Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

$153.39
-0.97 (-0.63%)
London Stock Exchange
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Specialty Retail

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (0R32.L) Q4 2005 Earnings Call Transcript

Published at 2006-02-17 11:18:04
Executives
Tom Lennox, Director IR and Corporate Communications Mike Kramer, Chief Financial Officer Mike Jeffries, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
Analysts
Jeff Klinefelter, Piper Jaffray John Morris, Harris Nesbitt Gerard Kimberly Greenberger, Smith Barney Brian Tunick, JP Morgan Jeff Black, Lehman Brothers Joe Teklits, Wachovia Securities Paul Ledgeway, Credit Suisse Stacy Pak, Prudential Dana Telsey, Telsey Advisory Group Robin Murchison, SunTrust Monisha Tero, Merrill lynch Dana Cohen, Banc of America Securities Christine Chen, Pacific Growth Equities. Janet Kloppenberg, JJK Research Lauren Levitan, SG Cowen Jennifer Davis, Stansders Morchers Jennifer Black, Black & Associates Kimberly Greenberger, Citigroup Barbara Wyckoff, Buckingham Research Group
Operator
Welcome to the Abercrombie & Fitch Fourth Quarter Earnings Results Conference Call. Just to remind you today's conference is being recorded. If you have a question at any time during today's conference you may signal us by pressing "*" "1" on your touchtone phone. We will open the call to take your questions at the end of the presentation. Now I would like to turn the call over to your host Mr. Tom Lennox. Please go ahead, sir. Tom Lennox, Director IR and Corporate Communications: Good afternoon and welcome to our fourth quarter conference call. After the market closed, we publicly released the quarterly sales and earnings release, balance sheet, income statement and an updated financial history. If you haven't seen these materials, they are available on our Web site. This call is being taped and can be replayed by dialing 888-203-1112. You will need to reference the conference ID number 3097441. You may also access the replay through the Internet at abercrombie.com. With me today are Mike Jeffries, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Kramer, Chief Financial Officer, and Brian Logan, the Company's Controller. Today's earnings call will be limited to one hour. After our prepared comments, we will be available to take your questions for as long as time permits. Please limit yourself to one question so that we can speak with as many callers as possible. Before we begin, I remind you that any forward-looking statements we may make today are subject to the Safe Harbor Statement found in our SEC filings. Now to Mike Kramer Mike Kramer, Chief Financial Officer: Good afternoon. Net sales for the fourth quarter were $961.4 million, increasing 40% over last year's fourth quarter sales of $687.3 million. With comparable store sales up 28%. For the quarter cost by brand were as follows in the adult business, Abercrombie & Fitch, comparable store sales increased 18%, men's comps increased by mid-teens, women's increased by high-teens. In the kids business, Abercrombie comps increased 59% with boys comps increasing by mid 30s and girls increasing by high 60s. Hollister, same-store sales increased 34% compared to last year with Dudes comp increasing by low 30 and (indiscernible) is increasing by mid 30s. On a regional basis, the business was consistent with each region generating comparable store sales, increases greater than 25%. Fiscal 2005 net sales were $2.785 billion versus $2.021 billion last year, an increase of 38%. Comparable store sales increased 26% in fiscal 2005. The fourth quarter gross profit rate was 66.5%, 20 basis points higher than last year's rate as 66.3%. The increase reflects an improved shrink rate and initial markup with little changed in the markdown rate versus last year For fiscal 2005, the gross profit rate was 66.5% versus 66.4%, an increase of 10 basis points versus last year. The gross profit rate increased reflects higher initial markup and a reduction in shrink, partially offset by a slightly higher markdown rate. We ended the fourth quarter with inventories up 59% per gross square foot at a cost versus last year. This is less than the guidance we provided on our third quarter conference call. When we estimated the year-end inventory per square foot would reflect slightly less than the 87% increase reported at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2005. Going forward, we expect increases in inventory levels to continue to moderate, ending the first quarter of 2006 with a slightly lower increase per foot at cost when compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005. Stores and distribution expense for the quarter as a percentage of sales decreased 210 basis points to 30.5% versus 32.6% last year. The decrease in rate versus last year resulted from the Company's ability to leverage fixed cost due to significant comparable store sales increases, partially offset by increase store management and loss prevention programs. For the year, stores and distribution expense as the percentage of sales decreased to 35.9% versus 36.5% last year. The decrease in rate versus last year resulted from the Company's ability to leverage fixed cost due to significant comparable store sales increases partially offset by higher store payroll cost. For the fourth quarter, Marketing General and Administrative expenses decreased to 120 basis points as a percentage of sales, to 8.4% from 9.6% last year. The decrease in rate versus last year resulted from leveraging of marketing expense and home office payroll, partially offset by increased legal expense. For the year, MG&A expense was a 11.3% of sales, a 160 basis points lower than last year’s rate at 12.9%. Excluding previously reported non-recurring charges of fiscal 2004, and the third quarter of fiscal 2005, MG&A expense as a percentage of sales was flat to last year. For the fourth quarter operating income increased 57% to $267.5 million compared to a $170.2 million last year. For the