Columbia Reports Record Second Quarter & First Half 2019 Financial Results; Updates FY 2019 Financial Outlook

Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ: COLM), a leading innovator in active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment, today announced second quarter 2019 financial results for the period ended June 30, 2019.

Second Quarter 2019 Highlights

• Net sales increased 9 percent (11 percent constant-currency) compared to second quarter 2018, to a record $526.2 million.

• Gross margin expanded 70 basis points to a record 48.2 percent of net sales, compared to second quarter 2018 gross margin of 47.5 percent of net sales.

• Operating income increased 68 percent to a record $16.4 million and operating margin expanded 110 basis points to 3.1 percent of net sales, compared to second quarter 2018 operating income of $9.7 million, or 2.0 percent of net sales. Compared to non-GAAP second quarter 2018 operating income of $11.6 million, or 2.4 percent of net sales, operating income increased 41 percent and operating margin expanded 70 basis points.

• Earnings per diluted share increased 143 percent to a record $0.34, compared to second quarter 2018 earnings per diluted share of $0.14. Compared to non-GAAP second quarter 2018 earnings per diluted share of $0.16, earnings per diluted share increased 113 percent. Diluted earnings per share includes $0.11 of one-time tax benefits primarily related to the passage of a Swiss tax reform package.

Full Year 2019 Financial Outlook

(Financial outlook details can be found in the "Supplemental Financial Information" section and CFO Commentary document).

• Net sales of $3.00 to $3.04 billion (prior $2.98 to $3.04 billion), representing net sales growth of 7.0 to 8.5 percent (prior 6.5 to 8.5 percent). The net sales outlook includes a foreign currency translation impact that is anticipated to reduce net sales growth by approximately 90 basis points.

• Operating income of $388 to $396 million (prior $378 to $391 million), representing operating margin of 12.9 to 13.0 percent (prior 12.7 to 12.9 percent).

• Diluted earnings per share of $4.65 to $4.75 (prior $4.40 to $4.55).

Throughout this press release, amounts stated to be non-GAAP exclude items described in the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below. Additionally, constant-currency net sales, a non-GAAP financial measure, is referenced throughout this press release. Please see the "Supplemental Financial Information" section and financial tables included below for a more detailed description of this and other non-GAAP financial measures

President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Boyle commented, "2019 is shaping up to be another great year for Columbia Sportswear Company. Momentum across our diverse brand portfolio, distribution channels and regions along with Project CONNECT financial benefits fueled record second quarter and first half financial performance. The Columbia brand generated double-digit constant-currency growth in the quarter and the first half of the year, led by U.S. wholesale and direct-to-consumer performance. SOREL’s progress towards becoming a year-round brand is evident in the success of Spring 2019 styles, which contributed to greater than 30 percent constant-currency growth in the quarter and first half of the year. After several challenging years, Mountain Hardwear generated double-digit constant-currency growth in the quarter and is poised for continued growth in the second half of the year."

"As we enter the second half of 2019, our brand, channel, geographic and supply chain diversification positions us for continued profitable growth despite global economic and trade uncertainty. Our first half results, Fall 2019 advance orders and current business momentum position us to deliver another record year of growth and profitability."

“Our profitable growth trajectory and fortress balance sheet, with cash and short-term investments of over $500 million and no long-term debt, provide a foundation of strength and confidence from which we will continue investing in our strategic priorities to:

• drive brand awareness and sales growth through increased, focused demand creation investments;
• enhance consumer experience and digital capabilities in all our channels and geographies;
• expand and improve global direct-to-consumer operations with supporting processes and systems; and
• invest in our people and optimize our organization across our portfolio of brands."

"We are making these investments to build on our strengths as a brand-led, consumer-focused organization and to enable sustainable long-term profitable growth."

CFO's Commentary Available Online

For a detailed review of the Company's second quarter and first half 2019 financial results and full year 2019 financial outlook please refer to the CFO Commentary exhibit furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Form 8‑K and published on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://investor.columbia.com/results.cfm at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET today. Analysts and investors are encouraged to review this commentary prior to participating in the conference call.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Throughout this press release, non-GAAP amounts in second quarter 2018 exclude $1.9 million in Project CONNECT expenses and discrete costs ($1.4 million net of tax) and $0.1 million in incremental income tax expense related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). References to non-GAAP financial measures in first half 2018 exclude $12.9 million in Project CONNECT program expenses and discrete costs ($9.8 million net of tax), and $1.2 million in incremental provisional income tax expense related to the TCJA. These excluded items were not applicable to second quarter and first half 2019 results.

Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results

(All comparisons are between second quarter 2019 and second quarter 2018, unless otherwise noted.)

Please note the second quarter is our lowest volume sales quarter and small changes in the timing of product shipments and expenses can have a material impact on reported results.

Net sales increased 9 percent (11 percent constant-currency) to $526.2 million, from $481.6 million for the comparable period in 2018.

Gross margin expanded 70 basis points to 48.2 percent of net sales, from 47.5 percent for the comparable period in 2018.

SG&A expenses increased 8 percent to $240.8 million, or 45.8 percent of net sales, from $222.2 million, or 46.1 percent of net sales, for the comparable period in 2018. SG&A expenses increased 9 percent from non-GAAP SG&A expenses of $220.3 million, or 45.7 percent of net sales, for the comparable period in 2018.

