Victoria's Secret & Co. (VSXY) FY 2025 MD&A

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

We caution that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or made by us, our management, or our spokespeople involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements, and any future performance or financial results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our future operating results, the implementation and impact of our strategic plans, and our ability to meet environmental, social, and governance goals. Words such as “estimate,” “commit,” “will,” “target,” “goal,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “strive,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “continue,” “potential” and any similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Risks associated with the following factors, among others, could affect our results of operations and financial performance and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements:

•general economic conditions, inflation and changes in consumer confidence and consumer spending patterns;

•market disruptions including pandemics or significant health hazards, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorist activities, financial crises, political crises or other major events, or the prospect of these events;

•uncertainty in the global trade environment, including the imposition or threatened imposition of tariffs or other trade restrictions;

•our ability to successfully implement our strategic plan;

•difficulties arising from changes and turnover in company leadership or other key positions;

•our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified associates and manage labor-related costs;

•our dependence on traffic to our stores and the availability of suitable store locations on satisfactory terms;

•our ability to successfully operate and expand internationally and related risks;

•the operations and performance of our franchisees, licensees, wholesalers and joint venture partners;

•our ability to successfully operate and grow our direct channel business;

•our ability to protect our reputation and the image and value of our brands;

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•our ability to attract customers with marketing, advertising and promotional programs;

•the highly competitive nature of the retail industry and the segments in which we operate;

•consumer acceptance of our products and our ability to manage the life cycle of our brands, remain current with fashion trends, and develop and launch new merchandise, product lines and brands successfully;

•our ability to integrate acquired businesses and realize the benefits and synergies sought with such acquisitions;

•our ability to incorporate artificial intelligence into our business operations successfully and ethically while effectively managing the associated risks;

•our ability to source materials and produce, distribute and sell merchandise on a global basis, including risks related to:

•political instability and geopolitical conflicts;

•environmental hazards and natural disasters;

•significant health hazards and pandemics;

•delays or disruptions in shipping and transportation and related pricing impacts;

•foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; and

•disruption due to labor disputes;

•our geographic concentration of production and distribution facilities in central Ohio and Southeast Asia;

•the ability of our vendors to manufacture and deliver products in a timely manner, meet quality standards and comply with applicable laws and regulations;

•fluctuations in freight, product input and energy costs;

•our and our third-party service providers’ ability to implement and maintain information technology systems and to protect associated data and system availability;

•our ability to maintain the security of customer, associate, third-party and company information;

•stock price volatility;

•shareholder activism matters;

•our ability to maintain our credit rating;

•our ability to comply with regulatory requirements; and

•legal, tax, trade and other regulatory matters.

Except as may be required by law, we assume no obligation and do not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of future events, even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized. Additional information regarding these and other factors can be found in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as codified in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). The following information should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Our operating results are generally impacted by economic changes and, therefore, we monitor the retail environment using, among other things, certain key industry performance indicators including competitor performance and mall traffic data. These can provide insight into consumer spending patterns and shopping behavior in the current retail environment and assist us in assessing our performance as well as the potential impact of industry trends on our future operating results. Additionally, we evaluate a number of key performance indicators including comparable sales, gross profit, operating income and other performance metrics such as sales per average selling square foot and inventory per selling square foot in assessing our performance.

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Executive Overview

Victoria’s Secret & Co. operates globally recognized brands that specialize in women’s intimate, apparel, personal care and beauty products:

•Victoria’s Secret – A world-leading lingerie brand with a rich heritage of serving women worldwide.

•PINK – A vibrant fashion and lifestyle brand designed for young women, built on a strong foundation in intimates.

•Adore Me – A technology-driven, digital first brand that offers innovative, inclusive intimates for women of all sizes, budgets and lifestyles.

Together, these brands are united by a commitment to supporting women—helping them express confidence, sexiness and strength while fostering connection and community.

Our merchandise is available through our digital channels, in retail stores across the U.S., Canada and China, and through international stores and websites and mobile applications operated by partners under franchise, license, wholesale and joint venture arrangements. With a presence in nearly 70 countries, we benefit from strong global brand recognition, a compelling product assortment and a deep, lasting connection with our customers.

We are dedicated to continuous growth and operational excellence, focusing on execution of our strategic plan to drive long-term, sustainable value for our stockholders.

Tariffs and Macro Environment

We face some near-term headwinds and ongoing uncertainty in the macro environment, which we will manage aggressively. At this time, the overall impact on our business related to the newly imposed tariffs by the U.S. presidential administration on imports from China, Mexico and Canada as well as any retaliatory measures by impacted exporting countries remains uncertain and depends on multiple factors.

Financial Impacts of the Adore Me Acquisition

In December 2022, we acquired Adore Me. In both 2024 and 2023, we recognized the financial impact of purchase accounting items related to the acquisition, including recognition of changes in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration and Contingent Compensation Payments and amortization of acquired intangible assets. In addition, in 2023, we recognized the financial impact of additional acquisition-related costs and recognition in gross profit of the fair value adjustment to acquired inventories that were sold in 2023. For additional information, see Note 2, “Acquisition” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Growth Strategies

Path to Potential: Strength, Innovation and Growth

Victoria's Secret & Co. is operating from a position of strength. As the world's largest intimate apparel company, we have a powerful foundation for growth with a leading market share in the industry, millions of active and loyal customers and one of the most engaged brand communities on social media.

