While many brands continue to struggle in this difficult economy, VF Corp., owners of brands such as Vans, The North Face, Lee, Wrangler, Seven for All Mankind, Timberland, and Eastpak, announced yesterday, October 22, 2012, total revenues increase of 14% for the 3rd quarter.
“Having achieved yet another quarter of record revenue, gross margin and earnings per share performance, we remain on track to deliver a year of outstanding results to our shareholders,” said Eric Wiseman, VF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our third quarter results clearly demonstrate VF’s unique competitive advantages – diversity across brands, geographic regions and channels; powerful brands that resonate with consumers; and business disciplines that enable the consistent, successful execution of our growth strategies.”
Wiseman concluded, “We are confident in our ability to deliver a very strong fourth quarter across our businesses, supported by higher levels of strategic investments in key brands and markets that are proven drivers of both top and bottom line growth.”
Revenues rose 14 percent to $3.1 billion from $2.8 billion in 2011. Third quarter revenues from Timberland were $499 million compared with $164 million in the same period of last year; the acquisition was completed on September 13, 2011. Organic revenue growth in the quarter was 2 percent (6 percent in constant dollars) driven by continued strength in the Outdoor & Action Sports, international and direct-to-consumer businesses. The Outdoor & Action Sports, Jeanswear, Sportswear and Imagewear coalitions all achieved growth on a constant dollar basis. The sale of John Varvatos impacted VF’s organic revenue growth by 1 percentage point in the third quarter.
Outdoor & Action Sports delivered another quarter of record performance with revenues up 29 percent and organic revenue growth of 6 percent, or 11 percent in constant dollars. The addition of the Timberland®and Smartwool® brands contributed $499 million to revenues in the quarter.
As anticipated, global revenue growth in the current quarter for The North Face® brand moderated from prior periods, increasing 5 percent, or 8 percent in constant dollars. High single-digit growth in the Americas region and exceptionally strong growth in Asia were offset by a mid-single digit constant dollar decline in Europe. The North Face® brand remains on track for mid-teen constant dollar revenue growth both in the fourth quarter and for the full year. The Vans® brand achieved a 21 percent (26 percent in constant dollars) increase in global revenues in the quarter, with double-digit revenue growth in the Americas, Europe and Asia regions. Based on the Vans® brand’s exceptional performance year to date, full year constant dollar revenue growth should approximate 25 percent. On a full quarter basis, Timberland constant dollar revenues declined slightly in the third quarter. On a full year basis, Timberland should achieve a modest increase in revenues on a constant dollar basis.
Excluding Timberland, Outdoor & Action Sports operating income rose 16 percent and operating margin increased 220 basis points to an all-time high of 25.7 percent compared with 23.5 percent in the 2011 period. On a GAAP basis, operating income for the coalition increased 29 percent with a flat year-over-year operating margin, reflecting the impact of Timberland.
Double-digit constant dollar revenue growth in Outdoor & Action Sports should continue in the fourth quarter, driven by strong performance by The North Face® and Vans® brands. Both brands should benefit from new store openings, and comp store and e-commerce growth, supported by higher levels of marketing spending in key regions. For the full year, Outdoor & Action Sports revenues are expected to grow at the higher end of the 25-30 percent range provided in February 2012, with constant dollar organic revenues growing at a mid-teen percentage rate.
VF’s jeanswear coalition was down 1%.
International revenues and Direct-to-Consumer revenues both increased 28%, respectively.
