AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS INC

Results of Operations

Overview

Fiscal 2024 showed continued progress on our strategic priorities to grow our brands and drive improved profit flow-through. Except as otherwise indicated, all comparisons are to Fiscal 2023.

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Total net revenue increased $67 million to $5.329 billion compared to $5.262 billion last year.

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Total comparable sales increased 4%. By brand, American Eagle comparable sales increased 3% and comparable sales for Aerie increased 5%.

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Gross profit increased 3% to $2.089 billion and increased by 70 basis points to 39.2% as a percentage of revenue. Gross profit increased by 50 basis points when compared to Fiscal 2023 adjusted gross profit.

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Operating income increased 92% to $427.3 million and increased by 380 basis points to 8.0% as a percentage of total revenue. Adjusted operating income increased 19% to $444.9 million and increased by 120 basis points to 8.3% as a percentage of revenue.

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Net income increased 94% to $329.4 million and increased by 300 basis points to 6.2% as a percentage of total revenue. Diluted earnings per share increased to $1.68 for Fiscal 2024 compared to $0.86 for Fiscal 2023. Adjusted net income increased 14% to $342.4 million and increased by 70 basis points to 6.4% as a percentage of revenue. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to $1.74 for Fiscal 2024 compared to $1.52 for Fiscal 2023.

The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the percentage relationship to total net revenue of the listed items included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Comparison of Fiscal 2024 to Fiscal 2023

Total Net Revenue

Total net revenue for Fiscal 2024 increased $67 million to $5.329 billion compared to $5.262 billion for Fiscal 2023. For Fiscal 2024, total comparable sales increased by 4% compared to a 3% increase for Fiscal 2023. Digital revenue increased 5%, driven by increased transaction volume as a result of increased traffic. Store revenue was flat compared to Fiscal 2023.

American Eagle. The increase in net revenue was driven by increased digital traffic and transactions in the mid-single digits year-over-year, partially offset by one less week in Fiscal 2024. American Eagle comparable sales increased 3% year-over-year.

Aerie. The increase in net revenue was driven by increased traffic across channels. Aerie comparable sales increased 5% year-over-year.

Other. Net revenue decreased compared to Fiscal 2023 primarily due to planned lower revenue from Quiet Platforms offset by lower intersegment eliminations of this revenue (net reduction of $25 million) due to our shift in strategy to improve business profitability.

Gross Profit

The increase in gross profit was driven by an increase of $51 million in merchandise margin due to increased net revenue from American Eagle and Aerie, partially offset by a $24 million increase in markdowns year-over-year.

Buying, occupancy, and warehousing costs were relatively flat year-over-year, but improved 20 basis points as a percentage of revenue, driven by rent and delivery expense leverage.

Additionally, Fiscal 2023's gross profit included $11 million of inventory write-down charges related to restructuring our international operations (refer to the “Impairment, Restructuring and Other Charges” caption below for additional information).

Our gross profit may not be comparable to that of other retailers, as some retailers include all costs related to their distribution network, as well as design costs, in cost of sales, and others may exclude a portion of these costs from cost of sales, including them in a line item such as SG&A expenses. Refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for a description of our accounting policy regarding cost of sales, including certain buying, occupancy and warehousing expenses.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses decreased $1 million year-over-year, and improved 30 basis points as a percentage of revenue. The decrease was primarily related to lower corporate compensation costs, including a $24 million reduction in performance-based incentive compensation year-over-year, partially offset by an increase of $20 million in advertising expense.

Impairment, Restructuring and Other Charges

For Fiscal 2024, we recorded $10.7 million of employee severance related to corporate restructuring, and $6.8 million of impairment and restructuring costs due to the sale of our Hong Kong retail operations.

(1)

For Fiscal 2023, we impaired definite-lived intangible assets of $40.5 million consisting of $31.2 million of customer relationships and $9.3 million of trade names. We also impaired $39.6 million of goodwill. We recorded $24.7 million of long-term asset impairment primarily related to technology which is no longer a part of the long-term strategy. All impairments were recorded due to insufficient prospective cash flows to support the asset value, resulting from the restructuring of Quiet Platforms. We recorded $9.9 million of employee severance based on this revised strategy. We also recorded $4.9 million of contract related charges.

