UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019

For the transition period from ________ to ________                

Commission File No. 000-22754

 

URBAN OUTFITTERS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 454-5500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by checkmark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by checkmark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by checkmark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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

Indicate by a checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $3,665,909,177.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock on March 26, 2019 was 103,559,364.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 is incorporated by reference into Part III hereof from portions of the Proxy Statement for the registrant’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

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Certain matters contained in this filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) may contain forward-looking statements and are being made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words “project,” “believe,” “plan,” “will,” “anticipate,” “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any one, or all, of the following factors could cause actual financial results to differ materially from those financial results mentioned in the forward-looking statements: the difficulty in predicting and responding to shifts in fashion trends, changes in the level of competitive pricing and promotional activity and other industry factors, overall economic and market conditions and worldwide political events and the resultant impact on consumer spending patterns, the effects of the implementation of the United Kingdom's referendum to withdraw membership from the European Union (commonly referred to as “Brexit”), including currency fluctuations, economic conditions and legal or regulatory changes, any effects of war, terrorism and civil unrest, natural disasters or severe or unseasonable weather conditions, increases in labor costs, increases in raw material costs, availability of suitable retail space for expansion, timing of store openings, risks associated with international expansion, seasonal fluctuations in gross sales, the departure of one or more key senior executives, import risks, changes to U.S. and foreign trade policies, including the enactment of tariffs, border adjustment taxes or increases in duties or quotas, the closing or disruption of, or any damage to, any of our distribution centers, our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, risks associated with digital sales, our ability to maintain and expand our digital sales channels, response to new store concepts, our ability to integrate acquisitions, failure of our manufacturers and third-party vendors to comply with our social compliance program, changes in our effective income tax rate, the impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, regulatory changes and legal matters and other risks identified in our filings with the SEC, including those set forth in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that actual results may differ materially from any projected results expressed or implied therein.

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Urban Outfitters, Inc., together with its subsidiaries.

PART I

Item 1. Business

General

We offer lifestyle-oriented general merchandise and consumer products and services through a portfolio of global consumer brands comprised of the Anthropologie, Bhldn, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters brands and our Food and Beverage division. We have achieved compounded annual sales growth of approximately 5% over the past five years, with sales of approximately $4.0 billion during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019.

We operate under two reportable segments – Retail and Wholesale. Our Retail segment contains the Anthropologie, Bhldn, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters brands and our Food and Beverage division. We have over 48 years of experience creating and managing retail stores that offer highly differentiated collections of fashion apparel, accessories and home goods, among other things, in inviting and dynamic store settings. Our core strategy is to provide unified environments that establish emotional bonds with the customer, primarily through Company-owned stores but also through franchised or third-party operated stores. In addition to retail stores, we offer our products and services directly to our customers through our websites, mobile applications, catalogs, customer contact centers and digital businesses. The Food and Beverage division includes various casual dining concepts.

We operate a Wholesale segment under the Free People, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters brands. The Wholesale segment sells through department and specialty stores worldwide, digital businesses and our Retail segment. The Wholesale segment primarily designs, develops and markets apparel, intimates, activewear and home goods.

Milestones in our Company’s growth are as follows:

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Our omni-channel strategy enhances our customers’ brand experience by providing a seamless approach to the customer shopping experience. All available Company-owned shopping channels are fully integrated, including stores, websites, mobile applications, catalogs and customer contact centers. Our investments in areas such as marketing campaigns and technology advancements are designed to generate demand for the omni-channel and not the separate store or digital channels. Store sales are primarily fulfilled from that store’s inventory, but may also be shipped from any of our fulfillment centers or from a different store location if an item is not available at the original store. Digital orders are primarily shipped to our customers through our fulfillment centers, but may also be shipped from any store, or a combination of fulfillment centers and stores depending on the availability of particular items. Digital orders may also be picked up at a store location, and customers may also return certain merchandise purchased through digital channels at store locations. As our customers continue to shop across multiple channels, we have adapted our approach towards meeting this demand. Due to the availability of like product in a variety of shopping channels, we source these products utilizing single stock keeping units (“SKUs”) based on the omni-channel demand rather than the demand of the separate channels. These and other technological capabilities allow us to better serve our customers and help us complete sales that otherwise may not have occurred due to out-of-stock positions. We manage and analyze our performance based on a single omni-channel rather than separate channels and believe that the omni-channel results present the most meaningful and appropriate measure of our performance.

Our fiscal year ends on January 31. All references to our fiscal years refer to the fiscal years ended on January 31 in those years. For example, our fiscal 2019 ended on January 31, 2019.

Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge on our investor relations website, www.urbn.com/investor-relations, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish such material to, the SEC. We will voluntarily provide electronic or paper copies (other than exhibits) of our filings free of charge upon written request. You may also obtain any materials we file with, or furnish to, the SEC on its website at www.sec.gov.

Retail Segment

Urban Outfitters. Urban Outfitters targets young adults aged 18 to 28 through a unique merchandise mix, compelling store environment, websites and mobile applications. We have established a reputation with these young adults, who are culturally sophisticated, self-expressive and concerned with acceptance by their peer group. The product offering includes women’s and men’s fashion apparel, activewear, intimates, footwear, accessories, home goods, electronics and beauty. A large portion of our merchandise is exclusive to Urban Outfitters, consisting of an assortment of product designed internally and designed in collaboration with third-party brands. Stores average approximately 9,000 square feet of selling space. Our stores are located in street locations in large metropolitan areas, select university communities, specialty centers and enclosed malls that accommodate our customers’ propensity not only to shop, but also to congregate with their peers.

As of January 31, 2019, we operated 245 Urban Outfitters stores, of which 178 were located in the United States, 17 were located in Canada and 50 were located in Europe. We plan to open approximately nine Urban Outfitters stores and close approximately three Urban Outfitters stores due to lease expiration, globally, in fiscal 2020. Urban Outfitters is at or close to our desired maximum store count in the United States and Canada. We plan for future store growth to come from expansion internationally, which may include opening stores in new and existing markets or entering into additional franchise or joint venture agreements. We plan for future digital channel growth to come from expansion domestically and internationally, including enhancing our presence in third-party digital marketplaces, such as Tmall in China and through our franchise partners’ websites. Urban Outfitters operates websites and mobile applications in North America and Europe that capture the spirit of the brand by offering a similar yet broader selection of merchandise as found in its stores, offers a catalog in Europe offering select merchandise, most of which is also available in its stores, sells merchandise through franchisee-owned stores in Israel and partners with a third-party digital marketplace to offer a limited selection of merchandise, which is available in Asia. Urban Outfitters’ North American and European Retail segment net sales accounted for approximately 30.5% and 8.2% of consolidated net sales, respectively, for fiscal 2019.

Anthropologie Group. The Anthropologie Group consists of the Anthropologie, Bhldn and Terrain brands.

The Anthropologie brand tailors its merchandise and inviting store environment to sophisticated and contemporary women aged 28 to 45. The Anthropologie brand’s unique and eclectic product assortment includes women’s casual apparel, accessories, intimates, shoes, home furnishings, a diverse array of gifts and decorative items and beauty and wellness. In addition, the brand offers catalogs in North America and Europe that market select merchandise, most of which is also available in Anthropologie brand stores.

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The Bhldn brand emphasizes every element that contributes to a wedding. The brand offers a curated collection of heirloom quality wedding gowns, bridesmaid frocks, party dresses, assorted jewelry, headpieces, footwear, lingerie and decorations.

The Terrain brand is designed to appeal to women and men interested in a creative and sophisticated outdoor living and gardening experience. Terrain’s product offering includes lifestyle home, garden and outdoor living products, antiques, live plants, flowers, wellness products and accessories.

As of January 31, 2019, we operated 227 Anthropologie Group stores, of which 204 were located in the United States, 12 were located in Canada and 11 were located in Europe. Stores average approximately 8,000 square feet of selling space. In addition to individual brand stores, we operate expanded format stores that include multiple Anthropologie Group brands, allowing us to present an expanded assortment of products in certain categories. Our stores are located in specialty centers, upscale street locations and enclosed malls. We plan to open approximately three Anthropologie Group stores and close approximately seven Anthropologie Group stores due to lease expiration, globally, in fiscal 2020. The Anthropologie Group is at or close to our desired maximum store count in the United States and Canada. We plan for future store growth to come from expansion internationally, which may include opening stores in new and existing markets or entering into franchise or joint venture agreements. We plan for future digital channel growth to come from expansion domestically and internationally, including enhancing our presence in third-party digital marketplaces, such as Tmall in China and through our franchise partners. The Anthropologie Group operates websites and mobile applications in North America and Europe that capture the spirit of its brands by offering a similar yet broader selection of merchandise as found in its stores, offers catalogs in North America and Europe that market select merchandise, most of which is also available in Anthropologie brand stores, and partners with a third-party digital marketplace to offer a limited selection of merchandise, which is available in Asia. The Anthropologie Group’s North American and European Retail segment net sales accounted for approximately 38.6% and 1.7% of consolidated net sales, respectively, for fiscal 2019.

Free People. Our Free People retail stores primarily offer private label merchandise targeted to young contemporary women aged 25 to 30. Free People offers a unique merchandise mix of casual women’s apparel, intimates, FP Movement activewear, shoes, accessories, home products, gifts and beauty and wellness. Free People retail stores average approximately 2,000 square feet of selling space. Our stores are located in enclosed malls, upscale street locations and specialty centers.

As of January 31, 2019, we operated 135 Free People stores, of which 127 were located in the United States, six were located in Canada and two were located in Europe. We plan to open approximately ten new Free People stores and close approximately three Free People stores due to lease expiration, globally, in fiscal 2020. Free People is approaching our desired maximum store count in the United States and Canada. We plan for future store growth to come from expansion internationally, which may include opening stores in new and existing markets or entering into additional franchise or joint venture agreements. We plan for future digital channel growth to come from expansion domestically and internationally, including enhancing our presence in third-party digital marketplaces, such as Tmall in China and through our franchise partners. Free People operates websites and mobile applications in North America, Europe and Asia that capture the spirit of the brand by offering a similar yet broader selection of merchandise as found in its stores, as well as substantially all of the Free People wholesale offerings. Free People also offers a catalog that markets select merchandise, most of which is also available in our Free People stores, and partners with third-party digital marketplaces to offer a limited selection of merchandise, which is available in Asia. Free People’s North American and European Retail segment net sales accounted for approximately 11.6% and less than 1.0% of consolidated net sales, respectively, for fiscal 2019.

Food and Beverage. In February 2016, we acquired six restaurants as part of our acquisition of the Vetri Family group of restaurants, which were combined with our existing restaurants to form our Food and Beverage division. The Food and Beverage division focuses on a dining experience that provides excellence in food, beverage and service. As of January 31, 2019, we operated 13 restaurants, all of which were located in the United States. We plan to open approximately two new restaurants in fiscal 2020. The Food and Beverage division net sales accounted for less than 1.0% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2019.

