West Marine reports fiscal 2015 earnings per share of $0.18, more than doubled prior year

WATSONVILLE, Calif. – West Marine, Inc. (NASDAQ:WMAR) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 2, 2016 (“fiscal 2015”). Fiscal 2014 was a 53-week year for the company versus a 52-week year for fiscal 2015.

West Marine held a conference call and webcast on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2015 results. An audio replay of the call is available through March 3, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The replay number is 855-859-2056 in the United States and Canada and 404-537-3406 for international calls. The access code is 28627335.

Full Year 2015 Results

Net revenues for fiscal 2015 were $704.8 million, an increase of 4.3 percent compared to the 53-week period last year, and an increase of 5.4 percent compared to the first 52 weeks of 2014. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week in fiscal 2014, comparable store sales increased by 6.0 percent in 2015.

GAAP pre-tax income was $7.3 million. The company incurred $1.2 million in non-recurring charges during the fourth quarter to reduce overhead employment expenses. Excluding these charges, pre-tax profit was $8.5 million, an increase of over 110 percent compared to fiscal 2014.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”) increased to $29.5 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $22.6 million last year.

Net income and earnings per share were $4.5 million and $0.18, respectively, compared to net income and earnings per share of $1.9 million and $0.08, respectively, last year, a 132.0 percent increase in net income. Remained debt-free at year-end, with $105.3 million available on our revolving credit line at the end of the period.

“Overall, our results reflect a strong performance for both the fourth quarter and the full year 2015. The West Marine team drove 6 percent comparable store sales growth with increases across each of our growth strategies,” said Matt Hyde, West Marine’s CEO. “We achieved an impressive 9.4 percent lift in holiday sales, a contrast to a soft holiday season for the retail industry. I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made on positioning the company as a total waterlife outfitter.”

Further Progress on Growth Strategies

Progress on the company’s growth strategies for 2015 was as follows:

  • Sales from the eCommerce website increased by 32.5 percent compared to last year and represented 9.5 percent of total sales, compared to 7.7 percent for the same period last year, showing progress towards our goal of 15 percent of total sales.
  • Sales through waterlife stores were 45.7 percent of total sales compared to 41 percent last year. This year-over-year increase further demonstrates the Company’s progress towards our goal to deliver 50 percent of total sales through these stores that have been optimized to offer a broader selection of merchandise than in our traditional stores that focus on core boating products.
  • For fiscal year 2015 compared to the first 52 weeks in 2014 sales in merchandise expansion product lines, which include footwear, apparel, clothing accessories, fishing products and paddlesports equipment, increased 16.4 percent, and core product sales were up 2.8 percent, compared to last year.

Results for Fiscal Year 2015

Net revenues for the 52 weeks ended January 2, 2016 were $704.8 million, an increase of 4.3 percent, compared to net revenues of $675.8 million for the 53 weeks ended January 3, 2015. For the 52 weeks in fiscal year 2015, comparable store sales increased by 6.0 percent compared to the first 52 weeks in 2014. Pre-tax profit margin improved by 0.4 percent, to 1.0 percent for fiscal year 2015 as compared to 0.6 percent last year. This change primarily was driven by a decrease in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense as a percentage of revenues of 0.3 percent.

Net income for fiscal year 2015 was $4.5 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.9 million, or $0.08per diluted share, last year.

Results for the Fourth Quarter of 2015

Net revenues for the 13 weeks ended January 2, 2016 increased by $0.8 million, or 0.6 percent, to $130.2 million compared to$129.4 million for the 14 weeks ended January 3, 2015. Despite negative pressure of 2 percent from the shift in the fiscal calendar following a 53-week fiscal year in 2014, comparable store sales increased 8.0 percent when comparing the 13 weeks of the fourth quarter 2015 with the first 13 weeks of the fourth quarter 2014.

Net loss for the fourth quarter was $11.1 million, or $0.45 per share, compared to net loss of $10.3 million, or $0.42 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2014. The increased fourth quarter loss primarily was driven by higher variable compensation expense and the non-recurring charges to reduce overhead employment expenses mentioned above.

Fiscal 2016 Outlook

The company expects total revenue to increase by 1 percent to 4 percent in fiscal 2016.  This net revenue growth, combined with continued expense control, is expected to improve pre-tax profit by more than 50 percent in 2016.

“The financial results of 2015 represent progress toward our overall objectives as a company. Excluding the impact of higher variable compensation commensurate with target attainment, our core SG&A expenses reduced in 2015 as we continue to manage costs and leverage support functions,” Hyde said.

“Going into 2016, we are planning for positive comparable store sales in the low single digits, offset partially by store closures in Canada and the United States, which will impact revenue by about 1 percent.”

