SPAR Group Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019


WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPAR Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGRP), a leading supplier of retail merchandising, business technology and other marketing services in 10 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa, today announced financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019.

Highlights for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019, as compared to the same periods during the prior year include the following: 

  • Revenue for the third quarter of 2019 increased $8.0 million, or 13.8 percent, to $66.4 million.  Both Domestic and International operations contributed $4.0 million each to the year-over-year revenue growth.

  • Revenue for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2019 increased $19.6 million, or 11.4 percent, to $191.8 million.  Domestic operations contributed $10.8 million of the year-over-year increase due primarily to growth in project revenue year over year. International operations contributed $8.8 million of the increase, driven primarily by growth in Brazil of $9.8 million and partially offset by revenue softness in other countries.

  • Operating income for the third quarter increased $723,000 to $3.0 million, compared to $2.3 million for the same period last year.

  • Operating income for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2019 increased $7.2 million to $9.0 million, compared to $1.8 million for the same period last year. Domestic operations contributed $5.8 million of the year-over-year improvement and international operations contributed $1.4 million.

  • Net income attributable to SPAR Group for the third quarter of 2019 was $907,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to $621,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2018.

  • Net income attributable to SPAR Group for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2019 was $3.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(1.0 million), or $(0.05) per diluted share, during the same period last year.

  • Adjusted-EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 increased 129% to $7.7 million, compared to Adjusted-EBITDA of $3.4 million during the same period last year.

Financial Results by Geography (in 000's, except per share data)

  Three Months Ended September 30,
%  Nine Months Ended September 30,
%
Revenue: 2019  2018Change  2019  2018Change
International$   39,960 $   35,97611.1% $  118,681 $  109,853  8.0%
Domestic    26,480     22,41218.2%    73,142    62,33817.3%
Total$  66,440 $  58,38813.8% $  191,823 $  172,191  11.4%


  Three Months Ended September 30,
%  Nine Months Ended September 30,
 %
Operating Income/(Loss): 2019  2018Change  2019  2018 Change
International$   1,774 $   1,23943.2% $   4,374 $   2,952    48.2%
Domestic    1,273     1,08517.3%     4,633     (1,135)nmf
Total$   3,047 $   2,32431.1% $   9,007 $   1,817 395.7%


 Three Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30, 
Net income (loss): 2019  2018   2019  2018  
International$   360  $   355  nmf $   860  $   710   21.1%
Domestic    547    266  105.6%    2,185    (1,728)nmf
Total$   907 $  621  46.1% $  3,045 $  (1,018)nmf
              
Earnings Per  Diluted Share:        
              
  $     0.04 $  0.03  $   0.15   $  (0.05) 

“We posted solid improvements during the third quarter and year to date.  Domestically, our team continues to deliver growth among existing customers and is having success with new customer acquisition.  International revenue continues to be negatively affected by foreign currency translation and soft market conditions in a few countries, particularly in China.  We have overcome these headwinds in other geographies, posting strong performance internationally, particularly in Brazil,” said Chief Executive Officer, Christiaan Olivier.  “We expect to continue to benefit domestically as retailers remodel stores to make them more relevant vis-à-vis the growth in online sales.   Overall, we have a solid pipeline of new business that should continue to drive top-line growth in 2020 and are working on strategies to help offset expected labor cost increases, as we expect a tight labor market to continue to put pressure on costs.” 

Margin Profile by Geography
Gross Margin:

 Three Months Ended September 30,Basis Point Nine Months Ended September 30,Basis Point
 2019  2018 Change 2019  2018 Change
International16.1% 16.0%10  16.1% 15.2%  90
Domestic23.0% 27.1%(410) 24.7% 24.6%  10
Total18.9% 20.3%  (145) 19.4% 18.6%  80

Operating Income as a % of Sales

 Three Months Ended September 30,Basis Point Nine Months Ended September 30,Basis Point
 2019  2018 Change 2019  2018 Change
International 4.4% 3.4%  100 3.7% 2.7%   100
Domestic 4.8% 4.8%- 6.3% (1.8%)   810
Total4.6% 4.0%   60 4.7% 1.1%  360

International gross profit margin for both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 was 16.1%, compared to 16.0% and 15.2%, respectively, for the same periods in 2018.  For the three-month period ended September 30, 2019 the international subsidiaries, Brazil, Mexico, and China experienced favorable gross margin improvement year over year.  All other international subsidiaries experienced some gross margin pressure compared to the same period last year.