Wholesale Segment

The Wholesale segment consists of the Free People, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters brands. The Wholesale segment was established in 1984 with the Free People brand to develop, in conjunction with Urban Outfitters, private label apparel lines of young women’s casual wear that could be effectively sold at attractive prices in Urban Outfitters stores and later began selling to department and specialty stores worldwide. The Anthropologie wholesale division, established in fiscal 2018, designs and sells home goods to select department stores. The Urban Outfitters wholesale division, established in fiscal 2019, designs and sells the BDG apparel collection to select department stores. We display our wholesale products in certain department stores using a shop-within-shop sales model. We believe that the shop-within-shop model allows for a more complete merchandising of our products, which allows us to differentiate ourselves from our competition and further strengthens each brand’s image. During fiscal 2019, the Wholesale segment’s range of young women’s contemporary casual apparel, intimates, FP Movement activewear and shoes under the Free People brand, home goods, including gifts, tabletop and textiles, under the Anthropologie brand and the BDG apparel collection under the Urban Outfitters brand were sold through approximately 2,200 department and specialty stores worldwide, including Macy’s, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Selfridge’s, John Lewis, digital businesses and our Retail segment. We monitor the styles and products that are popular with our wholesale customers to give us insight into current fashion trends, helping us to better serve our retail customers. Wholesale sales and showroom facilities are

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located in London, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City. Our Wholesale segment net sales accounted for approximately 8.8% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2019.

Store Environment

We create a unified environment in our stores that establishes an emotional bond with the customer. Every element of the environment is tailored to the aesthetic preferences of our target customers. Through creative design, much of the existing retail space is modified to incorporate a mosaic of fixtures, finishes and revealed architectural details. In our stores, merchandise is integrated into a variety of creative vignettes and displays designed to offer our customers an entire look at a distinct lifestyle. This dynamic visual merchandising and display technique provides the connection among the store design, the merchandise and the customer. Essential components of the ambiance of each store may include playing music that appeals to our target customers, using unique signage and employing a staff that understands and identifies with the target customer.

Our Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group and Free People stores are primarily located in upscale street locations, free-standing locations, enclosed malls and specialty centers. We plan for our store environment and location strategy to remain consistent over the next several years.

Buying and Design Operations

Maintaining a constant flow of fresh and fashionable merchandise for our Retail segment is critically important to our ongoing performance. We maintain our own buying groups that select and develop products to satisfy our target customers and provide us with the appropriate amount and timing of products offered. Our buyers stay in touch with the evolving tastes of their target customers by shopping at major trade markets, attending national and regional trade shows and staying current with mass media influences, including social media, music, video, film, magazines and pop culture.

Our buyers and designers play an important role in our ability to identify and deliver the latest fashion trends to our customers. The success of our brands relies upon our ability to attract, train and retain talented, highly motivated buying and design employees. In addition to management training programs for both newly hired and existing employees, we have a number of retention programs that offer qualitative and quantitative performance-based incentives.

Merchandise

Our Urban Outfitters brand offers a wide array of eclectic merchandise, including women’s and men’s fashion apparel, activewear, intimates, footwear, accessories, home goods, electronics and beauty. Our Anthropologie brand product offerings include women’s casual apparel, accessories, intimates, shoes, home furnishings, a diverse array of gifts and decorative items and beauty and wellness. Our Bhldn brand offers a curated collection of heirloom quality wedding gowns, bridesmaid frocks, party dresses, assorted jewelry, headpieces, footwear, lingerie and decorations. Our Terrain brand product offerings include lifestyle home, garden and outdoor living products, antiques, live plants, flowers, wellness products and accessories. Our Free People brand offers a showcase for casual women’s apparel, intimates, FP Movement activewear, shoes, accessories, home products, gifts and beauty and wellness. Our merchandise is continuously updated to appeal to our target customers’ changing tastes and is supplied by a large number of domestic and foreign vendors, with new shipments of merchandise arriving at our stores and fulfillment centers almost daily.

The wide breadth of merchandise offered by our brands includes a combination of national third-party brands, private label product designed in collaboration with third-party brands and exclusive merchandise developed and designed internally by our brands. This combination allows us to offer fashionable merchandise and to differentiate our product mix from that of traditional department stores, as well as that of other specialty and digital retailers. Private label and exclusive merchandise generally yields higher gross profit margins than third-party branded merchandise, and helps to keep our product offerings current and unique.

The ever-changing mix of products available to our customers allows us to adapt our merchandise to prevailing fashion trends, and together with the inviting atmosphere and experience of our stores and websites, encourages our core customers to visit our shopping channels frequently.

We select price points for our merchandise that are consistent with the spending patterns of our target customers. As such, our stores carry merchandise at a wide range of price points that may vary considerably within product categories.

Store Operations

We have organized our retail store operations by brand into geographic areas or districts that each have a district leader. District leaders are responsible for several stores and monitor and supervise individual store leaders. Each store leader is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of one of our stores. In addition to a store leader, the staff of a typical store includes a combination of some or all of the following positions: a visual merchandising manager, several department managers and full and part-time sales and visual staff. The staff of a typical Anthropologie brand store may also include a customer care manager who helps tailor the shopping experience to the needs of Anthropologie’s target customers. An expanded format Anthropologie Group store may also include a bridal and event manager, appointment stylist, a bridal category specialist and merchandise care and maintenance staff to support the Bhldn and Terrain brands.

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An essential requirement for the success of our stores is our ability to attract, train and retain talented, highly motivated store leaders, visual merchandising managers and other key employees. In addition to management training programs for both newly hired and existing employees, we have a number of retention programs that offer qualitative and quantitative performance-based incentives to district-level leaders, store leaders and full-time sales associates.

Marketing and Promotion

We believe we have highly effective marketing tools in our websites, mobile applications, catalogs, email campaigns and social media. We refresh this media as frequently as daily to reflect the most cutting edge changes in fashion and culture. We also believe that highly visible store locations, broad merchandise selection and creative and visual presentation within our stores, on our websites and on our mobile applications entice our customers to explore these channels and purchase merchandise. Consequently, we rely on these elements, as well as the brand recognition created by our direct marketing activities, to draw customers to our omni-channel operations, rather than traditional forms of advertising such as print, radio and television media. Marketing activities for each of our brand’s retail stores may include special event promotions and a variety of public relations activities designed to create community awareness of our stores and products. We plan for our catalog circulation to decrease in fiscal 2020 as we increase our emphasis on digital marketing. Loyalty programs offer customers access to member-only benefits and rewards, which promotes brand loyalty. We also are active in social media and blogs. We believe that the traditional method of a one-way communication to customers is no longer enough. We believe that by starting a conversation and interacting directly with our customers, most notably via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Tumblr and our own mobile applications, we are more effective at understanding and serving their fashion needs. We also believe that our blogs continue this conversation. Not only do our blogs allow us to communicate what inspires us, they also allow our customers to tell us what inspires them. This fosters our relationships with our customers and encourages them to continue shopping with us.

Customer Loyalty Programs

The Urban Outfitters brand offers UO Rewards, a customer loyalty program designed to create authentic, lasting relationships with customers by rewarding devoted members with reward coupons, exclusive offers and unique experiences. Members can earn and accumulate points based on purchase activity and engaging with the brand through social media. Upon reaching the specified point threshold, members are issued a reward coupon which can be redeemed for both in-store and online purchases.

The Anthropologie brand offers AnthroPerks. AnthroPerks is a customer loyalty program that is all about our customer. The program is designed to deliver benefits and experiences to help make her shopping journey in-store and online easier and more inspirational. Members are given free shipping benefits, birthday discounts, receipt look up, exclusive offers, early access to special collections and invitations to “only at Anthro” experiences. 

Suppliers

To serve our target customers and to recognize changes in fashion trends and seasonality, we purchase merchandise from numerous foreign and domestic vendors, the majority of which is settled in U.S. dollars. We also have arrangements with agents and third-party manufacturers to produce our private label merchandise. To keep our future inventory levels lean and maintain a lower merchandise weeks of supply on hand, we plan to continue to quicken our supply chain capabilities and place more frequent merchandise orders at lower quantities. To the extent that our vendors are located overseas or, in the case of third-party vendors, rely on overseas sources for a large portion of their merchandise, any event causing a disruption of imports, such as the imposition of increased security or regulatory requirements applicable to imported goods, war, public health concerns, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, port security considerations or labor disputes, financial or political instability in any of the countries in which merchandise we purchase is manufactured, the effects of Brexit, changes to U.S. or foreign trade policies, including the enactment of tariffs, border adjustment taxes, or increases in duties or quotas, disruption in the supply of fabrics or raw materials, increases in the cost of fuel or decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could adversely affect our business. During fiscal 2019, we purchased merchandise from approximately 5,500 vendors located throughout the world. No single vendor or manufacturer accounted for more than 10% of merchandise purchased during that time. While certain of our vendors have limited financial resources and production capabilities, we do not believe that the loss of any one vendor would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Company Operations

Distribution. We own a 291,000 square foot distribution center in Gap, Pennsylvania that receives and distributes approximately half of our retail store merchandise in North America. We also lease a 214,500 square foot distribution center located in Reno, Nevada that receives and distributes the remaining half of our retail store merchandise.

We own and operate a 1,000,000 square foot fulfillment center in Gap, Pennsylvania. Primary operations at the center include Retail and Wholesale segment fulfillment services, including inventory warehousing, receiving and customer shipping.

We also own and operate a 463,000 square foot fulfillment center located in Reno, Nevada. This center is used primarily to house and distribute merchandise to our western United States digital customers.

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In fiscal 2019, we began construction on an approximately 956,000 square foot fulfillment center in Indiana, Pennsylvania, which we will own and operate. The center will primarily store and distribute certain home furnishings merchandise.

In fiscal 2019, we signed a lease for a 309,000 square foot fulfillment center located in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Construction is expected to be completed, and operations to commence, by mid-fiscal 2020. The center will primarily support our digital sales channel.

We lease separate distribution and fulfillment centers each located in Rushden, England. Our 98,000 square foot distribution center supports our entire European store base and our 142,000 square foot fulfillment center primarily provides fulfillment services for our European Retail segment and global Wholesale segment customers. We are nearing maximum capacity at these centers and are exploring expansion opportunities.

We utilize certain third-party logistics providers to store and distribute certain home furnishings merchandise. In fiscal 2020, we signed an agreement with a third-party logistics provider in China to store and distribute merchandise sold through our partnership with a third-party digital marketplace.

