Q4 2021 PVH Corp Earnings Call

March 30, 2022

Good day and welcome to the P. P. H Q4, 2021 earnings call.

Today's conference is being recorded.

At this time I would like to turn the conference over to Dana Perlman. Please go ahead.

Thank you operator, good morning, everyone and welcome to the PVH Corp, fourth quarter and full year 2021 earnings conference call.

On the call today will be Stefan Larsson, pediatric Chief Executive Officer, and Jim Hong DDP interim Chief Financial Officer, and corporate controller.

This webcast and conference call is being recorded on behalf of PVH and consist of copyrighted material. It may not be recorded rebroadcast or otherwise transmitted without pvh's written permission.

Participation in the question and answer session constitutes your consent to having anything you say appear on any transcript or replay of this call the.

The information to be discussed includes forward looking statements that reflect pvh's view as of March 29, 2020 to future events and financial performance.

Statements are subject to risks and uncertainties indicated in the company's SEC filings and the Safe Harbor statement included in the press release that is the subject of this call. These risks and uncertainties include pvh's right to change its strategies objectives expectations and intentions and its need to use significant cash flow to service its debt.

Patients significantly.

Significantly at this time, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have and global inflationary pressures and the one in Ukraine have begun to have impacts on the company's business cash flow and results of operation. There is significant uncertainty about the duration and extent of the impact of these events.

The dynamic nature of the circumstances means what is that on this call could change materially at any time and therefore, the operation of the company's business and future results of operations could differ materially from historical practices and results or current descriptions estimates and suggestions PVH does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward looking statements.

<unk> without limitation any estimate or suggestions regarding revenue or earnings.

Generally the information and projections to be discussed will be on a non-GAAP basis as defined under SEC rules reconciliations to GAAP amounts are included in Pvh's fourth quarter 2021 earnings release, which can be found on www dot PVH dot com and in the company's current report on form 8-K furnished to the SEC in connection.

With the release at this time I am pleased to turn the conference over to Stefan Larsson.

Thank you Danielle and good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining our call today.

Looking back on my first year as CEO for PVH I'm proud of the progress we have made and the strong performance of the business in 2021, we intensified our focus on our two globally iconic brands.

<unk> flying and Tommy Hilfiger, and drove an accelerated recovery while successfully navigated continued COVID-19 disruption. These.

These efforts resulted in very strong financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year.

For the year, we delivered double digit consolidated revenue growth led by international which exceeded pre pandemic levels. We also generated record gross margins and earnings per share and delivered a non-GAAP EBIT margin of 10, 7%, which is over 100 basis points above 2000.

19, pre pandemic levels, all while positioning PVH to win with the consumer in the new normal and deliver sustainable profitable long term growth.

This was the first full year driven by the execution of our accelerated recovery priorities and across PVH, we see time and time again that when we lean in to our two iconic brands continue to move closer to the consumer deliver the most relevant products in the market.

Supercharge digital to meet the consumer where they want to shop, we delivered top tier market performance and we do it in a high quality and sustainable way.

You can see it in Europe through our strong product execution and owned and operated e-commerce growth and in brand building partnerships with digital pure players you can also see it increasingly in Asia, where we lean into big consumer moments like Chinese new year, and wind with strength in product on the Moe.

Important e-commerce and social platforms.

Thereby steps youll see more of that in North America, as well, where we are focused on driving higher quality digital led growth and improving product and channel execution.

Our company wide focus on key growth categories hero products and cutting unproductive assortment tail is healing strong results, we drove increased pricing power and margin expansion in both Calvin and Tommy across our largest markets and channels.

We supercharged, our digital business, which increased over 30% in 2021 on top of over 40% growth in 2020 with digital now representing 25% penetration double pre pandemic levels and we continue to invest in high growth high.

I return areas to support our future growth while at the same time starting to drive cost efficiencies.

In addition, underscoring our strong financial position and cash flow generation, we paid down over $1 billion of debt to reduce our leverage to below pre pandemic levels, we reinstated our quarterly cash dividend and repurchased approximately 350 million.

So stock.

Moving forward, we will continue investing in our business to fuel our growth while at the same time deploying our excess cash to maximize shareholder returns.

I'd like to thank all of our associates around the world for your hard work and critical contributions, which helped us to deliver on what we set out to do this year and more and thus we continue to closely monitor the war in Ukraine. I also wanted to extend my gratitude to our associates for their <unk>.

Continued support and compassion for each other in the face of this tragic human Terry in crisis.

As we look ahead to 2022, we're excited by the strong momentum in the business, but also mindful that the market is experiencing unprecedented volatility from the heightened impact of a number of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges.

These include the war in Ukraine, as well as inflationary pressures, which impacts both our own business and the overall consumer spending.

We also continued to navigate the ongoing pandemic headwinds, particularly supply chain logistics delays, especially in North America. In addition to the recent virus resurgence is in Asia.

As such we're even more focused on what we can control and just like we demonstrated this through our strong performance in 2021.

We are confident in the underlying strength across our business.

Through the disciplined execution of our strategic priorities, we are driving underlying double digit top and bottom line growth for 2022, while maintaining our strong gross margins.

Our international business continued to perform very well and will drive our growth. This year in North America. We're in the early phases of a multi year positioning of the region to win more with the domestic consumer.

As a reminder, the tourist consumer therefore started to 40% of our total North America business pre pandemic has not yet returned and we're taking proactive measures to set ourselves up for long term sustainable and much more profitable growth in the region.

As a result, we expect our business in the region to remain below pre pandemic levels.

Let me now turn tell regional update.

Starting with Europe , Despite COVID-19 resurgence this which resulted in renewed restrictions the region delivered another quarter of very strong execution, which completed an outstanding year of performance.

Revenues increased double digits against pre pandemic levels for both the quarter and year combined with gross margin expansion driven by strong full price sell through when.

When we connect our brands as close to the consumer as we do in Europe , we deliver market, leading performance and win with strength in product increased pricing power and across the digital marketplace.

We continue to gain market share across both Tommy and Calvin driven by strong consumer demand, including Tommy is focused on the elevated casual seasonal categories and iconic must haves combined with accelerating elevated hero products that Calvin from the brand's lifestyle expand.

<unk>.

We remain focused on driving the digital business across our owned and operated sites as well as with pure players with the region generating significantly stronger overall digital penetration well in excess of the company average.

Our connected retail capabilities enabled us to capture digital demand, which mitigate lower brick and mortar trends driven by COVID-19 .

While reported revenue in the region in 2022 will be impacted by the lack of business in Ukraine, and Russia overall consumer demand for our brands has remained on plan so far in the first quarter.

Momentum in our future order book remains strong for both brands with fall 2022 planned up double digits versus the prior year, which was on top of double digit order books, we experienced for spring.

Moving on to Asia, we drove revenues above pre pandemic levels for both the fourth quarter and full year, while certain cities in China are currently facing Covid measures. We're pleased with the recovery in markets, such as Australia, and Korea, where recovery trends. So strong we're seeing.

Real strength from our efforts to accelerate the regions growth.

We remain excited about the progress and underlying performance.

We saw considerable gains in brand awareness for both Tommy and Calvin, especially in China compared to pre pandemic levels driven by our progress in creating a strong hero product with locally relevant capsules and collaborations supported by regional marketing.

We continued to drive strong activations during key consumer moments in the region to generate engagement. For example, we experienced double digit sales growth this past quarter for Chinese lunar new year.

We are driving comp growth through optimized product allocations and our spring hero products supported by digital campaigns is resonating with consumers in the region as highlighted by strong comps over Valentines day.

We continue to connect with consumers wherever and however, they want to shop.

Our digital business drove double digit growth in 2021, and we are leveraging CRM collaborations with pure players like tmall investing to expand with new digital platforms, such as <unk> and growing our presence on wechat with interactive gaming.

Offline.

Engaging our consumer through in store VIP events and unique pop up store locations.

Looking ahead COVID-19 resurgence in China are certainly impacting our growth near term, but as markets reopen we are seeing a strong bounce back in trends, which is evidence of the underlying strength of our business in China and we also see that in our other markets such ourselves straight.

