Gap Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

Year-over-year net sales were flat, reflecting a meaningful improvement versus the prior quarter, including a 5% rise in comparable sales, and a 61% increase in online sales

Acquired 3.4 million new customers through our online channel, representing over 145% growth in new online customer acquisition year-over-year

Ended the quarter with $2.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments versus $1.1 billion in the year-ago quarter

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), a collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, reported its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, ending October 31. Gap Inc. is the largest specialty apparel company and the second largest apparel e-commerce business in the U.S.

Gap Inc. third quarter results reflected flat sales versus last year, supported by 5% growth in comparable sales which was driven by a 61% increase in online sales. Net sales were impacted by the company’s ongoing strategy to close unprofitable stores. Gross margin increased 160 basis points versus last year, to 40.6%. 

For the quarter, Gap Inc. delivered $0.25 earnings per diluted share, reflecting gross margin improvement versus the prior year, partially offset by higher operating expenses, including a significant increase in marketing support across all brands. 

“Our third quarter results reflect our Power Plan 2023 in action—specifically the strength of our online business, which comprised 40% of sales, and our commitment to meeting the shopping preferences of our customers through our leading omni platform,” said Sonia Syngal, Chief Executive Officer, Gap Inc. “With our teams focused on sales growth and returning to profitability, we’ve made investments in demand generation that are driving engagement, particularly in this dislocated market as customers are looking to trusted brands to provide easy and safe shopping options.”

Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Results
Net sales were flat year-over-year, reflecting a 61% increase in online sales, offset by a 20% decline in store sales. Notably, 40% of the company’s sales were online in the third quarter. As noted during the company’s Investor Meeting, held in October 2020, the company aspires to achieve 50% of its sales from online by the end of 2023.

Third quarter fiscal year 2020 comparable sales were up 5%, driven by the strength of Gap Inc.’s scaled e-commerce business, which added over 3.4 million new customers during the quarter. The comparable sales calculation reflects online sales and comparable sales days in stores that were open.

Net sales and comparable sales by brand for the third quarter 2020 compared to the third quarter 2019 were as follows:

• Old Navy Global: Net sales increased 15%, with comparable sales up 17%. Old Navy continued to experience meaningful acceleration in its online business as strong customer response to product was further bolstered by compelling and relevant digital marketing investment.  During the quarter, active offerings grew over 55%.  Notably, Old Navy’s U.S. Kids & Baby apparel business added meaningful market share to become the #1 brand in that segment.¹
  
  Additionally, the brand’s off-mall and strip real estate locations, which make up approximately 75% of the brand’s fleet, continue to be an advantage, supporting not only in-store sales but customers’ omni purchases, through curbside and buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS).
   
• Gap Global: Net sales were down 14% and comparable sales were down 5%. This reflects a reduced store fleet and lower traffic trends partially offset by strong online performance. The brand remains focused on maximizing online demand through relevant marketing, improved execution and customer engagement. In particular, the brand’s Fall marketing campaigns “Stand United” and “Be the Future” generated positive customer response.
   
• Banana Republic Global: Net sales were down 34%, a slight improvement versus the second quarter. Comparable sales were down 30%. As previously discussed, Banana Republic continues to focus on adjusting to consumer preferences and improving inventory mix by shifting away from the brand’s traditional work wear assortment and into casual fashion during the current stay-at-home environment.
   
• Athleta: Net sales were up 35%. Comparable sales were the highest in the brand’s history—up 37%—and online contribution remained above 50% in the quarter.  Athleta continues to benefit from its participation in the highly relevant values-driven active and lifestyle space, strong returns from increased digital marketing investments, and a focused product strategy, which is driving a healthy regular price business. While performance was strong across the brand, masks continued to attract new customers, providing the opportunity to build a relationship across other product offerings.

Gross margin was 40.6%, a 160 basis point improvement versus last year. This improvement is consistent with the strategic focus outlined in last month’s Power Plan 2023 discussion of opening highly-profitable Old Navy and Athleta stores, while also closing select unprofitable Gap and Banana Republic stores, yielding significant rent and occupancy savings. In addition, a lower level of promotions contributed to higher product margins in the quarter.  The benefits of lower rent and occupancy and higher product margin were partially offset by higher shipping expenses associated with the company’s growth in online sales.