Domestic gross profit margin for the three-month period ended September 30, 2019, was 23.0% compared to 27.1% for the same period in 2018.  The year-over-year decrease in domestic gross profit margin was directly attributable to an unfavorable mix in lower gross margin project work.  For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019, domestic gross profit margin remained consistent year over year.  

Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2019

At September 30, 2019, cash and cash equivalents totaled $7.4 million. Working capital was $16.6 million and current ratio was 1.3 to 1. Total current assets and total assets were $67.9 million and $87.1 million, respectively.  Total liabilities were $56.9 million and total equity was $30.2 million at September 30, 2019.

About SPAR Group

SPAR Group, Inc. is a diversified international merchandising and marketing services Company and provides a broad array of services worldwide to help companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits at retail locations. The Company provides merchandising and other marketing services to manufacturers, distributors and retailers worldwide and coordinates the operations through the use of multi-lingual proprietary technology which drives the logistics, communication and reporting for global operations and customers.  SPAR works primarily in mass merchandiser, office supply, value, grocery, drug, independent, convenience, home improvement and electronics stores; as well as providing furniture and other product assembly services, audit services, in-store events, technology services and marketing research. The Company has supplied projects and product services in the United States since certain of its predecessors were formed in 1979 and internationally since the Company acquired its first international subsidiary in Japan, in May of 2001. Product services include restocking and adding new products, removing spoiled or outdated products, resetting categories "on the shelf" in accordance with client or store schematics, confirming and replacing shelf tags, setting new sale or promotional product displays and advertising, replenishing kiosks, providing in-store event staffing and providing assembly services in stores, homes and offices. Audit services include price audits, point of sale audits, out of stock audits, intercept surveys and planogram audits. Other merchandising services include whole store or departmental product sets or resets (including new store openings), new product launches, in-store demonstrations, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support and product recalls. The Company currently does business in ten countries that encompass approximately 50% of the total world population through its operations in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Africa, India, China, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and Turkey.  For more information, please visit the SPAR Group's website at http://www.sparinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains and the above referenced recorded comments will contain "forward-looking statements" made by SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP", and together with its subsidiaries, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company"), will be filed shortly in a Current Report on Form 10-Q by SGRP with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). There also are "forward looking statements" contained in SGRP's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the "Annual Report"), which was filed by SGRP with the SEC on April 24, 2019, and SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 15, 2019 (the "Proxy Statement"), which SGRP filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019, and SGRP's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports and statements as and when filed with the SEC (including the Annual Report and the Proxy Statement, each a "SEC Report"). "Forward-looking statements" are defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and other applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, as amended (together with the Securities Act and Exchange Act, collectively, "Securities Laws").

The forward-looking statements made by the Company in this Press Release may include (without limitation) any expectations, guidance or other information respecting the pursuit or achievement of the Company's corporate strategic objectives (growth, customer value, employee development, greater productivity & efficiency, and earnings per share). Building upon the Company's strong foundation, leveraging compatible global opportunities, growing the Company’s client base and contacts, continuing to strengthen the Company’s balance sheet, growing revenues and improving profitability through organic growth, new business developments and strategic acquisitions, and continuing to control costs. The Company's forward-looking statements also include, in particular and without limitation, those made in "Business", "Risk Factors", "Legal Proceedings", and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Annual Report. You can identify forward-looking statements in such information by the Company's use of terms such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "believe", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue", "plan", "project" or similar words or variations or negatives of those words.

You should carefully consider (and not place undue reliance on) the Company's forward-looking statements, risk factors and the other risks, cautions and information made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into this Press Release, the Annual Report, the Proxy Statement and the other applicable SEC Reports that could cause the Company's actual performance or condition (including its assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition) to differ materially from the performance or condition planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected by the Company (collectively, "expectations") and described in the information in the Company's forward-looking and other statements, whether express or implied. Although the Company believes them to be reasonable, those expectations involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control) that could cause those expectations to fail to occur or be realized or such actual performance or condition to be materially and adversely different from the Company's expectations. In addition, new risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these matters or how they may arise or affect the Company. Accordingly, the Company cannot assure you that its expectations will be achieved in whole or in part, that the Company has identified all potential risks, or that the Company can successfully avoid or mitigate such risks in whole or in part, any of which could be significant and materially adverse to the Company and the value of your investment in SGRP's Common Stock.

