•Company delivered decade-high first quarter net sales led by 14% growth from Abercrombie brands

•Gross profit rate up 570 basis points over Q1 2022, driving operating margin above expectations

•Inventory levels down 20% year-over-year from supply chain recovery and return of chase capability

•Company increases full year outlook ranges on sales and operating margin

New Albany, Ohio, May 24, 2023: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) today announced results for the first quarter ended April 29, 2023. These compare to results for the first quarter ended April 30, 2022. Descriptions of the use of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures accompany this release.

Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Fiscal 2023 is off to a strong start with first quarter net sales and operating margin above our expectations. Net sales grew 3% to last year, led by Abercrombie brands where we grew 14%, achieving the highest first quarter sales in more than a decade. Abercrombie’s offering is resonating meaningfully with our target customer, setting several other sales records this quarter across genders, categories and geographies. Work continues in Hollister brands, where we managed a healthy business from a gross profit rate and inventory perspective and continued to improve the assortment as we prepare for the summer and back-to-school seasons. Both brands were able to deliver year-over-year AUR growth and lower freight costs, driving 570 basis points of gross profit rate improvement and a first quarter operating profit above our expectation.

Looking ahead, we remain cautiously optimistic on consumer demand and our ability to react to a dynamic macro environment, further supported by our strong balance sheet. We are managing inventory tightly and each brand is in a position to chase demand. Importantly, we are progressing on key, strategic investments across stores, digital and technology to deliver growth on both the top and bottom lines from 2022 levels consistent with our Always Forward Plan.”

Details related to reported net income (loss) per diluted share and adjusted net income per diluted share for the first quarter are as follows:

(1)Excluded items consist of pre-tax store asset impairment charges.

(2)The estimated impact from foreign currency is calculated by applying current period exchange rates to prior year results using a 26% tax rate.

A summary of results for the first quarter ended April 29, 2023 as compared to the first quarter ended April 30, 2022:

•Net sales of $836 million, up 3% as compared to last year on a reported basis and up 4% on a constant currency basis.

•Positive total company comparable sales of 3%.

•Gross profit rate of 61.0%, up approximately 570 basis points as compared to last year. The year-over-year improvement was primarily driven by a benefit of 760 basis points from lower freight costs and 230 basis points from year-over-year AUR growth partially offset by 320 basis points from higher cotton and raw material costs and 100 basis points from the adverse impact from foreign currency.

•Operating expense, excluding other operating income, net, up $16 million or 3% compared to last year, with increases in technology expenses and incentive-based compensation, partially offset by lower digital marketing and fulfillment expenses. Operating expense as a percentage of sales increased to 57.3% from 57.0% last year.

•     Operating income of $34 million and $38 million on a reported and adjusted non-GAAP basis, respectively, as compared to operating loss of $10 million and $6 million last year, on a reported and adjusted non-GAAP basis, respectively.

•Net income per diluted share of $0.32 on a reported basis and net income per diluted share $0.39 on an adjusted non-GAAP basis, as compared to net loss per diluted share last year of $0.32 and $0.27 on a reported and adjusted non-GAAP basis, respectively.

Net sales by brand and region for the first quarter are as follows:

(1)    Comparable sales are calculated on a constant currency basis. Refer to "REPORTING AND USE OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP MEASURES," for further discussion.

(2)    Abercrombie includes the Abercrombie & Fitch and abercrombie kids brands.

(3)    Hollister includes the Hollister, Gilly Hicks and Social Tourist brands.

(4)    Net sales by geographic area are presented by attributing revenues to an individual country on the basis of the country in which the merchandise was sold for in-store purchases and on the basis of the shipping location provided by customers for digital orders.

(5)    Other includes all sales that do not fall within the United States, EMEA, or APAC regions, which are derived primarily in Canada.

Financial Position and Liquidity

As of April 29, 2023 the company had:

•Cash and equivalents of $447 million. This compares to cash and equivalents of $518 million and $468 million as of January 28, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively.

•Inventories of $448 million, a decrease of 20% compared to April 30, 2022.

•Long-term gross borrowings under the company’s senior secured notes of $300 million (the “Senior Secured Notes”) which mature in July 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 8.75% per annum.

•Borrowing available under the senior-secured asset-based revolving credit facility (the “ABL Facility”) of $311 million.

