VF Corp. Down 10% After Guidance, Earnings

By Michael Dabaie

VF Corp. (VFC) shares were down 10% to $84.97 with heavier-than-average volume Thursday afternoon.

The apparel and footwear company said it now sees fiscal 2020 adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations to be about $3.30, reflecting growth of about 15%. This is lower than the previous expectation of adjusted EPS of $3.32 to $3.37.

The company said it now sees adjusted revenue from continuing operations of about $11.75 billion, from the previous expectation of about $11.8 billion.

VF said its outlook for 2020 is on an adjusted continuing operations basis, which includes the occupational Work business the company is reviewing.

Revenue for Outdoor is now expected to increase about 4%, down from previous expectation of an increase in revenue of about 5%. Revenue for Active is now expected to increase about 8%, compared to the previous expectation of an increase about 8% to 9%.

Revenue for Work is now expected to increase about 1%, from previous guidance of an increase of about 2% to 3%.

Excluding the occupational Work business, Work revenue is seen up about 3%.

Earlier this week, VF said it is commencing a review of strategic alternatives for the occupational portion of its Work segment. The occupational portion consists of nine brands and businesses: Red Kap, VF Solutions, Bulwark, Workrite, Walls, Terra, Kodiak, Work Authority and Horace Small. The review doesn't include the Dickies and Timberland PRO brands, the company said.

For the third quarter, VF said revenue from continuing operations increased 5% to $3.4 billion. FactSet consensus was for $3.4 billion.

The company said revenue was driven by VF's largest brands and International and Direct-to-Consumer platforms.

Earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.13, up from $1.02 in the prior-year period. Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.23.

In May, VF completed the spin-off of its Jeans business, which included the Wrangler, Lee and Rock & Republic brands, as well as the VF Outlet business, into independent, publicly traded company Kontoor Brands Inc.

Write to Michael Dabaie at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 23, 2020 12:53 ET (17:53 GMT)

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