OREANDA-NEWS. July 29, 2016. West Marine, Inc. (NASDAQ:WMAR) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended July 2, 2016. The company reported net revenues of \\$251.6 million in the quarter, a decrease of 0.6% compared to the same period last year. Comparable store sales increased 1.1%. Pre-tax income was \\$36.4 million compared to pre-tax income of \\$37.1 million last year in the same period.  Earnings per diluted share increased 1 cent to 86 cents per share.

Matt Hyde, CEO of West Marine, commented: “We are pleased with the progress of our growth strategies, including a 27% increase in eCommerce and solid increases in our Waterlife store sales.  These results were in contrast to a challenging retail environment and unfavorable weather patterns seen earlier in the quarter.  We believe that our growth strategies have us on track to deliver our 2016 sales and profit targets.”

Further Progress on Growth Strategies

  • Sales from eCommerce increased by 26.7% compared to the second quarter of 2015 and represented 10.0% of total sales, compared to 7.9% for the same period last year, showing progress towards the goal of 15% of total sales.
  • Sales through Waterlife stores were 48.6% of total sales compared to 45.1% last year. This year-over-year increase demonstrates the company’s progress towards the goal to deliver 50% of total sales through stores that have been optimized to offer a broader selection of merchandise than traditional stores that focus on core boating products.
  • Sales in merchandise expansion product lines, which include footwear, apparel, clothing accessories, fishing products and paddlesports equipment, increased 3.3% while core product sales were down 1.7%, compared to the same period last year.

Results for the Second Quarter of 2016

Net revenues for the quarter ended July 2, 2016 decreased by \\$1.6 million, or 0.6%, to \\$251.6 million compared to \\$253.2 million for the quarter ended July 4, 2015.

Gross margin declined slightly to 35.5% of revenues, compared to 35.8% during the same period in 2015. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense decreased year-over-year by \\$0.8 million, as lower payroll expenses and a partial settlement from the Deepwater Horizon Settlement program were partially offset by higher depreciation and health claims expenses in the quarter.

Net income for the second quarter was \\$21.6 million, or \\$0.86 per share, compared to net income of \\$20.9 million, or \\$0.85 per share, for the second quarter of 2015.

Inventory at the end of the second quarter was down \\$4.5 million compared to the same period in 2015, while accounts payable increased \\$24.0 million. As of July 2, 2016, the company had cash and cash equivalents totaling \\$89.6 million compared to \\$44.2 million at the same point in 2015.

Results for the first Six Months of 2016

Net revenues for the six months ended July 2, 2016 increased by \\$1.8 million, or 0.5%, to \\$382.0 million compared to \\$380.2 million for the six months ended July 4, 2015. Comparable store sales for the period increased 1.6% compared to the first six months of 2015.

Gross margin expanded to 32.0% of revenues compared to 31.0% during the same period in 2015. SG&A expense increased year-over-year by \\$2.3 million as a result of higher expenses in the first half of the year from the company’s biennial training meeting and higher benefit expenses. These increases were partially offset by lower payroll expense and a partial settlement from the Deepwater Horizon Settlement program.

Net income for the first six months was \\$12.5 million, or \\$0.50 per share, compared to net income of \\$10.7 million, or \\$0.43 per share, for the first six months of 2015.

Guidance

Based on information available as of today, the company reiterated full-year 2016 guidance of total revenue growth in the 1% to 4% range and pre-tax profit growth of 50% over 2015 full-year results. 

Investor Conference Call

West Marine will hold a conference call and webcast on Thursday, July 28, 2016, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its second quarter 2016 results. The live call will be webcast and available in real time on the internet at westmarine.com under “Investor Relations.” Participants also may dial (888) 756-1546 in the United States and Canada and (706) 634-1041 for international calls. Please be prepared to give the conference ID number 52322305.

An audio replay of the call will be available July 28, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time through August 4, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The replay number is (855) 859-2056 in the United States and Canada and (404) 537-3406 for international calls. The access code is 52322305.

About West Marine

Each person has a unique connection to the water. At West Marine (westmarine.com, NASDAQ: WMAR), our knowledge, enthusiasm and products prepare waterlife adventurers to foster that connection and explore their passions. With more than 250 stores located in 38 states and Puerto Rico and eCommerce website reaching domestic, international and professional customers, West Marine is recognized as a leading Waterlife Outfitter for cruisers, sailors, anglers and paddlesports enthusiasts. Since first opening our doors in 1968, West Marine associates continue to share the same love for the water as our customers and provide helpful advice on the gear and gadgets they need to be safe and have fun.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking” information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), including statements that are predictive or express expectations that depend on future events or conditions that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may include, among other things, expectations related to earnings and growth in profitability, expectations that investments will continue to drive growth strategies, while improving profit margins, expectations related to cost management and expectations for the outlook for 2016, as well as facts and assumptions underlying these expectations and projections. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include those described in the risk factors set forth in West Marine’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2016, as well as the discussion of critical accounting policies in our Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2016. In addition, the results presented in this release are preliminary and unaudited, and may change as the company finalizes its financial statements. Actual results for the second quarter 2016 may differ materially from the preliminary expectations expressed or implied in this release. Except as required by applicable law, West Marine assumes no responsibility to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This release references certain financial information not calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), specifically EBITDA. We believe that EBITDA provides a clearer picture of operating performance of the business, given the significant investments we are making in the growth of the business, by eliminating the effects of depreciation and interest expense. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. This non-GAAP measure should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Management has reconciled this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the table set forth below.

      
West Marine, Inc.     
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets    
(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)    
         
         
     July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
 Cash and cash equivalents \\$  89,551  \\$  44,159  
 Trade receivables, net  10,649   10,690  
 Merchandise inventories, net 253,635   258,130  
 Deferred income taxes    -    5,252  
 Other current assets  19,686   22,388  
  Total current assets    373,521     340,619  
         
 Property and equipment, net 80,508   81,365  
 Long-term deferred income taxes 4,017   3,439  
 Other assets   4,501   3,861  
TOTAL ASSETS  \\$  462,547  \\$  429,284  
         
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    
 Current liabilities:     
 Accounts payable \\$  77,186  \\$  53,157  
 Accrued payroll  16,879   17,768  
 Accrued expenses and other   37,243     33,890  
  Total current liabilities    131,308     104,815  
         
 Deferred rent and other  18,193   20,605  
  Total liabilities    149,501     125,420  
         
Stockholders' equity:     
 Preferred stock, \\$.001 par value: 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares outstanding   -      -   
 Common stock, \\$.001 par value: 50,000,000 shares authorized; 25,628,645 shares issued and 24,939,756    
 shares outstanding at July 2, 2016, and  25,375,312 shares issued and 24,686,423 shares outstanding    
 at July 4, 2015.    26     25  
 Treasury stock    (9,411)    (9,241) 
 Additional paid-in capital    213,137     210,097  
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (552)    (558) 
 Retained earnings    109,846     103,541  
  Total stockholders' equity   313,046     303,864  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY\\$  462,547  \\$  429,284  
         
West Marine, Inc.     
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income    
(Unaudited and in thousands, except per share data)    
       
  13 Weeks Ended
  July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015
Net revenues\\$  251,599  100.0% \\$  253,177  100.0%
Cost of goods sold 162,369  64.5%    162,417  64.2%
 Gross profit   89,230  35.5%    90,760  35.8%
Selling, general and administrative expense   52,718  21.0%    53,492  21.1%
 Income from operations   36,512  14.5%    37,268  14.7%
Interest expense 116  0.0%  120  0.0%
 Income before income taxes   36,396  14.5%    37,148  14.7%
Provision for income taxes 14,812  5.9%  16,203  6.4%
 Net income\\$  21,584  8.6% \\$  20,945  8.3%
       