Korea and increasingly in Japan.

Overall, we remain optimistic in the region's ability to drive long term growth.

Turning to North America.

As I mentioned the lack of tourism has further highlighted the importance of our renewed efforts to win more with the domestic consumer in a more sustainable and more profitable way. We're currently navigating supply chain and logistics delays, which are more pronounced in North America.

Significantly negatively impacting our inventory flows across channels. Nevertheless, we're making sure that all decisions, we take now our positioning our two iconic brands for the long term.

While for the fourth quarter, both Calvin and Tommy drove improved revenue trends sequentially compared to pre pandemic levels.

Significant COVID-19 related supply chain challenges resulted in inventory delays that we will be navigating through with the biggest impact in the first half of 2022.

As I just shared we are doubling down on our engagement with the domestic consumer buy.

By driving increased product strengths with pricing power and focusing on growth in the digitally led marketplace in a balanced way across channels.

Sharpening our execution with more targeted assortments across key accounts and channels and ensuring our brands are appropriately positioned in brand in housing channels.

Despite the challenges the region is facing we're seeing green shoots of progress including <unk>.

Controlled inventory levels and lower promotions enabled us to drive higher gross margins and <unk> in the fourth quarter.

As we further expand our assortment of hero products, we're seeing positive read some new updated product, although the inventory challenge shifts are impacting trends for Calvin hero products in underwear continue to outperform and we've seen sequentially improving trends in key men's apparel categories.

And for Tommy focused categories of seasonal key items, so driving performance.

Looking ahead for the region, we remain focused on positioning our strengthening our business in North America for more sustainable and more profitable growth over time, all while we are step by step, making progress 2022 will be a year of transition on a multi year.

To unlock our full potential in the market.

Next I will share a few brief global brand highlights beginning with Calvin Klein.

Brand awareness remains very high and we continue to see increases in relevant consideration.

We are deepening our engagement with consumers with culturally relevant tallow during the holiday season, we had a few surprise guest hacked a regular schedule content for Calvin Klein on the Instagram, including squid games whole young Chung, who set a record for our Instagram poll.

With over 6 million lives.

Last month, we launched our spring collection and all together campaign, featuring an international cast including journey Kim of Euphoria Star Dominique <unk>.

The collection to reinterpret the brand's iconic pass for the future refreshing archival pieces.

Looking ahead the <unk>.

<unk> will continue to build out our collaboration strategy with the announcement of our second global collaboration partner already in April this year further driving our connection to the consumer and driving cultural relevance.

Moving on to Tommy Hilfiger.

Similar to Calvin brand awareness remains strong and above pre pandemic levels, our product strategy is to drive relevance with aspirational and younger consumers.

Through our collaborations we continued to drive brand heat.

Our global Tommy Jeans, APE by our bathing a collaboration generated strong performance across regions as highlighted by our sell through rate of over 90% in Europe and North America within the first week told me Dot Com with high <unk>. In addition, we sold.

Very strong knee jerk coverage.

Tell me also stepped into the meta versus with online game platform roadblocks through the capsule launch a must have digital fashion items that people can use to dress or other targets within the roadblocks virtual world.

Lastly for spring the brands make your move campaign recently launched featuring our first hashtag challenge shall take talk hashtag move with Tommy and led by Anthony Ramos, bringing together the world of music and pop culture with increased media investments the campaign.

<unk> spans multiple consumer touch points in innovative ways.

In closing we had a very strong 2021, where we showed that our increased focus on our two globally iconic brands Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and connecting them closer to where the consumer is going then anytime before is paying off.

When we do that really well like we do today in our international markets, we're able to deliver market leading performance.

We are continuing to build on that strength in both Europe , and Asia and will over time unlock the same type of strength in North America. While there are regional differences. The key value drivers are the same brand and product relevance with pricing power combined with strong consumer engagement.

And our focus on winning in the digital marketplace.

We're looking forward to sharing our multiyear growth plan with you at our Investor day in just a couple of weeks on April 13.

It will be our first investor day in over 10 years. So you can imagine how much we're looking forward to it.

I'm also pleased to welcome Seth carefully into PVH as our new CFO effective April 4th.

It comes most recently from DFS part of the <unk> group and brings over 20 years of high performance financial and operational leadership with best in class Global brands and he will be a key leader when we build out our next growth chapter.

Before I hand, it over to Jim for the financial update I would like to thank him for his critical leadership and strong support during the transition period as interim CFO .

You did a great job Jim Thank you.

Thanks, Stefan the comments I'm about to make are based on non-GAAP results and are reconciled in our press release 2021 was Europe very strong financial performance driven by the disciplined execution of our accelerated recovery priorities, we successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic to drive.

Double digit revenue growth for 2020 led by our international businesses, which significantly exceeded 2019 pre pandemic levels.

We ended the year with revenue over $9 billion.

Drove record financial performance in gross margin and earnings per share with very strong operating margins, which significantly exceeded 2019 pre pandemic levels.

While we continue to navigate unprecedented macroeconomic volatility as we enter 2022, we remain confident in the power of our two global brands Calvin Klein Tommy Hilfiger.

And in the fundamental strength of our business and we believe that the disciplined execution of our strategic priorities will drive underlying double digit top and bottom line growth for 2022, while maintaining our strong gross margins I will begin by discussing our 2021 results in more detail and then we'll move on to our outlook for 2022.

Yeah.

Overall revenues for the fourth quarter were up 16% compared to the prior year as reported and 20% on a constant currency basis.

And above the top end of our guidance, despite continued supply chain and logistics disruptions and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the omicron variant.

While our underlying business performance was relatively flat compared to 2019 pre pandemic levels. Our overall revenues for the fourth quarter were down 7% versus 2019 due.

Due to the heritage brands transaction, the exit from our heritage retail business and the sale of speed up.

Our results reflected strong performance in our international businesses across both brands, primarily driven by Europe .

Our international business has exceeded 2019 pre pandemic levels in all regions.

While our North America businesses showed sequential improvement in the fourth quarter compared to pre pandemic levels. The business remains challenged due to the lack of international tourism.

Which was the source of approximately 30% to 40% of pre pandemic revenue for the region.

In addition, North America has been and continues to be the region, most challenged by supply chain disruptions, including higher airfreight costs and suppressed inventory levels.

Gross margin continued to be very strong at 58, 3% for the fourth quarter, which is an increase of over 400 basis points compared to the prior year in 2019 pre pandemic levels.

The improvement was primarily due to more full price selling and a favorable shift in regional sales mix, which more than offset higher freight costs, including an increase in airfreight to mitigate supply chain and logistics delays.

Inventory was down 5% at the end of the quarter compared to the prior year.

Due in part to the heritage brands sale and the exit from the heritage brands retail business. However, within our total inventory our in transit inventory levels increased over 30%, primarily due to ongoing supply chain logistics disruptions.

SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue for the fourth quarter. It was down almost 150 basis points for 2020, as we leveraged the increase in revenue, but remained elevated compared to 2019 when.

When comparing to 2019, we continued to drive cost efficiencies across the business. However, these benefits were more than offset by the mix shift in regional sales toward our international businesses, which although favorable to our overall results carry higher expenses as well as planned increases in marketing and other investments.

Fuel our growth in 2022.

Earnings before interest and taxes in the fourth quarter significantly exceeded 2020 and was up 16% compared to 2019 pre pandemic levels driven by the strength in our international businesses operating margin was seven 2% for the quarter exceeding 2019 pre pandemic levels.

By almost 150 basis points.

Earnings per share was $2 84 for the fourth quarter compared to a loss per share of 38 in the prior year period also significantly exceeding the 2019 pre pandemic them out and the top end of our previous guidance by 90.

We ended the full year 2021 with revenue of $9 2 billion.

An increase of 28% versus 2020 led by strength in our international businesses, which exceeded 2019 at pre pandemic levels, particularly Europe .

Earnings before interest and taxes was $983 million in 2021 compared to a loss in 2020 and was up over $50 million or 6% compared to 2019 pre pandemic levels.

Operating margin was 10, 7%, which significantly exceeded our expectations and was 130 basis points higher than 2019 pre pandemic levels driven by record gross margins of 58, 2% and.