Information Systems. We recognize the need for high-quality information to manage merchandise planning, buying, inventory management and control functions and have therefore invested in a retail software package that meets our processing and reporting requirements. We utilize point-of-sale register systems connected by a secure data network to our home offices. Additionally, our stores have mobile point-of-sale devices that have virtually the same functionality as our cash registers. These systems provide for register efficiencies, timely customer checkout and instant back office access to register information, as well as daily updates of sales, inventory data and price changes. In fiscal 2019, we launched self-checkout registers in certain retail locations and plan to expand this initiative to additional retail locations in fiscal 2020. Our digital channel, which includes our websites, mobile applications and catalogs, maintains separate software systems that manage the merchandise and customer information for our in-house customer contact center and fulfillment functions. Our Wholesale segment uses a separate software system for customer service, order entry, production planning and inventory management. We have a second fully redundant data center located in our Reno fulfillment center that functions as a disaster recovery site for our digital, data communication and other business critical systems.

Competition

Our Retail and Wholesale segments compete with individual and chain fashion specialty stores as well as department stores, both in stores and online, in highly competitive domestic and international markets. Our Retail segment competes on the basis of, among other things, the location of our stores, website, mobile application and catalog presentation, website and mobile application design, the breadth, quality, style, price and availability of our merchandise and the level of customer service offered. Although we believe that the eclectic mix of products and the unique store and digital experiences offered by our Retail segment help differentiate us, it also means that our stores compete against a wide variety of smaller, independent specialty retailers, as well as department stores and national specialty chains. Some of our competitors have substantially greater name recognition as well as financial, marketing and other resources. Our Anthropologie Group and Free People stores also face competition from small boutiques that offer an individualized shopping experience similar to the one we strive to provide to our target customers. In addition, some of our third-party vendors offer products directly to consumers and certain of our competitors.

Along with certain Retail segment competitive factors noted above, other key factors for our digital channel include website and mobile application availability, the effectiveness of our customer lists and the speed and accuracy of our merchandise delivery. Additionally, our digital channel competes against numerous websites, mobile applications and catalogs, which may have a greater volume of circulation and web traffic or more effective marketing through online media and social networking sites.

Our Wholesale segment competes with numerous wholesale companies on the basis of quality, price, performance and fashion of our merchandise offerings. Many of our Wholesale segment competitors have a wider product distribution network. In addition, certain of our wholesale competitors have greater name recognition and greater financial, marketing and other resources than us.

Trademarks and Service Marks

We are the registered owner in the United States of certain service marks and trademarks, including, but not limited to “Urban Outfitters,” “Anthropologie,” “Free People,” “Bhldn,” “Terrain,” “Vetri” and “BDG.” Each mark is renewable indefinitely, contingent upon continued use at the time of renewal. In addition, we currently have pending registration applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covering certain other marks. We also own marks that have been registered in foreign countries, and have applications for marks pending in additional foreign countries. We regard our marks as important to our business due to their name recognition with our customers. We are not aware of any valid claims of infringement or challenges to our right to use any of our marks in the United States.

Employees

As of January 31, 2019, we employed approximately 24,000 people, approximately 40% of whom were full-time employees. The number of part-time employees fluctuates depending on seasonal needs. Of our total employees, approximately 1% work in the

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Wholesale segment and the remaining 99% work in our Retail segment. Except in certain international locations, our employees are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that our relations with our employees are excellent.

Financial Information about Operations

We aggregate our operations into two reportable segments, the Retail segment and the Wholesale segment. See Note 16, “Segment Reporting,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

Financial Information about Geographical Areas

See Note 16, “Segment Reporting,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding net sales and long-lived assets from domestic and foreign operations.

Seasonality

Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations in net sales and net income, with a more significant portion typically realized in the second half of each year predominantly due to the year-end holiday period. Historically, and consistent with the retail industry, this seasonality also impacts our working capital requirements, particularly with regard to inventory. See Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Seasonality and Quarterly Results for additional information.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our reportable segments are sensitive to economic conditions, consumer spending, market disruptions and other business factors.

We are subject to numerous business risk factors. Consumer purchases of discretionary retail items and specialty retail products, including our products, may decline during recessionary periods and also may decline at other times when disposable income is lower. A prolonged economic downturn could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our performance is subject to worldwide economic conditions, and their impact on levels of consumer spending remains uncertain. Some of the factors impacting discretionary consumer spending include general economic conditions, wages and employment, consumer debt, reductions in net worth based on severe market declines, residential real estate and mortgage markets, taxation, fuel and energy prices, interest rates, consumer confidence, political and economic crises and other macroeconomic factors. These factors may affect consumer purchases of our merchandise and adversely impact our results of operations and continued growth. The economic conditions may also affect department stores and specialty retail businesses and impact their ability to purchase merchandise from our Wholesale segment. It is difficult to predict near term and/or future economic, capital and credit market conditions and what impact they will have on our business.

In addition, there is a risk that consumer sentiment may decline as a result of market disruptions caused by severe weather conditions, unseasonable weather, natural disasters, health hazards, terrorists activities, political crises or other major events or the prospect of these events, which could negatively impact our financial position and results of operations. The recovery we receive under any insurance we maintain for these purposes may be delayed or may be insufficient to fully offset potential losses.

We rely heavily on our ability to identify changes in fashion.

Customer tastes and fashion trends are volatile and can change rapidly. Our success depends in part on our ability to effectively predict and respond to changing fashion tastes and consumer demands, and to translate market trends into appropriate, saleable product offerings. If we are unable to predict or respond to changing styles or trends successfully or if we misjudge the market for products or new product lines, our sales may be impacted and we may be faced with a substantial amount of unsold inventory or missed opportunities. In response, we may be forced to rely on additional markdowns or promotional sales to dispose of excess, slow-moving inventory, which could decrease our revenues or gross profit margins. Conversely, if we underestimate consumer demand for our merchandise, or if our manufacturers fail to supply quality products in a timely manner, we may experience inventory shortages, which may negatively impact customer relationships, diminish brand loyalty and result in lost sales. In addition, we could be at a competitive disadvantage if we are unable to leverage data analytics to obtain timely customer insights to appropriately respond to customer demands.

Compared to our Retail segment, our Wholesale segment is more sensitive to changes in fashion trends because of longer lead times in the manufacturing and sale of its apparel. Our fashion decisions, if unsuccessfully forecasted, constitute a material risk and may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We may not be successful in expanding our business, opening new retail stores or extending our existing store leases.

Our growth strategy depends on our ability to open and operate new retail stores on a profitable basis and to effectively extend our existing store leases. There can be no assurance that these stores will achieve long term success.

Our operating complexity will increase as our store base grows, and we may face challenges in managing our future growth. Such growth will require that we continue to expand and improve our operating capabilities, and expand, train and manage our employee base. We may be unable to hire and train a sufficient number of qualified personnel or successfully manage our growth.

Our expansion prospects also depend on a number of other factors, many of which are beyond our control, including, among other things, competition, the availability of financing for capital expenditures and working capital requirements and the availability of suitable sites for new store locations on acceptable lease terms. There can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve our store expansion goals, nor is there any assurance that our newly opened stores will achieve revenue or profitability levels comparable to those of our existing stores in the time periods estimated by us, or at all. If our stores fail to achieve, or are unable to sustain, acceptable revenue, profitability and cash flow levels, we may incur additional store asset impairment charges, significant costs associated with closing those stores or both, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Existing and increased competition in the specialty retail and wholesale apparel industries may reduce our net revenues, profits and market share.

The specialty retail and wholesale apparel industries are each highly competitive. Our Retail segment competes on the basis of, among other things, the location of our stores, website, mobile application and catalog presentation, website and mobile application design, the breadth, quality, style, price and availability of our merchandise and the level of customer service offered. Our Anthropologie Group and Free People stores also face competition from small boutiques that offer an individualized shopping experience similar to the one we strive to provide to our target customers. Additionally, the internet and other new technologies facilitate competitive entry and comparison shopping in our Retail segment. Our digital channel competes against numerous websites, mobile applications and catalogs,

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which may have a greater volume of circulation and web traffic or more effective marketing through online media and social networking sites. We offer an omni-channel shopping experience for our customers and use social media and mobile applications as a way to interact with them to enhance their shopping experiences. Omni-channel retailing is constantly evolving, and we must keep pace with changing customer expectations and new developments by our competitors. There is no assurance that we will be able to continue to successfully maintain or expand our digital sales channels and respond to shifting consumer traffic patterns and digital buying trends. Our inability to adequately respond to these risks and uncertainties or successfully maintain and expand our digital business could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. In addition, some of our third-party vendors offer products directly to consumers and certain of our competitors. Our Wholesale segment competes with numerous wholesale companies, many of whose products have a wider distribution, based on the quality, fashion and price of its product offerings. New competitors frequently enter, and existing competitors enter or increase their presence in, the markets in which we operate, expand their merchandise offerings, add new sales channels or change their pricing strategies, all of which affect the competitive landscape. In addition, many of our competitors have greater name recognition and greater financial, marketing and other resources than us. We cannot assure you that we will continue to be able to compete successfully against existing or future competitors. Due to a difficult economic and retail environment, our competitors may force a markdown or promotional sales environment, which could impair our ability to achieve our historical profit margins. Our expansion into markets served by our competitors and entry of new competitors or expansion of existing competitors into our markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may not be successful expanding our business internationally.

Our current growth strategy includes plans to continue to open new stores, expand our digital marketing and grow our wholesale customer base and retail and digital presence internationally over the next several years. As we seek to expand internationally, we face competition from more established international competitors. In addition, international stores and digital operations have different operational characteristics, including employment and labor, transportation, logistics, real estate and legal requirements. Furthermore, consumer demand and behavior, as well as tastes and purchasing trends may differ internationally, and as a result, sales of our merchandise may not be successful, or the margins on those sales may not be in line with those we anticipate. Additionally, our ability to conduct business internationally may be adversely impacted by political and economic risks, as well as the global economy. Any challenges that we encounter as we expand internationally may divert financial, operational and managerial resources from our existing operations, which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

In June 2016, voters in the United Kingdom approved an advisory referendum to withdraw from the European Union, commonly referred to as “Brexit.” This referendum has created political and economic uncertainty, particularly in the United Kingdom and the European Union, and this uncertainty may persist for years. The withdrawal could significantly disrupt the free movement of goods, services and people between the United Kingdom and the European Union and result in increased legal and regulatory complexities, as well as potential higher costs of conducting business in Europe. The United Kingdom’s vote to exit the European Union could also result in similar referendums or votes in other European countries in which we do business. The uncertainty surrounding the terms of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal and its consequences could adversely impact consumer and investor confidence, and the level of consumer purchases of discretionary items and retail products, including our products. Any of these effects, among others, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

To the extent we expand internationally under franchise or joint venture arrangements, we may face counterparty and/or operational risk. In addition, we are increasingly exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk with respect to our revenue, profits, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. We currently do not utilize hedging instruments to mitigate these foreign currency risks. In the future, however, we may initiate strategies to hedge certain foreign currency risks that may not succeed in offsetting all of the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rate movements on our business and results of operations.

