- Net Income of $119 Million, a 29 Percent Increase

- Earnings Per Share Increased 33 Percent to $0.84

- Comparable-Store Sales Increased 9.6 Percent

- Gross Margin Rate Improved 60 Basis Points

- SG&A Rate Improved 140 Basis Points

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended August 1, 2015.

Second Quarter Results
Net income for the Company's second quarter ended August 1, 2015 was $119 million, or $0.84 per share, compared with net income of $92 million, or $0.63 per share, last year, a 33 percent increase. Second quarter comparable-store sales increased 9.6 percent. Total sales increased 3.3 percent, to $1,695 million this year, compared with sales of $1,641 million for the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the second quarter increased 9.9 percent.

"We extended the momentum with which we started 2015, generating outstanding quarterly sales and profits in the second quarter," said Richard Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continued to achieve broad-based and consistent strength across geographies, banners, channels, and categories. While we work every day to build on our position as a leading global retailer in the athletic industry and produce consistent improvement in our operational and financial performance, I want to pause to acknowledge the incredible team we have at our Company and thank each of them for their contributions in producing these excellent first half results."

The Company's gross margin rate improved to 32.6 percent of sales from 32.0 percent a year ago, while the selling, general, and administrative expense rate improved to 19.5 percent of sales from 20.9 percent. "With the strong top line gain, the team at Foot Locker was able to flow the incremental sales dollars through to the bottom line at a very healthy rate, leading to good progress on all of our long-term goals," said Lauren Peters, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Meanwhile, we continue to invest capital carefully in future growth opportunities, while also maintaining a meaningful return of cash to our shareholders through our dividend and share repurchase programs."

Year-To-Date Results
Net income for the Company's first six months of the year increased to $303 million, or $2.14 per share, compared to net income of $254 million, or $1.73 per share, for the corresponding period in 2014. Earnings per share for the six-month period increased 24 percent compared to the same period in 2014. Year-to-date sales were $3,611 million, an increase of 2.9 percent compared to sales of $3,509 million in the corresponding six-month period of 2014. Year-to-date comparable store sales have increased 8.7 percent. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales year-to-date have increased 8.9 percent.

Financial Position
At August 1, 2015, the Company's merchandise inventories were $1,317 million, 1.3 percent lower than at the end of the second quarter last year. Using constant currencies, inventory increased 3.3 percent.

The Company's cash totaled $970 million, while the debt on its balance sheet was $132 million. The Company spent approximately $76 million to repurchase 1.2 million shares during the quarter and paid its quarterly stock dividend of $0.25, spending $35 million.

Store Base Update
During the second quarter, the Company opened 21 new stores, remodeled or relocated 65 stores, and closed 21 stores. As of August 1, 2015, the Company operated 3,419 stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, 48 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. (EDT) today, August 21, 2015, to review these results, provide comments 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 1-800-745-9830 (U.S. and Canada) or +44 208-196-2146 (International), 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. A replay of the call will be available via webcast from the same Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com through September 4, 2015.

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 2014 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.

SOURCE Foot Locker, Inc.