At Home Group Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 Financial Results

At Home Group Inc. (NYSE: HOME), the home décor superstore, today announced its financial results for its second quarter ended July 25, 2020.

Lee Bird, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We delivered the best quarter in the Company’s history in terms of comparable store sales, profitability and free cash flow, as well as our lowest leverage ratio since our IPO. We believe many of the key factors driving our strong performance have continued into the third quarter of fiscal 2020. To that effect, Q3 has started off exceptionally well with quarter-to-date comparable store sales relatively in line with Q2, as we continue to gain market share.”

Mr. Bird continued, “As a team, we are focused on putting At Home in a strong position to generate consistent and predictable results over the long term. Our revised long-term strategy put in place last year is yielding positive results this year, and we believe it will continue to propel us going forward. In addition, the recent completion of our debt refinancing provides us financial flexibility, addresses a key investor concern, and along with strong results, puts us in our best financial shape since going public four years ago.”

For the Thirteen Weeks Ended July 25, 2020

• The Company opened 1 new store in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 and ended the quarter with 219 stores in 40 states. The Company has opened a net 15 stores since the second quarter of fiscal 2020, representing a 7.4% increase.
• Net sales increased 50.5% to $515.2 million from $342.3 million in the quarter ended July 27, 2019 driven by 42.3% increase in comparable store sales1 and the net increase in open stores. The increase in comparable store sales1 was driven by strong demand as we reopened our stores following the lifting of state and local restrictions related to COVID-19, and the continued rollout of our omni channel initiatives.
• Gross profit increased 95.3% to $196.1 million from $100.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Gross margin increased 880 basis points to 38.1% from 29.3% in the prior year period. The increase was primarily driven by leverage on our occupancy costs, depreciation expense and distribution center costs as a result of increase in comparable store sales.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) decreased $8.1 million or 10.6% to $68.6 million from $76.7 million in the prior year period, primarily due to our efforts to curtail spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, including on marketing and advertising, pre-opening and other variable costs. Adjusted SG&A1 decreased 10.8% to $67.2 million compared to $75.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Adjusted SG&A1 as a percentage of net sales improved by 900 basis points to 13.0% from 22.0%, primarily due to operating leverage and reduced spending during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Operating income was $125.2 million compared to $21.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Adjusted operating income1 was $126.7 million compared to $23.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Adjusted operating margin1 increased 1,780 basis points to 24.6% compared to 6.8% driven by the gross margin and adjusted SG&A1 factors described above.
• Interest expense decreased to $6.2 million from $8.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020, primarily due to a significant paydown of our revolving credit facility (“ABL Facility ”) and decreases in the average interest rates applicable to our variable rate debt during the period.
• Income tax expense was $29.7 million compared to $3.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. The effective tax rate was 24.9% compared to 23.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Net income was $89.4 million compared to $10.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Adjusted Net Income1 was $90.6 million compared to $11.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.
• EPS was $1.39 compared to $0.16 in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Pro forma adjusted EPS1 was $1.41 compared to $0.18 in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.
• Adjusted EBITDA1 was $159.7 million compared to $47.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

