Q.E.P. Co., Inc. Reports Fiscal 2023 Nine Month and Third Quarter Financial Results
Nine Month Net Sales of $335.4 million
Nine Month Net Income of $0.7 million
BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Q.E.P. CO., INC. (OTCQX: QEPC) (the “Company” or “QEP”) today reported its consolidated results of operations for the first nine months and third quarter of its fiscal year 2023, which ended on November 30, 2022.
QEP reported net sales of $335.4 million for the nine months ended November 30, 2022, a decrease of $3.8 million or 1.1% from the $339.2 million reported in the same period of fiscal 2022. The Company reported net sales of $102.8 million for the quarter ended November 30, 2022, a decrease of $9.2 million or 8.2% from the $111.9 million reported in the same period of fiscal 2022. The decrease in net sales for the first nine months and third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the prior year reflects lower sales volume in the most recent three months, principally in the Company’s North America flooring business, and the currency translation impact of the strong U.S. Dollar in the current period, which were only partially offset by year-over-year product price increases to customers.
Lewis Gould, Executive Chairman, commented on the Company’s results, “While profitability for the first nine months is disappointing, supply chain costs are trending down from recent unprecedented highs, inventory levels are declining towards more normalized levels and the Company is beginning to reduce its debt burden. As part of our ongoing profit improvement initiatives, we remain focused on expanding primary sales channels, investing in core products and improving or disposing of non-accretive business units.”
The Company’s gross profit for the first nine months of fiscal 2023 was $87.8 million compared to $92.8 million in the corresponding fiscal 2022 period, a decrease of $5.0 million or 5.4%. Gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $27.6 million, representing a decrease of $2.9 million or 9.3%, from $30.5 million in the corresponding fiscal 2022 period. The Company’s gross margin as a percentage of net sales for the first nine months and third quarter of fiscal year 2023 was 26.2% and 26.9%, respectively, which decreased from 27.4% and 27.2% in the corresponding prior fiscal year periods, respectively. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net sales was due to inbound freight and other product cost increases during the earlier part of the fiscal year that have not been fully recovered through customer price increases and other cost reduction initiatives.
Operating expenses for the first nine months and third quarter of fiscal 2023 were $85.1 million and $26.6 million, respectively, or 25.4% and 25.8% of net sales in those periods, compared to $81.1 million and $26.4 million, respectively, or 23.9% and 23.6% of net sales in the comparable fiscal 2022 periods. The increase in operating expenses was due to increased outbound freight costs which resulted from higher fuel costs. Additionally, the Company had higher personnel and marketing costs, including marketing displays and samples, to support recently launched flooring product lines.
The higher interest expense during the first nine months and third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year was due to an increase in borrowings under the Company’s credit facilities and higher interest rates during the current period.
The provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before taxes was 28.0% for the first nine months and third quarter for both fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022.
Net income for the first nine months and third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $0.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively, or $0.21 and $0.07, respectively, per diluted share. For the comparable periods of fiscal 2022, net income was $7.7 million and $2.7 million, respectively, or $2.31 and $0.81, respectively, per diluted share.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for restructuring charges and business disposal for the first nine months and third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $6.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively, as compared to $14.9 million and $5.2 million for the first nine months and third quarter of fiscal 2022, respectively.
| For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| November 30, 2022 | November 30, 2021 | November 30, 2022 | November 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 244 | $ | 2,721 | $ | 719 | $ | 7,740 | |||||||
| Add: | Interest expense, net | 734 | 343 | 1,699 | 993 | ||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 94 | 1,058 | 279 | 3,009 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 954 | 1,046 | 2,881 | 3,178 | |||||||||||
| Restructuring charges | 196 | – | 280 | – | |||||||||||
| Gain on sales of AC Products property | (130 | ) | – | (130 | ) | – | |||||||||
| Loss on disposal of business | 307 | – | 307 | – | |||||||||||
| EBITDA, as adjusted | $ | 2,399 | $ | 5,168 | $ | 6,035 | $ | 14,920 | |||||||
The addback for restructuring charges relate to personnel cost in the Company’s North America segment and the business disposal relates to the net loss on closure of the Company’s AC Products Co. operation, a ceramic products manufacturer located in Ohio.
Cash used in operating activities during the first nine months of fiscal 2023 was $2.2 million as compared to cash provided by operating activities of $5.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2022, principally reflecting the payment to suppliers for the purchase of inventory and lower operating income in the current period. During the first nine months of fiscal 2023, borrowings under the Company’s lines of credit were used to fund operating activities and capital expenditures. In the prior fiscal year period, cash provided by operations was used primarily to fund capital expenditures and increase cash balances.
