SIGNET JEWELERS LTD (SIG) FY 2025 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The discussion and analysis in this Item 7 is intended to provide the reader with information that will assist in understanding the significant factors affecting the Company’s consolidated operating results, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. This discussion contains forward-looking statements and information. The Company's actual results could materially differ from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to those differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this report, particularly in “Forward-Looking Statements” above as well as the “Risk Factors” section within Item 1A.
This management's discussion and analysis provides comparisons of material changes in the consolidated financial statements for Fiscal 2025 and Fiscal 2024. For a comparison of Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, refer to Item 7 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2024 filed with the SEC on March 21, 2024.
OVERVIEW
Overall performance
Signet’s sales decreased by 5.8% during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025 compared to the same period in Fiscal 2024. During the fourth quarter, the Company saw positive factors in bridal units, overall merchandise average unit retail (“AUR”) in both bridal and fashion, based on the continued newness of the product offering, and strong performance in services which continues to outpace merchandise. However, these favorable impacts were more than offset by merchandise assortment gaps at key gifting price points during the Holiday Season, as well as the impact of store closures and the impact of the 14th week compared to prior year fourth quarter. The fourth quarter was also unfavorably impacted by lower traffic post re-platforming related to search engine optimization at the Digital brands. During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025, the Company’s AUR increased by 7.9% in the North America reportable segment and increased by 7.0% in the International reportable segment. The AUR in North America was bolstered by the newness in Signet’s product assortment, particularly in fashion, which was able to offset the impacts of competitive pricing pressure, particularly in bridal. Same store sales in the International reportable segment were down 1.5% in the fourth quarter driven by lower units compared to prior year. Reported sales in the fourth quarter were also partially impacted by the previously disclosed divestiture of the UK prestige watch business in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024, which carried products at high price points.
Refer to the “Results of Operations” section below for additional information on performance during the fourth quarter and full year Fiscal 2025.
Grow Brand Love strategy
In Fiscal 2026, the Company launched its Grow Brand Love strategy. This transformative strategy focuses on accelerating growth and builds on a strong core foundation to create shareholder value. In addition, this strategy emphasizes style and product innovation, captivating experiences, and Brand loyalty while harnessing centralized core capabilities. The Company has identified three strategic imperatives as part of the Grow Brand Love framework: shifting from banners to Brand mindset; growing our core business and expanding into adjacent categories; and organizational realignment to accelerate strategy execution.
See the Purpose & Strategy section within Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.
Fiscal 2026 Outlook
The Company anticipates same store sales to be down 2.5% to up 1.5% for Fiscal 2026 providing some variability in an uncertain consumer spending environment. The Company believes it can continue to make progress on gifting and bridal at key price points and capitalize on the growth of engagements seen in January and in the first quarter to date in Fiscal 2026. The Company believes that under its new Grow Brand Love strategy it can grow through style and product innovation, captivating customer experiences, and building Brand loyalty, while harnessing and building on centralized core capabilities and leveraging the benefits of its scale through its new optimized structure. The Company will also be leaning into the largest and fastest growing segment of the jewelry market by accelerating its presence in self-purchase and gifting while working to expand its share in core bridal.
The Company continues to monitor the impacts of certain macroeconomic factors on its business, such as inflation and the Russia-Ukraine and Middle East conflicts. Signet operates quality control and technology centers in Israel, and to date, these operations have not been impacted by the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East. While the Company currently does not expect disruptions to its operations in Israel to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, the Company will continue to closely monitor this conflict and any impacts on its business, as well as its team members in Israel. Uncertainties exist that could impact the Company’s results of operations or cash flows in the future, such as competitive pricing pressure, including lab-grown diamonds, continued inflationary impacts to the Company (including, but not limited to, materials, labor, fulfillment and advertising costs) or adverse shifts in consumer discretionary spending, slower than anticipated recovery of engagements, deterioration of consumer credit, supply chain disruptions to the Company’s business, the Company’s ability to recruit and retain qualified team members, or organized retail crime and its impact to mall traffic. In addition, the Company will monitor potential impacts of changes to US economic policy, including taxes and tariffs, as a result of the new administration. See “Forward-Looking Statements” above as well as the “Risk Factors” section within Item 1A.
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Market and operating conditions
The Company faces a highly competitive and dynamic retail landscape throughout the geographies where it does business, as well as a challenging global macro-economic environment as described above impacting the jewelry industry. Refer to Item 1 for additional information on the Company’s business, markets and strategy.
Exchange translation impact
Monthly average exchange rates are used to prepare the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. In Fiscal 2026, it is anticipated a five percent movement in the British pound to US dollar exchange rate would impact the Company’s income before income taxes by approximately $0.2 million, while a five percent movement in the Canadian dollar to US dollar exchange rate would impact the Company’s income before income taxes by approximately $0.6 million.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Fiscal 2025 Overview
Similar to many other retailers, Signet follows the retail 4-4-5 reporting calendar, which included an extra week in the fourth quarter and fiscal year periods of Fiscal 2024 (the “14th week” and “53rd week”, respectively). The extra week added $103.2 million in sales in the fourth quarter and full year Fiscal 2024. Fiscal 2025 was a 52-week reporting period.
Same store sales
Management considers same store sales useful as it is a major benchmark used by investors to judge performance within the retail industry. Same store sales is calculated by comparison of sales in stores that were open in both the current and the prior fiscal year. Sales from stores that have been open for less than 12 months are excluded from the comparison until their 12-month anniversary. Similarly, sales from acquired businesses made within the last 12 months are excluded from the comparison until their 12-month anniversary. Sales from stores that were acquired during the period and have not been included in the Company’s results for both the current and prior period presented are also excluded from same store sales. Sales after the 12-month anniversary are compared against the equivalent prior period sales within the comparable store sales comparison. Stores closed in the current financial period are included up to the date of closure and the comparative period is correspondingly adjusted. Stores that have been relocated or expanded, but remain within the same local geographic area, are included within the comparison with no adjustment to either the current or comparative period. Stores that have been refurbished are also included within the comparison except for the period when the refurbishment was taking place, when those stores are excluded from the comparison both for the current year and for the comparative period. Same store sales are also impacted by certain accounting adjustments to sales, primarily related to the deferral of revenue from the Company’s extended service plans.
eCommerce sales include all sales with customers that originate online, including direct to customer, ship to store, and BOPIS. eCommerce sales are included in the calculation of same store sales for the period and the comparative figures from the 12-month anniversary of the launch of the relevant website. Brick and mortar same store sales are calculated by removing the eCommerce sales from the same store sales calculation described above. Comparisons at the divisional level are made in local currency and consolidated comparisons are made at constant exchange rates and exclude the effect of exchange rate movements by recalculating the prior period results as if they had been generated at the weighted average exchange rate for the current period.
The 14th and 53rd weeks are excluded from same store sales in the fiscal year in which it occurs. In the subsequent fiscal year, same store sales is calculated by aligning the sales weeks of the current period to the equivalent sales weeks in the prior fiscal year period.
Cost of sales and gross margin
Cost of sales consists primarily of the following expense categories:
•Merchandise costs, net of discounts and allowances;
•Cost of services, including the cost of replacement components, repair supplies and related compensation and benefits for employees directly associated with performing the service;
•Store operating and occupancy costs such as rent, utilities, real estate taxes, repairs and maintenance (including common area maintenance), depreciation and amortization; and
•Distribution and inventory-related costs, including freight, processing, inventory scrap, shrinkage and related compensation and benefits.
As the classification of cost of sales or selling, general and administrative expenses varies from retailer to retailer, Signet’s gross margin percentage may not be directly comparable to other retailers.
Factors that influence gross margin include pricing, promotional environment, changes in merchandise costs, changes in non-merchandise components of cost of sales (as described above), changes in sales mix, foreign exchange, and the economics of services such as repairs and extended service plans. The price of diamonds varies depending on their size, cut, color and clarity.