We apply our strength by evolving, leading the industry and unlocking new opportunities. Our growth plan, which we are calling “Path to Potential,” is designed to deepen our connection to consumers and drive stockholder value by supercharging our two distinct, compelling growth brands, Victoria’s Secret and PINK, complemented by our Beauty business and our digital-first Adore Me brand.

Our strategy is built around four key priorities that we believe will allow us to strengthen our core, expand into high-potential categories and evolve how we connect with customers. These priorities are designed to accelerate growth, differentiate our brands and reinforce our authority in the market both in North America and internationally.

1.Recommit to PINK: Winning the Next Generation

PINK has long been a brand with deep emotional connections to young women. We are focused on re-establishing the brand's magic and market position.

•We will deepen our relationship with the customer, understanding her like never before and meeting her where she is, in the way she wants.

•We are working to reclaim our position as a full lifestyle brand, anchored in intimates but extending into more apparel, accessories and beauty.

•We must clarify and elevate the brand by sharpening our identity, thinking and operating as a social-first brand, and treating PINK as a high-potential growth engine.

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2.Supercharge Bras: Reasserting Our Authority

We will lean on our industry-leading bra expertise to:

•Drive innovation-first product development, ensuring we lead the industry in fit, function and fashion.

•Expand our bra assortment to serve a wider range of customer needs.

•Strengthen our marketing voice and channel experience to serve her better.

3.Fuel Growth in Lifestyle Categories: Beauty, Sport, Lounge & Swim

We have a powerhouse Beauty business and strong lifestyle brands that customers love and we will accelerate these categories by:

•Leaning into our Beauty authority—building on our industry-leading fragrance business and expanding into new opportunities which includes beauty at PINK.

•Reclaiming key adjacencies by applying our expertise in bra innovation, quality and fit to revitalize our Sport and Swim businesses while also elevating our lounge offerings to meet our customers' needs and drive additional growth.

4.Evolve Our Brand Projection & Go-To-Market Strategy

As culture, technology, and shopping behaviors shift, so must our go-to-market strategy. By staying true to our brand while adapting how we engage, inspire, and serve, we will deepen connections with existing customers and attract new customers while strengthening loyalty and driving long-term growth:

•We must create stronger differentiation between Victoria's Secret and PINK in everything from product to marketing to experience. We will ensure that each brand is distinct but complement one another in a single ecosystem.

•We will elevate Victoria's Secret as sexy, glamorous and accessible luxury while modernizing PINK's brand identity and evolving the way we communicate with the customer.

•By becoming more agile and culturally connected, we will create real-time moments that resonate with our customers and keep us at the center of conversation.

•We will leverage the full marketing funnel and build a brand centric, best-in-class omnichannel experience to engage with her on her terms.

Key Enablers: Making it Happen

To successfully reignite growth, deepen customer loyalty, and elevate our brands, we must operate with focus, agility, and excellence. We are reinforcing three essential capabilities that we believe will empower us to move faster, innovate more boldly, and deliver a seamless experience across every touchpoint. These enablers will ensure that our strategy is not just aspirational; it is actionable, sustainable and built to drive results.

•A Customer-Centric Performance Culture: By deeply understanding our customers, including how they shop, what they value, and what inspires their loyalty, we create stronger connections, drive repeat engagement, and fuel sustainable growth. A culture centered on the customer empowers associates to innovate and to deliver experiences that not only meet expectations but exceed them, turning transactions into lasting relationships.

•An Evolved Product Development Process: We are moving beyond a bra-first approach to product development, implementing multiple tracks tailored to each category, making our teams faster, more agile and more innovative not just in bra development but apparel as well.

•An Efficient Operating Model: We are focused on doing fewer things better, investing where it matters most, which is on our customers, and streamlining costs in non-customer-facing areas.

The Road Ahead

This strategy is more than a plan; it is a commitment to elevating our brands, winning the next generation and reinforcing our leadership in intimate apparel and beyond. We will align our structure to ensure our brands have the dedicated leadership necessary to deliver on our strategies. With clarity, discipline and a relentless focus on our customer, we can unlock new levels of growth, innovation and impact, delivering value for our associates, our customers and our stockholders.

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2024 Overview

Since we became an independent public company in 2021, we have undertaken a transformation focused on strengthening the foundation of the business and establishing an operationally sound organization. We continued to make progress in 2024 in several areas, including continuing to deepen customer loyalty and strengthen engagement with our brands globally with the continued rollout of our loyalty program and the return of the VS Fashion Show, along with continued focus on disciplined expense management and the modernization of our operating model. While the macroeconomic environment continued to put pressure on the consumer and the overall intimates market in North America throughout the year, we continued to focus on what was within our control and delivering on multiple initiatives, such as enhancements in our digital business to elevate the customer experience, product improvements and launches to enhance the Victoria's Secret brand and a reimagined merchandise strategy to revitalize our PINK brand. Looking ahead, we will lean into our core strengths and look to unlock new opportunities and drive value by supercharging our brands and putting the best of who we are back at the center of how we work. Our strategies will be focused on accelerating growth, differentiating our brands and reinforcing our authority in the market.

As a result of the progress made in 2024, we grew net sales, gross profit, operating income and net income per diluted share in 2024 compared to 2023.