year, operating income was $542.7 million versus $347.6 million last year, an increase of 56%. Net income for the quarter increased 58% to a $164.6 million versus a $104.3 million last year. Fiscal 2005, net income increased 54% to $334 million versus $216.4 million last year. Fourth quarter net income per share on a fully diluted basis was a $1.80 versus $1.15 representing an increase of 57% versus last year. For fiscal 2005, net income per share on a fully diluted basis increased 61% to $3.66 versus $2.28 last year. Net income per share include the after-tax effect of previously reported non-recurring charges of $0.09 for fully diluted share in 2005 and $0.27 for fully diluted share in 2004. During fiscal 2005, we repurchased 1.8 million shares in the open market as part of our previously authorized share repurchase program. There are currently 5.7 million shares remaining under our existing repurchase authorization. During fiscal 2005, we take dividends totaling $0.60 per share to shareholders, a 20% increase compared to last year’s total dividend of $0.50. The Board declared the quarterly dividend of $17.5 per share payable on March 21, 2006 to shareholders of record as of February 28, 2006. During the quarter we opened 6 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 2 Abercrombie Kids stores, 17 Hollister stores and 2 RUEHL stores. We ended fiscal 2005 with a total of 361 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 164 Abercrombie Kids stores, 318 Hollister stores and 8 RUEHL stores. For fiscal 2006, we planned to open approximately 12 new Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 19 new Abercrombie Kids stores, 64 new Hollister stores, and 8 new RUEHL stores, total square foot each is expected to grow by approximately 11% in fiscal 2006. For fiscal 2006, our planed capital expenditures would be between$ 405 million and $415 million, approximately $216 million of this amount is allocated to new store construction, remodels, conversions and improvements to existing stores with a remainder related to home office and distribution center investment. Now, I would like to discuss our financial targets for the first half of the current fiscal year. We have decided to provide guidance on a seasonal basis, since we believe there is more clarity in the near term. As you will recall, we revised our guidance several times last year, as business trends became more pronounced. Thus we will provide an outlook for the Fall season, when we report our results for the second quarter. The Company recently annualized strong comparable store sales growth, which started in January of 2005, reporting a 33% comparable store sales increase in January of 2006. We believe the strong comparable store sales growth in January was due to a continuation of strong sales momentum, gift card redemptions, and the benefit of unseasonably warm temperatures. Consequently, while we can sustain positive comp store sales increases, the increases will not be at the level reported over the past 13 months. We expect net income for fully diluted share for the first half of fiscal 2006 to be in the range of $1.23 to a $1.28 including a charge of approximately $0.08 attributable to the adoption of FAS 123(R). On a comparable non-GAAP basis, excluding its expense related to FAS 123 (R), this would represent a 21% to 26% increase on a net income per share basis compared to last year. Now, Mike will comment on the business. Mike Jeffries, Chief Financial Officer: Good afternoon. Fiscal 2005 was a very successful year. Each of our brands exhibited strong growth, which allowed the business to generate record sales and earnings. Our success during this period is of the result of our ongoing commitment to protecting and enhancing the long-term strengths of our brands. To do so, requires a delicate balance between reporting near-term profit growth and investing in new organization, never as this spin more evident than in fiscal 2005. We made essential investments throughout the year, initially focusing on the stores organization, where we drastically improve the shopping experience for our customers and later in the year at the home office by broadening the merchandising and design organization. Despite these major investments, we still reported a 43% increase in operating income and a 48% increase in net income per share for fiscal 2005 excluding one time charges in both years. By businesses, each of our brands performed very well throughout fiscal 2005. For the year, the adult business Abercrombie & Fitch achieved the comparable store sales increase of 18%, demonstrating excellent growth for matured business. The business was consistently strong throughout the year, with both the men’s and women’s businesses performing very well. With limited opportunity to see here additional domestic model locations, expanding the ANF business would be driven by opening select flagship locations combined with international expansion. As many of you know, we opened the first Abercrombie & Fitch flagship store in Fifth Avenue during the fourth quarter. The store performed extremely well throughout the fourth quarter exceeding our initial sales productivity expectations. We also opened our first Abercrombie & Fitch stores in Canada during the quarter. Stores are off to an amazing start with productivity above that of our average US Abercrombie & Fitch stores. In addition, we are planning to open flagship stores in the Grove at Farmers Market in Los Angeles this summer followed by the London flagship store in the spring of 2007. During the fourth quarter, we opened 3 Hollister stores in Canada. These stores are also exceeding our expectations with productivity above that of our average US Hollister stores. At this point, we are only half way to Hollister’s domestic store potential. Over the next few years, I expect the brands iconic status to continue to strengthen. The results achieved with that brand, however demonstrate how solidly this concept performs, achieving net sales in fiscal 2005 