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Signet primarily uses an average cost inventory methodology and, as jewelry inventory turns slowly, the impact of movements in inventory costs takes time to be fully reflected in gross margin. Signet’s inventory turns faster in the fourth quarter, therefore, changes in the cost of merchandise are more impactful on the gross margin in that quarter. An increase in inventory turnover would accelerate the rate at which commodity costs impact gross margin.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”)
SG&A is mostly composed of store staff and store administrative costs as well as advertising and promotional costs. It also includes centralized administrative expenses such as information technology, credit costs and other administrative operating expenses not specifically categorized elsewhere in the consolidated statements of operations.
The primary drivers of staffing costs are the number of full-time equivalent team members and the level of compensation, payroll taxes, benefits and incentives. Management varies, on a store by store basis, the hours worked based on the expected level of selling activity, subject to minimum staffing levels required to operate the store. Non-store staffing levels are less variable. A significant element of compensation is performance-based and is primarily dependent on sales and operating profit.
The level of advertising expenditures can vary year over year. In order to evolve its marketing allocations based on consumer habits, business needs, and maximize return on its advertising investments, the Company primarily focuses its spend on digital and social marking, supplemented by targeted national television advertising.
Other operating (expense) income, net
Other operating (expense) income, net primarily consists of miscellaneous operating income and expense items such as litigation settlements, restructuring charges, gains or losses on the sale of assets (including divestitures), foreign currency gains and losses, and gains and losses from undesignated derivative contracts. See Note 21 in Item 8 for further detail on the Company’s other operating (expense) income, net.
Comparison of Fiscal 2025 to Prior Year
| Fiscal 2025 | Fiscal 2024 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | $ | % of sales | $ | % of sales | |||||||||
| Sales | $ | 6,703.8 | 100.0 | % | $ | 7,171.1 | 100.0 | % | |||||
| Cost of sales | (4,078.2) | (60.8) | (4,345.7) | (60.6) | |||||||||
| Gross margin | 2,625.6 | 39.2 | 2,825.4 | 39.4 | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (2,122.6) | (31.7) | (2,197.7) | (30.6) | |||||||||
| Asset impairments, net | (372.0) | (5.5) | (9.1) | (0.1) | |||||||||
| Other operating (expense) income, net | (20.3) | (0.3) | 2.9 | — | |||||||||
| Operating income | 110.7 | 1.7 | 621.5 | 8.7 | |||||||||
| Interest income, net | 9.8 | 0.1 | 18.7 | 0.3 | |||||||||
| Other non-operating income (expense), net | 3.7 | 0.1 | (0.4) | — | |||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 124.2 | 1.9 | 639.8 | 8.9 | |||||||||
| Income taxes | (63.0) | (0.9) | 170.6 | 2.4 | |||||||||
| Net income | 61.2 | 0.9 | 810.4 | 11.3 | |||||||||
| Dividends on redeemable convertible preferred shares | (96.8) | (1.4) | (34.5) | (0.5) | |||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders | $ | (35.6) | (0.5) | % | $ | 775.9 | 10.8 | % | |||||
| Diluted (loss) earnings per share | $ | (0.81) | nm | $ | 15.01 | nm |
nm Not meaningful.
Fiscal year sales
Signet’s total sales decreased 6.5% to $6.70 billion compared to $7.17 billion in the prior year. Signet’s same store sales decreased 3.4%, compared to a decrease of 11.6% in the prior year. These declines were driven primarily by a slower than expected engagement recovery, store closures and the prestige watch divestiture in the UK, integration challenges at the Digital brands in the first half of the year, the impact of the macro environment on consumer spending, and the impact of the 53rd week as noted above.
eCommerce sales year to date were $1.52 billion, down $118.7 million or 7.2% compared to $1.64 billion in the prior year. eCommerce sales accounted for 22.7% of year to date sales, down slightly from 22.9% of total sales in the prior year. The decrease in total eCommerce sales was driven by the challenges in the Digital brands noted above. Brick and mortar same store sales decreased 2.9% when compared with the prior period.
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The breakdown of the year to date sales performance by reportable segment is set out in the table below:
| Change from previous year | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal 2025 | Same store sales (1) | Non-same store sales, net | Impact of 53rd week on total sales | Total sales at constant exchange rate (2) | Exchange translation impact | Total sales as reported | Total reported sales (in millions) | |||||||||||||
| North America reportable segment | (3.6) | % | (0.9) | % | (1.5) | % | (6.0) | % | — | % | (6.0) | % | $ | 6,299.1 | ||||||
| International reportable segment | (0.5) | % | (12.9) | % | (1.6) | % | (15.0) | % | 1.6 | % | (13.4) | % | $ | 373.2 | ||||||
| Other reportable segment (3) | nm | nm | nm | nm | nm | nm | $ | 31.5 | ||||||||||||
| Signet | (3.4) | % | (1.7) | % | (1.5) | % | (6.6) | % | 0.1 | % | (6.5) | % | $ | 6,703.8 |
(1) The 53rd week in Fiscal 2024 has resulted in a shift as the current fiscal year began a week later than the previous fiscal year. As described above, Fiscal 2025 same store sales have been calculated by aligning the sales weeks of the current year to date period to the equivalent sales weeks in the prior fiscal year. Total reported sales continue to be calculated based on the reported fiscal periods.
(2) The Company provides the period-over-period change in total sales excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, which is a non-GAAP measure, to provide transparency to performance and enhance investors’ understanding of underlying business trends. The effect from foreign currency, calculated on a constant currency basis, is determined by applying current year average exchange rates to prior year sales in local currency.
(3) Includes sales from Signet’s diamond sourcing operation.
nm Not meaningful.
AUR is an operating metric defined as merchandise sales divided by merchandise units. The AUR is measured each period based on the reported sales for the corresponding period presented.
North America sales
The North America reportable segment’s total sales were $6.30 billion compared to $6.70 billion in the prior year, down 6.0%. This decrease was primarily driven by the impact of the macro environment on consumer spending, integration challenges at the Digital brands during the first half of the year, the impact of the 53rd week as noted above, and the decline in the bridal category, driven by the slower than expected engagement recovery. Same store sales decreased 3.6% compared to a decrease of 11.9% in the prior year. North America’s AUR increased 3.3% compared to the prior year, from $390 to $403, while the number of units decreased 7.4%.
International sales
The International reportable segment’s total sales decreased 13.4%, or 15.0% at constant exchange rates, to $373.2 million compared to $430.7 million in the prior year, primarily due to the impact of the divestiture of the prestige watch business in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024 and the impact of store closures. The number of units decreased 8.0% and AUR decreased 2.8% over prior year.
Fourth quarter sales
Signet’s total sales decreased 5.8% year over year to $2.4 billion in the fourth quarter. Same store sales decreased 1.1%, compared to a decrease of 9.6% in the prior year quarter. These decreases were primarily the result of merchandise assortment gaps at key gifting price points, which were partially offset by increased AUR in fashion and bridal. Additionally, the decrease in total reported sales was also impacted by store closures and the impact of the 14th week as noted above.
eCommerce sales in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025 were $562.3 million, down $31.1 million or 5.2% compared to $593.4 million in the prior year fourth quarter, primarily due to lower traffic post re-platforming related to search engine optimization at the Digital brands noted above. eCommerce sales accounted for 23.9% of fourth quarter sales, up slightly from 23.8% of total sales in the prior year fourth quarter. Brick and mortar same store sales decreased 1.4% from the prior year fourth quarter.
The breakdown of the fourth quarter sales performance by reportable segment is set out in the table below:
| Change from previous year | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2025 | Same store sales (1) | Non-same store sales, net | Impact of 14th week on total sales | Total sales at constant exchange rate (2) | Exchange translation impact | Total sales as reported | Total reported sales (in millions) | |||||||||||||
| North America reportable segment | (1.1) | % | (0.7) | % | (3.6) | % | (5.4) | % | (0.2) | % | (5.6) | % | $ | 2,219.5 | ||||||
| International reportable segment | (1.5) | % | (3.9) | % | (5.6) | % | (11.0) | % | 0.1 | % | (10.9) | % | $ | 126.2 | ||||||
| Other reportable segment (3) | nm | nm | nm | nm | nm | nm | $ | 6.9 | ||||||||||||
| Signet | (1.1) | % | (0.9) | % | (3.7) | % | (5.7) | % | (0.1) | % | (5.8) | % | $ | 2,352.6 |
(1) The 53rd week in Fiscal 2024 has resulted in a shift as the current fiscal year began a week later than the previous fiscal year. As described above, fourth quarter Fiscal 2025 same store sales have been calculated by aligning the sales weeks of the current quarter to the equivalent sales weeks in the prior fiscal year quarter. Total reported sales continue to be calculated based on the reported fiscal periods.
