Carter's, Inc. Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

Carter's, Inc. (NYSE:CRI), the largest branded marketer in North America of apparel exclusively for babies and young children, today reported its first quarter fiscal 2024 results.

"We exceeded our sales and earnings objectives in the first quarter," said Michael D. Casey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We continued to see higher and earlier than planned demand from our largest wholesale customers. We believe this demand reflects the leaner inventory positions at many retailers, and their need for our new seasonal product offerings in preparation for the warmer weather ahead.

"In our U.S. Retail business, cooler weather in many parts of the United States weighed on demand for our Spring product offerings. Though the timing of seasonal transitions varies each year, historically they have been a natural and meaningful stimulus of demand for our product offerings. With the largest months of sales and earnings contribution ahead of us, we expect that the collective benefit of our product innovation, fleet optimization, and brand marketing strategies will enable an improving trend in our sales this year.

"Our International sales in the first quarter were in line with our plan. Stronger demand in Mexico offset lower sales in Canada. Our sales in Canada were also weighed down by the late arrival of warmer weather.

"The earlier Easter and slow start to Spring shopping will impact our sales in the second quarter. We have reflected in our forecasts the performance and growth we believe is possible in the balance of the year. Those forecasts envision control of discretionary expenses, reduction of inventory, and strong cash flow which we expect will enable the continued return of capital to our shareholders.

"Carter's continues to be the best in class in young children's apparel. We have unparalleled relationships with the largest retailers of young children's apparel, including Target, Walmart, Amazon, Kohl's, and Macy's. We are also the largest specialty retailer focused exclusively on young children's apparel in North America and have the highest share of the children's apparel markets in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Given the strength of our multi-channel model, brand portfolio, and financial resources, we believe we are well-positioned to achieve our growth objectives this year."

Adjustments to Reported GAAP Results

In addition to the results presented in this earnings release in accordance with GAAP, the Company has provided adjusted, non-GAAP financial measurements, as presented below. The Company believes these adjustments provide a meaningful comparison of the Company's results and afford investors a view of what management considers to be the Company's underlying performance. These measures are presented for informational purposes only. See "Reconciliation of Adjusted Results to GAAP" section of this release for additional disclosures and reconciliations regarding these non-GAAP financial measures. There were no adjustments in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.

Consolidated Results

First Quarter of Fiscal 2024 compared to First Quarter of Fiscal 2023

Net sales decreased $34.4 million, or 4.9%, to $661.5 million, compared to $695.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023. The persistent effects of inflation on families with young children and late arrival of spring weather contributed to lower demand. U.S. Retail, U.S. Wholesale, and International segment net sales declined 5.0%, 5.7%, and 2.7%, respectively. U.S. Retail comparable net sales declined 6.8%. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates used for translation in the first quarter fiscal 2024, as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2023, had a favorable effect on consolidated net sales of approximately $2.0 million, or 0.3%.

Operating income decreased $1.3 million, or 2.3%, to $55.0 million, compared to $56.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating margin increased to 8.3%, compared to 8.1% in the prior year period, reflecting lower inbound freight and product costs, partially offset by partly offset by fixed cost deleverage on lower sales and new store expenses.

Adjusted operating income (a non-GAAP measure) decreased $2.5 million, or 4.3%, to $55.0 million, compared to $57.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted operating margin was comparable at 8.3%, principally due to the factors discussed above.

Net income increased $2.0 million to $38.0 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, compared to $36.0 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) increased $1.2 million to $38.0 million, compared to $36.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted earnings per diluted share (a non-GAAP measure) was $1.04, compared to $0.98 in the first quarter of fiscal 2023.

Net cash used in operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was $25.6 million, compared to net cash provided by operations of $42.2 million in the prior year period. The change in net cash from operating activities was primarily driven by smaller reductions in inventory balances due to the sell through of a large portion of our "pack and hold" inventory in fiscal 2023.

See the "Business Segment Results" and "Reconciliation of Adjusted Results to GAAP" sections of this release for additional disclosures regarding business segment performance and non-GAAP measures.

Return of Capital Activity

In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company returned a total of $38.3 million to shareholders through cash dividends and share repurchases as described below.

• Dividends: In the first quarter, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.80 per common share totaling $29.3 million. Future payments of quarterly dividends will be at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors based on a number of factors, including the Company's future financial performance and other considerations.
• Share repurchases: During the first quarter, the Company repurchased and retired approximately 108 thousand shares of its common stock for $9.0 million at an average price of $83.48 per share. Fiscal year-to-date through April 25, 2024, the Company repurchased and retired approximately 237 thousand shares for $18.8 million at an average price of $79.34 per share. As of April 25, 2024, the total remaining capacity under the Company's previously-announced repurchase authorizations was approximately $631 million.