And the successful execution of our accelerated recovery priorities.

Our tax rate for the year was 17, 1% and included the benefit of a favorable tax agreement in the Netherlands, as well as benefits from tax treatments related to the purchase of Calvin Klein, both of which expired at the end of 2021.

Overall, we delivered record earnings per share of $10 15.

Compared to a loss in 2020 and $9 54 in 2019.

Additionally to further strengthen our balance sheet, we made over $1 billion of voluntary term loan payments for the full year of 2021.

Moving on to our outlook, we are providing our 2022 outlook. Despite the significant uncertainty due to the war in Ukraine, and its broader macroeconomic implications inflationary pressures, the pandemic and supply chain and logistics disruptions.

Our outlook assumes no material worsening of current conditions.

Our international business has continued to demonstrate strength and are expected to build on strong growth from 2021 underpinned by systematic execution of our strategic priorities.

Momentum continues in our Europe business and while Covid is currently most severely impacting our business in China. We are encouraged by the underlying performance of our overall business in Asia.

North America remains challenged due to the lack of international tourism and ongoing supply chain pressures and we do not assume international tourism will return to any meaningful levels in 2022 supply chain and logistics disruptions are expected to continue to impact our business primarily in North America through most of the year.

With the first half being most severely impacted.

For the full year, while we are projecting double digit revenue growth in our underlying businesses. Our overall revenue is projected to grow approximately 2% to 3% as reported and approximately 6% to 7% on a constant currency basis compared to 2021.

Our overall revenue projection reflects a 2% reduction resulting from the heritage brands transaction and the exit from the heritage brands retail business and a 2% reduction from our decision to temporarily close our stores and plus commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with reduction in wholesale shipments to Ukraine as a result of.

The war.

While we are projecting underlying growth in both our international and North America businesses versus 2021, our international businesses are projected to significantly exceed 2019 pre pandemic levels, while our North America businesses remain challenged and are not expected to return to 2019 prepaid demick levels in 2022.

We expect our full year gross margin rates remained at record levels and flat to 2021, despite rising inflationary costs in all regions, including higher cost of commodities and raw materials and increased freight as we plan to mostly mitigate inflationary pressures with price increases and continued less promotion.

<unk> activity.

Additionally, we expect a favorable shift in regional sales mix compared to 2021 with our higher margin international businesses, making up a larger portion of total revenue.

SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue for the full year is expected to increase approximately 70 basis points compared to 2021.

We continue to drive cost efficiencies across the business. However, these benefits are being more than offset by the mix shift in regional sales toward our international businesses, which although are favorable to our overall results carry higher expenses as well as benefits in 2021 from temporary store closures that are not.

<unk> to repeat in 2022.

We expect our full year operating margin will continue to exceed 2019 pre pandemic levels and will be approximately 10%.

While we are projecting double digit growth in our underlying business earnings as we execute against our accelerated recovery priorities, we expect that our overall earnings before interest and taxes in 2022 will decrease low single digits for 2021.

Our overall EBIT expectation reflects negative impacts due to FX translation of 7% and a 6% reduction from our decision to temporarily close our stores and plus commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with a reduction in wholesale shipments to Ukraine as a result of the war.

Our tax rate for the year is estimated at 29% to 30% compared to 17, 1% in 2021.

The increase is explained by the exploration of a favorable tax agreement in the Netherlands. The conclusion of tax treatments related to the purchase of Calvin Klein and the shift in our geographic earnings mix. The result is a tax rate consistent with the statutory rates, where we do business.

For the full year in 2022, we are projecting earnings per share to be approximately $9. While we are projecting underlying double digit growth in revenue and business earnings. Our overall earnings per share reflects a decrease compared to $10 15, and 2021 due to the negative impact of approximately $1 35.

Per share due to FX translation, and our decision to temporarily close our stores and plus commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with a reduction in wholesale shipments to Ukraine and also negatively impacting 2022 is $1 55 from taxes, partially offsetting these negative impacts as a positive impact.

Act of approximately 70.

Due to lower interest and shares.

For the first quarter, while we are projecting double digit revenue growth in our underlying businesses. Our overall revenue is projected to be relatively flat as reported and to increase approximately 4% on a constant currency basis compared to the prior year.

Our overall revenue projection reflects a 5% reduction resulting from the heritage brands transaction and the exit from the heritage brands retail business and a 1% reduction from our decision to temporarily close our stores and plus commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with reduction in wholesale shipments to Ukraine.

First quarter earnings per share is expected to be between $1 55 to $1 60, which reflects negative impacts of approximately 35 due to FX translation and our.

Our decision to temporarily close our stores and plus commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with reduction in wholesale shipments to your crane.

As stated earlier supply chain disruptions or are expected to most significantly impact in North America business in the first half of the year.

Our tax rate for the first quarter is estimated at 29% to 30% consistent with the full year.

And with that operator, we would like to open it up to questions.

Thank you Sir.

If you would like to ask a question. Please signal pressing star one on your telephone keypad.

If you're using a speaker phone. Please make sure your mute function is turned off to allow your.

Your signal to reach our equipment.

Again press Star one to ask a question.

We will now take our first question from Bob Chappell.

From Guggenheim. Please go ahead.

Good morning.

Just a couple of questions.

Really can you can you expand upon.

The underlying strength of the business in Europe around Europe , and really just how youre planning the business with so much uncertainty there this year. Thanks.

Yes, good morning, and thank you Bob.

As we alluded to in our prep.

<unk> remarks, we see incredible strength in Europe . So we come out of 'twenty to 'twenty, one where we had to navigate a lot of COVID-19 disruption and executed truly market, leading performance and we see that business trend continues so.

What drives that will be the strength of Calvin and Tommy in Europe , and how close we connect those two brands to the European consumer and how we were able to drive product strength consumer engagement and winning digitally led.

What makes the difference and Thats why we are taking market share and Thats why when we look a number of years back and looking forward, we see the strength of.

Our ability to navigate EBIT, even tougher macro times.

And we also have looking forward, we see the order book speaking very strong for the for the rest of the year as far out as we can see so lots of reasons to be positive when it comes to Europe .

Thank you good luck.

Thanks.

We will now take our next question from Michael Binetti from Credit Suisse. Please go ahead.

Hey, guys. Good morning, Thanks for taking our questions here.

I have one question that I have a follow up I just wanted to ask a simple question Stefan I know, we'll talk about this in a few days.

At the analyst day, but as you look as you look at the business what are the key factors that result in the profitability in North America. When we exclude the licensed businesses, which are very high margin being well below industry averages.

Yes, so thanks Michael.

What what we see in North America, right now to start to it as we see still the effect of the delay of the return of the tourism and that is real that is 30 or 40%.

Pre pandemic and that we saw that starting to come back.

In November and we saw omicron hit and now we see it being delayed.

And then we see.

The biggest supply chain.

Challenge shifts thats well in North America when it comes to our focus is what we can and that ties directly to answering your question. What our focus is is on the domestic consumer and winning more with that consumer and it comes back to.

Product execution it comes back to <unk>.

Rising power it comes back to.

Our balanced high quality.

Channel distribution.

Do you I guess, one to follow that do you.

How much progress you think you can make on the margins in North America without knowing when tourism will come back.

So we see green shoots already mindful of in terms of our focus on the key growth categories. The categories that matter most to the consumer and our development of hero products within those accounts.

You already see.

Very strong sell throughs, we see pricing power, increasing so we see significant improvement opportunities over time when it comes to operating margin in North America.

Okay. Thanks, Thanks, a lot and congrats guys.

Thanks.

Yeah.

We will now take our next question from Jay sole from UBS. Please go ahead.

Great. Thank you so much for taking the question I wanted to know if it would be possible to elaborate a little bit on the gross margin guidance for this year. You know you mentioned some positive factors around mix can you just talk about how inflation, specifically around raw materials and supply chain.

Might negatively impact the gross margin if you could sort of quantify some of the puts and takes that would be super helpful. Thank you so much.

Yes, I'll take that Jay so on average, we're seeing costs increasing from raw materials.