(2) The Company provides the period-over-period change in total sales excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, which is a non-GAAP measure, to provide transparency to performance and enhance investors’ understanding of underlying business trends. The effect from foreign currency, calculated on a constant currency basis, is determined by applying current year average exchange rates to prior year sales in local currency.
(3) Includes sales from Signet’s diamond sourcing operation.
nm Not meaningful.
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North America sales
The North America reportable segment’s total sales were $2.2 billion compared to $2.4 billion in the prior year quarter, or a decrease of 5.6%. This decrease was primarily the result of merchandise assortment gaps at key gifting price points, which were partially offset by increased AUR in fashion and bridal. The number of units decreased 8.5% year over year. Additionally, the decrease in total reported sales was also impacted by the 14th week as noted above. Same store sales decreased 1.1% compared to a decrease of 10.0% from the prior year quarter.
International sales
The International reportable segment’s total sales decreased 10.9%, or 11.0% at constant exchange rates, to $126.2 million compared to $141.7 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to the impact of store closures. The number of units decreased 6.1% and AUR increased 7.0% year over year. Same store sales decreased 1.5% compared to a decrease of 1.0% in the prior year quarter.
Gross margin
Gross margin for Fiscal 2025 was $2.6 billion or 39.2% of sales compared to $2.8 billion or 39.4% of sales in Fiscal 2024. In the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025, gross margin was $1.00 billion or 42.6% of sales compared to $1.08 billion or 43.3% of sales in the prior year fourth quarter. The decrease in gross margin rate for both the Fiscal 2025 and fourth quarter comparative periods reflects the deleveraging of fixed costs on lower sales volume partially offset by higher merchandise margins, driven by increased AUR, growth in services, product newness and higher fashion penetration.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
SG&A for Fiscal 2025 was $2.12 billion or 31.7% of sales compared to $2.20 billion or 30.6% of sales in Fiscal 2024. In the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025 SG&A was $639.2 million or 27.2% of sales compared to $671.9 million or 26.9% of sales in the prior year fourth quarter. The increase in SG&A as a percentage of sales for both the Fiscal 2025 and fourth quarter comparative periods was driven by higher advertising expense and deleverage of fixed costs, primarily the fixed portion of labor. In addition, the second half of Fiscal 2025 included approximately $8.0 million of leadership transition costs, including $6.0 million in the fourth quarter.
Asset impairments, net
During Fiscal 2025, the Company recorded pre-tax asset impairments related to the impairment of long-lived assets and intangible assets of $372.0 million, of which $366.5 million was related to the impairment of the goodwill and indefinite-lived trade names for Diamonds Direct and the Digital brands and $5.5 million was related to the impairment of long-lived assets. During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025, the Company recorded pre-tax asset impairments of $202.7 million, primarily related to the impairment of the goodwill of the Digital brands and indefinite-lived trade names for the Digital brands and Diamonds Direct.
During Fiscal 2024, the Company recorded pre-tax asset impairments related to the impairment of long-lived assets and intangible assets of $9.1 million. During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024, the Company recorded pre-tax asset impairments of $3.4 million, primarily related to intangible assets.
See Note 14 of Item 8 for additional information on the asset impairments.
Other operating (expense) income, net
In Fiscal 2025, other operating expense was $20.3 million compared to income of $2.9 million in Fiscal 2024. Fiscal 2025 was primarily driven by restructuring charges of $11.5 million and foreign exchange losses of $2.2 million. Fiscal 2024 was primarily driven by the net gain on divestitures of $12.3 million partially offset by restructuring charges of $7.5 million and foreign exchange losses of $3.0 million.
In the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025, other operating expense was $7.1 million compared to income of $10.3 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024. The fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025 included restructuring charges of $0.5 million and foreign exchange losses of $0.8 million. The fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024 was primarily driven by the net gain on divestitures of $13.6 million partially offset by restructuring charges of $1.9 million.
See Note 4, Note 21 and Note 26 of Item 8 for additional information.
Operating income
In Fiscal 2025, operating income was $110.7 million or 1.7% of sales compared to $621.5 million or 8.7% of sales in Fiscal 2024. The decrease in the current year was primarily driven by the impact of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment charges, lower sales volume and higher advertising expense noted above, partially offset by cost savings initiatives.
In the fourth quarter, operating income was $152.6 million or 6.5% of sales compared to $416.3 million or 16.7% of sales in prior year fourth quarter. The decrease in the current year quarter was primarily driven by the impact of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment charges, lower sales volume and higher advertising expense noted above.
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North America operating income
In Fiscal 2025, operating income in the North America reportable segment was $173.7 million, or 2.8% of segment sales, and includes $371.7 million of asset impairment charges primarily related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, $6.9 million of restructuring and related charges and $1.3 million of leadership transition costs. In Fiscal 2024, operating income in the North America reportable segment was $677.0 million, or 10.1% of segment sales, and includes $22.0 million of acquisition and integration costs, $6.3 million of restructuring charges and $9.0 million of net asset impairment charges.
In the fourth quarter, operating income in the North America reportable segment was $143.6 million, or 6.5% of segment sales, and includes $202.7 million of asset impairment charges and $1.3 million of leadership transition costs. In the prior year quarter, operating income in the North America reportable segment was $396.0 million, or 16.8% of segment sales, and includes $1.9 million of integration costs, $1.9 million of restructuring costs, and $3.4 million of net asset impairment charges.
International operating income
In Fiscal 2025, operating income in the International reportable segment was $1.0 million, or 0.3% of segment sales, and includes $5.2 million of restructuring charges and $2.6 million of net losses from the previously announced divestiture of the UK prestige watch business. In Fiscal 2024, operating income in the International reportable segment was $13.1 million, or 3.0% of segment sales, and includes a $12.3 million gain from the divestiture of the UK prestige watch business.
In the fourth quarter, operating income in the International reportable segment was $21.9 million, or 17.4% of segment sales. In the prior year quarter, operating income in the International reportable segment was $36.0 million, or 25.4% of segment sales and includes a $13.6 million gain from the divestiture of the UK prestige watch business.
Corporate and unallocated expenses
In Fiscal 2025, corporate and unallocated expenses were $53.2 million, compared to $60.4 million in Fiscal 2024. In the fourth quarter, corporate and unallocated expenses were $9.4 million, compared to $12.3 million in the prior year fourth quarter. The Company incurred $6.7 million and $4.7 million of leadership transition costs in Fiscal 2025 and the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025, respectively.
Interest income (expense), net
In Fiscal 2025, net interest income was $9.8 million compared to net interest income of $18.7 million in Fiscal 2024. In the fourth quarter, net interest expense was $0.2 million compared to net interest income $8.7 million in the prior year fourth quarter. The decrease in the current year, as well as in the prior year comparable period, was the result of lower cash balances earning interest due to the redemptions of the redeemable Series A Convertible Preference Shares (the “Preferred Shares”), repayment of the Senior Notes and share repurchases, as well as interest expense incurred from borrowings on the ABL.
Income taxes
Income tax expense for Fiscal 2025 was $63.0 million, with an effective tax rate (“ETR”) of 50.7%, compared to an income tax benefit of $170.6 million, with an effective tax rate of (26.7)% in Fiscal 2024. The ETR for Fiscal 2025 was different than the US federal income tax rate, primarily due to the non-deductible impairment charges described above, partially offset by the favorable impact from the Company’s global reinsurance and financing arrangements. The ETR and tax benefit for Fiscal 2024 reflects the impact of a $263.3 million deferred tax asset recorded in the fourth quarter related to the enactment of the Corporate Income Tax Act of 2023 (the “Act”) in Bermuda. The Act included an economic transition adjustment intended to be a fair and equitable transition into the new tax regime and resulted in a deferred tax benefit for the Company. Other factors impacting the effective rate in Fiscal 2024 were the favorable impact of an uncertain tax position of $20.5 million settled in the fourth quarter, the foreign rate differences and benefits from global reinsurance and financing arrangements, and other discrete tax benefits recognized. The Fiscal 2024 discrete tax benefits relate to the reclassification of remaining taxes on the pension settlement out of AOCI of $4.1 million, the excess tax benefit for share-based compensation which vested during the year of $7.7 million and the $1.7 million reversal of valuation allowance related to capital losses in the UK.
