Carter’s, Inc., the largest branded marketer in North America of apparel exclusively for babies and young children, reported its fourth quarter and fiscal 2017 results.

“We saw strong demand in all channels of distribution in the fourth quarter, and are reporting another year of record sales and earnings,” said Michael D. Casey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “In 2017, we achieved our 29th consecutive year of sales growth, strengthened our business with the acquisitions of Skip Hop and our largest international licensee based in Mexico, and returned $260 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is expected to have a significant and positive impact on our Company’s future earnings, cash flow, and ability to invest in its growth strategies. In 2018, we plan to reinvest approximately half of the $40 million benefit from the lower corporate tax rate in brand marketing and improved eCommerce capabilities.

“Given the significant and unexpected benefit in 2017 of the historic tax reform legislation, we are also announcing today that our Board of Directors has approved $20 million in special compensation awards to all of our Company’s eligible full-time and part-time employees provided through enhanced retirement plan contributions and bonuses.

“With the support of our talented organization throughout the world, we are expecting another good year of sales, earnings and cash flow in 2018 driven by our continued focus on providing the best value and experience in young children’s apparel and related products.”

Impact of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

The Company’s provision for income taxes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 includes a net tax benefit of $40.0 million related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. This net tax benefit consists of a $50.4 million benefit related to revaluation of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities and a $10.4 million provisional estimate for additional tax expense related to accumulated earnings outside of the United States.

Fourth quarter fiscal 2017 results also include pretax expense of $21.2 million for special compensation and related payroll taxes awarded as a result of this tax reform legislation. The nature of the special compensation includes:

• Cash bonuses to full-time and part-time global employees with one year of service, with full-time employees receiving a bonus of approximately 5% of base salary and part-time employees receiving approximately $100 per year of service with the Company. The Company’s leadership team will not receive these special bonuses.

• A 100% match of employee voluntary contributions to Company-sponsored retirement programs, subject to certain statutory thresholds and limits.

The net tax benefit and charges related to the special compensation awards described above are excluded from the adjusted operating income, net income, and earnings per diluted share measures (all non-GAAP) for the fourth quarter fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2017 described below. See the “Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Results” section of this release for additional disclosures and reconciliations regarding non-GAAP measures.

Consolidated Results

Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2017 compared to Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2016

Consolidated net sales increased $93.1 million, or 10%, to $1.03 billion. This increase reflects growth in all business segments and contributions from the 2017 Skip Hop and Mexico licensee acquisitions. Skip Hop, a global lifestyle brand for families with young children, and the acquired business in Mexico contributed $32.9 million and $8.8 million, respectively, to consolidated net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 favorably affected consolidated net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 by $4.5 million. On a constant currency basis (a non-GAAP measure), consolidated net sales increased 9.5% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Operating income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 increased $6.4 million, or 4.6%, to $145.8 million, compared to $139.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Operating margin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 decreased 70 basis points to 14.2%, compared to 14.9% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Adjusted operating income (a non-GAAP measure) increased $25.4 million, or 17.9%, to $167.4 million, compared to $142.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted operating margin (a non-GAAP measure) increased 110 basis points to 16.3%, compared to 15.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, reflecting improved gross margin, principally due to favorable product costs and other sourcing efficiencies, and SG&A expense leverage.

Net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 increased $48.6 million, or 55.8%, to $135.7 million, or $2.84 per diluted share, compared to $87.1 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) increased $22.2 million, or 25.1%, to $111.0 million, compared to $88.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted earnings per diluted share (a non-GAAP measure) increased 29.6% to $2.32, compared to $1.79 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

Fiscal 2017 compared to Fiscal 2016

Consolidated net sales increased $201.2 million, or 6.3%, to $3.4 billion. The net sales increase reflects growth in the Company’s U.S. Retail segment and contribution from the Skip Hop acquisition. The Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions contributed $96.3 million and $15.4 million, respectively, to consolidated net sales in fiscal 2017.

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates in fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2016 favorably affected consolidated net sales in fiscal 2017 by $6.6 million. On a constant currency basis, consolidated net sales increased 6.1% in fiscal 2017.

Operating income in fiscal 2017 decreased $7.0 million, or 1.6%, to $419.6 million, compared to $426.6 million in fiscal 2016. Operating margin in fiscal 2017 decreased 100 basis points to 12.3%, compared to 13.3% in fiscal 2016.

Adjusted operating income increased $13.4 million, or 3.1%, to $444.8 million, compared to $431.4 million in fiscal 2016. Adjusted operating margin decreased 40 basis points to 13.1%, compared to 13.5% in fiscal 2016, reflecting increased investments in retail operations, marketing, and technology in addition to bad debt provisions related to wholesale customer bankruptcies, which were partially offset by favorable product costs.

Net income in fiscal 2017 increased $44.7 million, or 17.3%, to $302.8 million, or $6.24 per diluted share, compared to $258.1 million, or $5.08 per diluted share, in fiscal 2016.

Adjusted net income increased $18.6 million, or 7.1%, to $279.7 million, compared to $261.1 million in fiscal 2016. Adjusted earnings per diluted share increased 12.1%, to $5.76, compared to $5.14 in fiscal 2016.

Cash flow from operations in fiscal 2017 was $329.6 million compared to $369.2 million in fiscal 2016. The decrease primarily reflected unfavorable changes in net working capital.

Business Segment Results

At the beginning of fiscal 2017, the Company combined its Carter’s Retail and OshKosh Retail segments into a single U.S. Retail operating segment, and its Carter’s Wholesale and OshKosh Wholesale segments into a single U.S. Wholesale operating segment, to reflect the sales-channel approach executive management now uses to evaluate business performance and manage operations in the United States. The International segment was not affected by these changes. The Company’s reportable segments are now U.S. Retail, U.S. Wholesale, and International. Prior periods have been conformed to reflect this current segment structure.