Net sales overall increased 1%, to $6.230 billion, compared to 2023 despite 2023 having 53 weeks compared to 52 weeks in 2024 as a result of the retail calendar. In North America, net sales in our direct channel increased 1% compared to 2023 while net sales in our stores channel decreased 2%. We experienced improved traffic in our North American stores and direct channels and average unit retail (which we define as the average price per unit purchased) increased in the direct channel compared to 2023. Net sales in our international channel increased 11% compared to 2023.

Gross profit in 2024 increased $42 million, to $2.284 billion, compared to 2023 and our gross profit rate (expressed as a percentage of net sales) increased to 36.7% from 36.3% compared to 2023. The increase in gross profit was primarily driven by the increase in net sales, reductions in costs of goods sold related to our supply chain initiative and a decrease in buying and occupancy expenses driven by disciplined expense management.

Operating income in 2024 increased $64 million, to $310 million, compared to 2023 and our operating income rate (expressed as a percentage of net sales) increased to 5.0% from 4.0% compared to 2023.

Net income attributable to Victoria's Secret & Co. in 2024 increased $56 million, to $165 million, compared to 2023, and net income per diluted share increased $0.66, to $2.05, compared to 2023.

In 2024, we generated $425 million in operating cash flows and ended the year with cash and cash equivalents of $227 million and with no outstanding borrowings on our ABL Facility.

For additional information related to our 2024 financial performance, see “Results of Operations – 2024 Compared to 2023.” For a discussion of our financial condition and results of operations for 2023 compared to 2022, refer to “Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 22, 2024.

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Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to our results provided in accordance with GAAP above and throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, provided below are non-GAAP financial measures that present operating income, net income attributable to Victoria's Secret & Co. and net income per diluted share attributable to Victoria's Secret & Co. in 2024 and 2023 on an adjusted basis, which remove certain non-recurring, infrequent or unusual items that we believe are not indicative of the results of our ongoing operations due to their size and nature. The intangible asset amortization excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures is excluded because the amortization, unlike the related revenue, is not affected by operations of any particular period unless an intangible asset becomes impaired or the estimated useful life of an intangible asset is revised. We use adjusted financial information as key performance measures of our results of operations for the purpose of evaluating performance internally. These non-GAAP measurements are not intended to replace the presentation of our financial results in accordance with GAAP. Instead, we believe that the presentation of adjusted financial information provides additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present operations. Further, our definition of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies. The table below reconciles the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to each non-GAAP financial measure.

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(a)In 2024 and 2023, we recognized pre-tax expense of $9 million and $50 million ($6 million and $42 million after-tax, respectively) within net income related to the financial impact of purchase accounting items and professional service costs related to the acquisition of Adore Me. These items include expense of $4 million and $16 million, respectively, included in general, administrative and store operating expense and interest expense of $5 million and $5 million, respectively. Additionally, expense of $29 million is in costs of goods sold, buying and occupancy expense in 2023. For additional information, see Note 2, “Acquisition” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

(b)In both 2024 and 2023, we recognized amortization expense of $25 million ($19 million after-tax) included in general, administrative and store operating expense related to the acquisition of Adore Me. For additional information, see Note 2, “Acquisition” and Note 9, “Intangible Assets” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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(c)In the fourth quarter of 2024, we recognized pre-tax expense of $22 million ($17 million after-tax) in costs of goods sold, buying and occupancy expense related to impairment and other charges for certain of our equity method investments. For additional information, see Note 1, “Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

(d)In the third quarter of 2024, we recognized a pre-tax charge of $13 million ($11 million after-tax) in general, administrative and store operating expense related to the appointment of a new CEO and the elimination of two executive officer roles to restructure our executive leadership team. In the first quarter of 2023, we recognized a pre-tax charge of $11 million ($8 million after-tax), $8 million included in general, administrative and store operating expense and $3 million included in buying and occupancy expense, related to restructuring activities to reorganize and improve our organizational structure. For additional information, see Note 5, “Restructuring Activities” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Company-Operated Store Data

The following table compares 2024 U.S. company-operated store data to 2023:

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(a)Sales per average selling square foot and sales per average store, which are indicators of store productivity, are calculated based on store sales for the period divided by the average, including the beginning and end of period, of total square footage and store count, respectively.

(b)Excludes the impact of the cumulative adjustment recognized as a result of the change in accounting estimate related to outstanding gift cards in the fourth quarter of 2024. For additional information, see Note 3, “Revenue Recognition” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The following table represents store data for 2024:

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(a)    Includes thirteen partner-operated stores at February 1, 2025.

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The following table represents store data for 2023:

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(a)    Includes thirteen partner-operated stores at February 3, 2024.

Results of Operations — 2024 Compared to 2023

The following information summarizes our results of operations for 2024 compared to 2023. As a result of the retail calendar, our results for 2024 represent the 52-week period ended February 1, 2025, and our results for 2023 represent the 53-week period ended February 3, 2024. We estimate the extra week in 2023 represented approximately $80 million in incremental net sales and approximately $20 million in incremental operating income.

Operating Income

For 2024, operating income increased $64 million, to $310 million, compared to operating income of $246 million in 2023, and the operating income rate (expressed as a percentage of net sales) increased to 5.0% from 4.0%. The drivers of the operating income results are discussed in the following sections.

