The Finish Line, Inc. (FINL) Reports Second Quarter Results

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The Finish Line, Inc. (Nasdaq: FINL) today reported results for its second fiscal quarter, representing the 13-week period ended August 29, 2009. As previously disclosed, the company exited the Man Alive business effective July 4, 2009. Therefore, all financial results of the Man Alive operations are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Second Quarter Results

Comparable store sales declined 9.9% in the second quarter compared to a 4.9% increase last year. Net sales declined 11.4% to $298.7 million for the period compared to $337.0 million as a result of fewer stores and the comparable store sales decline.

Finish Line reported income from continuing operations of $11.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $14.9 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the second quarter last year. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the second quarter were 54.6 million versus 54.3 million for the same period a year ago.

Consolidated merchandise inventories were reduced 18% to $221.4 million as of August 29, 2009 compared to $269.9 million a year ago. Finish Line inventory declined 13.4% overall and 10.1% on a per-square-foot basis.

At quarter end, the company had no interest-bearing debt and $142.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $65.0 million at the end of the second quarter a year ago.

“In the second quarter, we continued to manage the business conservatively by controlling costs and increasing efficiencies, but we also made and will continue to make appropriate investments in our business to drive sales and profitable growth,” said Finish Line Chief Executive Officer Glenn Lyon. “Our online business and cross-channel strategies are growing, and we are focused on building upon that growth by improving the customer experience wherever and whenever they shop with us. Overall, our focus at Finish Line is to sustain the health of our balance sheet, maintain our premium brand position, and within the realities of what remains a cautious consumer environment, position ourselves for future profit growth.”

Year-to-Date Results

For the 26 weeks ended August 29, 2009, Finish Line reported income from continuing operations of $13.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, versus income from continuing operations of $17.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share for the same period a year ago.

Year-to-date comparable store sales declined 7.2% versus a 3.4% increase last year. Net sales declined 8.6% to $557.8 million, compared to $610.0 million a year ago.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call for investors Friday, September 25 at 8:30 a.m. EDT. To participate in the call, dial (660) 422-4970, conference ID#29769719. To listen online, visit www.finishline.com. A replay of the conference call can be accessed at (706) 645-9291, conference ID#29769719. This replay will be available beginning at approximately 9:45 a.m. EDT Friday, September 25, and will remain available through Monday, September 28. In addition, the replay will be available on the Web at www.finishline.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The company has experienced, and expects to continue to experience, significant variability in net sales, net income (loss) and comparable store net sales from quarter to quarter. Therefore, the results of the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other future period or year.

Certain statements contained in this press release regard matters that are not historical facts and are forward looking statements (as such term is defined in the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended). Because such forward looking statements contain risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward looking statements.

Factors that could cause results of the company to differ materially include, but are not limited to: changing consumer preferences; the company’s inability to successfully market its footwear, apparel, accessories and other merchandise; price, product and other competition from other retailers (including internet and direct manufacturer sales); the unavailability of products; the inability to locate and obtain favorable lease terms for the company’s stores; the loss of key employees; the effect of economic conditions including current conditions in the financial services industry, depressed demand in the housing market and unemployment rates; management of growth, the outcome of litigation, and the other risks detailed in the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

The Company expects to report Q3 results on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 after the market closes followed by a live conference call on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at approximately 8:30 a.m. EDT.

About Finish Line

The Finish Line, Inc. is a premium athletic footwear store and one of the nation’s largest mall-based specialty retailers, offering a large selection of performance and sport-style footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and kids. The Finish Line, Inc. is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol FINL. The company operates 680 Finish Line stores in 47 states and offers online shopping at www.finishline.com.