Management's Discussion of Results of Operations
(Excerpts) |
For purposes of readability, Zenith attempts to strip out all tables in excerpts from the Management Discussion. That information is contained elsewhere in our articles. The idea of this summary is simply to review how well we believe Management does its reporting. Also, this highlights what Management believes is important.
In our Decision Matrix at the end of each article, a company with 0 to 2 gets a "-1", and 3 to 5 gets a "+1."
On a scale of 0 to 5, 5 being best, Zenith rates this company's Management's Discussion as a 5.
Risk factors include without limitation: •changes in general economic or market conditions that could affect overall consumer spending or our industry; •changes to the financial health of our customers; •our ability to successfully execute our long-term strategies; •our ability to successfully execute any restructuring plans and realize expected benefits; •our ability to effectively drive operational efficiency in our business; •our ability to manage the increasingly complex operations of our global business; •our ability to comply with existing trade and other regulations, and the potential impact of new trade, tariff and tax regulations on our profitability; •our ability to effectively develop and launch new, innovative and updated products; •our ability to accurately forecast consumer demand for our products and manage our inventory in response to changing demands; •any disruptions, delays or deficiencies in the design, implementation or application of our new global operating and financial reporting information technology system; •increased competition causing us to lose market share or reduce the prices of our products or to increase significantly our marketing efforts; •fluctuations in the costs of our products; •loss of key suppliers or manufacturers or failure of our suppliers or manufacturers to produce or deliver our products in a timely or cost-effective manner, including due to port disruptions; •our ability to further expand our business globally and to drive brand awareness and consumer acceptance of our products in other countries; •our ability to accurately anticipate and respond to seasonal or quarterly fluctuations in our operating results; •our ability to successfully manage or realize expected results from acquisitions and other significant investments or capital expenditures; •risks related to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; •our ability to effectively market and maintain a positive brand image; •the availability, integration and effective operation of information systems and other technology, as well as any potential interruption of such systems or technology; •risks related to data security or privacy breaches, including the 2018 data security issue related to our Connected Fitness business; •our ability to raise additional capital required to grow our business on terms acceptable to us; •our potential exposure to litigation and other proceedings; and •our ability to attract key talent and retain the services of our senior management and key employees. The forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Overview We are a leading developer, marketer and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear and accessories. Our products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe, as well as by consumers with active lifestyles. The Under Armour Connected Fitness platform powers the world's largest digital health and fitness community and our strategy is focused on engaging with these consumers and increasing awareness and sales of our products. Our net revenues grew to $5,193.2 million in 2018 from $3,084.4 million in 2014. We believe that our growth in net revenues has been driven by a growing interest in performance products and the strength of the Under Armour brand in the marketplace. Our long-term growth strategy is focused on increased sales of our products through ongoing product innovation, investment in our distribution channels and international expansion. While we plan to continue to invest in growth, we also plan to improve efficiencies throughout our business as we seek to gain scale through our operations and return on our investments. Financial highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to the prior year period include: •Net revenues increased 1.6%. •Wholesale revenue increased 4.7% and direct-to-consumer revenue decreased 5.8%. •Apparel and footwear revenue increased 0.7% and 7.6%, respectively, while accessories revenue decreased 11.0%. •Revenue in our North America segment decreased 2.8%, while revenue in our Asia-Pacific, EMEA and Latin America segments increased 24.9%, 3.5% and 5.7%, respectively. •Selling, general and administrative expense decreased 7.7%. •Gross margin increased 100 basis points. Segment Presentation Effective January 1, 2019, we changed the way we internally analyze the business and now exclude certain corporate costs from our segment profitability measures. We now report these costs within Corporate Other, which is designed to provide increased transparency and comparability of our operating segments. Certain prior year amounts have been recast to conform to the 2019 presentation. These changes have no impact on previously reported consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders equity, or cash flows. Corporate Other consists largely of general and administrative expenses not allocated to an operating segment, including expenses associated with centrally managed departments such as global marketing, global IT, global supply chain, innovation and other corporate support functions; costs related to our global assets and global marketing, costs related to our headquarters; restructuring and restructuring related charges; and certain foreign currency hedge gains and losses. Marketing In connection with the Corporate Other presentation discussed above, effective January 1, 2019, we changed the way we internally analyze marketing. Personnel costs previously included in our marketing are now included in other and digital advertising and placement services previously included in other are now included in marketing. We believe these changes provide management with increased transparency of our demand creation investments. Certain prior year amounts have been recast to conform to the 2019 presentation. We do not expect these changes to have a material impact on marketing amounts. 