The TJX Companies, Inc. Sees Strong Momentum Continue; Reports Above-Plan Third Quarter EPS Growth;

The TJX Companies, Inc. Sees Strong Momentum Continue; Reports Above-Plan Third Quarter EPS Growth; Raises Full-Year Guidance

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYS: TJX) , the leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the U.S. and worldwide, today announced sales and earnings results for the third quarter ended October 27, 2012. Net sales for the third quarter of Fiscal 2013 increased 11% to $6.4 billion and consolidated comparable store sales increased 7%. Net income for the third quarter was $462 million and diluted earnings per share were $.62, a 17% increase over $.53 per share last year.

For the first nine months of Fiscal 2013, net sales were $18.2 billion, a 10% increase over last year, and consolidated comparable store sales increased 8% over the same period last year. Net income was $1.3 billion, and diluted earnings per share were $1.73 compared to $1.31 in the same period last year. Last year's results include a number of items (detailed under "Items Impacting Comparability" below) that impacted the comparability of earnings per share. Excluding these items, diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of Fiscal 2013 increased 26% over the adjusted $1.37 last year.

Carol Meyrowitz, Chief Executive Officer of The TJX Companies, Inc., commenting first on Hurricane Sandy, stated, "On behalf of everyone at TJX, I'd like to express how sorry we are for the suffering so many are experiencing due to Hurricane Sandy. Our hearts go out to our Associates, friends, families and business associates who have been impacted by this storm. TJX has made a substantial donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and we held a major fundraising event in our U.S. stores with a match from our Company. We sincerely hope that our efforts will help those impacted by this natural disaster."

Regarding the Company's results, Meyrowitz commented, "We are extremely pleased that our strong momentum continued in the third quarter, demonstrating once again the power of TJX to post strong sales and profit margin gains on top of strong year-over-year comparisons. Our 17% increase in earnings per share and 7% consolidated comparable store sales growth both significantly exceeded our original expectations and every division delivered excellent performance. Customer traffic was up at all divisions in the U.S., Canada and Europe and drove the comparable store sales increases, which we believe is a great indicator of the staying power of our value proposition on exciting fashions and brands. At this time, we are raising our full-year guidance."

Meyrowitz continued, "We have terrific opportunities for the holiday selling season and fourth quarter: we will be shipping fresh gift selections to our stores continuously throughout the holiday season; our marketing campaigns will be seen by more people; we have fantastic in-store initiatives planned; and of course, we will be offering consumers great fashions and brands at extreme values! In addition to our excitement about our business for the near term, we are very excited about our long-term opportunities. We are leveraging our four powerful divisions and have deep confidence in our ability to continue delivering profitable growth and high financial returns for many, many years."

Sales by Business Segment

The Company's comparable store sales and net sales by division, in the third quarter, were as follows:

¹Comparable store sales outside the U.S. calculated on a constant currency basis, which removes the effect of changes in currency exchange rates. ²Sales in Canada and Europe include the impact of foreign currency exchange rates. See below. ³Figures may not foot due to rounding. ⁴Combination of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.

Impact of Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect the translation of sales and earnings of the Company's international businesses into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. In addition, ordinary-course inventory-related hedging instruments are marked to market at the end of each quarter. Changes in currency exchange rates affect the magnitude of these translations and adjustments, and can have a material impact when there is significant volatility in currency exchange rates.

The movement in foreign currency exchange rates had a neutral impact on consolidated net sales growth in the third quarter of Fiscal 2013 versus the prior year's third quarter. For the first nine months of Fiscal 2013, the movement of foreign currency exchange rates had a one percentage point negative impact on consolidated net sales growth. The impact of foreign currency exchange rates on earnings per share is discussed below under "Items Impacting Comparability."

A table detailing the impact of foreign currency on TJX pretax earnings and margins, as well as those of its international businesses, can be found in the Investor Information section of the Company's website, www.tjx.com.

Items Impacting Comparability

For the third quarter of Fiscal 2013 foreign currency exchange rates had a neutral impact on earnings per share, compared with a $.01 per share positive impact last year.

For the first nine months of Fiscal 2013, comparability to the prior year was impacted by the A.J. Wright consolidation in Fiscal 2012, detailed in the table below:

The first nine months of Fiscal 2012 included first quarter costs associated with the A.J. Wright consolidation, primarily additional lease obligations for store closings and additional operating losses as well as the costs related to the conversion and grand re-opening of certain former A.J. Wright stores to T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods banners.

On a reported basis, diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of Fiscal 2013 were $1.73 compared to $1.31 last year. On an adjusted basis, excluding the items detailed above, diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of Fiscal 2013 represented a 26% increase over last year's adjusted $1.37.

For the first nine months of Fiscal 2013, foreign currency exchange rates had a neutral impact on earnings per share, compared with a $.01 per share positive impact last year.

Third Quarter Items

As previously reported, during the third quarter, the Company recorded a $.02 per share non-cash charge for the cumulative impact of a correction to its pension accrual for prior fiscal years, which was not anticipated in its original guidance. Additionally, the Company recorded a $.01 per share non-operating charge due to an adjustment in the Company's reserve for former operations relating to closed stores, which was not anticipated in the Company's most recent guidance.

Margins

For the third quarter of Fiscal 2013, the Company's consolidated pretax profit margin was 11.7%, up 0.2 percentage points over the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by merchandise margin improvement, partially offset by the 0.6 percentage point negative impact of the third quarter items mentioned above. Additionally, foreign currency had a 0.2 percentage point negative impact on year-over-year comparisons.

The gross profit margin for the third quarter of Fiscal 2013 was 28.8%, 0.7 percentage points above the prior year. The increase was driven entirely by merchandise margin improvement partially offset by a negative impact from mark-to-market adjustments on the Company's inventory-related hedges.