U.S. Retail Segment

Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2017 compared to Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2016

U.S. Retail segment sales increased $37.8 million, or 7.2%, to $565.7 million. U.S. Retail comparable sales increased 4.5%, comprised of eCommerce comparable sales growth of 19.1% and a comparable retail store sales decline of 1.0%. Skip Hop contributed $5.8 million to segment net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company opened 19 stores and closed 10 stores in the United States.

Fiscal 2017 compared to Fiscal 2016

U.S. Retail segment sales increased $118.9 million, or 7.2%, to $1.78 billion. U.S. Retail comparable sales increased 2.7%, comprised of eCommerce comparable sales growth of 21.6% and a comparable retail store sales decline of 3.3%. Skip Hop contributed $8.8 million to segment net sales in fiscal 2017.

In fiscal 2017, the Company opened 57 stores and closed 19 stores in the United States.

As of the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company operated 830 retail stores in the United States.

U.S. Wholesale Segment

Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2017 compared to Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2016

U.S. Wholesale segment sales increased $32.7 million, or 11.0%, to $329.8 million, driven by the contribution from the Skip Hop acquisition and an increase in demand for Carter’s brand products. Skip Hop contributed $17.5 million to segment net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Fiscal 2017 compared to Fiscal 2016

U.S. Wholesale segment sales increased $31.6 million, or 2.7%, to $1.21 billion, reflecting the contribution from the Skip Hop acquisition, partially offset by a decrease in demand for Carter’s and OshKosh products. Skip Hop contributed $55.7 million to segment net sales in fiscal 2017.

International Segment

Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2017 compared to Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2016

International segment sales increased $22.6 million, or 20.7%, to $131.8 million, reflecting contributions from the Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions and growth in Canada and China, partially offset by decreased wholesale demand in other markets outside of the United States. The Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions contributed $9.6 million and $8.8 million, respectively, to segment net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 favorably affected International segment net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 by $4.5 million. On a constant currency basis, International segment net sales increased 16.6%.

Compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, Canada retail comparable sales decreased 0.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, comprised of comparable stores sales decline of 2.6%, partially offset by comparable eCommerce sales growth of 20.0%.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company opened seven stores in Canada and one store in Mexico.

Fiscal 2017 compared to Fiscal 2016

International segment sales increased $50.7 million, or 13.9%, to $415.5 million. This increase reflects the contributions from the Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions and growth in Canada and China, partially offset by decreased wholesale demand in other markets outside of the U.S. The Skip Hop and Mexico acquisitions contributed $31.8 million and $15.4 million, respectively, to segment net sales in fiscal 2017.

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016 favorably affected International segment net sales in fiscal 2017 by $6.6 million. On a constant currency basis, International segment net sales increased 12.1%.

Compared to fiscal 2016, Canada retail comparable sales increased 0.2% in fiscal 2017, comprised of comparable eCommerce sales growth of 37.6%, partially offset by comparable stores sales decline of 3.1%.

In fiscal 2017, the Company opened 17 stores and closed two stores in Canada and opened two stores in Mexico. As of the end of fiscal 2017, the Company operated 179 retail stores in Canada and 41 stores in Mexico.

Expanded Return of Capital Initiatives

As part of the Company’s ongoing commitment to return capital to shareholders, the Company’s Board of Directors on February 22, 2018 authorized a new $500 million share repurchase program and approved a 22% increase ($0.08 per share) in its quarterly cash dividend, to $0.45 per share, for payment on March 23, 2018, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2018.

Since 2007, the company has returned a total of $1.5 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends and retired approximately 35% of its outstanding shares.

The share repurchase authorization announced today permits the Company to repurchase shares of its common stock up to $500 million, in addition to approximately $74 million remaining under previous authorizations. Such purchases may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, with the level and timing of activity being at the discretion of the Company's management depending on market conditions, stock price, other investment priorities, and other factors. These share repurchase authorizations have no expiration date.

Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of related record and payment dates will be at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors based on a number of factors, including the Company’s future financial performance and other considerations.

Dividends

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.37 per share totaling $17.5 million. In fiscal 2017, the Company paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.37 per share each quarter totaling $70.9 million.

Stock Repurchase Activity

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company repurchased and retired 375,814 shares of its common stock for $37.8 million at an average price of $100.55 per share. During fiscal 2017, the Company repurchased and retired 2.1 million shares for $188.8 million at an average price of $89.74 per share. Fiscal 2018 year-to-date through February 26, 2018, the Company has repurchased and retired a total of 95,498 shares for $11.4 million at an average price of $119.32 per share. All shares were repurchased in open market transactions pursuant to applicable regulations for open market share repurchases.

2018 Business Outlook

For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company projects net sales to increase approximately 2% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and adjusted diluted earnings per share to be approximately comparable to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.97 in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. This forecast for first quarter fiscal 2018 adjusted earnings per share reflects an anticipated effective tax rate of approximately 22%.

For fiscal 2018, the Company projects net sales to increase approximately 5% over fiscal 2017 and adjusted diluted earnings per share to increase approximately 15% compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $5.76 in fiscal 2017. This forecast for fiscal 2018 adjusted diluted earnings per share contemplates: 1) adjusted operating income to be approximately comparable to adjusted operating income of $445 million in fiscal 2017, which reflects a significant year-over-year increase in investments in brand marketing and improved eCommerce capabilities; and 2) an effective tax rate of approximately 23%.