Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation Announces Fiscal 2017 Third Quarter Results
-
Reports Third Quarter Earnings per Diluted Share of $0.28
- Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.15 per Share
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation (NASDAQ:BGFV) (the “Company”), a leading sporting goods retailer, today reported financial results for the fiscal 2017 third quarter ended October 1, 2017.
For the fiscal 2017 third quarter, net sales were $270.5 million compared to net sales of $279.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Same store sales decreased 2.9% for the third quarter of fiscal 2017. This compares to a 6.8% increase in same store sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2016. As anticipated, fiscal 2017 third quarter sales comparisons to the prior year reflect a small benefit from the calendar shift related to the Fourth of July holiday.
Gross profit for the fiscal 2017 third quarter was $87.5 million, compared to $89.9 million in the third quarter of the prior year. The Company’s gross profit margin was 32.4% in the fiscal 2017 third quarter versus 32.2% in the third quarter of the prior year, reflecting an increase in merchandise margins of 51 basis points partially offset by higher store occupancy expense as a percentage of sales.
Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of net sales was 28.6% in the fiscal 2017 third quarter versus 27.3% in the third quarter of the prior year. Overall selling and administrative expense for the quarter increased by $1.1 million from the prior year primarily due to higher employee labor and benefit-related expense and expense related to information technology systems and services.
Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 was $6.0 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 of $8.2 million, or $0.38 per diluted share. Results for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 included a charge of $0.03 per diluted share for store closing costs.
For the 39-week period ended October 1, 2017, net sales were $766.7 million compared to net sales of $755.0 million in the first 39 weeks of last year. Same store sales increased 1.6% in the first 39 weeks of fiscal 2017 versus the comparable period last year. Net income for the first 39 weeks of fiscal 2017 was $14.1 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, compared to net income for the first 39 weeks of fiscal 2016 of $9.2 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, including $0.07 per diluted share of charges for store closing costs and the write-off of deferred tax assets related to share-based compensation.
“Our third quarter results were in line with our guidance,” said Steven G. Miller, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Given the challenging and competitive retail environment, we are pleased to have retained a significant portion of the market share gains that we achieved following last year’s competitor store closures in our markets. While our third quarter same store sales declined from the prior year, we achieved two-year stacked quarterly same store sales growth for the period of 3.8%. For the third quarter, same store sales in our hardgoods category declined in the mid-single-digit range, reflecting the continued reduced demand for firearm-related products, and same store sales in our apparel and footwear categories were slightly down. Despite a highly promotional retail environment, we are also pleased to have grown merchandise margins as we benefited from a shift in our product mix.”
Mr. Miller added, “Looking toward the fourth quarter, while consumer spending over the holiday season and winter weather conditions in our markets are difficult to predict, we feel that our business model, which focuses on offering the optimal mix of value, selection, service and convenience to our customers, will continue to serve us well in the current environment.”
Quarterly Cash Dividend
The Company's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of outstanding common stock, which will be paid on December 15, 2017 to stockholders of record as of December 1, 2017.
Share Repurchases
During the fiscal 2017 third quarter, pursuant to its share repurchase program, the Company repurchased 666,609 shares of its common stock for a total expenditure of $6.8 million. For the year-to-date period through October 1, 2017, the Company repurchased 677,109 shares of its common stock for a total expenditure of $6.9 million. As of October 1, 2017, the Company had $16.5 million available for future repurchases under its $25.0 million share repurchase program.
Guidance
For the fiscal 2017 fourth quarter, the Company expects same store sales to be in the negative low single-digit range and earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $0.16 to $0.28, compared to a same store sales increase of 3.1% and earnings per diluted share of $0.35, including $0.02 per diluted share for a tax benefit related to share-based compensation, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.
Store Openings
During the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company closed one store, ending the quarter with 432 stores in operation. The Company anticipates opening three stores in the fourth quarter. For the fiscal 2017 full year, the Company currently anticipates opening six new stores and closing three stores.
Conference Call Information
The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast today, October 31, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific (5:00 p.m. EDT), to discuss financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2017. To access the conference call, participants in North America should dial (888) 334-3020, and international participants should dial (719) 457-2698. Participants are encouraged to dial in to the conference call ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time. The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and accessible through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.big5sportinggoods.com. Visitors to the website should select the “Investor Relations” link to access the webcast. The webcast will be archived and accessible on the same website for 30 days following the call. A telephone replay will be available through November 7, 2017 by calling (844) 512-2921 to access the playback; passcode is 6969139.
About Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation
Big 5 is a leading sporting goods retailer in the western United States, operating 432 stores under the “Big 5 Sporting Goods” name as of the fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2017. Big 5 provides a full-line product offering in a traditional sporting goods store format that averages 11,000 square feet. Big 5’s product mix includes athletic shoes, apparel and accessories, as well as a broad selection of outdoor and athletic equipment for team sports, fitness, camping, hunting, fishing, tennis, golf, winter and summer recreation and roller sports.