of approximately $1 billion and sales of $528 per foot. For fiscal 2005, net sales increase 72% with comparable store sales increasing 29%. With the comparable store sales increase of 54% in fiscal 2005, the Abercrombie brand not only generated the greatest productivity increase, but also had a gross profit rate above both Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister. While it is unrealistic to expect the brand to sustain its recent dramatic comparable store sales increases, we are convinced that the Kids business will continue to achieve solid results. I am pleased with the progress made during fiscal 2005 with a RUEHL business. When we initially introduced the business last call, I do not believe the assortment reflected the casual sportswear trends consistent in our other businesses. Given our understanding in the trends age, we have adjusted these assortment to reflect more casual trends, since then the business has responded to this adjustment and I am very pleased with the brands positioning at this point. The business performed well during the fourth quarter and we are still expecting RUEHL to be profitable by the end of fiscal 2007. After such an amazing year, we have faced with the challenge of improving what has become a huge, very successful business. While it is difficult to predict what business trends for fiscal 2006 would be. It is certain, that productivity increases will moderate during the year, based upon the extraordinary comparable store sales increase achieved in fiscal 2005. Despite this challenge we will operate the business as we always have, we will protect and enhance the brands thus insuring our long term success. Now we are available to take your questions, please limit yourself to one question so that we can speak with to as many callers as possible. After every one has had a chance, we’ll be happy to take follow up question, thank you.
Operator Instructions
Q - Jeff Klinefelter: Hi guys, congratulation everyone on a fantastic year. A - Mike Kramer: Thanks Jeff Q - Jeff Klinefelter: My question is this, I guess in terms of the sales gains, and the productivity gains that you achieved this years may be Mike and Mike will commenting on it, coming out of the year for the year-end total, can you gives us stands for how a split between the comp being driven by number of transactions and AUR increases and then how we ended the year and what you see I guess this is your biggest opportunity going forward, will it be driving the transaction in this store, do you still have opportunities for your AUR next. A - Mike Jeffries: Let's take a look Mike you want a comment. A - Mike Kramer: Yes I’ll comments and then I will have Mike talk little more qualitatively, but we actually didn’t see an increase in our transaction in our stores as well as our AUR, I would say that is roughly 50-50 split, in terms is there, -- we believe strongly that the future growth is going to come from transaction growth, having said that I think that we will take some opportunities, pricing changes as we see to that but we don’t see that as of right now, do you have anything to add Mike. A - Mike Jeffries: No A - Mike Kramer: Well stated A - Mike Jeffries: Thank you. Q - Jeff Klinefelter: Okay thank you. A - Mike Jeffries: Thanks Jeff.
Operator
We will next go to John Morris of Harris Nesbitt Gerard Q - John Morris: Hi thanks, first I would say congratulations to everybody, its really terrific quarter. One follow up and one quick one, the follow up was just Mike you just said that taking optimistic pricing increase as you today, going forward, can you just elaborate and what that being or kind of clarify that. A - Mike Kramer: Let me speak for Mike, that would be in the Abercrombie & Fitch brand as we have seen putting a lot more quality in to a specific product we have taken some prices up as we saw yet there instance the basic follow and going Abercrombie & Fitch the price was raised from $39 to $49 last fall because we just felt so much in to the product and saw that we could sustained as kinds of increase those kind of things will happen within the Abercrombie & Fitch brand, I don’t expect many of them to happened because I am very happy with the price levels there and we clearly and harvester in kids will stay exactly where we are in terms of price, thank you John.
Operator
And we next now to you Kimberly Greenberger of Smith Barney Q - Kimberly Greenberger: Great, thank I had a question on your CapEx numbers for 2006, you were a little fair that we are looking for and if you could just gives us some detail around that and why you are seeing such an acceleration in the CapEx that would be very helpful. A - Mike Kramer: That Kimberly this is Mike Kramer, I would be glad to answer that. As we've seen tremendous growth in all of our brands and we have to continue to build infrastructure for continued growth as we indicated $260 million is going to be targeted towards store build to remodels, on top of that there is $80 million that were going to be spend building another distribution center here on our campus in New Albany, Ohio. We’re also going to be investing significantly in our IT infrastructure as we continue to grow and see,-- that we need to enhance our business, more importantly we able to drive more efficiency in our business we go forward. A - Mike Jeffries: I’ll comment beyond that we are initiating and investment program in the Abercrombie & Fitch flee, that I am very excited about as you know we have a fleet of stores that really started 1994 and we continue to update them rather than, to a go for total remodels. We are padding some really exciting elements to those stores over the next 6 months, we were spending approximately $30 million on the Abercrombie & Fitch fleet too updated to really enhance the store experience. We are spending $10 million in Hollister, which is essentially an expansion of the video wall system that is currently in that chain. So, between the 2 chains, $40 million to enhance the customer experience.
