Superior Group of Companies, Inc. Reports Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2020
Fourth quarter net sales up 34% and Annual net sales up 40%Fourth quarter earnings per share (diluted) increased 295% to $0.79Net Sales and Year-End backlogs, excluding increases from PPE sales are the highest ever recordedAnnual debt reduction of $31.6 millionSEMINOLE, Fla., March 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGC), today announced its fourth quarter and year-end operating results for 2020.The Company announced that for the year ended December 31, 2020, net sales increased $150.0 million or 40% percent to $526.7 million compared to $376.7 million in 2019. Pre-tax income was $51.5 million compared to $15.3 million in 2019. Net income for the fiscal year 2020 was $41.0 million, or $2.65 per diluted share, compared to $12.1 million, or $0.79 per diluted share in 2019.Net sales for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020 were $145.4 million, an increase of 34% compared to the 2019 fourth quarter of $108.4 million. Pre-tax income was $15.9 million compared to $4.0 million in the 2019 fourth quarter. Net income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020 was $12.5 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, compared to $3.0 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, reported for the fourth quarter 2019.Michael Benstock, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “While the pandemic made 2020 very challenging, we are very proud and grateful that our teams in all segments responded so strategically and collaboratively to the adversity which produced record setting results for our shareholders. We continued to benefit from our successful pivot to supplying a wider array of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) during the fourth quarter. For the full year 2020, net sales of PPE were approximately $131.2 million as compared to $3.9 million in 2019. While the pivot to PPE was key to our growth in net sales and net income, it is important to note that we actually had organic growth in net sales in 2020 in all three of our business segments exclusive of the increased sales from PPE. Sales at BAMKO, which comprises our Promotional Products Segment, grew 53% for the quarter and 88% for the year, eclipsing $202 million. Sales at The Office Gurus, our Remote Staffing Segment, returned to pre-pandemic growth levels in the fourth quarter with 31% and 18% growth for the quarter and year, respectively. Sales in our Uniform Segment also grew 24% for the quarter and 21% for the year.“Our pre-existing strategy of selling to a diverse range of customers with our redundant manufacturing strategy remains in place and bodes well for our future, especially as we continue to provide products and services to many essential businesses in all of our SGC segments. Both our uniform and promotional products segments finished the year with record year-end opportunity pipelines and backlogs. The Office Gurus segment continues to grow, including by leveraging its work from home solution to increase capacity. While we have no certainty as to how the pandemic will impact our customers in the future, we are fully prepared to meet the challenges that might face us. We have made the proper investments in our people, technology and product development, and we continue to do so at an accelerated pace when needed. While we are living in the most uncertain of times, we have met challenges throughout our 100 years with innovation and success. We will continue to do so going forward in a way that focuses on building long-term shareholder value.“As a result of the cash flow generated from operating activities, we were able to reduce our outstanding debt by $31.6 million in 2020. This reduction has bolstered our ability to capitalize on opportunities as they arise such as our recent acquisition of Gifts by Design during the first quarter of 2021. We expect that additional favorable acquisition opportunities will be available for us in the current environment.”CONFERENCE CALLSuperior Group of Companies will hold a conference call on Monday, March 1, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company’s results. Interested individuals may join the teleconference by dialing (844) 861-5505 for U.S. dialers and (412) 317-6586 for International dialers. The Canadian Toll Free number is (866) 605-3852. Please ask to be joined into the Superior Group of Companies call. The live webcast and archived replay can also be accessed in the investor information section of the Company’s website at www.superiorgroupofcompanies.com.A telephone replay of the teleconference will be available one hour after the end of the call through 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on March 15, 2021. To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529 in the United States or (412) 317-0088 from international locations. Canadian dialers can access the replay at (855) 669-9658. Please reference conference number 10151894 for all replay access.Disclosure Regarding Forward Looking StatementsCertain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “potential,” or “plan” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, without limitation: (1) the projected impact of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on our, our customers’, and our suppliers’ businesses, (2) projections of revenue, income, and other items relating to our financial position and results of operations, (3) statements of our plans, objectives, strategies, goals and intentions, (4) statements regarding the capabilities, capacities, market position and expected development of our business operations, and (5) statements of expected industry and general economic trends. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may materially adversely affect the anticipated results. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of competition; the effect of uncertainties related to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the U.S. and global markets, our business, operations, customers, suppliers and employees, including without limitation the length and scope of the restrictions imposed by various governments and success of efforts to deliver a vaccine on a timely basis, among other factors; general economic conditions, including employment levels, in the areas of the United States of America (“United States”) in which the Company’s customers are located; changes in the healthcare, industrial, retail, hotels, food service, transportation and other industries where uniforms and service apparel are worn; our ability to identify suitable acquisition targets, successfully integrate any acquired businesses, successfully manage our expanding operations, or discover liabilities associated with such businesses during the diligence process; the price and availability of cotton, polyester and other manufacturing materials; attracting and retaining senior management and key personnel and other factors described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements made herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.About Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (SGC):Superior Group of Companies™ formerly Superior Uniform Group, established in 1920, is a combination of companies that help our customers unlock the power of their brands by creating extraordinary brand engagement experiences for their employees and customers. We provide customized support for each of our divisions through our shared services model.Fashion Seal Healthcare®, HPI® and WonderWink® are our core uniform brands. Each is one of America’s leading providers of uniforms and image apparel in the markets we serve. We specialize in innovative uniform program design, global manufacturing, and state-of-the-art distribution. Every workday, more than 7 million Americans go to work wearing a uniform from Superior Group of Companies.BAMKO®, Tangerine Promotions®, Public Identity® and Gifts By Design are our signature promotional product companies. We provide unique custom branding, design, sourcing, and marketing solutions to some of the world’s most successful brands.The Office Gurus® is a global provider of custom call and contact center support. As a true strategic partner, The Office Gurus implements customized solutions for our customers in order to accelerate their growth and improve our customers’ service experiences.SGC’s commitment to service, technology, quality and value-added benefits, as well as our financial strength and resources, provides unparalleled support for our customers’ diverse needs while embracing a “Customer 1st, Every Time!” philosophy and culture in all of our business segments.Visit www.superiorgroupofcompanies.com for more information.Contact:
Andrew D. Demott, Jr.
COO, CFO & Treasurer
727-803-7135-OR-Hala Elsherbini
Three Part Advisors
Senior Managing Director
214-442-0016Comparative figures are as follows:
