Big Lots' fiscal Q1 earnings slipped to US$40.7M from US$52.4M a year ago as sales grew to US$1.29B from US$1.22B, U.S. comparable-store sales fell 0.8%; company expects flat to 1% growth in comparable-store sales in 2012

Cindy Allen

COLUMBUS, Ohio , May 23, 2012 (press release) – Big Lots, Inc. (BIG) today reported income from continuing operations of $40.8 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 ended April 28, 2012. As previously disclosed in our March 2, 2012 press release, we incurred an after-tax charge of $3.4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, during the first quarter related to an inventory accounting change associated with the successful implementation of new retail inventory systems. Excluding this non-recurring, non-cash charge, adjusted income from continuing operations totaled $44.2 million, or $0.68 per diluted share (non-GAAP), for the first quarter of fiscal 2012. This compares to income from continuing operations of $52.5 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

Adjusted income from continuing operations of $0.68 per diluted share (non-GAAP) versus income from continuing operations of $0.70 per diluted share last year
Generated $108 million of Cash Flow (defined as operating activities less investing activities)
Opened 10 new stores
Invested $99 million to repurchase 2.5 million shares and completed our 2011 $400 million share repurchase program by repurchasing 11.7 million shares, or 16% of our outstanding shares, at an average price per share of $34.11

First Quarter Results

U.S. Operations

Net sales for U.S. operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 increased 2.8% to $1,262.2 million, compared to $1,227.3 million for the same period of fiscal 2011. Comparable store sales for U.S. stores open at least fifteen months decreased 0.8% for the quarter. Adjusted income from continuing U.S. operations totaled $0.77 per diluted share (non-GAAP) compared to income from continuing operations of $0.70 per diluted share for the same period of fiscal 2011.

Canadian Operations

Net sales for Canadian operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 totaled $32.2 million, while incurring a net loss of $6.1 million, or $0.09 per diluted share (non-GAAP). We acquired our Canadian operations on July 18, 2011. Based on materiality to our total operations, we are not required to and have not provided pro-forma information for Canadian operations.

Inventory and Cash Management

On a consolidated basis, inventory ended the first quarter of fiscal 2012 at $848 million compared to $785 million last year. The increase of approximately 8% represents growth in the number of U.S. stores, approximately 1% per store growth of inventory in our U.S. stores, and our Canadian acquisition.

We ended the first quarter of fiscal 2012 with $83 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and no borrowings under our credit facility compared to $284 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and no borrowings under our credit facility as of the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Our net use of cash and debt during the last twelve months was focused on share repurchase activity, acquiring and funding our Canadian operations, and repaying borrowings under our credit facility offset by positive cash flow (defined as operating activities less investing activities) generated by our U.S. business.

Share Repurchase Activity

During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we invested $99 million to repurchase 2.5 million of our shares at an average price of $39.32 per share. This activity exhausted our 2011 share repurchase program which resulted in a total investment of $400 million to repurchase 11.7 million shares at an average share price of $34.11 per share.

On May 22, 2012, our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program ("2012 share repurchase program") providing for the repurchase of up to $200 million of our common shares. The $200 million authorization is expected to be utilized to repurchase shares in the open market and/or in privately negotiated transactions at our discretion, subject to market conditions and other factors. Common shares acquired through the repurchase program will be available to meet obligations under equity compensation plans and for general corporate purposes. The 2012 share repurchase program is eligible to begin on May 25, 2012 and will continue until exhausted.

FISCAL Q2 2012 GUIDANCE

Provides initial Q2 guidance for income from continuing operations of $0.37 to $0.42 per diluted share versus income from continuing operations of $0.50 per diluted share for the same period last year
Provides initial Q2 guidance for U.S. comparable store sales in a range of slightly positive to slightly negative

For the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we estimate consolidated income from continuing operations will be in the range of $0.37 to $0.42 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $0.50 per diluted share for the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

We estimate income from U.S. operations in a range of $0.44 to $0.49 per diluted share (non-GAAP), compared to last year's $0.52 per diluted share (non-GAAP). This is based on U.S. comparable store sales in a range of slightly positive to slightly negative and a total U.S. sales increase in the range of 3% to 4%.

Sales from our Canadian operations are expected to be in the range of $32 to $35 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012, resulting in an operating loss in the range of $4 to $6 million, or $0.07 to $0.10 per diluted share (non-GAAP).

2012 OUTLOOK

Updates fiscal 2012 annual guidance for adjusted income from continuing operations to $3.25 to $3.40 per diluted share (non-GAAP) versus income from continuing operations of $2.99 per diluted share for fiscal 2011
Updates fiscal 2012 U.S. comparable stores sales estimates to be in a range of flat to 1% increase
Updates Cash Flow guidance to $190 million

Based on first quarter operating results and our expectations for the second fiscal quarter, we now estimate our fiscal 2012 consolidated adjusted income from continuing operations to be in the range of $3.25 to $3.40 per diluted share (non-GAAP), compared to our prior guidance of $3.40 to $3.50 per diluted share (non-GAAP). We have revised our Cash Flow guidance to $190 million compared to our prior guidance of $200 million.

We now estimate adjusted income from U.S. operations will be in the range of $3.50 to $3.60 per diluted share (non-GAAP), compared to our prior guidance of $3.63 to $3.73 per diluted share (non-GAAP). This is based on U.S. comparable store sales in the range of flat to a 1% increase and a total U.S. sales increase in the range of 5.5% to 6.5%.

For our Canadian operations, sales are expected to be in the range of $142 to $152 million for fiscal 2012 resulting in an operating loss in the range of $14 to $16 million, or $0.23 to $0.26 per diluted share (non-GAAP).

EPS from Continuing Operations(non-GAAP)

(1) Canadian operations were acquired on July 18, 2011. Based on materiality, we have not provided pro-forma fiscal 2011 results.


(2) All results presented above are on a non-GAAP basis with the exception of Full Year 2011 and Q2 2011 Consolidated EPS.

Conference Call/Webcast

We will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. to discuss our financial results for the first quarter and provide commentary on our outlook for fiscal 2012. We invite you to listen to the webcast of the conference call through the Investor Relations section of our website (www.biglots.com).

If you are unable to join the live webcast, an archive of the call will be available through the Investor Relations section of our website (www.biglots.com) beginning two hours after the call ends and will remain available through midnight on Wednesday, June 6. A replay of the call will be available beginning today at 12:00 noon through June 6 at midnight by dialing: 1.888.203.1112 (United States and Canada) or 1.719.457.0820 (International). The Replay Confirmation Code is 1866714. All times are Eastern Time.

Big Lots is North America's largest broadline closeout retailer. As of May 23, 2012, we operated 1,459 BIG LOTS stores in the 48 contiguous United States and 82 LIQUIDATION WORLD and LW stores in Canada. Wholesale operations are conducted through BIG LOTS WHOLESALE, CONSOLIDATED INTERNATIONAL, and WISCONSIN TOY and with online sales at www.biglotswholesale.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the Act. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of our objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Although we believe the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, any one or a combination of which could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Forward-looking statements that we make herein and in other reports and releases are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the current economic and credit crisis, the cost of goods, our inability to successfully execute strategic initiatives, competitive pressures, economic pressures on our customers and us, the availability of brand name closeout merchandise, trade restrictions, freight costs, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our public announcements and SEC filings.

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