Operator
We are next announcing Brian Tunick of JP Morgan. Q - Brian Tunick: Yes, thanks, question on the merchandized margin side. How they come in versus your plans for Q4 and do you think we should expect flattish merchandized margins going forward? Thanks very much. A - Mike Kramer: Brian, our answer to the second part of your question, you have been listening to me for about 14 years, and every quarter I have said do not build into your model of higher merchandized margin than we have achieved in the past and I will continue to say that. We hope we can do better. The first part of the question was against plans. We actually performed just little bit higher than our plan, but right on the mark. Thanks Brain.
Operator
We are next announcing Jeff Black of Lehman Brothers. Q - Jeff Black: Yeah, thanks a lot. Can you talk little bit Mike about where you see opportunities for some further expense to leverage and we got some in this quarter, that was impressive but what’s is the track going out and will that potentially lead to some operating margin improvement in ‘06 versus ‘05 given that were still below peak margin, thanks. A - Mike Kramer: Well, we are going to continue to see some operating margin improvement at the store level, which we’ve indicated in the past. We are continually focusing on the same areas that I have discussed in the past, primarily store payroll and we are continuing to do that. Now, in terms of MG&A, there we probably will not be leveraging MG&A and tell probably latter part of this year, as Mike and I both indicated we are going to continue to invest in the business, we are not going to invest in the business at the rate that we did in the previous spring, but we will be continuing to invest in the business. Now, one of the areas that we are going to be investing in the business is IT and those investments are in churn, going to churn around, it will be able to drive some efficiencies throughout the organization in terms of headcount. So, again in short, we are focused on the same areas that we talk about in the past in terms of driving efficiency and then we are also going to try to CAP technology help us in that capacity.
Operator
And we go next announcing Joe Teklits with Wachovia Securities Q - Joe Teklits: Hello, everybody thanks. A - Mike Kramer: Hello. A - Mike Jeffries: Hello Joe. How are you? Q - Joe Teklits: I think the biggest controversy of amongst the three it is your inventory levels Mike in anyway. So, I was wondering, if you could just give us some more detail on the subject maybe how clean it is, but even more importantly some details on how you pioneer going forward other than what you have given us, maybe when the turns are going to start increasing, again some thing like that? A - Mike Kramer: Let me take that on Joe. Our Spring inventories on an average to our Fall inventories on average sports store basis to last year, which for what percent, Q - Joe Teklits: Down A - Mike Kramer: So, down so down to last year slightly down to last year Q - Joe Teklits: They were clean last year. A - Mike Jeffries: And they clean last year on an increased volume levels, we think they are extraordinarily fine. So, in terms of seasonal, fashion merchandize, extraordinarily clean, I think the whole inventory is very clean and let me take this opportunity again to discuss, how we look at our inventories. We planned them in different segments. We planned basic Denim as one category, where we've said that our markdown risk is appreciably less then impassion merchandize. Those inventories are extraordinarily well balanced at this point, you will see those inventories will be more efficient with those inventories as we move from this season in December and in this fall. The fashion basic component of our business is those back up to Denim that Denim inventories as you know we’ve invested in heavily, we’ve very happy with those inventories and their levels will in fact moderate as we go through the year. The second category is fashion basics, which includes polo shirts, applique logo, T-shirts those inventories are up to last year or own plan and its extraordinary clean. Third classification is personal care up to last year business performing very well, extraordinary we clean inventories we’ve cleaned our any non go forward fragments. The fourth category is fashion, this is the category that we control very, very tightly, because there is markdown risk in fashion. Fashion, consist of anything that has to markdown within a season, we would consider that to be to -- it include some Denim items. As we said in the past we take markdowns on fashion Denim as we saw we took markdowns on embellished Denim, we took markdowns on some fashion back parked denims and in the future we will continue to take markdowns on fashion Denim that would include our as we’re fix line which is a premium denim line but that is included in the fashion in acquisition of our business. We plan that inventory would downside in terms of the sales to protect their margin. So I am very, very pleased with our inventories how clean they are, and how we projecting go forward. A - Mike Krammer: This is Mike Kram, I want to add to that well I know the controversy out there exist, I don’t understand that given the large success that we’ve actually seen over the last three quarters. Again to state our past in terms of the strategy, you did see a significant amount of increase year-over-year two to three quarters ago. We believe that the increase presentation on our store also added to the sales volume, and the experience within the store. Again as you continue to see on a quarter-by-quarter basis, we indicated on this particular quarter an increase of 59% on a cost basis on a unit basis is in the low 40s when you saw 33% comp coming out of the quarter and as we’ve also stated we will continue to see moderation in that particular percentage.