As we continue to expand our international operations, we are subject to certain U.S. laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as well as the laws of the foreign countries in which we operate. We are required to ensure compliance with these laws. Violations of these laws could subject us to sanctions or other penalties that could negatively affect our reputation, business and operating results.

Our business depends on effective marketing and high customer traffic.

We have many initiatives in our marketing programs particularly with regard to our websites, mobile applications and our social media presence. If our competitors increase their spending on marketing, if our marketing expenses increase, if our marketing becomes less effective than that of our competitors, or if we do not adequately leverage technology and data analytics capabilities needed to generate concise competitive insight, we could experience a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Among other factors, (1) a failure to sufficiently innovate or maintain effective marketing strategies and (2) U.S. and foreign laws and regulations that make it more difficult or costly to digitally market, such as the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”), may adversely impact our ability to maintain brand relevance and drive increased sales.

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We depend on key personnel and may not be able to retain or replace these employees or recruit additional qualified personnel, which would harm our business.

We believe that we have benefited substantially from the leadership and experience of our senior executives, including our co-founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Richard A. Hayne. The loss of the services of any of our senior executives could have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects, as we may not be able to find suitable management personnel to replace departing executives on a timely basis. In addition, if our senior executives do not fully integrate within the structure of our management team and core business, we may be adversely affected. We do not have an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer or any other key personnel. In addition, as our business expands, we believe that our future success will depend greatly on our continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel. There is a high level of competition for personnel in the retail industry. Our inability to meet our staffing requirements in the future could impair our ability to increase revenue and could otherwise harm our business.

Increases in labor costs, including wages, could adversely impact our operational results, financial condition and results of operations.

Our retail store operations are subject to laws governing such matters as minimum wages, working conditions and overtime pay. As minimum wage rates increase or related laws and regulations change, we may need to increase not only the wage rates of our minimum wage employees, but also the wages paid to our other hourly or salaried employees. Any increase in the cost of our labor could have an adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, wage actions by other retailers may require us to increase wage rates in order to attract and retain talented employees. Labor shortages, increased employee turnover and our inability to successfully implement our expanded format store strategy could also increase our labor costs. This in turn could lead us to increase prices, which could adversely impact our sales. We are also subject to risks related to other store expenses and operational costs. Conversely, if competitive pressures or other factors prevent us from offsetting increased labor costs by increases in prices, our profitability may decline.

We could be materially and adversely affected if any of our distribution or fulfillment centers are damaged or closed or if their operations are diminished.

We operate six distribution and fulfillment centers worldwide to support our Retail and Wholesale segments in the United States, Europe and Canada, including the fulfillment of catalog, website and mobile application orders around the world. We utilize certain third-party logistics providers to store and distribute certain home furnishings merchandise. The merchandise purchased for our United States and Canadian retail store operations is shipped directly to our distribution centers in Gap, Pennsylvania and Reno, Nevada. Merchandise purchased for our digital operations is shipped directly to our fulfillment centers in Gap, Pennsylvania and Reno, Nevada. Merchandise purchased for our wholesale operations is shipped directly to our fulfillment centers in Gap, Pennsylvania and Rushden, England. The merchandise purchased for our Europe retail and digital operations is shipped to Rushden, England. Damage to, or disruption of the operations at, any of these centers due to work stoppages, system failures, accidents, economic or weather conditions, natural disasters, demographic and population changes, as well as other unforeseen events and circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, if any of our distribution or fulfillment centers were to close unexpectedly or operate significantly below historical efficiency levels for an extended period of time, the other centers may not be able to support the resulting additional volume demands. As a result, we could incur significantly higher costs and longer lead times associated with distributing our products to our stores and customers during the time it takes for us to re-open or replace the center.

We rely significantly on international sources of production.

We receive a substantial portion of our apparel and other merchandise from foreign sources, both purchased directly in foreign markets and indirectly through domestic vendors with foreign sources. The majority of these purchases are settled in U.S. dollars. To the extent that our vendors are located overseas or, in the case of third-party vendors, rely on overseas sources for a large portion of their products, the following risks may adversely impact our business:

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Our operating results fluctuate from period to period.

Our business experiences seasonal fluctuations in net sales and operating income, with a more significant portion of net income typically realized in the second half of each year predominantly due to the year-end holiday period. Historically, and consistent with the retail industry, this seasonality also impacts our working capital requirements, particularly with regard to inventory. Any decrease in sales or gross profit during this period, or in the availability of working capital needed in the months preceding this period, could have a more material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations than in other periods. Seasonal fluctuations also affect our inventory levels, as we usually order merchandise in advance of peak selling periods and sometimes before new fashion trends are confirmed by customer purchases. We must carry a significant amount of inventory, especially before the holiday selling periods. If we are not successful in selling our inventory during this period, we may be forced to rely on markdowns or promotional sales to dispose of the excess inventory or we may not be able to sell the inventory at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be unable to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights.

We believe that our trademarks and service marks are important to our success and our competitive position due to their name recognition with our customers. We devote substantial resources to the establishment and protection of our trademarks and service marks on a worldwide basis. We are not aware of any valid claims of infringement or challenges to our right to use any of our trademarks and service marks in the United States. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that the actions we have taken to establish and protect our trademarks and service marks will be adequate to prevent imitation of our products by others or to prevent others from seeking to block sales of our products as a violation of the trademarks, service marks and intellectual property of others. Also, others may assert rights in, or ownership of, our trademarks and other intellectual property, and we may not be able to successfully resolve these types of conflicts to our satisfaction.

In addition, we face additional risks as we continue to expand our business outside the United States. Effective trademark and service mark protection may not be available in every country in which we sell our products, or the laws of certain foreign countries may not protect proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. This could increase the risk that our intellectual property is misappropriated. We may also encounter jurisdictions in which one or more third parties have a pre-existing trademark registration. This may prevent us from registering our own marks in those jurisdiction, and could adversely affect our ability to effectively operate our business or market certain products.

War, terrorism, civil unrest or other violence may negatively impact availability of merchandise and/or otherwise adversely impact our business.

In the event of war, terrorism, civil unrest or other violence, our ability to obtain merchandise available for sale in our stores or on our websites may be negatively impacted. A substantial portion of our merchandise is imported from other countries, see “—We rely significantly on international sources of production.” If commercial transportation is curtailed or substantially delayed, our business may be adversely impacted, as we may have difficulty shipping merchandise to our distribution and fulfillment centers and stores, as well as fulfilling catalog, website and mobile application orders. Our stores are located in public areas where large numbers of people typically gather. Terrorist attacks, threats of terrorist attacks or civil unrest involving public areas could cause people not to visit areas where our stores are located. In addition, other types of violence in malls or in other public areas could lead to lower customer traffic in areas in which we operate stores. If any of these events were to occur, we may be required to suspend operations in some or all of our stores in the impacted areas, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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We may not be successful in introducing additional store concepts or brands.

We may, from time to time, seek to develop and introduce new concepts or brands in addition to our established brands. Our ability to succeed in the early stages of new concepts could require significant capital expenditures and management attention. Additionally, any new concept is subject to certain risks, including customer acceptance, competition, product differentiation, challenges relating to economies of scale in merchandise sourcing and the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, including management and designers. There can be no assurance that we will be able to develop and grow these or any other new concepts to a point where they will become profitable, or generate positive cash flow. If we cannot successfully develop and grow these new concepts, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely impacted.

We may develop new concepts through acquisitions, and we may not be successful in integrating those acquisitions.

Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including the diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns, the possibility that current operating and financial systems and controls may be inadequate to deal with our growth and the potential loss of key employees.

 

We also may encounter difficulties in integrating any businesses we may acquire with our existing operations. The success of these transactions depends on our ability to successfully merge corporate cultures, operations and financial systems; realize cost reduction synergies; and, as necessary, retain key personnel of acquired companies.

In addition, there may be liabilities that we fail, or are unable, to discover in the course of performing due diligence investigations on any company that we may acquire, or have recently acquired. Also, there may be additional costs relating to acquisitions including, but not limited to, possible purchase price adjustments. Any of our rights to indemnification from sellers to us, even if obtained, may not be enforceable, collectible or sufficient in amount, scope or duration to fully offset the possible liabilities associated with the business or property acquired. Any such liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

We rely on information technology systems, and a material disruption or failure of such systems or technologies could adversely affect our business.

Our operations, in particular our digital sales, are subject to numerous risks, including reliance on third-party computer hardware/software, rapid technological change, diversion of sales from our stores, liability for online content, violations of state or federal laws, including those relating to online privacy, credit card fraud, risks related to the failure of the information technology systems that operate our websites, including computer viruses, telecommunications failures and electronic break-ins and similar disruptions. In addition, we regularly evaluate our information technology systems and have implemented modifications and/or upgrades to the information technology systems that support our business. Modifications include replacing legacy systems with successor systems, making changes to legacy systems or acquiring new systems with new functionality. There are inherent risks associated with replacing and modifying these systems, including inaccurate system information and system disruptions, which we may not be able to alleviate through testing, training, staging implementation and in-sourcing certain processes, or by securing appropriate commercial contracts with third-party vendors supplying such replacement and redundancy technologies. If our information systems or other technologies are damaged or cease to function properly, we may have to make a significant investment to fix or replace them, and we may suffer loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in our operations in the interim. Although we have not experienced any interruptions or shutdowns of our systems for any material length of time for the reasons described above, such disruptions could lead to delays in our business operations and, if significant, affect our sales and profitability.

Further, potential issues associated with implementing technology initiatives and the time and resources required in seeking to optimize the benefits of new elements of our systems and infrastructure could reduce the efficiency of our operations in the short term. The efficient operation and successful growth of our business depends upon our information systems, including our ability to operate, maintain and develop them effectively. A failure of those systems could disrupt our business, subject us to liability, damage our reputation or otherwise impact our financial results.

If we are unable to safeguard against security breaches with respect to our information technology systems, our business and our reputation may be adversely affected.

During the course of business, we obtain and transmit confidential customer, employee, vendor and Company information through our information technology systems. The protection of customer, employee, vendor and Company data is critical. The regulatory environment surrounding information security and privacy is demanding, with the frequent imposition of new and changing requirements, such as the GDPR and CCPA. With a heightened degree of public awareness and scrutiny regarding information security and privacy, customers have a high expectation that companies will adequately protect their personal information from cyber attack or other security breaches.

