By Research News Today
The Company reported a 38.7% increase in adjusted net income of $5.1 million or $0.11 per adjusted diluted common share compared to $3.7 million or $0.08 per adjusted diluted common share for the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Net sales were $193.2 million, up 5.2% as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Company comparable store sales for the second quarter were down 0.4%.
“Our gross margin is strong, our SG&A expense management is strong, and we continued to achieve increased average ticket growth. We’re pleased that this, combined with our new store growth, helped drive our earnings performance with a 38.7% increase in adjusted net income, despite sluggish comparable store sales. We have maintained our pricing integrity in an increasingly promotional retail environment,” said Kip Tindell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We are very excited about our new store growth, with three more openings ahead of us this year. Our targeted annual 12% minimum square footage growth is among the fastest growth rates in the retail industry. We are encouraged by the prospects of our three major initiatives to help drive deeper engagement with our omni-channel customer and to increase traffic and average ticket — POP! TM, Contained Home TM and TCS Closets TM. TCS Closets is without a doubt the most significant merchandising initiative in our history, leveraging our core competency of high service sales of exclusive, solutions-based products and systems.”
TCS Closets TM: The Company is preparing for the pilot launch of TCS Closets — its new, exclusive collection of solid, custom-built solutions crafted from the highest quality materials and with a variety of choices in wood grain finishes and extras including lighting, glass doors and innovative storage options for shoes, jewelry and handbags. TCS Closets is planned to launch in seven stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth market beginning in November and includes services in its stores from the retailer’s expert salespeople, and in the home from the Contained Home Organizers and Installation Service professionals. TCS Closets is planned to roll out to the remaining stores by the end of 2015.
The Company stated that it believes the average ticket on an average master TCS Closet will greatly exceed its day-to-day, $60 average ticket and be much more than the $2,000 average ticket its Contained Home service has experienced to date. Therefore, the Company believes TCS Closets will contribute meaningfully to comparable store sales increases in the longer term.
POP! Perfectly Organized Perks®: The Container Store’s new customer frequency program has reached almost one million customer enrollments since launching in all stores in July. Approximately 50 percent of store sales are now coming from “POP! Stars TM.”
Contained Home TM (previously called ATHOME): The Company’s in-home, customized design and organization service is currently available in Dallas, Houston, Austin, Manhattan and Los Angeles, with plans to rollout in Washington DC this month and in Denver and San Antonio in November. The service is expected to be available in all stores by the end of 2015. The Company is encouraged by the service’s average ticket to date of $2,000.
The Company has opened five new stores this fiscal year (including one store relocation), with three more planned to achieve its targeted 12% minimum square footage growth in fiscal 2014:
Salt Lake City area in Murray, UT (Fashion Place Mall) (Opening October 18th)
Chicago, IL (South Loop — in the Roosevelt Collection) (Opening November 15th)
Phoenix area in Glendale, AZ (Arrowhead Towne Center) (Opening February 7, 2015)
Tindell added, “As we move into the second half of the year, we are well positioned and well invested in the infrastructure to support our increasing omni-channel customer base. We continue to be encouraged as we move closer to our important fourth quarter where we’ll be comping against last year’s weather, which impacted traffic and sales more than at any time in our history. Historically, over 60 percent of our net income has been derived in the fourth quarter and we expect it to derive approximately 70 percent of our reported net income this year. We’ll continue to maximize every customer interaction while also focusing on the long-term health and growth opportunities of our business, as well as on our beloved employees and culture.”
Second Quarter 2014 Results
For the second quarter (thirteen weeks) ended August 30, 2014, on a consolidated basis:
Net sales were $193.2 million, up 5.2% as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Net sales in The Container Store retail business were $174.8 million, up 5.7% as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2013, primarily due to new store sales. This more than offset the comparable store sales operating measure decline of 0.4%. Elfa’s third party net sales increased by 3.7% in Swedish krona; however due to the depreciation of the Swedish krona against the US dollar, Elfa’s third party net sales in US dollars declined slightly by 0.1%.
Gross margin was 58.8%, an increase of 40 basis points compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2013, as increased margins in non-elfa® departments were partially offset by lower margins in elfa® branded products during the second quarter at The Container Store retail business. This improvement in gross margin at The Container Store retail business more than offset a decline in the Elfa segment gross margin, which was due to a shift in sales mix.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased by 5.5% to $90.5 million from $85.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. SG&A as a percentage of net sales increased 10 basis points primarily due to ongoing costs incurred related to becoming a public company, as well as implementation of strategic initiatives.
The Company ended the second quarter with 67 stores in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The Company opened one new store and relocated one store in each of the second quarters of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013.
Net interest expense decreased to $4.4 million from $5.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.
The effective tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 was 17.5%, as compared to 30.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a $1.8 million reduction in tax expense recorded in fiscal 2014 primarily related to an expected refund of tax paid in a prior period, partially offset by a shift in the mix of projected domestic and foreign earnings.
For the year-to-date (twenty-six weeks) ended August 30, 2014, on a consolidated basis:
Net sales were $366.7 million, up 6.8% as compared to year-to-date fiscal 2013. Net sales in The Container Store retail business were $324.5 million, up 7.2% as compared to year-to-date fiscal 2013. The increase in net sales was driven by new store sales and the extension of Our Annual elfa® Sale in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, which led to an increase in merchandise delivered to customers during the first half of fiscal 2014 as compared to the first half of fiscal 2013. This more than offset the comparable store sales operating measure decline of 0.6%. Elfa’s third party net sales increased by 5.5% in Swedish krona; however, due to the depreciation of the Swedish krona against the US dollar, Elfa’s third party net sales in US dollars increased 3.7%.
Gross margin was 58.5%, an increase of 10 basis points compared to year-to-date fiscal 2013. The improvement in gross margin was primarily due to a higher percentage of net sales coming from our higher gross margin The Container Store retail business.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased by 7.3% to $181.7 million from $169.3 million in year-to-date fiscal 2013. SG&A as a percentage of net sales increased 30 basis points primarily due to ongoing costs incurred related to becoming a public company, as well as preparation for future growth and implementation of strategic initiatives.
Net interest expense decreased to $8.7 million from $11.1 million in year-to-date fiscal 2013.
The effective tax rate was (15.5%), as compared to 24.0% in year-to-date fiscal 2013. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a $1.8 million reduction in tax expense recorded in fiscal 2014 primarily related to an expected refund of tax paid in a prior period partially offset by the impact of an increase in pre-tax earnings from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2014 and a change in mix between projected domestic and foreign earnings.
Balance sheet highlights as of August 30, 2014:
Cash: $15.3 million
Total debt: $366.0 million
Total liquidity (cash plus availability on revolving credit facilities of $58.1 million): $73.4 million
Outlook
The Company is updating its annual fiscal 2014 guidance as follows:
Full fiscal 2014 consolidated net sales are expected to be $800 to $810 million based on announced store openings and an estimated increase in comparable store sales of flat to slightly positive. Net income is expected to be $0.52 to $0.57 per diluted common share based on estimated diluted common shares outstanding of 49 million.
Included in this outlook is a $3.3 million non-taxable gain on the sale of an Elfa subsidiary, whose principal asset was a building, which the Company will record in the third quarter of this year. Due to the non-taxable nature of this entity sale and the tax benefit the Company recorded in the second quarter of 2014, the Company expects its tax rate for the full fiscal year 2014 on a GAAP basis to be approximately 30%, or 38% on an adjusted basis. Adjusting for these items, adjusted net income is expected to be $0.41 to $0.46 per diluted common share based on estimated diluted common shares outstanding of 49 million. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $95 to $99 million.
The Company also expects comparable store sales to be flat to down low single digits in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, and to increase in the low to mid-single digit range in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014.
Source: http://www.retail-business-review.com/news/the-container-store-announces-second-quarter-2014-financial-results-071014-4396203
Source:: Consumer Products and Retail
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