Q.E.P. Co., Inc. Reports Fiscal 2022 First Quarter Financial Results

Record Quarterly Net Sales of $114.4 million
Quarterly Net Income of $2.6 million

BOCA RATON, Fla., July 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q.E.P. CO., INC. (OTC: QEPC.PK) (the “Company” or “QEP”) today reported its consolidated results of operations for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, which ended on May 31, 2021.

Q.E.P. reported net sales of $114.4 million for the quarter ended May 31, 2021, an increase of $28.4 million or 33.0% from the $86.0 million reported in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The increase in net sales increase was due to strong economic activity during the current period as compared to the adverse impact of the worldwide economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the corresponding prior year period.   As a percentage of net sales, gross margin was 27.4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, as compared to 27.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

Lewis Gould, Executive Chairman, commented on the Company’s results, “We are pleased with the Company’s record sales for the first quarter, which not only reflect an economic rebound from last year’s decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also strong industry trends and demand for our products. To support this sales growth, the Company is cautiously reinvesting in personnel and marketing initiatives. The scarcity and rising cost of raw materials and labor, the weakened US Dollar and unprecedented increases in transcontinental freight rates, present operating challenges.”       

Mr. Gould concluded, “In light of current inflationary pressures, the Company is actively engaged in discussions with our suppliers and customers to implement actions to mitigate these threats and preserve shareholder value.”

The Company’s gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $31.3 million, representing an increase of $7.6 million, or 32.3% from $23.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, which is the result of the same economic factors that caused the increase in sales.

Operating expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and 2021 were $27.3 million or 23.9% of net sales and $22.3 million or 25.9% of net sales, respectively. The increase in operating expenses was due to higher shipping costs related to higher sales volume, as well as higher personnel and marketing costs as the Company reinvested in sales support infrastructure that was eliminated or reduced during the prior year due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, during the prior year the Company, non-US based operations benefited from local government subsidies received for maintaining employment levels.

The lower interest expense during the first quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was due to a reduction in borrowings under the Company’s credit facilities and lower interest rates during the current period.

The provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before taxes was 28.0% for both the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $2.6 million or $0.79 per diluted share, compared to $0.7 million or $0.21 per diluted share for the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $5.0 million as compared to $2.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

Cash provided by operations during the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $1.4 million as compared to $10.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, reflecting an investments in working capital, principally accounts receivable and inventory. In the first quarter of fiscal 2022, cash from operations and a $1.0 million increase in notes payable was used to increase cash on-hand. In the prior year’s first quarter, cash from operations was used primarily to pay down $11.2 million of debt.   

Working capital as of May 31, 2021 was $46.8 million compared to $44.7 million at the end of fiscal 2021. Aggregate debt, net of available cash balances at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $22.6 million or 31% of equity, a decrease of $0.4 million compared to $23.0 million or 32% of equity at the end of fiscal 2021.

Conference Call Information

The Company will be hosting the following conference call to discuss its financial results and answer questions.

About QEP

Founded in 1979, Q.E.P. Co., Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of best-in-class flooring and installation solutions for commercial and home improvement projects worldwide. QEP offers a comprehensive line of specialty installation tools, adhesives, and underlayment as well as a complete line of hardwood, luxury vinyl, and modular carpet tile. QEP sells its products throughout the world to home improvement retail centers, professional specialty distribution outlets, and flooring dealers under brand names including QEP®, LASH®, ROBERTS®, Vitrex®, Brutus®, PRCI®, Plasplugs®, Tomecanic®, Premix-Marbletite® (PMM), Apple Creek®, Homelux®, Capitol® and XPS Foam™.   Brand names featured under QEP’s Harris Flooring Group® include Harris®, Kraus® and Naturally Aged Flooring™.

QEP is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with offices in Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding emergence of the world from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Company's belief that it is positioned to respond to evolving uncertainties related thereto, the Company's shifting of its focus to new challenges presented by (i) scarcity and rising cost for raw materials and transcontinental freight, (ii) the weakening U.S. Dollar, (iii) shifts in global sourcing patterns and (iv) general inflationary pressures, economic conditions, sales growth, price increases, profit improvements, product development and marketing, operating expenses, cost savings, acquisition integration, operational synergy realization, global sourcing, political uncertainty, cash flow, debt and currency exchange rates. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and beliefs, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

CONTACT:
Q.E.P. Co., Inc.
Enos Brown
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
561-994-5550

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