hhgregg Announces Third Fiscal Quarter Operating Results

Updated

hhgregg Announces Third Fiscal Quarter Operating Results

Third Quarter Highlights

  • Net sales decreased 3.6% to $799.6 million

  • Comparable store sales decreased 9.7%

  • Net income per diluted share decreased 15.0% to $0.51 vs. $0.60 in the prior year quarter

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- hhgregg, Inc. (NYSE: HGG) :

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

December 31,

December 31,

(unaudited, amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

2012

2011

2012

2011

Net sales

$

799,635

$

829,546

$

1,877,127

$

1,879,603

Net sales % (decrease) increase

(3.6

)%

26.9

%

(0.1

)%

19.7

%

Comparable store sales % (decrease) increase (1)

(9.7

)%

3.9

%

(8.3

)%

(1.2

)%

Gross profit as a % of net sales

27.3

%

27.2

%

28.7

%

28.4

%

SG&A as a % of net sales

17.4

%

17.0

%

20.4

%

19.8

%

Net advertising expense as a % of net sales

4.8

%

4.8

%

5.2

%

4.8

%

Depreciation and amortization expense as a % of net sales

1.3

%

1.1

%

1.6

%

1.3

%

Income from operations as a % of net sales

3.7

%

4.5

%

1.4

%

2.5

%

Net interest expense as a % of net sales

0.1

%

0.1

%

0.1

%

0.1

%

Net income

$

17,389

$

22,478

$

15,448

$

27,743

Net income per diluted share

$

0.51

$

0.60

$

0.44

$

0.72

Net income per diluted share, as adjusted (2)

$

0.52

0.60

$

0.45

0.72

Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted

33,985,113

37,603,767

35,168,497

38,522,707

Number of stores open at the end of period

228

208


(1) Comprised of net sales at stores in operation for at least 14 full months, including remodeled and relocated stores, as well as net sales for the Company's e-commerce site.

(2) Third fiscal quarter 2013 amount is adjusted to exclude an impairment charge. See the attached reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.

hhgregg, Inc. ("hhgregg" or the "Company") today reported net income of $17.4 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, for the three month period ended December 31, 2012, compared with net income of $22.5 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, for the comparable prior year period. For the nine month period ended December 31, 2012 net income was $15.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared with net income of $27.7 million, or $0.72 per diluted share for the comparable prior year period. Third fiscal quarter 2013 results include a $0.5 million ($0.3 million after-tax) charge related to impairment for one store. Net income, as adjusted for this item, for the three month period ended December 31, 2012 was $17.7 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, as adjusted. Net income, as adjusted for this item for the nine month period ended December 31, 2012 was $15.8 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, as adjusted. The decrease in adjusted net income for the three month period ended December 31, 2012 was largely due to a comparable store sales decrease of 9.7% and an increase in SG&A as a percentage of net sales, partially offset by the accretive impact of the net addition of 20 stores during the past 12 months and an increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales. The decrease in adjusted net income for the nine month period was the result of a comparable store sales decrease of 8.3%, an increase in net advertising expense as a percentage of net sales and an increase in SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales, partially offset by the accretive impact of the net addition of 20 stores during the past 12 months and an increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales.

Dennis May, President and CEO commented, "As we announced in our pre-release, the difficult industry-wide video category trends presented a challenge to our sales and earnings. With the continued growth of our appliance business and the introduction of new categories, such as furniture and home fitness, we continue to reduce our reliance on both the video category and innovation in consumer electronics. Over time, we plan to continue to refine our mix towards large consumer home products, which include a greater mix of appliances, furniture, fitness equipment and other home products that leverage our consultative sales force, ability to deliver and install big box product, and our private label credit card. Video and consumer electronics remain important to us, but we plan to increase our focus on these other large home products."

Net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2012 decreased 3.6% to $799.6 million from $829.5 million in the comparable prior year period. The decrease in net sales for the three month period was the result of a comparable store sales decrease of 9.7%, partially offset by the net addition of 20 stores during the past 12 months. Net sales for the nine months ended December 31, 2012 decreased 0.1% to $1.877 billion from $1.880 billion in the comparable prior year period. The decrease in net sales for the nine month period was attributable to a comparable store sales decrease of 8.3%, partially offset by the net addition of 20 stores during the past 12 months.

