EXHIBIT 99.1
Hooker Furniture Reports Lower Sales and Earnings for Fiscal 2009 Second Quarter and First Half
MARTINSVILLE, Va., Sept. 9, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hooker Furniture Corporation (Nasdaq:HOFT) today reported net sales of $64.6 million and net income of $2.1 million, or $0.18 per share, for the quarter ended August 3, 2008.
Fiscal 2009 second quarter net sales of $64.6 million decreased $8.8 million, or 12.0%, compared to the fiscal 2008 second quarter net sales of $73.4 million. Second quarter net income of $2.1 million decreased $2.8 million, or 57.3%, compared to the 2008 quarter net income of $4.9 million. Earnings per share of $0.18 decreased $0.21, or 53.8%, when compared to the 2008 quarter earnings per share of $0.39.
"The summer business environment was even more challenging than anticipated," said Paul B. Toms Jr., chairman, chief executive officer and president. "While our top and bottom line performance for the quarter was disappointing, we have taken the steps necessary to reduce costs and increase efficiencies. Our ability to generate a modest profit despite the prolonged economic downturn continues to validate our business model."
Operating income for the 2009 second quarter decreased to $3.1 million, or 4.8% of net sales, compared to operating income of $7.5 million, or 10.2% of net sales, in the 2008 quarter.
The decrease in income and profitability was driven primarily by the net sales reduction, along with other factors including:
* a decline in gross profit margin to 28.3% compared with 31.3% in the
prior year quarter; and
* an increase in selling and administrative expenses as a percentage
of net sales to 23.9% compared with 20.5% of sales for the prior
year quarter.
Inflationary pressures in product costs and certain other operating expenses related to higher costs for raw materials, fuel prices, offshore labor costs and ocean freight, along with weakness of the dollar negatively impacted Hooker's gross profit margin during the fiscal 2009 second quarter.
The net sales decline for the fiscal year 2009 was driven by lower unit volume attributed to the industry-wide business slump, lower shipments of discontinued domestically-produced wood furniture and lower average selling prices. Factors driving the lower average selling prices included a higher proportion of lower-priced imported wood furniture in the product mix and sales discounts extended to dealers to promote sales.
Excluding discontinued domestically-produced wood furniture, net sales declined 7.7% year-over-year. "Nearly 40% of our sales decline for the 2009 second quarter related to discontinued domestically-produced wood furniture," said Toms. "That discontinued business will be less of a factor in the future."
Second quarter 2009 unit volume decreased compared to the same 2008 period across most wood and upholstery product categories, but increased for:
* youth bedroom products due to the addition of the Opus Designs
product line; and
* home entertainment and theater furniture, including living room wall
systems and consoles.
The decline in gross profit margin for the 2009 fiscal second quarter was primarily driven by:
* an increase in the delivered cost of imported wood furniture as a
percentage of net sales coupled with higher sales discounts to
stimulate sales;
* substantial discounts on discontinued, domestically-produced wood
furniture; and
* higher raw material and overhead costs as a percentage of net sales
for domestically-produced upholstered furniture.
This decline in gross profit margin was partially offset by a lower delivered cost of imported upholstered furniture as a percentage of net sales.
Since the spring, the Company has received cost increases from its offshore suppliers on imported furniture, as well as for transportation costs, raw materials for its upholstered furniture and for other operating expenses. The Company has recently implemented a price increase intended to offset these cost increases and to improve margins compared to second quarter 2009 levels. "Like everyone else in the industry, we've taken significant price increases in recent months, and like most everyone else, we are left with no other choice but to pass along a significant portion of the price increases we have received," Toms said.
Selling and administrative expenses increased $365,000, or 2.4% to $15.4 million or 23.9% of net sales for the fiscal 2009 second quarter, compared to $15.1 million or 20.5% of net sales for the fiscal 2008 second quarter. The increase in spending during the 2009 second quarter was principally the result of:
* a gain on a life insurance policy recorded in the prior year (fiscal
2008) second quarter; and
* the costs to operate two new distribution centers during the current
year quarter, one located in California, which opened in January
2008, and one in China, which opened in May 2008. Both facilities
are owned and operated by third parties.