(2)

For Fiscal 2023, we recorded $10.9 million of costs related to exiting the Japan market, including the closure of all four stores in January 2024, as well as impairment related to our Hong Kong retail operations. Of this amount, $4.7 million related to Japan right-of-use ("ROU") assets, $3.6 million of Japan store property and equipment, $1.3 million of Hong Kong store ROU assets, and $1.3 million of employee severance. All impairments were recorded due to insufficient prospective cash flows to support the asset value. Additionally, we recorded $11.0 million of inventory write-down charges related to restructuring our international operations, which was recorded separately in Cost of Sales. Refer to the "Gross Profit" caption above for additional information.

(3)

For Fiscal 2023, we recorded charges of $11.2 million, consisting of $6.0 million of employee severance related to corporate realignment and asset impairment of $5.2 million of investments related to further strategic business changes.

Refer to Note 15, Impairment, Restructuring and Other Charges, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report for additional information.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

The decrease in depreciation and amortization expense was primarily driven by prior year impairments of definite-lived tangible and intangible assets of Quiet Platforms.

Operating Income

The increase in total operating income was primarily driven by higher gross profit, and lower depreciation and amortization expense, as well as a $135 million reduction in impairment, restructuring, and other charges during Fiscal 2024.

American Eagle. The increase was primarily the result of the 1% increase in total net revenue discussed above, leading to the $2 million increase in gross profit driven by an increase in merchandise margin and decreased buying, occupancy, and warehousing costs. The increase was further driven by a decrease in SG&A expenses of $2 million, and a decrease in depreciation and amortization expense of $3 million to arrive at the $7 million increase in operating income.

Aerie. The increase was primarily the result of the 4% increase in total net revenue discussed above, leading to a $60 million increase in gross profit driven by a $47 million increase in merchandise margin and a $14 million decrease in buying, occupancy, and warehousing costs. This increase was partially offset by an increase in SG&A expenses of $22 million, primarily driven by store compensation, to arrive at the $40 increase in operating income.

Other. The increase in expense was primarily due to decreased margin from emerging brands.

General Corporate Expenses. The decrease in expense was primarily due to a $20 million decrease in performance-based incentives and other compensation, a $9 million decrease in rent, and a $7 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense.

Interest (Income), Net

The increase in interest (income), net was primarily attributable to increased interest income on deposits, no borrowings on our Credit Facility (as defined below), and the elimination of convertible note interest expense on the 2025 Notes (as defined below) due to their early redemption during Fiscal 2023.

Other (Income), Net

The decrease in other (income), net was primarily attributable to foreign currency fluctuations.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 25.5% for Fiscal 2024, compared to an effective income tax rate of 29.1% for Fiscal 2023.The lower effective income tax rate in Fiscal 2024 was primarily driven by changes in non-deductible executive compensation and non-deductible goodwill impairment charge, partially offset by international provisions of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act") and federal credits. Our effective income tax rate is also dependent upon the overall mix of earnings in jurisdictions with different tax rates.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD") Global Anti-Base Erosion Pillar Two minimum tax rules, also referred to as "Pillar Two", are intended to apply to tax years beginning in 2024 and generally provide for a minimum effective tax rate of 15%. While the U.S. has not enacted legislation to adopt Pillar Two and it is uncertain if it will do so in the future, certain countries in which we operate have enacted such legislation, and other countries are in the process of doing so. We considered the applicable tax laws in relevant jurisdictions and concluded there is no material effect on our effective tax rate or our consolidated results of operation, financial position, and cash flows for the year ended February 1, 2025. The Company will continue to evaluate the potential effect of Pillar Two on future reporting periods.

Refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, and Note 13, Income Taxes, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding our accounting for income taxes.

Net Income

The change in net income was attributable to the factors described above.

Net income per diluted share for Fiscal 2024 was $1.68, which includes $17.6 million ($0.06 per diluted share) of pre-tax impairment, restructuring and other charges. Refer to “Non-GAAP information” below for additional detail.

Net income per diluted share for Fiscal 2023 was $0.86, which includes $152.6 million ($0.66 per diluted share) of pre-tax impairment, restructuring and other charges. Refer to “Non-GAAP information” below for additional detail.