The Tile Shop Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results; Suspends Dividend; Cancels Share Repurchase Program

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tile Shop Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTS) (the “Company”), a specialty retailer of natural stone and man-made tiles, setting and maintenance materials, and related accessories, today announced results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2019.  
Third Quarter SummaryNet Sales Decreased 3.7%
Comparable Store Sales Decreased 3.5%
Gross Margin of 68.8%
Net Loss of $1.4 million; Adjusted EBITDA of $8.3 million⁽¹⁾       As compared to the prior year period.
⁽²⁾     Comparable store sales (decline) growth is the percentage change in sales of comparable stores period over period. A store is considered comparable on the first day of the 13th full month of operation. When a store is relocated, it is excluded from the comparable store sales (decline) growth calculation. Comparable store sales (decline) growth amounts include total charges to customers less any actual returns. Comparable store sales data reported by other companies may be prepared on a different basis and therefore may not be useful for purposes of comparing the Company’s results to those of other businesses.THIRD QUARTER 2019Net Sales
Net sales decreased $3.3 million, or 3.7%, from $89.3 million in the third quarter of 2018 to $85.9 million in the third quarter of 2019. Comparable store sales decreased $3.1 million, or 3.5%, for the third quarter of 2019 compared to the third quarter of 2018 primarily due to lower customer traffic. Net sales generated by stores not included in the comparable store base decreased $0.2 million.Gross Profit
Gross profit decreased $3.8 million, or 6.1%, from $63.0 million in the third quarter of 2018 to $59.2 million in the third quarter of 2019. The gross margin rate was 68.8% for the third quarter of 2019 and 70.6% for the third quarter of 2018. The decrease in the gross margin rate during the third quarter of 2019 was primarily due to higher levels of shrink and damaged inventory write-offs combined with a lower freight collection rate.Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.7 million, or 1.1%, from $59.1 million in the third quarter of 2018 to $59.8 million in the third quarter of 2019. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was driven primarily by an increase in advertising costs, partially offset by a decrease in legal expense and variable store compensation expense.Inventory
Inventory decreased 9.1% to $100.1 million at the end of the third quarter of 2019 from $110.1 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018.Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt increased $10.0 million from $53.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 to $63.0 million at the end of the third quarter of 2019. The increase reflects additional amounts drawn on the line of credit to fund share repurchases in the second quarter of 2019.Dividend and Share Repurchase
The Board of Directors decided to suspend the Company’s quarterly cash dividend and cancel the Company’s share repurchase program, each effective immediately, to focus on debt reduction and continued investment in strategic initiatives.Director Resignation
Christopher T. Cook resigned from the Board of Directors effective October 19, 2019.NON-GAAP INFORMATIONAdjusted EBITDAAdjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2019 was $8.3 million compared with $11.9 million for the third quarter of 2018.  See the table below for a reconciliation of GAAP net (loss) income to Adjusted EBITDA.
⁽¹⁾ Amounts do not foot due to rounding.Pretax Return on Capital EmployedPretax Return on Capital Employed was 1.7% for the trailing twelve months as of the end of the third quarter of 2019 compared to 7.7% for the trailing twelve months as of the end of the third quarter of 2018. See the table below for a calculation of Pretax Return on Capital Employed.⁽¹⁾ Income statement accounts represent the activity for the trailing twelve months ended as of each of the balance sheet dates. Balance sheet accounts represent the average account balance for the four quarters ended as of each of the balance sheet dates.
⁽²⁾ Represents the average lease liability and deferred rent account balances for the four quarters ended as of each of the balance sheet dates.Webcast and Conference CallThe Company will not hold its previously scheduled third quarter 2019 earnings call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time today, Tuesday, October 22, 2019.About The Tile ShopThe Tile Shop (Nasdaq:TTS) is a leading specialty retailer of natural stone and man-made tiles, setting and maintenance materials, and related accessories in the United States. The Tile Shop offers a wide selection of high-quality products, exclusive designs, knowledgeable staff and exceptional customer service in an extensive showroom environment. Each store is outfitted with full-room tiled displays which are enhanced by the complimentary Design Studio, a collaborative platform to create customized 3D design renderings to scale, allowing customers to bring their design ideas to life. The Tile Shop currently operates 141 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia.The Tile Shop is a proud member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), and the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA). Visit www.tileshop.com. Join The Tile Shop (#thetileshop) on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresThe Company calculates Adjusted EBITDA by taking net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, and adjusting for interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and stock based compensation. Adjusted EBITDA margin is equal to Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales. The Company calculates Pretax Return on Capital Employed by taking income from operations divided by capital employed. Capital employed equals total assets less accounts payable, income taxes payable, other accrued liabilities, deferred rent, lease liability and other long-term liabilities. Other companies may calculate both Adjusted EBITDA and Pretax Return on Capital Employed differently, limiting the usefulness of these measures for comparative purposes.The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures of financial results provide useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Company management uses these non-GAAP measures to compare Company performance to that of prior periods for trend analyses, for purposes of determining management incentive compensation, for budgeting and planning purposes, and for assessing the effectiveness of capital allocation over time. These measures are used in monthly financial reports prepared for management and the Board of Directors. The Company believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the Company’s financial measures with other specialty retailers, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.Company management does not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP.  The principal limitations of these non-GAAP financial measures are that they exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which expenses and income are excluded or included in determining these non-GAAP financial measures. In order to compensate for these limitations, management presents non-GAAP financial measures in connection with GAAP results.  The Company urges investors to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the business.                                                                           FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTSThis press release includes “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “plan”, “outlook”, and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward looking statements include any statements regarding the Company’s strategic and operational plan and expected financial performance. Forward looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward looking statements, including but not limited to unforeseen events that may affect the retail market or the performance of the Company’s stores. The Company does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.  Investors are referred to the most recent reports filed with the SEC by the Company. Contacts:
Investors and Media:
Mark Davis
763-852-2978
mark.davis@tileshop.comTile Shop Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
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