These cost increases were partially offset by a decline in legal and professional fees. Selling and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of net sales principally through the effect of lower net sales in the current year quarter.
Fiscal Year 2009 First Half Results
Net sales for the fiscal year 2009 first half declined $15.1 million, or 10.0% to $135.7 million compared to $150.7 million for the fiscal 2008 first half. The Company's operating income for the first six months of fiscal 2009 decreased to $7.1 million, or 5.2% of net sales, compared to operating income of $13.7 million, or 9.1% of net sales, in the first six months of fiscal 2008. Net income for the 2009 first half declined to $4.7 million or $0.41 per share, from $9.1 million, or $0.71 per share, in the fiscal 2008 six-month period.
The decline in net sales for the first half was partially offset by the addition of net sales from upholstered seating specialist Sam Moore. Net sales for Sam Moore amounted to $13.0 million during the 2009 first half compared to $6.7 million for the three months during the 2008 period following its acquisition at the end of April 2007.
Excluding discontinued domestically-produced wood furniture and net sales from Sam Moore, net sales declined 8.8% for the first six months of fiscal 2009.
First half 2009 unit volume decreased compared to the same 2008 period across all wood and upholstery product categories with the exception of Sam Moore upholstered products and youth bedroom products due to the addition of the Opus Designs product line.
Cash and Inventory Levels
Since the end of the last fiscal year, Hooker has redeployed more than half of its available cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents declined by $17.3 million to $15.8 million as of August 3, 2008 from $33.1 million on February 3, 2008. The Company used cash of $14.1 million to repurchase approximately 798,000 shares of its common stock during the 2009 first half under authorizations approved by its Board of Directors since late last year. Repurchases under those authorizations were substantially complete as of the end of the 2009 first half. Additionally, Hooker invested $7.2 million in higher inventory levels to improve its inventory position primarily for imported wood furniture in anticipation of an uptick in business during the upcoming fall season. "We anticipate improving cash flow from operations throughout the next two quarters as we work down our inventory levels by the end of the year," Toms said.
Business Outlook
"While we anticipate that business in the fall will be marginally better than the summer, the structural economic problems that impacted us in the summer such as a troubled housing sector, tight credit, high energy prices and historically low levels of consumer confidence are still in place," Toms said. "For all these reasons, we expect demand for furniture will continue to be softer over the next several months than we've experienced in recent years. We are well prepared to deal with that challenge. On the profitability side, we have taken measures to reduce non-essential spending and payroll and to increase efficiencies in warehousing, distribution and administration. Regarding the top line, our first priority is to stabilize sales. Toward that end, we are in a strong inventory position on our best sellers in order to capitalize on any uptick in business this fall, and we are working with our retail customers on promotions to stimulate sales. We also plan to ship an estimated $2 to $3 million in new busine ss for both Hooker and Opus Designs this fall."
Announcements
* In July, Hooker named Bruce Cohenour to the new position of
General Manager for Opus Designs. Cohenour will set the overall
direction for the youth furniture specialist Hooker acquired in
December of 2007. "Having a capable executive like Bruce with
overall responsibility for Opus Designs will help us fully
maximize the opportunity that product line represents
to expand our business," Toms said.
* In August, Hooker reorganized its upholstery companies,
Bradington-Young and Sam Moore, under the executive leadership of
Alan Cole, who has been named President and Chief Executive
Officer of Hooker Furniture Upholstery. "Alan's day to day
leadership at Sam Moore should put our growth strategies there on
a faster track," Toms said.
* Also in August, Hooker announced permanent layoffs affecting 25
employees in operations, warehousing and administration at its
wood furniture division based in Martinsville, Va. The layoffs
represented a 9.1% reduction in its wood furniture workforce of
263, and a 2.6% reduction in its corporate-wide workforce of 912,
including upholstery companies Sam Moore and Bradington-Young,
although employees at those companies were not affected. "While
the layoff was done with great sadness and regret, it was a
necessary step to insure we remain competitive, and that our
infrastructure is in line with the lower sales volume levels of
our business today," Toms said.
