Trans World Entertainment Announces Second Quarter Results


Reports flat comp sales and historically high gross margin for the Second Quarter

Plans to open 18 new stores prior to the holiday season

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 17, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trans World Entertainment Corporation (Nasdaq:TWMC) today reported financial results for its second quarter ended July 30, 2016.  For the second quarter of 2016, the Company reported a net loss of $4.7 million or $0.15 per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $3.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the same period last year. 

Operating results for the second quarter of 2015 included a one-time reimbursement of expenses related to a legal settlement of $1.4 million.  Adjusted EBITDA (a non GAAP measure) for the second quarter of 2016 (see note 1) was a loss of $2.9 million, the same level as the second quarter of 2015. 

“We delivered a flat comp for the fifth consecutive quarter despite the continued significant disruption in our media categories,” commented Mike Feurer, Company CEO.   “In addition, we continue to generate historically high gross margins through better price management and the shift in sales contribution to our higher margin trend category.  Also, we have seen encouraging performance from the 14 new format stores and plan to open 18 additional new format stores prior to the holiday season.  While we are still in the early stages of our reinvention, our progress validates we are successfully leveraging our heritage, industry relationships and hard earned credibility with our customers to achieve our vision,” Mr. Feurer added.

Second Quarter Overview

  • Comparable store sales for the second quarter were flat compared to the same quarter last year as a 40% comp increase in our trend category offset a 12% decline in our heritage media categories.  The trend category represented 29% of business for the quarter as compared to 19% last year.

  • Total revenue for the quarter decreased 6.1% to $64.3 million compared to $68.5 million for the same period last year.  At the end of the quarter, the Company operated 290 stores compared to 308 stores at the same time last year, a 5.8% decline.

  • Gross profit for the quarter was $26.7 million, or 41.5% of revenue, compared to $28.2 million, or 41.2% of revenue, for the same period last year. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of revenue was due to the increased revenue contribution from the higher margin trend category and increased margins in the trend and electronics categories.

  • Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased approximately $200 thousand, or 0.5%, for the quarter to $29.6 million, or 46.0% of revenue, compared to $29.8 million, or 43.4% of revenue, for the same period last year.  SG&A in the Second Quarter of 2015 was reduced by $1.4 million, or a 200 basis point benefit due to the one-time reimbursement of expenses related to a legal settlement.

  • Cash on hand at the end of the quarter was $78.6 million compared to $91.4 million at the end of the second quarter last year.  The decline in cash was due to the repurchase of shares, investments in new and remodeled stores, the chain wide rollout of new marketplace fixtures to support the shift in our merchandise assortment and technology enhancements, including the rollout of a new point of sale system. 

  • Since the end of the second quarter last year, the Company has spent $3.3 million to repurchase shares under its repurchase program. 

  • Capital spending was $7.7 million for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016, compared to $8.0 million for the same period last year.  Since the end of the second quarter last year, the Company has spent $20.3 million in capital expenditures to support strategic initiatives and necessary technology enhancements.

Mr. Feurer added, “One of the top priorities for the Company this year is to further engage complementary world class talent to capitalize on strategic opportunities.  I am happy to announce the hiring of Chris Hoerenz as our new Chief Digital and Marketing Officer.   For over 20 years, Chris has coupled strong e-Commerce experience with operating expertise in technology, digital and mobile and led teams through all phases of the company life cycle. He has been a forerunner in launching consumer products into the mobile and social media space, with emphasis on driving results in the marketplace.  His background includes extensive experience in the digital entertainment category.”

Twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016 Overview

  • For the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016, the Company reported a net loss of $4.6 million or $0.15 per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $2.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, for the same period last year.  Adjusted EBITDA (a non GAAP measure) for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016 (note 1) was a loss of $2.1 million as compared to a loss of $1.2 million for the same period of 2015. 

  • For the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016, total revenue decreased 5.2% to $140.1 million, compared to $147.7 million for the same period last year.  Comparable store sales for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016 were flat compared to the same period last year. 

  • Gross profit for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016 was $57.5 million, or 41.1% of revenue, compared to $60.2 million, or 40.8%, of revenue for the same period last year. 

  • For the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2016, SG&A expenses decreased $500 thousand, or 0.8% to $59.6 million compared to $60.1 million in the comparable period last year.  As a percentage of revenue, SG&A expenses were 42.6% versus 40.7% for the same period last year. SG&A in the twenty-six weeks of 2015 was reduced by $1.4 million, or a 90 basis point benefit due to the one-time reimbursement of expenses related to a legal settlement.  In addition, higher health insurance costs for the twenty-six weeks of 2016 contributed to a 50 basis point increase in SG&A as a percentage of sales.