Operator
I will take our next question now from Paul Ledgeway with Credit Suisse. Q - Paul Ledgeway: Thanks guys, Mike Jeffries as you reflect back on the past year. How do you spend your time on prior year, can you may be just talked about some of the differences from ’05 versus ’04 and also how are you thinking about it, going forward if there any changes in demand on your time, thanks. A - Mike Jeffries: I spend my time, as most of you know, on primarily on merchandising and design in the business and have done so. We will continue to do so, I have spent expect more time this year on, I would say managing the total business as we run the business with a leadership group, very focused disciplined kind of way but the majority of my time is still spend on merchandising, design, marketing the business where I think I can make the biggest difference. We have an extraordinarily talented leadership team, functional leadership hugely strong in this business and the fact that we have very hands on control where I do at this point I think it has been hugely beneficial to this business. We as a team are marching in the same direction, and I guess make a lot of confidence in the future.
Operator
We will go next to Stacy Pak with Prudential Q - Stacy Pak: Hi. A - Mike Kramer: Hi Stacy Q - Stacy Pak: Couple of quickies, one is will you comment on your comfort with Q1 consensus, which you think is $0.59 or $0.60 and what’s the realistic growth rate for the store and distribution expense in Q1, and then last one would be, in what quarter should inventory growth be inline with sales growth, in dollars? A - Mike Kramer: Hi Stacy, I'd like to just start comment, we'd rather not comment on key census, we provided our own range and we'd like to stick with that. Part 2, in terms of the store and distribution in terms of Q1, in terms of growth rate, we're actually going to see again as I said earlier on the call, we're actually going to see leverage, but in terms of growth rate, we're going to probably see the consistent cost with regards to the distributions center, but in terms of other store level basis, I would, build into your model as certain amount at the variable in a per store basis, I don’t want to really comment other than that. We've indicated in that particular line item, we believe that there will be on leverage, I just don’t want to give any more guidance just compare to that. Again, there is liability with regards to the payroll as long as you have models, they really good mix between our fixed and variable, you should be able to know that number providing the sales.
Operator
And we go next announcing Dana Telsey of Telsey Advisory Group A - Mike Kramer: Hi Dana. Dana your line is open for you. Q - Dana Telsey: Hi can you hear me? A - Mike Kramer: Yes, hi Dana. Q - Dana Telsey: Hi congratulations on a terrific year. A - Mike Kramer: Thanks. Q - Dana Telsey: Can you talk a little bit about the product process, you've mentioned before the facility that you building on your headquarters, in order to speed up the lead times and perhaps, give you better sense of product, how is that, is that impact 2006 and how do you see that in impacting in each of the businesses, thank you? A - Mike Kramer: Hi Dana, I think we'll start to see that impact on this year, I can't tell you how great an impact it will be because we are just getting on her feet with that, as you know it’s a really advanced center enables us to be technically superior in the product categories if we go after, and we would hope would, speed up time to market for each of the categories. We haven’t build anything into our model, that would cause for the result of that, but we should see some result, I can't tell you when. I'm very excited about it, Dana this is my time, I just want to congratulate you on your move, yes. A - Mike Jeffries: Good luck.
Operator
We get our next question now from Robin Murchison of SunTrust. Q - Robin Murchison: Thank you Mike A - Mike Kramer: Hi Robin. Q - Robin Murchison: Hello. Can you just remind us about gross of the Canadian market for the various brands? A - Mike Kramer: The size of the market, you mean what, store count we've committed in Canada? Q - Robin Murchison: Exactly. A - Mike Kramer: Let's look at himself. A - Mike Jeffries: I don’t know that we've said anything publicly what we've committed, or every, no we really haven’t quantify. A - Mike Kramer: No, we haven’t quantified. A - Mike Jeffries: Now what we haven’t quantified, I mean, what I can tell you is in terms of 2006, we're targeting another 6 stores. And what I will tell you is, excuse me, another one store, only one more store in terms of 2006. This is something that we were going to be, go in a very moderate phase. Depending on the success of the stores that we have in a ground today which we've indicated, we were very pleased with, and will continue to look at real estate as it presents itself, as you know, there are very few cities, with the population density that we would like, but we'll take a look at our strategy in Canada on a evolving basis. A - Mike Kramer: And I think directionally it’s probably a greater opportunity for the Hollister concept versus the Abercrombie & Fitch concept.