Although we have implemented systems and procedures that are designed to protect customer, employee, vendor and Company information, prevent data loss and other security breaches, and otherwise identify, assess, and analyze cybersecurity risks, these measures may not be effective. Development and maintenance of these systems is costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies change and efforts to overcome security measures increase and become more sophisticated. We face an evolving threat

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landscape in which cybercriminals, among others, employ a complex array of techniques designed to access personal data and other information, including, for example, the use of fraudulent or stolen access credentials, malware, ransomware, phishing, denial of service and other types of attacks. While, to the best of our knowledge, we have not experienced any material misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential or personally identifiable information as a result of a security breach or cyber attack that could materially increase financial risk to the Company or our customers, such a security breach or cyber attack could adversely affect our business and operations, including by damaging our reputation and our relationships with our customers, employees and investors, exposing us to litigation, fines, penalties or remediation costs and inhibiting our ability to accept debit and credit cards as forms of payment.

Our efforts to protect customer, employee, vendor and Company information may also be adversely impacted by data security or privacy breaches that occur at our third-party vendors or unrelated third parties. While we believe we are diligent in selecting vendors, systems and procedures to enable us to maintain the integrity of our systems, we recognize that there are inherent risks and we cannot assure that any future interruptions, shutdowns or unauthorized disclosures will not occur.

Manufacturers and third-party vendors may not comply with our legal and social compliance program requirements, which could adversely affect our reputation.

We have a manufacturer compliance program that is monitored on a regular basis by our buying offices. Our production facilities are either certified as in compliance with our program, or areas of improvement are identified and corrective follow-up action is taken. All manufacturers are required to follow applicable national labor laws, as well as international compliance standards regarding workplace safety, such as standards that require clean and safe working environments, clearly marked exits and paid overtime. We believe in protecting the safety and working rights of the people who manufacture the products we sell, while recognizing and respecting cultural and legal differences found throughout the world. We require our third-party vendors to register through an online website and agree that they and their suppliers will abide by certain standards and conditions of employment. If our third-party vendors fail to comply with our social compliance program, our reputation may be adversely affected.

Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our financial results or financial condition.

Generally accepted accounting principles and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our business, including but not limited to revenue recognition, leases, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, inventory, income taxes and litigation, are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments. Changes in these rules or their interpretation or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments could significantly change or increase volatility of our reported or expected financial performance or financial condition. See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of recent accounting pronouncements.

We could be subject to changes in tax rates, the adoption of new U.S. or international tax legislation, or exposure to additional tax liabilities.

A number of factors influence our effective income tax rate, including changes in tax law, tax treaties, interpretation of existing laws, changes in generally accepted accounting principles and related accounting pronouncements, and our ability to sustain our reporting positions on examination. Changes in any of those factors could change our effective tax rate, which could adversely affect our net income. In addition, our operations outside of the United States may cause greater volatility in our effective tax rate. 

The ongoing effects of the Tax Act and the refinement of provisional estimates could make our results difficult to predict.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), which significantly revised the Internal Revenue Code. This law may have a significant impact on our U.S. taxes. The Tax Act is unclear in certain respects and will require the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) to issue regulations and interpretations, and possibly technical corrections. Accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act requires significant judgments and estimates in the interpretation and calculations of the provisions of the Tax Act. The impact of the Tax Act on holders of our common stock is also uncertain and could be adverse. Investors should consult with their legal and tax advisors with respect to this legislation and the potential tax consequences of investing in or holding our common stock.

We are subject to numerous regulations and legal matters that could adversely affect our business.

We are subject to customs, child labor, tax, employment, privacy, truth-in-advertising, e-commerce and other laws, including consumer protection regulations and zoning and occupancy ordinances that regulate retailers generally and/or govern the importation, promotion and sale of merchandise and the operation of retail stores and distribution and fulfillment centers. Additional legal and regulatory requirements, and the fact that foreign laws occasionally conflict with domestic laws, have increased the complexity of the regulatory environment and the cost of compliance. If these laws change without our knowledge, or are violated by importers, designers, manufacturers or distributors, we could experience delays in shipments and receipt of products or be subject to fines or other penalties under the controlling regulations, any of which could adversely affect our business. In addition, various governmental authorities in jurisdictions in which we do business regulate the quality and safety of the merchandise we sell. If we or our vendors are unable to

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comply with regulatory requirements on a timely basis or at all, or to adequately monitor new regulations that may apply to us, significant fines or penalties could be incurred or we could have to curtail some aspects of our sales or operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results. Moreover, legal actions may be filed against us from time to time, including class actions. These actions may assert commercial, tort, intellectual property, customer, employment, data privacy, securities or other claims. We may also be impacted by litigation trends, including class action lawsuits involving former employees, consumers and shareholders, which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, the market price of our common shares, or our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Regulations related to “conflict minerals” require us to incur additional expenses and could limit the supply and increase the cost of certain metals used in manufacturing our products.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 contains provisions to improve transparency and accountability concerning the supply of minerals originating from the conflict zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries. As a result, the SEC adopted requirements for companies that manufacture products that contain certain minerals and metals, known as “conflict minerals,” that are necessary to the functionality or production of products manufactured or contracted to be manufactured by public companies. We have developed a framework and management system and continuously undertake due diligence efforts on our supply chain. We have and expect to continue to incur additional costs to comply with these disclosure requirements, including costs related to determining the sources of the specified minerals used in our products, in addition to the cost of any changes to products, processes, or sources of supply as a consequence of such verification activities, which may adversely affect our business. In addition, the number of suppliers who provide “conflict-free” minerals may be limited, which may make it difficult to satisfy customers who require that all of the components of our products be certified as conflict-free. An inability to satisfy these requirements could place us at a competitive disadvantage. There is uncertainty about the future of the regulations related to “conflict minerals” as a result of legal challenges and statements by the SEC. We filed our most recent annual Specialized Disclosure Report on Form SD with respect to these minerals on May 31, 2018, as required by the rules.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

We have no outstanding comments with the staff of the SEC.

Item 2. Properties

Since 2006, our home office has been located in several buildings on one campus in the historic core of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Navy Yard. The consolidated offices at the Navy Yard campus allow for an efficient operation of our Philadelphia-based offices and will help to support our growth needs for the foreseeable future. Our home offices are approximately 575,000 square feet, and we own or have options to purchase adjacent buildings that would allow for additional expansion if necessary.

Our European home offices are located in London, England and consist of three leased properties totaling approximately 23,000 square feet. The leased properties have varying lease term expirations ranging from 2019 through 2024. We are approaching maximum capacity at these properties and are exploring expansion opportunities.

Our North American retail stores are supported by two distribution centers. We own a 291,000 square foot distribution center in Gap, Pennsylvania, which supports approximately half of our retail store merchandise. We lease a 214,500 square foot distribution center in Reno, Nevada that supports the remaining half of our retail store merchandise. The term of this lease is set to expire in June 2027, and we have the option to renew for up to an additional twenty years.

In fiscal 2019, we began construction on an approximately 956,000 square foot fulfillment center in Indiana, Pennsylvania, which we will own and operate. The center will primarily store and distribute certain home furnishings merchandise.

We own and operate a 1,000,000 square foot fulfillment center in Gap, Pennsylvania. The center primarily fulfills Retail and Wholesale segment customer orders.

We own and operate a 463,000 square foot fulfillment center in Reno, Nevada that is used primarily to house and distribute merchandise to our western United States digital customers.

We lease an approximately 40,000 square foot customer contact center in Martinez, Georgia. The lease term expires in fiscal 2024 with two five-year renewal options.

In fiscal 2019, we signed a lease for a 309,000 square foot fulfillment center located in Bristol, Pennsylvania. Construction is expected to be completed, and operations to commence, by mid-fiscal 2020. The center will primarily support our digital sales channel.

We lease separate distribution and fulfillment centers in Rushden, England to support our retail and digital channels in Europe and global Wholesale segment customers. The distribution center occupies approximately 98,000 square feet and the fulfillment center occupies approximately 142,000 square feet, which also includes our European customer contact center. The terms of both leases are set to expire in September 2020. We are nearing maximum capacity at these centers and are exploring expansion opportunities.

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We utilize certain third-party logistics providers to store and distribute certain home furnishings merchandise. In fiscal 2020, we signed an agreement with a third-party logistics provider in China to store and distribute merchandise sold through our partnership with a third-party digital marketplace.

Improvements in recent years, as described in Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources, were necessary to adequately support our growth. For more information on our distribution center properties, see Item 1: Business—Company Operations—Distribution. We believe that our centers are well maintained and in good operating condition.

All of our stores are leased, well maintained and in good operating condition. Our retail stores are typically leased for a term of ten years with renewal options for an additional five to ten years. Total estimated selling square feet for stores open, under lease as of January 31, 2019, by Urban Outfitters, the Anthropologie Group and Free People was approximately 2,196,000, 1,789,000, and 300,000, respectively. The average store selling square feet is approximately 9,000 for Urban Outfitters, 8,000 for the Anthropologie Group and 2,000 for Free People. Selling square feet can sometimes change due to factors such as floor moves, use of staircases and cash register configuration.

The following table shows the location of each of our existing Company-owned retail locations, as of January 31, 2019:

 

 

In addition to the stores listed above, the Wholesale segment operates sales and showroom facilities in London, New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago that are leased through 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2028, respectively.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are party to various legal proceedings arising from normal business activities. Management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “URBN.”

 

Holders of Record

On March 26, 2019 there were 93 holders of record of our common shares.

Dividend Policy

Our current credit facility includes certain limitations on the payment of cash dividends on our common shares. We have not paid any cash dividends since our initial public offering and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable future.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

All of the Company’s equity compensation plans have been approved by its shareholders. See Note 10, “Share-Based Compensation,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details of the Company’s equity compensation plans and outstanding awards.

Stock Performance

The following graph and table compares the cumulative total shareholder return on our common shares with the cumulative total return on the Standard and Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Index and the Standard and Poor’s 500 Apparel Retail Index for the period beginning January 31, 2014 and ending January 31, 2019, assuming the reinvestment of any dividends and assuming an initial investment of $100 in each. The comparisons in this table are required by the SEC and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of possible future performance of the common shares or the referenced indices.

 

 

 

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

A summary of the repurchase activity under our share repurchase program for the quarter ended January 31, 2019 is as follows:

 

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth selected consolidated income statement and balance sheet data for the periods indicated. The selected consolidated income statement and balance sheet data for each of the five fiscal years presented below is derived from our Consolidated Financial Statements. The data presented below should be read in conjunction with Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the related notes thereto, which appear elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for past accounting periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future accounting period.

 

 

 

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

We operate two reportable segments: a leading lifestyle specialty Retail segment and a Wholesale segment. Our Retail segment consists of our Anthropologie, Bhldn, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters brands and our Food and Beverage division. Our Retail segment consumer products and services are sold directly to our customers through our stores, websites, mobile applications, catalogs, customer contact centers, franchised or third-party operated stores and digital businesses. The Wholesale segment sells through department and specialty stores worldwide, digital businesses and our Retail segment. The Wholesale segment primarily designs, develops and markets young women’s contemporary casual apparel, intimates, FP Movement activewear and shoes under the Free People brand, home goods, including gifts, tabletop and textiles, under the Anthropologie brand and the BDG apparel collection under the Urban Outfitters brand.