In addition, in January 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) issued guidance which, if enacted in countries in which the Company operates, would limit the cash benefit recognized under the OECD’s Pillar Two related to the $263.3 million deferred tax asset to the amortization recognized in the first two years of the 10-year period, or approximately $52.7 million beginning in Fiscal 2026.
Refer to Note 10 of Item 8 for additional information.
In the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025, income tax expense was $53.5 million, with an ETR of 34.7%, compared to an income tax benefit of $199.2 million, with an ETR of (46.7)% in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024. The ETR for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025 was higher than the US federal income tax rate, primarily due to the non-deductible impairment charges described above, partially offset by the favorable impact from the Company’s global reinsurance and financing arrangements. The ETR and tax benefit for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024 were primarily driven by the $263.3 million deferred tax benefit resulting from the Bermuda economic
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transition adjustment discussed above and the favorable impact of an uncertain tax position of $20.5 million settled in the fourth quarter.
NON-GAAP MEASURES
The discussion and analysis of Signet’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based upon the consolidated financial statements of Signet which are prepared in accordance with GAAP and should be read in conjunction with Signet’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Item 8. Signet provides certain non-GAAP information in reporting its financial results to give investors additional data to evaluate its operations. The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, can provide more information to assist investors in evaluating historical trends and current period performance and liquidity. For these reasons, internal management reporting also includes these non-GAAP measures.
These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not superior to or as a substitute for the GAAP financial measures presented in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and other publicly filed reports. In addition, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as or comparable to similar non-GAAP measures presented by other companies.
The Company previously referred to certain non-GAAP measures as non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin and non-GAAP diluted EPS. Beginning in Fiscal 2025, these non-GAAP measures are now referred to as adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted EPS, respectively. There have been no changes to how these non-GAAP measures are defined or reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.
1. Net cash
Net cash is a non-GAAP measure defined as the total of cash and cash equivalents less debt. Management considers this metric to be helpful to understand the total indebtedness of the Company after consideration of cash balances on-hand.
| (in millions) | February 1, 2025 | February 3, 2024 | January 28, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 604.0 | $ | 1,378.7 | $ | 1,166.8 | ||||
| Less: Current portion of long-term debt | — | (147.7) | — | |||||||
| Less: Long-term debt | — | — | (147.4) | |||||||
| Net cash | $ | 604.0 | $ | 1,231.0 | $ | 1,019.4 |
2. Free cash flow
Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure defined as the net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Management considers this metric to be helpful in understanding how the business is generating cash from its operating and investing activities that can be used to meet the financing needs of the business. Free cash flow is an indicator frequently used by management to evaluate its overall liquidity needs and determine appropriate capital allocation strategies. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes.
| (in millions) | Fiscal 2025 | Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 590.9 | $ | 546.9 | $ | 797.9 | ||||
| Capital expenditures | (153.0) | (125.5) | (138.9) | |||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 437.9 | $ | 421.4 | $ | 659.0 |
3. Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDAR
EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is an important indicator of operating performance as it excludes the effects of financing and investing activities by eliminating the effects of interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization costs. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense, non-operating expense, net and certain non-GAAP accounting adjustments. Adjusted EBITDAR takes this adjusted EBITDA and further excludes minimum fixed rent expense for properties occupied under operating leases. Reviewed in conjunction with net income and operating income, management believes that EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDAR help enhance management’s and investors’ ability to evaluate and analyze trends regarding Signet’s business and performance based on its current operations. These measures are also inputs into the Company’s leverage ratios, which are non-GAAP measures defined below.
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| (in millions) | Fiscal 2025 | Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net income | $ | 61.2 | $ | 810.4 | $ | 376.7 | ||||
| Income taxes | 63.0 | (170.6) | 74.5 | |||||||
| Interest (income) expense, net | (9.8) | (18.7) | 13.5 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 148.2 | 161.9 | 164.5 | |||||||
| Amortization of unfavorable contracts | (1.8) | (1.8) | (1.8) | |||||||
| EBITDA | $ | 260.8 | $ | 781.2 | $ | 627.4 | ||||
| Other non-operating (income) expense, net | (3.7) | 0.4 | 140.2 | |||||||
| Share-based compensation | 22.2 | 41.1 | 42.0 | |||||||
| Other accounting adjustments | ||||||||||
| Asset impairments (1) | 369.2 | 7.1 | 15.9 | |||||||
| Restructuring and related charges (2) | 12.1 | 7.5 | — | |||||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures, net (3) | 2.6 | (12.3) | — | |||||||
| Acquisition and integration-related expenses (4) | 1.1 | 22.0 | 25.8 | |||||||
| Leadership transition costs (5) | 1.8 | — | — | |||||||
| Litigation charges (6) | — | (3.0) | 203.8 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 666.1 | $ | 844.0 | $ | 1,055.1 | ||||
| Rent expense | 434.3 | 439.8 | 446.5 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDAR | $ | 1,100.4 | $ | 1,283.8 | $ | 1,501.6 |
(1) Fiscal 2025 primarily includes asset impairment charges related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Fiscal 2024 charges were primarily the result of the Company’s rationalization of its store footprint. Fiscal 2023 includes asset impairment charges related to the Company’s headquarters. Refer to Note 14 and Note 16 of Item 8 for additional information.
(2) Restructuring and related charges were incurred primarily as a result of the Company’s rationalization of its store footprint and reorganization of certain centralized functions. Refer to Note 25 of Item 8 for additional information.
(3) Fiscal 2025 includes charges associated with the previously announced divestiture of the UK prestige watch business. Fiscal 2024 includes gain on sale of the UK prestige watch business, net of transaction costs. Refer to Note 4 of Item 8 for additional information.
(4) Fiscal 2025 includes severance and retention expenses related to the integration of Blue Nile. Fiscal 2024 includes expenses related to the integration of Blue Nile, primarily severance and retention, exit and disposal costs and system decommissioning costs; Fiscal 2023 includes the impact of the fair value step-up for inventory acquired in the Diamonds Direct and Blue Nile acquisitions, as well as direct transaction-related and integration costs, primarily professional fees and severance, incurred for the acquisition of Blue Nile.
(5) Primarily includes professional fees incurred for the search for the Company’s recently appointed CEO, as well as severance and related costs incurred as part of other leadership transitions.
(6) Fiscal 2024 includes a credit to income related to the adjustment of a prior litigation accrual recognized in Fiscal 2023. Refer to Note 28 of Item 8 for additional information.
3. Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin
Adjusted operating income is a non-GAAP measure defined as operating income excluding the impact of certain items which management believes are not necessarily reflective of normal operational performance during a period. Management finds the information useful when analyzing operating results to appropriately evaluate the performance of the business without the impact of these certain items. Management believes the consideration of measures that exclude such items can assist in the comparison of operational performance in different periods which may or may not include such items. Management also utilizes adjusted operating margin, defined as adjusted operating income as a percentage of total sales, to further evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the Company’s flexible operating model.
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| (in millions) | Fiscal 2025 | Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating income | $ | 110.7 | $ | 621.5 | $ | 604.9 | ||
| Asset impairments (1) | 369.2 | 7.1 | 15.9 | |||||
| Restructuring and related charges (2) | 12.1 | 7.5 | — | |||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures, net (3) | 2.6 | (12.3) | — | |||||
| Acquisition and integration-related expenses (4) | 1.1 | 22.0 | 25.8 | |||||
| Leadership transition costs (5) | 2.4 | — | — | |||||
| Litigation charges (6) | — | (3.0) | 203.8 | |||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 498.1 | $ | 642.8 | $ | 850.4 | ||
| Operating margin | 1.7 | % | 8.7 | % | 7.7 | % | ||
| Adjusted operating margin | 7.4 | % | 9.0 | % | 10.8 | % |
(1) Fiscal 2025 primarily includes asset impairment charges related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Fiscal 2024 charges were primarily the result of the Company’s rationalization of its store footprint. Fiscal 2023 includes asset impairment charges related to the Company’s headquarters. Refer to Note 14 and Note 16 of Item 8 for additional information.
