UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549





FORM 8‑K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934





Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):





Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).



Emerging growth company ☑



If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☑

---

 



Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.



The following information, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, referenced in this Item 2.02, is being furnished pursuant to this Item 2.02 and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.



On March 20, 2018, Duluth Holdings Inc. (the “Company” or “Duluth Trading”) issued a press release (the “Earnings Press Release”) discussing, among other things, its financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 28, 2018. A copy of the Earnings Press Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.



Forward Looking Information



Certain matters discussed in this Current Report on Form 8-K and other oral and written statements by representatives of the Company including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to meet its fiscal 2018 expectations (including its ability to increase net sales, adjusted EBITDA, and diluted EPS) and its ability to execute on its growth strategies and its long-term growth targets, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “predict,” “intend,” “future,” “budget,” “goals,” “potential,” “continue,” “design,” “objective,” “would,” and other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based upon Duluth Trading’s current expectations, beliefs, estimates, and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Duluth Trading’s control. Duluth Trading’s expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith, and Duluth Trading believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, and projections will result or be achieved and actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, among others, the risks, uncertainties, and factors set forth under "Risk Factors" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 22, 2017, and other factors as may be periodically described in Duluth Trading’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. Duluth Trading assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events or circumstances or other changes affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. 



---

 



Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.



 (d)  Exhibits.

The following exhibits are being furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K.



---

 



SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.











---

 



EXHIBIT INDEX





---



Exhibit 99.1









Duluth Holdings Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2017 Financial Results



Belleville, WI - Mar. 20, 2018 – Duluth Holdings Inc. (dba, Duluth Trading Company) (“Duluth Trading” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DLTH), a lifestyle brand of men’s and women’s casual wear, workwear and accessories, today announced its financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 28, 2018 and its financial guidance for fiscal year 2018.



Highlights for the Fourth Quarter Ended January 28, 2018 



1See Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA in the accompanying financial tables.



Highlights for the Fiscal Year Ended January 28, 2018 



1See Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA in the accompanying financial tables.



---

 

Management Commentary



“Fiscal 2017 was a year of solid growth for the Duluth Trading brand as reflected by more than 25% top-line growth and 23% growth in total new customers. We opened 15 stores and continued to expand our retail store footprint into the Eastern and Western United States. Net sales in our men’s business grew 22% and our women’s business grew 37%, exceeding the $100 million milestone and accounting for almost a quarter of our total annual sales. This marks our 32nd consecutive quarter of increased net sales year-over-year,” said Stephanie Pugliese, Chief Executive Officer of Duluth Trading.



“With each new store opening, we are attracting more customers to the Duluth Trading brand and during fiscal 2017, new customers acquired through our retail segment accounted for 25% of total new customer growth. We continue to see higher sales growth in markets with an established store, which supports our long-term strategy to significantly expand our total market opportunity through continued strength in online capabilities and the full expression of the brand in a brick and mortar setting.”



“Looking ahead to 2018, we intend to greatly enhance our customers’ omnichannel experience with the completion of the order management system and e-commerce platform in the first half of the year.  We plan to open 15 new stores that will reach into major customer markets like Texas and that will give us a coast-to-coast presence from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon.  We are making investments to ensure the long-term growth potential of our business and are underway with executing our 2018 plan.”



Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter Ended January 28, 2018



Net sales increased 24.7% to $217.8 million, compared to $174.7 million in the same period a year ago. The net sales increase was driven by a  8.5% growth in direct net sales and a  98.8% growth in retail net sales, with growth in all product categories and in both men’s and women’s business. The increase in retail net sales was attributable to the opening of 15 new retail stores during fiscal 2017.



Gross profit increased 19.9% to $116.0 million, or 53.3% of net sales, compared to $96.8 million, or 55.4% of net sales, in the corresponding prior-year period. The 210 basis point decrease in gross margin was primarily due to an increase in global promotional days and flash sales, coupled with the continuing decline in shipping revenues.



Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 17.0% to $86.5 million, compared to $73.9 million in the same period a year ago. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 260 basis points to 39.7%, compared to 42.3% in the corresponding prior-year period. As a percentage of net sales, advertising and marketing costs decreased 370 basis points to 16.4% compared to 20.1% in the corresponding prior-year period, primarily due to a planned decrease in catalog spend coupled with a decline in digital and television advertising as percentage of net sales, primarily attributable to leverage gained from higher retail net sales.  As a percentage of net sales, selling expenses increased 40 basis points to 14.1%, compared to 13.7% in the corresponding prior-year period, primarily due to an increase in customer service expense due to retail store growth, partially offset by leverage in shipping expenses due to increase proportion of retail net sales. As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses increased 70 basis points to 9.2% compared to 8.5% in the corresponding prior-year period, primarily due to store occupancy, depreciation, and personnel expenses. 













