Office Depot Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP): GAAP Diluted EPS up 41% vs. Q4 Last Year Adjusted, Diluted EPS up 42% vs. Q4 Last Year Twelfth Consecutive Quarter of Positive North American Retail Comps Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, today announced fourth quarter and year end results for the fiscal period ended December 30, 2006. FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS 1 Total Company sales for the fourth quarter grew 3% to $3.8 billion compared to the fourth quarter of 2005. Excluding the 53rd week of 2005, sales increased 8% as compared to the prior year. North American Retail comparable store sales were up 1% for the quarter, the twelfth consecutive quarter of positive comp sales. Net earnings for the quarter were $135 million compared to $106 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Diluted earnings per share were $0.48 in the fourth quarter of 2006 versus $0.34 in the same period a year ago. Excluding certain items in both periods (primarily Charges and the effect of the 53rd week in 2005), net earnings as adjusted increased to $152 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 from $117 million in 2005. Diluted earnings per share as adjusted increased 42% to $0.54 in the fourth quarter of 2006 from $0.38 in the same period last year1. For the quarter, operating profit as a percentage of sales was 4.7% compared to 3.7% in the prior year. Operating profit margin, as adjusted for the items described above, increased 40 basis points to 5.3% from 4.9% in the prior year. This improvement resulted from a reduction in operating expense ratio which reflects leverage on higher sales and cost efficiencies realized. In the fourth quarter, Office Depot repurchased approximately 2.4 million shares of common stock for $100 million under the repurchase programs previously approved by the Board of Directors. At the end of the quarter, approximately $200 million remained authorized for future repurchases. Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) for the year, as adjusted, improved 300 basis points to 15.6% as compared to 12.6% in the prior year. Return on Equity (ROE), as adjusted, increased 730 basis points to 21.9% for the year compared to 14.6% for the same period of 2005. "We are pleased with the performance of our business in the fourth quarter,” said Steve Odland, Office Depot’s Chairman and CEO. "The strategic initiatives that we have implemented have led to sales growth in each of our Divisions as well as lower operating expenses and expanded total company margins. This overall growth in sales and operating margin expansion was realized despite a highly promotional holiday retail environment and reduced technology sales due to the impending release of Microsoft® Windows Vista™ at the end of January. This reflects the strength of our overall business model.” FOURTH QUARTER DIVISION RESULTS North American Retail Division Fourth quarter sales in the North American Retail Division were $1.7 billion, approximately even with the same period last year. However, sales increased 7% over the prior year after consideration of the impact of the 53rd week in 2005. Comparable store sales in the 1,036 stores in the U.S. and Canada that have been open for more than one year increased 1% in the fourth quarter, lapping a high 5% comp from the prior year. This represents the 12th consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales. Comparable sales are more influenced in the fourth quarter by consumer holiday spending versus our more traditional business customer sales and were impacted in 2006 by a heavily promotional consumer sales environment coupled with a lapping of the influence from 2005 hurricane recovery sales that helped boost sales in the fourth quarter of 2005. Also, the growth in private brand products, while more profitable, reduced comps due to their lower average selling price than branded comparisons. The North American Retail Division had an operating profit of $122 million for the fourth quarter of 2006, up from $103 million in the same period of the prior year. Gross profit, expressed as a percent of sales, improved over last year, in part reflecting an expansion in product margins driven by category management and an increase in private brand sales from both growth in existing products and the introduction of new products across many categories. The Division also had lower payroll and related costs as a percent of sales, reflecting improvements in store operating efficiencies. During the quarter, Office Depot continued to accelerate the pace of store expansions and remodels by opening 39 new stores (115 for the year) and remodeling 63 (176 in 2006). These activities raised operating expenses by 30 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year. Despite these cost pressures, operating profit margin improved 120 basis points