Net sales increased $45.8 million to $492.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2005, a 10.3% increase over net sales of $446.3 million in the comparable prior year period. Of the increase, $22.5 million was attributable to the additional sales generated by the 36 new stores opened in fiscal 2004 and the first nine months of fiscal 2005 (net of eight store closings) with the balance attributable to the 5.5% increase in comparable store sales.
After a slower than expected start to the back-to-school season, our business improved significantly as we moved through the third quarter of 2005 and culminated with a comparable store sales increase of 21.2% in the month of October. Each of our major product categories posted comparable store sales increases with women’s non-athletic leading with an increase in excess of 20%, followed closely by a mid double-digit increase in our men’s non-athletic category.
As we have indicated in the past, our merchants have expended considerable effort over the course of the past year to enhance the fashion content of our women’s and men’s non-athletic merchandise. We believe our customers have responded well to these changes as both of these categories have recorded strong comparable store sales increases in each of the three quarters of fiscal year 2005. On a year-to-date basis our women’s non-athletic category is leading our comparable stores sales growth with low double digit increases. Our men’s non-athletic category is following with near double digit increases.
Gross profit increased $6.6 million to $53.9 million in the third quarter of 2005, a 13.9% increase over gross profit of $47.3 million in the comparable prior year period. Our gross profit margin increased to 29.5% in the third quarter of 2005 from 29.1% in the same period last year. As a percentage of sales, the merchandise gross profit margin decreased 0.3% and buying, distribution and occupancy costs decreased 0.7% as compared to the same period last year. The merchandise gross profit margin decline was primarily due to escalating in-bound freight charges. The decrease in buying, distribution and occupancy costs, as a percentage of sales, was primarily a result of leveraging occupancy costs against a higher sales base.
Gross profit increased $15.1 million to $143.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2005, an 11.8% increase over gross profit of $127.9 million in the comparable prior year period. Our gross profit margin increased to 29.1% from 28.7% in the same period last year. As a percentage of sales, the merchandise gross profit margin increased 0.1% from last year while buying, distribution and occupancy costs decreased 0.3%. The decrease in buying, distribution and occupancy costs as a percentage of sales was primarily a result of leveraging occupancy costs against a higher sales base.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.0 million to $42.2 million in the third quarter of 2005 from $39.2 million in the comparable prior year period. Approximately $1.7 million of this increase was attributable to the direct costs of opening and operating 25 new stores (net of eight store closings). Additionally, health care costs increased by $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2005 resulting primarily from several catastrophic claims and incentive compensation increased by $600,000 as a result of higher operating income which is a major component of the associate incentive plans currently in place. We do not anticipate that our health care costs will experience such significant increases on a recurring basis.
Pre-opening costs were $215,000, or 0.1% of sales, for the third quarter of 2005 as compared to $456,000, or 0.3% of sales, for the third quarter of 2004. We opened two stores in the third quarter of 2005 as compared to the six stores that we opened in the third quarter of 2004.
As a percentage of sales, total selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 23.1% in the third quarter of 2005 from 24.1% in the same period last year. This reduction was primarily related to leveraging store selling expenses against a higher sales base and the aforementioned decrease in pre-opening costs. These savings were partially offset by the increases in health care costs and incentive compensation for the current quarter.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $8.2 million to $117.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 from $108.8 million in the comparable prior year period. Approximately $5.1 million of this increase was attributable to the direct costs of opening and operating 36 new stores (net of eight store closings). An additional $1.3 million was incurred for health care costs along with an additional $1.1 million for incentive compensation as compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in incentive compensation for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 was primarily a result of higher operating income which is a major component of the associate incentive plans currently in place.
Pre-opening costs were $704,000, or 0.1% of sales, for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 as compared to $1.3 million, or 0.3% of sales, for the first nine months of 2004.
As a percentage of sales, total selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 23.8% in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 from 24.4% in the same period last year. This reduction was primarily related to leveraging store selling expenses against a higher sales base and the aforementioned decrease in pre-opening costs. These savings were partially offset by the increases in health care costs and incentive compensation for the current year-to-date period.