Operating expenses were 36.2% of sales, an increase of 270 basis points versus last year, reflecting over 175 basis points in higher marketing investment across all brands and approximately 140 basis points in spending to support health and safety measures in stores.  Operating expenses were also impacted by approximately 120 basis points in costs associated with store closures that were mostly offset by rent and occupancy benefits reflected in gross margin. These increases were partially offset by approximately 200 basis points in one-time costs in the year-ago quarter primarily related to the company’s previously planned separation of Old Navy.

Operating income was $175 million or 4.4% of net sales.

The effective tax rate was 21.5%, primarily reflecting changes in the estimated benefit associated with the enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the impact of the Company’s geographical mix of pre-tax earnings. The year-to-date effective tax rate was 23.7%.

Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter was $0.25.

Balance Sheet
Gap Inc. ended third quarter fiscal year 2020 with $2.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, compared to $1.1 billion at the end of the third quarter in fiscal year 2019, providing ample liquidity to support the company’s long-term growth strategy.

As of the end of its third quarter fiscal year 2020, Gap Inc. inventory was up 1% versus the year-ago quarter.  Excluding pack & hold inventory that is being held for introduction into the marketplace in 2021, ending inventory was down about 7%, reflecting the company’s focus on working capital management.

Gap Inc. ended the quarter with 3,785 store locations in 43 countries, of which 3,178 were company-operated. This compares to 3,396 company-operated stores in the third quarter last year.  As part of ongoing fleet optimization efforts supporting its long-term strategic priority of a smaller healthier fleet, the company reiterates its intention to close approximately 225 Gap and Banana Republic stores globally, net of openings, in 2020.

Cash Flow
Year-to-date free cash flow, defined as net cash from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, was $111 million compared with $5 million last year, reflecting strong operating cash flow in the second and third quarters, following the impact of pandemic-related store closures earlier in the year, as well as a lower level of capital expenditures versus the prior year.

Please see the reconciliation of free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, in the tables at the end of this press release.

Strong cash flow in the quarter reflected gross margin improvement, and focused working capital management, particularly as the company focused on aligning inventory relative to customer demand, as well as prudent capital expenditure management.

Year-to-date capital expenditures were $288 million compared to $523 million last year. The company now anticipates capital spending to be approximately $375 million for fiscal year 2020, an increase versus the prior forecast of approximately $300 million, as the company invests in investments to drive online growth, particularly in digital, technology, and capacity.

2020 Financial Outlook
Recognizing the continued high level of uncertainty in the marketplace, the company is not providing a fiscal year earnings outlook.  The widely-noted recent rise in COVID-19 cases remains a concern, which may impact store traffic. However, with rapidly growing online sales contribution, at over 40% of company sales in the quarter, and the opportunity for market share gains, supported by the significant investment in marketing, the company remains optimistic for the fourth quarter.

Behind the continued investment in digital capabilities, including the third quarter launch of its loyalty program, the company believes it is well-positioned heading into the holiday shopping season.

General assumptions for the fourth quarter include:

• Net sales being equal to or slightly higher than last year
• Gross margin rate being equal to last year, reflecting continued benefits of store closures largely offset by higher shipping expenses
• Operating expenses being between 33% to 34% of company sales, reflecting the company’s continued investment in brand marketing, behind the opportunity to capture market share, as well as the continued cost of in-store health & safety measures on behalf of our customers and employees.

“We’re really pleased to see key elements of our Power Plan 2023 strategy driving results in the third quarter, reflected in improving sales and gross margin trends, following the Covid-19-related store closures earlier in the year,” said Katrina O’Connell, Chief Financial Officer, Gap Inc.  “Importantly, our strong cash flow continues to provide us ample liquidity to invest in marketing support behind our brands, as well as digital capabilities to drive our rapidly growing online business.”