Working capital as of November 30, 2022 was $54.3 million compared to $55.0 million at the end of fiscal 2022. Aggregate debt, net of available cash balances at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023, was $37.1 million or 47.3% of equity, an increase of $3.7 million compared to $33.4 million or 42.0% of equity at the end of fiscal 2022.
Conference Call Information
The Company will be hosting the following conference call to discuss its financial results and answer questions.
| Date: | Thursday, January 19, 2023 |
| Time: | 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time |
| Dial-in Numbers: | 800-245-3047 (US or Canada) |
| 203-518-9765 (International) | |
| Confirmation ID: | QEP3Q |
| Replay: | 800-654-1563 (Toll Free) |
| 862-902-0129 (Toll) | |
| Access Code: 11621632 | |
About QEP
Founded in 1979, Q.E.P. Co., Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of best-in-class flooring and installation solutions for commercial and home improvement projects worldwide. QEP offers a comprehensive line of specialty installation tools, adhesives, and underlayment as well as a complete line of hardwood, luxury vinyl, and modular carpet tile. QEP sells its products throughout the world to home improvement retail centers, professional specialty distribution outlets, and flooring dealers under brand names including QEP®, LASH®, ROBERTS®, Vitrex®, Brutus®, PRCI®, Plasplugs®, Tomecanic®, Premix-Marbletite® (PMM), Homelux®, Capitol® and XPS Foam™. Brand names featured under QEP’s Harris Flooring Group® include Harris®, Kraus® and Naturally Aged Flooring™.
QEP is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with offices in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Please visit our website at www.qepcorporate.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by words such as “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “may,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “should,” “intends,” “estimates,” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s shifting of its focus to new challenges presented by (i) scarcity and rising cost of raw materials and transcontinental freight, (ii) shifts in global sourcing patterns; and (iii) general inflationary pressures, economic conditions, sales growth, price increases, maintaining and improving profitability, product development and marketing, operating expenses, cost savings, acquisition integration, operational synergy realization, global sourcing, political uncertainty, cash flow, debt and currency exchange rates. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and beliefs, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
-Financial Information Follows-
| Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| November 30, | November 30, | November 30, | November 30, | |||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 102,789 | $ | 111,942 | $ | 335,391 | $ | 339,211 | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 75,147 | 81,455 | 247,632 | 246,396 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 27,642 | 30,487 | 87,759 | 92,815 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Shipping | 11,902 | 12,248 | 39,085 | 37,461 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 7,878 | 7,468 | 23,034 | 22,511 | ||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing | 6,730 | 6,723 | 23,003 | 21,524 | ||||||||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | 60 | (74 | ) | (60 | ) | (423 | ) | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 26,570 | 26,365 | 85,062 | 81,073 | ||||||||||||
| Operating income | 1,072 | 4,122 | 2,697 | 11,742 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (734 | ) | (343 | ) | (1,699 | ) | (993 | ) | ||||||||
| Income before provision for income taxes | 338 | 3,779 | 998 | 10,749 | ||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 94 | 1,058 | 279 | 3,009 | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 244 | $ | 2,721 | $ | 719 | $ | 7,740 | ||||||||
| Earnings per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 2.32 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.81 | $ | 0.21 | $ | 2.31 | ||||||||
| Weighted average number of common | ||||||||||||||||
| shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 3,332 | 3,335 | 3,337 | 3,335 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 3,339 | 3,344 | 3,346 | 3,345 | ||||||||||||
| Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
| For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| November 30, | November30, | November 30, | November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 244 | $ | 2,721 | $ | 719 | $ | 7,740 | |||||||
| Unrealized currency translation adjustments | 521 | (612 | ) | (1,468 | ) | (1,281 | ) | ||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 765 | $ | 2,109 | $ | (749 | ) | $ | 6,459 | ||||||
| Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except par values) | ||||||||
| November 30, 2022 | February 28, 2022 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Audited) | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | 7,472 | $ | 3,203 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $802 | ||||||||
| and $807 at November 30, 2022 and February 28, 2022, respectively | 49,919 | 55,990 | ||||||
| Inventories, net | 91,206 | 98,087 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 4,269 | 3,711 | ||||||
| Prepaid income taxes | 1,110 | – | ||||||