Net Sales

The following table provides net sales for 2024 in comparison to 2023:

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(a)Results include consolidated joint venture sales in China, royalties associated with franchised stores and wholesale sales.

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The following table provides a reconciliation of net sales from 2023 to 2024:

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(a)Results include consolidated joint venture direct sales in China.

The following table compares 2024 comparable sales to 2023:

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(a)The percentage change in comparable sales represents direct and comparable store sales. The percentage change in comparable store sales represents the change in sales at comparable stores only and excludes the change in sales from our direct channels. The change in comparable sales provides an indication of period over period growth (decline). A store is typically included in the calculation of comparable sales when it has been open 12 months or more and it has not had a change in selling square footage of 20% or more. Closed stores are excluded from the comparable sales calculation if they have been closed for four consecutive days or more. Upon re-opening, the stores are included in the calculation. Additionally, stores are excluded if total selling square footage in the mall changes by 20% or more through the opening or closing of a second store. The percentage change in comparable sales is calculated on a comparable calendar period as opposed to a fiscal basis. Therefore, the percentage change in comparable sales for 2024 was calculated on a 52-to-52-week basis and the percentage change in comparable sales for 2023 was calculated on a 53-to-53-week basis. Comparable sales attributable to our international stores are calculated on a constant currency basis.

Net sales in 2024 increased $48 million, or 1%, to $6.230 billion compared to $6.182 billion in 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2024, we recorded a change in our accounting estimate relating to the expected redemption of our outstanding gift cards. As a result of this change in accounting estimate, we recognized a cumulative adjustment which increased net sales by approximately $26 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Additionally, we estimate the extra week in 2023 represented approximately $80 million in incremental net sales. Excluding the impact from the change in accounting estimate relating to outstanding gift cards in 2024 and the incremental net sales related to the extra week in 2023, net sales in 2024 increased approximately 2% compared to 2023.

In the stores channel, our North America net sales decreased $52 million, or 2%, to $3.428 billion compared to 2023. Net sales in our stores channel were positively impacted by an increase in traffic in our stores as compared to 2023. The increase in traffic in our stores was offset by decreases in conversion (which we define as the percentage of customers who visit our stores and make a purchase) and average unit retail compared to 2023. The comparison of net sales in our stores channel in 2024 compared to 2023 was also impacted by the change in accounting estimate recorded associated with our outstanding gift cards and the impact of the incremental net sales from the extra week in 2023.

In the direct channel, net sales increased $27 million, or 1%, to $2.042 billion compared to 2023 as increases in traffic and average unit retail were partially offset by the incremental net sales from the extra week in 2023 and a decrease in conversion.

In the international channel, net sales increased $73 million, or 11%, to $760 million compared to 2023. The increase in net sales in 2024 compared to 2023 was driven by increases in sourcing sales to our partners, royalties earned associated with franchise sales in many countries outside of North America, net sales in China, and our wholesale arrangements, partially offset by the incremental net sales from the extra week in 2023.

Gross Profit

For 2024, our gross profit increased $42 million to $2.284 billion, and our gross profit rate (expressed as a percentage of net sales) increased to 36.7% from 36.3%.

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For 2024, the increase in gross profit dollars was primarily due to the increase in net sales, reductions in costs of goods sold related to our supply chain initiative and a decrease in buying and occupancy expenses, partially offset by an increase in promotional activity and incremental gross profit recognized in 2023 as a result of the extra week last year. Additionally, the increase in gross profit dollars compared to 2023 was driven by the recognition in gross profit of $29 million in 2023 related to the fair value step-up adjustment on the acquired inventory from Adore Me, partially offset by $22 million of impairment and other charges for certain of our equity method investments in 2024.

The gross profit rate increase was primarily driven by reductions in costs of goods sold related to our supply chain initiative and the expense recorded in 2023 as noted above, partially offset by increased promotional activity and the impairment and other charges for certain of our equity method investments recorded in 2024. Additionally, the gross profit rate increase was due to leverage in buying and occupancy expenses as a result of the increase in net sales and a decrease in buying and occupancy expenses compared to 2023.

General, Administrative and Store Operating Expenses

For 2024, our general, administrative and store operating expenses decreased $22 million, or 1%, to $1.974 billion. The decrease in general, administrative and store operating expenses compared to 2023 was primarily due to a decrease in marketing expenses and charges related to Adore Me purchase accounting items, partially offset by an increase in certain other administrative expenses. The decrease in general, administrative and store operating expenses in 2024 was also due to incremental expenses recognized in 2023 as a result of the extra week last year.

The general, administrative and store operating expense rate (expressed as a percentage of net sales) decreased to 31.7% from 32.3% due to leverage driven by the increase in net sales compared to 2023 and the decrease in marketing expenses.

Interest Expense

For 2024, our interest expense decreased $13 million to $86 million compared to 2023, primarily due to our lower average outstanding debt and lower average borrowing rate for our ABL Facility, partially offset by our higher average borrowing rate for our Term Loan Facility.