Webcast and Conference Call Information
Steve Austenfeld, Head of Investor Relations at Gap Inc., will host a summary of the company’s third quarter fiscal year 2020 results during a conference call and webcast from approximately 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. Mr. Austenfeld will be joined by Chief Executive Officer Sonia Syngal and Chief Financial Officer Katrina O’Connell.

The conference call can be accessed by calling 1-855-5000-GPS or 1-855-500-0477 (participant passcode: 9501186). International callers may dial 1-323-794-2078. The webcast can be accessed at investors.gapinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and related conference call and webcast contain forward-looking statements within the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than those that are purely historical are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” and similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the following: our ability to achieve 50% of sales from online by the end of 2023; our ability to open highly-profitable Old Navy and Athleta stores, close select unprofitable Gap and Banana Republic stores and achieve significant rent and occupancy savings; our ability to achieve our goal of a smaller healthier fleet of Gap and Banana Republic stores; our anticipated capital spending in fiscal year 2020; our expectation that we will gain market share in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020; and assumptions regarding our net sales, gross margin and operating expense for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020.

Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following risks, any of which could have an adverse effect on the company’s financial condition, results of operations, and reputation: the risk that additional information may arise during the company’s close process or as a result of subsequent events that would require the company to make adjustments to its financial information; the overall global economic environment and risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; the risk that we or our franchisees will be unsuccessful in gauging apparel trends and changing consumer preferences; the highly competitive nature of our business in the United States and internationally; the risk that changes in global economic conditions or consumer spending patterns could adversely impact our results of operations; engaging in or seeking to engage in strategic transactions that are subject to various risks and uncertainties; the risk that failure to maintain, enhance and protect our brand image could have an adverse effect on our results of operations; the risk that the failure to manage key executive succession and retention and to continue to attract qualified personnel could have an adverse impact on our results of operations; the risk that our investments in customer, online, and omni-channel shopping initiatives may not deliver the results we anticipate; the risk that if we are unable to manage our inventory effectively, our gross margins will be adversely affected; the risks to our business, including our costs and supply chain, associated with global sourcing and manufacturing; the risk that we are subject to data or other security breaches that may result in increased costs, violations of law, significant legal and financial exposure, and a loss of confidence in our security measures, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and our reputation; the risk that a failure of, or updates or changes to, our information technology systems may disrupt our operations; the risks to our efforts to expand internationally, including our ability to operate in regions where we have less experience; the risk that we or our franchisees will be unsuccessful in identifying, negotiating, and securing new store locations and renewing, modifying, or terminating leases for existing store locations effectively; the risks to our reputation or operations associated with importing merchandise from foreign countries, including failure of our vendors to adhere to our Code of Vendor Conduct; the risk that our franchisees’ operation of franchise stores is not directly within our control and could impair the value of our brands; the risk that trade matters could increase the cost or reduce the supply of apparel available to us and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations; the risk that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely impact our financial results; the risk that comparable sales and margins will experience fluctuations; the risk that changes in our credit profile or deterioration in market conditions may limit our access to the capital markets and adversely impact our financial position or our business initiatives; the risk that changes in the regulatory or administrative landscape could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations; the risk that natural disasters, public health crises (similar to and including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic), political crises, negative global climate patterns, or other catastrophic events could adversely affect our operations and financial results, or those of our franchisees or vendors; the risk that reductions in income and cash flow from our credit card arrangement related to our private label and co-branded credit cards could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows; the risk that the adoption of new accounting pronouncements will impact future results; the risk that we do not repurchase some or all of the shares we anticipate purchasing pursuant to our repurchase program; and the risk that we will not be successful in defending various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes, and claims.

Additional information regarding factors that could cause results to differ can be found in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 9, 2020, as well as the company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

These forward-looking statements are based on information as of November 24, 2020. The company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix, Janie and Jack, and Hill City brands. Fiscal year 2019 net sales were $16.4 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

Investor Relations Contact:
Steve Austenfeld
(415) 427-1807
Investor_relations@gap.com

Media Relations Contact:
Megan Foote
(415) 832-1989
Press@gap.com

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