---

 

Balance Sheet and Liquidity



The Company ended the quarter with a cash balance of approximately $2.9 million, with net working capital of $51.5 million, and no borrowings on its $60.0 million revolving line of credit.



Fiscal 2018 Outlook



Fiscal 2018 outlook is provided on a 53-week period, compared to a 52-week period in fiscal 2017.  





1See Reconciliation of forecasted net income to forecasted EBITDA and forecasted EBITDA to forecasted Adjusted EBITDA in the accompanying financial tables.

2Fiscal 2018 capital expenditures primarily include the Company’s plan to open 15 retail stores, investments in technology and infrastructure improvements.



The table below recaps the Company’s fiscal 2017 stores and signed new store leases for fiscal 2018 along with the opening timeframe.







1Gross square footage excludes space used as a call center.



Conference Call Information

A conference call and audio webcast with analysts and investors will be held on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 9:30 am Eastern Time, to discuss the results and answer questions.

---

 

The Company is enabling investors to pre-register for the earnings conference call so that they can expedite their entry into the call and avoid the need to wait for a live operator. In order to pre-register for the call, investors can visit http://dpregister.com/10117036  and enter in their contact information. Investors will then be issued a personalized phone number and pin to dial into the live conference call. Individuals can pre-register any time prior to the start of the conference call.

About Duluth Trading



Duluth Trading is a rapidly growing lifestyle brand for the Modern, Self-Reliant American. Based in Belleville, Wisconsin, we offer high quality, solution-based casual wear, workwear and accessories for men and women who lead a hands-on lifestyle and who value a job well-done. We provide our customers an engaging and entertaining experience.  Our marketing incorporates humor and storytelling that conveys the uniqueness of our products in a distinctive, fun way, and our products are sold exclusively through our content-rich website, catalogs, and “store like no other” retail locations. We are committed to outstanding customer service backed by our “No Bull Guarantee” - if it’s not right, we’ll fix it. Visit our website at www.duluthtrading.com



Non-GAAP Measurements



Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures may be useful in certain instances to provide additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. Within this release, including the tables attached hereto, reference is made to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).  See attached Table “Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA,” for a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months and fiscal year ended January 28, 2018, versus the three months and fiscal year ended January 29, 2017.  See also attached Table “Reconciliation of Forecasted Net Income to Forecasted EBITDA and Forecasted EBITDA to Forecasted Adjusted EBITDA,” for a reconciliation of forecasted net income to forecasted EBITDA and forecasted EBITDA to forecasted adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year ending February 3, 2019.  Adjusted EBITDA is a metric used by management and frequently used by the financial community, which provides insight into an organization’s operating trends and facilitates comparisons between peer companies, since interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization can differ greatly between organizations as a result of differing capital structures and tax strategies. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain items that are unusual in nature or not comparable from period to period.  The Company provides this information to investors to assist in comparisons of past, present and future operating results and to assist in highlighting the results of on-going operations.  While the Company’s management believes that non-GAAP measurements are useful supplemental information, such adjusted results are not intended to replace the Company’s GAAP financial results and should be read in conjunction with those GAAP results.





Forward-Looking Statements



This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements concerning Duluth Trading's plans, objectives, goals, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, its results of operations, financial position and its business outlook, business trends and certain other information herein are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Duluth Trading’s ability to execute on its growth strategies, statements under the heading “Fiscal 2018 Outlook” and the forecasted results of operations in the Table “Reconciliation of Forecasted Net Income to Forecasted EBITDA to Forecasted Adjusted EBITDA.” You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” ”might,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “predict,” “intend,” “future,” “budget,” “goals,” “potential,” “continue,” “design,” “objective,” “forecasted,” “would” and other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements

---

 

are not historical facts, and are based upon Duluth Trading's current expectations, beliefs, estimates, and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Duluth Trading's control. Duluth Trading's expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith, and Duluth Trading believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, and projections will be achieved and actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, among others, the risks, uncertainties, and factors set forth under Part 1, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 22, 2017, and other factors as may be periodically described in Duluth Trading’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. Duluth Trading assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events or circumstances or other changes affecting forward-looking information except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.



Investor Contacts:

Donni Case (310) 622-8224

Johan Yokay (310) 622-8241

Financial Profiles, Inc.

Duluth@finprofiles.com



# # #

(Tables Follow)



---

 



DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

















---

 



DULUTH HOLDING INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except per share figures)















---

 



DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)















---

 

DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.

Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)



















DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.

Segment Information

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)





















DULUTH HOLDINGS INC.

Reconciliation of Forecasted Net Income to Forecasted EBITDA and Forecasted EBITDA to Forecasted Adjusted EBITDA

For the Fiscal Year Ending February 3, 2019

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)







---