You should carefully review the risk factors described in the Annual Report (See Item 1A – Risk Factors) and any other risks, cautions or information made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the Proxy Statement or other applicable SEC Report. All forward-looking and other statements or information attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly subject to and qualified by all such risk factors and other risks, cautions and information.

The Company does not intend or promise, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, risk factors or other risks, cautions or information (in whole or in part), whether as a result of new information, risks or uncertainties, future events or recognition or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable law. 


SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 (In thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2019  2018   2019  2018 
 

Net revenues
$  66,440 $  56,388  $
 191,823
 $  172,191 
Cost of revenues 53,929  46,456   154,614  140,154 
Gross profit 12,511  11,842   37,209  32,037 
      
Selling, general and administrative expenses 8,940  8,996   26,639  26,650 
Settlement and other charges -  -     -  1,975 
Depreciation and amortization 524  522   1,563  1,595 
Operating income 3,047  2,324   9,007  1,817 
      
Interest expense 216  333   605  886 
Other (income), net (11) (109)  (268) (413)
Income before income tax expense 2,842  2,100   8,670  1,344 
      
Income tax expense 760  419   2,745  335 
Net income 2,082  1,681   5,925  1,009 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest (1,175) (1,060)  (2,880) (2,027)
Net income (loss) attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.$   907 $  621  $    3,045 $  (1,018)
 

Basic and diluted net income(loss) per common share:
$    0.04 $    0.03  $  0.15 $  (0.05)
      
Weighted average common shares – basic 20,795  20,654   20,856  20,650 
      
Weighted average common shares – diluted 21,061  21,320   21,096  20,650 
      
Net income$ 2,082    $  1,681  $  5,925   $  1,009 
Other comprehensive loss:     
  Foreign currency translation adjustments (811) (2,782)    (644  ) (3,462)
Comprehensive income (loss) 1,271  (1,101)     5,281    (2,453)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest (815) 269     (2,623  ) (393)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.$     456 $  (832) $     2,658 $  (2,846)
      



SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 September 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
Assets(Unaudited) 
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents$    7,372 $  7,111 
Accounts receivable, net   57,186  46,142 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,382  1,879 
Total current assets 67,940  55,132 
 

Property and equipment, net
 3,122  2,950 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 4,288  - 
Goodwill 3,779  3,788 
Intangible assets, net 2,925  3,332 
Deferred income taxes  2,675  2,568 
Other assets 2,365  1,325 
Total assets$  87,094 $  69,095 
 

Liabilities and equity
      
Current liabilities:  
Accounts payable$  11,524 $  8,668 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 22,270  18,168 
Due to affiliates 4,924  4,645 
Customer incentives and deposits 908  620 
Lines of credit and short-term loans 11,352  10,414 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 361  - 
Total current liabilities 51,339  42,515 
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion 3,927  - 
Long-term debt and other liabilities 1,634  1,806 
Total liabilities 56,900  44,321 
   
Equity:  
SPAR Group, Inc. equity  
Preferred stock, $.01 par value:  
Authorized and available shares– 2,445,598  
Issued and outstanding shares–  
None –  September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018      
Common stock, $.01 par value:  
Authorized shares – 47,000,000  
Issued shares –
21,093,762 –  September 30, 2019, and
20,784,483 December 31, 2018
 210  208 
Treasury stock, at cost
1,697  shares –  September 30, 2019, and
7,895 December 31, 2018
 (15) (8)
Additional paid-in capital 16,448  16,304 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (4,006) (3,638)
Retained earnings 6,459  3,432 
Total SPAR Group, Inc. equity 19,096  16,298 
Non-controlling interest 11,098  8,476 
Total equity 30,194   24,774 
Total liabilities and equity$  87,094 $  69,095 


Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
(unaudited)
  (000’s)Nine Months
Ended
Nine Months
Ended
 30-Sep-1930-Sep-18
Reported net income  3,045  (1,018) 
Income tax expense 2,745  335 
Income before income tax expense    5,790     (683) 
Other adjustments    -     1,975  
Interest and other expense  337   473  
Depreciation and amortization  1,563  1,595 
Adjusted EBITDA  7,690   3,360  



            

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