Net sales mix and comparable store sales percentage changes by product category for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Net Sales Mix Summary

Comparable Store Sales Summary

Three Months Ended
December 31,

Nine Months Ended
December 31,

Three Months Ended
December 31,

Nine Months Ended
December 31,

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

Appliances

35

%

30

%

42

%

36

%

6.1

%

6.8

%

4.4

%

0.9

%

Video

39

%

46

%

36

%

43

%

(24.6

)%

(4.8

)%

(21.7

)%

(8.1

)%

Computing and mobile phones (1)

14

%

11

%

11

%

9

%

16.2

%

91.4

%

13.7

%

61.1

%

Other (2)

12

%

13

%

11

%

12

%

(15.2

)%

(7.1

)%

(16.7

)%

(8.3

)%

Total

100

%

100

%

100

%

100

%

(9.7

)%

3.9

%

(8.3

)%

(1.2

)%

(1) Primarily consists of computers, mobile phones and tablets.

(2) Primarily consists of accessories, audio, fitness equipment, furniture, mattresses and personal electronics.

The decrease in comparable store sales for the three months ended December 31, 2012 was driven primarily by a decrease in net sales in the video and other categories, partially offset by an increase in net sales in the appliance and computing and mobile phones categories. The video category comparable store sales decline was driven by a double digit decrease in unit demand partially offset by a single digit increase in average selling prices, largely resulting from our strategy of offering fewer entry level models. The decrease in comparable store sales for the other category was primarily a result of double digit comparable store sales decreases in cameras, camcorders, small electronics and mattresses, partially offset by sales from the furniture and fitness equipment categories. The appliance category increase in comparable store sales was driven by an increase in both the average selling price and units sold. The growth in the computing and mobile phones category was led by increased demand for tablets, partially offset by a decline in mobile phones.

Gross profit margin, expressed as gross profit as a percentage of net sales, increased slightly for the three months ended December 31, 2012 to 27.3% from 27.2% for the comparable prior year period. The increase was largely due to increases in gross profit margin rates in the appliance and video categories, partially offset by decreases in gross profit margin rates in the computing and mobile phone and other categories. The appliance category was favorably impacted by a continued mix shift to higher efficiency products which generate higher gross margin rates. The increase in the video category gross margin rate was largely due to a favorable mix of larger LED model screen sizes, which generate higher gross margin rates than smaller screen LCD models. The computing and mobile phone category gross margin rate decrease was due to a decline in the gross margin rate of mobile phones, while the other category gross margin rate was pressured by declines in the gross margin rate of accessories.

SG&A expense, as a percentage of net sales, increased 47 basis points for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared to the prior year period. The increase in SG&A as a percentage of net sales was largely a result of increases in occupancy costs as a percentage of net sales due to the deleveraging effect of the net sales decline in addition to an increase in home delivery expenses as a percentage of net sales due to a higher sales mix of deliverable product. This increase was partially offset by decreases in other SG&A accounts as a result of cost control measures.

Net advertising expense, as a percentage of net sales, increased 8 basis points during the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared to the prior year period. While the Company reduced its gross advertising spend from the prior year, the slight increase as a percentage of net sales was driven largely by the deleveraging effect of the net sales decline.

Depreciation expense, as a percentage of net sales, increased 25 basis points for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared to the prior year period. The increase as a percentage of net sales was primarily due the capital spend associated with the 20 new stores opened during the past 12 months and the deleveraging effect of the net sales decline.

Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2012 increased to 39.1% from 37.8% in the comparable prior year period. The increase in the effective income tax rate is primarily the result of federal income tax credits recognized in fiscal 2012 under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010. These credits are no longer available in fiscal 2013.

Guidance

Consistent with the Company's pre-release on January 14, 2013, the Company expects net income per diluted share will be within a range of $0.70 to $0.80 for fiscal 2013.

Included in the Company's guidance, are the following annual assumptions:

  • fiscal 2013 comparable store sales of negative 8.5% to negative 7.5%

  • fiscal 2013 net sales increase of flat to 1%

  • net capital expenditures of approximately $45 million

  • the impact of fiscal year to date share repurchases of 3.6 million shares at a cost of $30.0 million

Teleconference and Webcast

hhgregg will be conducting a conference call to discuss operating results for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Interested investors and other parties may listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto hhgregg's website at www.hhgregg.com. The on-line replay will be available for a limited time immediately following the call. The call can also be accessed live over the phone by dialing (877) 304-8963. Callers should reference the hhgregg earnings call.

