Media Contact: Gabby Nelson (763) 551-7460 gabby.nelson@selectcomfort.com | Investor Contact: Edwin Boon (763) 551-7498 investorrelations@selectcomfort.com |
SELECT COMFORT ANNOUNCES FOURTH-QUARTER
AND FULL-YEAR 2011 RESULTS
| · | Reports Fourth-quarter Earnings per Diluted Share of $0.27 |
| · | Achieves Fourth-quarter Comparable Sales Growth of 31 Percent |
| · | Reports 12th Consecutive Quarter of Double-digit Year-over-year Operating Income Growth |
| · | Provides 2012 Earnings Guidance |
MINNEAPOLIS – (Feb. 8, 2012) – Select Comfort Corporation (NASDAQ: SCSS) today reported fourth-quarter and fiscal 2011 results for the period ended Dec. 31, 2011. Net sales for the quarter increased 27 percent to $189 million, compared to $149 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, driven by company-controlled comparable sales growth of 31 percent. The company reported fourth-quarter earnings per diluted share of $0.27, a 108 percent increase versus $0.13 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2010. Fourth-quarter 2011 results included a $1.9 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, non-recurring net decrease to income-tax expense related to the favorable resolution of prior-years’ tax matters.
Net sales for the full-year 2011 increased 23 percent to $743 million, compared to $606 million in 2010, driven by company-controlled comparable sales growth of 26 percent. The company reported earnings per diluted share of $1.07 in 2011, an 88 percent increase versus $0.57 per diluted share in 2010. Full-year 2011 results included a $1.5 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, non-recurring net decrease to income-tax expense related to the favorable resolution of prior-years’ tax matters.
“Our outstanding financial results in 2011 mark a year of significant progress for our company as we refined our top-line growth formula and achieved record bottom-line leverage and profitability,” said Bill McLaughlin, president and CEO, Select Comfort Corporation. “Building on a strong 2010, we continued to attain top-tier comparable sales increases through our integrated and customer-focused approach to marketing, distribution and product innovation.”
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McLaughlin added, “Our team enters 2012 with confidence in our proven growth drivers as we continue to broaden our target consumer, increase brand awareness and develop our under-penetrated major markets. We remain focused on delivering sustained growth in market share and earnings for our shareholders, while also maintaining flexibility to effectively manage through continued market uncertainty.”
Fourth-quarter and Full-year Summary
In the fourth quarter, net sales increased by 27 percent as compared to the prior-year period. The increase in sales was driven by company-controlled comparable sales growth of 31 percent, with average retail sales-per-store during the past 12 months reaching a record $1.7 million, a 33 percent improvement over the prior-year period.
Gross-profit margin in the fourth quarter of 2011 was 62.9 percent of net sales, compared with 63.0 percent in the prior-year period. On a full-year basis, gross-profit margin improved 80 basis points from 62.5 percent in 2010 to 63.3 percent in 2011, driven by favorable product mix, pricing actions and manufacturing efficiencies.
Sales and marketing costs were $82.8 million in the fourth quarter, or 43.8 percent of net sales. This compares to $68.6 million, or 46.1 percent of net sales in the prior-year period, reflecting continued leverage from our sales growth. Media investments in the fourth quarter totaled $24 million, 29 percent higher than a year ago.
General and administrative expenses were $15.0 million in the fourth quarter, or 8.0 percent of net sales. This compares to $13.2 million, or 8.9 percent of net sales during the same period last year, again reflecting continued leverage of the company’s fixed-cost base.
Operating income was $20.0 million during the fourth quarter, and operating margin during the quarter improved 290 basis points from 7.7 percent in 2010 to 10.6 percent in 2011. This operating performance resulted in earnings per diluted share of $0.27, a 108 percent year-over-year improvement, which included a $1.9 million non-recurring net decrease to income-tax expense related to the favorable resolution of prior-years’ tax matters.
