10-QPeriod: Q3 FY2022

Burlington Stores, Inc. Quarterly Report for Q3 Ended Oct 30, 2021

Filed November 23, 2021For Securities:BURL

Summary

Burlington Stores, Inc. reported a significant recovery in its third quarter and nine-month period ending October 30, 2021, following the disruptive impact of COVID-19 in the prior year. Net sales surged by 38.1% in the third quarter and 93.0% for the nine-month period, driven by both expanded store count and strong comparable store sales growth (16% and 18% respectively compared to 2019 levels). This sales rebound, coupled with the reversal of prior year inventory write-downs, led to a substantial increase in profitability, with net income reaching $13.6 million for the quarter and $287.2 million for the nine months, a dramatic improvement from the prior year's net loss. Despite strong revenue growth, the company faced some cost pressures, notably increased freight and labor costs due to industry-wide supply chain issues, which impacted gross margins in the third quarter. A significant event was a $86.4 million debt extinguishment charge related to the partial repurchase of its convertible notes. However, the company's financial position appears solid, with operating cash flow significantly improving and a substantial amount of cash and cash equivalents on hand. Management is optimistic about future growth, planning to open a significant number of new stores and focusing on strategic initiatives to enhance profitability and operating margins.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$2.30B
Cost of Revenue$1.35B
Gross Profit$956.48M
SG&A Expenses$759.78M
Operating Expenses$2.27B
Net Income$13.62M
EPS (Basic)$0.20
EPS (Diluted)$0.20
Shares Outstanding (Basic)66.74M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)68.20M

Key Highlights

  • 1Net sales increased significantly by 38.1% in Q3 FY21 and 93.0% in the first nine months of FY21 compared to the prior year, indicating a strong recovery.
  • 2Comparable store sales showed robust growth, increasing 16% in Q3 and 18% for the nine-month period (compared to 2019 levels), demonstrating strong customer demand.
  • 3The company returned to profitability, reporting net income of $13.6 million in Q3 FY21 and $287.2 million year-to-date, a substantial improvement from a net loss in the prior year.
  • 4Despite sales growth, gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased in Q3 FY21 (41.4% vs 45.0%) due to increased freight and labor costs related to supply chain issues.
  • 5A substantial $86.4 million debt extinguishment charge was recognized in Q3 FY21 related to the repurchase of convertible notes.
  • 6Operating cash flow significantly improved, reaching $608.4 million for the nine-month period, a stark contrast to the $116.9 million used in the prior year.
  • 7The company continues its store expansion strategy, opening 93 new stores in the first nine months of FY21 and plans to open approximately 77 net new stores in FY21, with a long-term target of 2,000 stores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Burlington's revenue growth was primarily driven by a combination of factors. The company experienced a strong rebound in sales from the prior year, which was significantly impacted by COVID-19 related store closures. Additionally, they benefited from a 16% increase in comparable store sales for the quarter and 18% for the nine-month period (compared to 2019), along with the opening of 93 new stores in the first nine months of the fiscal year.

In the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2021, Burlington incurred a significant pre-tax debt extinguishment charge of $86.4 million. This charge arose from the exchange of $160.4 million in aggregate principal amount of its Convertible Senior Notes for cash and shares of common stock. While this charge negatively impacted reported net income for the quarter, it reduced the company's outstanding debt obligations.

Industry-wide supply chain issues have led to increased freight and labor costs, which are impacting Burlington's cost of sales. This contributed to a decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net sales in the third quarter of FY21 (41.4%) compared to the prior year (45.0%). Management expects these cost pressures to continue into Fiscal Year 2022.

Burlington's growth strategy focuses on several key areas: expanding its retail store base with a target of 2,000 stores long-term, driving comparable store sales growth through merchandising investments and leaner inventories, enhancing existing and introducing new product categories, and improving operating margins by optimizing operations and challenging expenses. The company opened 93 new stores in the first nine months of FY21 and plans to open approximately 77 net new stores in FY21.