Russell Greenberg
Analyst · D.A. Davidson. Please proceed with your question
Thank you, operator. Good morning and welcome to our 2017 third quarter conference call. As usual, I will begin the call with a financial overview and then Jean Madar, our Chairman and CEO, will discuss our current business, recent developments and upcoming plans. After that, we will take your questions. Before proceeding further, I want to remind listeners that this conference call may contain forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from projected results. These factors include but are not limited to the risks and uncertainties discussed under the headings Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our annual report on Form 10-K and the reports we file from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend to, and undertake no duty, to update the information discussed. In addition, Regulation G, codifications for the use of non-GAAP financial measures, prescribes the condition for use of non-GAAP financial information in public disclosures. We believe that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial information included in this discussion is an important supplemental measure of operating performance to investors. The information required to be disclosed for the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is disclosed in our September 30, 2017 quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This information is available on our website at www.interparfumsinc.com. When we refer to our European-based operations, we are primarily talking about sales of Prestige Fragrance products conducted through our 73%-owned French subsidiary, Interparfums SA. When we discuss our United States based operations, we are primarily referring to sales of Prestige Fragrance products conducted through our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. In general, our third quarter is our strongest in terms of sales, due to shipments made to customers for the holiday season. This year’s third quarter fits that pattern. Moving on to comparable third quarter results, net sales were $169.5 million, up 7.6% from $157.6 million. At comparable foreign currency exchange rates, net sales increased 5.5%. Net sales by European-based operations rose 9.1% to $134.6 million from $123.4 million. Net sales by U.S.-based operations were $34.9 million, up 2%, compared to $34.2 million. Gross margin was 61% compared to 60.2% and SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 41.5% compared to 39.7%. Operating income increased 2.7% to $33.2 million from $32.3 million. Net income attributable to Inter Parfums Inc increased 5.2% to $17.1 million, compared to $16.2 million and net income attributable to Inter Parfums Inc per diluted share rose 5.8% to $0.55 from $0.52 in the prior year. Our year-to-date net sales were up 14.3% to $441.7 million from $386.3 million, resulting in a net income attributable to Inter Parfums Inc of $37.2 million, or $1.19 per diluted share. And that compares to $29.4 million or $0.94 per diluted share one year earlier. Excluding the effect of the 2016 settlement with the French Tax Authorities, net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. for the first nine months of 2016 would have been $30.8 million, or $0.99 per diluted share. Jean will talk later about third quarter launches. So I will focus on some of the factors that impact this profitability. But before I do, I'd like to mention that while other inputs may factor into the mix, in general, a weaker dollar has a favorable impact on our net sales and a negative impact on our gross margin. And the reason for that is because approximately 45% of net sales by our European operations are denominated in dollars, while their costs are incurred in euro. However, with the euro only gaining approximately 5%, against the dollar in the current third quarter our net sales and gross margin were only modestly impacted by this change in currency exchange rates. As noted the blended gross profit margin was 61%, compared to 60.2% in last year's third quarter. With regard to European operations, the weaker dollar gave rise to a slight decrease in gross margin, but this was offset by the increase in sales made through our distribution subsidiaries, especially Rochas brand fragrances, where sales were concentrated in France and Spain, both of which are countries where we distribute directly to retailers. So at the end of the day, European operations generated 65% gross profit margin, versus 64% in last year's third quarter. Gross profit margin by U.S. operations came in at 47% for both the current and prior year’s third quarter. SG&A expense increased 12% from last year's third quarter and represented 41.5% of net sales for the current third quarter, which is up 39.7%, compared to the comparable 2017 period. For our European operations SG&A expense increased 16% and for U.S. operations they declined about 5%. Promotion and advertising included in SG&A aggregated $26.2 million or 15% of net sales for the 2017 third quarter, as compared to $20.8 million or 13% of net sales for that period a year earlier. The increase is the result of expenditures occurred within our European operations in connection with new product launches. During the final quarter of this year, we have significant promotion and advertising programs underway. And we anticipate that promotion and advertising will approximate 21% of net sales for the full-year. Operating income rose 2.7% and our operating margin in the current third quarter was 19.6%, compared to 20.5% one year earlier. Also of note, our effective tax rate was 33% in both the current and prior year’s third quarter. We closed the quarter with working capital of $377 million, including approximately $231 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. We had a working capital ratio of 3.4 to 1 and only $65.6 million of long-term debt, including current maturities. And that was incurred in connection with the 2015 Rochas brand acquisition. As we reported yesterday, we raised our full-year 2017 guidance for net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. to between $1.27 and $1.29 per diluted share. And last month, we increased our sales guidance range to between $575 million and $580 million. On Monday, November 13, after the close of the market, we will announce our initial 2018 sales and earnings guidance. And finally, we also announced yesterday that our Board authorized 24% increase in the annual dividend to $0.84 per share annually or $0.21 per share quarterly. Jean, please continue.