•Liquidity, comprised of cash and equivalents and borrowing available under the ABL Facility, of approximately $758 million. This compares to liquidity of $866 million and $783 million as of January 28, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively.

Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

Details related to the company’s cash flows for the year-to-date period ended April 29, 2023 are as follows:

•Net cash used for operating activities of $1 million.

•Net cash used for investing activities of $46 million.

•Net cash used for financing activities of $22 million.

Depreciation and amortization was $36 million for the year-to-date period ended April 29, 2023.

Fiscal 2023 Full Year Outlook

The following outlook replaces all previous full year guidance. For fiscal 2023, the company now expects:

•Net sales growth in the range of 2 to 4% from $3.7 billion in 2022. This is an increase to the previous outlook of up 1 to 3%. The current outlook assumes that Abercrombie will continue to outperform Hollister and the U.S. will continue to outperform International. Also, fiscal 2023 includes a 53rd week for reporting purposes, along with net store expansion. The 53rd week is estimated to add approximately $45 million to total net sales in the fourth quarter and full year of 2023.

•Operating margin to be in a range of 5 to 6%. This range improves from the previous outlook of 4 to 5%. The current outlook includes a benefit of around 250 basis points from full year 2022 levels on expected net improvement in freight and raw material costs, partially offset by modest operating margin deleverage from the combination of inflation and increased operating expense investment for the 2025 Always Forward Plan initiatives, including an upgrade of our retail merchandising ERP system.

•Effective tax rate to be in the high-30s. This replaces the previous outlook of mid-40s. The current outlook assumes the continued inability to realize benefits on certain expected tax losses incurred outside of the U.S., although to a lesser extent than the prior outlook provided.

•Capital expenditures of approximately $160 million.

Fiscal 2023 Second Quarter Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2023, the company expects:

•Net sales growth to be in the range of 4 to 6% compared to fiscal second quarter 2022 level of $805 million.

•Operating margin to be in the range of 2 to 3% compared to breakeven in Q2 2022 period on expected net improvement in freight and raw material costs, partially offset by modest operating margin deleverage from the combination of inflation and increased operating expense investment for the 2025 Always Forward Plan initiatives, including an upgrade of our retail merchandising ERP system.

•Effective tax rate around 50% with the rate being sensitive to the jurisdictional mix and level of income.

Conference Call

Today at 8:30 a.m. ET, the company will conduct a conference call and provide additional details around its quarterly results and its outlook for the second quarter. To access the call by phone, participants will need to register at the following URL address to obtain a dial-in number and passcode.

https://register.vevent.com/register/BI65574737b0ef4784b2b4d305c8c1a298

A presentation of first quarter results will be available in the “Investors” section at corporate.abercrombie.com at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET, today. Important information may be disseminated initially or exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This Press Release and related statements by management or spokespeople of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F) contain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our second quarter and annual fiscal 2023 results, relate to our current assumptions, projections and expectations about our business and future events. Any such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the company’s control. The inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the company, or any other person, that the objectives of the company will be achieved. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “are confident,” “will,” “could,” “outlook,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, including any financial targets or estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Factors that may cause results to differ from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2023, and otherwise in our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the following factors: risks related to changes in global economic and financial conditions, and the resulting impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, as well as other changes in consumer discretionary spending habits; risks related to recent inflationary pressures with respect to labor and raw materials and global supply chain constraints that have, and could continue, to affect freight, transit, and other costs; risks related to geopolitical conflict, including the on-going hostilities in Ukraine, acts of terrorism, mass casualty events, social unrest, civil disturbance or disobedience; risks related to our failure to engage our customers, anticipate customer demand and changing fashion trends, and manage our inventory; risks related to our failure to operate effectively in a highly competitive and constantly evolving industry; risks related to our ability to execute on our strategic and growth initiatives, including those outlined in our Always Forward Plan; risks related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks related to fluctuations in our tax obligations and effective tax rate, including as a result of earnings and losses generated from our international operations, may result in volatility in our results of operations; risks and uncertainty related to the COVID‐19 pandemic and any other adverse public health developments; risks associated with corporate responsibility issues; risks related to cybersecurity threats and privacy or data security breaches; and the potential loss or disruption to our information systems.

Other Information

This document includes certain adjusted non-GAAP financial measures where management believes it to be helpful in understanding the company's results of operations or financial position. Additional details about non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of GAAP financial measures to non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the "Reporting and Use of GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures" section. Sub-totals and totals may not foot due to rounding. Net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share financial measures included herein are attributable to Abercrombie & Fitch Co., excluding net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.

