VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 28, 2018.

The Company reported diluted earnings per share of $0.88 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. Excluding the impact of the ivivva restructuring and the U.S. tax reform, the Company reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.33.

The summary below provides both GAAP and adjusted non-GAAP financial measures. The adjusted financial measures exclude the impact of the ivivva restructuring, the provisional amounts recognized in connection with the U.S. tax reform, and certain other discrete tax items which were recognized during fiscal 2016.

For the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2018:

• Net revenue was $928.8 million, an increase of 18% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. On a constant dollar basis, net revenue increased 16%.
• Total comparable sales increased 12%, or increased 11% on a constant dollar basis.
  • Comparable store sales increased 2%, or increased 1% on a constant dollar basis.
  • Direct to consumer net revenue increased 44%, or increased 42% on a constant dollar basis.

• Gross profit was $522.5 million, an increase of 22% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted gross profit was $522.4 million, an increase of 22%.
• Gross margin was 56.3%, an increase of 210 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted gross margin was 56.2%, an increase of 200 basis points.
• Income from operations was $256.3 million, an increase of 30% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted income from operations increased $61.5 million, or 31%, to $258.1 million.
• Operating margin was 27.6%, an increase of 270 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted operating margin was 27.8%, an increase of 290 basis points.
• Income tax expense was $137.7 million compared to $61.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and the effective tax rate was 53.5% compared to 31.1%. The adjusted effective tax rate was 30.6% compared to 30.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Diluted earnings per share were $0.88 compared to $0.99 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.33 compared to $1.00 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

For the fiscal year ended January 28, 2018:

• Net revenue was $2.6 billion, an increase of 13% compared to fiscal 2016. On a constant dollar basis, net revenue increased 12%.
• Total comparable sales increased 7%, or increased 7% on a constant dollar basis.
  • Comparable store sales increased 1%, or increased 1% on a constant dollar basis.
  • Direct to consumer net revenue increased 27% or increased 27% on a constant dollar basis. Company-operated stores which have been open for at least one year averaged sales of $1,554 per square foot.

• Company-operated stores which have been open for at least one year averaged sales of $1,554 per square foot.

• Gross profit was $1.4 billion, an increase of 17% compared to fiscal 2016. Adjusted gross profit was $1.4 billion, an increase of 17%.
• Gross margin was 52.8%, an increase of 160 basis points compared to fiscal 2016. Adjusted gross margin was 53.1%, an increase of 190 basis points.
• Income from operations was $456.0 million, an increase of 8% compared to fiscal 2016. Adjusted income from operations increased $82.1 million, or 19%, to $503.2 million.
• Operating margin was 17.2%, a decrease of 80 basis points compared to fiscal 2016. Adjusted operating margin was 19.0%, an increase of 100 basis points.
• Income tax expense was $201.3 million compared to $119.3 million in fiscal 2016 and the effective tax rate was 43.8% compared to 28.2% for fiscal 2016. The adjusted effective tax rate was 30.5% compared to 30.7% for fiscal 2016.
• Diluted earnings per share were $1.90 compared to $2.21 in fiscal 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.59 compared to $2.14 in fiscal 2016.
• The Company repurchased 1.9 million shares of its own common stock at an average cost of $53.85 per share in fiscal 2017. These shares were repurchased under both the previous $100 million stock repurchase program which was completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 and the $200 million stock repurchase program which commenced in November 2017.

The Company ended fiscal 2017 with $990.5 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $734.8 million at the end of fiscal 2016. Inventories at the end of fiscal 2017 increased by 10% to $329.6 million compared to $298.4 million at the end of fiscal 2016. The Company ended the year with 404 stores.

Glenn Murphy, Executive Chairman of the Board, commented: "We are pleased with our results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017. The company continues to execute successfully on its global growth strategies and I would like to thank our entire team including Celeste, Stuart, and Sun for their leadership in driving this strong performance."

Stuart Haselden, Chief Operating Officer, also noted: "We are seeing strong momentum across our business as we now move into 2018, which is further positioning us to achieve our 2020 revenue goal of $4 billion. Importantly, we would like to thank our store educators, ambassadors, and the lululemon collective around the world for their energy and passion that is enabling our continued success."

Fiscal 2018 Outlook

For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we expect net revenue to be in the range of $612 million to $617 million based on a total comparable sales increase in the low double digits on a constant dollar basis. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.44 to $0.46 for the quarter. This guidance assumes 136.3 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding and a 29.0% tax rate. The guidance does not reflect potential future repurchases of the Company's shares or any further adjustments which may be recognized in connection with the U.S. tax reform.

