Industria de Diseno Textil SA

MAD:ITX

Earnings Call Analysis

Inditex Stays on Course for Long-Term Goals

Inditex remains on track to achieve its long-term ambitions, leveraging the strengths of its global team's talent and commitment. The company is recognized for its unique fashion offerings characterized by creativity, quality, and innovation, and is focused on perpetually enhancing customer experience. Operating across 213 markets, Inditex sees ample room for organic growth and market expansion, anticipating a 3% gross space growth and a positive sales contribution from store optimizations in 2023. Inditex's dedication to stable gross margins is evident in its strategic investments intended to amplify operational efficiency and confer a competitive edge. The estimated capital expenditure for the year is approximately €1.6 billion. Additionally, the company announced a final dividend payment of €0.6 per share due on November 2, 2022. Signifying a positive trend, sales from August 1 to September 11, 2023, surged by 14% in constant currency terms, validating the appeal of the new season's collections.

Inditex's Robust Operating Performance in the First Half of 2023

In the first half of 2023, Inditex showcased a powerful blend of creativity and strategy, resulting in a 13.5% sales growth and a substantial 40% surge in net income to €2.5 billion. This leap in performance is underpinned by the company's core pillars: distinct fashion offerings, a focus on customer experience, sustainable practices, and dedicated talent. Investors should note the compelling 16.6% increase in constant currency sales and applaud the brand's adaptability and success across diverse geographic zones and market concepts. The success story extends into an impressive free cash flow generation and a robust second-half start, with a sales climb of 14% from August 1 to September 11.

Financial Highlights and Future Outlook

CFO Ignacio Fernández reports Inditex's financial strength, with a 15.5% rise in sales to €16.8 billion and a 16% increase in EBITDA to €4.7 billion. The robust gross margin of 58.2% and managed operating expenses echo the company's efficient supply chain and operations. For investors, the glue holding this financial framework together is the significant net cash position of €10.5 billion, which recognizes the brand's growth potential, particularly in the American market. As for the horizon, Inditex's 2023 outlook remains firm with expected space growth of about 3%, capitalizing on store optimization and a forecast of stable gross margin plus or minus 50 basis points.

Strategic Endeavors and Dividend Announcement

The commitment to innovation and sustainability extends beyond fashion, with Inditex's sustainable fashion school and technical training topping 75,000 hours for the year. For investors focusing on long-term stability, there's reassurance in the alignment of Inditex's initiatives with its long-term goals. Furthermore, the impending dividend of €0.60 per share, to be paid on November 2, represents the tangible benefits shareholders reap from Inditex's strategic direction. Lastly, the reception of Autumn/Winter collections and a steady 14% sales increase in constant currency from early August to mid-September 2023 indicate a promising trend for the rest of the year.

Earnings Call Transcript 2023-Q2

[Marcos López, Capital Markets Director]

Buenos días a todos. Good morning to everybody, a warm welcome to all of those attending the presentation of Inditex's results for the interim first-half 2023. I am Marcos López, Capital Markets Director. The presentation will be chaired by Inditex's CEO, Oscar Garcia Maceiras. Also with us today is our CFO, Ignacio Fernández. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session, starting with the questions received from the telephone, and then those received through the webcast platform. Before we start, we will take the disclaimer as read.

Over to you, Oscar.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Good morning, and welcome to our results presentation. It is my pleasure to join you today. In the first-half of 2023, Inditex has continued to see a very robust operating performance driven very much by the creativity of our teams and the strong execution of our fully integrated business model. This performance relies on the four key pillars of our strategy you are very all familiar with; our unique fashion proposition and optimized customer experience, our focus on sustainability, and the talent and commitment of our people. These factors have propelled our competitive differentiation.

We have experienced very satisfactory sales growth of 13.5%. The execution of the business model has also been very robust, with a healthy gross margin and controlled cost management. On the bottom line, net incomes increased 40% to €2.5 billion. Our operating performance underpins the sound financial position in which we find ourselves. We have generated significant free cash flow. This has continued into the second-half. The store and online sales in constant currency, between August 1 and September 11 grew 14%. Let me highlight some key features of this performance for the year so far, which has been marked by a strong execution.