As used in this document, unless otherwise defined "Abercrombie brands" refers to the company's Abercrombie & Fitch and abercrombie kids brands and "Hollister brands" refers to the company's Hollister, Gilly Hicks, and Social Tourist brands.

About Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) is a leading, global, omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories for men, women and kids through five renowned brands. The iconic Abercrombie & Fitch brand was born in 1892 and aims to make every day feel as exceptional as the start of a long weekend. abercrombie kids sees the world through kids’ eyes, where play is life and every day is an opportunity to be anything and better anything. The Hollister brand believes in liberating the spirit of an endless summer inside everyone and making teens feel celebrated and comfortable in their own skin. Gilly Hicks, offering active lifestyle products, is designed to create happiness through movement. Social Tourist, the creative vision of Hollister and social media personalities, Dixie and Charli D’Amelio, offers trend forward apparel that allows teens to experiment with their style, while exploring the duality of who they are both on social media and in real life.

The brands share a commitment to offering products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that allow consumers around the world to express their own individuality and style. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates approximately 760 stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites www.abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com, www.hollisterco.com, www.gillyhicks.com and www.socialtourist.com.

The company believes that each of the non-GAAP financial measures presented are useful to investors as they provide a measure of the company’s operating performance excluding the effect of certain items which the company believes do not reflect its future operating outlook, such as asset impairment charges, therefore supplementing investors’ understanding of comparability of operations across periods. Management used these non-GAAP financial measures during the periods presented to assess the company’s performance and to develop expectations for future operating performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be used supplemental to, and not as an alternative to, the company’s GAAP financial results, and may not be calculated in the same manner as similar measures presented by other companies.

In addition, at times the company provides comparable sales, defined as the percentage year-over-year change in the aggregate of: (1) sales for stores that have been open as the same brand at least one year and whose square footage has not been expanded or reduced by more than 20% within the past year, with prior year’s net sales converted at the current year’s foreign currency exchange rate to remove the impact of foreign currency rate fluctuation, and (2) digital net sales with prior year’s net sales converted at the current year’s foreign currency exchange rate to remove the impact of foreign currency rate fluctuation.

The company also provides certain financial information on a constant currency basis to enhance investors’ understanding of underlying business trends and operating performance, by removing the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. The effect from foreign currency, calculated on a constant currency basis, is determined by applying current year average exchange rates to prior year results and is net of the year-over-year impact from hedging. The per diluted share effect from foreign currency is calculated using a 26% tax rate.

(1)    “GAAP” refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(2)    Excluded items consist of pre-tax store impairment charges of $4.4 million.

(3)    The tax effect of excluded items is the difference between the tax provision calculated on a GAAP basis and an adjusted non-GAAP basis.

(1)    “GAAP” refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(2)    Excluded items consist of pre-tax store asset impairment charges of $3.4 million

(3)    The tax effect of excluded items is the difference between the tax provision calculated on a GAAP basis and an adjusted non-GAAP basis.

(1)    “GAAP” refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

(2)    The estimated impact from foreign currency is determined by applying current period exchange rates to prior year results and is net of the year-over-year impact from hedging. The per diluted share estimated impact from foreign currency is calculated using a 26% tax rate.

(3)    The estimated basis point change has been rounded based on the percentage change.

(4)    Excluded items consist of $4.4 million pre-tax store asset impairment charges for the current year and $3.4 million pre-tax store asset impairment charges for the prior year, respectively.

(1)The estimated impact from foreign currency is determined by applying current period exchange rates to prior year results and is net of the year-over-year impact from hedging. The per diluted share estimated impact from foreign currency is calculated using a 26% tax rate.

(2)Abercrombie includes the Abercrombie & Fitch and abercrombie kids brands.

(3)Hollister includes the Hollister, Gilly Hicks and Social Tourist brands.

(4)Net sales by geographic area are presented by attributing revenues to an individual country on the basis of the country in which the merchandise was sold for in-store purchases and on the basis of the shipping location provided by customers for digital orders.

(5)Other includes all sales that do not fall within the United States, EMEA, or APAC regions, which are derived primarily in Canada.