Provision for Income Taxes

For 2024, the Company's effective tax rate was 23.6% compared to 21.4% in 2023. The difference between the Company's effective tax rate in 2024 and the combined estimated federal and state statutory rate was primarily due to foreign earnings taxed at a rate lower than our combined estimated federal and state statutory rate, partially offset by additional tax expense related to share-based compensation awards that vested in 2024. The difference between the Company's effective tax rate in 2023 and the combined estimated federal and state statutory rate was primarily due to foreign earnings taxed at a rate lower than our combined estimated federal and state statutory rate and the resolution of certain tax matters.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity, or access to cash, is an important factor in determining our financial stability. We are committed to maintaining adequate liquidity. Cash generated from our operating activities provides the primary resources to support current operations, growth initiatives, seasonal funding requirements and capital expenditures. Net cash provided by our operating activities is impacted by our net income and working capital changes. Our net income is impacted by, among other things, sales volume, seasonal sales patterns, success of new product introductions, profit margins and income taxes. Historically, sales are higher during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year due to seasonal and holiday-related sales patterns. Generally, our need for working capital peaks during the summer and fall months as inventory builds in anticipation of the holiday period.

Our ability to fund our operating needs is primarily dependent upon our ability to continue to generate positive cash flow from operations, as well as borrowing capacity under our ABL Facility, which we rely on to supplement cash generated by our operating activities, particularly when our need for working capital peaks in the summer and fall months as discussed above. Management believes that our cash balances and funds provided by operating activities, along with the borrowing capacity under our ABL Facility, taken as a whole, provide (i) adequate liquidity to meet all of our current and long-term obligations when due, (ii) adequate liquidity to fund capital expenditures, and (iii) flexibility to consider investment opportunities that may arise. However, certain investment opportunities or seasonal funding requirements may require us to seek additional debt or equity financing, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, if at all, in the future.

We expect to utilize our cash flows to continue to invest in our brands, talent and capabilities, and growth strategies as well as to repay our indebtedness over time. We believe that our available short-term and long-term capital resources are sufficient to fund our working capital and other cash flow requirements over the next 12 months.

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Working Capital and Capitalization

Based upon our cash balances and net cash provided by our operating activities, along with the borrowing capacity under our ABL Facility, we believe we will be able to continue to meet our working capital needs.

The following table provides a summary of our working capital position and capitalization as of February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2024:

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(a)Amounts shown represent the fifty-two-week period ended February 1, 2025 and the fifty-three-week period ended February 3, 2024.

(b)For the period ended February 1, 2025, the availability under the ABL Facility was limited by our borrowing base of $550 million, less letters of credit of $17 million. For the period ended February 3, 2024, the availability was limited by our borrowing base of $587 million, less outstanding borrowings of $145 million and letters of credit of $19 million.

The following table provides certain measures of liquidity and capital resources as of February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2024:

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(a)Long-term debt divided by total capitalization.

Cash Flow

The following table provides a summary of our cash flow activity for the fiscal years ended February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2024:

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Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities reflects net income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense, equity method investment impairment charges, deferred tax expense and gain on sale of assets, as well as changes in working capital. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2024 was $425 million, an increase in net cash provided by operating activities of $36 million compared to 2023. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in 2024 was primarily driven by lower net operating cash outflows associated with working capital changes of $74 million, an increase in net income of $53 million and equity method impairment charges of $19 million in 2024, partially offset by $39 million of payments for contingent compensation related to the acquisition of Adore Me in 2024, the $29 million amortization of the fair value adjustment on the acquired inventory from Adore Me in 2023 and a decrease in depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets of $26 million. The most significant working capital drivers resulting in the increase in net operating cash flows in 2024 compared to 2023 were the payment of the occupancy-related legal matter in 2023 and income taxes paid of $54 million in 2024 compared to $74 million paid in 2023. The increase in net operating cash flows in 2024 compared to 2023 was partially offset by the decrease in Accounts Payable in 2024.

Investing Activities

Net cash used for investing activities in 2024 was $153 million, consisting primarily of capital expenditures of $178 million, partially offset by $25 million of proceeds on the sale of certain non-store corporate-related assets. The capital expenditures were primarily related to our store capital program and investments in technology related to our strategic initiatives to drive growth.

Net cash used for investing activities in 2023 was $254 million, consisting of capital expenditures of $256 million. The capital expenditures were primarily related to our store capital program and investments in technology related to our strategic initiatives to drive growth and technology investments.

We are estimating 2025 capital expenditures to be approximately $240 million. We expect that our capital expenditures will be focused on our store capital program along with investments in technology and logistics related to our strategic initiatives to drive growth and support productivity.

Financing Activities

Net cash used for financing activities in 2024 was $315 million, consisting primarily of $605 million of repayments under the ABL Facility and $161 million of payments for deferred consideration and contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Adore Me, partially offset by borrowings of $460 million from the ABL Facility.

Net cash used for financing activities in 2023 was $291 million, consisting primarily of $615 million of repayments under the ABL Facility and $125 million of share repurchases, partially offset by borrowings of $465 million from the ABL Facility.

Common Stock Share Repurchases & Treasury Stock Retirements

Our Board determines share repurchase authorizations, giving consideration to our levels of profit and cash flows, capital requirements, current and forecasted liquidity, the restrictions placed upon us by our borrowing arrangements, as well as financial and other conditions existing at the time. We use cash flows provided by our operating activities to fund any share repurchases. Once authorized by our Board of Directors, the timing and amount of any share repurchases are made at our discretion, taking into account a number of factors, including market conditions.