Freight all included about 10%.

Our gross margin plans as we are going to pass those costs onto the consumer, particularly where are we.

In Europe , and Asia, where we have great strength in demand for the brands.

We're not necessarily seeing any resistance at all with the consumers we feel confident in that when we turn to North America to supply chain delays as clouding it a little bit.

We are planning on passing the majority of those costs on to the consumer we are not seeing resistance to date, but we're not going to be able to pass all of it through particularly for the air freight that we're deploying.

Due to the supply chain delays, so a little bit in North America that gross margins will decrease.

Okay got it and then maybe Jim if I can follow up.

Can you give us an idea of what your free cash flow outlook for this year is based on your guidance and sort of what the primary uses of the free cash will be sort of after capex.

Yes, so look the guidance, we gave is with our earnings.

We're going to have.

EBITDA well over $1 billion Capex will be about $400 million. We're also planning on share buyback for the continued use of our remaining authorization for a little over $200 million.

The one thing thats going to happen as we work through 2021 is we are going to have a working capital Bill sorry, 2022, we're going to have a working capital build we ended 2021.

To lower inventory levels as we work through the year, we're going to get hopefully get back into.

A better inventory position really to fuel the growth for 2023, so there'll be a little bit of that.

The reversal from 'twenty, one into working capital, but all in still generating lots of free cash flow and just.

I said it in my notes, we paid down over $1 billion of debt in 2021. So the balance sheet is strong it is strong in our position in recent memory.

Got it okay. Thank you so much.

We will now take our next question from Dana Telsey from Tag Advisors. Please go ahead.

Hi, good morning, everyone.

Do you think about the puts and takes of exiting heritage and FX and the other.

Other headwinds how do you Jim how do you foresee the underlying growth of the business both on the topline and bottom line going forward and then define any update on how you're thinking about given the digital first mindset, where you want digital as a percent of sales to be and what it could mean for each of the brands. Thank you.

Thanks for the question Dana So ending 2021, we ended it with a lot of momentum and great strength, we see that continuing in the underlying business is somewhat masked by the macro challenges we are dealing with so we guided we're guiding 2% to 3% on the revenue line.

On a constant currency basis that comes out to 6% to 7%.

If you were to add back the exit of heritage plus.

Our temporary closure in Russia, we get to a 10% to 11% top line underlying growth.

And if you also look at an EBIT in my notes I kind of said, we expect the EBIT dollars to be down low single digits year over year, but FX is worth about 7% of a decrease in India, Russia is worth about 6% on the profitability that also gets us to a double digit growth in underlying.

<unk> EBIT.

Thanks, Jim and Dana coming coming back to your question about digital so Supercharging digital has been one of our key priorities over the past year and one of the key drivers of the success of last year being a record year. So digital today, 25%.

Penetration Europe , where we are the closest connected with our brands to where the consumer is going as well over that last year, we drove 30%.

Growth on top of 40% growth. So digital penetrate digital will continue to grow faster than the other channels and penetration over time.

Continue to grow.

Thank you.

We will now take our next question from Kimberly Greenberger from Morgan Stanley . Please go ahead.

Great. Thank you so much.

I wanted to ask just about the supply chain impact here in the U S.

Obviously, we can't go back and change history, but knowing what you know now are there any.

Different strategies that.

<unk> you.

Wish you had deployed.

Perhaps last year just to get through.

The North American challenges and then.

You're talking about strategizing for supply chain here in 2022, what are the go forward.

Things that youre doing to try to impact.

The challenges in supply chain, particularly in North America.

Thank you Kimberly.

When it comes to how we navigated through Covid last year I'm really proud.

How we drove to the record performance we did so overall when it comes to a crisis like Covid.

It's about pivoting and making us.

Making decisions that follows how the consumer react through a COVID-19 pandemic and I feel very good about how we did that when it comes to the Covid related supply chain challenges shifts in North America. They are COVID-19 .

Sourcing related COVID-19 in sourcing countries. So when we look at where we sold source from in our three regions North America is more impacted than Europe , and Asia, mostly because of different.

Sourcing geographies and when it comes to going forward as Jim alluded to the supply chain delays in North America is something we're going to navigate through.

Over the year and.

The biggest effect is in the first half.

Okay.

Okay. Great. That's helpful color. Thank you and I just had a quick follow up for Jim on the tax rate.

Jim can you just remind us what is happening in tax rate.

In 2022, that's causing that to go into the high <unk> or 30% and it's just a level. We should think about for future years as well there is the new normal kind of tax rate.

Yeah. Thanks for the question Kimberly So two things really one as we had.

Okay.

Favorable tax treatment on low rates in the Netherlands that expired in 2021, we also had a fair.

Favorable treatment going back to our acquisition of Calvin Klein, which also expired in 2021. So those two things rolled off and now basically if you think about where we already do business U S rate is close to 25%. After you add in the states Europe is around 25% and then when you get into Asia.

Countries, like China, and Australia, and Japan are 30% plus so we're basically 29 to 30 per se is somewhat and as all of our statutory rates, we get a little bit.

Net income is a little more weight is much more weighted to international.

The U S tax reform rules hurt us a little bit so.

At Investor Analyst day, we're going to get into get into it a little further on the forward looking projections, but.

But I will tell you we are continuing to always look at optimizing our tax strategy, but those with those two big things rolling off in 2021 days of being in the teens or may not happen again.

Understood we can't wait for the analyst day. Thank you both so much.

Thank you.

We will now take our next question from Christopher Tony from Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Hi, Thanks for taking my question. So it sounds like your core business remains quite strong in Europe , excluding the impact in eastern Europe .

Does your full year revenue outlook assume any slowdown in European demand trends given the inflationary pressures. We're seeing and then can you talk to us about where you are in your pricing journey across both of your brands in Europe , particularly thank you.

Yes, Chris So first on Europe .

Our estimates right now for what we are seeing in Europe as Stefan mentioned, we still see great strength and demand for our brands and we do not see any slowdown and we have not estimated for any slowdown as.

As far as pricing on average I mentioned, it's going to be up our costs are up 10%, we're going to pass that predominantly back to the consumer.

We arent seeing any resistance to date it will be a little it will escalate a little bit more in the fall than in the spring but.

But not much more.

And when do you think it's too.

And just to build on what Jim just said in these inflationary times, what's going to what's going to really make a difference as Brian strengths brand relevance product strength.

Channel execution channel relevance.

That's why in in Europe , we see so much strength in all of that which positions us.

Really well in order to navigate this inflationary challenges.

We will now take our next question from Brook Roche from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.

Good morning, and thank you so much for taking our question.

In your prepared remarks equaled 20 told you a year of transition for North America could you provide some additional context on your plans for the North America marketplace. This year to improve the brand momentum we have across both brands.

Especially with that domestic consumer.

Okay.

Yes, Thanks, Brooks, so I'll be able to share the detailed approach in Investor day, that's coming up just in two weeks.

High level, we are.

We're facing the pressure from tourist consumer being delayed coming back then.

And then when it comes to the domestic consumer the core strength for US is to brand love for the brands. The brands are Super strong Super relevant with the North America consumer we have over relied on the strength of the tourist consumers. So when that is being delayed coming back is getting.

Really clear that we need to focus more on winning more with the domestic consumer and so tapping into that brand strength and brand loved by the American consumer we both Calvin and Tommy are top two out of the top four five brands in the sector. So it's all going to come back to.

<unk>.

Product strength pricing power investing in where the consumer wants to shop, our brands, which is we are underpenetrated in digital and execute a balanced channel strategy, but much more details when we get to Investor day.

Great. Thanks, and just a quick follow up on that if you think about the full price selling that you achieved in Q1.

How do you see the biggest opportunities for improving that full price selling and reduce discounting into 2022.

Brook et cetera.

A question overall on North America related.

Overall for the business. Thank you.

Overall for the business so.

It's definitely the strength of our brands when it comes to the key growth categories. The most important product categories and the consumers wardrobe, but we have to lifestyle brands and we have the license to play to win within the most important categories and our successful ability to.

To develop hero products and evolved hero products. The key products. The most essential products and then we have the ability to.

