Duluth Holdings Inc. (dba, Duluth Trading Company) (“Duluth Trading” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DLTH), a lifestyle brand of men’s and women’s workwear, casual wear, outdoor apparel and accessories, today announced its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended July 28, 2024.

Summary of the Second Quarter Ended July 28, 2024

  • Net sales of 141.6 million increased 1.8% compared to the prior year second quarter
  • Net loss of $3.7 million and adjusted net loss1 of $0.6 million, compared to net loss of $2.0 million in the prior year second quarter. Adjusted net loss of $0.6 million excludes $1.6 million of restructuring expense and a $2.4 million non-recurring estimated sales tax expense accrual that is reflected in Selling, general and administrative expenses
  • EPS per diluted share of ($0.11); Adjusted EPS1 of ($0.02)
  • Adjusted EBITDA2 increased $2.0 million from the prior year to $10.6 million, representing 7.5% of net sales

1See Reconciliation of net loss to adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss to adjusted EPS in the accompanying financial tables.2See Reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA in the accompanying financial tables.

Management Commentary

President and CEO, Sam Sato commented, “We are pleased to have returned to top-line growth in the second quarter, while also expanding our gross margin as we begin to see the benefits of our product development and sourcing initiatives. During the quarter we saw a trend line improvement in both traffic and transactions with healthy shopper conversion, fueling 1.8% year-over-year net sales growth. The quarter strength was highlighted by product innovation wins including Dry on the Fly, Armachillo and DuluthFlex Fire Hose Sweat Management.

“We entered the third quarter with a strong lineup of newness such as Duluth Reserve, Bullpen 3D and Souped up Sweats and we expanded our Plus size assortment including our successful Adjustabust, a bonded zip-front bra with a sleek silhouette and criss-crossed back offering extra support and security. On August 10th we successfully hosted our second underwear trade-up event engaging with existing and new customers throughout our local store markets. The event generated a lot of buzz and resulted in a jump in traffic, higher overall sales, and 40% of trade ups from our female shoppers, which remains a key strategic growth opportunity for Duluth.”

Sato concluded, “From a longer-term structural update, we have successfully moved into phase two of our fulfillment center network plan to maximize productivity and capacity. The tremendous success we are seeing with our near fully automated fulfillment center in Adairsville, Georgia, which processed 58% of total company volume during the first of half of our fiscal year, allowed for the planned exit of our Dubuque fulfillment center this October. Importantly, we will begin to realize the SG&A benefits in Q4.”

Operating Results for the Second Quarter Ended July 28, 2024

Net sales increased 1.8% to $141.6 million, compared to $139.1 million in the same period a year ago. Direct to-consumer net sales increased by 5.6% to $91.7 million primarily driven by higher site conversion compared to the prior year. Retail store net sales decreased by 4.4% to $49.9 million due to slower store traffic, partially offset by strong conversion rates.

Gross profit increased to $74.0 million, or 52.3% of net sales up 90 basis points, compared to $71.5 million, or 51.4% of net sales, in the corresponding prior year period driven by our sourcing initiative.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 4.6% to $76.3 million, compared to $72.9 million in the same period a year ago. The increase included the $2.4 million non-recurring estimated sales tax expense. Excluding this non-recurring expense, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.0 million to $73.9 million, representing 52.2% of net sales and leveraging 20 basis points compared to the prior year.

As part of the Company’s in-depth review of the retail portfolio strategy, fulfillment center network, and benchmarking to identify structural opportunities to improve operating margin, working capital, and asset efficiency, in the second quarter of 2024, the Company began phase two of the fulfillment center network plan to maximize productivity and capacity. As a result, the Company initiated a lease amendment for one of its legacy fulfillment centers to accelerate the lease expiration date from September 2030 to October 2024.

The Company expects to incur total restructuring expenses related to the lease amendment of $7.4 million during the second and third quarters of 2024, $1.6 million of which was recognized during the second quarter. The Company expects a total cash outlay of approximately $4.4 million related to this initiative, including $1.7 million to be paid in the current fiscal year.

Exiting the legacy facility is projected to reduce overhead expenses by approximately $1.2 million during the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year. The Company expects an expense reduction of approximately $5.0 million and cash savings of $4.0 million annually. 

