[A.C.MOORE LOGO AND LETTERHEAD]
For: From:
A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc. Gregory FCA Communications
Leslie Gordon For More Information Contact:
Chief Financial Officer Joe Crivelli
(856) 228-6700 (610) 642-8253
For Immediate Release
A.C. Moore Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Earnings Each up 20%
Appoints Eli Segal Lead Director
Blackwood, NJ, February 25, 2004. A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACMR)
sales for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003, were $149.7 million, an
increase of 10.9% over sales of $134.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2002.
Same store sales increased by 3%. Net income for the quarter increased by 20% to
$14.6 million or $0.73 per fully-diluted share compared to a net income of $12.1
million or $0.62 per fully-diluted share for the comparable prior period.
Sales for the year ended December 31, 2003, were $433.9 million, an increase of
10.3% over 2002 sales of $393.4 million. Same store sales increased 2%. Net
income for the year 2003 increased by 20% to $17.3 million or $0.88 per
fully-diluted share compared to net income of $14.5 million or $0.77 per
fully-diluted share in 2002. Net income per share for 2002 reflects 3.5 million
post-split shares issued in an equity offering during the first quarter of 2002.
Jack Parker, Chief Executive Officer, said, "The results for 2003 reflect
another year of record sales and earnings for the company, with sales up 10% and
net income up 20% for the twelve month period. Our 2003 results demonstrate our
continued successful merchandising concept in the fast-growing arts and crafts
industry. We expect continued growth in 2004, and we are very pleased that we
are trending above our sales plan thus far in the first quarter."
Based on current market conditions and expectations, A.C. Moore is presently
planning the following for 2004:
o 16 new store openings, relocation of two existing stores and expansion
of one store. In the first quarter, we will open a total of three new
stores, relocate one and expand one. We expect to open two new stores
in the second quarter and relocate one. The remainder of the new stores
will open in the second half of the year.
o Comparable store sales growth in the mid-single digits, with higher
levels in the first and fourth quarters.
o Year over year total sales growth in the range of 18% to 20%.
o Earnings per fully-diluted share are expected to be within the range of
$0.92 to $0.95 for the year. This would represent an increase in net
income of 7% to 10% over 2003. These projections include the previously
announced impact of our change in accounting for cooperative
advertising pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 02-16,
"Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain
Consideration Received by a Vendor". We estimate that the change in the
timing of income recognition will reduce 2004 EPS by approximately
$0.12 per share. Management uses projected income without the
accounting change as a financial measure to assess the performance of
the Company's business. In order to assist investors in analyzing and
benchmarking the performance and value of our business, without the
accounting change our income would have been projected to be within the
range of $1.04 to $1.07 for the year.
The Company also announced the appointment of Eli Segal as Lead Director. In his
new role, he will assist the Chairman of the Board in establishing the Agenda
for the board meetings, act as a liaison between the Board and management, and
lead the Board's executive sessions. Mr. Segal joined the Company's Board in
August, 2002, and he also serves on the Board of Directors of Hasbro, Inc. and
Citizens Financial Group. Previously, Mr. Segal was the Chief Executive Officer
of several companies involved in crafts and related fields.
A.C. Moore will host a conference call today, Wednesday, February 25 at 5:00
p.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss these financial results in detail. To
participate, please call 1-800-915-4836 for domestic callers and 1-973-317-5319
for international callers. If you are unable to access the Conference Call at
5:00 p.m., please call 1-800-428-6051 and enter pin number 338489 to access the
taped digital replay. Callers from outside North America please call
1-973-709-2089 and enter the same reservation number. The replay will be
available at approximately 7:00 p.m. on February 25th and will remain available
until Wednesday, March 3rd at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
A simultaneous webcast of the conference call may be accessed at
http://www.acmoore.com. Go to "Investor Relations" and click on "Corporate
Profile." To listen to the live call, please go to the web site at least fifteen
minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. An
archive of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after
the conference call ends and will remain available on the company's website
until February 25, 2005.
The company plans to release its first quarter 2004 sales results on Thursday,
April 8, 2004. The company also plans to release its first quarter 2004 earnings
on Thursday, April 21, 2004, and will host a conference call at 5:00 PM EDT on
that date to discuss the results.
A.C. Moore operates arts and crafts stores that offer a vast assortment of
traditional and contemporary arts and crafts merchandise for a wide range of
customers. The Company operates 82 stores on the eastern United States. For more
information about the Company, visit our website at www.acmoore.com.
# # #
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the
meaning of applicable federal securities laws and are based on A.C. Moore's
current expectations and assumptions as of this date. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement whether the result
of new developments or otherwise. These statements are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those anticipated. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from
those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the impact of the adoption of
EITF issue 02-16, customer demand and trends in the arts and crafts industry,
related inventory risks due to shifts in customer demand, the effect of economic
conditions, the impact of adverse weather conditions, the impact of competitors'
locations or pricing, the availability of acceptable real estate locations for
new stores, difficulties with respect to new system technologies, supply
constraints or difficulties, the effectiveness of advertising strategies, the
impact of the threat of terrorist attacks and war, and other risks detailed in
the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
(Tables to Follow)
A.C. MOORE ARTS & CRAFTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Three months ended Year ended
December 31, December 31,
---------------------------- ----------------------------
2003 2002 2003 2002
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net sales $ 149,690 $ 134,947 $ 433,928 $ 393,392
Cost of sales 92,737 81,845 272,034 244,601
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Gross Margin 56,953 53,102 161,894 148,791
Selling, general and administrative expenses 32,842 32,839 132,108 123,117
Pre-opening expenses 605 452 2,176 2,340
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Income from operations 23,506 19,811 27,610 23,334
Net interest (income) (85) (147) (404) (473)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Income before income taxes 23,591 19,958 28,014 23,807
Income tax expense 9,013 7,818 10,703 9,350
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income $ 14,578 $ 12,140 $ 17,311 $ 14,457
============ ============ ============ ============
Basic net income per share $ 0.75 $ 0.65 $ 0.91 $ 0.81
============ ============ ============ ============
Diluted net income per share $ 0.73 $ 0.62 $ 0.88 $ 0.77
============ ============ ============ ============
Weighted average shares outstanding 19,340,167 18,784,472 19,112,816 17,861,897
============ ============ ============ ============
Weighted average shares outstanding
plus impact of stock options 20,011,209 19,710,409 19,729,418 18,828,130
============ ============ ============ ============
A.C. MOORE ARTS & CRAFTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
December 31,
-------------------------
2003 2002
-------- --------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 43,700 $ 61,584
Inventories 121,493 102,497
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,962 2,729
-------- --------
168,155 166,810
Marketable securities 14,132 --
Property and equipment, net 47,706 27,997
Other assets 1,801 1,851
-------- --------
$231,794 $196,658
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of capital leases $ 504 $ 1,342
Accounts payable to trade and others 33,558 24,253
Other current liabilities 21,342 17,404
-------- --------
55,404 42,999
-------- --------
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred taxes 4,950 5,150
Other long-term liabilities 4,729 4,478
-------- --------
9,679 9,628
-------- --------
65,083 52,627
-------- --------
Shareholders' Equity 166,711 144,031
-------- --------
$231,794 $196,658
======== ========