Connect them to our core replenishment system. So that makes the lead times come down so when we look at that loyal consumer that shops, both Calvin and Tommy we see that we have an ability to drive pricing power, we already see it and we see that others in the mall.

Markets have been able to drive pricing power and so that's something that.

Those are the key reasons why why do we see the trend continue is strongest.

Yes, we do and we also see the success in 2021 based on these product strategies, we see the pricing power go up and we see it continue to go up and then of course in.

Really high inflationary periods like this there is also an efficiency component that we need to drive efficiency as a company overall as well.

Thank you I'll pass it on.

Yes.

As another reminder to ask a telephone question. Please signal by pressing star one we will now take our next question from Mike <unk> from Wells Fargo. Please go ahead.

Hey, Thanks, good morning, everyone.

You guys have given some great detail on the near term next year I guess bigger picture you've been at the company for several years.

I wanted to ask just about your view of the structure of the business.

In your eyes is there any need for any more meaningful changes.

That kind of comes to mind is you've got some pretty big licenses that expire with Calvin next year is there anything that you think the business could do more efficiently or any reason, we should think that there might be some strategic changes that at least you are considering now that you've been in the seat for several years.

Yes.

So.

And in the seat for a year.

So.

And Julian that the biggest structural change we have made the divestiture of heritage.

To focus the intensified focus on Cabot and told me we see again.

The.

The strength of having two of the most iconic brands globally, most beloved brands in our sector gives us so much of an opportunity to drive.

Systematic repeatable value creation over time, and Thats, what were going to go through more in detail at the Investor day.

Yes.

Great. Thanks.

We will now take our next question from Paul <unk> with some sushi investments. Please go ahead.

Thanks, It's Tracy Kogan filling in for Paul two things I was hoping you guys could quantify the impact of break in <unk>, and then kind of quantify what you're building in for the full year and then looking at your inventory is I was wondering if you could give us a sense of inventories.

And I assume also regionally, but the U S. I think you alluded to the U S being leaner, but if you could just give us a sense of.

Inventory by brand if you are having more trouble on one brand and the other thanks.

Yeah, Tracy so just the first piece on your freight so we had been projecting about a $20 million increase in <unk> and airfreight, we realized about $10 million of that $10 million of it actually shifted into the first quarter of 2022 that was on the cusp of the year.

In 2022.

Year over year on a full year basis, we're estimating about $10 million to $20 million more in airfreight, but in the first half there'll be much much more.

Significant increase just in a waiting the first half of 'twenty. Two we'll have a lot of air freight the second half of 2021 had a lot of of Airfreight and then as far as the inventories were.

Specifically kind of taught by brand but.

I mentioned in my notes that we were down 5% at the end of 2021, which is pretty much.

Related to heritage. If you went back to 2019 levels, where even that much further down double digits. So as we get through the year, we should start to get back in particularly once we start getting closer to the fall season.

But it is a challenge across the board, we're dealing with delays, but certainly North America.

As is more impacted than wood.

What you will see it by brand a little bit as we report through 2022.

North America will be a little more impacted than Tommy Hilfiger Calvin Klein.

Think about that Calvin Klein business. It has a much higher penetration of replenishment due to the Calvin Klein underwear business. So that's not as seasonally dependent as our Tommy Hilfiger businesses.

Great. Thanks very much.

Thank you and operator, we have time for one last question. Thank you.

There appears to be no further questions at this time Sir.

Alright. Thank you very much. Thank you everyone for joining and looking forward to see you at our Investor Day on April 13th.

Thank you.

This concludes today's call. Thank you for your participation you may now disconnect.

[music].

Good day and welcome to the P. P. H Q4, 2021 earnings call.

Today's conference is being recorded.

This time I would like to turn the conference over to Dana Perlman. Please go ahead.

Thank you operator, good morning, everyone and welcome to the PVH Corp, fourth quarter and full year 2021 earnings conference call.

Call today will be Martin Pvh's, Chief Executive Officer, and Jim homes, EVP interim Chief Financial Officer, and corporate controller.

Webcast and conference call is being recorded on behalf of PVH and consist of copyrighted material. It may not be recorded rebroadcast or otherwise transmitted without pvh's written permission your participation in the question and answer session constitutes your consent to having anything you say appear on any transcript or replay of this call.

Information to be discussed includes forward looking statements that reflect pvh's view as of March 29, 2020 to future events and financial performance. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties indicated in the company's SEC filings and the Safe Harbor statements included in the press release that is a subject of this call.

These risks and uncertainties include Pvh's right to change its strategies objectives expectations and intentions and its easy to use significant cash flow to service its debt obligations.

Significantly at this time, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have and global inflationary pressures and the war in Ukraine have begun to have impacts on the companys business cash flow and results of operation. There is significant uncertainty about the duration and extent of the impact of these events the dynamic nature of the circumstances means what I said on this call.

It could change materially at any time, and therefore, the operation of the company's business and future results of operations could differ materially from historical practices and results or current descriptions estimates and suggestions PVH does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward looking statements, including without limitation any estimate or suggest.

Regarding revenue or earnings.

Generally the information and projected to be discussed will be on a non-GAAP basis as defined under SEC rules reconciliations to GAAP amounts are included in Pvh's fourth quarter 2021 earnings release, which can be found on www dot PVH dotcom and in the company's current report on form 8-K furnished to the SEC in connection.

With the release at this time I am pleased to turn the conference over to Stefan Larsson.

Thank you Dana and good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining our call today.

Looking back on my first year as CEO for PVH I'm proud of the progress we have made and the strong performance of the business in 2021, we intensified our focus on our two globally iconic brands, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger and drove an accelerated recovery was.

Really navigated continued COVID-19 disruption.

These efforts resulted in very strong financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year.

19, pre pandemic levels, all while positioning PVH to win with the consumer in the new normal and deliver sustainable profitable long term growth.

Supercharge digital to meet the consumer where they want to shop, we delivered top tier market performance and we do it in a high quality and sustainable way.

You can see it in Europe through our strong product execution and the owned and operated e-commerce growth and in brand building partnerships with digital pure players you can also see it increasingly in Asia, where we lean into big consumer moments like Chinese new year, and wind with strength in product on the <unk>.

Most important e-commerce and social platforms.

Step by step Youll see more of that in North America, as well, where we are focused on driving higher quality digital led growth and improving product and channel execution.

Our company wide focus on key growth categories hero products and cutting unproductive assortment tail is yielding strong results, we drove increased pricing power and margin expansion in both Calvin and Tommy across our largest markets and channels.

High return areas to support our future growth while at the same time starting to drive cost efficiencies.

In addition, I am.

The scoring our strong financial position and cash flow generation, we paid down over $1 billion of debt to reduce our leverage to below pre pandemic levels, we reinstated our quarterly cash dividend and repurchased approximately $350 million of stock move.

Moving forward, we will continue investing in our business to fuel our growth while at the same time deploying our excess cash to maximize shareholder returns.

I'd like to thank all of our associates around the world for your hard work and critical contributions, which helped us to deliver on what we set out to do this year and more.

Thus, we continue to closely monitor the war in Ukraine, I also want to extend my gratitude to our associates for their continued support and compassion for each other in the face of this tragic human deterrent crisis.

As we look ahead to 2022.

We're excited by the strong momentum in the business, but also mindful that the market is experiencing unprecedented volatility from the heightened impacts of a number of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges.

These include the war in Ukraine, as well as inflationary pressures, which impacted both our own business and the overall consumer spending. We also continued to navigate the ongoing pandemic headwinds, particularly supply chain and logistics delays, especially in North America.

In addition to the recent virus resurgence is in Asia.

As such we're even more focused on what we can control and just like we demonstrated through our strong performance in 2021, we are confident in the underlying strength across our business.

Through the disciplined execution of our strategic priorities, we are driving underlying double digit top and bottom line growth for 2022, while maintaining our strong gross margins.

A reminder, the tourists costumer, therefore, starting to 40% of our total North America business pre pandemic has not yet returned and we're taking proactive measures to set ourselves up for long term sustainable and much more profitable growth in the region.

