Big Lots' fiscal Q1 earnings fell to US$3.4M from US$32.3M a year ago as net sales for continuing operations grew 1.1% to US$1.28B, comparable-store sales rose 0.9%; company expects fiscal 2014 comparable-store sales of 1%-2%

Cindy Allen

COLUMBUS, Ohio , May 30, 2014 (press release) – Comparable Stores Sales Increase 0.9%
Company Updates Outlook For Fiscal 2014

Big Lots, Inc. ( BIG) today reported income from continuing operations of $28.6 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 ended May 3, 2014. This result exceeds our guidance of $0.40 to $0.45 per diluted share issued on March 7, 2014 and compares to adjusted income from continuing U.S. operations of $40.3 million, or $0.70 per diluted share (non-GAAP), for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Net sales for continuing operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 increased 1.1% to $1,281.3 million, compared to net sales from continuing U.S. operations of $1,267.0 million for the same period of fiscal 2013. Comparable store sales for stores open at least fifteen months increased 0.9% for the quarter, compared to our guidance of slightly negative to slightly positive. As a reminder, our Canadian operations and wholesale operations are now treated as discontinued operations. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP amounts to the most comparable GAAP amounts is provided later in this release.

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Income from continuing operations of $0.50 per diluted share, compared to adjusted income from continuing U.S. operations of $0.70 per diluted share (non-GAAP) last year
• Net sales of $1.3 billion, an increase of 1.1% compared to last year
• Comparable stores sales increase 0.9%

Discontinued Operations

Inventory and Cash Management

Inventory ended the first quarter of fiscal 2014 at $835 million, compared to $885 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The reduction in inventory was driven by the closure of our Canadian operations and wholesale operations, and a lower U.S. store count. Inventory per store in our U.S. stores increased slightly compared to last year.

We ended the first quarter of fiscal 2014 with $67 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $54 million of borrowings under our credit facility compared to $72 million of Cash and Cash Equivalents and $137 million of borrowings under our credit facility as of the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Our use of cash generated by our U.S. operations was focused on repaying debt, funding the closure of our Canadian operations, and investing in share repurchase activity.

Share Repurchase Activity

As a reminder, in March 2014, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program ("March 2014 Share Repurchase Program") providing for the repurchase of up to $125 million of our common shares. Through the first quarter of fiscal 2014, we invested $82.5 million to purchase 2.2 million shares, or approximately 3.8% of our outstanding shares, at an average price of $37.99 leaving $42.5 million of authorization remaining at the end of the first quarter. Subsequent to the end of our first quarter of fiscal 2014, we completed our March 2014 Share Repurchase Program during May 2014. In total, we invested $125 million to repurchase 3.3 million shares at an average price of $38.12. Common shares acquired through the program will be available to meet obligations under equity compensation plans and for general corporate purposes.

FISCAL Q2 2014 GUIDANCE

• Provides initial Q2 guidance for income from continuing operations of $0.24 to $0.30 per diluted share, compared to adjusted income from continuing U.S. operations of $0.37 per diluted share (non-GAAP) for the same period last year
• Provides initial Q2 guidance for comparable stores sales in the range of +1% to +3%

For the second quarter of fiscal 2014, we estimate income from continuing operations will be in the range of $0.24 to $0.30 per diluted share, compared to adjusted income from continuing U.S. operations of $0.37 per diluted share (non-GAAP) for the second quarter of fiscal 2013. This guidance is based on estimated comparable store sales in the range of +1% to +3%.

For discontinued Canadian operations, we estimate results will be immaterial.

UPDATES FISCAL 2014 GUIDANCE

• Forecasting fiscal 2014 income from continuing operations to be $2.35 to $2.50 per diluted share, compared to fiscal 2013 adjusted income from continuing U.S. operations of $2.45 per diluted share (non-GAAP)
• Forecasting comparable store sales in the range of +1% to +2% for fiscal 2014
• Forecasting cash flow from continuing U.S. operations of $170 million and consolidated cash flow of approximately $145 million after the impact of the wind down of our discontinued Canadian operations

Based on the actual results for the first quarter, the guidance provided above for the second quarter, and the completion of our March 2014 Share Repurchase Program, we are updating our guidance for the full year of fiscal 2014. We estimate fiscal 2014 income from continuing operations will be in the range of $2.35 to $2.50 per diluted share compared to adjusted income from continuing U.S. operations of $2.45 per diluted share for fiscal 2013 (non-GAAP). This outlook is based on estimated net sales in the range of flat to slightly up and comparable store sales in the range of +1% to +2%. We estimate this financial performance will result in cash flow (defined as cash provided by operating activities less cash used in investing activities) of approximately $170 million from continuing U.S. operations and consolidated cash flow of approximately $145 million after the impact of the wind down of our discontinued Canadian operations.

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 2014. We invite you to listen to the webcast of the conference call through the Investor Relations section of our website http://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 after 12:00 noon today and will remain available through midnight on Friday, June 13, 2014. A replay of this call will also be available beginning today at 12:00 noon through June 13 by dialing 1.888.203.1112 (Toll Free USA and Canada) or 1.719.457.0820 (International), and entering Replay Passcode 1786698. All times are Eastern Time.

Big Lots is America's largest broadline closeout retailer, operating 1,496 BIG LOTS stores in 48 states. For more information, visit www.biglots.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, current economic and credit conditions, 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.

BIG LOTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The following tables reconcile: (1) selling and administrative expenses, selling and administrative expense rate, operating profit, operating profit rate, income tax expense, effective income tax rate, income from continuing operations, net income, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, and diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2013 (GAAP financial measures) to adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted income from continuing operations, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, and adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP financial measures).

The above adjusted selling and administrative expenses, adjusted selling and administrative expense rate, adjusted operating profit, adjusted operating profit rate, adjusted income tax expense, adjusted effective income tax rate, adjusted income from continuing operations, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are "non-GAAP financial measures" as that term is defined by Rule 101 of Regulation G (17 CFR Part 244) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR Part 229). These non-GAAP financial measures exclude from the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") a pretax accrual of a loss contingency related to legal matters of $5,052 ($3,190, net of tax). 

Our management believes that the disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors because the non-GAAP financial measures present an alternative and more relevant method for measuring our operating performance, excluding special items included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, that management believes is more indicative of our on-going operating results and financial condition. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures, along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating performance.

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