• Delivered record first quarter revenue of $1.1 billion, reflecting 2% growth to last year
• Adjusted operating profit of $44 million, up to last year
• Aerie posted all-time high first quarter revenue and profitability, with positive comp growth
• American Eagle continued to see a sequential improvement in revenue trends with year-over-year growth in operating income

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 29, 2023.

“We entered 2023 with a cautious plan, balancing continued optimism for our brands with the flexibility to navigate uncertainty in the macro environment. I am pleased to note that this strategy delivered for us, as we successfully managed through the first quarter and achieved results in-line with plan. Both Aerie and American Eagle saw solid improvement during the quarter and maintained strength in their categories,” commented Jay Schottenstein, AEO’s Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.

“With ongoing macro challenges, we are maintaining a clear focus on inventory discipline, cost savings and efficiencies across the business. Looking forward, our priority is to rebuild operating margins, while also seeking opportunities for profitable growth and to deliver more consistent shareholder returns.”

First Quarter 2023 Results:

• Total net revenue of $1.1 billion was up 2% to the first quarter of 2022. Store revenue was up 5%. Digital revenue declined 4%.
• Aerie revenue of $359 million rose 12% versus first quarter 2022. Comp sales increased 2%. American Eagle revenue of $671 million declined 2% versus first quarter 2022. Comp sales declined 4%.
• Gross profit of $413 million increased approximately 6% compared to $388 million in the first quarter of 2022 and reflected a gross margin rate of 38.2% compared to 36.8% last year. Merchandise margin expansion was driven by lower transportation costs with a partial offset from higher markdowns. Lower compensation and delivery costs also had a positive impact on margins offset by higher rent linked to new store openings.
• Selling, general and administrative expense of $312 million was up 5% to last year. Higher corporate compensation and advertising were partially offset by lower store compensation and professional service expenses. SG&A increased 60 basis points as a rate to sales versus first quarter 2022.
• GAAP operating income was $23 million. Non-GAAP operating income of $44 million, reflected a 4.1% margin. This excluded $21 million of impairment, restructuring and other charges related to Quiet Platforms as the company repositions for improved profitability.
• GAAP diluted EPS of $0.09. Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.17 excludes $0.08 of impairment and restructuring charges.
• Average diluted shares outstanding were 197 million including less than 1 million average shares of unrealized dilution associated with the company’s convertible notes for the period prior to redemption.

Inventory

Total ending inventory declined 8% to $625 million compared to $682 million last year, with units down 9%. Inventory is current, with AE and Aerie inventory across the US and Canada down in the double-digits to last year. The company is maintaining inventory discipline with the second quarter planned below the sales trend.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures totaled $46 million in the first quarter. For 2023, management now expects capital expenditures to approximate $150 to $175 million, compared to prior guidance of $150 to $190 million.

Balance Sheet

The company continues to take steps to strengthen the balance sheet. In the first quarter, the remaining $9 million of outstanding principal related to the senior convertible notes due 2025 was redeemed.

Outlook

For the second quarter, management’s outlook reflects revenue down low-single digits to last year with operating income in the range of $25 to $35 million. This assumes gross margin recovery year-over-year as the company cycles pressure from end of season sell-offs and elevated freight costs. SG&A is expected to increase in the low-to-mid-single digits. Depreciation is expected to be similar to the first quarter.

For the year, management expects revenue in the range of flat to down low-single digits to last year with operating income in the range of $250 to $270 million.

Conference Call and Supplemental Financial Information

Management will host a conference call and real time webcast today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call, dial 1-877-407-0789 or internationally dial 1-201-689-8562 or go to www.aeo-inc.com to access the webcast and audio replay. Additionally, a financial results presentation is posted on the company��s website.

Non-GAAP Measures

This press release includes information on non-GAAP financial measures (“non-GAAP” or “adjusted”), including consolidated adjusted operating income, net income and net income per diluted share, excluding non-GAAP items. These financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Non-GAAP information is provided as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that this non-GAAP information is useful for an alternate presentation of the company’s performance, when reviewed in conjunction with the company’s GAAP consolidated financial statements and provides a higher degree of transparency.

These amounts are not determined in accordance with GAAP and therefore, should not be used exclusively in evaluating the company’s business and operations. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety, not to rely on any single financial measure and to view these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with the related GAAP financial measures.

The tables included in this press release reconcile the GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures discussed above.

About American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. Our purpose is to show the world that there’s REAL power in the optimism of youth. The company operates stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong and Japan, and ships to approximately 80 countries worldwide through its websites. American Eagle and Aerie merchandise also is available at more than 260 international locations operated by licensees in approximately 30 countries. In 2022, AEO released its first annual Building a Better World report, which outlines two decades of ESG achievements through the company’s Planet, People and Practices initiatives. For more information, please visit www.aeo-inc.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This release and related statements by management contain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including second quarter and annual fiscal 2023 results. All forward-looking statements made by the company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on many important factors, some of which may be beyond the company’s control. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," “potential,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise and even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. The following factors, in addition to the risks disclosed in Item 1A., Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2023 and in any other filings that we may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the company's financial performance and could cause actual results for fiscal 2023 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by management: the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and related operational disruptions; the risk that the company’s operating, financial and capital plans may not be achieved; our inability to anticipate customer demand and changing fashion trends and to manage our inventory commensurately; seasonality of our business; our inability to achieve planned store financial performance; our inability to react to raw material cost, labor and energy cost increases; our inability to gain market share in the face of declining shopping center traffic; our inability to respond to changes in e-commerce and leverage omni-channel demands; our inability to expand internationally; difficulty with our international merchandise sourcing strategies; challenges with information technology systems, including safeguarding against security breaches; and global economic, public health, social, political and financial conditions, and the resulting impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, as well as other changes in consumer discretionary spending habits, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and liquidity.

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