(2) Restructuring and related charges were incurred primarily as a result of the Company’s rationalization of its store footprint and reorganization of certain centralized functions. Refer to Note 25 of Item 8 for additional information.
(3) Fiscal 2025 includes charges associated with the previously announced divestiture of the UK prestige watch business. Fiscal 2024 includes gain on sale of the UK prestige watch business, net of transaction costs. Refer to Note 4 of Item 8 for additional information.
(4) Fiscal 2025 includes severance and retention expenses related to the integration of Blue Nile. Fiscal 2024 includes expenses related to the integration of Blue Nile, primarily severance and retention, exit and disposal costs and system decommissioning costs; Fiscal 2023 includes the impact of the fair value step-up for inventory acquired in the Diamonds Direct and Blue Nile acquisitions, as well as direct transaction-related and integration costs, primarily professional fees and severance, incurred for the acquisition of Blue Nile.
(5) Primarily includes professional fees incurred for the search for the Company’s recently appointed CEO, as well as severance and related costs incurred as part of other leadership transitions.
(6) Fiscal 2024 includes a credit to income related to the adjustment of a prior litigation accrual recognized in Fiscal 2023. Refer to Note 28 of Item 8 for additional information.
4. Adjusted diluted EPS
Adjusted diluted EPS is a non-GAAP measure defined as diluted EPS excluding the impact of certain items which management believes are not necessarily reflective of normal operational performance during a period. Management finds the information useful when analyzing financial results in order to appropriately evaluate the performance of the business without the impact of these certain items. In particular, management believes the consideration of measures that exclude such items can assist in the comparison of performance in different periods which may or may not include such items. The Company estimates the tax effect of all non-GAAP adjustments by applying a statutory tax rate to each item. The income tax items represent the discrete amount that affected the diluted EPS during the period.
| Fiscal 2025 | Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diluted EPS | $ | (0.81) | $ | 15.01 | $ | 6.64 | ||||
| Asset impairments (1) | 8.39 | 0.13 | 0.28 | |||||||
| Restructuring and related charges (2) | 0.27 | 0.14 | — | |||||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures, net (3) | 0.06 | (0.22) | — | |||||||
| Acquisition and integration-related expenses (4) | 0.02 | 0.41 | 0.46 | |||||||
| Leadership transition costs (5) | 0.05 | — | — | |||||||
| Litigation charges (6) | — | (0.06) | 3.59 | |||||||
| Pension settlement loss (7) | — | 0.02 | 2.36 | |||||||
| Tax impact of items above | (0.66) | (0.18) | (1.53) | |||||||
| Deemed dividend on redemption of Preferred Shares (8) | 1.93 | — | — | |||||||
| Dilution effect (9) | (0.31) | — | — | |||||||
| Bermuda economic transition adjustment (10) | — | (4.88) | — | |||||||
| Adjusted diluted EPS | $ | 8.94 | $ | 10.37 | $ | 11.80 |
(1) Fiscal 2025 primarily includes asset impairment charges related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Fiscal 2024 charges were primarily the result of the Company’s rationalization of its store footprint. Fiscal 2023 includes asset impairment charges related to the Company’s headquarters. Refer to Note 14 and Note 16 of Item 8 for additional information.
(2) Restructuring and related charges were incurred primarily as a result of the Company’s rationalization of its store footprint and reorganization of certain centralized functions. Refer to Note 25 of Item 8 for additional information.
(3) Fiscal 2025 includes charges associated with the previously announced divestiture of the UK prestige watch business. Fiscal 2024 includes gain on sale of the UK prestige watch business, net of transaction costs. Refer to Note 4 of Item 8 for additional information.
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(4) Fiscal 2025 includes severance and retention expenses related to the integration of Blue Nile. Fiscal 2024 includes expenses related to the integration of Blue Nile, primarily severance and retention, exit and disposal costs and system decommissioning costs; Fiscal 2023 includes the impact of the fair value step-up for inventory acquired in the Diamonds Direct and Blue Nile acquisitions, as well as direct transaction-related and integration costs, primarily professional fees and severance, incurred for the acquisition of Blue Nile.
(5) Primarily includes professional fees incurred for the search for the Company’s recently appointed CEO as well as severance and related costs incurred as part of other leadership transitions.
(6) Fiscal 2024 includes a credit to income related to the adjustment of a prior litigation accrual recognized in Fiscal 2023. Refer to Note 28 of Item 8 for additional information.
(7) Includes charges associated with wind-up and settlement of the UK pension plan. Refer to Note 26 of Item 8 for additional information.
(8) As described in Note 6 of Item 8, the Company recorded a deemed dividend to net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders of $85.2 million in Fiscal 2025, which represents the excess of the conversion value of the Preferred Shares over their carrying value upon redemption and includes $1.6 million of related expenses.
(9) Adjusted diluted EPS for Fiscal 2025 was calculated using 46.2 million diluted weighted average common shares outstanding. The additional dilutive shares were excluded from the calculation of GAAP diluted EPS as their effect was antidilutive. Refer to Note 8 of Item 8 for additional information.
(10) Relates to the impact of the deferred income tax benefit from the Bermuda economic transition adjustment. Refer to Note 10 of Item 8 for additional information.
5. Leverage ratios
The debt and net debt leverage ratios are non-GAAP measures calculated by dividing Signet’s debt or net debt by adjusted EBITDA. Debt as used in these ratios is defined as current or long-term debt recorded in the consolidated balance sheet plus Preferred Shares. Net debt as used in these ratios is debt less the cash and cash equivalents on hand as of the balance sheet date. The adjusted debt and adjusted net debt leverage ratios are non-GAAP measures calculated by dividing Signet’s adjusted debt or adjusted net debt by adjusted EBITDAR. Adjusted debt is a non-GAAP measure defined as debt recorded in the consolidated balance sheets, plus Preferred Shares, plus an adjustment for operating lease liabilities. Adjusted net debt, a non-GAAP measure, is adjusted debt less the cash and cash equivalents on hand as of the balance sheet dates. Management believes these financial measures are helpful to investors and analysts to analyze trends in Signet’s business and evaluate Signet’s performance. The debt and adjusted debt leverage ratios are key to the Company’s capital allocation strategy as measures of the Company’s optimized capital structure. The net debt and adjusted net debt leverage ratios are supplemental to the debt and adjusted debt ratios as both investors and management find it useful to consider cash and cash equivalents available to pay down debt.
The Company previously used 5x rent expense as its adjustment for operating lease liabilities in the adjusted debt and adjusted net debt leverage ratios. Beginning in Fiscal 2025, the Company has changed its adjustment to operating lease liabilities as recorded in the consolidated balance sheets, as the Company believes this is a better indicator of its current overall lease obligations. The prior period adjusted debt and adjusted net debt leverage ratio have been recast using the new measure for comparability.
| (in millions) | Fiscal 2025 | Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt and net debt: | ||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | — | $ | 147.7 | $ | — | ||||
| Long-term debt | — | — | 147.4 | |||||||
| Preferred Shares | — | 655.5 | 653.8 | |||||||
| Debt | $ | — | $ | 803.2 | $ | 801.2 | ||||
| Less: Cash and cash equivalents | 604.0 | 1,378.7 | 1,166.8 | |||||||
| Net debt | $ | (604.0) | $ | (575.5) | $ | (365.6) | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 666.1 | 844.0 | 1,055.1 | |||||||
| Debt leverage ratio | —x | 1.0x | 0.8x | |||||||
| Net debt leverage ratio | -0.9x | -0.7x | -0.3x |
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| (in millions) | Fiscal 2025 | Fiscal 2024 | Fiscal 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjusted debt and adjusted net debt: | ||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | — | $ | 147.7 | $ | — | ||||
| Long-term debt | — | — | 147.4 | |||||||
| Preferred Shares | — | 655.5 | 653.8 | |||||||
| Operating lease liabilities - current | 279.9 | 260.3 | 288.2 | |||||||
| Operating lease liabilities - non-current | 900.0 | 835.7 | 894.7 | |||||||
| Adjusted debt | $ | 1,179.9 | $ | 1,899.2 | $ | 1,984.1 | ||||
| Less: Cash and cash equivalents | 604.0 | 1,378.7 | 1,166.8 | |||||||
| Adjusted net debt | $ | 575.9 | $ | 520.5 | $ | 817.3 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDAR | $ | 1,100.4 | $ | 1,283.8 | $ | 1,501.6 | ||||
| Adjusted debt leverage ratio | 1.1x | 1.5x | 1.3x | |||||||
| Adjusted net debt leverage ratio | 0.5x | 0.4x | 0.5x |
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Overview
The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, cash provided by operations and availability under its senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (the “ABL”). As of February 1, 2025, the Company had $604.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and no outstanding borrowings on the ABL. The available borrowing capacity on the ABL was $1.2 billion as of February 1, 2025.
