Q.E.P. Co., Inc. Reports Fiscal 2015 Six Month and Second Quarter Sales and Earnings


SIX MONTH SALES – $156.8 MILLION
SECOND QUARTER SALES – $77.0 MILLION

SIX MONTH NET INCOME – $1.6 MILLION
SECOND QUARTER NET INCOME – $0.5 MILLION

BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q.E.P. CO., INC. (OTC:QEPC.PK) (the "Company") today reported its consolidated results of operations for the first six months and second quarter of its fiscal year ending February 28, 2015.

The Company reported net sales of $156.8 million for the six months ended August 31, 2014, a decrease of $3.0 million or 1.9% from the $159.8 million reported in the same period of fiscal 2014. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 27.4% in the first six months of fiscal 2015 compared to 28.4% in the first six months of fiscal 2014.

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 was $77.0 million and reflected a gross margin of 27.0% compared to net sales of $76.4 million and a gross margin of 28.4% for the second quarter of fiscal 2014.

Lewis Gould, Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, commented: "The second quarter was challenging for our company. Although we replaced a portion of our lost sales from last year's first half, the margins did not reflect our goals. We are taking steps to reduce our overall costs, continuing to introduce higher margin items and to grow our sales to select customers." Mr. Gould also noted that "Last year included the profitable sale of our Canadian property and the current year reflects the impact of more volatile currency exchange rates." Mr. Gould concluded, "We are, however, confident that our progress will continue quarter to quarter."

Net sales for the three and six month periods ended August 31, 2014 as compared to the comparable periods in the prior fiscal year reflects the beneficial impact of our acquisitions of the Faus and Plasplugs businesses, an expansion of our product lines with existing customers in the Company's international operations and the net benefit from changes in currency exchange rates. These increases were offset by declines in North America both for the quarter and the six months in fiscal 2015 as a result of the fiscal 2014 second quarter impact of discontinued purchases of certain products by a significant customer in the US.

The decrease in the Company's gross profit as a percentage of net sales for both the quarter and year-to-date as compared to the comparable periods in the prior fiscal year principally reflects both the net beneficial impact of changes in the product mix and the increased purchasing power from overall changes in currency exchange rates offset by the discontinued purchases of certain products by a significant customer in the US, reduced pricing in our North American mass merchant channel, increases in the cost of raw materials and adjustments to cost of sales accruals.

Operating expenses for the first six months and second quarter of fiscal 2015 were $39.7 million and $19.6 million, respectively, or 25.3% and 25.4% of net sales in those periods, compared to $39.1 million and $18.9 million, respectively, or 24.5% and 24.7% of net sales in the comparable fiscal 2014 periods. The increase in operating expenses is principally associated with the increased costs of direct marketing in the US and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency movements, partially offset by decreases in general and administrative expenses in the US.

Non-operating income for the first six months of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 represents the settlement of a third party obligation associated with a prior year acquisition and the gain related to the sale and leaseback of a Company facility in Canada, net of selling costs and the present value of future lease payments, respectively.

Increases in interest expense during fiscal 2015 as compared to fiscal 2014 principally reflect the impact of new term loan facilities.

The provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before taxes for the first six months and second quarter of fiscal 2015 was 32.2% and 28.7%, respectively, compared to 24.6% and 31.0%, respectively, for the comparable periods of fiscal 2014. The effective tax rate in both fiscal years reflects the relative contribution of the Company's earnings sourced from its international operations. The effective tax rate in the fiscal 2015 also reflects the second quarter benefit of certain employment related US state income tax credits while the effective tax rate in the fiscal 2014 also reflects the favorable rate impact of the sale of our Canadian property.

Net income for the first six months and second quarter of fiscal 2015 was $1.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively, or $0.49 and $0.16, respectively, per diluted share. For the comparable periods of fiscal 2014, net income was $6.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively, or $2.09 and $0.54, respectively, per diluted share.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and non-operating income for the first six months and second quarter of fiscal 2015 were $5.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively, as compared to $8.4 million and $3.8 million, respectively, for the comparable periods of fiscal 2014.