As a result, we expect our business in the region to remain below pre pandemic levels.

Let me now turn tell regional update.

Starting with Europe , Despite COVID-19 recharge assets, which resulted in renewed restrictions the region delivered another quarter of very strong execution, which completed an outstanding year of performance revenues increased double digits against pre pandemic levels for Boe.

The quarter and year combined with gross margin expansion driven by strong full price sell through when.

We continue to gain market share across both Tommy and Calvin driven by strong consumer demand, including Thomas focus on the elevated cash you'll see small categories and iconic must haves combined with accelerating elevated hero products at Calvin from the brand's lifestyle expanse.

<unk>.

Our connected retail capabilities enabled us to capture digital demand, which mitigate lower brick and mortar trends driven by COVID-19 .

While reported revenue in the region in 2022 will be impacted by the lack of business in Ukraine, and Russia overall consumer demand for our brands has remained on plan so far in the first quarter.

Real strength from our efforts to accelerate the regions growth.

We remain excited about the progress and underlying performance.

We are driving comp growth through optimized product allocations in our spring hero products supported by digital campaigns is resonating with consumers in the region as highlighted by strong comps over Valentines day.

We continue to connect with consumers wherever and however, they want to shop.

Offline Barry.

Engaging our consumer through in store VIP events and unique pop up store locations.

Looking ahead Covid really started to assist in China are certainly impacting our growth near term, but as markets. Reopen we are seeing a strong bounce back in trends, which is evidence of the underlying strength of our business in China and we also see that in our other markets such ourselves trailer.

And increasingly in Japan.

Overall, we remain optimistic in the region's ability to drive long term growth.

Turning to North America.

Significantly negatively impacting our inventory flows across channels. Nevertheless, we're making sure that all decisions, we take now or positioning our two iconic brands for the long term.

While for the fourth quarter, both Calvin and Tommy drove improved revenue trends sequentially compared to pre pandemic levels.

Significant COVID-19 related supply chain challenges resulted in inventory delays that we will be navigating through with the biggest impact in the first half of 2022.

As I just shared we are doubling down on our engagement with the domestic consumer.

By driving increased product strength with pricing power and focusing on growth in the digital marketplace in a balanced way across channels.

We are sharpening our execution with more targeted assortments across key accounts and channels and ensuring our brands are appropriately positioned in brand in housing channels.

Despite the challenges the region is facing we're seeing green shoots of progress including <unk>.

Controlled inventory levels and lower promotions enabled us to drive higher gross margins and <unk> in the fourth quarter.

As we further expand our assortment of hero products, we're seeing positive read some new updated product, although the inventory challenges are impacting trends for Calvin hero products in underwear continue to outperform and we've seen sequentially improving trends in key men's apparel categories.

And for Tommy focused categories of seasonal key items, so driving performance.

To unlock our full potential in the market.

Next I will share a few brief global brand highlights beginning with Calvin Klein.

Brand awareness remains very high and we continue to see increases in relevance and consideration.

We are deepening our engagement with consumers with culturally relevant tallow during the holiday season, we had a few surprise guest hacked a regular schedule content for Calvin Klein on Instagram, including squid games whole young Chung, who set a record for our Instagram Paul.

<unk> with over 6 million lives.

Last month, we launched our spring collection and all together campaign, featuring an international cast, including Jenny Kim and Euphoria Star dominates fike.

The collection to reinterpret the brand's iconic pass for the future refreshing archival pieces.

Looking ahead the brand will continue to build out our collaboration strategy with the announcement of our second global collaboration partner already in April this year further driving our connection to the consumer and driving cultural relevance.

Moving on to Tommy Hilfiger.

Similar to Calvin brand awareness remains strong and above pre pandemic levels, our product strategy is to drive relevance with aspirational and younger consumers.

Through our collaborations we continued to drive brand heat.

Our global Tommy Jeans, APE by a bathing a collaboration generated strong performance across regions as highlighted by our sell through rate of over 90% in Europe and North America within the first week, Tommy Dot Com with high <unk>. In addition, we saw.

Very strong media coverage.

<unk> also stepped into the meta versus with online game platform roadblocks through the capsule launch a must have digital fashion items that people can use to dress or other tars within their roadblocks virtual world.

Lastly for spring the brands make your move campaign recently launched featuring our first hashtag challenge, Sean tick Tock hashtag move with Tommy and led by Anthony Ramos, bringing together the world of music and pop culture with increased media investments that campaign.

<unk> spans multiple consumer touch points in innovative ways.

When we do that really well like we do today in our international markets, we're able to deliver market leading performance.

We are continuing to build on that strength in both Europe , and Asia, and we will over time unlock the same type of strength in North America. While there are regional differences. The key value drivers are the same brand and product relevance with pricing power combined with strong consumer engagement.

And our focus on winning in the digital marketplace.

We're looking forward to sharing our multiyear growth plan with you at our Investor day in just a couple of weeks on April 13.

It will be our first investor day in over 10 years. So you can imagine how much we're looking forward to it.

I'm also pleased to welcome Sag coupling to PVH as our new CFO effective April 4th.

That comes most recently from DFS part of the <unk> group and brings over 20 years of high performance financial and operational leadership with best in class Global brands and he will be a key leader when we build out our next growth chapter.

Before I hand, it over to Jim for the financial update I would like to thank him for his critical leadership as strong support during the transition period as interim CFO .

You did a great job Jim Thank you.

Thanks, Stefan the comments I'm about to make are based on non-GAAP results and are reconciled in our press release 2021 was a year of very strong financial performance driven by the disciplined execution of our accelerated recovery priorities, we successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic to drive.

Double digit revenue growth for 2020 led by our international businesses, which significantly exceeded 2019 pre pandemic levels.

We ended the year with revenue over $9 billion and drove record financial performance in gross margin and earnings per share with very strong operating margins, which significantly exceeded 2019 pre pandemic levels.

While we continue to navigate unprecedented macroeconomic volatility as we enter 2022, we remain confident in the power of our two global brands Calvin Klein Tommy Hilfiger.

And then the fundamental strength of our business and we believe that the disciplined execution of our strategic priorities will drive underlying double digit top and bottom line growth for 2022, while maintaining our strong gross margins.

I will begin by discussing our 2021 of the results in more detail and then we'll move onto our outlook for 2022.

Overall revenues for the fourth quarter were up 16% compared to the prior year as reported and 20% on a constant currency basis.

And above the top end of our guidance, despite continued supply chain and logistics disruptions and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the omicron variant.

While our underlying business performance was relatively flat compared to 2019 pre pandemic levels. Our overall revenues for the fourth quarter were down 7% versus 2019 due.

Due to the heritage brands transaction, the exit from our heritage retail business and the sale of <unk>.

Our results reflected strong performance in our international businesses across both brands, primarily driven by Europe .

Our international businesses exceeded 2019 pre pandemic levels in all regions.

While our North America businesses showed sequential improvement in the fourth quarter compared to pre pandemic levels. The business remains challenged due to the lack of international tourism.

Which was the source of approximately 30% to 40% of pre pandemic revenue for the region.

In addition, North America has been and continues to be the region, most challenged by supply chain disruptions, including higher airfreight costs and suppressed inventory levels.

Gross margin continued to be very strong at 58, 3% for the fourth quarter, which is an increase of over 400 basis points compared to the prior year in 2019 pre pandemic levels.

The improvement was primarily due to more full price selling and a favorable shift in regional sales mix, which more than offset higher freight costs, including an increase in air freight to mitigate supply chain and logistics delays.

Inventory was down 5% at the end of the quarter compared to the prior year.

SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue for the fourth quarter was down almost 150 basis points versus 2020, as we leveraged the increase in revenue, but remained elevated compared to 2019 when.

Fuel our growth in 2022.

By almost 150 basis points.

Earnings per share was $2 84 for the fourth quarter compared to a loss per share of <unk> 38 in the prior year period, while also significantly exceeding the 2019 pre pandemic them out and the top end of our previous guidance by 90.

We ended the full year 2021 with revenue of $9 2 billion.

An increase of 28% versus 2020 led by strength in our international businesses, which exceeded 2019 at pre pandemic levels, particularly Europe .