Our Spring/Summer collections have been very well-received by customers. Sales in constant currency increased 16.6%, with a strong growth seen in both stores and online. Sales were positive across all geographical areas as well as in all the concepts. Our diversified presence in 213 markets with low market penetration allows us to enjoy significant global growth opportunities. We have complete confidence in our ability to grow this business mainly because the model we operate is completely unique. This in turn drives the increasing differentiation we have all been seeing.

I will hand you over to Ignacio to go into some of the headline numbers.

[Ignacio Fernández, Chief Financial Officer]

Thanks, Oscar. As you have seen in our financial release, Inditex performed strongly in the first-half of 2023. Sales have progressed well, up plus 15.5%. We have managed the supply chain actively, and this has driven a very healthy gross margin. Operating expenses have, of course, been tightly managed, resulting in operating leverage. As a result, EBITDA grew 16% to €4.7 billion. Below this line and for comparability reasons, it is worth noting the provision charge in the first quarter, 2022, relating to operations in the Russian Federation and Ukraine for €216 mil in that year.

We have also seen very strong progress in net income with an increase of 40% to €2.5 billion. We continue generating significant free cash flow, and this has taken our net cash position to €10.5 billion. I would like to reiterate that sales have progress very well, up plus 15.5%, reaching €16.8 billion. That's 16.5% in constant currency. Sales growth was strong both in stores and online. Furthermore, sales have been positive across all regions and across all concepts. Based on current exchange rates, we expect a minus 3.5% currency impact on sales for the full-year 2023.

We enjoy a global presence, with operation in 213 markets, and with a low market share in what remains a highly fragmented sector. Growth has been strong across the board. We have previously mentioned that United States is our second-largest market. In the first semester of 2023, gross profit increased 14% to €9.8 billion, and clearly demonstrates a healthy execution with the business model. The gross margin was 58.2%. Based on current information, we expect a stable gross margin plus/minus 50 basis points this fiscal year.

There has been very tight control of operating expenses across all departments and business areas. Operating expenses increased below sales growth over the first-half of 2023. Including all these charges, operating expenses grew 220 basis points below sales growth. Over the first-half of the year, we have experienced a robust operating performance. We have also seen a normalization in supply chain conditions. The inventory at Inditex as of July 31, 2023 was 7%, lower than on the same date in 2022. Let me highlight that the end-of-the-period inventory is considered to be of high quality. Due to the strong cash flow generation, the net cash position has grown to €10.5 billion.

As you can see from this slide, we continue to generate very strong levels of cash flow, with funds from operations increasing 35% when compared to the same period last year. And cash from operation increasing 57%.

And now, over to Marcos.

[Marcos López, Capital Markets Director]

Thank you. Over the first-half of 2023, the Group has had a robust across the board. We are satisfied with execution over the period. We have continued with expansion and have opened stores in 20 different markets. Store and online sales across all concepts have been satisfactory. The performance has been strong at all levels. We are pleased with the execution of the concepts of the first-half, as you can see in this chart.

And now back to you, Oscar.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Thank you, Marcos. I would like to comment on some of the initiatives this season which have been driving the increasing levels of differentiation we are seeing today. First and foremost, our priority remains to work on maximizing the appeal of our fashion proposition. Creativity, innovation, design and quality are the defining features of our collections and a key focus across all of our teams and the partners.

A good example of this is Zara's The Steven Meisel New York Collection, The Zara Men's Origins Collection, Zara Kids Autumn Collection, Zara Home Stripes&Overtones, Pull&Bear's Pacific Republic, Massimo Dutti's Studio, Bershka's Denim, Stradivarius Autumn Winter 23; and finally, Oysho's Training.

The newest store design for Zara created by our architectural studio is now being rolled out progressively. The design integrates organically the most sophisticated interiors with the functional and digital sections, like fitting rooms, self-checkout areas, click and collect points, in-store silos and stock rooms. This new Zara store design is featured in openings, enlargements and relocations.

Two key projects of the year will be doubling the size of the Zara stores at Paris Hotel de Ville and at Dadeland in Miami. Just like all the other important flagship stores recently opened, they will include dedicated spaces for lingerie, shoes and handbags, the origins collection, the athletics collection and newborns. That will also include all the features that allow a complete digital experience.

