LOWE S COMPANIES INC.
LOWE S COMPANIES INC.
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Lowe's Reports Second Quarter Sales And Earnings Results

  • 101
Lowe's Reports Second Quarter Sales And Earnings Results
-- Comparable Sales Increased 2.3 Percent; U.S. Comparable Sales Increased 3.2 Percent --
-- Diluted Earnings Per Share of $2.14 --
-- Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share(1) of $2.15 --

PR Newswire

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Aug. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) today reported net earnings of $1.7 billion and diluted earnings per share of $2.14 for the quarter ended Aug. 2, 2019, compared to net earnings of $1.5 billion and diluted earnings per share of $1.86 in the second quarter of 2018. 

Lowe's Companies, Inc. Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Lowe's Companies, Inc.)

Excluding $14 million of pre-tax operating losses associated with the wind-down of the Company's Mexico retail operations, adjusted diluted earnings per share1 increased 3.9 percent to $2.15 from adjusted diluted earnings per share1 of $2.07 in the second quarter of 2018.

Sales for the second quarter increased 0.5 percent to $21.0 billion from $20.9 billion in the second quarter of 2018, and comparable sales increased 2.3 percent. Comparable sales for the U.S. home improvement business increased 3.2 percent.

"We capitalized on spring demand, strong holiday event execution and growth in Paint and our Pro business to deliver strong second quarter results. Despite lumber deflation and difficult weather, we are pleased that we delivered positive comparable sales in all 15 geographic regions of the U.S.  This is a reflection of a solid macroeconomic backdrop and continued momentum executing our retail fundamentals framework," commented Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO. 

"Our transformation is ongoing, and our future is bright. We are confident that we are on the right path to capitalize on solid demand in a healthy home improvement market and generate long-term profitable growth.  I would like to thank our associates for their hard work and continued commitment to serving customers," added Ellison.

Delivering on its commitment to return excess cash to shareholders, the company repurchased $1.96 billion of stock under its share repurchase program and paid $382 million in dividends in the second quarter.

As of Aug. 2, 2019, Lowe's operated 2,003 home improvement and hardware stores in the United States and Canada representing 208.8 million square feet of retail selling space.  Lowe's is actively hiring full- and part-time associates at its corporate locations, stores and distribution centers, and has filled more than 14,000 positions since July 1. 

A conference call to discuss second quarter 2019 operating results is scheduled for today (Wednesday, Aug. 21) at 9:00 am ET.  The conference call will be available by webcast and can be accessed by visiting Lowe's website at www.Lowes.com/investor and clicking on Lowe's Second Quarter 2019 Earnings Conference Call Webcast.  Supplemental materials will be available approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. A replay of the call will be archived on Lowes.com/investor until Nov. 19, 2019.

1 Adjusted diluted earnings per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation" section of this release for additional information as well as reconciliations between the Company's GAAP and non-GAAP financial results.

Lowe's Business Outlook

Fiscal Year 2019 (comparisons to fiscal year 2018)

  • Total sales are expected to increase approximately 2 percent.
  • Comparable sales are expected to increase approximately 3 percent.
  • Operating income as a percentage of sales (operating margin) is expected to increase 310 to 340 basis points.
  • Adjusted operating income as a percentage of sales (adjusted operating margin) is expected to increase 20 to 50 basis points.
  • The effective income tax rate is expected to be approximately 24%.
  • The target leverage ratio is 2.75x, therefore the company expects to repurchase approximately $4 billion of stock.
  • Diluted earnings per share of $5.54 to $5.74 are expected for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2020.
  • Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 of $5.45 to $5.65 are expected for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2020.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements including words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "desire", "project", "estimate", "intend", "will", "should", "could", "would", "may", "strategy", "potential", "opportunity" and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, expectations, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions, risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, Lowe's plans, objectives, business outlook, priorities, expectations and intentions, expectations for sales growth, comparable sales, earnings and performance, shareholder value, capital expenditures, cash flows, the housing market, the home improvement industry, demand for services, share repurchases, Lowe's strategic initiatives, including those relating to acquisitions and dispositions by Lowe's and the expected impact of such transactions on our strategic and operational plans and financial results, and any statement of an assumption underlying any of the foregoing and other statements that are not historical facts.  Although we believe that the expectations, opinions, projections and comments reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and we can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. 