2017 and 2018 Restructuring As previously announced, in both 2017 and 2018, our Board of Directors approved restructuring plans (the "2017 restructuring plan" and the "2018 restructuring plan") designed to more closely align its financial resources with the critical priorities of the business and optimize operations. All restructuring charges under the plans were incurred by December 31, 2018. There were no restructuring charges incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2019. We recognized approximately $45.0 million of pre-tax charges in connection with the 2018 restructuring plan for the three months ended March 31, 2018. General Net revenues comprise net sales, license revenues and Connected Fitness revenues. Net sales comprise sales from our primary product categories, which are apparel, footwear and accessories. Our license revenues primarily consist of fees paid to us by our licensees in exchange for the use of our trademarks on their products. Our Connected Fitness revenues consist of digital advertising, digital fitness platform licenses and subscriptions from our Connected Fitness business. Cost of goods sold consists primarily of product costs, inbound freight and duty costs, outbound freight costs, handling costs to make products floor-ready to customer specifications, royalty payments to endorsers based on a predetermined percentage of sales of selected products and write downs for inventory obsolescence. In general, as a percentage of net revenues, we expect cost of goods sold associated with our apparel and accessories to be lower than that of our footwear. A limited portion of cost of goods sold is associated with Connected Fitness revenues, primarily website hosting costs and other costs, and no cost of goods sold is associated with our license revenues. We include outbound freight costs associated with shipping goods to customers as cost of goods sold; however, we include the majority of outbound handling costs as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses. As a result, our gross profit may not be comparable to that of other companies that include outbound handling costs in their cost of goods sold. Outbound handling costs include costs associated with preparing goods to ship to customers and certain costs to operate our distribution facilities. These costs were $21.7 million and $23.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Our selling, general and administrative expenses consist of costs related to marketing, selling, product innovation and supply chain and corporate services. We consolidate our selling, general and administrative expenses into two primary categories: marketing and other. The other category is the sum of our selling, product innovation and supply chain, corporate services categories. The marketing category consists primarily of sports and brand marketing, media, and retail presentation. Sports and brand marketing includes professional, club, collegiate sponsorship, individual athlete and influencer agreements, and providing and selling products directly to team equipment managers and to individual athletes. Media includes digital, broadcast and print media outlets, including social and mobile media. Retail presentation includes sales displays and concept shops and depreciation expense specific to our in-store fixture programs. Our marketing costs are an important driver of our growth. Other income (expense), net consists of unrealized and realized gains and losses on our foreign currency derivative financial instruments and unrealized and realized gains and losses on adjustments that arise from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relating to transactions generated by our international subsidiaries. Results of Operations Consolidated Results of Operations Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Net revenues increased $19.3 million, or 1.6%, to $1,204.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $1,185.4 million during the same period in 2018. The increase in net sales was driven by footwear unit sales growth in our run category. The increase was partially offset by unit sales decline in accessories driven by unit sales decreases related to a relaunch within our bags and backpack businesses and softer demand. License revenues decreased $4.6 million, or 17.5%, to $21.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $26.3 million during the same period in 2018 primarily driven by decreased revenue from our licensing partners in Japan and North America due to softer demand. Connected Fitness revenue increased $1.3 million, or 4.4%, to $30.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $28.8 million during the same period in 2018, primarily driven by an increase in new subscription revenue. Gross profit increased $21.3 million to $544.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $523.5 million for the same period in 2018. Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues, or gross margin, increased 100 basis points to 45.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 44.2% during the same period in 2018. This increase in gross margin percentage was primarily driven by the following: •approximate 90 basis point increase driven by supply chain initiatives including improvements in product costs; •approximate 60 basis point increase driven by restructuring related charges in the prior year period; and •approximate 30 basis point increase driven by regional mix, primarily due to a higher proportion of Asia-Pacific revenue. The above increase was offset by an approximate 70 basis point decrease driven by channel mix, primarily due to a lower proportion of direct-to-consumer and licensing revenues in the quarter and a higher composition of off-price sales. We expect benefits from supply chain initiatives, including product costs, and regional mix for the remainder of the year. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $5.1 million, or 1.0%, to $509.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $514.6 million for the same period in 2018. Within selling, general and administrative expense: •Marketing costs increased $7.3 million to $133.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $126.6 million for the same period in 2018. As a percentage of net revenues, marketing costs increased to 11.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from 10.7% for the same period in 2018. •Other costs decreased $12.3 million to $375.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $388.0 million for the same period in 2018. This decrease was driven primarily by lower compensation. As a percentage of net revenues, other costs decreased to 31.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from 32.7% for the same period in 2018. As a percentage of net revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 42.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 43.4% for the same period in 2018. Restructuring and impairment charges decreased, as there were no charges for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared to $37.5 million for the same period in 2018. Income (loss) from operations increased $64.0 million to $35.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from a loss of $28.7 million for the same period in 2018. Income from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 have no restructuring, impairment and restructuring related charges, as compared to $45.0 million of restructuring, impairment and restructuring related charges for the same period in 2018. Interest expense, net decreased $4.4 million to $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $8.6 million for the same period in 2018. Other income (expense), net decreased $3.6 million to $0.7 million of expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $2.9 million of income for the same period in 2018. Income tax expense (benefit) increased $12.2 million to an expense of $8.