Another important project is the opening in November of the largest Zara store in the world at Coolsingel in Rotterdam with 9,000 square meters, including a Zara Home. The enlargement of the Zara at Dubai Mall of Emirates also illustrates well what we are trying to achieve. And two recent openings, the important store in Sao Paulo, Patio Higienópolis and the new Zara store in Shenyang Joy City. All the concepts keep optimizing their stores.

Bershka has enlarged its flagship at Milan's Vittorio Emanuele with the reopening taking place on Friday. While Stradivarius relocated to a beautiful new store of 1,000 square meters in Barcelona's Paseo de Gracia in August. In terms of customer experience, it's important to highlight that the hardware to implement the new security technology, which eliminates the need for hard tax was installed in Zara stores globally by July. Test operations have started already with full implementation by fiscal year-end 2024.

At our most recent AGM in July of this year, we announced a new set of ambitious sustainability targets. We aim to have rollout circular IT services like therapy owned in our key markets by 2025. That same year, we hope to see 3 million people in the supply chain included in the Worker at the Center strategy, promoting advances in social dialog, living wages, health, resilience and respect.

By 2030, not only are we looking to reduce our overall emissions by more than 50%, but we are also committed to only using lower impact textile raw materials. Further commitment has been made regarding 5 million hectares of land to be protected, restored, already generated for the improvement of biodiversity.

And finally, I remind you of our Zero net emissions target by 2040. In terms of circularity, the Zara Preowned platform currently available in the United Kingdom was launched in France on the 7th of September. Germany and Spain will follow over the second-half of 2023. Through this platform, we will continue helping our customers to extend the life cycle of the Zara garments through donation, repair or resale and will contribute to the reduction of waste.

We are promoting the talent and commitment of our teams in order to reinforce our attractiveness as a benchmark employer. The sustainable fashion school is a space dedicated to training and innovation in sustainability. Inditex has established an academic program in textile processing exclusively for our employees developed in conjunction with the University of Leeds.

Our objective is to be an engine of transformation in the textile industry. The aim is to keep on providing our design and purchasing teams with a solid base of technical knowledge covering the entire product life cycle. In this first year, the course has now been attended by more than 1,500 employees across the group, exceeding 75,000 hours of training. Let me now move to the outlook for 2023.

We remain on track to deliver upon all of our long-term goals. The talent, commitment and passion of our teams all around the globe will always be key to our competitive edge. We offer a unique fashion proposition defined by creativity, innovation, design and quality. The continuous optimization of the customer experience is central to our approach. The strength of the full integrated business model that is operating at full pace has been clear in recent times.

Inditex operates in 213 markets with a low share in a highly fragmented sector, and we see plenty of opportunities for both organic growth and expansion. We see increased sales productivity in our stores going forward and also expect the gross space growth in 2023 to be around 3%. Optimization of stores is ongoing. We expect space contribution to sales to be positive in 2023. Stable gross margins have always been a key focus for us. We are making investments that are scaling our capabilities generating efficiencies and increasing our competitive differentiation to the next level. For 2023, we estimate ordinary capital expenditure of around €1.6 billion.

A brief reminder on the dividend, the final dividend payment for 2022 of €0.6 per share will be made on the 2nd of November. I would like to finish with a brief comment on our current performance. Autumn/Winter collections continue to be very well-received by our customers. Store and online sales in constant currency between the 1st of August and the 11th of September 2023 increased 14%.

Thank you all for attending this results presentation. That concludes our presentation for today. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

The telephone Q&A session starts now. [Operator Instructions] The first question goes to Richard Chamberlain from RBC. Please go ahead, Richard.

[Richard Chamberlain, RBC Capital Markets]

Thanks, James. Good morning, everybody. [Technical difficulty] of soft tags for garments and elimination of [technical difficulty] in-store to improve the [technical difficulty] confirm that this rollout is on track? And that there's no [technical difficulty].

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Your line is not very clear. Would you be able to repeat the question from a clearer line? I understand that you're referring to the soft tag, where we can tell you and we have mentioned during the presentation, is that the soft tag [hour] (ph) has been implemented in Zara stores globally. We have already started test operations for the full implementation of this tag by the end of next year. And right now, what we can tell you is that the implementation is going perfectly in line with our expectations, with no major incidents. Thank you.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

The next question is for William Woods from Berstein. Go ahead, William.