Operating income increased 68 percent to $16.4 million, or 3.1 percent of net sales, from $9.7 million, or 2.0 percent of net sales, for the comparable period in 2018. Operating income increased 41 percent from non-GAAP operating income of $11.6 million, or 2.4 percent of sales, for the comparable period in 2018.

Net income increased 137 percent to $23.0 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, from $9.7 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2018. Net income increased 104 percent from non-GAAP net income of $11.3 million, or $0.16 per diluted share for the comparable period in 2018. Diluted earnings per share includes $0.11 of one-time tax benefits primarily related to the passage of a Swiss tax reform package which resulted in a one-time tax benefit of $6.6 million. Second quarter 2019 net income also includes the benefit of full ownership of our China business, which became a wholly owned subsidiary effective January 2019. In second quarter 2018, the non-controlling interest share of net income was $0.8 million, or $0.01 per diluted share.

First Half 2019 Financial Results

(All comparisons are between first half 2019 and first half 2018, unless otherwise noted).

Net sales increased 8 percent (10 percent constant-currency) to $1,180.8 million, compared to $1,088.9 million for the comparable period in 2018.

Gross margin expanded 150 basis points to 50.0 percent of net sales, from 48.5 percent for the comparable period in 2018.

SG&A expenses increased 6 percent to $492.5 million, or 41.7 percent of net sales, from $465.6 million, or 42.8 percent of net sales, for the comparable period in 2018. SG&A expenses increased 9 percent from non-GAAP SG&A expenses of $452.7 million, or 41.6 percent of net sales, for the comparable period in 2018.

Operating income increased 51 percent to $104.3 million, representing 8.8 percent of net sales, compared to operating income of $69.1 million, or 6.3 percent of net sales, for the comparable period in 2018. Operating income increased 27 percent from non-GAAP operating income of $81.9 million, or 7.5 percent of net sales, for the comparable period in 2018.

Net income increased 77 percent to $97.2 million, or $1.41 per diluted share, compared to $54.8 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2018. Net income increased 48 percent from non-GAAP net income of $65.8 million, or $0.93 per diluted share for the comparable period in 2018. First half 2019 net income includes the benefit of full ownership of our China business, which became a wholly owned subsidiary effective January 2019. In first half 2018, the non-controlling interest share of net income was $4.4 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.

Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2019

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $524.3 million, compared to $774.7 million at June 30, 2018.

Inventories increased 33 percent to $756.4 million, compared to $570.5 million at June 30, 2018, resulting from earlier receipts of Fall 2019 inventory in order to alleviate manufacturing capacity constraints and, to a lesser degree, increased volume to support business growth.

Share Repurchases for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

The Company repurchased 1,032,972 shares of common stock for an aggregate of $100.4 million, or $97.22 average price per share.

Regular Quarterly Cash Dividend

At its regular board meeting on July 19, 2019, the board of directors authorized a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on August 29, 2019 to shareholders of record on August 15, 2019.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET today to review its second quarter and first half 2019 financial results and full year 2019 financial outlook. Dial (877) 407-9205 to participate. The call will also be webcast live on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://investor.columbia.com.

Third Quarter 2019 Reporting Schedule

Columbia Sportswear Company plans to report third quarter and year-to-date 2019 financial results on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET. Following issuance of the earnings release, a commentary reviewing the Company's third quarter 2019 financial results will be furnished to the SEC on Form 8-K and published on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://investor.columbia.com/results.cfm. A public webcast of Columbia's earnings conference call will follow at 5:00 p.m. ET at http://investor.columbia.com.

Supplemental Financial Information

Since Columbia Sportswear Company is a global company, the comparability of its operating results reported in U.S. dollars is affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations because the underlying currencies in which it transacts change in value over time compared to the U.S. dollar. To supplement financial information reported in accordance with GAAP, the Company discloses constant-currency net sales information, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to provide a framework to assess how the business performed excluding the effects of changes in the exchange rates used to translate net sales generated in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars. The Company calculates constant-currency net sales by translating net sales in foreign currencies for the current period into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates that were in effect during the comparable period of the prior year. Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure reflects an additional and useful way of viewing an aspect of our operations that, when viewed in conjunction with our GAAP results, provides a more comprehensive understanding of our business and operations. In particular, investors may find the non-GAAP measures useful by reviewing our net sales results without the volatility in foreign currency exchange rates. This non-GAAP financial measure also facilitates management's internal comparisons to our historical net sales results and comparisons to competitors' net sales results.

Additionally, this document includes references to various other non-GAAP financial measures related to 2018 that may exclude program expenses, discrete costs and associated tax effects related to Project CONNECT, TCJA-related income tax expense, and a recovery in connection with an insurance claim and related tax effects. The related tax effects of program expenses and discrete costs related to Project CONNECT and the insurance claim recovery benefit were calculated using the respective statutory tax rates for applicable jurisdictions. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures enable useful and meaningful comparisons of our operating performance from period to period because they exclude the effects of the aforementioned items above that may not be indicative of our core operating results.

These non-GAAP financial measures, including constant-currency net sales, should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of or superior to, our financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company provides a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. See the "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures" table included herein. The non-GAAP financial measures and constant-currency information presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.