FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| AT JOHNSON OUTDOORS: | | |
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Paul A. Lehmann
Chief Financial Officer
262-631-6600 | Cynthia Georgeson
Corporate Communication
262-631-6600 | Leslie Loyet
Financial Relations Board
312-640-6672 |
JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. REPORTS
SECOND-QUARTER 2004 RESULTS
Racine, Wisconsin, April 29, 2004…….Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq: JOUT)today announced increased net sales, operating profits and earnings for the fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2004. Gains were attributable to continued strong top-line and bottom-line performances in fiscal 2004 by the Motors and Outdoor Equipment Group segments. Continued unusually high volume in military sales accounted for the reported growth in Outdoor Equipment. Diving benefited from favorable currency exchange which added to a modest sales increase, and minimized a slide in that segment’s profitability. Watercraft operations posted losses for the third consecutive reporting period.
Total net sales for the second quarter were $95.6 million, a 14.8% increase over the same quarter last year due to significant revenue gains in the Motors and Outdoor Equipment segments. New product performance and channel growth across all sectors drove increased sales in Motors, while Military sales grew 54.3% versus the same period last year resulting in the reported gains in Outdoor Equipment. Operating profit for the quarter grew 41.8% compared with the prior year ($8.7 million versus $6.1 million respectively) driven by double-digit profit growth in Motors (75.0%) and Outdoor Equipment (46.5%). Profit sagged in the Diving segment (down 2.9% versus the prior year) and Watercraft posted an operating loss for the third consecutive reporting period (-$2.1 million). Net income in the second quarter was $4.8 million (earnings per diluted share of $0.55) compared with $4.3 million (earnings per diluted share of $0.50) in the prior year period.
“Consumer response is the truest measure of the health of our markets, and whether we have turned consumer insight into winning products. We will get a clear picture of both in the consumer retail season which kicks into high gear in the third quarter” saidHelen Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We have good momentum heading into this important period; however, two businesses continue to face challenges. Diving is struggling with a soft market where the pace of recovery is uncertain; and, investments in Watercraft have yet to benefit the bottom-line. Portfolio diversity is a key asset, and more focus is needed to ensure greater consistency and balance in profitability across our businesses.”
Year-To-Date
Total net sales for the first six months of 2004 were $158.5 million, up 14.7% versus the prior year's six-month period. Operating profit was $10.0 million, a 59.5% increase over the same six-months last year. Net income year to date was $5.0 million (earnings per diluted share of $0.57) compared with $4.0 million (earnings per diluted share of $0.47) in the prior period.
Financial Highlights
The Company reported debt-to-total-capital of 30.3% reflecting a six percentage point improvement from a year ago. The increase in accounts receivable ($9.1 million) was the result of higher sales and a favorable currency impact of $2.5 million. The build in working capital and inventory levels was consistent with the period leading into the Company’s third fiscal quarter peak selling season. Gross profit grew in large part due to successful new product introductions and efficiency improvements.
“On the balance sheet, things remain positive,” commentedPaul Lehmann, Vice President and Chief FinancialOfficer. “Working capital has peaked, so cash balances should begin to build over the remainder of the year, and our debt ratio has dropped to the lowest level in our history.”
Webcast
Johnson Outdoors will hold its quarterly conference call on April 29, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be webcast at www.johnsonoutdoors.com and www.fulldisclosure.com. A replay will be available on both web sites for at least 30 days, and by telephone through May 6, 2004 by dialing 877-519-4471 or 973-341-3080 and providing confirmation code 4718325.
About Johnson Outdoors Inc.
