Sales up 2% at apparel retailer Express in Q2 FY'12

Second Quarter Operating Results:

• Net sales increased 2% to $454.9 million from $446.0 million in the second quarter of 2011;
• Comparable sales increased 1%, following a 6% increase in comparable sales in the second quarter of 2011;
• Gross margin was 32.2% of net sales compared to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2011;
• Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses totaled $115.3 million, or 25.3% of net sales, compared to $117.7 million, or 26.4% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2011;
• Operating income was $31.2 million, or 6.9% of net sales, compared to $31.7 million, or 7.1% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2011;
• Interest expense totaled $4.8 million compared to $10.5 million in the second quarter of 2011, which included a $3.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt associated with the repurchases of $24.2 million of Senior Notes and the amendment of the $200 million Revolving Credit Facility;
• Income tax expense was $10.4 million, at an effective tax rate of approximately 39.6%, compared to $8.6 million, at an effective tax rate of approximately 40.6%, in the second quarter of 2011; and
• Net income was $15.8 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. This compares to net income of $12.6 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2011, which included a $2.2 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, after tax loss on extinguishment of debt associated with the repurchases of $24.2 million of Senior Notes and the amendment of the $200 million Revolving Credit Facility. Net income in the second quarter of 2011 adjusted for non-core operating costs noted above was $14.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share.

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Express Inc.