March 2024 Share Repurchase Program

In March 2024, our Board approved a share repurchase program (“March 2024 Share Repurchase Program”), authorizing the repurchase of up to $250 million of our common stock, subject to market conditions and other factors, through open market, accelerated share repurchase or privately negotiated transactions, including pursuant to one or more Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. The March 2024 Share Repurchase Program is open-ended in term and will continue until exhausted.

We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock under the March 2024 Share Repurchase Program during 2024. As of February 1, 2025, we were authorized to repurchase up to $250 million of our common stock under the March 2024 Share Repurchase Program.

January 2023 Share Repurchase Program

In January 2023, our Board approved a share repurchase program (“January 2023 Share Repurchase Program”), authorizing the repurchase of up to $250 million of our common stock. The authorization, which expired at the end of 2023, was utilized in 2023 to repurchase shares in the open market and under the accelerated share repurchase agreement described below.

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In February 2023, as part of the January 2023 Share Repurchase Program, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (“ASR Agreement”) with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“Goldman Sachs”) to repurchase $125 million of our common stock. In February 2023, we made an initial payment of $125 million to Goldman Sachs and received an initial delivery of 2.4 million shares of our common stock. As a result of the initial share delivery, there was an additional $1 million increase in Treasury Stock, which reflects the excise tax liability recorded related to the share repurchase in accordance with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

In May 2023, upon final settlement of the ASR Agreement, we received an additional 1.3 million shares of our common stock from Goldman Sachs. The final number of shares received was based on the volume-weighted average price of our common stock during the term of the ASR Agreement, less a discount and subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms of the ASR Agreement.

We repurchased the following shares of our common stock under the January 2023 Share Repurchase Program during 2023:

Shares repurchased under the January 2023 Share Repurchase Program were retired upon repurchase. As a result, we retired the 3.7 million shares repurchased in connection with the settlement of the ASR Agreement during 2023. The retirement resulted in a reduction of $126 million in Treasury Stock, less than $1 million in the par value of Common Stock, $9 million in Paid-in Capital and $117 million in Retained Earnings during 2023.

Dividend Policy and Procedures

We have not paid any cash dividends since becoming an independent, publicly traded company. We cannot guarantee that we will pay a dividend in the future or continue to pay any dividends if and when we commence paying dividends. The declaration and amount of any dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, cash flows, capital requirements of our business, covenants associated with our debt obligations, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice and any other factors the Board deems relevant. We would use net cash flow provided by operating and financing activities to fund our dividends.

Long-term Debt and Borrowing Facilities

The following table provides our outstanding Long-term Debt balance, net of unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts and any current portion, as of February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2024:

Cash paid for interest was $77 million and $87 million in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Issuance of Notes

In July 2021, we issued $600 million of 4.625% notes due in July 2029 in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The obligation to pay principal and interest on the 2029 Notes is jointly and severally guaranteed on a full and unconditional basis by certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. The issuance costs are being amortized through the maturity date and are included within Long-term Debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Credit Facilities

We have a senior secured term loan B credit facility with an original principal amount of $400 million, which will mature in August 2028. The discounts and issuance costs from the Term Loan Facility are being amortized through the maturity date and are included within Long-term Debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We are required to make quarterly principal payments on the Term Loan Facility in an amount equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of $400 million. We made principal payments for the Term Loan Facility of $4 million during both 2024 and 2023.

Interest on the loans under the Term Loan Facility is calculated by reference to the Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“Term SOFR”) or an alternative base rate, plus an interest rate margin (i) in the case of Term SOFR loans, ranging from 3.36% to 3.68% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, equal to 2.25%. The obligation to pay principal and interest on the loans under the Term Loan Facility is jointly and severally guaranteed on a full and unconditional basis by certain of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. The loans under the Term Loan Facility are secured on a first-priority lien basis by certain assets of ours and our subsidiary guarantors that do not constitute priority collateral under the ABL Facility and on a second-priority lien basis by priority collateral of the ABL Facility, subject to customary exceptions. As of February 1, 2025, the interest rate on loans under the Term Loan Facility was 7.94%.

We also have a senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility. The ABL Facility allows for borrowings and letters of credit in U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars and has aggregate commitments of $750 million and an expiration date of August 2026. The availability under the ABL Facility is equal to the lesser of (i) the borrowing base, determined primarily based on our eligible U.S. and Canadian credit card receivables, eligible accounts receivable, eligible inventory and eligible real property, and (ii) the maximum aggregate commitment amount of $750 million. Interest on the loans under the ABL Facility is calculated by reference to (i) Term SOFR or an alternative base rate and (ii) in the case of loans denominated in Canadian dollars, Canadian Dollar Offered Rate (“CDOR”) or a Canadian base rate, plus an interest rate margin based on average daily excess availability ranging from (x) in the case of CDOR loans, 1.50% to 2.00%, (y) in the case of alternate base rate loans and Canadian base rate loans, 0.50% to 1.00%, and (z) in the case of Term SOFR loans, 1.60% to 2.10%. Unused commitments under the ABL Facility accrue an unused commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.30%. The obligation to pay principal and interest on the loans under the ABL Facility is jointly and severally guaranteed on a full and unconditional basis by certain of our wholly-owned domestic and Canadian subsidiaries. The loans under the ABL Facility are secured on a first-priority lien basis by our eligible U.S. and Canadian credit card receivables, eligible accounts receivable, eligible inventory and eligible real property and on a second-priority lien basis on substantially all other assets of ours, subject to customary exceptions.