[William Woods, Berstein]

Hi, good morning. Thank you very much for taking the question. Please, could you comment on any performance in the U.S. in terms of sales and also maybe in terms of strength, particularly with the new technology that you've introduced? Thank you.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Good morning, and thank you. Well, we are very satisfied with our performance in all of our markets, both online and physical store channels. They are growing in a very natural way. In the case of the U.S., that remains our second-largest market. The business is working very well. We continue to see very significant opportunities for our selective growth there. During our Annual Results Presentation, in March, we referred to 30 projects for the next three years. And some of them will become a reality this quarter; the relocation, doubling the size of Zara Dadeland Mall, in Miami, refurbishment of our store in Roosevelt Field Mall, at the New York State, or the opening of our store on Baton Rouge, in Louisiana. So, we are very happy with our performance in the U.S. Thank you.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

The next question goes to James Grzinic from Jefferies. Go ahead, James.

[James Grzinic, Jefferies]

Thank you, James. Morning, all. Yes, I just had a very quick question on your thinking around gross margin. You had great sell-out -- sell-through -- for Spring/Summer. You're going into the second-half of the year with an extremely tight inventory. I presume you will still be seeing supply chain cost deflation. Your peers are talking about wanting to bank COGS deflation. Do you think there's a risk that you might turn out to be too pessimistic by the time we get to the end of the year, vis-à-vis that flat gross margin guidance? Thank you.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Thank you, James. Regarding the gross margin, there are many, many components. In the first-half, our gross margin increased 27 basis points to 58.2%. So, that's shows extremely healthy execution in the business model. We've also mentioned that the inventory number should be read in conjunction with the normalization of supply chain's conditions after a bit unusual 2022. So, all in all, and looking at the different components, and you know very well mark-ups, mark-downs, currency mix, et cetera, et cetera, we continue to see a stable gross margin as our best estimate for this year. It is also true that, in the first-half, we still had some negative impact coming from the U.S. dollar into the sourcing which will reverse into the second-half. This is in part compensated by the fact that our U.S. sales are growing as well. So, let's say that that impact is quite balanced at the moment. So, nothing really new to report on that field, we still keep on seeing best estimates are stable gross margins for the second-half. But I think that the trading up of 14% that we have also put in conjunction with these results shows that the operations are moving very normal.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

The next question goes to Anne Critchlow from Societe Generale. Go ahead, Anne.

[Anne Critchlow, Societe Generale]

Thanks, James. Good morning, everyone. So, my question is about the percentage of full-price sales in the first-half. Was it very significantly higher year on year? And, are you worried at all that you have too inventory to go into the second-half? Thank you.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Starting with the second question, I think I have answered that to James in the sense that this -7% inventory position is just a fact of the comparable in the previous year. Remember that last year we had to anticipate a little bit inventory inflows due to some logistic constraints. This year this is very, very normal. If you just read this over two years, you see that the position is extremely, extremely natural. And again, you have seen the trading update of 14%. So, things are going very, very healthy.

Regarding the full-price sales of the first-half, well, I think we have reported a pretty solid number of 13.5%; 16.6% in local currencies. And again, the most important thing is that the creativity of our teams that design, the innovation that our teams are bringing to the table in conjunction with the business model are delivering very, very strong top line sales given the attractiveness of the fashion proposition we offer to customers both in-stores and online.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

The next question goes to Georgina Johanan from JPMorgan. Go ahead, Georgina.

[Georgina Johanan, JPMorgan]

Good morning. Thanks for taking my questions. Just a quick one please. And, you talked a while back about increasing some the investment in your warehouses to drive and [indiscernible] there. Can you just give us an update on that please? And any kind of timing of when we should see that going in? Thank you.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

The plan is very much in line if you have seen our CapEx numbers that we have released €808 million investment. But obviously what the company is always focused in giving what the business needs. And we are experiencing a very strong growth. You cannot do that without the right assets. And to keep on investing for the future and to deliver on that type of need is something that we are always going to do. But the projects we refer in [indiscernible] in Stradivarius are very much on target, okay? But again, you also see that we are generating very significant free cash flow. So, I would say that the execution of the plans are very much in line.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

The next question goes to Nicolas Champ from Barclays. Go ahead, Nicolas.