Net income per common and common equivalent share:     
       
 Basic\\$  0.87   \\$  0.85  
 Diluted\\$  0.86   \\$  0.85  
       
Weighted average common and common equivalent     
 shares outstanding:     
 Basic 24,884    24,617  
 Diluted 24,958    24,684  
       
       
       
  26 Weeks Ended
  July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015
Net revenues\\$  382,004  100.0% \\$  380,244  100.0%
Cost of goods sold 259,869  68.0%    262,502  69.0%
 Gross profit   122,135  32.0%    117,742  31.0%
Selling, general and administrative expense   100,761  26.4%    98,467  25.9%
 Income from operations   21,374  5.6%    19,275  5.1%
Interest expense 221  0.1%  232  0.1%
 Income before income taxes   21,153  5.5%    19,043  5.0%
Provision for income taxes 8,682  2.2%  8,357  2.2%
 Net income\\$  12,471  3.3% \\$  10,686  2.8%
       
Net income per common and common equivalent share:     
       
 Basic\\$  0.50   \\$  0.44  
 Diluted\\$  0.50   \\$  0.43  
       
Weighted average common and common equivalent     
 shares outstanding:     
 Basic 24,825    24,551  
 Diluted 24,910    24,705  
       
West Marine, Inc.     
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows    
(Unaudited and in thousands)    
         
     26 Weeks Ended 
     July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:     
 Net income  \\$  12,471  \\$  10,686  
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
  Depreciation and amortization 10,987   10,159  
  Share-based compensation 1,449   1,491  
  Deferred income taxes    973     1,295  
  Provision for doubtful accounts 100   7  
  Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments 1,119   1,291  
  Loss on asset disposals  166   716  
 Changes in assets and liabilities:    
  Trade receivables  (3,607)  (3,854) 
  Merchandise inventories (31,901)  (45,123) 
  Other current assets  3,656   3,403  
  Other assets  (392)  (123) 
  Accounts payable  51,999   20,508  
  Accrued expenses and other 5,110   10,043  
  Deferred items and other non-current liabilities 193   (130) 
 Net cash provided by operating activities 52,323   10,369  
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:     
  Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 23   24  
  Purchases of property and equipment (11,111)  (13,321) 
 Net cash used in investing activities (11,088)  (13,297) 
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:     
  Borrowings on line of credit 820   455  
  Repayments on line of credit (820)  (455) 
  Proceeds from sale of common stock pursuant to Associates Stock Buying Plan 287   296  
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options   -    1,141  
  Treasury shares acquired   (125)    (70) 
 Net cash provided by financing activities 162   1,367  
         
 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (5)  45  
         
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH 41,392   (1,516) 
         
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 48,159   45,675  
CASH AT END OF PERIOD \\$  89,551  \\$  44,159  
Other cash flow information:     
 Cash paid for interest \\$  156  \\$  145  
 Cash (refunded) paid for income taxes, net of refunds of \\$2,947 and \\$80 (2,753)  36  
Non-cash investing activities:     
  Property and equipment additions in accounts payable 570   1,320  
         
 West Marine 
 Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Information  
 Net Income to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") 
 (Unaudited and in millions) 
   
   13 Weeks Ended 26 Weeks Ended 
   July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 July 2, 2016 July 4, 2015 
           
  GAAP Net Income \\$  21.6  \\$  20.9  \\$  12.5  \\$  10.7  
           
 Add Back:         
 Interest Expense    0.1     0.1     0.2     0.2  
 Depreciation and Amortization *    5.5     5.1     10.9     10.2  
 Income Tax Expense    14.8      16.2      8.7      8.4   
      20.4     21.4     19.8     18.8  
           
 EBITDA \\$  42.0  \\$  42.3  \\$  32.3  \\$  29.5  
           
           
 * Included in cost of goods sold and SG&A.