Interest Expense-Net
Net interest expense decreased to $100,000 for the third quarter of 2005 from $135,000 for the third quarter of 2004 and to $361,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 from $508,000 for the first nine months of 2004, both primarily as a result of lower average borrowings.
Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate for the third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2005 decreased to 38.4% from 39.0% for the same time periods in 2004 due to lower state income taxes. We expect our effective income tax rate for the full year of fiscal 2005 to approximate 38.4%.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of funds are cash flows from operations and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. For the first nine months of fiscal 2005, net cash provided by operating activities was $4.3 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $8.7 million for the first nine months of last year. These amounts reflect the income from operations adjusted for non-cash items and working capital changes. The $4.4 million decrease in cash provided by operating activities between the two respective periods related primarily to the timing of the payment of accounts payable and recognition of accrued liabilities, along with the cash paid for taxes net of the reversal of deferred tax items. These uses of cash were partially offset by an increase in net income along with a slowed growth in inventory associated with a reduced pace of store openings.
Working capital increased to $137.9 million at October 29, 2005 from $130.8 million at October 30, 2004. This increase resulted primarily from the increase in inventory for the net addition of ten stores. The current ratio was 3.7 to 1 at October 29, 2005 as compared with 3.6 to 1 at October 30, 2004. Long-term debt as a percentage of total capital (long-term debt plus shareholders’ equity) decreased to 6.3% at October 29, 2005, compared to 13.5% at October 30, 2004 primarily due to the reduction in long-term debt.
Capital expenditures were $11.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2005. Of these expenditures, approximately $3.8 million was incurred for new stores, $3.5 million for store remodeling and relocations, and $2.0 million for software and information technology. The remaining capital expenditures were incurred for in-store graphics and miscellaneous equipment purchases. Lease incentives received from landlords were $874,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2005.
During the first nine months of fiscal 2005, we opened 14 new stores, with two of these opening in the third quarter. Three stores were closed during the third quarter of 2005. We plan to open one store in the fourth quarter of this year and close an additional three, thus finishing our 2005 fiscal year with 263 stores. Of the 19 stores opened during the first nine months of 2004, six stores were opened in the third quarter.
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We currently anticipate opening approximately 15 new stores in 2006 and closing four existing stores. These new stores will be located within our current geographic footprint, targeting existing markets with additional stores or entering new single store markets where we can gain immediate market penetration.
Our current store prototype uses between 8,000 and 12,000 square feet depending upon, among other factors, the location of the store and the population base the store is expected to service. Capital expenditures for a new store in 2005 are expected to average approximately $362,000 and lease incentives received from landlords are expected to average $54,000. The average inventory investment in a new store is expected to range from $450,000 to $750,000 depending on the size and sales expectation of the store and the timing of the new store opening. Pre-opening expenses, such as advertising, salaries and supplies, are expected to average approximately $51,000 per store in 2005 with individual stores experiencing variances in expenditure levels based on the specific market.
The actual amount of cash requirements for capital expenditures depends in part on the number of new stores we open and the number of stores relocated and remodeled. The amount of lease incentives received from landlords, if any, reduces the amount of cash required to open a new store. Lease incentives are recorded as a deferred liability and amortized over the initial term of the lease. The opening of new stores will be dependent upon, among other things, the availability of desirable locations, the negotiation of acceptable lease terms and general economic and business conditions affecting consumer spending in areas we target for expansion.
In 2004, we completed a forward-looking logistics study evaluating the need for additional distribution center capacity as we grow. Based on our current store growth plans, the results of the study identified the need to have additional distribution capacity available by mid 2007. We intend to replace our existing 200,000 square foot distribution center with a new 400,000 square foot facility. We have recently begun the site selection process and anticipate construction beginning in the spring of 2006. Preliminary cost estimates for land, building and equipment are expected to range from $23 million to $25 million. We have not yet determined if we will own or lease the distribution center.