[Nicolas Champ]

Good morning. Thanks for taking my questions. Could you please comment on your space contribution in H1 please? Because you reiterate your guidance to positive space contribution for the full-year, but on the other hand your stock count as big time failure compared with last year and since the beginning of the year. So, any update on the space contribution in H1? And also, any guidance regarding the evolution of your stock count for the full-year? Do you expect to close down further stores in the second-half of this year? Thank you.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Well, thank you, Nicolas. Very much what I can tell is that most of the growth comes from comparable sales. But we have positive space contribution. It's more but positive over the first-half. And this is what we expected. If you remember, our guidance for the year is for 3% gross space growth with some small outsourcings which will result in positive contribution. But the main what we see in our business is the strong sales conversion we are obtaining in our existing stores and online. So, that's very much the message. We are not changing our view for the year.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

The next question comes from Grace Smalley from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.

[Grace Smalley, Morgan Stanley]

Hi, good morning. Thank you, James. Just on the growth as you say, you have achieved strong double digit constant currency growth and continue to on your current trading update as well. I guess as you look out to Inditex's multiyear growth plan, do you aim to continue to drive double digit revenue -- organic revenue growth over the medium term supported by all these investments and initiatives you have in place. So, what do you see as a reasonable sustainable long-term top line organic growth rate for the company? Thanks very much.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Thank you for your question, Grace. I think that what is extremely relevant is to keep on focus on the prices today, right? We have provided guidance for the year. We believe that our model is extremely differentiated. Our strategy is quite different to the market in the sense that we started optimizing the stores at a very early stage and developing this in conjunction with online. Clearly, you see the numbers we are releasing 13.5% sales growth over this first-half. Trading up the 14%, we continue having a very, very differentiated model. And to increase this differentiation is our key long-term goal, right? At the time, we are completely focused on our operations for the Autumn/Winter. And we will update you in December with what is we believe is relevant. But I think the importance is the long-term strategy of the company which makes it a very very different model compared to that prevailing in our sector. Thank you.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

We are now going to pass over to the webcast questions. We have had a few questions today. And first of which is can you talk a little bit more about your new sustainability objectives please?

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Well, first let me point out that we have a strong track record in sustainability that has been an early priority for us and continues to be a top priority in our agenda. Sustainability is a crucial part of our strategy, and is fully embedded in every decision that we have to take. We have a solid culture of sustainability and many internal initiatives and external partnerships.

We are on the right track to achieve all sustainability commitments previously announced. And we have increased the level of our ambition with the announcement at our last AGM in mid July to set new goals related to raw materials, reduction of emissions, supply chains, liquidity, biodiversity, and corporate community investment. Our aim is to transform ourselves and to lead the transformation of the whole industry.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

Thank you. The next question relates to collaborations. Can you comment on of the most recent collaborations please?

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Well, thanks for the question. Well, our fashion proposition, one of the key pillars of our business model relies on creativity, innovation, design, and quality. We are always seeking to work closely with the most cutting-edge talent in our industry. Some example, Zara has collaboration with one of the most prominent photographers in the world with Steven Meisel. Our Steven Meisel New York Collection will be available in stores and online next week after visiting New York and London. The key part is that the combination of external talent with our talented teams is leading us to continually improve our fashion proposition to our customers.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

The next question relates to online. Can you provide us with an update on how your online operations are performing please?

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Our online sales continue to grow strongly. This reflects the importance and the strength of having a full-integrated store and online model that allows us to provide our latest fashion to customers in whatever way they want. Our customer journey goes smoothly from online to stores and vice versa. And likewise, our model with single inventory serves customers in both channels.

As we have already mentioned previously, it's impossible today to explain the online sales without the strength of the physical presence of our network of stores that provide key logistic capabilities for online and at the same time, the strength of our online platforms reinforces our physical stores. As online penetration globally continues to grow, we expect that the online continue to grow.

And this is a very nice situation to be in given the various strong growth in traffic to our stores that we have been seeing in recent times.

[James O'Shaughnessy, Senior Investor Relations Manager]

Thank you very much for that. That concludes the Q&A session for today. I will pass you over to Oscar for the closing remarks. Thank you.

[Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director]

Thank you to all of those participating in the presentation today. For any additional questions you may have, please get in touch with our Capital Markets department. And we will welcome you back in December for the interim nine months 2023 results.