(1)Abercrombie includes the company's Abercrombie & Fitch and abercrombie kids brands. Locations with abercrombie kids carveouts within Abercrombie & Fitch stores are represented as a single store count. Excludes 22 international franchise stores as of April 29, 2023, and 23 international franchise stores as of January 28, 2023.

(2)Hollister includes the company’s Hollister and Gilly Hicks brands. Locations with Gilly Hicks carveouts within Hollister stores are represented as a single store count. Excludes 13 international franchise stores as of April 29, 2023, and 12 international franchise stores as of January 28, 2023 Excludes 20 company-operated temporary stores as of April 29, 2023 and 16 company-operated temporary stores January 28, 2023.

(3)This store count excludes one international third-party operated multi-brand outlet store as of each of April 29, 2023 and January 28, 2023.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Financial Information
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data, store data, and comparable sales data)
																					Fiscal 2022																					Fiscal 2023
			2019						2020						2021						Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4						2022						Q1															2023
Net sales			$	3,623,073					$	3,125,384					$	3,712,768					$	812,762		$	805,091		$	880,084		$	1,199,814					$	3,697,751					$	835,994														$	835,994
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization			1,472,155						1,234,179						1,400,773						363,216			339,200			359,268			531,529						1,593,213						326,200															326,200
Gross profit			2,150,918						1,891,205						2,311,995						449,546			465,891			520,816			668,285						2,104,538						509,794															509,794
Stores and distribution expense			1,598,500						1,379,948						1,428,323						337,543			340,791			367,333			437,264						1,482,931						331,613															331,613
Marketing, general and administrative expense			464,615						463,843						536,815						122,149			124,168			133,201			138,084						517,602						142,631															142,631
Asset impairment			19,135						72,937						12,100						3,422			2,170			3,744			4,695						14,031						4,436															4,436
Other operating (income) loss, net			(1,400)						(5,054)						(8,327)						(3,842)			953			(1,005)			1,220						(2,674)						(2,893)															(2,893)
Operating income (loss)			70,068						(20,469)						343,084						(9,726)			(2,191)			17,543			87,022						92,648						34,007															34,007
Interest expense, net			7,737						28,274						34,110						7,307			6,917			7,295			4,113						25,632						3,443															3,443
Income (loss) before income taxes			62,331						(48,743)						308,974						(17,033)			(9,108)			10,248			82,909						67,016						30,564															30,564
Income tax expense (benefit)			17,371						60,211						38,908						(2,187)			5,634			10,966			42,218						56,631						12,717															12,717
Net income (loss)			44,960						(108,654)						270,066						(14,846)			(14,742)			(718)			40,691						10,385						17,847															17,847
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			5,602						5,067						7,056						1,623			2,092			1,496			2,358						7,569						1,276															1,276
Net income (loss) attributable to Abercrombie & Fitch Co.			$	39,358					$	(114,021)					$	263,010					$	(16,469)		$	(16,834)		$	(2,214)		$	38,333					$	2,816					$	16,571														$	16,571
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Abercrombie & Fitch Co.:
Basic			$0.61						$(1.82)						$4.41						$(0.32)			$(0.33)			$(0.04)			$0.78						$0.06						$0.33															$0.33
Diluted			$0.60						$(1.82)						$4.20						$(0.32)			$(0.33)			$(0.04)			$0.75						$0.05						$0.32															$0.32
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic			64,428						62,551						59,597						52,077			50,441			49,486			49,216						50,307						49,574															49,574
Diluted			65,778						62,551						62,636						52,077			50,441			49,486			51,217						52,327						51,467															51,467
Comparable sales
Abercrombie comparable sales (1) (2)			3		%				Not provided						Not provided						Not provided			Not provided			Not provided			Not provided						Not provided						14		%													14		%
Hollister comparable sales (1) (3)			-1		%				Not provided						Not provided						Not provided			Not provided			Not provided			Not provided						Not provided						-3		%													-3		%
Comparable sales (1)			1		%				Not provided						Not provided						Not provided			Not provided			Not provided			Not provided						Not provided						3		%													3		%
(1) Comparable sales are calculated on a constant currency basis and exclude revenue other than store and online sales. The Company did not provide comparable sales results for fiscal 2020, fiscal 2021 or fiscal 2022 due to temporary store closures as a result of COVID-19.
(2) Abercrombie includes the Company's Abercrombie & Fitch and abercrombie kids brands.
(3) Hollister includes the Company's Hollister, Gilly Hicks, and Social Tourist brands.