GameStop Reports Best Ever First Quarter Results; First Quarter EPS Exceeds Guidance; Net Earnings Increase 111%; Robust Sales of Next-Generation Hardware Drive Quarter; Fiscal 2007 EPS Guidance Raised
GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2007--GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended May 5, 2007. Please note that all per share data has been adjusted for the Class B share conversion and the two-for-one stock split that occurred subsequent to February 3, 2007.
GameStop's net earnings were $24.7 million for the first quarter of 2007, including debt retirement costs of $6.7 million ($4.2 million, net of tax benefits), an 111% increase over the first quarter of 2006. Diluted earnings per share were $0.15 for the first quarter of 2007, including debt retirement costs of $0.03 per diluted share, exceeding previously released guidance.
Total company sales increased 23.0% to $1,279.0 million in comparison to $1,040.0 million in the prior year quarter. Comparable store sales increased 15.3% during the first quarter, also beating previously released guidance of 12.0% to 14.0%. Hardware sales grew 75.1% in the first quarter, driven by overwhelming demand for Nintendo's Wii and DS Lite systems, and strong sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PS3.
R. Richard Fontaine, GameStop's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our first quarter results were driven by the strong growth of next generation hardware despite both Nintendo products, the Wii and DS Lite, being in short supply throughout the quarter. Our business is benefiting from unmatched platform expansion. For much of the quarter, seven different platforms were represented among our top 25 best sellers. Not only was this unprecedented, but there is every indication that the Wii and DS Lite titles are attracting a new audience of gamers, while the allure of genre breakthrough titles like Guitar Hero II are expanding the audience for video game product.
"The quarter also reflected strong operational control and efficiencies. Our operating margins increased by 100 basis points even in the face of lower gross margins due to the very strong sale of lower margin hardware. SG&A expenses decreased by 260 basis points due to the excellent expense leveraging of our increasing sales, continued distribution efficiencies as a result of our synergies from the EB Games merger, and an improved system of in-store scheduling.
"I am also happy to announce that during the first quarter GameStop was added to the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. corporations," concluded Fontaine.
The top selling video games during the quarter were Nintendo's POKEMON DIAMOND and PEARL, Sony's GOD OF WAR II, Activision's GUITAR HERO II, Microsoft's CRACKDOWN, and Ubisoft's GHOST RECON: ADVANCED WARFIGHTER 2.
Updated Guidance
For the second quarter of fiscal 2007, the company expects comparable store sales to range from +16.0% to +18.0%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to range from $0.07 to $0.08. This compares to earnings per share of $0.02 in the second quarter of 2006.
Due to the excellent results in the first quarter, we are raising our full year 2007 diluted earnings per share guidance to range from $1.39 to $1.42. Total revenues are still projected to grow between 19.0% and 21.0%, with comparable store sales ranging from +14.0% to +16.0%.
Note that guidance does not include debt retirement costs.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
A conference call with GameStop Corp.'s management is scheduled for May 23, 2007 at 11:00 AM ET to discuss the first quarter sales and earnings results. The conference call will be simulcast on the Internet at (http://www.gamestop.com/investor-relations/). The conference call will be archived on the website until June 6, 2007.
About GameStop Corp.
Headquartered in Grapevine, TX, GameStop Corp. is the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer. The company operates 4,816 retail stores across the United States and in fifteen countries worldwide. The company also operates two e-commerce sites, GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and publishes Game Informer(R) magazine, a leading multi-platform video game publication. GameStop Corp. sells new and used video game software, hardware and accessories for next generation video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. In addition, the company sells PC entertainment software, related accessories and other merchandise. General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company's corporate website: http://www.gamestop.com/corporate.
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the outlook for fiscal 2007 and beyond, future financial and operating results, projected store openings, the company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of GameStop's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the inability to obtain sufficient quantities of product to meet consumer demand, including Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii; the timing of release of video game titles for next generation consoles; the risks associated with expanded international operations, and economic and other events that could reduce or impact consumer demand. Additional factors that could cause GameStop's results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in GameStop's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2007 filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
GameStop Corp.
Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
13 weeks 13 weeks
ended ended
May 5, 2007 April 29, 2006
------------- --------------
Sales $ 1,278,983 $ 1,040,027
Cost of sales 930,214 737,993
------------- --------------
Gross profit 348,769 302,034
Selling, general and administrative
expenses 250,154 231,470
Depreciation and amortization 31,035 25,932
Stock-based compensation 6,962 5,190
Merger-related expenses -- 1,326
------------- --------------
Operating earnings 60,618 38,116
Interest expense, net 14,116 19,329
Debt extinguishment expense 6,724 --
------------- --------------
Earnings before income tax expense 39,778 18,787
Income tax expense 15,055 7,086
------------- --------------
Net earnings $ 24,723 $ 11,701
============= ==============
Earnings per common share:
Basic $0.16 $0.08
Diluted $0.15 $0.07
Weighted average common shares
outstanding:
Basic 153,439 146,782
Diluted 161,256 156,944
Percentage of Sales:
-------------------------------------
Sales 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of sales 72.7% 71.0%
------------- --------------
Gross profit 27.3% 29.0%
SG&A expenses 19.6% 22.2%
Depreciation and amortization 2.4% 2.5%
Stock-based compensation 0.6% 0.5%
Merger-related expenses 0.0% 0.1%
------------- --------------
Operating earnings 4.7% 3.7%
Interest expense, net 1.1% 1.9%
Debt extinguishment expense 0.5% --
------------- --------------
Earnings before income tax expense 3.1% 1.8%
Income tax expense 1.2% 0.7%
------------- --------------
Net earnings 1.9% 1.1%
============= ==============
GameStop Corp.
Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)
May 5, April 29,
2007 2006
---------- ----------
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 307,328 $ 224,881
Receivables, net 38,856 33,375
Merchandise inventories 793,517 631,874
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 45,721 35,357
Prepaid taxes 52,136 53,340
Deferred taxes 36,220 43,843
---------- ----------
Total current assets 1,273,778 1,022,670
---------- ----------
Property and equipment:
Land 11,168 10,498
Buildings & leasehold improvements 318,215 272,578
Fixtures and equipment 447,649 358,604
---------- ----------
777,032 641,680
Less accumulated depreciation and
amortization 317,276 210,799
---------- ----------
Net property and equipment 459,756 430,881
---------- ----------
Goodwill, net 1,403,557 1,392,467
Assets held for sale -- 19,315
Other noncurrent assets 49,687 47,977
---------- ----------
Total assets $3,186,778 $2,913,310
========== ==========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 597,444 $ 410,808
Accrued liabilities 287,394 294,850
Note payable, current portion 12,173 12,173
---------- ----------
Total current liabilities 897,011 717,831
Deferred taxes -- 12,307
Other long-term liabilities 70,951 37,984
Notes payable, long-term portion -- 21,117
Senior floating and fixed rate notes payable,
net of discount 737,374 942,023
---------- ----------
Total liabilities 1,705,336 1,731,262
---------- ----------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - authorized 5,000 shares;
no shares issued or outstanding -- --
Class A common stock - $.001 par value;
authorized 300,000 shares; 157,414 and
149,890 shares issued and outstanding,
respectively 157 150
Additional paid-in-capital 1,109,130 973,406
Accumulated other comprehensive income 13,515 4,445
Retained earnings 358,640 204,047
---------- ----------
Total stockholders' equity 1,481,442 1,182,048
---------- ----------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $3,186,778 $2,913,310
========== ==========
Schedule I
GameStop Corp.
Sales Mix
13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended
May 5, 2007 April 29, 2006
--------------- ----------------
Percent Percent
Sales of Sales of
Total Total
-------- ------- -------- -------
Sales (in millions):
New video game hardware $ 281.4 22.0%$ 160.7 15.4%
New video game software 460.6 36.0% 406.3 39.1%
Used video game products 326.4 25.5% 275.4 26.5%
Other 210.6 16.5% 197.6 19.0%
-------- ------ -------- -------
Total $1,279.0 100.0%$ 1,040.0 100.0%
======== ====== ======== =======
======================================================================
Schedule II
GameStop Corp.
Gross Profit Mix
13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended
May 5, 2007 April 29, 2006
--------------- ----------------
Gross Gross
Gross Profit Gross Profit
Profit Percent Profit Percent
-------- ------- -------- -------
Gross Profit (in millions):
New video game hardware $ 21.6 7.7%$ 13.0 8.1%
New video game software 91.8 19.9% 82.0 20.2%
Used video game products 164.3 50.3% 141.1 51.2%
Other 71.1 33.8% 65.9 33.4%
-------- --------
Total $ 348.8 27.3%$ 302.0 29.0%
======== ========
CONTACT: GameStop Corp.
Media Contact:
Chris Olivera, 817-424-2130
Divisional Vice President,
Corporate Communications
or
Investor Contact:
David W. Carlson, 817-424-2130
Executive Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer
SOURCE: GameStop Corp.