  • Inventory was $120.3 million, or $72 per square foot, at the end of the quarter, versus $124.5 million, or $69 per square foot, at the end of the second quarter last year.

Trans World will host a teleconference call on Thursday, August 18, 2016, at 10:00 AM ET to discuss its financial results. Interested parties can listen to the simultaneous webcast on the Company's corporate website, www.twec.com.

Notes:

  1.  Reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA: 

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net earnings from continued operations, adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax; (ii) other expense (income); (iii) interest expense; (iv) depreciation and amortization; and (v) items not reflective of the core operations of the business. We use adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our own operating performance and as an integral part of our planning process.  We present adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure because we believe such measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance.  We believe this measure is a financial metric used by many investors to compare companies.  This measure is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP in the United States, and should not be considered as a substitute for operating earnings, net earnings from continuing operations or cash flows from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP.  Our method of calculating adjusted EBITDA may differ from other issuers and accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other issuers.  A reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA appears below.
       
(in thousands)      
 Thirteen Weeks Ended
  Twenty-six Weeks Ended 
 July 30,August 1, July 30,August 1, 
  2016  2015   2016  2015  
       
Net loss$  (4,656)$  (3,045) $  (4,630)$  (2,851) 
Income tax expense 48  44   95  89  
Other income (86) (14)  (1,017) (41) 
Interest expense 172  455   345  920  
Operating loss (4,522) (2,560)  (5,207) (1,883) 
Depreciation and amortization 1,623  1,047   3,086  2,011  
One-time reimbursement of expenses related to a legal settlement -  (1,367)  -  (1,367) 
Adjusted EBITDA$  (2,899)$  (2,880) $  (2,121)$  (1,239) 
               

Trans World Entertainment is a leading specialty retailer of entertainment products, including video, music, trend, electronics, video games and related products.  The Company operates retail stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, primarily under the names f.y.e. for your entertainment and Suncoast and on the web at www.fye.com and www.secondspin.com.

Certain statements in this release set forth management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future based on current facts and analyses.  Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in such statements.  Additional information on factors that may affect the business and financial results of the Company can be found in filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

          
TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Financial Results
          
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS:         
(in thousands, except per share data)         
 Thirteen Weeks Ended Twenty-six Weeks Ended
 July 30,% toAugust 1,% to July 30,% toAugust 1,% to
  2016 Revenue 2015 Revenue  2016 Revenue 2015 Revenue
          
Net sales$63,320  $67,451   $138,088  $145,415  
Other revenue 1,028   1,088    1,990   2,288  
Total revenue$64,348  $68,539   $140,078  $147,703  
          
Cost of sales 37,647  58.5% 40,293  58.8%  82,551  58.9% 87,454  59.2%
Gross profit 26,701  41.5% 28,246  41.2%  57,527  41.1% 60,249  40.8%
          
Selling, general and         
administrative expenses 29,600  46.0% 29,759  43.4%  59,648  42.6% 60,121  40.7%
          
Depreciation and amortization 1,623  2.4% 1,047  1.5%  3,086  2.2% 2,011  1.4%
Income (loss) from operations (4,522) -6.9% (2,560) -3.7%  (5,207) -3.7% (1,883) -1.3%
          
Interest expense 172  0.3% 455  0.7%  345  0.2% 920  0.6%
Other income (86) -0.1% (14) 0.0%  (1,017) -0.7% (41) 0.0%
          
Income (loss) before income taxes (4,608) -7.2% (3,001) -4.4%  (4,535) -3.2% (2,762) -1.9%
Income tax expense 48  0.1% 44  0.1%  95  0.1% 89  0.1%
          
          
Net loss$(4,656) -7.2%$(3,045) -4.4% $(4,630) -3.3%$(2,851) -1.9%
          
Basic and diluted loss per common share:        
          
Basic and diluted loss per share$(0.15) $(0.10)  $(0.15) $(0.09) 
          
Weighted average number of         
common shares outstanding - basic and diluted 30,403   31,196    30,576   31,202  
          
          
          
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET CAPTIONS:    July 30, August 1, 
(in thousands, except store data)      2016   2015  
          
Cash and cash equivalents     $78,644  $91,400  
Merchandise inventory      120,268   124,469  
Fixed assets (net)      34,990   21,441  
Accounts payable      42,753   44,217  
Borrowings under line of credit      -   -  
          
Stores in operation, end of period      290   308  
Stores in operation, average during the period     292   310  



            

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