Genesco Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2007 Results

November 21, 2006 at 7:37 AM EST
   --Company Reports Third Quarter Diluted EPS of $0.62 Before Discontinued
                                 Operations--

          --Increases Earnings Per Share Guidance for Fiscal 2007--

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported earnings before discontinued operations of $16.0 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended October 28, 2006. Earnings before discontinued operations were $16.2 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended October 29, 2005. Earnings before discontinued operations for the third quarter of this year reflected SFAS 123(R) share-based compensation and restricted stock expense of $1.7 million before taxes, or $0.04 per diluted share. Earnings from the third quarter last year reflected income of $0.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, primarily from an excess litigation provision. Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 increased 15% to $364 million compared to $316 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

Genesco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hal N. Pennington, said, "Our better than expected third quarter results were driven by excellent performances at Journeys and Journeys Kidz, Johnston & Murphy and Dockers. While we expect the Underground Station business to remain challenging in the fourth quarter, our confidence that the strength we have seen in these other businesses will continue in the Holiday selling season is reflected in our increased earnings guidance for the full fiscal year.

"Net sales at Journeys Group increased 20% to approximately $184 million, same store sales rose 9% and footwear unit comps increased 18% in the third quarter. As expected, many of the same trends that produced success in the second quarter continued through Back-to-School. Journeys Kidz again reported strong growth, with sales up 55% and comparable store sales up 9%. Additionally, we remain pleased with the performance of Shi by Journeys. We feel very good about our merchandise assortment and the continuing momentum of the entire Journeys' group as we look forward to the Holiday selling season.

"Net sales at Hat World Group increased 13% to approximately $78 million and same store sales declined 1%, primarily reflecting weakness in Hat World stores serving the urban markets. We are forecasting a modest comparable sales improvement in the fourth quarter and we remain on track to open 101 new stores, representing a 14% increase in the store base, in the fiscal year. Hat World remains a high margin, highly profitable business with significant expansion opportunities and we remain very excited about its potential.

"Net sales for the Underground Station Group, which includes the Jarman stores, were $35 million and same store sales declined 11% in the third quarter. Same store sales at Underground Station fell 11% primarily due to continued weakness in men's athletic and urban markets in general. Our fourth quarter expectations do not reflect an improvement in the Underground Station business. Longer term, Underground Station is working to improve its women's product offering and non-footwear assortment.

"Johnston & Murphy Group's net sales increased 14% to approximately $44 million. Wholesale sales increased 25% and same store sales rose 6%. Johnston & Murphy's expanded dress and dress casual collection continues to gain retail shelf space and both footwear and non-footwear products are performing extremely well in the Johnston & Murphy stores. Sales growth and gross margin improvement combined to double operating margin compared to last year.

"Third quarter sales of licensed brands increased 31% to approximately $23 million. The entire Dockers' Footwear product line is retailing well and backlog is strong."

Genesco said that it is raising its earnings per share guidance for the year ending February 3, 2007. The Company now expects sales of approximately $1.45 billion and diluted earnings per share of $2.55 to $2.57 for the year. For the fourth quarter, the Company expects sales of approximately $467 million to $470 million. It reiterated its previously announced expectation for fourth quarter earnings in the range of $1.29 to $1.31 per diluted share. The earnings per share estimates include expected SFAS 123(R) share-based compensation and restricted stock expense totaling approximately $0.17 per share for the year and $0.05 per share for the fourth quarter.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding the Company's sales and earnings outlook and all other statements not addressing solely historical facts or present conditions. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations reflected in these statements. A number of factors could cause differences. These include weakness in consumer demand for products sold by the Company, fashion trends that affect the sales or product margins of the Company's retail product offerings, changes in the timing of holidays or in the onset of seasonal weather affecting period to period sales comparisons, changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers, disruptions in product supply or distribution, further unfavorable trends in foreign exchange rates and other factors affecting the cost of products, and competition in the Company's markets. The effects of any demand-related factors in the Holiday selling season could be particularly significant to the Company's business. Additional factors that could affect the Company's prospects and cause differences from expectations include the ability to open, staff and support additional retail stores on schedule and at acceptable expense levels and to renew leases in existing stores on schedule and at acceptable expense levels, variations from expected pension-related charges caused by conditions in the financial markets, and the outcome of litigation and environmental matters involving the Company. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements.

The Company's live conference call on November 21, 2006, at 7:30 a.m. (Central time) may be accessed through the Company's internet website, www.genesco.com. To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software.

Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear, headwear and accessories in more than 1,900 retail stores in the United States and Canada, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys, Johnston & Murphy, Underground Station, Hatworld, Lids, Hat Zone, Cap Factory, Head Quarters and Cap Connection, and on internet websites www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.undergroundstation.com, www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.lids.com, www.hatworld.com, and www.lidscyo.com. The Company also sells footwear at wholesale under its Johnston & Murphy brand and under the licensed Dockers brand. Additional information on Genesco and its operating divisions may be accessed at its website www.genesco.com.



                                   GENESCO INC.

     Consolidated Earnings Summary
                                       Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                        October   October   October   October
                                           28,       29,       28,       29,
     In Thousands                         2006      2005      2006      2005
     Net sales                         $364,298  $316,336  $983,617  $877,589
     Cost of sales                      182,844   154,825   487,404   430,567
     Selling and administrative
      expenses                          150,992   133,225   433,477   385,429
     Restructuring and other, net         1,083      (789)    1,672     2,255
     Earnings from operations            29,379    29,075    61,064    59,338
     Interest expense, net                2,948     2,669     7,022     7,941
     Earnings before income taxes from
      continuing operations              26,431    26,406    54,042    51,397
     Income tax expense                  10,456    10,168    21,457    19,967
     Earnings from continuing
      operations                         15,975    16,238    32,585    31,430
     Provision for discontinued
      operations                            (98)      (95)     (287)      (30)
     Net Earnings                       $15,877   $16,143   $32,298   $31,400



     Earnings Per Share Information
                                       Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                        October   October   October   October
                                           28,       29,       28,       29,
     In Thousands (except per share       2006      2005      2006      2005
      amounts)
     Preferred dividend requirements        $64       $67      $192      $209

     Average common shares - Basic EPS   22,284    22,797    22,771    22,675

     Basic earnings per share:
          Before discontinued operations  $0.71     $0.71     $1.42     $1.38
          Net earnings                    $0.71     $0.71     $1.41     $1.38

     Average common and common
      equivalent shares - Diluted EPS    26,624    27,346    27,111    27,106

     Diluted earnings per share:
          Before discontinued operations  $0.62     $0.62     $1.26     $1.22
          Net earnings                    $0.62     $0.61     $1.25     $1.22



     Consolidated Earnings Summary
                                       Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                        October   October   October   October
                                           28,       29,       28,       29,
     In Thousands                         2006      2005      2006      2005
     Sales:
         Journeys Group                $184,391  $153,109  $462,560  $400,881
         Underground Station Group       34,981    38,395   105,854   110,417
         Hat World Group                 77,503    68,330   226,697   199,532
         Johnston & Murphy Group         44,467    38,981   130,414   121,497
         Licensed Brands                 22,844    17,457    57,759    45,065
         Corporate and Other                112        64       333       197
         Net Sales                     $364,298  $316,336  $983,617  $877,589
     Operating Income (Loss):
         Journeys Group                 $25,260   $21,551   $46,346   $42,270
         Underground Station Group         (631)    1,965        27     3,900
         Hat World Group                  7,710     7,615    22,334    22,355
         Johnston & Murphy Group          3,193     1,404     8,500     6,352
         Licensed Brands                  2,326     1,781     5,390     3,545
         Corporate and Other*            (8,479)   (5,241)  (21,533)  (19,084)
        Earnings from operations         29,379    29,075    61,064    59,338
        Interest, net                     2,948     2,669     7,022     7,941
     Earnings before income taxes from
      continuing operations              26,431    26,406    54,042    51,397
     Income tax expense                  10,456    10,168    21,457    19,967
     Earnings from continuing
      operations                         15,975    16,238    32,585    31,430
     Provision for discontinued
      operations                            (98)      (95)     (287)      (30)
     Net Earnings                       $15,877   $16,143   $32,298   $31,400

    *Includes $1.1 million and $1.7 million of other charges in the third
     quarter and nine months of Fiscal 2007, respectively, for asset
     impairment and lease terminations.  Includes $0.1 million and $0.6
     million of other charges for asset impairment and lease terminations in
     the third quarter and nine months of Fiscal 2006, respectively, and a
     $0.9 million credit due to a favorable adjustment to a litigation
     settlement in the third quarter of Fiscal 2006 and a $1.7 million
     charge for a litigation settlement for the nine months of Fiscal 2006.



     Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                               October 28,       October 29,
     In Thousands                                     2006              2005
     Assets
     Cash and cash equivalents                     $18,638           $33,398
     Accounts receivable                            24,401            22,738
     Inventories                                   344,309           292,798
     Other current assets                           33,122            26,011
     Total current assets                          420,470           374,945
     Property and equipment                        213,974           181,630
     Other non-current assets                      158,111           159,130
     Total Assets                                 $792,555          $715,705
     Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
     Accounts payable                             $135,614          $115,993
     Current portion - long-term debt                    -                 -
     Other current liabilities                      62,862            62,671
     Total current liabilities                     198,476           178,664
     Long-term debt                                158,250           151,250
     Other long-term liabilities                    78,722            74,076
     Shareholders' equity                          357,107           311,715
     Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity   $792,555          $715,705



       Retail Units Operated - Nine Months Ended October 28, 2006

                                           Balance
                                          01/29/05    Open   Conv     Close
          Journeys Group                      695      71      0         5
              Journeys                        654      60      0         4
              Journeys Kidz                    41      10      0         1
              Shi by Journeys                   0       1      0         0
          Underground Station Group           229      21      0        21
              Underground Station             165      21      2         8
              Jarman Retail                    64       0     (2)       13
          Hat World Group                     552      96      0         7
          Johnston & Murphy Group             142       5      0         5
              Shops                           107       4      0         4
              Factory Outlets                  35       1      0         1
          Total Retail Units                1,618     193      0        38


       Retail Units Operated - Nine Months Ended October 28, 2006

                                          Balance                    Balance
                                         01/28/06   Open  Conv Close 10/28/06
         Journeys Group                      761     71     0     3     829
             Journeys                        710     44     0     3     751
             Journeys Kidz                    50     18     0     0      68
             Shi by Journeys                   1      9     0     0      10
         Underground Station Group           229     10     0    10     229
             Underground Station             180     10     3     0     193
             Jarman Retail                    49      0    (3)   10      36
         Hat World Group                     641     83     0     6     718
         Johnston & Murphy Group             142     11     0     4     149
             Shops                           107      6     0     3     110
             Factory Outlets                  35      5     0     1      39
         Total Retail Units                1,773    175     0    23   1,925



         Retail Units Operated - Three Months Ended October 28, 2006

                                          Balance                   Balance
                                         07/29/06  Open  Conv Close 10/28/06
         Journeys Group                      806    25     0     2     829
             Journeys                        736    17     0     2     751
             Journeys Kidz                    64     4     0     0      68
             Shi by Journeys                   6     4     0     0      10
         Underground Station Group           231     3     0     5     229
             Underground Station             189     3     1     0     193
             Jarman Retail                    42     0    (1)    5      36
         Hat World Group                     685    34     0     1     718
         Johnston & Murphy Group             148     4     0     3     149
             Shops                           109     3     0     2     110
             Factory Outlets                  39     1     0     1      39
         Total Retail Units                1,870    66     0    11   1,925



          Constant Store Sales
                                        Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                        October    October  October   October
                                           28,        29,      28,       29,
                                          2006       2005     2006      2005
          Journeys Group                     9%        5%       5%        6%
          Underground Station Group        -11%        9%      -7%        9%
              Underground Station          -11%       13%      -6%       12%
              Jarman Retail                -10%       -5%     -10%        0%
          Hat World Group                   -1%        1%       0%        4%
          Johnston & Murphy Group            6%        5%       2%        6%
              Shops                          7%        6%       2%        6%
              Factory Outlets                3%        5%      -1%        5%
          Total Constant Store Sales         4%        6%       2%        7%
SOURCE  Genesco Inc.
    -0-                             11/21/2006
    /CONTACT:  Financial, James S. Gulmi, +1-615-367-8325, or Media, Claire S.
McCall, +1-615-367-8283, both of Genesco Inc./
    /Company News On-Call:  http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/352750.html/
    /Web site:  http://www.genesco.com
                http://www.journeys.com
                http://www.journeyskidz.com
                http://www.undergroundstation.com
                http://www.johnstonmurphy.com
                http://www.lids.com
                http://www.hatworld.com
                http://www.lidscyo.com /
    (GCO)

CO:  Genesco Inc.
ST:  Tennessee
IN:  TEX REA
SU:  ERN ERP CCA

MM-JE
-- CLTU010 --
7972 11/21/2006 07:36 EST http://www.prnewswire.com

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