    For the Three Months For the Six Months
    Ended August 31,  Ended August 31, 
    2014 2013 2014 2013
Net income    $ 516  $ 1,766  $ 1,605  $ 6,908
Add (deduct):  Interest expense, net  350  233  650  487
  Provision for income taxes  208  793  762  2,259
  Depreciation and amortization  1,272  1,038  2,591  2,120
  Settlement of acquisition claim  133  --   133  -- 
  Gain on sale of property  --   --  --   (3,379)
EBITDA before non-operating income  $ 2,479  $ 3,830  $ 5,741  $ 8,395

Cash provided by operations during the first six months of fiscal 2015 was $0.4 million as compared to $3.2 million in the first six months of fiscal 2014, reflecting both the decrease in operating income and additional investments in working capital. During fiscal 2015, the Company's acquisitions, capital expenditures, and treasury stock purchase were funded from borrowings and cash from operations. During the first six months of fiscal 2014, investments in acquisitions totaled $23.8 million. These acquisitions, combined with capital expenditures and the Company's continuing treasury stock program were funded through a combination of borrowings, proceeds from the sale of a Canadian property and cash from operations.

In connection with its Faus acquisition, the Company borrowed $9.0 million under a new term loan facility and used the proceeds to reduce the balance outstanding under the Company's lines of credits. During the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the Company also amended its principal loan agreements to provide further new term loan facilities in the amount of $10.9 million, increase its borrowing limit, reduce interest rates and extend the maturity date of the loan agreements to June 2017.

Working capital at the end of the Company's fiscal 2015 second quarter was $38.7 million compared to $28.8 million at the end of the 2014 fiscal year. Aggregate debt at the end of the Company's fiscal 2015 second quarter was $51.6 million or 76% of equity compared to $41.4 million or 62% of equity at the end of the 2014 fiscal year.

The Company will be hosting a conference call to discuss these results and to answer your questions at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 16, 2014. If you would like to join the conference call, dial 1-888-397-5352 toll free from the US or 1-719-325-2469 internationally approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time and ask for the Q.E.P. Co., Inc. Second Quarter Conference Call / Conference ID 9301706.  A replay of the conference call will be available until midnight October 23, 2014 by calling 1-877-870-5176 toll free from the US and entering pin number 9301706; internationally, please call 1-858-384-5517 using the same pin number.

Q.E.P. Co., Inc., founded in 1979, is a world class, worldwide provider of innovative, quality and value-driven flooring and industrial solutions. As a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor, QEP delivers a comprehensive line of hardwood and laminate flooring, flooring installation tools, adhesives and flooring related products targeted for the professional installer as well as the do-it-yourselfer. In addition, the Company provides industrial tools with cutting edge technology to the industrial trades. Under brand names including QEP®, ROBERTS®, Capitol®, Harris®Wood, Fausfloor®, Vitrex®, Homelux®, TileRite®, PRCI®, Nupla®, HISCO®, Plasplugs, Ludell®, Porta-Nails®, Tomecanic®, Bénètiere® and Elastiment®, the Company markets over 7,000 products. The Company sells its products to home improvement retail centers, specialty distribution outlets, municipalities and industrial solution providers in 50 states and throughout the world.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding sales initiatives and future market position, cost savings and profitability. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations.

-Financial Information Follows-

 
 
Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(In thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)
         
   For the Three Months 
Ended August 31, 
 For the Six Months 
Ended August 31, 
  2014 2013 2014  2013 
         
Net sales  $ 77,048  $ 76,418  $ 156,755  $ 159,817
Cost of goods sold  56,244  54,745  113,872  114,421
Gross profit  20,804  21,673  42,883  45,396
         
Operating expenses:        
Shipping  7,580  7,023  15,096  14,964
General and administrative  6,014  6,505  12,602  12,931
Selling and marketing  6,100  5,506  12,254  11,544
Other income, net  (97)  (153)  (219)  (318)
Total operating expenses  19,597  18,881  39,733  39,121
         
Operating income  1,207  2,792  3,150  6,275
         
Non-operating income (expense)  (133)  --   (133)  3,379
Interest expense, net  (350)  (233)  (650)  (487)
         
Income before provision for income taxes  724  2,559  2,367  9,167
         
Provision for income taxes  208  793  762  2,259
         
Net income   $ 516  $ 1,766  $ 1,605  $ 6,908
         
Net income per share:        
Basic  $ 0.16  $ 0.54  $ 0.49  $ 2.11
Diluted  $ 0.16  $ 0.54  $ 0.49  $ 2.09
         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:        
Basic  3,246  3,274  3,252  3,275
Diluted  3,269  3,299  3,274  3,300
 
 
Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
         
  For the Three Months 
Ended August 31,
For the Six Months 
Ended August 31,
  2014 2013 2014 2013
         
Net income  $ 516  $ 1,766  $ 1,605  $ 6,908
         
Unrealized currency translation adjustments, net of tax  (415)  (424)  (129)  (775)
         
Comprehensive income  $ 101  $ 1,342  $ 1,476  $ 6,133
 
 
 
Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands except per share values)
     
  August 31, 2014 February 28, 2014
  (Unaudited)  
     
ASSETS    
Cash  $ 12,093  $ 2,621
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $413 and $382 as of August 31, 2014 and February 28, 2014, respectively  48,004  45,726
Inventories  43,592  42,906
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  4,065  3,338
Deferred income taxes  744  744
Current assets  108,498  95,335
     
Property and equipment, net  23,061  24,353
Deferred income taxes, net  3,933  3,926
Intangibles, net  20,869  21,697
Other assets  495  470
     
Total Assets  $ 156,856  $ 145,781
     
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY    
     
Trade accounts payable   $ 20,597  $ 21,989
Accrued liabilities  16,002  14,613
Lines of credit  28,822  28,173
Current maturities of notes payable  4,387  1,746
Current liabilities  69,808  66,521
     
Notes payable  18,347  11,487
Other long term liabilities  821  931
Total Liabilities  88,976  78,939
     
Preferred stock, 2,500 shares authorized, $1.00 par value; 337 shares issued and outstanding at August 31, 2014 and February 28, 2014  337  337
Common stock, 20,000 shares authorized, $.001 par value; 3,801 shares issued; 3,237 and 3,262 shares outstanding at August 31, 2014 and February 28, 2014, respectively  4  4
Additional paid-in capital  10,650  10,620
Retained earnings  63,730  62,130
Treasury stock, 564 and 539 shares held at cost at August 31, 2014 and February 28, 2014, respectively  (6,164)  (5,701)
Accumulated other comprehensive income  (677)  (548)
Shareholders' Equity  67,880 66,842
     
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity  $ 156,856  $ 145,781
 
 
Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
     
   For the Six Months Ended
August 31, 
  2014 2013
     
Operating activities:    
Net income  $ 1,605  $ 6,908
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization  2,591  2,120
Gain on sale of property  --  (3,379)
Other non-cash adjustments  80  121
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:    
Accounts receivable  (2,417)  (2,254)
Inventories  (557)  (42)
Prepaid expenses and other assets  (730)  (740)
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities  (215)  465
Net cash provided by operating activities  357  3,199
     
Investing activities:    
Acquisitions  (254)  (23,814)
Proceeds from sale of property  87  4,630
Capital expenditures  (547)  (319)
Net cash used in investing activities  (714)  (19,503)
     
Financing activities:    
Net borrowings under lines of credit  728  18,929
Net borrowings (repayments) of notes payable  9,501  (1,666)
Purchase of treasury stock  (396)  (103)
Stock options exercised, net  --   17
Dividends  (4)  (4)
Net cash provided by financing activities  9,829  17,173
     
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  --   (11)
     
Net increase in cash  9,472  858
Cash at beginning of period  2,621  737
Cash at end of period  $ 12,093  $ 1,595

            

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