We borrowed $460 million and $465 million from the ABL Facility during 2024 and 2023, respectively, and made repayments of $605 million and $615 million under the ABL Facility during 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of February 1, 2025, there were no borrowings outstanding under the ABL Facility and we had $17 million of outstanding letters of credit that reduced our availability under the ABL Facility. As of February 1, 2025, our remaining availability under the ABL Facility was $533 million.

Our long-term debt and borrowing facilities contain certain financial and other covenants, including, but not limited to, the maintenance of financial ratios. The 2029 Notes and the Term Loan Facility include the maintenance of a consolidated coverage ratio and a consolidated total leverage ratio, and the ABL Facility includes the maintenance of a fixed charge coverage ratio and a debt to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent (“EBITDAR”) ratio. The financial covenants could, within specific predefined circumstances, limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, make certain investments, pay dividends or repurchase shares. As of February 1, 2025, we were in compliance with all covenants under our long-term debt and borrowing facilities.

Credit Ratings

The following table provides our credit ratings as of February 1, 2025:

________________

(a)Subsequent to February 1, 2025, Moody's and S&P both updated our outlook to Stable.

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Contingent Liabilities and Contractual Obligations

The following table provides our contractual obligations, aggregated by type, including the maturity profile as of February 1, 2025:

________________

(a)Long-term debt obligations relate to our principal and interest payments for our outstanding debt. Interest payments have been estimated based on the coupon rate for fixed rate obligations. For variable interest rate obligations under the Term Loan Facility, the interest payments have been estimated based on an interest rate of 7.94%, which was the interest rate as of February 1, 2025. For additional information, see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

(b)Future lease obligations primarily represent minimum payments due under store lease agreements. For additional information, see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

(c)Purchase obligations primarily include purchase orders for merchandise inventory and other agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transactions.

(d)Other liabilities also include future estimated payments associated with unrecognized tax benefits. The “Less Than 1 Year” category includes $31 million of these tax items because it is reasonably possible that the payments could change in the next 12 months due to audit settlements or resolution of uncertainties. The remaining portion totaling $14 million is included in the “Other” category because it is not reasonably possible that the payments could change in the next 12 months due to audit settlements or resolution of uncertainties. For additional information, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Recently Issued Accounting and Reporting Pronouncements

Segment Reporting

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosure, which is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expense categories that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included in each reported measure of a segment’s profit or loss. The update also requires all annual disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets to be provided in interim periods and for entities with a single reportable segment to provide all the disclosures required by ASC 280, Segment Reporting, including the significant segment expense disclosures. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning in fiscal year 2024 and interim periods beginning in fiscal year 2025. We adopted this standard effective for our fiscal year 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K and have included the required disclosures in Note 19, “Segment Information” to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which is intended to improve expense disclosures, primarily by requiring disclosure of disaggregated information about certain income statement expense line items on an annual and interim basis. This standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning in fiscal year 2027 and for interim periods beginning in fiscal year 2028, with early adoption permitted. The updates required by this standard should be applied prospectively, but retrospective application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on our disclosures.

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Income Taxes

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which is intended to enhance the transparency and decision-usefulness of income tax disclosures, primarily by requiring enhanced disclosure for income taxes paid and the effective tax rate reconciliation. This standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning in fiscal year 2025. The updates required by this standard should be applied prospectively, but retroactive application is permitted. We do not expect this standard to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to adopt accounting policies related to estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, as well as the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its accounting policies, estimates and judgments, including those related to inventories, long-lived assets, claims and contingencies, income taxes and revenue recognition. Management bases our estimates and judgments on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Management has discussed the development and selection of our critical accounting policies and estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and believes the following assumptions and estimates are most significant to reporting our results of operations and financial position.

Inventories

Inventories are principally valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, on an average cost basis. We record valuation adjustments to our inventories if the cost of inventory on hand exceeds the amount we expect to realize from the ultimate sale or disposal of the inventory. These estimates are based on management’s judgment regarding future demand and market conditions and analysis of historical experience. If actual demand or market conditions are different than those projected by management, future period merchandise margin rates may be unfavorably or favorably affected by adjustments to these estimates.

We also record inventory loss adjustments for estimated physical inventory losses that have occurred since the date of the last physical inventory. These estimates are based on management’s analysis of historical results, operating trends and consumer behavior. Management believes that the assumptions used in these estimates are reasonable and appropriate. A 10% increase or decrease in the inventory valuation adjustment would have impacted net income by approximately $2 million for 2024. A 10% increase or decrease in the estimated physical inventory loss adjustment would have impacted net income by approximately $3 million for 2024.

Valuation of Long-lived Assets

Long-lived Store Assets

Long-lived store assets, which include leasehold improvements, store related assets and operating lease assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Store assets are grouped at the lowest level for which they are largely independent of other assets or asset groups. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows related to the asset group are less than the carrying value, we recognize a loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value, determined by the estimated discounted future cash flows of the asset group. For operating lease assets, we determine the fair value of the assets by comparing the contractual rent payments to estimated market rental rates. An individual asset within an asset group is not impaired below its estimated fair value. The fair value of long-lived store assets are determined using Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy.

