FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the Company's outlook for the future. These statements represent the Company's reasonable judgment with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "is likely," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "should," "will," or variations of such words, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain. Therefore, the reader is cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk factors described under Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year endedDecember 31, 2019 , and Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. GENERAL
The Company designs and markets quality and innovative footwear principally for men, but also for women and children, under a portfolio of well-recognized brand names, including: Florsheim,Nunn Bush ,Stacy Adams , BOGS, and Rafters. Inventory is purchased from third-party overseas manufacturers. The majority of foreign-sourced purchases are denominated inU.S. dollars. The Company has two reportable segments, North American wholesale operations ("wholesale") and North American retail operations ("retail"). In the wholesale segment, the Company's products are sold to leading footwear, department, and specialty stores, as well as e-commerce retailers, primarily inthe United States andCanada . The Company also has licensing agreements with third parties who sell its branded apparel, accessories and specialty footwear inthe United States , as well as its footwear inMexico and certain markets overseas. Licensing revenues are included in the Company's wholesale segment. The Company's retail segment consisted of 8 brick and mortar retail stores and e-commerce businesses inthe United States as ofMarch 31, 2020 . Sales in retail outlets are made directly to consumers by Company employees. The Company's "other" operations include the Company's wholesale and retail businesses inAustralia ,South Africa ,Asia Pacific (collectively, "FlorsheimAustralia ") andEurope ("Florsheim Europe"). The majority of the Company's operations are inthe United States , and its results are primarily affected by the economic conditions and retail environment inthe United States . EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW The Company's operations and business experienced significant disruptions beginning in the second half ofMarch 2020 due to the unprecedented conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Government-mandated shutdowns of non-essential businesses resulted in the majority of retailers temporarily closing their stores, which significantly affected the Company's wholesale business. The Company's domestic retail locations closed onMarch 18, 2020 , and remain closed due to government orders. Overseas, the Company's wholesale and retail businesses inAustralia ,Asia ,South Africa , andEurope were similarly impacted by retail store closures and lockdowns requiring consumers to stay at home. These closings resulted in lower first quarter sales and earnings across all of the Company's businesses. The Company's distribution center and the majority of its supply chain continue to operate, which enable the Company to continue to ship e-commerce orders. However, it is unclear when the Company's retail partners will reopen their stores, therefore the Company cannot presently estimate the impact of COVID-19 on its business, but the Company expects the pandemic and resulting global economic slowdown to have an adverse effect on its businesses and operating results in 2020. In light of these challenges, the Company plans to prioritize managing its liquidity, costs, and inventories in 2020. Collection of accounts receivable has slowed, and the Company expects that to continue over the coming months. The Company has already begun a dialog with many of its customers and will continue to actively manage receivables to secure payments and mitigate risk. The Company has reduced operating expenses where appropriate. In addition, the Company is pursuing rent relief for its retail stores worldwide, and outside of theU.S. , the Company has qualified for government subsidies inCanada andAustralia . The Company will continue to scrutinize its costs in light of an anticipated decrease in demand. The Company has reduced its 2020 planned inventory receipts in response to reduced short-term demand for its products, and expects to closely manage its inventory levels throughout the year. While there have been some disruptions in the Company's supply chain as a result of the pandemic, such disruptions have not had a significant impact on the Company's operations to this point. Currently, the Company's third-party factories inChina are operating, but production inIndia has ceased due to a country-wide shut down and the Company is not certain when that production will resume.
The Company's distribution system allows it to quickly adapt to changes in customer demand, and the Company believes its system is well-suited for adjusting to the future consumer landscape. The Company believes that its strong brands resonate well with consumers and that it is in a strong financial position to get through these challenges.
11
Sales and Earnings Highlights
Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2020 were$63.6 million , down 14% compared to last year's first quarter net sales of$74.1 million . Consolidated earnings from operations were$1.3 million this quarter, a decrease of 74% compared to$5.1 million in the same period of 2019. Consolidated net earnings were$1.2 million in the first quarter of 2020 and$4.0 million in last year's first quarter. Diluted earnings per share were$0.12 per share this quarter and$0.40 per share in the first quarter of 2019.
Financial Position Highlights
AtMarch 31, 2020 , cash and marketable securities totaled$31.4 million and there was no debt outstanding on the Company's revolving line of credit. During the first three months of 2020, the Company generated$15.0 million of cash from operations. The Company paid dividends of$4.7 million , paid down$7.0 million on the line of credit, repurchased$1.3 million of Company stock, and had$1.8 million of capital expenditures during the quarter. SEGMENT ANALYSIS
Net sales and earnings from operations for the Company's segments for the three
months ended
Three Months Ended March 31, % 2020 2019 Change (Dollars in thousands)Net Sales North American Wholesale$ 52,689 $ 59,481 -11 % North American Retail 4,761 5,571 -15 % Other 6,134 9,076 -32 % Total$ 63,584 $ 74,128 -14 % Earnings (loss) from Operations North American Wholesale$ 2,760 $ 5,206 -47 % North American Retail (89 ) 483 -118 % Other (1,330 ) (543 ) -145 % Total$ 1,341 $ 5,146 -74 %
North American Wholesale Segment
Net Sales
Net sales in the Company's North American wholesale segment for the three months
ended
Three Months Ended March 31, % 2020 2019 Change (Dollars in thousands) North American Wholesale Segment Net Sales Stacy Adams$ 16,170 $ 20,968 -23 % Nunn Bush 10,619 11,594 -8 % Florsheim 19,642 18,816 4 % BOGS/Rafters 5,797 7,391 -22 % Other - 5 -100 %
Total North American Wholesale$ 52,228 $ 58,774 -11 % Licensing 461 707 -35 % Total North American Wholesale Segment$ 52,689 $
59,481 -11 % 12 Net sales of the Stacy Adams,Nunn Bush , and BOGS brands declined in most major categories as a result of the retail shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in net sales of the Florsheim brand. Florsheim's increase stems from strong sales in January and February before the retail shutdowns went into effect.