The Company has a disciplined approach to capital allocation, utilizing the following capital priorities: 1) drive growth through both organic investments and acquisitions; 2) optimize its capital structure and maintain an adjusted leverage ratio (a non-GAAP measure as defined in the Non-GAAP Measures section above) at or below our stated goal; and 3) return cash to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.
Investing in growth
Since the Company’s transformation strategies began in Fiscal 2019, the Company has delivered substantially against its strategic priorities to establish the Company as the OmniChannel jewelry category leader and position its business for sustainable long-term growth. The investments in acquisitions and new capabilities built during the past few years laid the foundation for the Company’s growth, including prioritizing investments in digital technology and data analytics, and enhancing and optimizing a connected commerce shopping journey for its customers, all of which has been funded through cost reductions and structural improvements in the Company’s operations. The Company’s cash discipline has led to more efficient working capital, through both the extension of payment days with the Company’s vendor base, as well as through improvement in productivity and the overall health and newness of the Company’s inventory. The Company also invested $153.0 million for capital expenditures and $47.4 million related to investments in digital and cloud IT initiatives in Fiscal 2025.
The Company has also made the strategic acquisitions of Diamonds Direct and Blue Nile, which have accelerated the Company’s growth in accessible luxury and bridal by allowing Signet to reach into new markets and new customers, through Diamonds Direct’s continued store expansion and through Blue Nile’s broadening of Signet's digital leadership across the jewelry category. In addition, the acquisition of certain assets of SJR in the second quarter of Fiscal 2024, as well as the transition of the former Blue Nile Seattle fulfillment center to a new enterprise-wide repair facility, has expanded the Company’s services capacity and capabilities.
In addition to the acquisitions, the Company divested the operations and certain assets related to the prestige watch business in the UK during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024 for approximately $54 million. The Company believes the divestiture of this non-strategic business will enable the UK to accelerate key elements of its transformation. See Note 4 of Item 8 for additional information.
Optimized capital structure
The Company has made significant progress over the past few years in line with its priority to build a strong cash and overall liquidity position, including fully outsourcing credit and eliminating the obligations under the UK Pension Scheme. Additionally, over that period, the Company has repaid all outstanding debt, culminating in the full repayment of the Senior Notes at maturity in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 using cash on hand. In addition, the Company has recently completed the extension of the ABL to August 2029 at substantially the same terms, as further described in Note 20 of Item 8. In connection with this extension, the ABL aggregate
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commitment has been reduced to $1.2 billion to better align with our reduced inventory base over the past few years, as well as provide cost savings on unused commitment fees.
On April 1, 2024, in accordance with the terms of the amended Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Shares, the Preferred Holders converted half of the then outstanding Preferred Shares, and the Company elected to settle such conversions in cash totaling $414.1 million, including accrued and unpaid dividends. During the second and third quarters, the Preferred Holders converted all of the remaining Preferred Shares, and the Company elected to settle all the remaining Preferred Shares in cash totaling $401.5 million. The ability of the Company to settle the Preferred Shares in cash highlights the effectiveness of the Company’s flexible operating model and working capital efficiency, which has generated significant free cash flow and liquidity over the past few years. Refer to Note 6 of Item 8 for additional information.
The Company uses leverage ratios to assess the effectiveness of its capital allocation strategy. The Company maintained a 1.1x adjusted leverage ratio through the end of Fiscal 2025, and was 0.5x on an adjusted net debt basis. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA was (0.9)x. The Company continues to be confident in its ability to generate free cash flow while maintaining its leverage ratio targets. The Company has reduced its adjusted leverage ratio goal from 2.5x or less to 1.75x or less to reflect the retirement of all funded debt in Fiscal 2025, capital allocation strategies, and replacing the operating lease adjustment within the calculation with lease liabilities from the previous 5x rent adjustment.
Returning cash to shareholders
The Company remains committed to its goal of returning cash to shareholders, which includes being a dividend growth company. For the fourth year in a row, Signet has increased its quarterly common dividend from $0.29 per share in Fiscal 2025 to $0.32 per share beginning in Fiscal 2026. The Company also remains focused on common share repurchases under its 2017 Share Repurchase Program (the “2017 Program”). In March 2024, the Board approved a further $200 million increase to the multi-year authorization under the 2017 Program. The Company repurchased $138.0 million of common shares during Fiscal 2025 with $723.0 million of shares authorized for repurchase remaining as of February 1, 2025. See Note 7 of Item 8 for additional information related to the common share repurchases.
The Company believes that cash on hand, cash flows from operations and available borrowings under the ABL will be sufficient to meet its ongoing business requirements for at least the 12 months following the date of this report, including funding working capital needs, projected investments in the business (including capital expenditures), and returns to shareholders through dividends and common share repurchases.
Primary sources and uses of operating cash flows
Operating activities provide the primary source of cash for the Company and are influenced by a number of factors, the most significant of which are operating income and changes in working capital items, such as:
•changes in the level of inventory as a result of sales and other strategic initiatives; and
•changes and timing of accounts payable and accrued expenses, including variable compensation.
Signet derives most of its operating cash flows through the sale of merchandise and extended service plans. As a retail business, Signet receives cash when it makes a sale to a customer or when the payment has been processed by Signet or the relevant bank if the payment is made by third-party credit or debit card. As further discussed in Note 11 of Item 8, the Company has outsourced its entire credit card portfolio, and it receives cash from its outsourced financing partners (net of applicable fees) generally within two days of the customer sale. Offsetting these receipts, the Company’s largest operating expenses are the purchase of inventory, payroll and payroll-related benefits, store occupancy costs (including rent) and advertising.
Summary cash flow
The following table provides a summary of Signet’s cash flow activity for Fiscal 2025 and Fiscal 2024:
| (in millions) | Fiscal 2025 | Fiscal 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 590.9 | $ | 546.9 | ||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (159.1) | (75.8) | ||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (1,199.5) | (259.7) | ||||
| (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (767.7) | 211.4 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 1,378.7 | 1,166.8 | ||||
| (Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (767.7) | 211.4 | ||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (7.0) | 0.5 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 604.0 | $ | 1,378.7 |
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Operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities in Fiscal 2025 was $590.9 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $546.9 million in the prior year comparable period. The change in operating cash flows compared to prior year was primarily driven by the payment of litigation settlements in the prior year noted below, more than offset by the impact of lower sales on cash flows year over year. The significant movements in operating cash flows are further described below:
•Net income was $61.2 million compared to net income of $810.4 million in the prior year period, a decrease of $749.2 million. This decrease was primarily the result of non-cash asset impairment charges of $372.0 million taken during Fiscal 2025, as well as lower sales and gross profit compared to prior year. The prior year also included a $263.3 million non-cash tax benefit related to the Bermuda economic transition adjustment noted below. See Note 10 and Note 14 of Item 8 for additional information.
•The change in current income taxes was a use of $19.3 million in the current period compared to a use of $3.0 million in the prior year. The current year use was primarily the result of net income tax payments of $115.5 million, compared to net cash payments of $13.0 million in the prior year period. Deferred taxes were a use of $30.7 million in the current period compared to a use of $180.3 million in the prior year, primarily as a result of the deferred tax asset related to the Bermuda economic transition adjustment taken in Fiscal 2024. Refer to Note 10 of Item 8 for additional information.