A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results either expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, such as the rate of unemployment, interest rate and currency fluctuations, fuel and other energy costs, slower growth in personal income, changes in consumer spending, changes in the rate of housing turnover, the availability of consumer credit and of mortgage financing, inflation or deflation of commodity prices, recently enacted or proposed tariffs, disruptions caused by our recent management and key personnel changes, and other factors that can negatively affect our customers, as well as our ability to: (i) respond to adverse trends in the housing industry, a reduced rate of growth in household formation, and slower rates of growth in housing renovation and repair activity, as well as uneven recovery in commercial building activity; (ii) secure, develop, and otherwise implement new technologies and processes necessary to realize the benefits of our strategic initiatives focused on omni-channel sales and marketing presence and enhance our efficiency, and otherwise successfully execute on our strategy and implement our strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, dispositions and the closing of certain stores and facilities; (iii) attract, train, and retain highly-qualified associates; (iv) manage our business effectively as we adapt our operating model to meet the changing expectations of our customers; (v) maintain, improve, upgrade and protect our critical information systems from system outages, data security breaches, ransomware and other cyber threats; (vi) respond to fluctuations in the prices and availability of services, supplies, and products; (vii) respond to the growth and impact of competition; (viii) address changes in existing or new laws or regulations that affect consumer credit, employment/labor, trade, product safety, transportation/logistics, energy costs, health care, tax, environmental issues or privacy and data protection; (ix) positively and effectively manage our public image and reputation and respond appropriately to unanticipated failures to maintain a high level of product and service quality that could result in a negative impact on customer confidence and adversely affect sales; and (x) effectively manage our relationships with selected suppliers of brand name products and key vendors and service providers, including third party installers. In addition, we could experience impairment losses and other charges if either the actual results of our operating stores are not consistent with the assumptions and judgments we have made in estimating future cash flows and determining asset fair values, or we are required to reduce the carrying amount of our investment in certain unconsolidated entities. With respect to acquisitions and dispositions, potential risks include the effect of such transactions on Lowe's and the target company's or operating business's strategic relationships, operating results and businesses generally; our ability to integrate or divest personnel, labor models, financial, IT and other systems successfully; disruption of our ongoing business and distraction of management; hiring additional management and other critical personnel; increasing or decreasing the scope, geographic diversity and complexity of our operations; significant integration or disposition costs or unknown liabilities; and failure to realize the expected benefits of the transaction. For more information about these and other risks and uncertainties that we are exposed to, you should read the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the description of material changes thereto, if any, included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or subsequent filings with the SEC.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. All such forward-looking statements are based upon data available as of the date of this release or other specified date and speak only as of such date. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf about any of the matters covered in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and in the "Risk Factors" included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the description of material changes thereto, if any, included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or subsequent filings with the SEC. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, change in circumstances, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving more than 18 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2018 sales of $71.3 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ approximately 300,000 associates. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Current and Retained Earnings (Unaudited)
In Millions, Except Per Share and Percentage Data



Three Months Ended


Six Months Ended


August 2, 2019


August 3, 2018


August 2, 2019


August 3, 2018

Current Earnings

Amount


% Sales


Amount


% Sales


Amount


% Sales


Amount


% Sales

Net sales

$

20,992



100.00



$

20,888



100.00



$

38,733



100.00



$

38,247



100.00


Cost of sales

14,252



67.89



14,003



67.04



26,412



68.19



25,615



66.97


Gross margin

6,740



32.11



6,885



32.96



12,321



31.81



12,632



33.03


Expenses:
















Selling, general and administrative

4,048



19.29



4,386



20.99



7,909



20.42



8,319



21.75


Depreciation and amortization

311



1.48



336



1.61



614



1.58



685



1.79


Operating income

2,381



11.34



2,163



10.36



3,798



9.81



3,628



9.49


Interest - net

169



0.80



153



0.74



331



0.86



313



0.82


Pre-tax earnings

2,212



10.54



2,010



9.62



3,467



8.95



3,315



8.67


Income tax provision

536



2.56



490



2.34



745



1.92



806



2.11


Net earnings

$

1,676



7.98



$

1,520



7.28



$

2,722



7.03



$

2,509



6.56


































Weighted average common shares outstanding
      - basic

781





813





788





819




Basic earnings per common share (1)

$

2.14





$

1.86





$

3.44





$

3.05




Weighted average common shares outstanding
      - diluted

781





814





789





820




Diluted earnings per common share (1)

$

2.14





$

1.86





$

3.44





$

3.05




Cash dividends per share

$

0.55





$

0.48





$

1.03





$

0.89




















Retained Earnings
















Balance at beginning of period

$

3,095





$

5,405





$

3,452





$

5,425




Cumulative effect of accounting change









(263)





33




Net earnings

1,676





1,520





2,722





2,509




Cash dividends declared

(428)





(390)





(810)





(728)




Share repurchases

(1,904)





(1,018)





(2,662)





(1,722)




Balance at end of period

$

2,439





$

5,517





$

2,439





$

5,517













































(1) 

Under the two-class method, earnings per share is calculated using net earnings allocable to common shares, which is derived by reducing net earnings by the earnings allocable to participating securities. Net earnings allocable to common shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation were $1,670 million for the three months ended August 2, 2019 and $1,515 million for the three months ended August 3, 2018. Net earnings allocable to common shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation were $2,713 million for the six months ended August 2, 2019 and $2,500 million for the six months ended August 3, 2018.

