Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data

The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.

The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.

Williams-Sonoma Inc., consolidated cash flow statement (quarterly data)

US$ in thousands

3 months ended:	Apr 28, 2024	Jan 28, 2024	Oct 29, 2023	Jul 30, 2023	Apr 30, 2023	Jan 29, 2023	Oct 30, 2022	Jul 31, 2022	May 1, 2022	Jan 30, 2022	Oct 31, 2021	Aug 1, 2021	May 2, 2021	Jan 31, 2021	Nov 1, 2020	Aug 2, 2020	May 3, 2020	Feb 2, 2020	Nov 3, 2019	Aug 4, 2019	May 5, 2019	Feb 3, 2019	Oct 28, 2018	Jul 29, 2018	Apr 29, 2018
Net earnings	265,666)	354,439)	237,285)	201,507)	156,531)	354,993)	251,723)	267,075)	254,113)	402,941)	249,524)	246,070)	227,802)	308,955)	201,772)	134,564)	35,423)	166,045)	74,713)	62,648)	52,656)	155,338)	81,465)	51,713)	45,168)
Depreciation and amortization	56,996)	66,563)	55,184)	55,241)	55,602)	56,743)	54,955)	52,204)	50,251)	50,190)	49,210)	48,765)	47,922)	48,315)	47,220)	46,896)	46,224)	47,264)	46,751)	46,906)	46,838)	47,641)	47,358)	45,936)	47,873)
(Gain) loss on disposal/impairment of assets	1,264)	2,726)	4,958)	3,811)	10,374)	19,378)	325)	5,254)	159)	128)	432)	260)	195)	6,145)	812)	9,223)	16,185)	1,073)	688)	317)	(323)	4,919)	824)	4,052)	414)
Non-cash lease expense	66,821)	68,522)	59,783)	62,808)	64,173)	61,748)	59,091)	56,173)	54,338)	57,131)	54,018)	52,784)	52,955)	53,601)	54,319)	54,186)	54,262)	55,672)	54,701)	53,841)	51,596)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Deferred income taxes	(538)	(21,092)	(4,152)	(2,185)	(1,656)	(13,329)	(2,858)	(4,911)	(2,725)	13,975)	(4,403)	(3,056)	(3,981)	(6,092)	(4,740)	356)	(2,585)	8,380)	(2,509)	(4,302)	(4,126)	11,469)	16,585)	(1,174)	(3,241)
Tax benefit related to stock-based awards	9,347)	(12,455)	121)	532)	11,802)	(11,172)	344)	306)	10,522)	(10,838)	536)	156)	10,146)	(13,143)	449)	655)	12,039)	(13,648)	(462)	(788)	14,898)	(10,361)	650)	3,585)	6,126)
Stock-based compensation expense	22,975)	18,319)	22,276)	20,713)	23,446)	22,471)	16,054)	23,201)	28,542)	24,674)	24,306)	19,930)	26,330)	18,514)	21,276)	13,692)	19,703)	14,647)	14,115)	16,872)	18,529)	18,849)	14,427)	13,637)	12,889)
Other	(1,252)	(385)	(764)	(825)	(822)	(169)	(689)	(680)	(801)	(653)	(813)	(1,197)	(1,331)	(1,500)	(1,827)	(1,444)	(1,276)	(1,769)	(1,835)	(1,899)	(2,237)	(6,661)	(7,073)	(6,384)	(6,660)
Accounts receivable	7,666)	1,467)	(7,426)	(7,758)	6,256)	10,399)	7,273)	(10,726)	8,741)	6,955)	2,939)	480)	1,522)	(13,486)	(1,277)	(25,690)	8,950)	(2,192)	1,588)	(9,114)	4,684)	6,522)	(8,284)	(4,011)	(9,556)
Merchandise inventories	27,621)	152,398)	(97,942)	101,893)	52,819)	234,904)	(148,354)	(145,988)	(149,470)	24,113)	(100,473)	(83,895)	(79,726)	122,134)	(83,045)	31,542)	28,513)	157,856)	(70,061)	(32,116)	(31,460)	73,392)	(98,564)	(47,547)	2,388)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,816)	36,873)	(29,242)	(13,283)	6,668)	27,914)	(9,152)	(44,102)	13,517)	8,018)	(5,456)	(39,184)	34,562)	(11,581)	26,161)	(30,753)	(215)	20,968)	349)	(19,592)	(4,914)	(4,520)	(20,954)	(24,818)	(4,399)
Accounts payable	(116,731)	(65,915)	77,118)	(30,685)	118,525)	(211,624)	38,699)	33,845)	25,559)	(17,507)	25,724)	20,547)	27,910)	(28,790)	195,881)	(48,731)	(92,871)	81,050)	35,410)	16,888)	(144,399)	53,688)	10,424)	75,088)	(76,823)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(114,258)	53,913)	18,977)	24,903)	(92,858)	(27,838)	44,738)	60,988)	(139,883)	25,060)	68,053)	47,230)	(90,883)	70,603)	46,422)	41,167)	(29,050)	37,407)	6,529)	18,519)	(49,196)	26,974)	31,211)	19,838)	(32,047)
Gift card and other deferred revenue	22,592)	45,127)	93,577)	(17,384)	(26,315)	(10,166)	(8,498)	7,579)	42,924)	17,271)	27,881)	14,134)	16,174)	22,888)	57,017)	(7,024)	9,960)	(6,488)	13,021)	(8,731)	1,558)	14,851)	12,121)	7,112)	4,815)
Deferred rent and lease incentives	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	1,234)	4,834)	8,857)	10,004)
