Hanesbrands (HBI) Q4 Earnings & Sales Top Estimates, Rise Y/Y

 | Feb 03, 2022 01:21AM ET

Hanesbrands (NYSE:HBI) Inc. Hanesbrands Inc. Quote

Net sales from continuing operations rose about 4% to $1,752.3 million and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,748 million. This included 10% growth from Champion brand sales. On excluding sales from personal protective equipment (“PPE”), sales from an additional week in the year-ago period and currency headwinds in the quarter under review, net sales jumped 9% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2021.

This can be attributed to robust consumer demand and the strong point-of-sale performance in the United States, Europe, America and certain Asia markets (including China). These upsides more than countered persistent pandemic-led hurdles in Australia and Japan. Total constant-currency (cc) net sales rose 4% in the fourth quarter.

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2019, the top line also grew 15% (up 14% at cc) and included a 25% increase in Champion brand sales internationally. The strength in global innerwear and activewear businesses was backed by solid consumer demand, increased point-of-sale performance and market share gains. The comparisons with 2019 reflect the impacts of the discontinuation of the European Innerwear business, the C9 Champion mass program and the DKNY intimate apparel license.

Adjusted gross margin of 38.4% contracted 195 basis points (bps) year over year and roughly 235 bps from the fourth quarter of 2019. The downside was a result of higher expedite costs. Cost savings from initiatives like the SKU reduction program, efficiency enhancements in manufacturing and gains from a business mix battled a chunk of inflation and a rise in transportation costs.

Adjusted operating profit of $220 million fell 4% year over year and 3% from the fourth quarter of 2019. Adjusted operating margin contracted around 100 bps year over year and 240 bps from the fourth quarter of 2019 due to the decline in gross margin. Management stated that effective SG&A expense management essentially countered higher marketing investments and escalated labor costs.