dicks.com for approximately 12 months.
We are also investing in talent to elevate the in-store service model and are remodeling 18 stores this year.
As a member of the outdoor industry, we have also joined forces with other retailers to advocate for conserving 30% of the U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
Our Q1 consolidated same-store sales increased 115% as we anniversaried the majority of our temporary store closures from last year.
Our strong comps were supported by sales growth of over 100% within each of our three primary categories; the hardlines, apparel and footwear as well as increases in both average ticket and transactions.
These results combined translate to a 52% sales increase when combined -- sorry, when compared to the first quarter of 2019.
From a channel standpoint, our brick and mortar stores generated significant triple-digit comps, and importantly, delivered an approximate 40% sales increase when compared to 2019 with roughly the same square footage.
Our eCommerce sales increased 14%, which was on top of our 110% online sales increase in the same period last year when the vast majority of our stores were closed for over six weeks.
This represented nearly a 140% increase when compared to 2019.
Within eCommerce, in-store pickup and curbside continued to be a meaningful piece of our omnichannel offering, increasing approximately 500% when compared to BOPIS sales during the first quarter of 2019.
These same-day services along with ship from store are fully enabled by our stores which are the hub of our industry-leading omnichannel experience, both serving our in-store athletes and providing over 800 forward points of distribution for digital fulfillment.
During Q1, our stores enabled approximately 90% of our total sales and fulfilled approximately 70% of our online sales through either ship from store, in-store pickup or curbside.
As a result, we expanded our merchandise margin rate by 787 basis points versus 2020 and 312 basis points versus 2019.
In total, our first quarter non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $3.79 not only represented a 511% increase over Q1 2019, but eclipse our full year 2019 non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $3.59.
During the first quarter last year, we recorded a net loss per share of $1.71 as we temporarily closed our stores to promote the safety of our teammates, athletes and communities.
During the quarter, we added more than 30 soccer shops that provide a high level of service from in-store soccer experts who are especially trained to help athletes find the equipment and cleats they need to excel at the game.
And during the quarter, we converted more than 40 additional stores to premium full service footwear.
Over 50 more stores will be converted by the end of the year, taking this experience to approximately 60% of the DICK's chain.
In 2021, we're investing over $20 million to transform our Golf Galaxy stores via combination of elevated experience, industry-leading technology and unmatched expertise through our certified PGA and LPGA professionals.
As part of this, we've rolled out TrackMan technology to over 80% of the chain to enhance the fitting and lesson experience.
We've also completely redesigned nearly 20 stores.
During Q1, over 90% of curbside orders were ready within 15 minutes.
And upon checking at the store, 50% were delivered to the athlete's car in under 2.5 minutes.
Along with curbside, our ScoreCard program continues to be a key to our omnichannel offering with more than 20 million active members who drive over 70% of our sales.
We're using data science to drive more personalized marketing and engagement with our athletes, which is resulting in strong retention of the 8.5 million new athletes we acquired last year.
Speaking of new athletes, we acquired nearly 2 million new athletes this past quarter.
Consolidated sales increased 119% to approximately $2.92 billion.
Including the impact of last year's temporary store closures, consolidated same-store sales increased 115%.
This increase was broad-based with each of our three primary categories of hardlines, apparel and footwear comping up over 100%.
Transactions increased 90%, and average ticket increased 25%.
Compared to 2019, consolidated sales increased 52%.
Our brick and mortar stores comped up nearly 190% as we anniversaried last year's temporary store closures.
And compared to 2019, increased approximately 40% with roughly the same square footage.
Our eCommerce sales increased 14% over last year and increased 139% versus 2019.
As a percent of total net sales, our online business was 20%.
As expected, this decrease from the 39% of net sales in 2020 given last year's temporary store closures, but increased compared to the 13% we had in 2019.
Gross profit in the first quarter was $1.09 billion or 37.3% of net sales and improved approximately 2,100 basis points compared to last year.
This improvement was driven by leverage on fixed occupancy cost of approximately 1,000 basis points from the significant sales increase and merchandise margin rate expansion of 787 basis points, primarily driven by fewer promotions and a favorable sales mix.
Additionally, last year included $28 million of inventory writedowns, resulting from our temporary store closures, which were subsequently recovered in the second quarter of 2020 due to better than anticipated sales and margin on merchandise nearing the end-of-life upon the reopening of our stores.
Compared to 2019, gross profit as a percent of sales improved by 795 basis points, driven by leverage on fixed occupancy costs of 475 basis points due to the significant sales increase and merchandise margin rate expansion of 312 basis points, primarily driven by fewer promotions.
SG&A expenses were $608.3 million or 20.84% of net sales and leveraged 940 basis points compared to last year due to the significant sales increase.
SG&A dollars increased $205.1 million, of which $21 million is attributable to the expense recognition associated with changes in our deferred compensation plan investment values.
The remaining $183 million is primarily due to normalization of expenses following our temporary store closures last year to support the increase in sales as well as higher incentive compensation expenses due to our strong first quarter results.
SG&A expenses include $13 million of COVID-related safety costs, which in light of the latest CDC guidance, we expect these costs to decline significantly beginning in the second quarter.
Compared to 2019's non-GAAP results, SG&A expenses as a percent of net sales, leveraged 446 basis points from the -- due to the significant sales increase.
SG&A dollars increased $122.3 million due to increases in store payroll and operating expenses to support the increase in sales and hourly wage rate investments and COVID-related safety costs as well as higher incentive compensation expenses.
Non-GAAP EBT was $477.1 million or 16.35% of net sales, and it increased $684.8 million or approximately 3,200 basis points from the same period last year.
More relevantly, compared to 2019, non-GAAP EBT increased $396 million or approximately 1,200 basis points as a percent of net sales.
In total, we delivered non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $3.79.
This is compared to a net loss per share of $1.71 last year and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.62 in 2019, a 511% increase.
On a GAAP basis, our earnings per diluted share were $3.41.
This includes $7.3 million in non-cash interest expense as well as 9.2 million additional shares that will be offset by our bond hedge at settlement, but are required in the GAAP diluted share calculation.
Now looking to our balance sheet, we are in a strong financial position, ending Q1 with approximately $1.86 billion of cash and cash equivalents and no borrowings on our $1.85 billion revolving credit facility.
While our quarter end inventory levels decreased 4% compared to the same period last year, our strong flow of products supported Q1 sales growth in excess of our expectations.
Net capital expenditures were $57.2 million and we paid $33 million in quarterly dividends.
During the quarter, we also repurchased just over 1 million shares of our stock for $76.8 million at an average price of $74.59 and we have approximately $954 million remaining under our share repurchase program, and our plan for 2021 continues to include a minimum of $200 million of share repurchases.
As a result of our significant Q1 results, we are raising our consolidated same-store sales guidance and now expect full year comp sales to increase by 8% to 11% compared to our prior expectation of down 2% to up 2%.
At the midpoint, our updated comp sales guidance represents a 22% sales increase versus 2019 compared to our prior expectation of up 11%.
Non-GAAP EBT is now expected to be in the range of $1 billion to $1.1 billion compared to our prior outlook of $550 million to $650 million, which at the midpoint and on a non-GAAP basis, is up 142% versus 2019 and up 45% versus 2020.
At the midpoint, non-GAAP EBT margin is expected to be approximately 10%.
In total, we are raising our full year non-GAAP earnings per diluted share outlook to a range of $8 to $8.70 compared to our prior outlook of $4.40 to $5.20.
At the midpoint and on a non-GAAP basis, our updated earnings per share guidance is up 126% versus 2019 and up 36% versus 2020.

Summary:
Our Q1 consolidated same-store sales increased 115% as we anniversaried the majority of our temporary store closures from last year.
In total, our first quarter non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $3.79 not only represented a 511% increase over Q1 2019, but eclipse our full year 2019 non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $3.59.
Consolidated sales increased 119% to approximately $2.92 billion.
Including the impact of last year's temporary store closures, consolidated same-store sales increased 115%.
As expected, this decrease from the 39% of net sales in 2020 given last year's temporary store closures, but increased compared to the 13% we had in 2019.
SG&A expenses include $13 million of COVID-related safety costs, which in light of the latest CDC guidance, we expect these costs to decline significantly beginning in the second quarter.
In total, we delivered non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $3.79.
On a GAAP basis, our earnings per diluted share were $3.41.
During the quarter, we also repurchased just over 1 million shares of our stock for $76.8 million at an average price of $74.59 and we have approximately $954 million remaining under our share repurchase program, and our plan for 2021 continues to include a minimum of $200 million of share repurchases.
As a result of our significant Q1 results, we are raising our consolidated same-store sales guidance and now expect full year comp sales to increase by 8% to 11% compared to our prior expectation of down 2% to up 2%.
At the midpoint, our updated comp sales guidance represents a 22% sales increase versus 2019 compared to our prior expectation of up 11%.
In total, we are raising our full year non-GAAP earnings per diluted share outlook to a range of $8 to $8.70 compared to our prior outlook of $4.40 to $5.20.