In an era where consumer confidence is being tested by inflation and rising living costs, off-price retailers like Burlington Stores and Ross Stores are doubling down on strategies that emphasize value and flexibility. Both companies have adapted to increased demand for discounts by balancing quality, strategic assortments, pricing and store growth.Read more: Trade and Tariffs Worries Drive Decline in Consumer ConfidenceBurlington Elevates Product AssortmentsFor Burlington Stores, the strategy of “elevating ...

Group 1 - Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE: BURL) is performing well despite challenges in the consumer discretionary sector due to consumer confidence concerns and macroeconomic fears [1] - The stock has recently experienced a decline as part of a broader sell-off in consumer discretionary stocks [1] Group 2 - The company is positioned to deliver returns even in uncertain economic conditions [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable store sales for Q4 increased by 6%, exceeding guidance of 0% to 2% [8] - Total sales for the full year 2024 grew by 11%, following a 10% increase in 2023 [31] - Adjusted EBIT margin for Q4 was 11.1%, up 10 basis points year-over-year, and significantly above guidance [28] - Adjusted earnings per share in Q4 was $4.13, representing a 12% increase compared to the previous year [28] - Operating margin for the full year expanded by 100 basis points [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The strategy to elevate assortment contributed to strong Q4 performance, focusing on a mix of well-known national brands and higher quality items [9][10] - New store openings totaled 147 in 2024, with 101 net new stores added after accounting for relocations and closures [16][30] - Merchandise margin increased by 60 basis points for the full year [31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced strong performance in lower-income trade areas, indicating success with the "Need a Deal" customer segment [61] - Comp store sales growth was driven by both increased transactions and higher average transaction values [89] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to grow total sales to approximately $16 billion and operating profit to about $1.6 billion by 2028 [15] - The long-range model includes an average of 100 net new store openings each year, with a focus on transforming the store network [16] - The company is strategically purchasing distribution centers to enhance supply chain control and efficiency [33][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management acknowledged uncertainty in the economic environment for 2025, planning conservatively while remaining flexible to adapt to sales trends [25][40] - The company is optimistic about its business prospects over the next two to three years, despite potential short-term volatility [66][70] Other Important Information - The company ended Q4 with approximately $1.8 billion in total liquidity, including $995 million in cash [29] - Capital expenditures for FY 2024 increased to $844 million, with a forecast of $950 million for FY 2025 due to strategic purchases of distribution centers [34][36] Q&A Session Summary Question: Could you elaborate on sales trends in the first quarter? - The first quarter started weaker than expected, primarily due to unfavorable weather in key regions and delays in tax refunds [46][48] Question: Can you provide details on margin contraction in the first quarter? - Margin contraction is expected due to modest merchandise margin pressure and fixed cost deleverage, particularly in the first quarter [52][54] Question: How did the comp trend for 2024 break down between customer segments? - Strong performance was noted among both "Need a Deal" customers and "Want a Deal" customers, with comp growth driven by delivering value to both segments [60][64] Question: What are the implications of higher CapEx for debt levels and stock buybacks? - The increase in CapEx is expected to have a modest impact on leverage ratios, and the company plans to continue share repurchases at similar levels as previous years [80][84] Question: How is the company positioned regarding off-price merchandise availability? - The company reported strong availability in the off-price channel, with effective vendor partnerships contributing to successful inventory management [109]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable store sales for Q4 increased by 6%, exceeding guidance of 0% to 2% [9][34] - Total sales grew by 10% in Q4 and 11% for the full year, following a 10% increase in 2023 [34][42] - Adjusted EBIT margin for Q4 was 11.1%, up 10 basis points year-over-year, and 100 basis points for the full year [38][42] - Adjusted earnings per share in Q4 was $4.13, representing a 12% increase compared to the previous year [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The strategy to elevate assortment contributed significantly to Q4 performance, focusing on a mix of well-known national brands and higher-quality items [10][12] - New store openings totaled 147 in 2024, with 101 net new stores added after accounting for relocations and closures [21][42] - Merchandise margin increased by 60 basis points, with freight improving by 20 basis points and supply chain costs leveraging by 50 basis points [42][44] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong performance in lower-income trade areas, indicating success with the "need a deal" customer segment [82][88] - Comp store sales growth was driven by both "need a deal" and "want a deal" customers, with mid-single-digit growth in moderate and higher-income areas [88] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to grow total sales to approximately $16 billion and operating profit to about $1.6 billion by 2028, with a focus on new store openings, comp store sales growth, and operating margin expansion [19][20] - The strategy includes owning distribution centers to enhance control and avoid rent increases, with significant capital expenditures planned for 2024 and 2025 [45][48] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the business outlook, acknowledging potential economic and geopolitical risks while emphasizing the importance of being nimble and flexible [32][94] - The company anticipates total sales growth of 6% to 8% for 2025, with comp store sales expected to be flat to 2% [32][49] Other Important Information - The company ended Q4 with approximately $1.8 billion in total liquidity, including $995 million in cash [40] - Share repurchases totaled $61 million in Q4, with $263 million remaining on the share repurchase authorization [41] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on sales trends in the first quarter? - Management noted that February started weaker than expected, primarily due to weather and the timing of tax refunds, but sales improved as conditions normalized [62][67] Question: What are the drivers of margin contraction in the first quarter? - The first quarter is expected to have the most challenging margin comparisons due to fixed cost deleverage and modest merchandise margin improvement [72][75] Question: How did comp trends break down in Q4? - Strong performance was noted in lower-income areas, with comp growth driven by both "need a deal" and "want a deal" customers [82][88] Question: What are the implications of higher CapEx for debt levels and stock buybacks? - The company plans to manage debt levels carefully while continuing share repurchases, with a focus on owning distribution centers [110][114] Question: How do potential policy changes affect the customer? - Management acknowledged uncertainty around policy changes but expressed optimism about the business's ability to adapt and thrive [92][94] Question: Can you provide details on category and regional performance in Q4? - Comp growth was driven by increased traffic and average transaction value, with strong performance across all major categories [120][121]

Core Insights - Burlington Stores' stock surged 13.4% following the release of strong fourth-quarter results, settling at an 11.5% gain by 11 a.m. ET [1] Financial Performance - Fourth-quarter sales increased by 4.8% year over year, reaching $3.28 billion, aligning with analyst expectations despite the quarter being shorter than the previous year [2] - Adjusted earnings rose 12% to $4.13 per diluted share, surpassing the average analyst estimate of $3.77 [2] Store Expansion and Sales Growth - Same-store sales grew by 6% year over year, exceeding management's guidance of flat to a 2% increase [3] - The company added 101 net new stores in 2024 and relocated 31 oversized locations to smaller lots, ending the fourth quarter with 1,108 active stores [3] - Burlington plans to open 100 more locations than it intends to close in 2025 [3] Economic Outlook - CEO Michael O'Sullivan expressed concerns about an "uncertain" economy in 2025, indicating a cautious and flexible management approach moving forward [4] - The company aims to be prepared for potential challenges in the upcoming year, reflecting on the strategies that worked in 2024 [4]