to 7.1% in the quarter from 5.9% in the prior year period. At the end of the fourth quarter, Office Depot operated a total of 1,158 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. Inventory per store was $935 thousand as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2006. This is lower than the prior year and normal seasonal levels due to winter storms in the Western U.S. which impacted late quarter replenishment efforts, and lack of supply of computers pre-Microsoft® Windows Vista™ launch. North American Business Solutions Division Sales in the North American Business Solutions Division increased by 1% compared to the fourth quarter of last year. However, sales increased 10% over the prior year after consideration of the impact of the 53rd week in 2005. From a channel perspective, fourth quarter 2006 revenue reflects "like for like” sales growth of 21% in the contract channel (including the recent Allied acquisition) which more than offset expected declines in the direct selling channel from the Division’s brand consolidation which deliberately reduced some unprofitable business. The North American Business Solutions Division operating profit was $72 million for the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to $108 million for the same period of the prior year. Operating margins declined in the fourth quarter of 2006 reflecting temporarily higher expense levels associated with the integration of the Allied acquisition, continued investment in the expansion of both the contract sales force (which accelerated late in the fourth quarter of 2005), as well as telephone account managers, and implementation costs associated with a new delivery initiative. These expenses, which significantly raised operating costs in the fourth quarter, were the primary contributors to the short term margin erosion and are expected to moderate over the next few quarters. For example, the Division will lap the accelerated levels of investment in the contract sales force as it enters 2007, and should see a reduction in the costs associated with the telephone account management program expansion as well as benefits from the fully integrated Allied acquisition as those activities were substantially complete at the end of 2006. International Division Sales in the International Division increased 13% in U.S. dollars compared to the fourth quarter of 2005. Local currency sales also increased 13% over the prior year after consideration of the impact of the 53rd week in 2005. Importantly, all channels contributed positive growth and the Division has realized its fourth straight quarter of sales growth in local currencies. Division operating profit was $77 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to $57 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter. Operating profit margin expanded by 120 basis points to 7.6% in the fourth quarter of 2006 from 6.4% in the same period of 2005, as modest gross margin pressures experienced from a shift in sales mix were more than offset by continued improvements in operating expenses and leverage achieved from higher sales. As expected, acquisitions completed during the year did not dilute Division operating income. Other Matters During the fourth quarter of 2006, Office Depot completed the sale and short-term leaseback of its existing corporate headquarters in anticipation of the late 2008 completion of its new headquarters. That sale resulted in a net pre-tax gain of $15.7 million (net of debt retirement charge). Additionally, the company recorded a $16.5 million charge associated with the pending settlement of a legal matter. Both of these items have been included as part of the adjustments to the fourth quarter results. FULL YEAR RESULTS For the year, sales were $15 billion, an increase of 5% from the prior year. Excluding the 53rd week of 2005, sales for the year increased 6% as compared to 2005. Comparable sales for the year in the North American Retail Division increased by 2%. Net earnings for 2006 were $516 million compared to $274 million in 2005. Diluted earnings per share were $1.79 in 2006 versus $0.87 last year. Excluding certain items in both years (primarily Charges and the effect of the 53rd week in 2005), net earnings as adjusted increased to $558 million in 2006 from $444 million in 2005. Diluted earnings per share as adjusted increased 38% to $1.94 for the year from $1.41 in 2005. For the year, operating profit as a percentage of sales was 4.9% compared to an operating profit of 2.4% in the prior year. Operating profit margin, as adjusted, increased 90 basis points to 5.3% from 4.4%. This improvement resulted from a 20 basis point expansion in gross profit margin and a 70 basis point reduction in our operating expense ratio which reflects leverage on higher sales and cost efficiencies. Non-GAAP Reconciliation A reconciliation of GAAP results to non-GAAP results excluding