For the Twenty-six Weeks Ended July 25, 2020

• Net sales increased 8.7% to $705.1 million from $648.6 million in the first half of fiscal 2020, primarily driven by the net increase in open stores. Comparable store sales1 increased 0.3% driven by strong demand as we reopened our stores following the lifting of state and local mandates related to COVID-19, partially offset by lost sales due to mandated store closures in the first half of fiscal 2021.
• Gross profit increased 12.8% to $212.5 million from $188.4 million in the first half of fiscal 2020. Gross margin increased 100 basis points to 30.1% from 29.1% in the prior year period primarily due to a decrease in distribution center costs and lower freight expenses.
• SG&A decreased $18.5 million or 12.1% to $135.1 million compared to $153.6 million in the first half of fiscal 2020, primarily due to our efforts to curtail spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, including on marketing and advertising, pre-opening and other variable costs. Adjusted SG&A1 decreased $17.7 million or 11.7% to $133.7 million compared to $151.4 million in the first half of fiscal 2020. Adjusted SG&A1 as a percentage of net sales decreased 440 basis points primarily due to reduced spending during the COVID-19 pandemic and operating leverage due to increase in sales.
• Operating loss was $246.8 million compared to operating income of $47.7 million in the first half of fiscal 2020 primarily due to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $319.7 million recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and the impact of mandated store closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusted operating income1 increased 122.4% to $74.4 million from $33.5 million in the first half of fiscal 2020. Adjusted operating margin1 increased 540 basis points to 10.6% driven by the gross margin and adjusted SG&A1 factors described above.
• Interest expense decreased $2.9 million to $13.1 million from $16.0 million in the first half of fiscal 2020 due to reduced average borrowings under our ABL Facility in addition to decreases in the average interest rates applicable to our variable rate debt during the period.
• Income tax expense was $9.6 million compared to $7.4 million in the first half of fiscal 2020. The effective tax rate was (3.7)% compared to 23.4% in the first half of fiscal 2020. The effective tax rate for the first half of fiscal 2021 differed from the statutory rate primarily due to the tax impact of the non-cash goodwill impairment charge and net operating loss carryback provisions under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES” Act).
• Net loss was $269.5 million compared to net income of $24.3 million in the first half of fiscal 2020. Adjusted Net Income1 was $51.3 million compared to $13.3 million in the first half of fiscal 2020.
• EPS was $(4.20) compared to $0.37 in the first half of fiscal 2020. Pro forma adjusted EPS1 was $0.80 compared to $0.20 in the first half of fiscal 2020.
• Adjusted EBITDA1 increased 79.3% to $145.0 million from $80.9 million in the first half of fiscal 2020.

Sale-Leaseback Transactions

In July 2020, the Company sold three of its properties in Grand Chute, Wisconsin; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Lutz, Florida for a total of approximately $33 million. Contemporaneously, with the closing of the sale, the Company entered into leases pursuant to which we leased back the properties.

Balance Sheet Highlights as of July 25, 2020

• Net inventories decreased 30.0% to $305.5 million from $436.7 million as of July 27, 2019, primarily due to strong demand for our products as we reopened our stores following the lifting of state and local mandates related to COVID-19 and reduced inventory purchases during the time our stores were temporarily closed.
• Total liquidity was $305.8 million, including cash of $32.4 million and borrowings available under our ABL Facility of $273.4 million.
• Long-term debt was $359.5 million compared to $336.3 million as of July 27, 2019. There was no outstanding amount under our ABL Facility revolving credit loans as of July 25, 2020 compared to $276.4 million outstanding as of July 27, 2019.

Subsequent Events

• On August 20, 2020, the Company issued $275 million aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2025. Using the net proceeds of the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes together with cash on the balance sheet, the Company repaid all outstanding amounts under its existing term loan. The total outstanding amount on the term loan as of July 25, 2020 was $334.2 million.
• On August 28, 2020, certain subsidiaries of the Company entered into the Ninth Amendment to Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., which amended the ABL Agreement to, among other things, extend the maturity of revolving credit loans provided thereunder by three years to August 28, 2025.

Outlook & Key Assumptions

Given the unprecedented and continued uncertainty related to COVID-19, the Company is not providing third quarter and fiscal year 2021 guidance at this time.

Conference Call Details

A conference call to discuss the second quarter fiscal 2021 financial results is scheduled for today, September 1, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-877-407-0789 (international callers please dial 1-201-689-8562) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at investor.athome.com.

A recorded replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed online at investor.athome.com for 90 days.

Terminology

We define certain terms used in this release as follows:

"Adjusted EBITDA" means net income (loss) before net interest expense, income tax provision and depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of certain other items as defined in our debt agreements, including certain legal settlements and consulting and other professional fees, stock-based compensation expense, impairment charges, loss (gain) on sale-leaseback, non-cash rent and other adjustments.

“Adjusted Net Income” means net income (loss) , adjusted for impairment charges, loss (gain) on sale-leaseback, payroll tax expenses related to initial public offering non-cash stock-based compensation expense (the “IPO Grant”), the income tax impact associated with the IPO Grant stock option exercises and other adjustments, which include other transaction costs.

“Adjusted operating income” means operating income (loss), adjusted for impairment charges, loss (gain) on sale-leaseback, payroll tax expenses related to the IPO Grant stock option exercises and other adjustments, which include other transaction costs.

“Adjusted SG&A” means selling, general and administrative expenses adjusted for certain expenses, including payroll tax expenses related to the IPO Grant stock option exercises and other adjustments, which include other transaction costs.