As previously mentioned, during the third quarter last year, the Company went live with a highly automated fulfillment center in Adairsville, Georgia which now processes 58% of all online orders and replenishment volume. The Adairsville facility has shortened delivery times while driving lower cost per unit to fulfill an order, which was 32% of the cost of the three legacy fulfillment centers over the first half of the year. The success and productivity from the critical Adairsville facility investment has allowed the Company to accelerate phase two of its overall fulfillment center network plan.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The Company ended the quarter with $9.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, net working capital of $79.8 million, no outstanding debt on the Duluth Trading $200 million revolving line of credit and $209.8 million of liquidity.

Fiscal 2024 Outlook

The Company reaffirmed its fiscal 2024 outlook, excluding restructuring expense and sales tax expense accrual:

  • Net sales of approximately $640 million
  • Adjusted EPS1 of approximately ($0.22) per diluted share
  • Adjusted EBITDA2 of approximately $39 million
  • Capital expenditures, inclusive of software hosting implementation costs, of approximately $25 million

1See Reconciliation of forecasted net loss to forecasted adjusted net loss and forecasted adjusted net loss to forecasted adjusted EPS in the accompanying financial tables.2See Reconciliation of forecasted net loss to forecasted EBITDA and forecasted EBITDA to forecasted Adjusted EBITDA in the accompanying financial tables.

Conference Call Information

A conference call and audio webcast with analysts and investors will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 9:30 am Eastern Time, to discuss the results and answer questions.

  • Live conference call: 844-875-6915 (domestic) or 412-317-6711 (international)
  • Conference call replay available through September 5, 2024: 877-344-7529 (domestic) or 412-317-0088 (international)
  • Replay access code: 5705373
  • Live and archived webcast: ir.duluthtrading.com

Investors can pre-register for the earnings conference call to expedite their entry into the call and avoid waiting for a live operator. To pre-register for the call, please visit https://dpregister.com/sreg/10191086/fd20abea22 and enter your contact information. You will then be issued a personalized phone number and pin to dial into the live conference call. Investors can pre-register any time prior to the start of the conference call.

About Duluth Trading

Duluth Trading is a lifestyle brand for the Modern, Self-Reliant American. Based in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, we offer high quality, solution-based casual wear, workwear and accessories for men and women who lead a hands-on lifestyle and who value a job well-done. We provide our customers an engaging and entertaining experience. Our marketing incorporates humor and storytelling that conveys the uniqueness of our products in a distinctive, fun way, and are available through our content-rich website, catalogs, and “store like no other” retail locations. We are committed to outstanding customer service backed by our “No Bull Guarantee” - if it’s not right, we’ll fix it. Visit our website at http://www.duluthtrading.com.

Non-GAAP Measurements

Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures may be useful in certain instances to provide additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. Within this release, including the tables attached hereto, reference is made to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), adjusted net loss and adjusted earnings per share (EPS). See attached table “Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA,” for a reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended July 28, 2024, versus the three and six months ended July 30, 2023 and attached table “Reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss to Adjusted EPS,” for a reconciliation of net loss to adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss to adjusted EPS for the three and six months ended July 28, 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA is a metric used by management and frequently used by the financial community, which provides insight into an organization’s operating trends and facilitates comparisons between peer companies, since interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization can differ greatly between organizations as a result of differing capital structures and tax strategies. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain items that are unusual in nature or not comparable from period to period.

Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted EPS is a metric used by management and frequently used by the financial community, which provides insight into the effectiveness of our business strategies and to compare our performance against that of peer companies. Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted EPS excludes restructuring expenses and a one-time estimated sales tax accrual that are not comparable from period to period.