 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
In Millions, Except Percentage Data



Three Months Ended


Six Months Ended


August 2, 2019


August 3, 2018


August 2, 2019


August 3, 2018


Amount


% Sales


Amount


% Sales


Amount


% Sales


Amount


% Sales

Net earnings

$

1,676



7.98



$

1,520



7.28



$

2,722



7.03



$

2,509



6.56


Foreign currency translation adjustments - 
     net of tax

69



0.33



(70)



(0.34)



36



0.09



(154)



(0.40)


Other comprehensive income/(loss)

69



0.33



(70)



(0.34)



22



0.05



(154)



(0.40)


Comprehensive income

$

1,745



8.31



$

1,450



6.94



$

2,744



7.08



$

2,355



6.16


















 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

In Millions, Except Par Value Data




(Unaudited)


(Unaudited)






August 2, 2019


August 3, 2018


February 1, 2019

Assets








Current assets:








Cash and cash equivalents



$

1,796



$

2,251



$

511


Short-term investments



275



391



218


Merchandise inventory - net



13,730



11,885



12,561


Other current assets



995



956



938


Total current assets



16,796



15,483



14,228


Property, less accumulated depreciation



18,203



19,172



18,432


Operating lease right-of-use assets



3,967






Long-term investments



179



87



256


Deferred income taxes - net



512



249



294


Goodwill



303



1,271



303


Other assets



735



843



995


Total assets



$

40,695



$

37,105



$

34,508










Liabilities and shareholders' equity








Current liabilities:








Short-term borrowings



$



$



$

722


Current maturities of long-term debt



1,009



894



1,110


Current operating lease liabilities



492






Accounts payable



9,499



8,984



8,279


Accrued compensation and employee benefits



717



671



662


Deferred revenue



1,324



1,449



1,299


Other current liabilities



2,794



2,583



2,425


Total current liabilities



15,835



14,581



14,497


Long-term debt, excluding current maturities



16,538



14,937



14,391


Noncurrent operating lease liabilities



4,055






Deferred revenue - extended protection plans



868



828



827


Other liabilities



759



978



1,149


Total liabilities



38,055



31,324



30,864










Shareholders' equity:








Preferred stock - $5 par value, none issued








Common stock - $0.50 par value;








Shares issued and outstanding








August 2, 2019

776








August 3, 2018

811








February 1, 2019

801



388



406



401


Capital in excess of par value








Retained earnings



2,439



5,517



3,452


Accumulated other comprehensive loss



(187)



(142)



(209)


Total shareholders' equity



2,640



5,781



3,644


Total liabilities and shareholders' equity



$

40,695



$

37,105



$

34,508










 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

In Millions


Six Months Ended


August 2, 2019


August 3, 2018

Cash flows from operating activities:




Net earnings

$

2,722



$

2,509


Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:




Depreciation and amortization

684



751


Noncash lease expense

228




Deferred income taxes

(121)



(75)


Loss on property and other assets - net

38



261


Loss on cost method and equity method investments

12



3


Share-based payment expense

51



62


Changes in operating assets and liabilities:




Merchandise inventory - net

(1,153)



(549)


Other operating assets

(116)



(140)


Accounts payable

1,202



2,408


Other operating liabilities

36



557


Net cash provided by operating activities

3,583



5,787






Cash flows from investing activities:




Purchases of investments

(245)



(980)


Proceeds from sale/maturity of investments

272



1,012


Capital expenditures

(526)



(543)


Proceeds from sale of property and other long-term assets

42



30


Other - net

(1)



1


Net cash used in investing activities

(458)



(480)






Cash flows from financing activities:




Net change in short-term borrowings

(722)



(1,137)


Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

2,972




Repayment of long-term debt

(629)



(24)


Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based payment plans

72



50


Cash dividend payments

(767)



(678)


Repurchase of common stock

(2,770)



(1,846)


Other - net

(7)



(2)


Net cash used in financing activities

(1,851)



(3,637)






Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(1)



(7)






Net increase in cash and cash equivalents, including cash
     classified within current assets held for sale

1,273



1,663


Less: Net decrease in cash classified within current assets
     held for sale

12




Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

1,285



1,663


Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

511



588


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

1,796



$

2,251







 

Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation (Unaudited)

To provide additional transparency, the company has presented the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted earnings per share to exclude the impact of certain discrete items, as further described below, not contemplated in Lowe's original Business Outlook for 2019 to assist the user in understanding performance relative to that Business Outlook.