Earnings before interest and taxes was $983 million in 2021 compared to a loss in 2020 and was up over $50 million or 6% compared to 2019 pre pandemic levels.

Operating margin was 10, 7%, which significantly exceeded our expectations and was 130 basis points higher than 2019 pre pandemic levels driven by record gross margins of 58, 2% and.

And the successful execution of our accelerated recovery priorities.

Overall, we delivered record earnings per share of $10 15.

Compared to a loss in 2020 and $9 54 in 2019.

Additionally to further strengthen our balance sheet, we made over $1 billion of voluntary term loan payments for the full year of 2021.

Our outlook assumes no material worsening of current conditions.

Our international business has continued to demonstrate strength and are expected to build on strong growth from 2021 underpinned by systematic execution of our strategic priorities Momo.

Momentum continues in our Europe business and while Covid is currently most severely impacting our business in China. We are encouraged by the underlying performance of our overall business in Asia.

<unk> with the first half being most severely impacted.

Our overall revenue projection reflects a 2% reduction resulting from the heritage brands transaction and the exit from the heritage brands retail business and a 2% reduction from our decision to temporarily close our stores and pause commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with reduction in wholesale shipments to your crane as a result.

Of the war.

We expect our full year gross margin rate to remain at record levels and flat to 2021, despite rising inflationary costs in all regions, including higher cost of commodities and raw materials and increased freight as we plan to mostly mitigate inflationary pressures with price increases and continued less.

<unk> activity. Additionally.

Additionally, we expect a favorable shift in regional sales mix compared to 2021 with our higher margin international businesses, making up a larger portion of total revenue.

SG&A expense as a percentage of revenue for the full year is expected to increase approximately 70 basis points compared to 2021.

<unk> to repeat in 2022.

We expect our full year operating margin will continue to exceed 2019 pre pandemic levels and will be approximately 10%.

Our overall EBIT expectation reflects negative impacts due to FX translation of 7% and a 6% reduction from our decision to temporarily close our stores and plus commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with the reduction in wholesale shipments to Ukraine as a result of the war.

Our tax rate for the year is estimated at 29% to 30% compared to 17, 1% in 2021.

The increase is explained by the expiration of a favorable tax agreement in the Netherlands. The conclusion of tax treatments related to the purchase of Calvin Klein and the shift in our geographic earnings mix. The result is a tax rate consistent with the statutory rates, where we do business.

Sure due to FX translation, and our decision to temporarily close our stores and plus commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with the reduction in wholesale shipments to Ukraine and also negatively impacting 2022 is $1 55 from taxes.

Partially offsetting these negative impacts as a positive impact of approximately <unk> 70.

Due to lower interest and shares.

Our overall revenue projection reflects a 5% reduction resulting from the heritage brands transaction and the exit from the heritage brands retail business.

And a 1% reduction from our decision to temporarily close our stores and paused commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with the reduction in wholesale shipments to Ukraine.

First quarter earnings per share is expected to be between $1 55 to $1 60, which reflects negative impacts of approximately 35 due to FX translation and our decision to temporarily close our stores and plus commercial activity in Russia, and Belarus, along with reduction in wholesale shipments to your crane.

As stated earlier supply chain disruptions or are expected to most significantly impacted North America business in the first half of the year or.

Our tax rate for the first quarter is estimated at 29% to 30% consistent with the full year.

And with that operator, we would like to open it up to questions.

Thank you Sir.

If you would like to ask a question. Please signal for pressing star one on your telephone keypad.

If you're using a speaker phone. Please make sure your mute function is turned off to allow your signal to reach our equipment.

Again press Star one to ask a question.

We will now take our first question from Bob Chappell.

From Guggenheim. Please go ahead.

Good morning.

Just a couple of questions.

Really can you can you expand upon.

The underlying strength of the business in Europe around Europe , and really just how youre planning the business was so much uncertainty there this year.

Yes, good morning, and thank you Bob.

As we alluded to in our prep.

What drives that would be the strength of Calvin and Tommy in Europe , and how close we connect those two brands today European consumer and how we were able to drive product strength consumer engagement and winning digitally led.

It makes the difference and Thats why we are taking market share and Thats why when we look at.

Number of years back and looking forward, we see the strength of the of our.

Our ability to navigate EBIT, even tougher macro times.

And we also have looking forward, we see the order book speaking very strong for the for the rest of the year as far out as we can see so lots of reasons to be positive when it comes to Europe .

Thank you good luck.

Thanks.

We will now take our next question from Michael Binetti from Credit Suisse. Please go ahead.

Hey, guys. Good morning, Thanks for taking our questions here.

I have one question that I have a follow up I just wanted to ask a simple question Stefan I know, we'll talk about this in a few days.

Yes, so thanks Michael.

What what we see in North America, right now to start to it as we see still the effect of the delay of the return of the tourism and that is real that is 30% to 40%.

Pre pandemic and that we saw that starting to come back.

November and then we saw omicron hit and now we see it being delayed.

Then we see.

The biggest supply chain.

Challenge, that's well in North America when it comes to our focus is what we can and that ties directly to answering your question. What our focus is on the domestic consumer and winning more with that consumer and it comes back to.

Product execution it comes back to <unk>.

Pricing power it comes back to.

Our balanced high quality.

Channel distribution.

Do you I guess, one to follow that to you.

How much progress you think you can make on the margins in North America without knowing when tourism will come back.

So we see green shoots already Michael in terms of our focus on the key growth categories. The categories that matter most to the consumer and our development of hero products in those accounts, we already see.

Very strong sell throughs, we see pricing power, increasing so we see significant improvement opportunities over time when it comes to operating margin in North America.

Okay. Thanks, Thanks, a lot and congrats guys.

Thanks.

We will now take our next question from Jay sole from UBS. Please go ahead.

Might negatively impact the gross margin if you could sort of quantify some of the puts and takes that would be super helpful. Thank you so much.

Yes, I'll take that Jay so on average, we're seeing costs increasing from raw materials.

Trade all included about 10%.

Our gross margin plans as we are going to pass those costs onto the consumer, particularly where are we.

In Europe , and Asia, where we have great strength in demand for the brands.

We're not necessarily seeing any resistance at all with the consumer so we feel confident in that when we turn to North America to supply chain delays as clouding it a little bit.

We are planning on passing the majority of those costs on to the consumer we are not seeing resistance to date, but were not going to be able to pass all of it through particularly for the air freight that we're deploying.

Due to the supply chain delays, so a little bit in North America that gross margins will decrease.

Okay got it and then maybe Jim if I can follow up can.

Can you give us an idea of what your free cash flow outlook for this year is based on your guidance and sort of what the primary uses of the free cash will be sort of after capex.

Yes, so look the guy.

Since we gave us with our earnings.

We're going to have.

EBITDA well over $1 billion Capex will be about $400 million. We're also planning on share buyback for the continued use of our remaining authorization for a little over $200 million.

The one thing thats going to happen as we work through 2021 is we are going to have a working capital Bill sorry, 2022, we're going to have a working capital build we ended 2021 with just to lower inventory levels as we work through the year, we're going to get hopefully get back into.

Better inventory position really to fuel the growth for 2023, so there'll be a little bit of a.

A reversal from 'twenty, one into working capital, but all in still generating lots of free cash flow and just.

I said it in my notes, we paid down over $1 billion of debt in 2021. So the balance sheet is strong it is a strong position.

In recent memory.

Got it okay. Thank you so much.

We will now take our next question from Dana Telsey from Tag Advisors. Please go ahead.

Hi, Good morning, everyone. As you think about the puts and takes of exiting heritage.

FX and the other the other headwinds how do you Jim how do you foresee the underlying growth of the business both on the topline and bottom line going forward and then just on any update on how you're thinking about given the digital first mindset, where you want digital as a percent of sales to be and what it could mean for you.

The brands. Thank you.

Thanks for the question Dana So ending 2021, we ended it with a lot of momentum and great strength, we see that continuing in the underlying business is it's somewhat masked by the macro challenge because we're dealing with so we guided we're guiding 2% to 3% on the revenue line.