2024 Business Outlook

We do not reconcile forward-looking adjusted operating income or adjusted diluted earnings per share to their most directly comparable GAAP measures because we cannot predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of certain components of such reconciliations that are not within our control due to factors described above, or others that may arise, without unreasonable effort. For these reasons, we are unable to assess the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could materially impact the amount of future operating income or diluted EPS, the most directly comparable GAAP metrics to adjusted operating income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, respectively.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company expects approximately:

• $560 million to $570 million in net sales ($600 million in Q2 fiscal 2023);
• $25 million to $30 million in adjusted operating income ($38 million in Q2 fiscal 2023); and
• $0.35 to $0.45 in adjusted diluted earnings per share ($0.64 in Q2 fiscal 2023).

Our forecast for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 assumes:

• Continued inflationary pressure on families with young children;
• Slow start to Spring selling, we believe due to the late arrival of warmer weather;
• Improved gross margin;
• Comparable SG&A;
• Lower net interest expense and effective tax rate; and
• Continued return of capital.

For fiscal year 2024, the Company projects approximately:

• Net sales of $2.95 billion to $3.0 billion ($2.95 billion in fiscal 2023);
• Comparable to mid-single-digit growth in adjusted operating income ($328 million in fiscal 2023);
• Low to mid-single-digit growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share ($6.19 in fiscal 2023);
• Operating cash flow in excess of $250 million; and
• Capital expenditures of $80 million.

Our forecast for fiscal year 2024 assumes:

• Improved macroeconomic environment and consumer demand as the year progresses, with a return to low single-digit comparable sales growth in U.S. Retail in the second half;
• Continued conservative inventory commitments by some wholesale customers;
• Gross margin expansion;
• Increased SG&A, reflecting higher growth-related investments and inflation, partially offset by productivity initiatives;
• Lower net interest expense;
• Higher effective tax rate; and
• Continued return of capital.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call with investors to discuss first quarter fiscal 2024 results and its business outlook on April 26, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. To listen to a live webcast and view the accompanying presentation materials, please visit ir.carters.com and select links for "News & Events" followed by "Webcasts & Presentations." To access the call by phone, please preregister on https://register.vevent.com/register/BIca6b7f932d984d258adb607e0b873339 to receive your dial-in number and unique passcode.

A webcast replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call at ir.carters.com.

About Carter's, Inc.

Carter's, Inc. is the largest branded marketer in North America of apparel exclusively for babies and young children. The Company owns the Carter's and OshKosh B'gosh brands, two of the most recognized brands in the marketplace. These brands are sold through over 1,000 Company-operated stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and online at www.carters.com, www.oshkosh.com, www.cartersoshkosh.ca, and www.carters.com.mx. Carter's is the largest supplier of young children's apparel to the largest retailers in North America. Its brands are sold in leading department stores, national chains, and specialty retailers domestically and internationally. The Company's Child of Mine brand is available at Walmart, its Just One You brand is available at Target, and its Simple Joys brand is available on Amazon.com. The Company also owns Little Planet, a brand focused on organic fabrics and sustainable materials, and Skip Hop, a global lifestyle brand for families with young children. Carter's is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional information may be found at www.carters.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical fact and use predictive words such as "estimates", "outlook", "guidance", "expect", "believe", "intend", "designed", "target", "plans", "may", "will", "are confident" and similar words are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These forward-looking statements and related assumptions involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any forward-looking statements or views expressed in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, and otherwise in our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the following factors: risks related to public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in global economic and financial conditions, and the resulting impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, as well as other changes in consumer discretionary spending habits; continued inflationary pressures with respect to labor and raw materials and global supply chain constraints that have, and could continue, to affect freight, transit, and other costs; risks related to geopolitical conflict, including ongoing geopolitical challenges between the United States and China, the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, Israel, and the Red Sea region, acts of terrorism, mass casualty events, social unrest, civil disturbance or disobedience; risks related to a shutdown of the U.S. government; financial difficulties for one or more of our major customers; an overall decrease in consumer spending, including, but not limited to, decreases in birth rates; our products not being accepted in the marketplace and our failure to manage our inventory; increased competition in the market place; diminished value of our brands; the failure to protect our intellectual property; the failure to comply with applicable quality standards or regulations; unseasonable or extreme weather conditions; pending and threatened lawsuits; a breach of our information technology systems and the loss of personal data; increased margin pressures, including increased cost of materials and labor and our inability to successfully increase prices to offset these increased costs; our foreign sourcing arrangements; disruptions in our supply chain, including increased transportation and freight costs; the management and expansion of our business domestically and internationally; the acquisition and integration of other brands and businesses; changes in our tax obligations, including additional customs, duties or tariffs; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with corporate responsibility issues; our ability to achieve our forecasted financial results for the fiscal year; our continued ability to declare and pay a dividend and conduct share repurchases in future periods; our planned opening and closing of stores during the fiscal year. Except for any ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.