The Company provides this information to investors to assist in comparisons of past, present and future operating results and to assist in highlighting the results of on-going operations. While the Company’s management believes that non-GAAP measurements are useful supplemental information, such adjusted results are not intended to replace the Company’s GAAP financial results and should be read in conjunction with those GAAP results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements concerning Duluth Trading's plans, objectives, goals, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, its results of operations, financial position and its business outlook, business trends and certain other information herein, including statements under the heading “Fiscal 2024 Outlook” are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” ”might,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “predict,” “intend,” “future,” “budget,” “goals,” “potential,” “continue,” “design,” “objective,” “forecasted,” “would” and other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon Duluth Trading's current expectations, beliefs, estimates, and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Duluth Trading's control. Duluth Trading's expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith, and Duluth Trading believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, and projections will be achieved and actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, among others, the risks, uncertainties, and factors set forth under Part 1, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 22, 2024 and other factors as may be periodically described in Duluth Trading’s subsequent filings with the SEC. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of inflation and measures to control inflation on our results of operations; the prolonged effects of economic uncertainties on store and website traffic and disruptions to our distribution network, supply chains and operations; our ability to maintain and enhance a strong brand and sub-brand image; adapting to declines in consumer confidence, inflation and decreases in consumer spending; disruptions in our e-commerce platform; effectively adapting to new challenges associated with our expansion into new geographic markets; our ability to meet customer delivery time expectations; natural disasters, unusually adverse weather conditions, boycotts, prolonged public health crises, epidemics or pandemics and unanticipated events; generating adequate cash from our existing stores and direct sales to support our growth; the impact of changes in corporate tax regulations and sales tax; identifying and responding to new and changing customer preferences; the success of the locations in which our stores are located; effectively relying on sources for merchandise located in foreign markets; transportation delays and interruptions, including port congestion; inability to timely and effectively obtain shipments of products from our suppliers and deliver merchandise to our customers; the inability to maintain the performance of a maturing store portfolio; our inability to deploy marketing tactics to strengthen brand awareness and attract new customers in a cost effective manner; our ability to successfully open new stores; competing effectively in an environment of intense competition; our ability to adapt to significant changes in sales due to the seasonality of our business; price reductions or inventory shortages resulting from failure to purchase the appropriate amount of inventory in advance of the season in which it will be sold; the potential for further increases in price and availability of raw materials; our dependence on third-party vendors to provide us with sufficient quantities of merchandise at acceptable prices; the susceptibility of the price and availability of our merchandise to international trade conditions; failure of our vendors and their manufacturing sources to use acceptable labor or other practices; our dependence upon key executive management or our inability to hire or retain the talent required for our business; increases in costs of fuel or other energy, transportation or utility costs and in the costs of labor and employment; failure of our information technology systems to support our current and growing business, before and after our planned upgrades; disruptions in our supply chain and fulfillment centers; our inability to protect our trademarks or other intellectual property rights; infringement on the intellectual property of third parties; acts of war, terrorism or civil unrest; the impact of governmental laws and regulations and the outcomes of legal proceedings; changes in U.S. and non-U.S. laws affecting the importation and taxation of goods, including imposition of unilateral tariffs on imported goods; our ability to secure the personal and/or financial information of our customers and employees; our ability to comply with the security standards for the credit card industry; our failure to maintain adequate internal controls over our financial and management systems; acquisition, disposition, and development risks; and other factors that may be disclosed in our SEC filings or otherwise. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. Duluth Trading assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events or circumstances or other changes affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

(Tables Follow)***

DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands)
                   
    July 28, 2024   January 28, 2024   July 30, 2023
                   
ASSETS                  
Current Assets:                  
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 9,787     $ 32,157     $ 11,148  
Receivables     8,318       5,955       5,758  
Income tax receivable     313       617       140  
Inventory, net     168,718       125,757       157,126  
Prepaid expenses & other current assets     19,722       16,488       17,665  
Total current assets     206,858       180,974       191,837  
Property and equipment, net     121,148       132,718       125,970  
Operating lease right-of-use assets     107,799       121,430       126,132  
Finance lease right-of-use assets, net     34,646       40,315       45,742  
Available-for-sale security     4,877       4,986       5,254  
Other assets, net     8,961       9,020       7,853  
Deferred tax assets     4,306       1,010       353  
Total assets   $ 488,595     $ 490,453     $ 503,141  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                  
Current liabilities:                  
Trade accounts payable   $ 77,600     $ 51,122     $ 59,259  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     30,069       30,930       28,215  
Current portion of operating lease liabilities     16,027       16,401       15,993  
Current portion of finance lease liabilities     2,450       3,149       2,964  
Current maturities of TRI long-term debt1     888       847       807  
Total current liabilities     127,034       102,449       107,238  
Operating lease liabilities, less current maturities     92,275       106,413       110,999  
Finance lease liabilities, less current maturities     31,911       34,276       35,906  
TRI long-term debt, less current maturities1     24,723       25,141       25,538  
Total liabilities     275,943       268,279       279,681  
Shareholders' equity:                  
Treasury stock     (2,243 )     (1,738 )     (1,733 )
Capital stock     106,169       103,579       101,415  
Retained earnings     112,199       123,816       127,299  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net     (436 )     (427 )     (295 )
Total shareholders' equity of Duluth Holdings Inc.     215,689       225,230       226,686  
Noncontrolling interest     (3,037 )     (3,056 )     (3,226 )
Total shareholders' equity     212,652       222,174       223,460  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $ 488,595     $ 490,453     $ 503,141  

1Represents debt of the variable interest entity, TRI Holdings, LLC, that is consolidated in accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation. Duluth Holdings Inc. is not the guarantor nor the obligor of this debt.

DULUTH HOLDING INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations(Unaudited)(Amounts in thousands, except per share figures)
                         
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    July 28, 2024   July 30, 2023   July 28, 2024   July 30, 2023
Net sales   $ 141,619     $ 139,099     $ 258,303     $ 262,858  
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization)     67,623       67,616       122,683       125,724  
Gross profit     73,996       71,483       135,620       137,134  
Selling, general and administrative expenses1     76,286       72,926       146,881       143,126  
Restructuring expense     1,596             1,596        
Operating loss     (3,886 )     (1,443 )     (12,857 )     (5,992 )
Interest expense     988       880       1,981       1,814  
Other income, net     145       109       161       257  
Loss before income taxes     (4,729 )     (2,214 )     (14,677 )     (7,549 )
Income tax benefit     (996 )     (202 )     (3,079 )     (1,660 )
Net loss     (3,733 )     (2,012 )     (11,598 )     (5,889 )
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest     11       (8 )     19       (16 )
Net loss attributable to controlling interest   $ (3,744 )   $ (2,004 )   $ (11,617 )   $ (5,873 )
Basic earnings per share (Class A and Class B):                        
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding     33,367       32,952       33,247       32,912  
Net loss per share attributable to controlling interest   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.35 )   $ (0.18 )
Diluted earnings per share (Class A and Class B):                        
Weighted average shares and equivalents outstanding     33,367       32,952       33,247       32,912  
Net loss per share attributable to controlling interest   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.35 )   $ (0.18 )

1In conjunction with ongoing state sales tax audits the Company began a review of its sales tax positions. As a result of the review, the Company recorded an estimated sales tax expense accrual of $2.4M that is reflected in Selling, general and administrative expenses.

DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows(Unaudited)(Amounts in thousands)
             
    Six Months Ended
    July 28, 2024   July 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:            
Net loss   $ (11,598 )   $ (5,889 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:            
Depreciation and amortization     16,297       14,868  
Stock based compensation     2,383       2,284  
Deferred income taxes     (3,293 )     (1,553 )
Loss on disposal of property and equipment     77       16  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:            
Receivables     (2,363 )     283  
Income taxes receivable     304       (140 )
Inventory     (42,961 )     (2,204 )
Prepaid expense & other current assets     130       (1,351 )
Software hosting implementation costs, net     (3,406 )     (370 )
Trade accounts payable     26,623       2,716  
Income taxes payable           (1,761 )
Accrued expenses and deferred rent obligations     (591 )     (7,343 )
Other assets     (2 )     (20 )
Noncash lease impacts     1,348       (785 )
Net cash used in operating activities     (17,052 )     (1,249 )
Cash flows from investing activities:            
Purchases of property and equipment     (3,183 )     (31,483 )
Principal receipts from available-for-sale security     97       88  
Net cash used in investing activities     (3,086 )     (31,395 )
Cash flows from financing activities:            
Proceeds from line of credit     40,500       10,000  
Payments on line of credit     (40,500 )     (10,000 )
Payments on TRI long term debt     (412 )     (373 )
Payments on finance lease obligations     (1,521 )     (1,397 )
Payments of tax withholding on vested restricted shares     (505 )     (274 )
Other     206       288  
Net cash used in financing activities     (2,232 )     (1,756 )
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (22,370 )     (34,400 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     32,157       45,548  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 9,787     $ 11,148  
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:            
Interest paid   $ 1,981     $ 1,814  
Income taxes paid   $ 125     $ 1,795  
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information:            
Unpaid liability to acquire property and equipment   $ 1,459     $ 1,336  

DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDAFor the Fiscal Quarter and Six Months Ended July 28, 2024 and July 30, 2023(Unaudited)(Amounts in thousands)
                         
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    July 28, 2024   July 30, 2023   July 28, 2024   July 30, 2023
(in thousands)                        
Net loss   $ (3,733 )   $ (2,012 )   $ (11,598 )   $ (5,889 )
Depreciation and amortization     8,046       7,455       16,297       14,868  
Amortization of internal-use software hosting                        
subscription implementation costs     1,292       1,150       2,462       2,420  
Interest expense     988       880       1,981       1,814  
Income tax benefit     (996 )     (202 )     (3,079 )     (1,660 )
EBITDA   $ 5,597     $ 7,271     $ 6,063     $ 11,553  
Stock based compensation     1,011       1,294       2,383       2,284  
Restructuring expense     1,596             1,596        
Sales tax expense accrual     2,406             2,406        
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 10,610     $ 8,565     $ 12,448     $ 13,837  

DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.Reconciliation of Forecasted Net Loss to Forecasted EBITDA and Forecasted EBITDA to Forecasted Adjusted EBITDAFor the Fiscal Year Ending February 2, 2025(Unaudited)(Amounts in thousands)
       
Forecasted      
Net loss   $ (14,800 )
Depreciation and amortization     33,200  
Amortization of internal-use software hosting subscription implementation costs     5,000  
Interest expense     5,450  
Income tax benefit     (4,350 )
EBITDA   $ 24,500  
Stock based compensation     4,694  
Restructuring expense     7,400  
Sales tax expense accrual     2,406  
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 39,000  

DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.Reconciliation of Forecasted Net Loss to Forecasted Adjusted Net Loss and Forecasted Adjusted Net Loss to Forecasted Adjusted EPSFor the Fiscal Year Ending February 2, 2025(Unaudited)(Amounts in thousands)
             
Forecasted            
(in thousands, except per share amounts)     Amount     Per share
Forecasted Net Loss   $ (14,800 )   $ (0.45 )
Plus: Forecasted income tax benefit     (4,350 )     (0.13 )
Forecasted Net loss before income taxes   $ (19,150 )   $ (0.58 )
Plus: Forecasted restructuring expenses     7,400       0.22  
Plus: Sales tax expense accrual     2,406       0.07  
Forecasted Adjusted loss before income taxes   $ (9,344 )   $ (0.28 )
Forecasted Adjusted estimated income tax benefit     (1,944 )     (0.06 )
Forecasted Adjusted net loss   $ (7,400 )   $ (0.22 )

DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.Reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss to Adjusted EPSFor the Fiscal Quarter and Six Months Ended July 28, 2024(Unaudited)(Amounts in thousands)
                         
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
    July 28, 2024     July 28, 2024
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   Amount     Per share       Amount     Per share
Net Loss $ (3,733 )   $ (0.11 )     $ (11,598 )   $ (0.35 )
Plus: Income tax benefit   (996 )     (0.03 )       (3,079 )     (0.09 )
Net loss before income taxes $ (4,729 )   $ (0.14 )     $ (14,677 )   $ (0.44 )
Plus: Restructuring expenses   1,596       0.05         1,596       0.05  
Plus: Sales tax expense accrual   2,406       0.07         2,406       0.07  
Adjusted loss before income taxes $ (727 )   $ (0.02 )     $ (10,675 )   $ (0.32 )
Adjusted estimated income tax benefit   (159 )     (0.00 )       (2,242 )     (0.07 )
Adjusted net loss $ (568 )   $ (0.02 )     $ (8,433 )   $ (0.25 )

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/258f8294-62c0-412d-b897-efc33dd32268

Investor Contacts:
Tom Filandro
ICR, Inc.
(646) 277-1200
DuluthIR@icrinc.com
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