| Current assets | 153,976 | 160,991 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 10,809 | 10,529 | ||||||
| Right of use operating lease assets | 30,393 | 15,485 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes, net | 3,569 | 3,578 | ||||||
| Intangibles, net | 8,380 | 10,233 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 2,151 | 2,390 | ||||||
| Other assets | 4,857 | 3,150 | ||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 214,135 | $ | 206,356 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Trade accounts payable | $ | 36,260 | $ | 47,715 | ||||
| Accrued liabilities | 20,292 | 24,919 | ||||||
| Current operating lease liabilities | 4,714 | 4,942 | ||||||
| Income taxes payable | – | 634 | ||||||
| Lines of credit | 34,424 | 26,449 | ||||||
| Current maturities of debt | 3,943 | 1,321 | ||||||
| Current liabilities | 99,633 | 105,980 | ||||||
| Long term debt | 6,185 | 8,797 | ||||||
| Non-current operating lease liabilities | 27,497 | 11,643 | ||||||
| Other long term liabilities | 2,438 | 534 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | 135,753 | 126,954 | ||||||
| Preferred stock, 2,500 shares authorized, $1.00 par value; 0 shares | ||||||||
| issued and outstanding at November 30, 2022 and February 28, 2022, | – | – | ||||||
| respectively | ||||||||
| Common stock, 20,000 shares authorized, $.001 par value; | ||||||||
| 4,005 shares issued: 3,294 and 3,307 shares outstanding at | ||||||||
| November 30, 2022 and February 28, 2022, respectively | 4 | 4 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 11,449 | 11,449 | ||||||
| Retained earnings | 81,987 | 81,268 | ||||||
| Treasury stock, 711 and 698 shares held at cost at November 30, 2022 | ||||||||
| and February 28, 2022, respectively | (9,395 | ) | (9,124 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | (5,663 | ) | (4,195 | ) | ||||
| Shareholders’ Equity | 78,382 | 79,402 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | $ | 214,135 | $ | 206,356 | ||||
| Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| For the Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
| November 30, 2022 | November 30, 2021 | |||||||
| Operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 719 | $ | 7,740 | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash | ||||||||
| provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||
| Loss on disposal of business | 307 | – | ||||||
| (Gain) loss on sale of property | 9 | (88 | ) | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,881 | 3,178 | ||||||
| Other non-cash adjustments | (75 | ) | (27 | ) | ||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | 6,130 | (522 | ) | |||||
| Inventories | 3,447 | (19,806 | ) | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 4,684 | 5,316 | ||||||
| Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (20,322 | ) | 9,264 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (2,220 | ) | 5,055 | |||||
| Investing activities: | ||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (4,451 | ) | (819 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from sale of property | 1,388 | 1,173 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (3,063 | ) | 354 | |||||
| Financing activities: | ||||||||
| Net borrowings under lines of credit | 9,787 | 1,369 | ||||||
| Net repayments of term loan facilities | 268 | (2,047 | ) | |||||
| Purchase of treasury stock | (203 | ) | (90 | ) | ||||
| Principal payments on finance leases | (84 | ) | (82 | ) | ||||
| Dividends paid | – | (165 | ) | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 9,768 | (1,015 | ) | |||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | (216 | ) | (284 | ) | ||||
| Net increase in cash | 4,269 | 4,110 | ||||||
| Cash at beginning of period | 3,203 | 10,905 | ||||||
| Cash at end of period | $ | 7,472 | $ | 15,015 | ||||
| Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except shares data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Paid-in | Retained | Treasury | Comprehensive | Shareholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Earnings | Stock | Income | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at February 28, 2021 | – | $ | – | 4,005,370 | $ | 4 | $ | 11,251 | $ | 71,785 | $ | (9,082 | ) | $ | (3,030 | ) | $ | 70,928 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | 9,648 | 9,648 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized currency translation adjustments | (1,165 | ) | (1,165 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury stock | (42 | ) | (42 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 198 | 198 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | (165 | ) | (165 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at February 28, 2022 | – | $ | – | 4,005,370 | $ | 4 | $ | 11,449 | $ | 81,268 | $ | (9,124 | ) | $ | (4,195 | ) | $ | 79,402 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income | 719 | 719 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized currency translation adjustments | (1,468 | ) | (1,468 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury stock | (271 | ) | (271 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at November 30, 2022 | – | $ | – | 4,005,370 | $ | 4 | $ | 11,449 | $ | 81,987 | $ | (9,395 | ) | $ | (5,663 | ) | $ | 78,382 | ||||||||||||||
CONTACT:
Q.E.P. Co., Inc.
Enos Brown
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
561-994-5550