Operator
And next with Merrill lynch we go to you Tuomisto Tero Q - Tuomisto Tero: Hey guys, congratulations on a great year. A - Mike Kramer: Thank you, Tero. Q - Tuomisto Tero: Could you give a little bit of an update on the internet business and specifically how is it relates to the international side of it and, if you can talk about that across the brands, Kid Hollister and of course the core Abercrombie brands. A - Mike Kramer: Well, in terms of e-commerce, we actually have recently in terms of the quarter we’ve actually seen the pretty sizable increase and, our sales year-over-year, not just expensive we’ve seen in our four wall stores, but we are recently pleased with the recent results and as we'd indicated on some of the past calls we’ve initiated some brand protection industries, that have impacted our International sales. In terms of International we’ve actually seen a slight decline because of that, but we will start anniversaring those initiatives that we put in place in terms in Q2, so, we anticipate a little turn around from that perspective. But again were very pleased with the result that we saw in Q4 and our direct in consumer business on a buy brand basis, I would say that the year-over-year growth was probably consistent with regards to our stores. A - Mike Jeffries: What we are doing from a brand protections standpoints such as the point of reference plans we're reducing the content of sale items on the Internet, I think what we've seen is some of the international customers in buying a fairly large quantities we would also limited the quantities that they can order, just to protect the brand from being exposed to secondary market. I think this is a just a really good time to state again what we've gone public with, the amount of money that an effort we’re putting into protecting these brands, not only for the domestic growth of the brands but for International growth, it's a very serious enterprise as far as this point.
Operator
Moving next now to Dana Cohen of Banc of America Securities Q - Dana Cohen: Hi guys, Mike, to see the MG&A line, was actually sequentially down in the fourth quarter, is there anything to note there, and you've talked about continue each to invest in the first half in level out so, should we be thinking that based this the fourth quarter number, and then the second question is, a year-ago you were talking about closing those kids business, now you are starting to open, is it too early at this point to talk about how many stores you think you can have? A - Mike Kramer: Let me, comment first, we’ve never talked about closing the kids business, or we can tell Q - Dana Cohen: I said closing some stores; you are going to convert then the year ago and A - Mike Kramer: Okay, can I have Mike can go on. A - Mike Jeffries: Yes, well let me address the latter part of your question first is, we are very excited about our kids business extremely excited, and we actually think that the result that we’ve seen have really open this up to probably another 100 plus potential locations that we can expand the Abercrombie kids brand, we’re extremely excite about. Let's talk about MG&A expense in terms of the decrease rate. However, this was driven by the fact that there was significant amount of one time adjustments in Q3, let me remind you some of those. The severance package related to Bob Stinger which was roughly $13.5 million and then, we also had a success there ride of about $2 million, let me take those out of the equation is roughly flat and in terms of on a go forward basis, you are going to start, you are going to see a slight increase, as we continue to add an investment in our business, I indicated that we're going to invest some in IT, and we are going to continue to invest in Mike’s design in merchandise business. You just are not going to see any more near the rate that you've seen in the spring of that last year.
Operator
I would move next now to Christine Chen with Pacific Growth Equities. Q - Christine Chen: Congratulations on a great year. A - Mike Kramer: Thanks. Q - Christine Chen: I'm just have a follow up question about IT, can you talk a little bit of, what types of initiatives you might be looking at and then as far as options exempts clients to that $0.08 is equally spread out between the two quarters and is that kind of the run rate for Q3 and Q4. Thank you. A - Mike Kramer: It's actually the spread of that’s 123 is actually a 55, 45 split. You will see the run rate drop a little bit after that due to some investing, some of the stock options that were outstanding. So types of initiatives with regards, there is going to be a significant amount of the initiatives with regards to IT is, as we growing our business, prior to last year, we didn’t invest significantly in our IT infrastructure, with the significant growth that we saw and actually exceeded our expectations we’ve seen some cracks that we're actually going to invest and really take advantage of the significant growth in our business and profitability, reinvest in the business so that we can move the business forward. And in terms of specifics I don’t really want to get into that but rest of the share we are going to remodeling doesn't investments ensuring that were getting a pay back.