In addition, as part of its Business Outlook for 2019, the company has provided a comparison to the non-GAAP financial measure of adjusted operating margin for fiscal 2018, which excludes the impact of certain discrete items, as further described below, not contemplated in Lowe's original Business Outlook for 2018, to assist the user in further understanding the company's Business Outlook for fiscal 2019 in comparison to fiscal 2018.

The company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful insight for analysts and investors in evaluating the company's operational performance.

The company previously announced its intention to exit its Mexico retail operations and had planned to sell the operating business.  However, in the first quarter of 2019, after an extensive market evaluation, the decision was made to instead sell the assets of the business.  During the second quarter, the Company recognized $14 million of pre-tax operating costs for the ongoing wind-down of the Mexico retail operations which were offset by $3 million tax benefit (Mexico adjustments).

During fiscal 2018, the company recognized the following pre-tax charges, not contemplated in the company's original Business Outlook for 2018:

  • During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the company recorded $952 million of goodwill impairment associated with its Canadian operations (Canadian goodwill impairment);

  • On August 17, 2018, the company committed to exit its Orchard Supply Hardware operations. As a result, the company recognized pre-tax charges of $230 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2018 associated with long-lived asset impairments and discontinued projects. During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the company recognized pre-tax charges of $123 million associated with accelerated depreciation and amortization, severance and lease obligations. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the company recognized additional pre-tax charges of $208 million primarily related to lease obligations. Total pre-tax charges for fiscal year 2018 were $561 million (Orchard Supply Hardware charges);

  • On October 31, 2018, the company committed to close 20 under-performing stores across the U.S. and 31 locations in Canada, including 27 under-performing stores. As a result, the company recognized pre-tax charges of $121 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 associated with long-lived asset impairment and severance obligations. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the company recognized additional pre-tax charges of $150 million, primarily associated with severance and lease obligation costs, as well as accelerated depreciation. Total pre-tax charges for fiscal year 2018 were $271 million (U.S. and Canada store closure charges);

  • On November 20, 2018, the company announced its plans to exit retail operations in Mexico and is exploring strategic alternatives. During the third quarter, $22 million of long-lived asset impairment was recognized on certain assets in Mexico as a result of the strategic evaluation. During the fourth quarter, an additional $222 million of impairment was recognized. Total charges for fiscal year 2018 were $244 million (Mexico impairment charges);

  • During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the company identified certain non-core activities within its U.S. home improvement business to exit, including Alacrity Renovation Services and Iris Smart Home. As a result, during the third quarter of 2018, the company recognized pre-tax charges of $14 million associated with long-lived asset impairment and inventory write-down. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the company recognized additional pre-tax charges of $32 million. Total pre-tax charges for fiscal year 2018 were $46 million (Non-core activities charges), and;

  • During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the company recorded pre-tax charges of $13 million, associated with severance costs due to the elimination of the Project Specialists Interiors position (Project Specialists Interiors charge).

Adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted operating margin should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful indicator of, the company's diluted earnings per share or operating margin as prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The company's methods of determining these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the method used by other companies for this or similar non-GAAP financial measures.  Accordingly, these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to the measures used by other companies.

Detailed reconciliations between the company's GAAP and non-GAAP financial results are shown below and available on the company's website at www.lowes.com/investor.

 


Three Months Ended


(Unaudited)


(Unaudited)


August 2, 2019


August 3, 2018

(in millions, except per share data)

Pre-Tax Earnings


Tax


Net Earnings


Pre-Tax Earnings


Tax


Net Earnings

Diluted earnings per share, as reported





$

2.14







$

1.86


Non-GAAP adjustments - per share impacts












Mexico adjustments

0.02



(0.01)



0.01








Orchard Supply Hardware charges







0.28



(0.07)



0.21


Adjusted diluted earnings per share





$

2.15







$

2.07


 


Year Ended


(Audited)

(in millions, except operating margin)

February 1, 2019

Operating income, as reported

$

4,018


Non-GAAP adjustments


Canadian goodwill impairment

952


Orchard Supply Hardware charges

561


U.S. and Canada store closure charges

271


Mexico impairment charges

244


Non-core activities charges

46


Project Specialists Interiors charge

13


Adjusted operating income

$

6,105


Adjusted operating margin

8.56

%



 

 

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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.

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