Our fiscal year ends on January 31. All references to our fiscal years refer to the fiscal years ended on January 31 in those years. For example, our fiscal year 2019 ended on January 31, 2019.

Retail Segment

Our omni-channel strategy enhances our customers’ brand experience by providing a seamless approach to the customer shopping experience. All available Company-owned shopping channels are fully integrated, including stores, websites, mobile applications, catalogs and customer contact centers. Our investments in areas such as marketing campaigns and technology advancements are designed to generate demand for the omni-channel and not the separate store or digital channels. Store sales are primarily fulfilled from that store’s inventory, but may also be shipped from any of our fulfillment centers or from a different store location if an item is not available at the original store. Digital orders are primarily shipped to our customers through our fulfillment centers, but may also be shipped from any store, or a combination of fulfillment centers and stores depending on the availability of particular items. Digital orders may also be picked up at a store location, and customers may also return certain merchandise purchased through digital channels at store locations. As our customers continue to shop across multiple channels, we have adapted our approach towards meeting this demand. Due to the availability of like product in a variety of shopping channels, we source these products utilizing single SKUs based on the omni-channel demand rather than the demand of the separate channels. These and other technological capabilities allow us to better serve our customers and help us complete sales that otherwise may not have occurred due to out-of-stock positions. We manage and analyze our performance based on a single omni-channel rather than separate channels and believe that the omni-channel results present the most meaningful and appropriate measure of our performance.

Our comparable Retail segment net sales data is equal to the sum of our comparable store and comparable digital channel net sales. A store is considered to be comparable if it has been open at least 12 full months, unless it was materially expanded or remodeled within that year or was not otherwise operating at its full capacity within that year. A digital channel is considered to be comparable if it has been operational for at least 12 full months. Sales from stores and digital channels that do not fall within the definition of comparable store or channel are considered to be non-comparable. Franchise net sales and the effects of foreign currency translation are also considered non-comparable.

We monitor customer traffic, average unit selling price, transactions and average units per transaction at our stores, and we monitor customer sessions, average order value, conversion rates and average units per transaction on our websites and mobile applications. We believe that changes in any of these metrics may be caused by a response to our brands’ fashion offerings, our marketing and digital marketing campaigns, circulation of our catalogs and an overall growth in brand recognition.

Urban Outfitters targets young adults aged 18 to 28 through a unique merchandise mix, compelling store environment, websites and mobile applications and a product offering that includes women’s and men’s fashion apparel, activewear, intimates, footwear, accessories, home goods, electronics and beauty. A large portion of our merchandise is exclusive to Urban Outfitters, consisting of an assortment of product designed internally and designed in collaboration with third-party brands. Urban Outfitters stores are in street locations in large metropolitan areas, select university communities, specialty centers and enclosed malls that accommodate our customers’ propensity not only to shop, but also to congregate with their peers. Urban Outfitters operates websites and mobile applications in North America and Europe that capture the spirit of the brand by offering a similar yet broader selection of merchandise as found in its stores, sells merchandise through franchisee-owned stores in Israel, and partners with a third-party digital marketplace to offer a limited selection of merchandise, which is available in Asia. Urban Outfitters’ North American and European Retail segment net sales accounted for approximately 30.5% and 8.2% of consolidated net sales, respectively, for fiscal 2019, compared to 30.8% and 7.9%, respectively, for fiscal 2018.

The Anthropologie Group consists of the Anthropologie, Bhldn and Terrain brands. Merchandise at the Anthropologie brand is tailored to sophisticated and contemporary women aged 28 to 45. Product assortment includes women’s casual apparel, accessories, intimates, shoes, home furnishings, a diverse array of gifts and decorative items and beauty and wellness. The Bhldn brand emphasizes every element that contributes to a wedding. The Bhldn brand offers a curated collection of heirloom quality wedding gowns, bridesmaid frocks, party dresses, assorted jewelry, headpieces, footwear, lingerie and decorations. The Terrain brand is designed to appeal to women and men interested in a creative and sophisticated outdoor living and gardening experience. In addition to individual brand stores, we operate expanded format stores that include multiple Anthropologie Group brands, allowing us to present an expanded assortment of

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products in certain categories. Merchandise includes lifestyle home, garden and outdoor living products, antiques, live plants, flowers, wellness products and accessories. Anthropologie Group stores are located in specialty centers, upscale street locations and enclosed malls. The Anthropologie Group operates websites and mobile applications in North America and Europe that capture the spirit of its brands by offering a similar yet broader selection of merchandise as found in its stores, offers catalogs in North America and Europe that market select merchandise, most of which is also available in Anthropologie brand stores, and partners with a third-party digital marketplace to offer a limited selection of merchandise, which is available in Asia. The Anthropologie Group’s North American and European Retail segment net sales accounted for approximately 38.6% and 1.7% of consolidated net sales, respectively, for fiscal 2019, compared to 39.1% and 1.6%, respectively, for fiscal 2018.

Free People focuses its product offering on private label merchandise targeted to young contemporary women aged 25 to 30 and provides a unique merchandise mix of casual women’s apparel, intimates, FP Movement activewear, shoes, accessories, home products, gifts and beauty and wellness. Free People stores are located in enclosed malls, upscale street locations and specialty centers. Free People operates websites and mobile applications in North America, Europe and Asia that capture the spirit of the brand by offering a similar yet broader selection of merchandise as found in its stores, as well as substantially all of the Free People wholesale offerings. Free People also offers a catalog that markets select merchandise, most of which is also available in our Free People stores, and partners with third-party digital marketplaces to offer a limited selection of merchandise, which is available in Asia. Free People’s North American Retail segment net sales accounted for approximately 11.6% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2019, compared to approximately 11.3% for fiscal 2018. Free People opened its first European retail stores in fiscal 2019. European Retail segment net sales accounted for less than 1.0% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2019.

The Food and Beverage division focuses on a dining experience that provides excellence in food, beverage and service. Three new restaurants were opened in fiscal 2019. The Food and Beverage division net sales accounted for less than 1.0% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018.

Net sales from the Retail segment accounted for approximately 91.2%, 91.3% and 91.9% of total consolidated net sales for fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Store data for fiscal 2019 was as follows:

 

We plan to open approximately 24 new Company-owned stores during fiscal 2020, including nine Urban Outfitters stores, three Anthropologie Group stores, ten Free People stores and two Food and Beverage restaurants. We plan to close approximately 13 Company-owned stores during fiscal 2020, including three Urban Outfitters stores, seven Anthropologie Group stores and three Free People stores, all due to lease expirations. We plan to open four Franchisee-owned stores during fiscal 2020, including two Urban Outfitters stores, one Anthropologie store and one Free People store. Within the United States and Canada, we are at or close to our desired maximum store count for the Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People brands. We plan for future store growth for all

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three brands to come from expansion internationally, which may include opening stores in new and existing markets or entering into additional franchise or joint venture agreements. We plan for future digital channel growth to come from expansion domestically and internationally, including enhancing our presence in third-party digital marketplaces, such as Tmall in China and through our franchise partners. The Company is currently party to a franchise agreement for franchise locations in Israel and in fiscal 2019 signed a second franchise agreement to open stores in other Middle Eastern countries in fiscal 2020.

Wholesale Segment

Our Wholesale segment consists of the Free People, Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters brands that sell through approximately 2,200 department and specialty stores worldwide, third-party digital businesses and our Retail segment. The Wholesale segment primarily designs, develops and markets young women’s contemporary casual apparel, intimates, FP Movement activewear and shoes under the Free People brand, home goods, including gifts, tabletop and textiles, under the Anthropologie brand and the BDG apparel collection under the Urban Outfitters brand. The Anthropologie wholesale division was established in fiscal 2018 and the Urban Outfitters wholesale division was established in fiscal 2019. Our Wholesale segment net sales accounted for approximately 8.8% of consolidated net sales for fiscal 2019, compared to 8.7% for fiscal 2018.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. These generally accepted accounting principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, net sales and expenses during the reporting period.

Our senior management has reviewed the critical accounting policies and estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We believe that the following discussion addresses our critical accounting policies, which are those that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and require management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. If actual results were to differ significantly from estimates made, the reported results could be materially affected. We are not currently aware of any reasonably likely events or circumstances that would cause our actual results to be materially different from our estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Merchandise: Merchandise is sold through retail stores, catalogs and the digital sales channel, as well as to wholesale customers and franchise partners. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods is transferred to the customer. We have elected to treat shipping and handling as fulfillment activities and not a separate performance obligation. Accordingly, we will recognize revenue for our single performance obligation at the point of sale or at the time of shipment, which is when transfer of control to the customer occurs. Revenue does not include taxes assessed by governmental authorities, including value-added and other sales-related taxes, that are imposed on and concurrent with revenue-producing activities. Revenue is recognized net of estimated customer returns. Retail segment return policies vary by brand, but generally provide for no time limit on returns and the refund to be issued in either the form of original payment or as a gift card. Payment for merchandise is tendered primarily by cash, check, credit card, debit card or gift card. Uncollectible accounts receivable primarily results from unauthorized credit card transactions. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for our Wholesale segment accounts receivable, which we review on a regular basis and believe is sufficient to cover potential credit losses and billing adjustments. Payment terms in our Wholesale segment vary by customer with the most common being a net 30-day policy.

Food and Beverage: Revenue from restaurant sales and events is recognized upon completion of the service, when we satisfy our single performance obligation. Customer deposits may be received in advance for events, which represents a contract liability until we satisfy our performance obligation.

Franchise Fees: Revenue from franchise operations primarily relates to merchandise sales to franchisees and royalty fees. Merchandise sales to franchisees are discussed above under Merchandise. Royalty fees are based upon a percentage of franchisee net sales to third party customers and are recognized when such sales occur.

Gift Cards: We account for a gift card transaction by recording a liability at the time the gift card is issued to the customer in exchange for consideration from the customer. At the time of issuance, we have an open performance obligation for the future delivery of promised goods or services. The liability remains outstanding until the card is redeemed by the customer, at which time we recognize revenue. Over time, a portion of the outstanding gift cards will not be redeemed by the customer which we refer to as “breakage”. Revenue is recognized from breakage over time in proportion to gift card redemptions. Judgment is used in determining the amount of breakage revenue to be recognized and is based on historical gift card redemption patterns. Gift card breakage revenue is included in net sales and is not material. Our gift cards do not expire.

Customer Loyalty Programs: We maintain a customer loyalty program under our Urban Outfitters brand. Under this program, customers can earn and accumulate points that convert to a reward coupon upon reaching a specified point threshold. Reward coupons

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can be redeemed for merchandise discounts and expire 60 days after issuance. Outstanding reward coupons and points earned through sale activity represent a performance obligation. Revenue is deferred in an amount equal to the standalone selling price, taking into account expected future redemptions, and recognized at the earlier of redemption or expiration. Judgment is used in determining the expected future redemption rates. The redemption and expiration of reward coupons are included in net sales. There are no material accounting policies related to the AnthroPerks customer loyalty program outside of our general revenue recognition practices.