certain items is presented in this release and also may be accessed on our corporate website, www.officedepot.com, under the category Company Info. Conference Call Information Office Depot will hold a conference call for investors and analysts at 9 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) today. The conference call will be available to all investors via Web cast at http://investor.officedepot.com. Interested parties may contact Investor Relations at 561-438-7893 for further information. About Office Depot Office Depot provides more office products and services to more customers in more countries than any other company. Incorporated in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Office Depot has annual sales of over $15 billion, and employs approximately 52,000 associates around the world. Currently, the Company sells to customers directly or through affiliates in 42 countries. Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel -- from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. As of December 30, 2006, Office Depot had 1,158 retail stores in North America and another 348 stores, either company-owned, licensed or franchised, in other parts of the world. Office Depot serves a wide range of customers through a dedicated sales force, telephone account managers, direct mail offerings, and multiple web sites. With $4.3 billion in online sales during the last twelve months, the Company is also one of the world’s largest e-commerce retailers. Office Depot’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP and is included in the S&P 500 Index. Additional press information can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including without limitation all of the projections and anticipated levels of future performance, involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time by Office Depot in its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC”), including without limitation its most recent filing on Form 10-K, filed on February 14, 2007 and its 10-Q and 8-K filings made from time to time. You are strongly urged to review all such filings for a more detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties. The Company’s SEC filings are readily obtainable at no charge at www.sec.gov and at www.freeEDGAR.com, as well as on a number of other commercial web sites. OFFICE DEPOT, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)   As of As of December 30, December 31, 2006  2005  Assets   Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 173,552  $ 703,197  Short-term investments --  200  Receivables, net 1,480,316  1,232,107  Inventories, net 1,559,981  1,360,274  Deferred income taxes 124,345  136,998  Prepaid expenses and other current assets 116,931  97,286    Total current assets 3,455,125  3,530,062    Property and equipment, net 1,424,967  1,311,737  Goodwill 1,198,886  881,182  Other assets 491,124  375,544  Total assets $ 6,570,102  $ 6,098,525    Liabilities and stockholders’ equity   Current liabilities: Trade accounts payable $ 1,561,784  $ 1,324,198  Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 1,224,565  979,796  Income taxes payable 135,448  117,487  Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt 48,130  47,270    Total current liabilities 2,969,927  2,468,751    Deferred income taxes and other long-term liabilities 403,289  321,455  Long-term debt, net of current maturities 570,752  569,098  Minority interest 16,023  --    Commitments and contingencies   Stockholders' equity: Common stock - authorized 800,000,000 shares of $.01 par value; issued and outstanding shares - 426,177,619 in 2006 and 419,812,671 in 2005   4,262  4,198  Additional paid-in capital 1,700,976  1,517,373  Accumulated other comprehensive income 295,253  140,745  Retained earnings 3,383,202  2,867,067  Treasury stock, at cost – 149,778,235 shares in 2006 and 122,787,210 shares in 2005 (2,773,582) (1,790,162) Total stockholders’ equity 2,610,111  2,739,221  Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 6,570,102  $ 6,098,525  OFFICE DEPOT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) 13 Weeks Ended 14 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended December 30, December 31, December 30, December 31, 2006  2005  2006  2005  Sales $ 3,843,030  $ 3,719,101  $ 15,010,781  $ 14,278,944  Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs 2,642,377  2,561,579  10,343,141  9,886,921    Gross profit 1,200,653  1,157,522  4,667,640  4,392,023    Store and warehouse operating and selling expenses 862,296  834,537  3,296,443  3,243,935  Asset impairments 7,450  11,581  7,450  133,483  General and administrative expenses 173,582  174,097  651,696  666,563  Gain on sale of building (21,432) --  (21,432) --    Operating profit 178,757  137,307  733,483  348,042    Other income (expense): Interest income 382  4,672  9,828  22,204  Interest expense (7,693) (242) (40,830) (32,380) Loss