• Gross Margin: 71.4%, down 60 basis points from Q3 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA: $26.8 million, or 17.7% of sales.
• Total Company Comparable Sales: Decreased 0.8% compared to a positive 1.9% last year.
• Total Company Sales: Approximately $151 million, up 0.3% versus Q3 2023.
• Store Sales: Up 0.2% compared to Q3 2023.
• Direct Sales: 46% of total sales, up 0.3% compared to Q3 2023.
• SG&A Expenses: Approximately $89 million, up from $86 million last year.
• Cash from Operations: About $19 million, ending cash of approximately $39 million.
• Inventory: Up about 9% compared to the end of Q3 last year.
• Capital Expenditures: $5.5 million compared to $3.7 million last year.
• Store Count: Ended the quarter with 247 stores, including the opening of four new stores.
• Share Repurchase Program: $25 million authorization, the first since going public in 2017.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with JILL.

Release Date: December 11, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• J.Jill Inc (NYSE:JILL) delivered third-quarter results in line with expectations, maintaining healthy margin performance.
• The company announced a new share repurchase program, reflecting confidence in its business model and growth opportunities.
• J.Jill Inc (NYSE:JILL) saw strong conversion in both retail and direct channels, supported by focused assortments.
• The company successfully launched marketing campaigns like 'Love Your Loyalty' and 'One Minute, No Limits,' which drove customer engagement.
• J.Jill Inc (NYSE:JILL) continued to modernize its systems and infrastructure, realizing promising trends in omnichannel transaction growth.

Negative Points

• The company experienced a slight decline in total company comparable sales, driven by storm impacts and softer full-price selling.
• J.Jill Inc (NYSE:JILL) faced elevated freight costs due to shipping delays and rerouting, impacting gross margins.
• The customer file contracted slightly, with traffic down in both retail and direct channels.
• The full-price customer did not return as robustly as earlier in the year, affecting sales performance.
• The company anticipates continued gross margin pressure in Q4 due to elevated freight costs and promotional activities.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you elaborate on the trends observed during the quarter, particularly in August, and how consumer behavior has been? A: Claire Spofford, President and CEO, noted that August was a soft month, but there was sequential improvement as the quarter progressed. The latter half of the quarter showed traction, especially after overcoming hurricane impacts and with colder weather aiding consumer engagement. Consumer behavior remains mixed, with the direct channel showing more price sensitivity compared to retail.

Q: How has the broader promotional environment affected consumer behavior? A: Claire Spofford explained that the fourth quarter is typically very promotional in women's apparel retail. J.Jill pulled forward the start of their Black Friday promotions slightly, but not as aggressively as others, resulting in moderate performance during that period.

Q: Has the delay in cooler weather impacted sales, and how does this relate to the sequential improvement seen? A: Claire Spofford acknowledged that the delay in cooler weather was a headwind early in the fall season, affecting core programs like sweaters and outerwear. However, as the weather cooled, these categories picked up, aided by targeted promotions.

Q: What are the expectations for store openings in 2025, and how does this fit into the multiyear plan? A: Mark Webb, CFO and COO, stated that J.Jill has a robust pipeline for store openings. They plan to ramp up from the net four openings this year, with a medium-term goal of 20 to 25 new stores over the next few years, contributing to a five-year target of 50 new stores.

Q: How is J.Jill addressing the potential impact of tariffs on their supply chain? A: Mark Webb mentioned that China accounts for less than 5% of J.Jill's finished goods production, minimizing tariff impact. While potential tariffs could require negotiations with vendors and price reviews, it's too early to determine specifics as the situation is still developing.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.