<unk>.

On a constant currency basis that comes out to 6% to 7%.

If you were to add back that the exit of heritage plus.

Our temporary closure in Russia, we get to a 10% to 11% top line underlying growth.

And if you also look at an EBIT in my notes I kind of said, we expect the EBIT dollars to be down low single digits year over year, but FX is worth about 7% of a decrease in the Russia is worth about 6% on the profitability that also gets us to a double digit growth in underlying.

<unk> EBIT.

Penetration Europe , where we are the closest connected with our brands to where the consumer is going as well over that last year, we drove 30%.

Growth on top of 40% growth. So digital penetrated digital will continue to grow faster than the other channels and penetration over time.

Continued to grow.

Thank you.

We will now take our next question from Kimberly Greenberger from Morgan Stanley . Please go ahead.

Great. Thank you so much.

I wanted to ask just about the supply chain impact here in the U S.

Obviously, we can't go back and change history, but.

Knowing what you know now are there any.

Different strategies that.

You wish you had deployed.

Perhaps last year just to get through.

The North American challenges and then.

You're talking about strategizing for supply chain here in 2022, what are the go forward.

Things that youre doing to try to impact.

Yes.

The challenges in supply chain, particularly in North America.

Yes, Thank you Kimberly.

When it comes to how we navigated through Covid last year I'm really proud of.

How we drove to the record performance we did so overall when it comes to a crisis like Covid.

It's about pivoting and making us more.

Making decisions that follows how the consumer react through our Colgate pandemic and I feel very good about how we did that when it comes to the Covid related supply chain, Sean This shifts in North America. They are COVID-19 .

Sourcing related COVID-19 in sourcing countries. So when we look at where we sole source from in our three regions North America.

More impact than Europe , and Asia, mostly because of different.

Sourcing geographies and when it comes to going forward.

Jim alluded to the supply chain delays in North America is something we're going to navigate through.

Over the year and the.

The biggest effect is in the first half.

Okay.

Okay. Great. That's helpful color. Thank you and I just had a quick follow up for Jim on the tax rate.

Jim can you just remind us what is happening in tax rate.

In 2022, that's causing that to go into the high 20 or 30% and is this the level. We should think about for future years as well is this the new normal kind of tax rate.

Yes. Thanks for your question Kimberly So two things really one as we had.

Okay.

Favorable tax treatment on low rates in the Netherlands that expired in 2021, we also had phase.

Countries, like China, and Australia, and Japan are 30% plus so we're basically 29 to 30 per se is somewhat in the zone of our statutory rates, we get a little bit.

And net income is a little more weight is much more weighted to international.

The U S tax reform rules hurt us a little bit so.

At Investor Analyst day, we're going to get into get into it a little further on the forward looking projections, but.

But I will tell you we are continuing to always look at optimizing our tax strategy, but those with those two big things rolling off in 2021 days of being in the teens or may not happen again.

Understood we can't wait for the analyst day. Thank you both so much.

Thank you.

We will now take our next question from Chris Nardone from Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Hi, Thanks for taking my question. So it sounds like your core business remains quite strong in Europe , excluding the impact in eastern Europe .

Yes, Chris So first on Europe .

Our estimates right now for what we are seeing in Europe as Stefan mentioned, we still see great strength and demand for our brands and we do not see any slowdown that we have not estimated for any slowdown.

As far as pricing on average I mentioned, it's going to be up our costs are up 10%, we're going to pass that predominantly back to the consumer.

We arent seeing any resistance to date it'll be a little it will escalate a little bit more in the fall than in the spring.

But not much more.

And I'm wondering too.

And just to build on what Jim just said in these inflationary times, what's going to what's going to really make a difference as Brian strength brand relevance product strength.

Channel execution channel relevance.

That's why.

In Europe , we see so much strength in all of that which positions us.

Really well in order to navigate this inflationary challenges.

We will now take our next question from Brook Roche from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.

Good morning.

For taking our question.

In your prepared remarks, you called 2000 told you a year of transition for North America could you provide additional context on your plans for the North America marketplace. This year to improve the brand momentum we have across both brands, especially with that domestic consumer. Thank you.

Yes, Thanks, Brooks, so I'll be able to share the detailed approach in Investor day, that's coming up just in two weeks, but high level.

We are facing the pressures from the tourist consumer being delayed coming back.

Then when it comes to the domestic consumer the core strength for US is to brand love for the brand. The brands are Super strong Super relevant with the North America consumer we have over relied on the strength of the tourist consumers. So when that is being delayed coming back is getting.

<unk> really clear that we need to focus more on winning more with the domestic consumer and so tapping into that brand strength and brand loved by the American consumer we both Calvin and Tommy are our top two out of the top four five brands in the sector. So it's all going to come back to.

<unk>.

Product strength pricing power investing in where the consumer wants to shop, our brands, which we are underpenetrated in digital and execute a balanced channel strategy, but much more details when we get to Investor day.

Great. Thanks, and just a quick follow up on that as you think about the full price selling that you achieved in 2021.

How do you see the biggest opportunities for improving that full price selling and reduce discounting into 2022.

Brookdale.

A question overall on North America related.

Overall for the business. Thank you.

Overall for the business so.

To develop hero products and evolved hero products. The key products. The most essential products and then we have the ability to.

Markets have been able to drive pricing power and so that's something that.

Those are the key reasons why why do we see the trend continue is strongest.

Yes, we do and we also see the success in 2021 based on these product strategies, we see the pricing power go up and we see it continue to go up and then of course.

Really high inflationary periods like this there is also an efficiency component that we need to drive efficiency as a company overall as well.

Thank you I'll pass it on.

Yes.

As another reminder to ask a telephone question. Please signal by pressing star one.

We now take our next question from Mike <unk> from Wells Fargo. Please go ahead.

Hey, Thanks, good morning, everyone.

You guys have given some great detail on the near term and next year I guess.

Picture you've been at the company for several years.

I wanted to ask just about your view of the structure of the business.

<unk> is there any need for any more meaningful changes.

I think that kind of comes to mind is you've got some pretty big licenses that expire with Calvin next year is there anything that you think the business could do more efficiently or any reason, we should think that there might be some strategic changes that at least youre considering now that you've been in the seat for several years.

Yes.

So.

Been in the seat for a year.

So.

And Julian that the biggest structural change we have made the divestiture of heritage. So it's the focus the intensified focus.

Calvin and Tommy we see again.

Sure.

The strength of having two of the most iconic brands globally, most beloved brands in our sector gives us so much of an opportunity to drive.

Systematic repeatable value creation over time, and Thats, what were going to go through more in detail at Investor Day.

Great. Thanks.

We will now take our next question from Paul <unk> with some sushi investments. Please go ahead.

Thanks, It's Tracy Kogan filling in for Paul two.

Two things I was hoping you guys could quantify the impact of of break in <unk>, and then kind of quantify what you're building in for the full year and then looking at your inventories I was wondering if you could give us a sense of inventories.

And I assume also regionally that the U S. I think you alluded to the U S being leaner, but if you could just give us a sense of.

Inventory by brand if you are having more trouble at one brand and the other thanks.

In 2022.

Year over year on a full year basis, we're estimating about $10 million to $20 million more in air freight, but first half there'll be much much more.

Significant increase just in a waiting the first half of 'twenty. Two we'll have a lot of air freight the second half of 2021 had a lot of of Airfreight and then as far as the inventories were.

Specifically kind of taught by brand but.

I mentioned in my notes that we were down 5% at the end of 2021, which is pretty much.

But it is a challenge across the board, we're dealing with delays, but certainly North America.

As is more impacted.

When you will see it by brand a little bit as we report through 2022.

North America will be a little more impacted than Tommy Hilfiger Calvin Klein.

Great. Thanks very much.

Thank you.

Operator, we have time for one last question. Thank you.

There appears to be no further questions at this time Sir.

Alright. Thank you very much. Thank you everyone for joining and looking forward to see you.

At Investor Day on April 30.

Thank you.

This concludes today's call. Thank you for your participation you may now disconnect.

Q4 2021 PVH Corp Earnings Call

Request a DemoDemo

PVH

Earnings