on extinguishment of debt (5,715) --  (5,715) --  Miscellaneous income, net 10,119  5,718  30,565  23,649    Earnings before income taxes 175,850  147,455  727,331  361,515    Income taxes 40,810  41,189  211,196  87,723    Net earnings $ 135,040  $ 106,266  $ 516,135  $ 273,792      Earnings per common share: Basic $ 0.49  $ 0.35  $ 1.83  $ 0.88  Diluted 0.48  0.34  1.79  0.87    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 274,895  302,009  281,618  310,020  Diluted 280,351  308,046  287,722  315,242  OFFICE DEPOT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)   52 Weeks 53 Weeks Ended Ended December 30, December 31, 2006  2005  Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 516,135  $ 273,792  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:   Depreciation and amortization 279,005  268,098  Charges for losses on inventories and receivables 85,610  92,136  Net earnings from equity method investments (27,125) (23,394) Compensation expense for share-based payments 39,889  49,328  Deferred income tax provision (8,215) (109,946) Gain on disposition of assets (23,948) (7,947) Facility closure costs and impairment charges --  47,166  Asset impairments 7,450  133,483  Other operating activities (1,704) 10,563  Changes in assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in receivables (128,558) 4,397  Increase in inventories (176,251) (49,096) Net (increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets (23,212) 24,605  Net increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and deferred credits 287,999  (77,315) Total adjustments 310,940  362,078  Net cash provided by operating activities 827,075  635,870    Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of short-term investments (961,450) (2,037,015) Sales of short-term investments 961,650  2,196,962  Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (248,319) --  Capital expenditures (343,415) (260,773) Proceeds from disposition of assets and deposits received 105,036  48,629  Other 1,345  --  Net cash used in investing activities (485,153) (52,197)   Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans 101,034  175,898  Tax benefit from employee share-based exercises 43,355  23,024  Acquisition of treasury stock under approved repurchase plans (970,640) (815,236) Treasury stock additions from employee related plans (12,796) --  Proceeds from issuance of borrowings 8,494  24,490  Payments on long- and short-term borrowings (58,545) (38,901) Net cash used in financing activities (889,098) (630,725)   Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 17,531  (43,478)   Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (529,645) (90,530) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 703,197  793,727  Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 173,552  $ 703,197  OFFICE DEPOT, INC. Comparative Trailing Four Quarters Data and GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations (Unaudited) Total Company Trailing 4 Quarters (Dollars in millions) December 30, December 31, 2006  2005  Change Sales $ 15,010.8  $ 14,278.9  5%   EBIT1 $ 758.3  $ 371.7  104% % of sales 5.1% 2.6% 250 bps EBIT – as adjusted1 $ 822.4  $ 653.8  26% % of sales 5.5% 4.6% 90 bps   Net earnings $ 516.1  $ 273.8  88% Net earnings – as adjusted1 $ 558.3  $ 443.8  26%   Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 1.79  $ 0.87  106% Diluted Earnings Per Share – as adjusted1 $ 1.94  $ 1.41  38%   EBITDA – as adjusted1 $ 1,101.4  $ 921.9  19% % of sales 7.3% 6.5% 80 bps   Return on Equity (ROE) – as adjusted1 21.9% 14.6% 730 bps   Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) – as adjusted1 15.6% 12.6% 300 bps   Average shares 287.7  315.2  -9% 1EBIT and EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures; EBIT – as adjusted and EBITDA – as adjusted exclude the Charges, as well as a gain on building sale and legal settlement. (bps = basis points) The Company is committed to measuring and reporting results in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP”). However, management also recognizes that some financial measures other than those prepared in accordance with GAAP ("non-GAAP”) can provide meaningful and useful information about performance and allow for an informed assessment of possible future performance. Certain non-GAAP performance measures (e.g. EBIT and ROIC) are used to determine variable pay awards throughout our Company. Non-GAAP measures in these tables exclude certain charges ("Charges”) that are important and required under GAAP but that may not clearly convey the on-going results of operating the business, including Division performance, during the period. Initially, management reviewed financial results both with and without Charges. During the third quarter of 2006, we concluded that the Divisional information provided to our chief operating decision maker excluded