Licensing revenues consist of royalties earned on sales of branded apparel,
accessories and specialty footwear in
Earnings from Operations Gross earnings for the North American wholesale segment were 31.8% of net sales in the first quarter of 2020, compared to 34.3% of net sales in the first quarter of 2019. The decrease in gross margins was largely due to the additional costs of the tariff on certain footwear imported fromChina . The tariff of 15% took effect onSeptember 1, 2019 , and was subsequently reduced to 7.5% onFebruary 14, 2020 . The Company purchased a limited amount of inventory at the higher tariff rate, and expects the tariff's negative impact on its gross margins will lessen as it sells through its current inventory. Earnings from operations in the North American wholesale segment were$2.8 million in the first quarter of 2020, down 47% compared to$5.2 million in the same period
last year. The Company's cost of sales does not include distribution costs (e.g., receiving, inspection, warehousing, shipping and handling costs). Wholesale distribution costs were$3.3 million in the first quarter of 2020 and$3.1 million in the first quarter of 2019. These costs were included in selling and administrative expenses. The Company's gross earnings may not be comparable to other companies, as some companies may include distribution costs in cost of sales. North American wholesale segment selling and administrative expenses include, and are primarily related to, distribution costs, salaries and commissions, advertising costs, employee benefit costs and depreciation. Wholesale selling and administrative expenses were$14.0 million , or 27% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2020, compared to$15.2 million , or 26% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2019. The Company reduced its wholesale expenses for the quarter, where appropriate, as a result of the sales decline due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
North American Retail Segment
Net Sales
Net sales in the Company's North American retail segment were$4.8 million in the first quarter of 2020, down 15% compared to$5.6 million in last year's first quarter. Same store sales, which includeU.S. e-commerce sales, were down 13% for the quarter, due primarily to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earnings from Operations
Retail gross earnings were 65.3% of net sales in the first quarter of 2020 compared to 65.2% of net sales in the first quarter of 2019. Selling and administrative expenses for the retail segment include, and are primarily related to, rent and occupancy costs, employee costs, advertising expense and freight. Retail selling and administrative expenses were$3.2 million , or 67% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2020 versus$3.1 million , or 57% of net sales, in last year's first quarter. The increase in retail expenses as a percent of net sales was primarily due to the sales decline, as many retail expenses are fixed in nature. The retail segment had operating losses totaling$89,000 this quarter compared to operating earnings of$483,000 in last year's first quarter. Other
The Company's other businesses include its wholesale and retail operations of Florsheim Australia and Florsheim Europe. Net sales of the Company's other businesses were$6.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, down 32% compared to$9.1 million in last year's first quarter. The decrease was due to lower sales at both Florsheim Australia and Florsheim Europe as a result of retail shutdowns and government orders for consumers to stay at home. Collectively, FlorsheimAustralia and Florsheim Europe had operating losses totaling$1.3 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to operating losses of$543,000 in the first quarter of 2019.
Other income and expense and taxes
Interest income was$149,000 and$223,000 in the first quarters of 2020 and 2019, respectively. The decrease was largely due to less interest earned on the lower investment balances this quarter. Interest expense was$51,000 and$32,000 for the three months endedMarch 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Other income (expense), net, totaled
The Company's effective tax rate for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2020 was 37.0% compared to 23.9% for the same period of 2019. The Company did not record an income tax benefit on foreign losses this quarter, which raised the effective tax rate as compared to last year. 13
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's primary sources of liquidity are its cash, short-term marketable securities and its revolving line of credit. The Company generated$15.0 million of cash from operating activities during the first three months of 2020, compared to$4.5 million in the same period one year ago. The increase between years was primarily due to changes in operating assets and liabilities, principally inventory and accounts receivable. The Company paid cash dividends of$4.7 million and$4.6 million in the first quarters of 2020 and 2019, respectively. OnMay 5, 2020 , the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of$0.24 per share to all shareholders of record onMay 29, 2020 , payableJune 30, 2020 . The Company repurchases its common stock under its share repurchase program when the Company believes market conditions are favorable. During the first three months of 2020, the Company repurchased 59,523 shares for a total cost of$1.3 million . As ofMarch 31, 2020 , the Company had the authority to repurchase 382,747 shares under its previously announced stock repurchase program.
Capital expenditures were
AtMarch 31, 2020 , the Company had a$60 million unsecured revolving line of credit with a bank expiringNovember 5, 2020 . The line of credit bears interest at LIBOR plus 0.75%. AtMarch 31, 2020 , there were no amounts outstanding on the line of credit The highest balance on the line of credit during the quarter was$8.5 million . The Company expects to renew this line of credit later this year, but cannot provide any assurances.
As of
The Company will continue to evaluate the best uses for its available liquidity, including, among other uses, capital expenditures, continued stock repurchases and additional acquisitions. The Company believes that available cash and marketable securities, cash provided by operations, and available borrowing facilities will provide adequate support for the cash needs of the business for at least one year, although
there can be no assurances. COMMITMENTS Not applicable.
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