Our unsecured credit facility provides for up to $70 million in cash advances on a revolving basis and commercial letters of credit. Borrowings under the revolving credit line are based on eligible inventory. The agreement governing the credit facility stipulates a minimum threshold for net worth, a maximum ratio of funded debt plus rent to EBITDA plus rent; and a maximum of total distributions for stock repurchases. We were in compliance with these requirements as of October 29, 2005. Should a default condition be reported, the lenders may preclude additional borrowings and call all loans and accrued interest at their discretion. The credit agreement and amendments thereto are filed as exhibits to (or incorporated by reference in) this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Borrowings outstanding under the credit facility were $12.0 million and letters of credit outstanding were $7.0 million at October 29, 2005. As of October 29, 2005 $51.0 million was available to us for additional borrowings under the credit facility.
We anticipate existing cash and cash flow from operations, supplemented by borrowings under the credit facility and additional term financing relating to our proposed new distribution center, will be sufficient to fund planned expansion and other operating cash requirements for at least the next 12 months.
Seasonality
Our quarterly results of operations have fluctuated and are expected to continue to fluctuate in the future primarily as a result of seasonal variances and the timing of sales and costs associated with opening new stores. Non-capital expenditures, such as advertising and payroll, incurred prior to opening a new store are charged to expense as incurred. Therefore, our results of operations may be adversely affected in any quarter in which we incur pre-opening expenses related to the opening of new stores.
We have three distinct peak selling periods: Easter, back-to-school and Christmas.
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ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
We are exposed to market risk in that the interest payable under our credit facility is based on variable interest rates and therefore is affected by changes in market rates. We do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to changes in market interest rates. A 1% change in the weighted average interest rate charged under the credit facility would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating by approximately $64,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 and $169,000 for the first nine months of 2004.
ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their evaluation as of October 29, 2005, that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports filed or submitted by us under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended October 29, 2005 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
(a) | | Exhibits |
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| 3-A | Restated Articles of Incorporation of Registrant (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2002) |
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| 3-B | By-laws of Registrant, as amended to date (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2002) |
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| 4 | (i) Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Promissory Notes dated April 16, 1999, between Registrant and Mercantile Bank National Association, First Union National Bank and Old National Bank (incorporated herein by reference from exhibit 4(I) to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 1999) |
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| | (ii) Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Promissory Notes dated March 24, 2000, between Registrant and Mercantile Bank National Association, First Union National Bank and Old National Bank (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2000) |
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| | (iii) Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Promissory Notes dated November 8, 2000, between Registrant and Firstar Bank N.A., First Union National Bank, Old National Bank and LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 28, 2000) |
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| | (iv) Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Promissory Notes dated March 18, 2002, between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, First Union National Bank, Old National Bank and LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2002) |
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| | (v) Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Promissory Notes dated March 12, 2003, between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, Wachovia Bank National Association, Old National Bank and LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2003) |
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| | (vi) Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Promissory Notes dated April 5, 2004, between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, Wachovia Bank National Association, Old National Bank and LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2004) |
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| | (vii) Assignment Agreement dated June 1, 2004 among LaSalle Bank National Association as Assignor, Fifth Third Bank (Southern Indiana) as Assignee, Registrant as Borrower and U.S. Bank National Association as Agent relating to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as further amended (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 1, 2004) |
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(a) | | Exhibits continued |
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| | (viii) Sixth Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Notes dated April 5, 2005, between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, Wachovia Bank National Association, Fifth Third Bank (Southern Indiana) and Old National Bank (incorporated herein by reference from the same exhibit number to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 11, 2005) |
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| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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| 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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| 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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SHOE CARNIVAL, INC.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed, on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: December 8, 2005 | SHOE CARNIVAL, INC. (Registrant) |
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| By: | /s/ W. Kerry Jackson |
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| | W. Kerry Jackson |
| | Executive Vice President |
| | and Chief Financial Officer |
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