Johnson Outdoors is a leading global outdoor recreation company that turns ideas into adventure with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Motors, Diving and Outdoor Equipment. Johnson Outdoors’ familiar brands include, among others: Old Town® canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak™, Necky® and Dimension® kayaks; Minn Kota® motors; SCUBAPRO® and SnorkelPro; UWATEC® dive equipment; and, Eureka!® tents. The company has 24 locations around the world, employs 1,400 people and reported annual sales of $315.9 million in 2003.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements,” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could affect actual results or outcomes include changes in consumer spending patterns; the Company’s success in implementing its strategic plan, including its focus on innovation; actions of companies that compete with the Company; the Company’s success in managing inventory; movements in foreign currencies or interest rates; unanticipated issues related to the Company’s military tent business; the success of suppliers and customers; the ability of the Company to deploy its capital successfully; unanticipated outcomes related to outstanding litigation matters; and adverse weather conditions. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
— Financial Tables Follow –
JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(thousands, except per share amounts)
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| THREE MONTHS ENDED
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| SIX MONTHS ENDED
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| April 2
2004
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| March 28
2003
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| April 2
2004
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| March 28
2003
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| Operating Results | | |
| Net sales | | | $ | 95,595 | | $ | 83,265 | | $ | 158,536 | | $ | 138,160 | |
| Cost of sales | | | | 53,316 | | | 47,072 | | | 89,287 | | | 78,284 | |
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| Gross profit | | | | 42,279 | | | 36,193 | | | 69,249 | | | 59,876 | |
| Operating expenses | | | | 33,593 | | | 30,069 | | | 59,218 | | | 53,586 | |
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| Operating profit | | | | 8,686 | | | 6,124 | | | 10,031 | | | 6,290 | |
| Interest expense, net | | | | 980 | | | 1,114 | | | 2,184 | | | 2,132 | |
| Other (income) expense, net | | | | 68 | | | (2,115 | ) | | (53 | ) | | (2,471 | ) |
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| Income before income taxes | | | | 7,638 | | | 7,125 | | | 7,900 | | | 6,629 | |
| Income tax expense | | | | 2,842 | | | 2,828 | | | 2,944 | | | 2,612 | |
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| Net income | | | $ | 4,796 | | $ | 4,297 | | $ | 4,956 | | $ | 4,017 | |
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| Basic earnings per common share | | | $ | 0.56 | | $ | 0.51 | | $ | 0.58 | | $ | 0.48 | |
| Diluted earnings per common share | | | $ | 0.55 | | $ | 0.50 | | $ | 0.57 | | $ | 0.47 | |
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| Diluted average common shares outstanding | | | | 8,766 | | | 8,561 | | | 8,732 | | | 8,525 | |
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| Segment Results | | |
| Net sales: | | |
| Motors | | | $ | 31,883 | | $ | 27,331 | | $ | 49,892 | | $ | 42,337 | |
| Outdoor equipment | | | | 24,170 | | | 18,820 | | | 39,972 | | | 30,710 | |
| Watercraft | | | | 19,693 | | | 19,949 | | | 32,133 | | | 31,858 | |
| Diving | | | | 20,048 | | | 17,686 | | | 36,990 | | | 34,161 | |
| Other/eliminations | | | | (199 | ) | | (521 | ) | | (451 | ) | | (906 | ) |
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| Total | | | $ | 95,595 | | $ | 83,265 | | $ | 158,536 | | $ | 138,160 | |
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| Operating profit (loss): | | |
| Motors | | | $ | 7,517 | | $ | 4,296 | | $ | 10,556 | | $ | 5,873 | |
| Outdoor equipment | | | | 4,451 | | | 3,038 | | | 6,932 | | | 4,440 | |
| Watercraft | | | | (2,062 | ) | | (1,111 | ) | | (5,573 | ) | | (3,040 | ) |
| Diving | | | | 3,065 | | | 3,157 | | | 4,750 | | | 5,183 | |
| Other/eliminations | | | | (4,285 | ) | | (3,256 | ) | | (6,634 | ) | | (6,166 | ) |
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| Total | | | $ | 8,686 | | $ | 6,124 | | $ | 10,031 | | $ | 6,290 | |
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| Balance Sheet Information(End of Period) |
| Cash and short-term investments | $ | 36,241 | | $ | 44,821 | |
| Accounts receivable, net | | 80,646 | | | 71,520 | |
| Inventories, net | | 67,746 | | | 62,655 | |
| Total current assets | | 198,608 | | | 190,226 | |
| Total assets | | 281,410 | | | 271,293 | |
| Short-term debt | | 15,755 | | | 9,538 | |
| Total current liabilities | | 69,329 | | | 61,010 | |
| Long-term debt | | 51,365 | | | 68,488 | |
| Shareholders' equity | | 154,087 | | | 136,196 | |
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