Cash flows from operating activities were $91 million for full-year 2011 compared to $71 million in the prior year. Capital expenditures for full-year 2011 increased to $23.5 million as compared to $7.3 million in 2010, driven by increased investment in stores and information systems. As of year-end 2011,
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cash, cash equivalents and marketable-debt securities totaled $146 million, and the company had no borrowings under its revolving credit agreement.
Fiscal 2012 Outlook
The company expects to increase earnings per diluted share by 23 to 31 percent in 2012 to between $1.32 and $1.40. This outlook assumes company-controlled comparable sales growth of at least 15 percent and a net increase in store count from 381 at year-end 2011 to between 400 and 410 by year-end 2012. It also assumes a year-over-year increase in operating margin of at least 100 basis points.
The company currently anticipates that 2012 capital expenditures will be approximately $50 million, reflecting new stores, repositioned stores and remodels, along with continued investment in customer-management systems. The company also announced today that while its first priority for capital deployment is to invest in continued profitable growth, it currently plans to reinitiate a modest share repurchase in 2012 under a previously approved repurchase program, with the objective to maintain share count at current levels.
“The success and predictability of our profitable growth formula in 2011 gives us confidence as we enter 2012,” said Wendy Schoppert, executive vice president and CFO, Select Comfort Corporation. “We expect sustained revenue growth to come from a combination of new stores and higher average sales per store, while we continue to achieve growth in both operating margins and operating cash flow.”
Conference Call
Management will host its regularly scheduled conference call to discuss the company’s results at 5 p.m. Eastern Time (4 p.m. Central; 2 p.m. Pacific) today. To listen to the call, please dial (800) 593-9959 (international participants dial (517) 308-9340) and reference the passcode “Sleep.” To access the webcast, please visit the investor relations area of the Sleep Number website at http://www.sleepnumber.com/eng/aboutus/InvestorRelations.cfm. The webcast replay will remain available in the investor relations area of the company’s website for approximately 60 days.
About Select Comfort Corporation
Select Comfort Corporation (NASDAQ: SCSS) is leading the industry in setting a new standard in sleep by offering consumers high-quality, innovative and individualized sleep solutions, which includes a complete line of SLEEP NUMBER® beds and bedding. The company is the exclusive manufacturer, retailer and servicer of the revolutionary Sleep Number bed, which allows individuals to adjust the firmness and support of each side at the touch of a button. The company offers further
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personalization through its solutions-focused line of Sleep Number pillows, sheets and other bedding products. And as the only national specialty-mattress retailer, consumers can take advantage of an enhanced mattress-buying experience at one of the approximately 380 Sleep Number stores across the country, online at sleepnumber.com or via phone at (800) Sleep Number or (800) 753-3768.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements used in this news release relating to future plans, events, financial results or performance are forward-looking statements subject to certain risks and uncertainties including, among others, such factors as general and industry economic trends; consumer confidence; the effectiveness of our marketing messages; the efficiency of our advertising and promotional efforts; consumer acceptance of our products, product quality, innovation and brand image; availability of attractive and cost-effective consumer credit options; execution of our retail store distribution strategy; our dependence on significant suppliers, and our ability to maintain relationships with key suppliers, including several sole-source suppliers; the vulnerability of key suppliers to recessionary pressures, labor negotiations, liquidity concerns or other factors; rising commodity costs and other inflationary pressures; industry competition; our ability to continue to improve our product line; warranty expenses; risks of pending and potentially unforeseen litigation; increasing government regulations, which have added or will add cost pressures and process changes to ensure compliance; the adequacy of our management information systems to meet the evolving needs of our business and evolving regulatory standards applicable to data privacy and security; our ability to attract and retain senior leadership and other key employees, including qualified sales professionals; and uncertainties arising from global events, such as terrorist attacks or a pandemic outbreak, or the threat of such events. Additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other periodic reports filed with the SEC. The company has no obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward-looking statements in this news release.
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