Sales Return Reserve

We record a reserve for estimated product returns where the sale has occurred during the period reported, but the return is likely to occur subsequent to the period reported. The reserve for estimated product returns is based on our most recent historical return trends. If the actual return rate is materially different than our estimate, sales returns would be adjusted in the future. Beginning February 1, 2018, with the adoption of the accounting standards update for revenue from contracts with customers, costs of returns are recorded as a current asset rather than net with the sales return reserve liability. As of January 31, 2019 and 2018, reserves for estimated sales returns totaled $52.0 million and $28.9 million, representing 7.7% and 4.4% of total liabilities, respectively.

Inventory

We value our inventory, which consists primarily of general consumer merchandise held for sale, at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined on the first-in, first-out method and includes the cost of merchandise and import-related costs, including freight, import duties and taxes and agent commissions. A periodic review of inventory is performed in order to determine if inventory is properly stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Factors we consider in our review, such as future expected consumer demand and fashion trends, current aging, current and anticipated retail markdowns or wholesale discounts and class or type of inventory, are analyzed to determine estimated net realizable value. Criteria that we consider in our review of aging trends include average selling cycle and seasonality of merchandise, the historical rate at which merchandise has sold below cost during the prior 12 months and the value and nature of merchandise currently held in inventory and priced below original cost. A provision is recorded to reduce the cost of inventory to its estimated net realizable value, if appropriate. Any significant unanticipated changes in the factors noted above could have a significant impact on the value of our inventory and our reported operating results. Our estimates generally have been accurate, and our reserve methods have been applied on a consistent basis. We expect the amount of our provision and related inventory to increase over time as we increase our sales. The majority of inventory at January 31, 2019 and 2018 consisted of finished goods. Raw materials and work-in-process were not material to the overall inventory value. Inventory as of January 31, 2019 and 2018 totaled $370.5 million and $351.4 million, representing 17.1% and 18.0% of total assets, respectively.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets, Goodwill and Intangible Assets

We review the carrying values of our long-lived assets annually and periodically whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events that result in an impairment review include plans to close a retail location, distribution or fulfillment center or a significant decrease in the operating results of a long-lived asset. Our retail locations are reviewed for impairment at the retail location level, which is the lowest level at which individual cash flows can be identified. Newly opened retail locations may take time to generate positive operating and cash flow results. Factors such as store type (e.g., mall versus free-standing), location (e.g., urban area versus college campus or suburb), current marketplace awareness of our brands, local customer demographic data and current fashion trends are all considered in determining the time frame required for a retail location to achieve positive financial results. When events indicate that an asset may be impaired and the estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, the impaired asset is adjusted to its estimated fair value and an impairment loss is recorded. Goodwill has been assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing. We evaluate goodwill to determine if the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit. In assessing an asset for potential impairment, we make estimates regarding future operating results, cash flows and estimated useful life. We have not made any material changes in the methodology to assess and calculate impairment of long-lived assets in the past three fiscal years. During fiscal 2019, we recorded impairment charges for four retail locations, totaling $3.5 million. During fiscal 2018, we recorded impairment charges for ten retail locations, totaling $11.4 million. During fiscal 2017, we recorded impairment charges for three retail locations, totaling $4.3 million. During our assessment of current and future performance, it was determined that these retail locations would not be able to generate sufficient cash flow over the expected remaining lease term to recover the remaining carrying value of the respective retail location assets. Impairment charges are included in “Cost of sales” in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Accounting for Income Taxes

As part of the process of preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our actual current tax obligations together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of certain items for tax and accounting purposes, such as depreciation of property and equipment and valuation of inventories. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. A valuation allowance is recognized if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all material available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income,

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tax-planning strategies and results of recent operations. Actual results could differ from this assessment if adequate taxable income is not generated in future periods. Net deferred tax assets as of January 31, 2019 and January 31, 2018 totaled $52.9 million and $46.2 million, respectively, each of which represented 2.4% of total assets.

To the extent we believe that recovery of a deferred tax asset is at risk, we establish valuation allowances. To the extent we establish valuation allowances or increase the allowances in a period, we record additional income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Valuation allowances were $3.9 million as of January 31, 2019 and $9.5 million as of January 31, 2018. Valuation allowances are based on evidence of our ability to generate sufficient taxable income in certain foreign and state jurisdictions. In the future, if enough evidence of our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income in these jurisdictions becomes apparent, we would be required to reduce our valuation allowances, resulting in a reduction in “Income tax expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. On a quarterly basis, management evaluates the likelihood that we will realize the deferred tax assets and adjusts the valuation allowances, if appropriate.

We record uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby (1) we determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.

Our tax liability for uncertain tax positions contains uncertainties because we are required to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the exposures associated with our various filing positions. Although we believe that the judgments and estimates discussed herein are reasonable, actual results may differ, and we may be exposed to income tax expenses or benefits that could be material.

We consider certain earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries to be indefinitely invested outside the United States on the basis of estimates that future United States cash generation will be sufficient to meet future United States cash needs and our specific plans for reinvestment of those subsidiaries’ earnings. Should we decide to repatriate the foreign earnings, we would need to adjust our income tax provision in the period we determined that the earnings will no longer be indefinitely invested outside the United States.

The SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB No. 118”), which allowed registrants to record provisional estimates for the Tax Act during a measurement period not to exceed one year from its enactment date, December 22, 2017. While management has completed its analysis within the applicable measurement period, pursuant to SAB No. 118, we are accounting for the income tax impacts of the provisions of U.S. tax reform based on the interpretation of existing statutory law, including guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS. During the second half of fiscal 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS issued certain proposed regulations addressing new provisions such as Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, Base Erosion and Anti-abuse Tax, Foreign Tax Credit and the Anti-hybrid Regulations. The Tax Act requires complex computations to be performed that were not previously required by U.S. tax law, significant judgments to be made in interpretation of the provisions of the U.S. Tax Act, significant estimates in calculations, and the preparation and analysis of information not previously relevant or regularly produced. The U.S. Treasury Department, the IRS and other standard-setting bodies will continue to interpret or issue guidance on how provisions of the Tax Act will be applied or otherwise administered. As future guidance is issued, we may make adjustments to amounts that we have previously recorded that may impact our provision for income taxes in the period in which the adjustments are made.

See Note 9, “Income Taxes,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a further description of provisional amounts recorded related to the Tax Act in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018.

Accounting for Contingencies

From time to time, we are named as a defendant in legal actions arising from our normal business activities. We are required to record a reserve for estimated losses when information available prior to issuance of our financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Accounting for contingencies arising from contractual disputes or legal proceedings requires management to use its best judgment when estimating an accrual related to such contingencies. As additional information becomes known, our reserves for loss contingencies could fluctuate, thereby creating variability in our results of operations from period to period. Likewise, an actual loss arising from a loss contingency which significantly exceeds our reserve could have a material adverse impact on our operating results for the period in which such actual loss becomes known. We believe that our reserves adequately reflect the anticipated final outcome of any matter currently pending against us and the ultimate settlement of such matters will not materially affect our financial position or results of operations.

Share-Based Compensation

Accounting for share-based compensation requires measurement of compensation cost for all share-based awards at fair value on the date of grant and recognition of compensation over the service period.

We use a Black-Scholes model to determine the fair value of our stock options. This model uses assumptions including the risk-free rate of interest, expected volatility of our stock price and expected life of the awards. A Monte Carlo simulation, which utilizes similar

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assumptions, is used to determine the fair value of performance-based awards. We review our assumptions and the valuations provided by independent third-party valuation advisors in order to determine the fair value of share-based compensation awards at the date of grant. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of these share-based payment awards represent our best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.

Additionally, we make certain estimates about the number of awards that will become vested under performance-based incentive plans. We record expense for performance-based awards based on our current expectations of the probable number of awards that will ultimately vest. The estimation of awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from our current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised and could be materially different from share-based compensation expense recorded in prior periods.

Beginning in fiscal 2018, we elected to account for forfeitures as they occur rather than estimate the expected forfeitures. During fiscal 2017, we estimated the expected forfeiture rate and we considered many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards and historical experience.

Results of Operations

As a Percentage of Net Sales

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage of our net sales represented by certain income statement data and the change in certain income statement data from period to period. This table should be read in conjunction with the discussion that follows:

 

 

 

Fiscal 2019 Compared to Fiscal 2018

Net sales in fiscal 2019 increased by 9.3% to $4.0 billion, from $3.6 billion in fiscal 2018. The $334.6 million increase was attributable to a $304.5 million, or 9.2%, increase in Retail segment net sales and a $30.1 million, or 9.5%, increase in Wholesale segment net sales. Retail segment net sales for fiscal 2019 accounted for 91.2% of total net sales compared to 91.3% of total net sales during fiscal 2018.

The growth in our Retail segment net sales during fiscal 2019 was due to an increase of $256.1 million, or 8.2%, in Retail segment comparable net sales, which includes our digital channel, and an increase of $48.4 million in non-comparable net sales, including new store and franchise net sales. Retail segment comparable net sales increased 11.4% at Free People, 8.0% at Urban Outfitters and 7.5% at the Anthropologie Group. The increase in Retail segment comparable net sales was driven by continued growth in the digital channel and positive comparable store net sales. The digital channel net sales increase was driven by increases in average order value, sessions and conversion rate, while units per transaction was flat. Positive comparable store net sales resulted from an increase in average unit selling price, partially offset by decreases in transactions, units per transaction and store traffic. The increase in net sales attributable to non-comparable sales was primarily due to the net impact of opening 36 new stores and restaurants and closing 22 stores and restaurants since the prior comparable period.

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The increase in Wholesale segment net sales during fiscal 2019, as compared to fiscal 2018, was due to an increase of 6.8% for the Free People brand, primarily resulting from an increase in domestic sales to department stores, specialty stores and digital businesses due to growth in several categories, including women’s apparel, intimates and FP Movement activewear. The segment increase was also due to the launch of the Anthropologie home goods wholesale business in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and the launch of the Urban Outfitters BDG apparel collection wholesale business in fiscal 2019.

Gross profit percentage in fiscal 2019 increased to 34.1% of net sales, from 32.5% of net sales in fiscal 2018. Gross profit increased to $1.35 billion in fiscal 2019 compared to $1.18 billion in fiscal 2018. The increase in gross profit percentage was primarily driven by lower markdowns at all three brands, leverage in store occupancy cost due to increases in Retail segment comparable net sales and a lower level of impairment costs.

