Derek Schmidt
Analyst · Evaluate Research
Thank you, Jerry, and good morning everyone. Fourth quarter net sales were $136.2 million, up $71.4 million, or 110%, compared to $64.8 million in the prior year period. Our sales results were slightly above our $120 million to $135 million guidance range despite the ongoing supply chain issues faced in the quarter, which Jerry highlighted earlier. We were highly encouraged by our fourth quarter sales results, which represented our highest sales quarter for the fiscal year and grew 15% sequentially from third quarter sales results of $118.4 million. We saw an increase in our home furnishing products sold through retail stores of $78.5 million, or 196%. Retail sales were especially favorable compared to prior year results which were adversely impacted by COVID-19 and related retail stores shut downs. Compared with the pre-pandemic fiscal 2019 fourth quarter retail sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 increased 60% for a compounded annual growth rate of 27%. Additionally, fourth quarter retail sales also represented a sequential growth versus the third quarter up 15%. We've gained significant retail placements this year and are competing well with a healthy inventory position of in-stock products and competitive lead times on custom manufactured products. Products sold through ecommerce declined $3.3 million or minus 16.3%. ecommerce sales were softer in comparison to prior year quarter when online sales increased by 86% due to COVID-19 and related retail store shutdowns. Compared with a pre-pandemic fiscal 2019 fourth quarter ecommerce sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 increased 56% for a compounded annual growth rate of 25%. Another useful measure of our ecommerce growth momentum is sequential growth versus the third quarter, which was plus 14%. Lastly, we realized the sales decline of $3.8 million due to the exit of our vehicle and hospitality product lines during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, excluding these exited product lines, our total company organic growth was 123% in the quarter. From a profit perspective, we reported a fiscal fourth quarter net income of $5.8 million or $0.81 per diluted share that compared to a net loss of $25.7 million or minus $3.23 per diluted share in the prior year quarter. The reported net income included a $698,000 pre-tax restructuring expense and a $2 million reduction in tax expense due to the remeasurement of valuation allowances, primarily related to deferred tax assets. Excluding these items, the fourth quarter non-GAAP adjusted net income was $4.4 million or $0.61 per diluted share as compared to a non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $1.5 million or minus $0.19 per diluted share in the fourth quarter last year. And as Jerry noted earlier, thanks to the efforts of our hard working team members, we achieved a record adjusted earnings per share of $2.99 for the fiscal year during a very tumultuous period. Please see the non-GAAP disclosure included in the earnings release for a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share. Gross margin as a percent of net sales in the fourth quarter was 19.4%, which was slightly better than the midpoint of our guidance range of 18.5% to 20%. Margin expansion from higher sales volumes was partially offset by surging ocean container freight rates and ancillary charges in the quarter. Gross margin was significantly higher versus they reported 9.2% in the prior year quarter, the 10.2% year-over-year improvement in gross margin was primarily due to structural cost reductions, operational efficiencies, fixed costs leverage due to higher sales volume as compared to the prior year quarter and lower inventory reserve expense due to strong demand. Selling, general and administrative or SG&A expenses increased $1.8 million to $18.6 million, compared to $16.8 million in the prior quarter, when we aggressively reduced costs in response to COVID-19 and related sales declines. SG&A as a percentage of net sales in the quarter was 13.7% compared to 13.8% in the third quarter and compared with 25.9% in the prior year quarter. The 1220 basis point decline compared to the prior year quarter was driven by 340 basis points in unusual items, including 40 basis points for lower bad debt expense, 210 basis points related to prior lease impairments and 90 basis points for prior year COVID-related costs with the remaining 880 basis points decline, primarily due to effective cost management and cost leverage gained from higher sales. Turning to income taxes. During the quarter, we reported a tax expense of $1,260,000 or an effective rate of 17.7% compared to a tax benefit of $5.6 million in the prior year quarter, or an effective tax rate of 17.8%. The effective tax rate in the fourth quarter included a $2 million tax reduction, or an impact of $0.28 per diluted share related to the remeasurement of valuation allowances, primarily on deferred tax assets. The effective tax rate for the year is 26.8%. Now moving on to the balance sheet, the company ended the quarter with a cash balance of $1.3 million in working capital, defined as current assets plus current liabilities of $128.8 million and a $3.5 million balance on our secured line of credit. Compared to the end of fiscal 2020, working capital increased modestly by $400,000. The slight increase in working capital was due to a $23.8 million increase in trade receivables from higher sales and a $90.6 million increase in inventory, a majority of which was in transit to our distribution centers at year end, mostly offset by a decrease in cash of $46.9 million, a decline in other current assets of $9.1 million, primarily due to a tax refund, a decline of $11.7 million in assets held for sale and a $46.3 million increase in trade payables and accrued liabilities, mostly related to higher inventory purchases. Capital expenditures for the 12 months ended June 30, 2021 were approximately $2.6 million. Now on to our restructuring update, the company incurred approximately $700,000 of restructuring expense, primarily for ongoing facility and transition costs. Total restructuring expenses for the fiscal year 2021 were $3.4 million. We currently have two facilities held for sale, one in Starkville, Mississippi, and the other one in Harrison, Arkansas. We expect ongoing facility costs for these two locations to be in the range of $50,000 to $60,000 per month. For fiscal 2022, the company forecasts restructuring expense of $500,000 to $800,000, primarily for ongoing facility costs related to these properties currently held for sale and depending upon the timing of the asset sales. Now looking forward, guidance for the first quarter is a bit challenging due to the uncertain conditions, specifically related to the relentless climb of ocean container freight rates and ancillary charges. Availability of labor, availability of materials like poly foam and unpredictable cost inflation are additional risks which are fluid and could have a material impact on both sales and gross margin dollars. That said, our best estimate for first quarter sales is between $130 million and $140 million, with the availability of drivers to deliver orders to customers being the largest determinant between the high and low end of that range. The midpoint of this guidance range or $135 million represents a growth rate of 28% versus the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and reflects competence in our continued growth momentum. For the full fiscal year 2022, we are targeting sales growth between 15% to 20% but achievement of that growth will be dependent on global supply chain conditions improving and stabilizing in the second half of the year. Gross margins are expected to be under significant pressure in the first quarter from both surging ocean, container freight rates and related ancillary charges. Ancillary charges alone are estimated to be in the range of $5 million to $6 million in the quarter. The combination of record levels of inbound inventory significantly reduced allowed free days from shipping lines and the scarcity of drivers is up ending normal logistics flow and sending ancillary charges soaring. We have cost mitigation plans in motion to reduce these charges substantially by the second quarter but these added costs will be a major margin drag to start the year. And while we continue to pass through cost increases to the market where we can, the timing lag between the recent exponential increase in ocean container freight rates and the offsetting price realization will further add to short-term margin pressure. All that said, we are estimating gross margins in the mid teens for the first quarter but with sequential improvement in the second quarter and forecasting gross margins of 20% to 21% in the second half of the year, presuming supply chain conditions stabilize. SG&A guidance for the first quarter is expected to be approximately 13% to 13.5% of sales as we will continue to aggressively manage discretionary spending near term to partially offset the impact of gross margin pressures. We expect that SG&A, as a percent of sales will increase to 14% to 14.5% in the second half of the year to support strategic growth investments. But the SG&A increase will be dependent on a similar or better improvement in gross margins during that same time period. For the first quarter adjusted operating income margins are expected in the low single digits strained in the near term as we work through higher ocean container, ancillary charges and the timing lag between higher ocean container cost and increased price realization. We expect adjusted operating margins to steadily improve throughout the year, with margins returning to 7% or higher by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The effective tax rate for fiscal 2022 is expected to be in the range of 26% to 27%, restructuring expenses are forecasted in the range of $500,000 to $800,000. We will continue to expand inventory in fiscal 2022 to improve in-stock service levels and provide exceptional support to our customers, which has been a significant advantage for us in fiscal 2021. We are also aggressively expanding our supply chain capacity to support long-term growth. During fiscal 2022, the company anticipates spending $11.5 million to $13.5 million for capital expenditures. Company plans to spend approximately $7 million for manufacturing capacity expansion approximately $2.5 million for manufacturing productivity improvements and the remaining amount for software enhancements and general maintenance. The company is currently working with a major global bank to increase its borrowing capacity to $85 million. The expanded credit line is expected to fund increased working capital, primarily inventory needed to support the company's goals for aggressive growth. The new credit agreement is expected to be executed by September 2021. In summary, we are planning for another year of aggressive profitable growth with double-digit sales improvement forecasted. While we are navigating significant gross margin headwinds to start the year, we are fully committed to delivering higher adjusted operating income dollars and higher adjusted earnings per share for the full fiscal year. We are prudently managing expenses and capital deployment, while making the right strategic investments to support our long-term growth. I'll turn the call back over to Jerry to share his perspective on our outlook.