Charges. Accordingly, our external measure of Division operating profit is consistent with this internal view. These measures also exclude a gain on sale of a building and a legal settlement, both recognized in the fourth quarter of 2006. OFFICE DEPOT, INC. GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations   The non-GAAP numbers presented along with the most closely related GAAP numbers, and the reconciliations are provided in the following tables. ($ in millions)   Q4 2006   GAAP % of Sales Charges and Other Adjustments   Non-GAAP % of Sales Gross Profit $ 1,200.7  31.2% $ 0.1  $ 1,200.8  31.2% Operating Expenses $ 1,021.9  26.6% $ (25.9) $ 996.0  25.9% Operating Profit $ 178.8  4.7% $ 26.0  $ 204.8  5.3% Net Earnings $ 135.0  3.5% $ 16.7  $ 151.7  3.9% Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.48  $ 0.06  $ 0.54    Q4 2005   GAAP % of Sales Charges and Other Adjustments   Non-GAAP % of Sales Gross Profit $ 1,157.5  31.1% $ 1.9  $ 1,159.4  31.2% Operating Expenses $ 1,020.2  27.4% $ (43.4) $ 976.8  26.3% Operating Profit $ 137.3  3.7% $ 45.3  $ 182.6  4.9% Net Earnings1 $ 106.3  2.9% $ 10.8  $ 117.1  3.1% Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.34  $ 0.04  $ 0.38    YTD 2006   GAAP % of Sales Charges and Other Adjustments   Non-GAAP % of Sales Gross Profit $ 4,667.6  31.1% $ 0.9  $ 4,668.5  31.1% Operating Expenses $ 3,934.1  26.2% $ (57.4) $ 3,876.7  25.8% Operating Profit $ 733.5  4.9% $ 58.3  $ 791.8  5.3% Net Earnings $ 516.1  3.4% $ 42.2  $ 558.3  3.7% Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 1.79  $ 0.15  $ 1.94    YTD 2005   GAAP % of Sales Charges and Other Adjustments   Non-GAAP % of Sales Gross Profit $ 4,392.0  30.8% $ 19.7  $ 4,411.7  30.9% Operating Expenses $ 4,044.0  28.3% $ (262.4) $ 3,781.6  26.5% Operating Profit $ 348.0  2.4% $ 282.1  $ 630.1  4.4% Net Earnings1 $ 273.8  1.9% $ 170.0  $ 443.8  3.1% Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.87  $ 0.54  $ 1.41  1Includes a $15.5 million adjustment to remove the impact of the 53rd week in 2005. Office Depot, Inc. DIVISION INFORMATION (Unaudited)   North American Retail Division   Fourth Quarter Year-to-Date (Dollars in millions) 2006  2005  2006  2005    Sales $ 1,723.2  $ 1,725.0  $ 6,789.4  $ 6,510.2  % change  0% 15% 4% 10%   Division operating profit $ 122.4  $ 102.6  $ 473.9  $ 393.6  % of sales 7.1% 5.9% 7.0% 6.0% North American Business Solutions Division Fourth Quarter Year-to-Date (Dollars in millions) 2006  2005  2006  2005    Sales $ 1,110.5  $ 1,103.0  $ 4,576.8  $ 4,300.8  % change  1% 11% 6% 6%   Division operating profit $ 72.3  $ 107.7  $ 367.7  $ 350.8  % of sales 6.5% 9.8% 8.0% 8.2% International Division Fourth Quarter Year-to-Date (Dollars in millions) 2006  2005  2006  2005    Sales $ 1,009.4  $ 891.9  $ 3,644.6  $ 3,470.9  % change  13% (8)% 5% (3)%   Division operating profit $ 76.8  $ 57.1  $ 249.2  $ 207.5  % of sales 7.6% 6.4% 6.8% 6.0% Division operating profit excludes Charges from the Division performance, as those Charges are evaluated at a corporate level. Office Depot, Inc. SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA (Unaudited) Other Selected Financial Information (In thousands, except operational data) 52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended December 30, 2006 December 31, 2005   Cumulative share repurchases under approved repurchase plans ($): $ 970,640  $ 815,236    Cumulative share repurchases under approved repurchase plans (shares): 26,417  29,842    Shares outstanding, end of quarter 276,399  297,025    Amount authorized for future share repurchases, end of quarter ($): $ 199,747  Selected Operating Highlights 13 Weeks Ended 14 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended December 30, December 31, December 30, December 31, 2006  2005  2006  2005  Store Statistics   United States and Canada: Store count: Stores opened 39  41  115  100  Stores closed 2  3  4  22  Stores relocated 2  1  7  6  Total U.S. and Canada stores 1,158  1,047  1,158  1,047    North American Retail Division square footage: 28,520,269  26,261,318  Average square footage per NAR store 24,629  25,082  Average sales per square foot $246  $248  $252  $251  Inventory per store (end of period) $935  $969  International Division company-owned: Store count: Stores opened 5  2  13  6  Stores closed --  8  --  14  Stores acquired --  --  42  --  Total International company-owned stores 125  70  125  70  1 Includes non-GAAP information. Fourth quarter and full year include impacts of previously announced programs, a legal settlement and gain on building sale ("Charges” or "Charges and Other Adjustments”). Additional information is provided in our Form 10-K filings. Reconciliations from GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures can be found in this release, as well as on the corporate web site, www.officedepot.com, under the category Investor Relations.