"Comparable store sales" means, for any reporting period, the change in period-over-period net sales for the comparable store base, beginning with stores on the second day of the sixteenth full fiscal month following the store's opening. When a store is being relocated or remodeled, we exclude sales from that store in the calculation of comparable store sales until the first day of the sixteenth full fiscal month after it reopens. As it relates to At Home, “two-year comparable store sales basis” refers to the sum of the increase (decrease) in comparable store sales for each of the current and preceding fiscal years.

“EPS” means diluted earnings per share.

“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

“Pro-forma Adjusted EPS” means Adjusted Net Income divided by pro-forma diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

“Pro forma diluted weighted average shares outstanding” means diluted share count on a pro forma basis.

“Store-level Adjusted EBITDA” means Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted further to exclude the impact of costs associated with new store openings and certain corporate overhead expenses which we do not consider in our evaluation of the ongoing operating performance of our stores from period to period.

“Net Debt” includes borrowing under the revolving credit facility, current portion of long-term debt, long-term debt and financing obligations, less unamortized deferred debt issuance cost and cash and cash equivalents. Net Debt excludes operating lease liabilities recognized in accordance with ASC 842 Leases.

“Leverage ratio” means Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months.

“Free cash flow” means net cash provided by operating activities, less net cash used in investing activities.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "are confident", "assumed", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", “look forward”, "may", "might", "on track", “outlook”, "plan", "potential", "predict", “reaffirm”, "seek", "should", “trend” or "vision", or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In particular, statements about our assumptions for future financial performance, as well as statements about the markets in which we operate, expected new store openings, our real estate strategy, growth targets, potential growth opportunities, market share, impact of expected stock option exercises, future capital expenditures, and estimates of expenses we may incur in connection with equity incentive awards to management and our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects, assumptions or future events or performance contained in this document are forward-looking statements. Furthermore, statements contained in this document relating to the recent global outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the impact of which remains inherently uncertain on our financial results, are forward-looking statements.

We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including those factors described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 25, 2020 as well as those factors updated in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 25, 2020 and other reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and events in the industry in which we operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this release, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.

Any forward-looking statement that we make in this release speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this document.

About At Home Group Inc.

At Home (NYSE:HOME), the home decor superstore, offers more than 50,000 on-trend home products to fit any budget or style, from furniture, mirrors, rugs, art and housewares to tabletop, patio and seasonal decor. At Home is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and currently operates 219 stores in 40 states. For more information, please visit us online at investor.athome.com.

-Financial Tables to Follow-

Non-GAAP Measures

Certain financial measures presented in this release, such as comparable store sales, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, Adjusted Net Income, pro forma diluted weighted average shares outstanding, pro forma adjusted EPS and Store-level Adjusted EBITDA, are not recognized under GAAP.

We present comparable store sales, which is not a recognized financial measure under GAAP, because it allows us to evaluate how our store base is performing by measuring the change in period-over-period net sales in stores that have been open for the applicable period. We present Adjusted EBITDA and Store-level Adjusted EBITDA, which are not recognized financial measures under GAAP, because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance, such as interest, depreciation, amortization, loss on extinguishment of debt, impairment charges and taxes. We present adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, Adjusted Net Income, pro forma diluted weighted average shares outstanding and pro forma adjusted EPS, which are not recognized financial measures under GAAP, because we believe investors’ understanding of our operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of selling, general and administrative expenses, operating income, net income and earnings per diluted share adjusted for items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.

You are encouraged to evaluate each of these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating our non-GAAP measures, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in such presentations. In particular, Store-level Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect costs associated with new store openings, which are incurred on a limited basis with respect to any particular store when opened and are not indicative of ongoing core operating performance, and corporate overhead expenses that are necessary to allow us to effectively operate our stores and generate Store-level Adjusted EBITDA. Our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. There can be no assurance that we will not modify the presentation of our non-GAAP financial measures in the future, and any such modification may be material. In addition, comparable store sales, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, Adjusted Net Income, pro forma diluted weighted average shares outstanding, pro forma adjusted EPS and Store-level Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in our industry or across different industries.

Comparable store sales, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, Adjusted Net Income, pro forma diluted weighted average shares outstanding, pro forma adjusted EPS and Store-level Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools and you should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using comparable store sales, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, Adjusted Net Income, pro forma diluted weighted average shares outstanding, pro forma adjusted EPS and Store-level Adjusted EBITDA only as supplemental information.

AT HOME GROUP INC.
Supplemental Information - Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

The tables below reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, Adjusted Net Income, pro forma diluted weighted average shares outstanding, pro forma adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA and Store-level Adjusted EBITDA to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

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