Core Insights - Burlington Stores reported revenue of $3.28 billion for the quarter ended January 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 4.8% [1] - The company's EPS was $4.07, up from $3.66 in the same quarter last year, indicating a strong performance [1] - The reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.26 billion, resulting in a surprise of +0.49% [1] - Burlington Stores delivered an EPS surprise of +8.24%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $3.76 [1] Key Metrics - Comparable Store Sales increased by 6%, surpassing the estimated 2% by analysts [4] - The number of stores at the end of the period was 1,108, matching the average estimate from four analysts [4] - Net Sales were reported at $3.27 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $3.25 billion from three analysts, representing a year-over-year change of +4.8% [4] - Other revenue was reported at $5 million, which was below the average estimate of $5.18 million, showing a year-over-year decline of -5.6% [4] Stock Performance - Shares of Burlington Stores have returned -11.8% over the past month, compared to a -3.5% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Burlington Stores reported quarterly earnings of $4.07 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.76 per share, and showing an increase from $3.66 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 8.24% [1][2] Financial Performance - The company achieved revenues of $3.28 billion for the quarter ended January 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.49%, and up from $3.13 billion year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Burlington Stores has exceeded consensus EPS estimates four times and topped revenue estimates three times [2] Stock Performance - Burlington Stores shares have declined approximately 16.9% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of 0.7% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Burlington Stores is 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.60 on revenues of $2.59 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $9.24 on revenues of $11.61 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Burlington Stores is mixed, and future revisions may change following the recent earnings report [6] Industry Context - The Retail - Discount Stores industry is currently in the top 34% of Zacks industries, suggesting that companies in this sector are likely to outperform those in the bottom 50% [8] - Another competitor in the same industry, Dollar General, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.50 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 18% [9]

Core Insights - Burlington Stores reported strong fourth-quarter earnings for 2024, with adjusted EPS of $4.13, surpassing expectations of $3.77, and revenue of $3.28 billion, exceeding the estimate of $3.24 billion [1][6][3] Financial Performance - Adjusted EPS increased by 12% year-over-year from $3.69 in Q4 2023 to $4.13 in Q4 2024 [3][6] - Revenue grew by 4.8% year-over-year from $3.13 billion in Q4 2023 to $3.28 billion in Q4 2024 [3][6] - Comparable store sales saw a significant increase of 6%, exceeding the guidance of 0% to 2% [6][7] - Adjusted EBIT margin improved to 11.0%, up 0.6 percentage points from the previous year [3][7] Business Strategy - Burlington's business model focuses on offering high-quality, brand-name products at discounted prices, attracting value-conscious consumers [4] - The company has prioritized expanding store locations and enhancing supply chain efficiencies, with 101 net new stores added in 2024, increasing total locations by 10% to 1,108 [5][11] - Efficient inventory management is highlighted, with a 15% increase in current period merchandise inventories and a 3% decrease in comparable store inventories [9] Market Position and Outlook - Burlington anticipates continued growth in 2025, projecting total sales growth between 6% and 8% and adjusted EPS in the range of $8.70 to $9.30 [10] - The company plans to open approximately 100 net new stores in the upcoming year, supporting its long-term goal of reaching 2,000 locations [11] - Management is focused on leveraging its off-price model to sustain growth amid competitive retail sector challenges and potential economic uncertainties [12]

Financial Performance - Comparable store sales increased by 6% in Q4 2024, exceeding guidance of 0% to 2%[4] - Q4 net income was $261 million, with diluted EPS of $4.02, compared to $227 million and $3.53 per share in the prior year[4] - Total sales for FY24 increased by 11% to $10.6 billion, with comparable store sales growth of 4%[8] - Adjusted EPS for FY25 is expected to be in the range of $8.70 to $9.30, compared to $8.35 in FY24[16] - Net income for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, was $503,639, representing a 48.3% increase from $339,649 in 2024[30] - Diluted net income per share for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, was $7.80, compared to $5.23 for the previous year, marking a 49.0% increase[25] - Adjusted Earnings per Share (EPS) for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, was $8.17, up from $6.06 in the previous year, indicating a 34.8% growth[39] - Net income for the three months ended February 1, 2025, was $260,767,000, compared