Our fair value estimates incorporate significant assumptions and judgments including, but not limited to, estimated future cash flows, discount rates and market rental rates. The use of different assumptions or judgments in our assessment could materially increase or decrease the fair value of our store assets and, accordingly, could materially increase or decrease any related impairment charge. Sustained declines in our business performance could result in a material impairment charge in a future period.

When a decision has been made to dispose of property and equipment prior to the end of the previously estimated useful life, depreciation estimates are revised to reflect the use of the asset over the shortened estimated useful life.

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Goodwill

Goodwill is reviewed for impairment at the reporting unit level each year in the fourth quarter and may be reviewed more frequently if certain events occur or circumstances change. We have the option to either first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that each reporting unit's fair value is less than its carrying value (including goodwill), or to proceed directly to the quantitative assessment which requires a comparison of the reporting unit's fair value to its carrying value (including goodwill). If we determine that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we recognize an impairment charge equal to the difference, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. Our reporting units are determined in accordance with the provisions of ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, we performed our annual goodwill impairment assessment for the reporting unit which goodwill is assigned using the qualitative approach.

Claims and Contingencies

We are subject to various claims and contingencies related to lawsuits, taxes, insurance, regulatory and other matters arising out of the normal course of business. Our determination of the treatment of claims and contingencies in the Consolidated Financial Statements is based on management’s view of the expected outcome of the applicable claim or contingency. We consult with legal counsel on matters related to litigation and seek input from both internal and external experts with respect to matters in the ordinary course of business. We accrue a liability if the likelihood of an adverse outcome is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. If the likelihood of an adverse outcome is only reasonably possible (as opposed to probable) or if an estimate is not reasonably determinable, disclosure of a material claim or contingency is disclosed in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, taxes currently payable or refundable are accrued, and deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for realizable operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted income tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in income tax rates is recognized in our Consolidated Statement of Income in the period that includes the enactment date. We treat the global intangible low-taxed income provisions enacted as part of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as a current period expense. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized.

Judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes and related accruals, deferred tax assets and liabilities. In determining our provision for income taxes, we consider permanent differences between book and tax income and statutory income tax rates. Our effective income tax rate is affected by items including changes in tax law, the tax jurisdiction of new stores or business ventures and the level of earnings.

We follow the authoritative guidance included in ASC 740, Income Taxes, which contains a two-step approach to recognize and measure uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We consider many factors when evaluating and estimating our tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and for which actual outcomes may differ from forecasted outcomes. Our policy is to include interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

Our income tax returns, like those of most companies, are periodically audited by domestic and foreign tax authorities. These audits include questions regarding our tax filing positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. At any one time, multiple tax years are subject to audit by the various tax authorities. A number of years may elapse before a particular matter for which we have established an accrual is audited and fully resolved or clarified. We adjust our tax contingencies accrual and income tax provision in the period in which matters are effectively settled with tax authorities at amounts different from our established accrual, when the statute of limitations expires for the relevant taxing authority to examine the tax position or when more information becomes available. We include our tax contingencies accrual, including accrued penalties and interest, in Other Long-term Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets unless the liability is expected to be paid within one year. Changes to the tax contingencies accrual, including accrued penalties and interest, are included in Provision for Income Taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

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Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue based on the amount we expect to receive when control of the goods or services is transferred to our customer. We recognize sales upon customer receipt of merchandise, which for direct channel revenues reflect an estimate of shipments that have not yet been received by our customer based on shipping terms and historical delivery times. Our shipping and handling revenues are included in Net Sales with the related costs included in Costs of Goods Sold, Buying and Occupancy in our Consolidated Statements of Income. We also provide a reserve for projected merchandise returns based on historical experience and recent information. Net Sales exclude sales and other similar taxes collected from customers.

We offer certain loyalty programs that allow customers to earn points based on purchasing activity. As customers accumulate points and reach point thresholds, they can use the points to purchase merchandise in stores or online. We allocate revenue to points earned on qualifying purchases and defer recognition until the points are redeemed. The amount of revenue deferred is based on the relative stand-alone selling price method, which includes an estimate for points not expected to be redeemed based on historical experience.

We sell gift cards with no expiration dates to customers. We do not charge administrative fees on unused gift cards. We recognize revenue from gift cards when they are redeemed by the customer. In addition, we recognize revenue on unredeemed gift cards when it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur in the future (“gift card breakage”). Gift card breakage revenue is recognized in proportion, and over the same period, as actual gift card redemptions. We determine the gift card breakage rate estimate based on historical redemption patterns and review the breakage rate periodically throughout the year. Gift card breakage is included in Net Sales in our Consolidated Statements of Income. A one percentage point increase or decrease in our gift card breakage rate estimate would have impacted net sales, gross profit and operating income by approximately $22 million and net income by approximately $17 million for 2024.

Revenue earned in connection with our credit card arrangements is primarily recognized based on credit card sales and usage and is included in Net Sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

We also recognize revenues associated with franchise, license, wholesale and sourcing arrangements. Revenue recognized under franchise and license arrangements generally consists of royalties earned and recognized upon sale of merchandise by franchise and license partners to retail customers. Revenue is generally recognized under wholesale and sourcing arrangements at the time title of the merchandise passes to the partner.