For the full fiscal 2018, we expect net revenue to be in the range of $2.985 billion to $3.022 billion based on a total comparable sales increase in the mid-to-high single digits on a constant dollar basis. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $3.00 to $3.08 for the full year. This guidance assumes 136.3 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding and a 29.0% tax rate. The guidance does not reflect potential future repurchases of the Company's shares or any further adjustments which may be recognized in connection with the U.S. tax reform. Fiscal 2018 is a 53 week year.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss fiscal 2017 results is scheduled for today, March 27, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Those interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-855-327-6838 or 1-604-235-2082, if calling internationally, approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online at: http://investor.lululemon.com/events.cfm. A replay will be made available online approximately two hours following the live call for a period of 30 days.

About lululemon athletica inc.

lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is a healthy lifestyle inspired athletic apparel company for yoga, running, training, and most other sweaty pursuits, creating transformational products and experiences which enable people to live a life they love. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional designs, lululemon works with yogis and athletes in local communities for continuous research and product feedback. For more information, visit www.lululemon.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Constant dollar changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and direct to consumer net revenue, and the adjusted financial results are non-GAAP financial measures.

A constant dollar basis assumes the average foreign exchange rates for the period remained constant with the average foreign exchange rates for the same period of the prior year. We provide constant dollar changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and direct to consumer net revenue because we use these measures to understand the underlying growth rate of net revenue excluding the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates. We believe that disclosing these measures on a constant dollar basis is useful to investors because it enables them to better understand the level of growth of our business.

Adjusted gross profit, gross margin, income from operations, operating margin, income tax expense, effective tax rates, and diluted earnings per share exclude the costs recognized in connection with the restructuring of our ivivva operations and its related tax effects, the amounts recognized in connection with the U.S. tax reform, and certain discrete items related to our transfer pricing arrangements and taxes on repatriation of foreign earnings. We believe these adjusted financial measures are useful to investors as the adjustments do not directly relate to our ongoing business operations and therefore do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the trend in our operating performance. Furthermore, we do not believe the adjustments are reflective of our expectations of our future operating performance and believe these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors because of their comparability to our historical information.

The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or with greater prominence to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in the accompanying financial tables, which includes more detail on the GAAP financial measure that is most directly comparable to each non-GAAP financial measure, and the related reconciliations between these financial measures.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "outlook," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements also include our guidance and outlook statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations but they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: our ability to maintain the value and reputation of our brand; the acceptability of our products to our guests; our highly competitive market and increasing competition; our reliance on and limited control over third-party suppliers to provide fabrics for and to produce our products; an economic downturn or economic uncertainty in our key markets; increasing product costs and decreasing selling prices; our ability to anticipate consumer preferences and successfully develop and introduce new, innovative and updated products; our ability to accurately forecast guest demand for our products; our ability to safeguard against security breaches with respect to our information technology systems; any material disruption of our information systems; our ability to have technology-based systems function effectively and grow our e-commerce business globally; the fluctuating costs of raw materials; our ability to expand internationally in light of our limited operating experience and limited brand recognition in new international markets; our ability to deliver our products to the market and to meet guest expectations if we have problems with our distribution system; imitation by our competitors; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; the continued service of our senior management and our ability to identify and attract our next Chief Executive Officer; changes in tax laws or unanticipated tax liabilities; our ability to manage our growth and the increased complexity of our business effectively; our ability to cancel store leases if an existing or new store is not profitable; our ability to source our merchandise profitably or at all if new trade restrictions are imposed or existing trade restrictions become more burdensome; increasing labor costs and other factors associated with the production of our products in South and South East Asia; the operations of many of our suppliers are subject to international and other risks; our ability to successfully open new store locations in a timely manner; our ability to comply with trade and other regulations; seasonality; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; conflicting trademarks and the prevention of sale of certain products; our exposure to various types of litigation; actions of activist stockholders; anti-takeover provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws; and other risks and uncertainties set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov, including, without limitation, our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

lululemon athletica inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Unaudited

Constant dollar changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and direct to consumer net revenue

The below changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and direct to consumer net revenue show the net change for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

The below changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and direct to consumer net revenue show the net change for fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2016.

Adjusted Financial Measures

The following tables reconcile adjusted financial measures with the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The adjustments relate to the restructuring of our ivivva operations and its related tax effects, the amounts recognized in connection with the U.S. tax reform, and certain discrete items related to our transfer pricing arrangements and taxes on repatriation of foreign earnings. Please refer to Notes 13 and 14 to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of our Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC on or about March 27, 2018 for further information on these adjustments.

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Investors:
lululemon athletica inc.
Howard Tubin, 1-604-732-6124
or
ICR, Inc.
Joseph Teklits/Caitlin Morahan
1-203-682-8200
or
Media:
lululemon athletica inc.
Erin Hankinson, 1-604-732-6124
or
Brunswick Group
Ash Spiegelberg, 1-214-254-3790

Source: lululemon athletica inc.

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