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019 from a benefit of $4.1 million during the same period in 2018. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, our effective tax rate was 26.8% compared to 11.9% for the same period in 2018. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was higher than the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily due to pre-tax income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to pre-tax losses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the impact of discrete items as a percentage of the pre-tax results in each period. Segment Results of Operations The net revenues and operating income (loss) associated with our segments are summarized in the following tables. Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Net revenues by segment are summarized below: Corporate Other revenues consist of foreign currency hedge gains and losses related to revenues generated by entities within our geographic operating segments, but managed through our central foreign exchange risk management program. The increase in total net revenues was driven by the following: •Net revenues in our North America operating segment decreased $24.3 million to $843.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $867.5 million for the same period in 2018 primarily due to lower units sales within our direct-to-consumer channel due to softer demand. •Net revenues in our EMEA operating segment increased $4.5 million to $134.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $129.6 million for the same period in 2018 primarily due to growth in our direct-to-consumer channel. •Net revenues in our Asia-Pacific operating segment increased $28.7 million to $144.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $115.6 million for the same period in 2018 primarily due to wholesale and direct-to-consumer growth. •Net revenues in our Latin America operating segment increased $2.7 million to $49.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $46.5 million for the same period in 2018 primarily due to growth in our wholesale channel; partially offset by a decrease in unit sales due to a change in our business model in Brazil from a subsidiary to a license and distributor model. •Net revenues in our Connected Fitness operating segment increased $1.3 million to $30.1 million from $28.8 million for the same period in 2018 primarily driven by an increase in new subscription revenue. The increase in total operating income (loss) was driven by the following: •Operating income in our North America operating segment increased $12.1 million to $160.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $148.2 million for the same period in 2018 primarily driven by improvements in gross margin and expense management, including benefits of prior year restructuring efforts. •Operating income in our EMEA operating segment increased $5.1 million to $12.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $7.2 million for the same period in 2018 primarily driven by increases in net revenues discussed above and decreased marketing. •Operating income in our Asia-Pacific operating segment decreased $4.3 million to $19.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $24.1 million for the same period in 2018 primarily driven by a higher proportion of off-price sales and investments in our direct-to-consumer business. •Operating loss in our Latin America operating segment decreased $1.5 million to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $1.9 million for the same period in 2018 primarily driven by expense management, including benefits of prior year restructuring efforts and changes to our business model in Brazil. •Operating income in our Connected Fitness segment decreased $2.3 million to $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $3.4 million for the same period in 2018 primarily driven by increased consulting expense. Financial Position, Capital Resources and Liquidity Our cash requirements have principally been for working capital and capital expenditures. We fund our working capital, primarily inventory, and capital investments from cash flows from operating activities, cash and cash equivalents on hand and borrowings available under our credit and long term debt facilities. Our working capital requirements generally reflect the seasonality and growth in our business as we recognize the majority of our net revenues in the last two quarters of the year. Our capital investments have included expanding our in-store fixture and branded concept shop program, improvements and expansion of our distribution and corporate facilities to support our growth, leasehold improvements to our brand and factory house stores, and investment and improvements in information technology systems. Our inventory strategy is focused on continuing to meet consumer demand while improving our inventory efficiency over the long term by putting systems and processes in place to improve our inventory management. These systems and processes are designed to improve our forecasting and supply planning capabilities. In addition to systems and processes, key areas of focus that we believe will enhance inventory performance are added discipline around the purchasing of product, production lead time reduction, and better planning and execution in selling of excess inventory through our factory house stores and other liquidation channels. We believe our cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash from operations, our ability to access the debt capital markets and borrowings available to us under our credit agreement and other financing instruments are adequate to meet our liquidity needs and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. As of March 31, 2019, we had no amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility. Although we believe we have adequate sources of liquidity over the long term, an economic recession or a slow recovery could adversely affect our business and liquidity. In addition, instability in or tightening of the capital markets could adversely affect our ability to obtain additional capital to grow our business on terms acceptable to us or at all. Cash Flows Operating Activities Operating activities consist primarily of net income (loss) adjusted for certain non-cash items. Adjustments to net income for non-cash items include depreciation and amortization, unrealized foreign currency exchange rate gains and losses, losses on disposals of property and equipment, impairment charges, stock-based compensation, excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements, deferred income taxes and changes in reserves and allowances. In addition, operating cash flows include the effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities, principally inventories, accounts receivable, income taxes payable and receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses. Cash used in operating activities increased $111.8 million to $89.