Non-GAAP to GAAP Reconciliation

Attached is a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures used in this earnings release including net income to net income, as adjusted, and diluted net income per share to diluted net income per share, as adjusted. Definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures that will be discussed on the hhgregg investor earnings call, including net income, as adjusted, and diluted net income per share, as adjusted, can be found at www.hhgregg.com on the investor relations page.

About hhgregg

hhgregg is a specialty retailer of home appliances, televisions, computers, consumer electronics, home entertainment furniture, mattresses, fitness equipment and related services operating under the name hhgregg. hhgregg currently operates 228 stores in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Safe Harbor Statement

The following is a Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

hhgregg has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While hhgregg believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control. These and other important factors may cause hhgregg's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ from hhgregg's expectations are: the effect of general and regional economic and employment conditions on its net sales; impact of average selling prices on net sales; competition in existing, adjacent and new metropolitan markets; competition from internet retailers; ability to modify its product mix based on changes in consumer trends and preferences; industry wide declines in the video category; ability to reduce reliance on the video category and consumer electronics; impact of our sales mix and ability to focus on consumer home products; its ability to effectively execute its strategic initiatives, particularly in the video category; its ability to effectively manage and monitor its operations, costs and service quality; its reliance on a small number of suppliers; rapid inflation or deflation in core product prices; the failure of manufacturers to introduce new products and technologies; customer acceptance of new technology; its dependence on the Company's key management personnel and its ability to attract and retain qualified sale's personnel; its ability to negotiate with its suppliers to provide product on a timely basis at competitive prices; the identification and acquisition of suitable sites for its stores and the negotiation of acceptable leases for those sites; fluctuation in seasonal demand; its ability to maintain its rate of growth and penetrate new geographic areas; its ability to locate suitable new store sites; its ability to obtain additional financing and maintain its credit facilities; its ability to maintain and upgrade its information technology systems; the effect of a disruption at the Company's central distribution centers; changes in cost for advertising; and changes in legal and/or trade regulations, currency fluctuations and prevailing interest rates.

Other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release are more fully described in the "Risk Factors" sections in the Company's fiscal 2012 Form 10-K filed May 23, 2012 and Form 10-Q filed November 2, 2012. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, hhgregg does not undertake, and specifically declines, any obligation to update any of these statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of these statements to reflect future events or developments.

HHGREGG, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

December 31,
2012

December 31,
2011

December 31,
2012

December 31,
2011

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

Net sales

$

799,635

$

829,546

$

1,877,127

$

1,879,603

Cost of goods sold

581,450

603,640

1,338,136

1,346,705

Gross profit

218,185

225,906

538,991

532,898

Selling, general and administrative expenses

139,303

140,609

383,871

371,529

Net advertising expense

38,715

39,488

98,085

90,148

Depreciation and amortization expense

10,416

8,765

29,673

24,236

Asset impairment charges

504

504

Income from operations

29,247

37,044

26,858

46,985

Other expense (income):

Interest expense

704

881

1,692

1,964

Interest income

(3

)

(1

)

(8

)

(5

)

Total other expense

701

880

1,684

1,959

Income before income taxes

28,546

36,164

25,174

45,026

Income tax expense

11,157

13,686

9,726

17,283

Net income

$

17,389

$

22,478

$

15,448

$

27,743

Net income per share

Basic

$

0.51

$

0.60

$

0.44

$

0.73

Diluted

$

0.51

$

0.60

$

0.44

$

0.72

Weighted average shares outstanding-basic

33,934,383

37,154,446

35,099,660

38,167,304

Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted

33,985,113

37,603,767

35,168,497

38,522,707

HHGREGG, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

(AS A PERCENTAGE OF NET SALES)

(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

December 31,
2012

December 31,
2011

December 31,
2012

December 31,
2011

Net sales

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

Cost of goods sold

72.7

72.8

71.3

71.6

Gross profit

27.3

27.2

28.7

28.4

Selling, general and administrative expenses

17.4

17.0

20.4

19.8

Net advertising expense

4.8

4.8

5.2

4.8

Depreciation and amortization expense

1.3

1.1

1.6

1.3

Asset impairment charges

0.1

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