NEW YORK, March 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended January 31, 2015.

Fourth Quarter ResultsThe Company reported net income of $146 million for the 13 weeks ended January 31, 2015. This equates to earnings of $1.01 per share, an increase of 25 percent over earnings per share of $0.81 for the 13-week period ended February 1, 2014.

Fourth quarter comparable-store sales increased 10.2 percent. Total fourth quarter sales increased 6.7 percent, to $1,911 million this year, compared with sales of $1,791 million in 2013. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the fourth quarter increased 10.1 percent.

During the fourth quarter, the Company realized a gain from the sale of a property and wrote down a trademark. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding these one-time events, the Company earned $1.00 per share, a 22 percent increase over the comparable 13-week non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.82 in 2013. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the tables below.

Fiscal Year ResultsFor fiscal year 2014, the Company reported net income of $520 million, or $3.56 per share, compared to net income of $429 million, or $2.85 per share, in 2013. On a non-GAAP basis, earnings were $3.58 per share in 2014, an increase of 25 percent over the $2.87 per share earned on a comparable basis in 2013. In 2014 the Company generated its fifth consecutive double-digit percentage increase in annual earnings per share and its fourth consecutive year of record earnings as Foot Locker, Inc.

Total sales increased 9.9 percent in 2014 to $7,151 million, the highest level of sales ever recorded by the Company as Foot Locker, Inc., compared with sales of $6,505 million last year. Comparable-store sales increased 8 percent in 2014.

"We remain intently focused on executing our key strategies," said Richard Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Along with elevating the level of investments in our stores, digital capabilities, support facilities, and --- most importantly --- our people, that focus has enabled us to develop into a high-performance company that has reached record heights of financial and operational success. In fact, we have approached or surpassed many of the goals in our most recent set of long-term objectives, and I am very proud of the entire team at Foot Locker, Inc. for this excellent accomplishment."

"Looking ahead," Mr. Johnson continued, "we intend to stay focused on our strategic priorities and seize opportunities to raise the bar again and achieve our next set of financial milestones, the details of which we look forward to sharing on March 16th at our New York headquarters."

"Our strong top-line performance was accompanied by continued discipline in managing expenses," added Lauren Peters, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "As a result, we set many new records for our Company in 2014, including increasing our gross margin rate to 33.2 percent of sales and improving our annual SG&A expense rate to below 20 percent for the first time."

"Our EBIT margin increased to 11.4 percent of sales and net income margin improved to 7.3 percent, both surpassing our long-term goals," continued Ms. Peters. "Return on invested capital improved further to 15 percent, our sales per gross square foot posted a solid increase to $490, and inventory turns also improved significantly."

Financial PositionThe Company's merchandise inventory at January 31, 2015 was $1,250 million, which was $30 million, or 2.5 percent, higher than at the end of last year.

At year-end 2014, the Company's cash and cash equivalents totaled $967 million, while the debt on its balance sheet was $134 million. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company repurchased 2.34 million shares of its common stock for $131 million. For the full year, the Company repurchased 5.9 million shares for $305 million.

"As previously announced in February, our Board of Directors approved a new $1 billion share repurchase program," said Mr. Johnson, "with the previous $600 million program having been substantially completed. Our strong financial position also enabled the Board to authorize another double-digit percentage increase in our quarterly dividend, to 25 cents per share, and approve a $220 million capital expenditure program for 2015."

Store Base UpdateThe Company opened 86 new stores, remodeled/relocated 319 stores, and closed 136 stores during fiscal 2014. As of January 31, 2015, the Company operated 3,423 stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, 51 franchised Foot Locker stores were operating in the Middle East and South Korea, as well as 27 franchised Runners Point and Sidestep stores in Germany and Switzerland.

The Company is hosting a live conference call at 9:00 a.m. (EST) today to discuss these results and provide its initial outlook for 2015, comment on the status of its current initiatives, and discuss trends in its business and the athletic industry. This conference call may be accessed live by dialing 888-771-4371 (U.S. and Canada) or 847-585-4405 (International) using the passcode 38946260, or via the Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com. Please log on to the website 15 minutes prior to the call in order to download any necessary software. An archived replay of the conference call can be accessed approximately one hour following the end of the call at 888-843-7419 with the passcode 38946260, through March 27, 2015. A replay of the call will also be available via webcast from the same Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Other than statements of historical facts, all statements which address activities, events, or developments that the Company anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, such things as future capital expenditures, expansion, strategic plans, financial objectives, dividend payments, stock repurchases, growth of the Company's business and operations, including future cash flows, revenues, and earnings, and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors which are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the effects of currency fluctuations, customer demand, fashion trends, competitive market forces, uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and pricing, customer acceptance of the Company's merchandise mix and retail locations, the Company's reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor), pandemics and similar major health concerns, unseasonable weather, deterioration of global financial markets, economic conditions worldwide, deterioration of business and economic conditions, any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist activities in the United States or in other parts of the world and related U.S. military action overseas, the ability of the Company to execute its business and strategic plans effectively with regard to each of its business units, and risks associated with global product sourcing, including political instability, changes in import regulations, and disruptions to transportation services and distribution.

For additional discussion on risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" disclosed in the 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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SOURCE Foot Locker, Inc.