Operating lease liabilities	(70,838)	(68,994)	(64,962)	(66,709)	(68,497)	(65,000)	(57,819)	(62,011)	(58,025)	(59,998)	(55,778)	(55,158)	(53,633)	(61,744)	(57,756)	(55,860)	(57,629)	(57,949)	(56,526)	(56,683)	(55,099)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Income taxes payable	52,273)	43,354)	(74,363)	39,880)	26,478)	15,045)	(40,899)	(39,134)	46,757)	41,348)	(23,029)	(31,079)	22,917)	33,401)	7,544)	(252)	6,240)	9,028)	114)	(11,322)	2,915)	13,150)	(25,646)	(36,530)	13,818)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(194,491)	198,223)	(84,263)	30,857)	23,076)	(26,366)	(174,012)	(199,549)	(209,880)	45,260)	(60,139)	(126,925)	(121,157)	133,425)	190,947)	(95,601)	(126,102)	239,680)	(69,576)	(102,151)	(275,911)	185,291)	(94,858)	(2,011)	(91,800)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(38,878)	320,421)	53,143)	170,952)	185,995)	109,304)	(46,790)	(68,002)	(69,594)	179,867)	63,147)	(9,283)	11,079)	239,265)	308,456)	27,963)	18,450)	351,299)	41,873)	8,796)	(150,736)	251,147)	(22,087)	57,641)	(34,399)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	226,788)	674,860)	290,428)	372,459)	342,526)	464,297)	204,933)	199,073)	184,519)	582,808)	312,671)	236,787)	238,881)	548,220)	510,228)	162,527)	53,873)	517,344)	116,586)	71,444)	(98,080)	406,485)	59,378)	109,354)	10,769)
Purchases of property and equipment	(39,513)	(53,628)	(41,950)	(42,851)	(50,029)	(119,739)	(85,830)	(77,362)	(71,186)	(85,507)	(62,729)	(35,921)	(42,360)	(44,628)	(48,762)	(33,802)	(42,321)	(65,122)	(43,965)	(41,041)	(36,148)	(61,776)	(48,305)	(45,992)	(34,029)
Other	31)	(201)	191)	63)	148)	62)	14)	—)	86)	173)	—)	4)	93)	123)	265)	(1)	242)	258)	—)	363)	107)	399)	1,291)	393)	120)
Net cash used in investing activities	(39,482)	(53,829)	(41,759)	(42,788)	(49,881)	(119,677)	(85,816)	(77,362)	(71,100)	(85,334)	(62,729)	(35,917)	(42,267)	(44,505)	(48,497)	(33,803)	(42,079)	(64,864)	(43,965)	(40,678)	(36,041)	(61,377)	(47,014)	(45,599)	(33,909)
Tax withholdings related to stock-based awards	(87,008)	(1,723)	(1,158)	(45,602)	(4,348)	(859)	(1,156)	(767)	(78,508)	(1,753)	(2,322)	(1,709)	(98,451)	(1,174)	(966)	(677)	(28,912)	(1,129)	(736)	(481)	(25,406)	(531)	(1,571)	(4,897)	(7,438)
Payment of dividends	(62,862)	(57,904)	(57,928)	(58,564)	(58,079)	(52,091)	(52,580)	(54,524)	(58,150)	(52,338)	(44,132)	(45,493)	(45,576)	(40,884)	(37,487)	(39,883)	(39,391)	(37,481)	(37,706)	(38,585)	(36,868)	(34,671)	(35,323)	(36,250)	(34,081)
Repurchases of common stock	(43,781)	—)	(3,001)	(10,000)	(300,000)	(39,083)	(74,531)	(265,349)	(501,075)	(246,734)	(201,311)	(135,859)	(315,529)	(40,952)	(109,048)	—)	—)	(36,120)	(40,583)	(38,283)	(33,848)	(75,083)	(45,403)	(137,105)	(37,713)
Repayment of long-term debt	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(300,000)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Debt issuance costs	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(1)	(777)	—)	—)	—)	(2,595)	(1,050)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	487,823)	—)	40,000)	60,000)	—)	—)	60,000)	—)	—)
Repayments under the revolving line of credit	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(487,823)	—)	—)	(100,000)	—)	—)	—)	(60,000)	—)	—)	—)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(193,651)	(59,627)	(62,087)	(114,166)	(362,427)	(92,033)	(128,267)	(320,640)	(637,733)	(300,826)	(248,542)	(183,061)	(759,556)	(83,010)	(637,919)	(41,610)	419,520)	(174,730)	(39,025)	(17,349)	(96,122)	(170,285)	(22,297)	(178,252)	(79,232)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(876)	1,796)	(2,210)	1,639)	(271)	1,699)	(2,736)	(962)	(1,189)	(3,208)	287)	(2,268)	2,275)	6,462)	1,598)	(356)	(2,474)	(613)	962)	(633)	(1,028)	(283)	(233)	(1,167)	2,480)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,221)	563,200)	184,372)	217,144)	(70,053)	254,286)	(11,886)	(199,891)	(525,503)	193,440)	1,687)	15,541)	(560,667)	427,167)	(174,590)	86,758)	428,840)	277,137)	34,558)	12,784)	(231,271)	174,540)	(10,166)	(115,664)	(99,892)