•Cash provided by inventory was $1.0 million compared to a source of $182.5 million in the prior year period. Inventory was flat compared to the prior year, whereas Fiscal 2024 included a significant reduction due to inventory management initiatives taken by the Company.
•Cash provided by accounts payable was $28.7 million compared to a use of $134.5 million in the prior year period. Accounts payable increased in the current year primarily as a result of replenishment of inventory, including new assortments, in the current year.
•Cash used by accrued expenses and other liabilities was $31.2 million compared to a use of $251.1 million in the prior year period. This difference is driven primarily by litigation settlements which were accrued in Fiscal 2023 and paid during the first quarter of Fiscal 2024. See Note 28 of Item 8 for additional information.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities in Fiscal 2025 was $159.1 million compared to a use of $75.8 million in the prior year period. Cash used in Fiscal 2025 was primarily related to capital expenditures of $153.0 million. Capital expenditures are associated with new stores, remodels of existing stores, and capital investments in digital and IT. In Fiscal 2024, net cash used in investing activities was primarily related to capital expenditures of $125.5 million, partially offset by cash received of $53.8 million for the sale of the Company’s UK prestige watch business. See Note 4 of Item 8 for further information on the divestiture.
Stores opened and closed in Fiscal 2025:
| Store count by segment | February 3, 2024 | Opened | Closed | February 1, 2025 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America segment (1) | 2,411 | 18 | (50) | 2,379 | |||||||
| International segment (1) | 287 | — | (24) | 263 | |||||||
| Signet | 2,698 | 18 | (74) | 2,642 |
(1) The net change in selling square footage for Fiscal 2025 for the North America and International segments was (0.5)% and (7.0)%, respectively.
Financing activities
Net cash used in financing activities in Fiscal 2025 was $1.2 billion, primarily consisting of the repurchase of the Preferred Shares of $813.8 million, the repayment of the Senior Notes of $147.8 million upon maturity, the repurchase of $138.0 million of common shares, preferred and common share dividends paid of $67.1 million, and payments for taxes withheld related to the settlement of the Company’s share-based compensation awards of $28.5 million.
Net cash used in financing activities in Fiscal 2024 was $259.7 million, consisting of the repurchase of $139.3 million of common shares, preferred and common share dividends paid of $72.8 million, and payments for taxes withheld related to the settlement of the Company’s share-based compensation awards of $47.6 million.
Movement in cash and indebtedness
Cash and cash equivalents at February 1, 2025 were $604.0 million compared to $1.4 billion as of February 3, 2024. The decrease year over year was primarily driven by the retirement of the Preferred Shares, the repayment of the Senior Notes upon maturity, and common share repurchases, as described above, partially offset by cash flow from operations. Signet holds cash and cash equivalents at a number of large, highly-rated financial institutions. The amount held at each financial institution takes into account the credit rating and size of the financial institution and is held for short-term durations.
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As further described in Note 20 of Item 8, the Company entered into an agreement to amend the ABL on August 23, 2024. The amendment extended the maturity of the ABL from July 28, 2026 to August 23, 2029 and reduced the size of the ABL to $1.2 billion to better reflect current business needs based primarily on lower inventory levels maintained over the past few years. The Company continues to have an option to increase the size of the ABL by up to an additional $600 million.
There were $253.0 million of borrowings under the ABL during Fiscal 2025, which were fully repaid by the end of the year. There were no borrowings under the ABL during Fiscal 2024. The Company had stand-by letters of credit on the ABL of $18.0 million as of February 1, 2025 that reduced remaining borrowing availability. Available borrowing capacity under the ABL was $1.2 billion as of February 1, 2025.
The Company had no outstanding debt as of February 1, 2025. As further described in Note 20 of Item 8, the Company fully repaid the Senior Notes upon maturity in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025 using cash on hand. At February 3, 2024, Signet had $147.8 million of outstanding debt, consisting entirely of the Senior Notes.
As of February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.
Capital availability
Signet’s level of borrowings and cash balances fluctuates during the year reflecting the seasonality of its cash flow requirements and business performance. Management believes that cash balances and the availability under the ABL are sufficient for both its present and near-term requirements. The following table provides a summary of these items as of February 1, 2025, February 3, 2024 and January 28, 2023:
| (in millions) | February 1, 2025 | February 3, 2024 | January 28, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working capital (1) | $ | 880.7 | $ | 1,560.6 | $ | 1,259.0 | ||||
| Capitalization: | ||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | — | $ | 147.7 | $ | — | ||||
| Long-term debt | — | — | 147.4 | |||||||
| Redeemable Series A Convertible Preference Shares | — | 655.5 | 653.8 | |||||||
| Shareholders’ equity | 1,851.8 | 2,166.5 | 1,578.6 | |||||||
| Total capitalization | $ | 1,851.8 | $ | 2,969.7 | $ | 2,379.8 | ||||
| Additional amounts available under credit agreements | $ | 1,162.4 | $ | 1,134.2 | $ | 1,406.6 |
(1) Includes cash and cash equivalents and current portion of long-term debt
If the excess availability under the ABL falls below the threshold specified in the ABL agreement, the Company will be required to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00. As of February 1, 2025, the threshold related to the fixed coverage ratio was approximately $116 million. The ABL places certain restrictions upon the Company’s ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends, grant liens and make certain loans, investments and divestitures. The ABL contains customary events of default (including payment defaults, cross-defaults to certain of the Company’s other indebtedness, breach of representations and covenants and change of control). The occurrence of an event of default under the ABL would permit the lenders to accelerate the indebtedness and terminate the ABL.
Credit ratings
The following table provides Signet’s credit ratings as of February 1, 2025:
| Rating Agency | Corporate |
|---|---|
| Standard & Poor’s | BB |
| Moody’s | Ba3 |
| Fitch | BB+ |
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
Merchandise held on consignment
The Company held $601.5 million of consignment inventory at February 1, 2025 compared to $530.3 million at February 3, 2024, which is not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. The principal terms of the consignment agreements, which can generally be terminated by either party, are such that the Company can return any or all of the inventory to the relevant suppliers without financial or commercial penalties and the supplier can adjust the inventory costs prior to sale.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
Critical accounting policies covering areas of greater complexity that are subject to the exercise of judgment due to the reliance on key estimates are listed below. A comprehensive listing of Signet’s significant accounting policies is set forth in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements in Item 8.
Revenue recognition for extended service plans and lifetime warranty agreements (“ESP”)
The Company recognizes revenue related to ESP sales in proportion to when the expected costs will be incurred. The deferral periods for ESP sales are determined from patterns of claims costs, including estimates of future claims costs expected to be incurred. Management reviews the trends in historical claims to assess whether changes are required to the revenue and cost recognition rates utilized. All direct costs associated with the sale of the ESP are deferred and amortized in proportion to the revenue recognized and disclosed as either other current assets or other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. These direct costs primarily include sales commissions and credit card fees. Amortization of deferred ESP selling costs is included within SG&A in the consolidated statements of operations.
The North America reportable segment sells ESP, subject to certain conditions, to perform repair work over the life of the product. Customers generally pay for ESP at the store or online at the time of merchandise sale. Revenue from the sale of the lifetime ESP is recognized consistent with the estimated patterns of claim costs expected to be incurred by the Company in connection with performing under the ESP obligations. Lifetime ESP revenue is deferred and recognized over a maximum of 13 years after the sale of the warranty contract. Although claims experience varies between the Company’s national brands, thereby resulting in different recognition rates, approximately 60% to 70% of revenue is recognized within the first two years on a weighted average basis. Management estimates that a 1% change in the recognition rates between years for ESP sales, based on the level of ESP plans sold in Fiscal 2025 and assuming no change in the life over which the Company is expected to fulfill its obligations under the warranty, would impact revenue recognized on current year ESP sales by approximately $5 million.
As noted above, the Company utilizes historical claims data to estimate the expected future patterns of claims cost and the related revenue recognition rates utilized. These claims patterns are subject to change based primarily on revisions to the Company’s ESP product offerings and changes in customer behavior over time. The Company refreshes its analysis of the claims pattern on at least an annual basis, or more often if circumstances dictate such a review is required (such as occurred as a result of the disruption from COVID-19). A significant change in either the overall claims pattern or the life over which the Company is expected to fulfill its obligation under the warranty could result in material change to revenues.
Goodwill and intangibles
In a business combination, the Company estimates and records the fair value of all assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including identifiable intangible assets and liabilities. The fair value of these intangible assets and liabilities is estimated based on management’s assessment, including selection of appropriate valuation techniques, inputs and assumptions in the determination of fair value. Significant estimates in valuing intangible assets and liabilities acquired include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows associated with the acquired asset or liability, expected life and discount rates. The excess purchase price over the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recognized as goodwill. Goodwill is recorded by the Company’s reporting units based on the acquisitions made by each.
Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment annually as of the end of the fourth reporting period, or more often if events or conditions were to indicate the carrying value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived intangible asset may be greater than its fair value. The Company may elect to perform a qualitative assessment for our reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset is greater than its carrying value. If a qualitative assessment is not performed, or if as a result of a qualitative assessment it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its carrying value, then the reporting unit’s or indefinite-lived intangible asset’s fair value is compared to its carrying value. Impairment testing compares the carrying amount of the reporting unit or other indefinite-lived intangible asset with its fair value. When the carrying amount of the reporting unit or other indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge is recorded.
The quantitative impairment test for goodwill involves estimating the fair value of the reporting unit through either estimated discounted future cash flows, market-based methodologies, or a combination of both. The impairment test for other indefinite-lived intangible assets involves estimating the fair value of the asset, which is typically performed using the relief from royalty method for indefinite-lived trade names.
Due to various impacts of the current market conditions on key inputs and assumptions, such as rising interest rates and the macroeconomic impact on consumers’ discretionary spending, the Company determined that quantitative impairment assessments were required for the Diamonds Direct and Digital brands reporting units as well as the Blue Nile and Diamonds Direct trade names as of the annual impairment testing date during the second quarter of Fiscal 2025.
As part of the quantitative assessments, management reevaluated its long-term cash flow projections, primarily related to sales growth in the Digital brands and Diamonds Direct. Both brands have a higher bridal mix compared to the rest of Signet, and thus the slower
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than expected engagement recovery and continued pressure on consumer discretionary spending have had a disproportionate impact on these businesses as compared to the other Signet brands. In addition, to a lesser degree, the Digital brands sales have been impacted by market declines in lab-grown diamond pricing over the past year. Management also determined an increase in discount rates was required to reflect the current interest rate environment at the valuation date, as well as to reflect additional forecast risk related to the Digital brands due to the previously discussed challenges related to the integration of Blue Nile. Therefore, these higher discount rates, in conjunction with the revised cash flow projections, resulted in lower than previously projected discounted cash flows for the reporting units and trade names which negatively affected the valuations compared to previous valuations. Based on the results of the quantitative impairment assessments, the Company determined that no impairment was required for the Diamonds Direct reporting unit, as its estimated fair value exceeded its carrying value by 11%. The carrying value of the Diamonds Direct goodwill is $251.2 million. However, during the second quarter of Fiscal 2025, the Company recognized pre-tax impairment charges related to the Diamonds Direct trade name, the Digital brands reporting unit, and the Blue Nile trade name of $7 million, $123 million and $36 million, respectively, as their respective carrying values exceeded their fair values.
During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025, primarily due to softer than expected Holiday Season results, the Company determined triggering events had occurred requiring interim impairment assessments for the Digital brands reporting unit as well as the Blue Nile, James Allen and Diamonds Direct trade names, which management performed on a quantitative basis. As part of the quantitative assessments, management reevaluated its long-term cash flow projections, primarily related to sales growth in the Digital brands and Diamonds Direct. As described above, the slower than expected engagement recovery continued in the second half of Fiscal 2025, which had a disproportionate impact on these businesses due to their higher bridal mix compared to the rest of Signet. Management also determined an increase in discount rates was required to reflect the current interest rate environment at the valuation date, as well as to reflect additional forecast risk related to the Digital brands due to the previously discussed challenges related to the integration of Blue Nile. The Digital brands’ results were also impacted by lower traffic post re-platforming due to search engine optimization during the second half of the year. Therefore, these higher discount rates, in conjunction with the revised cash flow projections, resulted in lower than previously projected discounted cash flows for the reporting unit and trade names which negatively affected the fair value estimates compared to previous valuations. The Company recognized pre-tax impairment charges in the consolidated statement of operations within its North America reportable segment related to the Digital brands reporting unit, Blue Nile trade name, James Allen trade name, and the Diamonds Direct trade name of $149.5 million, $41 million, $3 million, and $7 million, respectively, as their respective carrying values exceeded their fair values.
As a result of these impairments, as of February 1, 2025, the carrying values of the Digital brands goodwill, Blue Nile trade name, James Allen trade name, and Diamonds Direct trade name were reduced to their estimated fair values of $53.6 million, $19 million, $15 million, and $112 million, respectively. The Company will continue to monitor events or circumstances that could trigger the need for an interim impairment test. The Company believes that the estimates and assumptions related to sales and operating income trends, discount rates, royalty rates and other assumptions are reasonable, but they are subject to change from period to period.
Management noted uncertainties exist related to the post-election macroeconomic environment in the US and abroad, including tariffs, economic and tax policy, inflation and interest rates. These factors could unfavorably impact consumer confidence and discretionary spending, and thus may impact the key assumptions used to estimate fair value, such as sales trends, margin trends, long-term growth rates and discount rates. These factors could also negatively affect the share price of the Company’s common stock. An increase in the discount rate and/or a further softening of sales and operating income trends for any of the Company’s reporting units and related trade names, particularly during peak selling seasons, could result in a further decline in the estimated fair values of the indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill, which could result in future material impairment charges, particularly for Diamonds Direct and Digital brands as described above. For example, an increase in the discount rate of 0.5% to all of the aforementioned impaired trade names and reporting unit, assuming no other changes to assumptions, would have resulted in additional impairment charges of approximately $8 million during Fiscal 2025.
See Note 16 of Item 8 for additional information.
Long-lived assets
Long-lived assets of the Company consist primarily of property and equipment, definite-lived intangible assets and operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Potentially impaired assets or asset groups are identified by reviewing the undiscounted cash flows of individual stores. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the store asset group, based on the Company’s internal business plans. If the undiscounted cash flow for the store asset group is less than its carrying amount, the long-lived assets are measured for potential impairment by estimating the fair value of the asset group, and recording an impairment loss for the amount that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. The Company primarily utilizes the replacement cost method to estimate the fair value of its property and equipment, and the income capitalization method to estimate the fair value of its ROU assets, which incorporates historical store level sales, internal business plans, real estate market capitalization and rental rates, and discount rates.
Certain factors impacting the Company’s business could continue to further negatively affect the operating performance and cash flows of the previously impaired stores or additional stores, including the impacts of inflation, continued changes in consumer
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behavior and shifts in discretionary spending, the inability to achieve or maintain cost savings or other strategic initiatives, changes in real estate strategy or other macroeconomic factors which influence consumer behavior. In addition, key assumptions used to estimate fair value, such as sales trends, capitalization and market rental rates, and discount rates could impact the fair value estimates of the store-level assets in future periods.
Income taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized by applying statutory tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences between the financial reporting and tax filing bases of existing assets and liabilities are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, based on management’s evaluation of all available evidence, both positive and negative, including reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and results of recent operations. The Company has a valuation allowance of $14.9 million and $18.3 million, as of February 1, 2025 and February 3, 2024, respectively, due to uncertainties related to the Company’s ability to utilize certain of its deferred tax assets, primarily consisting of state net operating losses and foreign capital losses carried forward.
The annual effective tax rate is based on annual income, statutory tax rates and tax planning strategies available in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The Company does not recognize tax benefits related to positions taken on certain tax matters unless the position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. At any point in time, various tax years are subject to or are in the process of being audited by various taxing authorities. The Company records a reserve for uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties. To the extent that management’s estimates of settlements change, or the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact the income tax provision in the period in which such determinations are made. See Note 10 of Item 8 for additional information regarding deferred tax assets and unrecognized tax benefits.