Q2 Sales, Earnings and Cash Flow Exceed Expectations
CINCINNATI, Aug 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Macy's, Inc. (NYSE: M) today reported earnings of 35 cents per diluted share for the second quarter of 2010, ended July 31, 2010. This significant earnings increase over the second quarter of last year was driven by higher-than-expected sales, improved margins, a reduced expense rate and disciplined inventory management.


"We believe our business is beginning to hit its stride after implementing significant structural and organizational changes over the past two years. While the economic environment remains uncertain, Macy's and Bloomingdale's have a terrific opportunity to continue to take market share and grow our business profitably," said Terry J. Lundgren, Macy's, Inc. chairman, president and chief executive officer.

"The improvement in our business is not the result of a single factor. Rather, our performance reflects a number of strategic initiatives that are working successfully and complementing each other. This includes My Macy's localization of merchandise assortments, centralization of key Macy's organizational functions, customer centricity activity, continued development of private brands, introduction of new exclusive market brands, improvement in associate selling and service skills, and integration of stores and online channels at Macy's and Bloomingdale's," he added. "We are entering the fall season with tremendous momentum that has energized the exceptionally talented people in our company. We are motivated to continue to innovate, test new ideas, accelerate the penetration of distinctive and exclusive merchandise, and tailor our offering to the diverse customers who shop in our stores and online."

In the second quarter of 2009, Macy's, Inc. earned 2 cents per diluted share. These results include restructuring charges of $34 million ($77 million after tax; 18 cents per share) related to division consolidations and localization initiatives. Excluding these charges, the company earned 20 cents per diluted share in the second quarter of 2009.

For the first half of 2010, Macy's, Inc.'s diluted earnings per share were 40 cents, compared with a loss of 19 cents per diluted share in the first half of 2009. Excluding restructuring-related costs of $172 million ($97 million after tax; 23 cents per diluted share), earnings were 4 cents per diluted share in the first half of 2009.

Sales

Sales in the second quarter totaled $5.537 billion, up 7.2 percent from total sales of $5.164 billion in the second quarter of 2009. On a same-store basis, Macy's, Inc.'s second quarter sales were up 4.9 percent.

For the year to date, Macy's, Inc. sales totaled $11.111 billion, up 7.2 percent from total sales of $10.363 billion in the first 26 weeks of 2009. On a same-store basis, Macy's, Inc.'s year-to-date sales were up 5.2 percent.

Online sales (macys.com and bloomingdales.com combined) were up 28.1 percent in the second quarter and 31.0 percent in the first half of 2010. Online sales positively affected the company's same-store sales by 0.5 percentage points in the second quarter and 0.8 percentage points in the year to date. Online sales are included in the same-store sales calculation for Macy's, Inc.

The company opened no new stores in the first half of 2010. In the second half of 2010, the company is opening two new Macy's stores in Palmdale and Tracy, CA; a new Bloomingdale's store in Santa Monica, CA (opened Aug. 6); and four new Bloomingdale's Outlet stores, as previously announced.

Operating Income

Macy's, Inc.'s operating income totaled $370 million or 6.7 percent of sales for the quarter ended July 31, 2010, compared with operating income of $248 million or 4.8 percent of sales for the same period last year. Second quarter 2009 operating income included $34 million in restructuring-related costs. Excluding these costs, operating income for the second quarter of 2009 was $282 million or 5.5 percent of sales.

For the first half of 2010, Macy's, Inc.'s operating income totaled $573 million or 5.2 percent of sales, compared with operating income of $134 million or 1.3 percent of sales for the same period last year. Macy's, Inc.'s first half 2009 operating income included $172 million in restructuring-related costs. Excluding these costs, operating income in the first half of 2009 was $306 million or 3.0 percent of sales.

Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operating activities was $288 million in the first half of 2010, compared with $420 million in the first half last year. Net cash used by investing activities in the first half of 2010 was $124 million, compared with $168 million a year ago. Net cash used by financing activities in the first half of 2010 was $642 million, including $584 million used to repay debt. This compares with net cash used by financing activities in the first half of 2009 of $1.045 billion, including $958 million used to repay debt.

Looking Ahead

Macy's, Inc. currently expects same-store sales in the second half of fiscal 2010 to be up in the range of 3 percent to 3.5 percent, which would result in full-year 2010 same-store sales to be up between 4 percent and 4.2 percent. At the beginning of the year, the company's initial guidance was for a 2010 same-store sales increase of 1 percent to 2 percent. At the end of the first quarter, full-year same-store sales guidance was raised to up 3 percent to 3.5 percent, reflecting improvement in the business trend.

Based on stronger sales expectations, Macy's, Inc. is increasing its full-year 2010 earnings guidance to $1.85 to $1.90 per diluted share. This compares with previous guidance of $1.75 to $1.80 per diluted share, and initial earnings guidance of $1.55 to $1.60 per diluted share provided at the beginning of the year.

Macy's, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's premier retailers, with fiscal 2009 sales of $23.5 billion. The company operates about 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy's and Bloomingdale's. The company also operates macys.com and bloomingdales.com.

All statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Macy's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this release because of a variety of factors, including conditions to, or changes in the timing of, proposed transactions, prevailing interest rates, changes in expected synergies, cost savings and non-recurring charges, competitive pressures from specialty stores, general merchandise stores, manufacturers' outlets, off-price and discount stores, new and established forms of home shopping (including the Internet, mail-order catalogs and television) and general consumer spending levels, including the impact of the availability and level of consumer debt, the effect of weather and other factors identified in documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(NOTE: Additional information on Macy's, Inc., including past news releases, is available at www.macysinc.com/pressroom.