Operator
Coming next now to you Janet Kloppenberg, with JJK Research A - Mike Kramer: Janet A - Mike Jeffries: Hi Janet Q - Janet Kloppenberg: Hi guys, hi guys congratulations, nice job A - Mike Kramer: Thank you Q - Janet Kloppenberg: Great job, great job on the inventories, every thing looks great. Just a couple of questions Mike, when I think about how is your comps in '05, I guess it was a combination of great fashion, higher average unit retails and I think to some extent the investment in the higher payroll, how do you look at driving comps in '06, do you see its much grow some average in retails or will you at the marketing expense for you also the in store service, or experience levels and how do you feel about the level of fashion units in the business going forward versus how you quantify it last year and then I have a question for Mike Krammers well thanks. A - Mike Jeffries: Okay, you are, we are, I am very satisfied Janet with where we are in terms of the retails buy brand. Q - Janet Kloppenberg: Okay A - Mike Jeffries: I said that there might be slight increase within Abercrombie & Fitch brand, but I am not anticipating anything major, so the answer is we are going to grow the business with transactions. Q - Janet Kloppenberg: And will that come from new fashion or will that come from spending more in marketing to drive more customers, how do you see building manually A - Mike Jeffries: Sure, it will just come from fashion Q - Janet Kloppenberg: It will come, okay A - Mike Jeffries: And we don’t as you know drive the business with marketing, we drive that with fashion and the in stores experience and I would hope we are getting better at the in stores experience we have invested a lot more there we did last year although we should start to see some efficiencies with that expenditure and we are getting better at running the stores, I think the systems are better, we are running an operation that does a better job of getting good support from the customers I think the stores operate just a lot better this time than last year. We will continue to enhance that in stores experience just to doing what we now had a too better, I hope in terms of fashion I think we should definitely be able to drive the business from a new fashion point of view I think we're leadership position at this point. Having all said of that I don’t think we can expect the level of comps this year that we saw last year, however I am fully expecting them to be positive and good and you had another question for Mike. She is gone. Thanks Janet
Operator
Gentlemen, we take your next question now from Lauren Levitan of SG Cowen A - Mike Jeffries: Hi Lauren how are you? Q - Lauren Levitan: Great thanks, good afternoon everyone. I was wondering in light of the revised CapEx guidance and some of your more opportunistic goals for growing the Abercrombie Co. International trends, if that has any implications for the cash on the balance sheet, how you are using that now in the past given as a target or cash that you would like to maintain in your certainly well ahead of that. Can you give us some sort of how we should think about use this cash and whether not that target had moved, thanks very much. A - Mike Jeffries: And I guess, I can answer that the target has not changed. I mean Mike is already indicated that we are going to be between $315 in terms of cash, obviously in term of the increase CapEx we feel comfortable with that is going to allow us to grow the business more and we talked about in terms of excess cash the strategy has not changed to the extent that we had excess cash, we may go back out of the market, so really the strategy hasn’t changed.
Operator
And we'll move next now to you Jennifer Davis of Stansders Morchers. Q - Jennifer Davis: Good afternoon congratulations. Quick question on wall, I think you have been planning for about a $20 million operating loss this year, do that pretty much come inline and I think you have said, you are expecting to be profitable by the end of '07. Did you give any guidance for '06? A - Mike Kramer: We did not give any guidance, we actually do have a glide past to that profitability in 2007, the $20 million did come to provision but we don’t plan on indicating few what 2006 is but we are well on that glide past in your earlier call which regards profitability in 2007
Operator
And next now to Jennifer Black of Jennifer Black & Associates Q - Jennifer Black: Good afternoon and let me out my congratulations. A - Mike Kramer: Thank you Jennifer. Q - Jennifer Black: I have a bigger picture question and I wanted to know if you could comment on how you feel about the profitability of stores in Europe versus the stores in US that you are looking out with the crystal ball, what you think and do you think that once you penetrated the domestic market with Hollister, is that also be international brand, and your products been so hard, I know I am not look at lot of small questions, but I never ask questions, It’s a loyalty, if you haven’t apart of having a loyalty program I know you have to need it one you probably don’t but just anything that A - Mike Kramer: I thought you are going to ask when we are finally going to get watching some square remodel then Q - Jennifer Black: Well that’s a huge store A - Mike Kramer: It’s on the way. Q - Jennifer Black: I know A - Mike Kramer: Its on the way, clearly there is an opportunity for Hollister International we see that with the opening in Canada, it is always been our goal that we would go there after we’ve learned our lessons with ANF, but clearly that’s, that is a huge opportunity. Loyalty program, we had a loyalty program of source that was not financial but that was kind of little bit financial within Hollister and we’ve just continued because this was not effective and driving the business there at all. To response to the European profitability, I will turn it over to Mike. A - Mike Jeffries: Yeah I can actually handle that I mean again we’re working through our strategy for Europe but I had to be cornered I would actually say that the profitability in Europe will be consistent with US, may be slightly higher as everybody knows the labor cost in Europe are higher as well as our rent on a gross profit basis however the offset of that is the effect that due to the iconic nature of our brands we may be able to charge higher price when we do in United States, so again the other things become, but again we, I think that the expansion into Europe is definitely going to be even or creative to our current operating margins.