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $22.0 million of cash provided by operating activities during the same period in 2018. The increase in cash used in operating activities was due to increased net cash outflows from reserves and allowances and operating assets and liabilities of $180.3 million, primarily driven by accounts receivable and accounts payable. This was partially offset by an increase in net income adjusted for non-cash items of $37.0 million. Investing Activities Cash used in investing activities decreased $20.0 million to $35.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $55.9 million for the same period in 2018, primarily due to lower capital expenditures. Capital expenditures for the full year 2019 are expected to be approximately $210.0 million, comprised primarily of investments in our retail stores, global wholesale fixtures, corporate offices and other digital initiatives including the FMS implementation in China and South Korea, which became operational on April 1, 2019. Financing Activities Cash used in financing activities increased $145.4 million to $141.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $3.8 million of cash provided by financing activities during the same period in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the repayment of our term loan. Capital Resources Credit Facility On March 8, 2019, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement, amending and restating our prior credit agreement. As amended and restated, our credit agreement has a term of five years, maturing in March 2024, and provides revolving credit commitments for up to $1.25 billion of borrowings, with no term loan borrowings, which were provided for under our prior credit agreement. As of March 31, 2019 there were no amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility. As of December 31, 2018, there were no amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility and $136.3 million outstanding under the term loan. In January 2019, we prepaid the outstanding balance of $136.3 million on our term loan, without penalty At our request and the lender's consent, commitments under the credit agreement may be increased by up to $300.0 million in aggregate, subject to certain conditions as set forth in the credit agreement, as amended. Incremental borrowings are uncommitted and the availability thereof will depend on market conditions at the time we seek to incur such borrowings. The borrowings under the revolving credit facility have maturities of less than one year. Up to $50.0 million of the facility may be used for the issuance of letters of credit. There were $4.6 million of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2019. The credit agreement contains negative covenants that, subject to significant exceptions, limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, make restricted payments, pledge our assets as security, make investments, loans, advances, guarantees and acquisitions, undergo fundamental changes and enter into transactions with affiliates. We are also required to maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the credit agreement, to consolidated interest expense of not less than 3.50 to 1.00 and we are not permitted to allow the ratio of consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA to be greater than 3.25 to 1.00 ("consolidated leverage ratio"). As of March 31, 2019, we were in compliance with these ratios. In addition, the credit agreement contains events of default that are customary for a facility of this nature, and includes a cross default provision whereby an event of default under other material indebtedness, as defined in the credit agreement, will be considered an event of default under the credit agreement. Borrowings under the credit agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at our option, either (a) an alternate base rate, or (b) a rate based on the rates applicable for deposits in the interbank market for U.S. Dollars or the applicable currency in which the loans are made (“adjusted LIBOR”), plus in each case an applicable margin. The applicable margin for loans will be adjusted by reference to a grid (the “Pricing Grid”) based on the consolidated leverage ratio and ranges between 1.00% to 1.25% for alternate base rate loans. The weighted average interest rates under the revolving credit facility borrowings were 3.6% and 2.8% during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The weighted average interest rate under the outstanding term loan was 2.8% during the three months ended March 31, 2018. We pay a commitment fee on the average daily unused amount of the revolving credit facility and certain fees with respect to letters of credit. As of March 31, 2019, the commitment fee was 15 basis points. 3.250% Senior Notes In June 2016, we issued $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.250% senior unsecured notes due June 15, 2026 (the “Notes”). The proceeds were used to pay down amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. Interest is payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 beginning December 15, 2016. Prior to March 15, 2026 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes), we may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time or from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or a "make-whole" amount applicable to such Notes as described in the indenture governing the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The indenture governing the Notes contains covenants, including limitations that restrict our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to create or incur secured indebtedness and enter into sale and leaseback transactions and our ability to consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our properties or assets to another person, in each case subject to material exceptions described in the indenture. Other Long Term Debt In December 2012, we entered into a $50.0 million recourse loan collateralized by the land, buildings and tenant improvements comprising our corporate headquarters. In July 2018, this loan was paid in full using borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Interest expense, net, was $4.2 million and $8.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Interest expense includes the amortization of deferred financing costs, bank fees, capital and built-to-suit lease interest and interest expense under the credit and other long term debt facilities. We monitor the financial health and stability of our lenders under the credit and other long term debt facilities, however during any period of significant instability in the credit markets, lenders could be negatively impacted in their ability to perform under these facilities. Contractual Commitments and Contingencies Other than the borrowings and repayments disclosed above in the "Capital Resources" section and changes which occur in the normal course of business, there were no significant changes to the contractual obligations reported in our 2018 Form 10-K as updated in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.