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause Big 5’s actual results in current or future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, worsening of the consumer spending environment, fluctuations in consumer holiday spending patterns, increased competition from e-commerce retailers, breach of data security or other unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal or confidential information, the competitive environment in the sporting goods industry in general and in Big 5’s specific market areas, inflation, product availability and growth opportunities, changes in the current market for (or regulation of) firearm-related products, seasonal fluctuations, weather conditions, changes in cost of goods, operating expense fluctuations, increases in labor and benefit-related expense, changes in laws or regulations, including those related to tariffs and duties, lower than expected profitability of Big 5’s e-commerce platform or cannibalization of sales from Big 5’s existing store base which could occur as a result of operating the e-commerce platform, litigation risks, stockholder campaigns and proxy contests, disruption in product flow, changes in interest rates, credit availability, higher expense associated with sources of credit resulting from uncertainty in financial markets and economic conditions in general. Those and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Big 5’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Big 5 conducts its business in a highly competitive and rapidly changing environment. Accordingly, new risk factors may arise. It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor to assess the impact of all such risk factors on Big 5’s business or the extent to which any individual risk factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Big 5 undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf.
FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW
| BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION | ||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except share amounts) | ||||||||
|
October 1, 2017 |
January 1, 2017 |
|||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | 5,344 | $ | 7,895 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $53 and $42, respectively | 8,601 | 12,200 | ||||||
| Merchandise inventories, net | 309,331 | 294,319 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 11,513 | 10,085 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 334,789 | 324,499 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 77,694 | 78,420 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 21,559 | 23,699 | ||||||
| Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $1,551 and $1,420, respectively | 2,919 | 2,528 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 4,433 | 4,433 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 441,394 | $ | 433,579 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 93,585 | $ | 109,314 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 66,035 | 76,887 | ||||||
| Current portion of capital lease obligations | 1,782 | 1,326 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 161,402 | 187,527 | ||||||
| Deferred rent, less current portion | 15,983 | 17,028 | ||||||
| Capital lease obligations, less current portion | 3,007 | 1,999 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 46,427 | 10,000 | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 11,089 | 11,988 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 237,908 | 228,542 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued 24,922,998 and | ||||||||
| 24,784,367 shares, respectively; outstanding 21,474,173 and 22,012,651 shares, respectively | 249 | 248 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 115,944 | 114,797 | ||||||
| Retained earnings | 128,568 | 124,363 | ||||||
| Less: Treasury stock, at cost; 3,448,825 and 2,771,716 shares, respectively | (41,275 | ) | (34,371 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 203,486 | 205,037 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 441,394 | $ | 433,579 | ||||
| BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION | ||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
| 13 Weeks Ended | 39 Weeks Ended | |||||||
| October 1, 2017 |
October 2, 2016 |
October 1, 2017 |
October 2, 2016 |
|||||
| Net sales | $ | 270,471 | $ | 279,015 | $ | 766,746 | $ | 754,952 |
| Cost of sales | 182,923 | 189,126 | 516,268 | 517,841 | ||||
| Gross profit | 87,548 | 89,889 | 250,478 | 237,111 | ||||
| Selling and administrative expense (1) | 77,358 | 76,296 | 226,190 | 219,774 | ||||
| Operating income | 10,190 | 13,593 | 24,288 | 17,337 | ||||
| Interest expense | 447 | 323 | 1,095 | 1,204 | ||||
| Income before income taxes | 9,743 | 13,270 | 23,193 | 16,133 | ||||
| Income taxes (2) | 3,793 | 5,083 | 9,139 | 6,941 | ||||
| Net income (1) (2) | $ | 5,950 | $ | 8,187 | $ | 14,054 | $ | 9,192 |
| Earnings per share: | ||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.65 | $ | 0.43 |
| Diluted (1) (2) | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.65 | $ | 0.42 |
| Dividends per share | $ | 0.15 | $ | 0.125 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.375 |
| Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding: | ||||||||
| Basic | 21,324 | 21,593 | 21,584 | 21,607 | ||||
| Diluted | 21,355 | 21,732 | 21,752 | 21,790 | ||||
| (1) In the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2016, the Company recorded pre-tax charges of $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively, related to store closing costs. These charges reduced net income by $0.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, and $0.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, respectively. | ||||||||
| (2) In the first half of fiscal 2016, the Company recorded charges of $0.8 million to write off deferred tax assets related to share-based compensation. These charges reduced net income per diluted share by $0.04. | ||||||||
Contact:
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation
Barry Emerson
Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(310) 536-0611
ICR, Inc.
John Mills
Partner
(646) 277-1254