Operator
We will go back now to Kimberly Greenberger of Citigroup Q - Kimberly Greenberger: Thanks I just had a quick follow up on the fourth quarter comp number, if you could break the comp increase or down by transaction and average you know retailer, average sellers sale by brand that will be really helpful. Thanks A - Mike Kramer: Yeah in Q4, Kimberly the transactions in adult business were up 12 and the kids business they were up 50 in the Hollister business they were up 23 and then average transaction value is what we preferred offer and average transactions in adult business were up 11 average transaction in kids business were up 9 and then Hollister up 10. A - Mike Jeffries: Great any one else, any other questions
Operator
I will go next now to Barbara Wyckoff, Buckingham Research Group Q - Barbara Wyckoff: Thanks, I am proud of pushing "*" "1". Hi every one great year A - Mike Kramer: Thank you Paul Q - Barbara Wyckoff: I want to talk a little about where you’ve modified the press release assortment towards the cash, have you adjusted your thoughts regarding the accessories, handbags as a result of the shift more casual, can you talk about how the accessories are performing versus plan and you know may I guess, I have a follow up question after that. A - Mike Kramer: Okay it’s a really good question Barbara, the answer for the question is yes, we are clearly adjusting the handbags, to a more casual attitude in assortment and because I have to, they have to live together, I think our handbags have been beautiful but little serious for the business that we want to run. I think we have most to learn in the handbag business we are committed to that business we are selling lot of handbags, but we have to continue to adjust yet to the handbags driven more of casual attitude, with sports wear specialist, we are not handbag specialist but we are investing in the business and we will get it. Q - Barbara Wyckoff: Great. A - Mike Kramer: Thanks. Q - Barbara Wyckoff: The other question I have is, in the past Hollister operating margins at run had in the core ANF, this is happened in 2005 as well. A - Mike Kramer: Hollister in terms of adult comparison, to adult for this several year, it remains the same. Hollister is higher and our operating margins than a adult gross margins, excuse me. Q - Barbara Wyckoff: Slightly A - Mike Kramer: It's very slightly, but, there are margins are very consistent brand by brand requirement.
Operator
Now we’ll go next now to Dorothy Lakner of CIBC World Markets Q - Dorothy Lakner: Well thanks good afternoon every one. I want to ask also about rule. You talked I think Mike last quarter about the difference in performance between the different location that you have opened, I think you call that sort of a peered performance some are terrific, some are good, one I think you talked about was, your expression with that also I think, but, I just wondered if you've been able to change thing there of the performance of those stores working more inline and, in terms a 8 unit you are going to open this year, are you trying any thing different or there it going to be all mall locations. If you could give us a little bit more color on what you are doing with this role this year? A - Mike Kramer: Of course, we're going to be small locations because we're the mall business that's where we do business. We continue to have five terrific stores and, one I caught to admit failure it's still bad, and we have not, although it's improving, it's not improving that a faster I'm afraid, all of the real stores are increasing their penetration to be ANF stores and there existing malls, but clearly there we have one that is still poor in relations to the volume potential in the mall, and once their and in five are really good. So I can't report to you that the core has got in really good but we're working on it. And I’ll add to that in terms of the age size for terms of 2006 were very, very excited about our real estate for the real brand in 2006. And, in this stores that we have bring on operate had, had really high penetration to the ANF stores, so we are very just above rule.
Operator
And we’ll go back now to Janet Kloppenberg of JJK Research Q - Janet Kloppenberg: Hi, I had two more questions first. If you could talk a little bit about the sales course grip for at the end of fiscal ’05, relative to peak and, when you take your get to peak and if you will be able to get back to take, and also Mike, if you could talk about the investment that was made in the higher still payroll, what’s the degree of success course on that, do you see continuing having the higher store payroll level or what requirements if you might make to that program, thank you? A - Mike Kramer: Two very good questions Janet first I’m actually what you bought up the sales first preferred. Our peak was actually generated back in 1999 and was about $505 per square foot, where the year all of our brands on average generated $464 per square foot, well on glide past towards that peak. One thing that I do want to point out those how the Hollister brand have exceeded that peak at $528 per square foot, so we are very excited about that brand, as well as all of our brands on the way to beating and exceeding that keep back in 1999. In terms of the investments in terms of our highest stock payroll absolutely do we feel that it's within that it's paid off the impact program paid off significantly, obviously the four coverage is paid off significantly as well in terms of sales, that’s we also indicated on several comment in terms of our strip, was that we saw reduce shrink, which we think that the enhance customer service actually added to that. So we're really excited about that on a go-forward basis, do you think that the payroll will be at the same levels that we have today. The payroll will be at a level consistent with the sales that are needed to get the efficiency that we want. We are continually looking at driving the same customers experience at a lower dollar. So we are going keep doing that but I got to tell you that these are paid off, and we are very excited about the success that we have seen and we hope that. You are seeing that same customer experience that lot of people having last year, which is been extraordinary. Any other questions.
Operator
And there is no further question, back to you gentlemen Mike Jeffries, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer: Alright, thank you very much Mike Kramer, Chief Financial Officer: Thank you everyone
Operator
Ladies and Gentlemen, that will concludes today's Abercrombie & Fitch Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call. I'd like to thank you for joining us today. Wish you all good afternoon.