* At today's meeting, the Company's Board of Directors declared a
quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share, payable on November
28, 2008 to shareholders of record November 17, 2008.
Conference Call Details
Hooker Furniture will present its fiscal 2009 second quarter financial results via teleconference and live internet web cast on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. The dial-in number for domestic callers is 877-874-1586, and 719-325-4811 is the number for international callers.
Ranked among the nation's top 10 largest publicly traded furniture sources based on 2007 shipments to U.S. retailers, Hooker Furniture Corporation is an 84-year old residential wood, metal and upholstered furniture resource. Major wood furniture product categories include home entertainment, home office, accent, dining, bedroom and bath furniture under the Hooker Furniture brand and youth bedroom furniture sold under the Opus Designs brand. Hooker's residential upholstered seating companies include Cherryville, N.C.-based Bradington-Young LLC, a specialist in upscale motion and stationary leather furniture, and Bedford, Va.-based Sam Moore Furniture LLC, a specialist in upscale occasional chairs with an emphasis on cover-to-frame customization. Please visit our websites at www.hookerfurniture.com, www.bradington-young.com, www.sammoore.com and www.opusdesigns.com.
The Hooker Furniture Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4305
Statements made in this release, other than those concerning historical financial information, may be considered forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: general economic or business conditions, both domestically and internationally; price competition in the furniture industry; changes in domestic and international monetary policies and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affecting the price of the Company's imported products; the cyclical nature of the furniture industry; risks associated with the cost of imported goods, including fluctuation in the prices of purchased finished goods and transportation and warehousing costs; supply, transportation and distribution disruptions, particularly those affecting imported products; adverse political acts or developments in, or affecting, the international markets from which the Compan y imports products, including duties or tariffs imposed on products imported by the Company; risks associated with domestic manufacturing operations, including fluctuations in capacity utilization and the prices of key raw materials, transportation and warehousing costs, domestic labor costs and environmental compliance and remediation costs; the Company's ability to successfully implement its business plan to increase Sam Moore Furniture's and Opus Design's sales and improve their financial performance; achieving and managing growth and change, and the risks associated with acquisitions, restructurings, strategic alliances and international operations; risks associated with distribution through retailers, such as non-binding dealership arrangements; capital requirements and costs; competition from non-traditional outlets, such as catalogs, internet and home improvement centers; changes in consumer preferences, including increased demand for lower quality, lower priced furniture due to declines in consumer c onfidence and/or discretionary income available for furniture purchases; and higher than expected costs associated with product quality and safety, including regulatory compliance costs related to the sale of consumer products and costs related to defective products. Any forward looking statement that the Company makes speaks only as of the date of that statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Table I
HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
Thirteen Weeks Twenty-Six Weeks
Ended Ended
August 03, July 29, August 03, July 29,
2008(a) 2007(b) 2008(a) 2007(c)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net sales $ 64,628 $ 73,441 $135,655 $150,735
Cost of sales 46,328 50,440 96,063 105,656
-------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit 18,300 23,001 39,592 45,079
Selling and administrative
expenses 15,437 15,072 32,779 31,073
Restructuring and asset
impairment (credit) charge (258) 473 (258) 344
-------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income 3,121 7,456 7,071 13,662
Other income, net 168 308 355 841
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income before income
taxes 3,289 7,764 7,426 14,503
Income taxes 1,215 2,906 2,747 5,359
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net income $ 2,074 $ 4,858 $ 4,679 $ 9,144
======== ======== ======== ========
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.18 $ 0.39 $ 0.41 $ 0.71
======== ======== ======== ========
Diluted $ 0.18 $ 0.39 $ 0.41 $ 0.71
======== ======== ======== ========
Weighted average shares
outstanding:
Basic 11,234 12,590 11,383 12,881
======== ======== ======== ========
Diluted 11,240 12,594 11,390 12,884
======== ======== ======== ========
(a) During the 2009 thirteen and twenty-six week periods, the Company
recorded a restructuring credit of $258,000 ($162,000 after tax, or
$0.02 per share) for previously accrued health care benefits that are
not expected to be paid for terminated employees at the former Roanoke
and Martinsville, Va. manufacturing facilities.
(b) During the 2008 second quarter, the Company recorded restructuring
charges of $473,000 ($293,000 after tax, or $0.02 per share)
principally for additional severance and related benefit costs and
disassembly costs related to the closure of the Martinsville, Va.
manufacturing facilities.
(c) During the 2008 first half, the Company recorded aggregate
restructuring charges of $344,000 ($213,000 after tax, or $0.02 per
share) consisting of: $473,000 for additional severance and related
benefit costs associated with the March 2007 closing of the
Martinsville, Va. domestic wood manufacturing facility, and a
restructuring credit of $129,000 principally to reverse previously
accrued health care benefits for terminated employees at the former
Pleasant Garden, N.C. facility that were not expected to be paid.
Table II
HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, including share data)
August 03, Feb. 03,
2008 2008
--------- ---------
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 15,799 $ 33,076
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for
doubtful accounts of $1,431 and $1,750 on
each date 33,535 38,229
Inventories 57,820 50,560
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,813 3,552
--------- ---------
Total current assets 110,967 125,417
Property, plant and equipment, net 25,224 25,353
Goodwill 3,803 3,774
Intangible assets 5,925 5,892
Cash surrender value of life insurance
policies 13,059 12,173
Other assets 2,236 2,623
--------- ---------
Total assets $ 161,214 $ 175,232
========= =========
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Trade accounts payable $ 13,370 $ 13,025
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits 3,019 3,838
Other accrued expenses 2,463 3,553
Current maturities of long-term debt 2,795 2,694
--------- ---------
Total current liabilities 21,647 23,110
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities 3,795 5,218
Deferred compensation 5,984 5,369
Other long-term liabilities 568 709
--------- ---------
Total liabilities 31,994 34,406
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 20,000 shares
authorized, 10,763 and 11,561 shares issued
and outstanding on each date 16,959 18,182
Retained earnings 112,392 122,835
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (131) (191)
--------- ---------
Total shareholders' equity 129,220 140,826
--------- ---------
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity $ 161,214 $ 175,232
========= =========
Table III
HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
August 03, July 29,
2008 2007
--------- ---------
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash received from customers $ 140,545 $ 157,243
Cash paid to suppliers and employees (134,501) (125,817)
Income taxes paid, net (4,428) (8,353)
Interest received, net 286 759
--------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities 1,902 23,832
--------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of Sam Moore Furniture, net
of cash acquired (10,566)
Additional payments related to the
acquisition of Opus Designs (181)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (1,303) (1,050)
Proceeds from the sale of property and
equipment 7 59
--------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities (1,477) (11,557)
--------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities
Purchases and retirement of common stock (14,073) (18,374)
Cash dividends paid (2,307) (2,606)
Payments on long-term debt (1,322) (1,230)
--------- ---------
Net cash used in financing activities (17,702) (22,210)
--------- ---------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (17,277) (9,935)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of year 33,076 47,085
--------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 15,799 $ 37,150
========= =========
Reconciliation of net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Net income $ 4,679 $ 9,144
Depreciation and amortization 1,328 1,702
Non-cash and restricted stock awards 36 22
Restructuring (credit) charge (258) 344
Loss on disposal of property 123 9
Provision for doubtful accounts 588 460
Deferred income tax expense 258 1,739
Changes in assets and liabilities,
net of effect from acquisition:
Trade accounts receivable 4,150 6,182
Inventories (7,201) 10,945
Prepaid expenses and other assets (1,064) (780)
Trade accounts payable 345 1,219
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits (560) (2,322)
Accrued income taxes (1,274) (4,732)
Other accrued expenses 278 (601)
Other long-term liabilities 474 501
--------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating
activities $ 1,902 $ 23,832
========= =========
CONTACT: Hooker Furniture Corporation
Paul B. Toms Jr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President
(276) 632-2133
E. Larry Ryder, Executive Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer
(276) 632-2133, or
Kim D. Shaver, Vice President, Marketing Communications
(336) 454-7088