Total inventory at January 31, 2019 increased by $19.1 million, or 5.4%, to $370.5 million from $351.4 million at January 31, 2018. Comparable Retail segment inventory increased 2.7% at cost.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $49.8 million, or 5.4%, to $965.4 million, in fiscal 2019, from $915.6 million in fiscal 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased in fiscal 2019 to 24.4% of net sales, compared to 25.3% of net sales for fiscal 2018. The dollar growth in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased direct selling and marketing expenses to support and drive the increase in Retail segment net sales and higher bonus and share-based compensation expense. The leverage for the year ended January 31, 2019 was primarily driven by the net sales growth and further benefited from continued savings associated with the fiscal 2018 store reorganization project and the nonrecurring store reorganization expenses incurred in fiscal 2018.

Income from operations increased to 9.7% of net sales, or $381.3 million, for fiscal 2019 compared to 7.2%, or $259.9 million, for fiscal 2018.

Our effective tax rate for fiscal 2019 was 22.7% of income before income taxes compared to 58.6% of income before income taxes in fiscal 2018. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a one-time expense related to the Tax Act in fiscal 2018 of $64.7 million, which was nonrecurring, and the decrease in federal corporate income tax rate enacted as part of the Tax Act. See Note 9, “Income Taxes,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for a reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to our effective tax rate.

 

Fiscal 2018 Compared to Fiscal 2017

Net sales in fiscal 2018 increased by 2.0% to $3.6 billion, from $3.5 billion in fiscal 2017. The $70.2 million increase was attributable to a $42.8 million, or 1.3%, increase in Retail segment net sales and a $27.4 million, or 9.5%, increase in Wholesale segment net sales. Retail segment net sales for fiscal 2018 accounted for 91.3% of total net sales compared to 91.9% of total net sales during fiscal 2017.

The growth in our Retail segment net sales during fiscal 2018 was due to an increase of $43.6 million in non-comparable net sales, including new store net sales, partially offset by a decrease of $0.8 million in Retail segment comparable net sales, which includes our digital channel. Retail segment comparable net sales increased 4.9% at Free People and 0.5% at Anthropologie Group and decreased 1.8% at Urban Outfitters. The decrease in Retail segment comparable net sales was driven by negative comparable store net sales, which were partially offset by continued growth in the digital channel. Negative comparable store net sales resulted from decreased transactions and average unit selling price, while units per transaction remained flat. Store traffic was also flat, with declines in North America offsetting growth in Europe. The digital channel net sales increase was driven by an increase in sessions and conversion rate, which more than offset a decrease in average order value. The increase in net sales attributable to non-comparable sales was primarily the result of operating 31 net new stores and restaurants in fiscal 2018 that were not in operation for the full comparable period of fiscal 2017.

The increase in Wholesale segment net sales during fiscal 2018, as compared to fiscal 2017, was primarily due to domestic and international growth at department stores, specialty stores and customer websites. Wholesale sales growth was driven by an increase in units sold that was partially offset by a decrease in average unit selling price.

Gross profit percentage in fiscal 2018 decreased to 32.5% of net sales, from 35.1% of net sales in fiscal 2017. Gross profit decreased to $1.18 billion in fiscal 2018 compared to $1.24 billion in fiscal 2017. The decline in gross profit rate was driven by deleverage in delivery and logistics expenses, lower initial merchandise markups and higher merchandise markdowns. The deleverage in delivery and logistics expenses was primarily due to the increased penetration of the digital channel and increased international and furniture shipments. Lower initial merchandise markups were primarily due to product mix, and higher merchandise markdowns were primarily due to underperforming product at Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. Total inventory at January 31, 2018 increased by $12.8 million, or 3.8%, to $351.4 million from $338.6 million at January 31, 2017. The increase in inventory related to a 3.2% increase in comparable Retail segment inventory at cost.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $9.5 million, or 1.1%, to $915.6 million, in fiscal 2018, from $906.1 million in fiscal 2017. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased in fiscal 2018 to 25.3%

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of net sales, compared to 25.6% of net sales for fiscal 2017. The leverage was primarily due to the net savings associated with our store reorganization project, partially offset by increased investments in digital marketing. The increase in expense was primarily related to increased investments in digital marketing.

Income from operations decreased to 7.2% of net sales, or $259.9 million, for fiscal 2018 compared to 9.5%, or $338.5 million, for fiscal 2017.

Our effective tax rate for fiscal 2018 was 58.6% of income before income taxes compared to 35.5% of income before income taxes in fiscal 2017. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a one-time expense of $64.7 million, which includes tax expense associated with the deemed repatriation transition tax on our unremitted foreign earnings and the revaluation of our net U.S. deferred tax assets as a result of the lower federal rate. See Note 9, “Income Taxes,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for a reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to our effective tax rate.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $694.8 million as of January 31, 2019, as compared to $506.0 million as of January 31, 2018 and $403.5 million as of January 31, 2017. During fiscal 2019, we generated $446.6 million in cash from operations, repurchased $121.4 million in common shares under our share repurchase program and invested $114.9 million in property and equipment. Our working capital was $816.1 million at January 31, 2019 compared to $618.5 million at January 31, 2018 and $528.5 million at January 31, 2017.

During the last three years, we have satisfied our cash requirements primarily through our cash flow from operating activities. In addition to repurchasing our common shares and repaying long-term debt borrowings, our primary uses of cash have been to open new stores, purchase inventory, fund store operations, invest in our omni-channel capabilities, make digital investments and expand our home offices and fulfillment centers.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2019 increased by $143.5 million to $446.6 million from $303.1 million in fiscal 2018. Cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2018 decreased by $112.2 million from $415.3 million in fiscal 2017. For all periods, our major source of cash from operations was merchandise sales and our primary outflow of cash for operations was for the payment of operational costs. The increase in cash flows from operations in fiscal 2019 was primarily due to higher net income.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities during fiscal 2019 increased by $123.1 million to $244.5 million from $121.4 million in fiscal 2018. Cash used in investing activities during fiscal 2018 decreased by $113.2 million from $234.6 million in fiscal 2017. Cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2019 and 2018 primarily related to purchases of marketable securities and property and equipment, partially offset by the sales and maturities of marketable securities. Cash paid for property and equipment for fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $114.9 million, $83.8 million and $143.7 million, respectively, which was primarily used to expand our store base.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2019 decreased by $41.2 million to $118.0 million from $159.2 million in fiscal 2018. Cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2018 decreased by $34.5 million from $193.7 million in fiscal 2017. Cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2019 and 2018 primarily related to $121.4 million and $157.0 million, respectively, of repurchases of our common shares under our share repurchase programs. Cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2017 primarily related to $150.0 million in repayments of long-term debt and $45.8 million of repurchases of our common shares under our share repurchase program.

Credit Facilities

On June 29, 2018, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) that amended our asset-based revolving credit facility with certain lenders, including JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as joint lead arrangers and co-book managers.

The Amended Credit Agreement extended the maturity date of the senior secured revolving credit facility to June 2023 (the “Amended Credit Facility”). The Amended Credit Facility provides for loans and letters of credit up to $350.0 million, subject to a borrowing base that is comprised of our eligible accounts receivable and inventory. The Amended Credit Facility includes a swing-line sub-facility, a multicurrency sub-facility and the option to expand the facility by up to $150.0 million. The funds available under the Amended Credit Facility may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

The Amended Credit Facility provides for interest on borrowings, at our option, at either (i) adjusted LIBOR, CDOR or EURIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.125% to 1.375%, or (ii) an adjusted ABR plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.125% to 0.375%, each such applicable margin depending on the level of availability under the Amended Credit Facility. Depending on the type of

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borrowing, interest on the Amended Credit Agreement is payable monthly, quarterly or at the end of the interest period. A commitment fee of 0.20% is payable quarterly on the unused portion of the Amended Credit Facility.

All obligations under the Amended Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries. The obligations under the Amended Credit Facility are secured by a first-priority security interest in inventory, accounts receivable and certain other assets of the Company and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries. The obligations of URBN Canada Retail, Inc. are secured by a first-priority security interest in its inventory, accounts receivable and certain other assets. The Amended Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, negative and affirmative covenants and provisions relating to events of default.

As of January 31, 2019, we were in compliance with all terms of the Amended Credit Agreement and there were no borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility. Outstanding stand-by letters of credit, which reduce the funds available under the Amended Credit Facility, were $13.2 million at January 31, 2019.

Additionally, we have borrowing agreements with two separate financial institutions under which we may borrow an aggregate of $130.0 million for the purposes of trade letter of credit issuances. The availability of any future borrowings under the trade letter of credit facilities is subject to acceptance by the respective financial institutions. As of January 31, 2019, we had $70.9 million in outstanding trade letters of credit, and $59.1 million available for future trade letters of credit under these facilities.

Capital and Operating Expenditures

During fiscal 2020, we plan to construct and open approximately 24 new Company-owned retail locations, expand or relocate certain existing retail locations, upgrade our systems, improve and expand our digital capabilities, invest in omni-channel marketing, expand our fulfillment capabilities, invest in new products and markets, purchase inventory for our operating segments at levels appropriate to maintain our planned sales growth and repurchase common shares. We believe that our new store openings, merchandise expansion programs, international growth opportunities and our marketing, social media, website and mobile initiatives are significant contributors to our Retail segment sales growth. During fiscal 2020, we plan to continue our investment in these initiatives for all brands. We anticipate our capital expenditures during fiscal 2020 to be approximately $260 million, a portion of which will be to support new and expanded fulfillment and distribution centers. All fiscal 2020 capital expenditures are expected to be financed by cash flow from operating activities. We believe that our new store investments have the potential to generate positive cash flow within a year. We may also enter into one or more acquisitions or transactions related to the expansion of our brand offerings, including additional franchise and joint venture agreements. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, availability under our current credit facilities and future cash flows provided by operations will be sufficient to fund these initiatives.

Share Repurchases

See Note 11, “Shareholders’ Equity,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for certain financial information regarding the Company’s share repurchases.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of January 31, 2019:

 

 

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Commercial Commitments

The following table summarizes our commercial commitments as of January 31, 2019:

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of and for the three fiscal years ended January 31, 2019, except for operating leases entered into in the normal course of business, we were not party to any material off-balance sheet arrangements that are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Other Matters

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies —Recent Accounting Pronouncements,” in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of recently adopted and issued accounting pronouncements.

Seasonality and Quarterly Results

Our business experiences seasonal fluctuations in net sales and net income, with a more significant portion typically realized in the second half of each year predominantly due to the year-end holiday period. Historically, and consistent with the retail industry, the seasonality also impacts our working capital requirements, particularly with regard to inventory. The following tables set forth our net sales, gross profit, net income and net income per common share (basic and diluted) for each quarter during the last two fiscal years and the amount of such net sales and net income, respectively, as a percentage of annual net sales and annual net income. The unaudited financial information has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

 

 

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