to $227,458,000 for the same period in 2024, which is a 14.6% increase[39] Sales and Revenue - Total revenue for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, was $9,727,467, up from $9,708,973 in 2024, reflecting a growth of 0.2%[25] - Net sales for the three months ended February 1, 2025, were $3,272,058, an increase of 4.9% compared to $3,121,061 for the same period in 2024[25] Expenses and Liabilities - Total liabilities increased to $7,399,917 as of February 1, 2025, compared to $6,709,908 as of February 3, 2024, indicating a rise of 10.3%[28] - The company incurred $880,384 in cash paid for property and equipment during the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, compared to $492,644 in 2024[30] - Adjusted SG&A for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, was $2,732,929,000, compared to $2,491,266,000 in 2024, marking a 9.7% increase[39] Inventory and Assets - Merchandise inventories at the end of FY24 were $1,251 million, a 15% increase from the previous year[9] - Total assets increased to $8,770,413 as of February 1, 2025, compared to $7,706,840 as of February 3, 2024, reflecting a growth of 13.8%[28] Future Outlook - The company expects total sales to increase by 6% to 8% in FY25, with comparable store sales projected to grow by 0% to 2%[13] - Capital expenditures for FY25 are estimated to be approximately $950 million[13] - The company plans to continue its growth strategy through market expansion and new product development, although specific figures were not disclosed in the call[25] Tax and Interest - The Company's effective tax rate on a GAAP basis for the three months ended February 1, 2025, was 25.0%, down from 27.5% in the same period of 2024[40] - The adjusted effective tax rate for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025, was 25.4%, consistent with the previous year[40] - The Company reported interest expense of $18,522,000 for the three months ended February 1, 2025, down from $19,829,000 in the same period of 2024[39] Adjusted Metrics - Adjusted EBIT margin for FY24 was 7.2%, an increase of 100 basis points compared to FY23[4] - Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended February 1, 2025, was $451,002,000, compared to $414,414,000 for the same period in 2024, reflecting an increase of 8.8%[39] - Adjusted Net Income for the three months ended February 1, 2025, was $263,743,000, compared to $235,682,000 for the same period in 2024, representing a 11.9% increase[39] Store Operations - The company opened 101 net new stores in FY24 and relocated 31 older oversized locations[3] - The company ended Q4 2024 with $1,822 million in liquidity, including $995 million in unrestricted cash[12]

Core Insights - Burlington Stores, Inc. reported strong performance in the fourth quarter with a 6% increase in comparable store sales, driven by effective strategies and the strength of its off-price business model [2][4][5] - The company achieved an adjusted EBIT margin that exceeded guidance by 60 basis points, and adjusted EPS increased by 12% compared to the previous year [2][4] - For the full fiscal year 2024, total sales grew by 11%, with comparable store sales up by 4%, and adjusted EBIT margin increased by 100 basis points [2][4][5] Financial Performance - Q4 net income reached $261 million, translating to diluted EPS of $4.02, compared to $227 million and $3.53 per share in the same quarter last year [4][21] - For the fiscal year 2024, net income was $504 million, with diluted EPS of $7.80, marking a significant increase from $339 million and $5.23 per share in fiscal 2023 [4][21] - Adjusted EPS for Q4 was $4.13, exceeding guidance of $3.55 to $3.75, while adjusted EPS for the full year was $8.35, a 34% increase from the previous year [4][10] Sales and Margins - Total sales for Q4 were $3,272 million, a 10% increase on a 13-week basis compared to the previous year [5][21] - Gross margin for Q4 was $1,404 million, with a gross margin percentage of 42.9%, reflecting a 30 basis point improvement [5][21] - The company opened 101 net new stores in 2024 and relocated 31 older oversized locations, contributing to overall sales growth [2][4] Inventory and Liquidity - Merchandise inventories increased by 15% year-over-year to $1,251 million, while comparable store inventories decreased by 3% [8] - The company ended Q4 with $1,822 million in liquidity, including $995 million in unrestricted cash [11] Outlook for 2025 - For fiscal year 2025, the company expects total sales to increase by 6% to 8%, with comparable store sales projected to grow by 0% to 2% [12] - Capital expenditures are anticipated to be approximately $950 million, with plans to open around 100 net new stores [12] - Adjusted EPS is expected to range from $8.70 to $9.30, compared to $8.35 in the previous year [12]