The financial data reveals several notable trends and patterns over the analyzed quarters.

Net Earnings

Net earnings exhibit significant volatility with sharp increases in quarters ending February 2019, February 2020, January 2021, and January 2022. Peaks are consistently followed by declines, indicating cyclical performance fluctuations. Earnings reached a peak of over US$400 million in early 2022, followed by moderation in subsequent quarters.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses remain relatively stable across all periods, fluctuating within a narrow range around US$45-67 million, suggesting consistent capital asset usage and amortization policies.

Non-cash Lease Expense and Operating Lease Liabilities

Non-cash lease expenses appear from mid-2019 onward and demonstrate a gradual increasing trend. Correspondingly, operating lease liabilities show steady increases in later periods, reflecting growth in leased asset commitments over time.

Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes amounts oscillate between negative and positive values across periods, indicating fluctuating tax timing differences without a clear directional trend.

Stock-based Compensation and Tax Benefits

Stock-based compensation expense generally increases over time, peaking notably in the 2021 period, indicating increasing reliance on equity compensation. Tax benefits related to stock-based awards fluctuate considerably with no sustained trend, reflecting variability in tax treatment and award vesting schedules.

Working Capital Components

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable values are volatile, with significant positive and negative swings suggesting varied collection periods or sales fluctuations.
Merchandise Inventories: Inventory levels are highly variable with abrupt increases and decreases, reflecting possible changes in inventory management, demand volatility, or supply chain disruptions.
Accounts Payable: Accounts payable shows marked volatility with pronounced positive and negative fluctuations, which may suggest varying payment strategies or purchasing volumes.
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities: This item displays significant variability, with large swings both upward and downward, indicating fluctuating short-term obligations or timing of expense recognition.
Gift Card and Other Deferred Revenue: Amounts within gift card and deferred revenue fluctuate markedly, reflecting changes in customer prepayments or redemption patterns with no clear trend.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities reveals strong positive spikes in certain quarters, notably February 2019, February 2020, and January 2021, aligning with net earnings peaks. Despite fluctuations, overall operating cash flow remains robust, supporting operational liquidity.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities remains consistently negative, predominantly due to continual purchases of property and equipment. The expenditure levels on capital assets are substantial and relatively stable, evidencing ongoing investment in fixed assets.

Financing Activities

Net cash from financing activities displays wide swings with both large inflows and outflows. Major outflows coincide with repurchases of common stock and payment of dividends. Substantial variability is noted in borrowings and repayments under revolving credit facilities, as well as occasional long-term debt activities, indicating active capital management and possibly opportunistic financing decisions.

Effect of Exchange Rates

The exchange rate impact on cash balances is relatively minor and inconsistent, showing both positive and negative adjustments without sustained effect.

Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash balances show significant quarter-to-quarter fluctuations ranging from large decreases up to sizeable increases, aligning closely with net cash flow activities in operating, investing, and financing categories. These swings imply dynamic cash management responsive to operational and financing needs.

In summary, the data indicates a business experiencing cyclical earnings and cash flow patterns accompanied by deliberate investment in property and equipment and active financing strategies including stock buybacks and dividends. Working capital components and lease obligations display volatility, pointing to changing operational conditions or strategic shifts. The overall picture is one of a company balancing growth investments, shareholder returns, and working capital management across varying economic cycles.

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Williams-Sonoma Inc. (NYSE:WSM)

Cash Flow Statement Quarterly Data

Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data