,640


    Victoria's Secret U.K.                       5          2              -           7

    Henri Bendel                                29          -             -          29

    La Senza Canada                            157          -           (4)         153

    Total L Brands Stores                    2,923         35           (16)       2,942
                                             =====        ===            ===        =====


    Total Franchise Stores:


                                             Stores                       Stores

                                           Operating                     Operating

                                                    at 2/1/14 Opened      Closed        at 8/2/14
                                                    --------- ------      ------        ---------


    Victoria's Secret Beauty & Accessories                198         34            (2)         230

    VS International (Full Assortment)                      4          4              -           8

    BBW International                                      55         11              -          66

    La Senza International                                331          2           (26)         307
                                                          ---        ---            ---          ---

    Total Franchise Stores                                588         51           (28)         611
                                                          ===        ===            ===          ===



                                                             L BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                  THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 2, 2014 AND AUGUST 3, 2013

                                                                       (Unaudited)

                                                         (In thousands except per share amounts)


                                                                                                                2014        2013
                                                                                                                ----        ----

    Net Sales                                                                                             $2,675,311  $2,515,953

    Cost of Goods Sold, Buying and Occupancy                                                             (1,630,951) (1,527,328)
                                                                                                          ----------  ----------

    Gross Profit                                                                                           1,044,360     988,625

    General, Administrative and Store Operating Expenses                                                   (668,418)  (630,819)

    Operating Income                                                                                         375,942     357,806

    Interest Expense                                                                                        (81,631)   (75,968)

    Other Income                                                                                               1,962       1,016


    Income Before Income Taxes                                                                               296,273     282,854

    Provision for Income Taxes                                                                               107,916     103,940
                                                                                                             -------     -------


    Net Income                                                                                              $188,357    $178,914
                                                                                                            ========    ========


    Net Income Per Diluted Share                                                                               $0.63       $0.61
                                                                                                               =====       =====


    Weighted Average Shares Outstanding                                                                      297,342     295,473
                                                                                                             =======     =======


                                                             L BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                 TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED AUGUST 2, 2014 AND AUGUST 3, 2013

                                                                       (Unaudited)

                                                         (In thousands except per share amounts)


                                                                                                                 2014        2013
                                                                                                                 ----        ----

    Net Sales                                                                                              $5,066,541  $4,783,910

    Cost of Goods Sold, Buying and Occupancy                                                              (3,040,089) (2,853,873)
                                                                                                           ----------  ----------

    Gross Profit                                                                                            2,026,452   1,930,037

    General, Administrative and Store Operating Expenses                                                  (1,314,399) (1,261,050)

    Operating Income                                                                                          712,053     668,987

    Interest Expense                                                                                        (165,954)  (155,341)

    Other Income                                                                                                5,615       4,005


    Income Before Income Taxes                                                                                551,714     517,651

    Provision for Income Taxes                                                                                206,375     196,234
                                                                                                              -------     -------


    Net Income                                                                                               $345,339    $321,417
                                                                                                             ========    ========


    Net Income Per Diluted Share                                                                                $1.16       $1.09
                                                                                                                =====       =====


    Weighted Average Shares Outstanding                                                                       297,333     295,329
                                                                                                              =======     =======

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SOURCE L Brands, Inc.