West Marine, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)
January 2, 2016 January 3, 2015
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash $ 48,159 $   45,675
Trade receivables, net 7,141 6,843
Merchandise inventories 222,853 214,298
Deferred income taxes 5,585
Other current assets 23,571 25,791
Total current assets 301,724 298,192
Property and equipment, net 81,561 79,447
Long-term deferred income taxes 4,321 3,993
Other assets 4,209 3,869
TOTAL ASSETS $ 391,815 $ 385,501
   
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $   26,275 $   33,244
Accrued payroll 21,506 14,253
Accrued expenses and other   27,245   26,669
Total current liabilities   75,026   74,166
Deferred rent and other 17,330 20,327
Total liabilities   92,356   94,493
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.001 par value: 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares outstanding   –   –
Common stock, $.001 par value: 50,000,000 shares authorized; 25,421,685 shares issued and 24,732,796 shares outstanding at January 2, 2016, and  25,092,550 shares issued and 24,403,661 shares outstanding at January 3, 2015.   25   25
Treasury stock   (9,285 )   (9,171 )
Additional paid-in capital 211,663 207,863
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (319 )   (564 )
Retained earnings   97,375   92,855
Total stockholders’ equity 299,459 291,008
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 391,815 $ 385,501

 

West Marine, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share data)
13 Weeks Ended 14 Weeks Ended
January 2, 2016 January 3, 2015
Net revenues $   130,205 100.0 % $   129,420 100.0 %
Cost of goods sold 102,162 78.5 % 101,820 78.7 %
Gross profit   28,043 21.5 %   27,600 21.3 %
Selling, general and administrative expense   48,256 37.0 %   46,487 35.9 %
Loss from operations   (20,213 ) (15.5 )%   (18,887 ) (14.6 )%
Interest expense 113 0.1 % 106 0.1 %
Loss before income taxes   (20,326 ) (15.6 )%   (18,993 ) (14.7 )%
Benefits from income taxes (9,268 ) (7.1 )% (8,716 ) (6.8 )%
Net loss $   (11,058 ) (8.5 )% $   (10,277 ) (7.9 )%
Net loss per common and common equivalent share:
Basic $   (0.45 ) $   (0.42 )
Diluted $   (0.45 ) $   (0.42 )
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic 24,721 24,362
Diluted 24,721 24,362
52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended
January 2, 2016 January 3, 2015
Net revenues $   704,825 100.0 % $   675,751 100.0 %
Cost of goods sold 502,780 71.3 % 482,564 71.4 %
Gross profit   202,045 28.7 %   193,187 28.6 %
Selling, general and administrative expense   194,299 27.6 %   188,755 27.9 %
Income from operations   7,746 1.1 %   4,432 0.7 %
Interest expense 452 0.1 % 428 0.1 %
Income before income taxes   7,294 1.0 %   4,004 0.6 %
Provision for income taxes 2,774 0.4 % 2,056 0.3 %
Net income $   4,520 0.6 % $   1,948 0.3 %
Net income per common and common equivalent share:
Basic $   0.18 $   0.08
Diluted $   0.18 $   0.08
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic 24,629 24,244
Diluted 24,734 24,408

 

West Marine, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited and in thousands)
52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended
January 2, 2016 January 3, 2015
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $   4,520 $   1,948
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 20,687 18,234
Share-based compensation 2,787 3,109
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation   –   (217 )
Deferred income taxes   1,780   3,287
Provision for doubtful accounts 208 37
Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments 1,832 1,759
Loss on asset disposals 855 330
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables (507 ) (439 )
Merchandise inventories (10,387 ) (13,021 )
Other current assets 2,220 (6,431 )
Other assets (379 ) (659 )
Accounts payable (7,901 ) 10,787
Accrued expenses and other 7,111 3,458
Deferred items and other non-current liabilities 480 1,776
Net cash provided by operating activities 23,307 23,958
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 67 57
Purchases of property and equipment (22,613 ) (24,573 )
Net cash used in investing activities (22,546 ) (24,516 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings on line of credit 875 2,240
Repayments on line of credit (875 ) (2,240 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 1,141 1,651
Proceeds from sale of common stock pursuant to Associates Stock Buying Plan 590 654
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation   – 217
Treasury shares acquired   (114 )   (4,766 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 1,617 (2,244 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 107 69
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH 2,484 (2,733 )
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 45,675 48,408
CASH AT END OF PERIOD $   48,159 $   45,675
Other cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest $   287 $   328
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds of $151 and $1,394 (27 ) 2,064
Non-cash investing activities:
Property and equipment additions in accounts payable 1,657 725

 

West Marine
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Information 
Net Income to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”)
(Unaudited and in millions)
13 Weeks Ended 14 Weeks Ended 52 Weeks Ended 53 Weeks Ended
January 2, 2016 January 3, 2015 January 2, 2016 January 3, 2015
 GAAP Net Income $   (11.1 ) $   (10.3 ) $   4.5 $   1.9
Add Back:
Interest Expense   0.1   0.1   0.5   0.4
Depreciation and Amortization   5.3   4.8   20.5   18.2
Income Tax Expense   (9.3 )   (8.7 )   2.8   2.1
  (3.9 )   (3.8 )   23.8   20.7
EBITDA $   (15.0 ) $   (14.1 ) $   28.3 $   22.6
Add Back:
Employee overhead reductions   1.2   –   1.2   –
Adjusted EBITDA $   (13.8 ) $   (14.1 ) $   29.5 $   22.6

 

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