Selling, general and administrative costs as a percent of sales were 17.0% in the third quarter, a 0.5 percentage point increase over the prior year's ratio, primarily due to the combined negative impact of 1.1 percentage points from the following factors: the third quarter items mentioned above, increased incentive compensation accruals arising from the Company's above-plan results, and investments to support the Company's growth, including talent and infrastructure.

Inventory

Total inventories as of October 27, 2012, were $3.3 billion, compared with $3.7 billion at the end of the third quarter last year. Consolidated inventories on a per-store basis, including the distribution centers, at October 27, 2012, were down 14% (down 13% on a constant currency basis) versus being up 14% at the end of the third quarter last year. Further, the Company's third quarter store inventory turns were faster than the prior year. The Company enters the fourth quarter with excellent inventory levels and is very well positioned to buy into the plentiful opportunities in the marketplace and continue shipping ever-changing merchandise selections to its stores throughout the holiday selling season.

Share Repurchases

During the third quarter, the Company spent a total of $400 million in repurchases of TJX stock, retiring 8.9 million shares. For the first nine months of Fiscal 2013, the Company has spent a total of $950 million in repurchases of TJX stock, retiring 22.5 million shares, and it continues to expect to repurchase approximately $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion of TJX stock in Fiscal 2013. The Company may adjust the amount of this spending up or down.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2013 Outlook

For the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2013, the Company expects diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $.72 to $.75, which would represent a 16% to 21% increase over $.62 per share last year. This outlook is based upon estimated consolidated comparable store sales growth of flat to 2%. The Company's fourth quarter guidance includes an expected $.07 per share benefit from the 53^rd week in the Company's Fiscal 2013 calendar. Excluding this benefit, the adjusted guidance in the range of $.65 to $.68 represents a 5% to 10% increase over the prior year.

For the fiscal year ending February 2, 2013, the Company is raising its guidance for diluted earnings per share by $.01. The Company now expects diluted earnings per share for the full year to be in the range of $2.45 to $2.48, compared with $1.93 on a reported basis in Fiscal 2012. This guidance represents a 23% to 25% increase over the prior year's adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.99 (detailed below) and is now based upon estimated consolidated comparable store sales growth of 5% to 6%. In addition, the Company's full-year guidance includes the $.03 per share negative impact from the third quarter items discussed above.

The Company's full-year guidance also includes an expected $.07 per share benefit from the 53^rd week in the Company's Fiscal 2013 calendar. Excluding this estimated benefit, the adjusted guidance in the range of $2.38 to $2.41 represents a 20% to 21% increase over the prior year's adjusted earnings per share.

The Company's earnings guidance for the fourth quarter and full year Fiscal 2013 assumes that currency exchange rates will remain unchanged from current levels.

Stores by Concept

During the third quarter ended October 27, 2012, the Company increased its store count by a net of 76 stores. The Company increased its square footage by 4% over the same period last year.

*Square feet figures may not foot due to rounding.

About The TJX Companies, Inc.

The TJX Companies, Inc. is the leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the U.S. and worldwide. The Company operates 1,030 T.J. Maxx, 911 Marshalls, and 414 HomeGoods stores in the United States; 222 Winners, 88 HomeSense, and 14 Marshalls stores in Canada; and 343 T.K. Maxx and 24 HomeSense stores in Europe. TJX's press releases and financial information are also available at www.tjx.com.

Fiscal 2013 Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call

At 11:00 a.m. ET today, Carol Meyrowitz, Chief Executive Officer of TJX, will hold a conference call with stock analysts to discuss the Company's third quarter Fiscal 2013 results, operations and business trends. A real-time webcast of the call will be available at www.tjx.com. A replay of the call will also be available by dialing (866) 367-5577 through Tuesday, November 20, 2012 or at www.tjx.com.

November Fiscal 2013 Sales Recorded Call

Additionally, the Company expects to release its November 2012 sales results on Thursday, November 29, 2012, at approximately 8:15 a.m. ET. Concurrent with that press release, a recorded message with more detailed information regarding TJX's November sales results, operations and business trends will be available at www.tjx.com, or by calling (703) 736-7248 through Thursday, December 6, 2012.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

The Company has used non-GAAP financial measures in this press release. The Company uses the term "reported" to refer to financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and the term "adjusted" to refer to non-GAAP financial information adjusted to exclude a number of identified items. The Company believes that the presentation of adjusted financial results provides additional information on comparisons between periods including underlying trends of its business by excluding certain items that affect overall comparability. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Important Information at Website

Archived versions of the Company's recorded messages and conference calls are available at the Investor Information section of www.tjx.com after they are no longer available by telephone as well as reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures, and other financial information. The Company routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the Investor Information section at www.tjx.com. The Company encourages investors to consult that section of its website regularly.

Forward-looking Statement

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Various statements made in this release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect or believe may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The following are some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: buying and inventory management; operational expansion and management of large size and scale; customer trends and preferences; market, banner, geographic and category expansion; marketing, advertising and promotional programs; competition; personnel recruitment and retention; global economic conditions and consumer spending; data security; information systems and technology; seasonal influences; adverse or unseasonable weather; serious disruptions and catastrophic events; corporate and banner reputation; merchandise quality and safety; international operations; merchandise importing; commodity pricing; foreign currency exchange rates; fluctuations in quarterly operating results; market expectations; acquisitions and divestitures; compliance with laws, regulations and orders; changes in laws and regulations; outcomes of litigation, legal matters and proceedings; tax matters; real estate activities; cash flow and other factors that may be described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized.