Jeans are displayed at a Levi Strauss store in New York, March 19, 2019.
Shannon Stapleton | Reuters
Levi Strauss will lay off at least 10% of its global corporate workforce as part of a restructuring, the apparel retailer said Thursday as it said it expected weaker sales this year.
The job cuts will take place in the first half of the year, and could affect up to 15% of corporate employees, Levi’s said. The company had more than 19,000 employees as of November, but it is unclear how much of that workforce is in corporate offices.
The cuts come amid a wave of early-year layoffs within the retail industry and across a range of public companies. Macy’s and Wayfair both announced job cuts this month, as both older and newer retailers try to kickstart sales and boost profits.
The company made the announcement as it reported fourth-quarter earnings and forecast a weaker than expected fiscal year ahead. Here’s what Levi’s reported compared with what Wall Street expected, according to analyst estimates compiled by LSEG, formerly known as Refinitiv:
- Earnings per share: 44 cents adjusted vs. 43 cents expected
- Revenue: $1.64 billion vs. $1.66 billion expected
The company said it expected revenues to rise 1% to 3% for the full fiscal year, lower than the 4.7% Wall Street anticipated. Levi’s expects earnings of $1.15 to $1.25 per share for the year, lower than analyst expectations of $1.33 per share.
Net income for the three-month period that ended Nov. 26 was $126.8 million, or 32 cents per share, compared with $150.6 million, or 38 cents per share, a year earlier
The company’s shares fell about 2% in extended trading Thursday.
Inventories during the quarter declined 9% from the prior year. Wholesales revenue saw a slight 2% decline.
In the company’s specific segments, Beyond Yoga revenue rose 14%. The denim retailer has looked to gain athleisure market share, and appointed former Athleta CEO Nancy Green as the new chief executive for the brand earlier this month.
The company’s other brands segment saw net revenue fall 11%.
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