Cost-U-Less Reports Earnings of 15 Cents Per Share for First Quarter
May 14 2007 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Cost-U-Less, Inc. (the �Company�) (Nasdaq:CULS) today announced
results for its first fiscal quarter ending April 1, 2007 (Q1
2007). Highlights for Q1 2007 were as follows: EPS of $0.15 on net
income of $0.6MM compared to EPS of $0.18 on net income of $0.8MM
for the corresponding period a year ago (Q1 2006). Operating income
of $1.0MM compared to operating income of $1.3MM for Q1 2006.
EBITDA of $1.7MM compared to EBITDA of $1.9MM for Q1 2006 (see
Appendix A). Sales of $55.6MM compared to $54.7MM for Q1 2006.
Comparable store sales (stores open a full 13 months) increase of
2.1% over Q1 2006. Completion of the sale-leaseback of the St.
Croix building contributing to cash balance of $11.5MM as of April
1, 2007. �Looking at our store operations we exceeded our
performance from a year ago,� said J. Jeffrey Meder, the Company�s
President and CEO. �Our core stores continue to perform well,
especially those in which we have made significant capital
investments over the past couple of years, namely those in St.
Croix and St. Thomas.� General and administrative expenses
increased 17% to $1.9 million due primarily to an increase in
professional service expenses related to dealings with two
shareholder groups in an effort to avoid the expense and
distraction of a possible proxy contest, costs associated with the
implementation of new tax strategies, and work performed pursuant
to the adoption of FIN 48. The Company will hold a conference call
to discuss its financial results on Monday, May 14, 2007, at 9:00
a.m. Pacific Time. The presentation will be broadcast live over the
Internet in a listen-only mode through www.earnings.com. Hyperlinks
to the webcast are available through www.costuless.com,
www.streetevents.com and other financial websites. An on-demand
replay of the webcast also will be available beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Pacific Time, May 14, 2007, and subsequently will be archived and
available at www.costuless.com for approximately 30 days.
Cost-U-Less currently operates eleven stores in the Caribbean and
Pacific region: U.S. Virgin Islands (2), Netherlands Antilles (2),
Hawaiian Islands (2), California (1), Guam (2), American Samoa (1),
and Republic of Fiji (1). The Company builds its business through
delivering high-quality U.S. and local goods, progressive
merchandising practices, sophisticated distribution capabilities,
and superior customer service, primarily to island markets.
Additional information about Cost-U-Less is available at
www.costuless.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release
contains statements that are forward-looking. These statements are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements,
including comparable store sales expectations, trends in or
expectations regarding the Company�s revenue growth, and the
Company�s growth plans are all based on currently available
operating, financial, and competitive information and are subject
to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated,
including that the Company may encounter substantial delays,
increased expenses or loss of potential store sites due to the
complexities, cultural differences, and local political issues
associated with the regulatory and permitting processes in the
island markets in which the Company may locate its stores.
Prolonged adverse occurrences affecting tourism or air travel,
particularly to non-U.S. destinations, including political
instability, armed hostilities, terrorism, natural disasters or
other activity that involves or affects air travel or the tourism
industry generally, could cause actual results to differ materially
from historical results or those anticipated. Other risks and
uncertainties include the Company�s small store base; the mix of
geographic and product revenues; relationships with third parties;
litigation; the Company�s ability to maintain existing credit
facilities and obtain additional credit; business and economic
conditions and growth in various geographic regions; pricing
pressures; political and regulatory instability in various
geographic regions; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in
the Company�s filings with the SEC. Appendix A (in thousands unless
otherwise noted) Non GAAP measures: Non GAAP measures are provided
as a complement to results provided in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America
("GAAP"). Non GAAP measures are not a substitute for measures
computed in accordance with GAAP. Definitions of such non GAAP
measurements are provided below. These definitions are provided to
allow the reader to reconcile non GAAP data to that presented in
accordance with GAAP. Our non GAAP measures may be different from
the presentation of financial information by other companies.
EBITDA represents earnings before net interest expense, income
taxes, depreciation, and amortization. We believe EBITDA is an
important non GAAP measure as it provides useful information. In
addition, management uses such non GAAP measures internally to
evaluate the Company's performance and manage its operations. See
below for reconciliation of most comparable GAAP measurements to
EBITDA. Q1 ended Q1 ended 4/01/07� 4/2/06� � Net income $ 647� $
758� Depreciation and amortization 671� 562� Interest expense, net
46� 106� Income taxes 345� 430� EBITDA $ 1,709� $ 1,856�
COST-U-LESS, INC. � CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data) � (Unaudited) � 13
Weeks Ended April 1, 2007 April 2, 2006 � Net sales � $ 55,628� $
54,692� Merchandise costs � � 45,016� � 44,493� Gross profit �
10,612� 10,199� � Operating expenses: Store � 7,516� 7,216� General
and administrative � 1,943� 1,663� Store openings � � 113� � 14�
Total operating expenses � � 9,572� � 8,893� � Operating income �
1,040� 1,306� � Other expense: Interest expense, net � (46) (106)
Other � � (2) � (12) Income before income taxes � 992� 1,188� �
Income tax provision � � 345� � 430� Net income � $ 647� $ 758� �
Earnings per common share: Basic � $ 0.16� $ 0.19� Diluted � $
0.15� $ 0.18� � Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic �
� 4,029,285� � 3,997,839� Weighted average common shares
outstanding, diluted � � 4,265,241� � 4,221,979� COST-U-LESS, INC.
� CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) �
(Unaudited) � April 1, 2007 Dec. 31, 2006 ASSETS � � Current
assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,481� $ 7,420� Accounts
receivable, net 897� 1,133� Inventories, net 24,893� 22,829� Other
current assets � 2,014� � 1,049� Total current assets 39,285�
32,431� � Buildings and equipment, net 16,658� 20,881� Deposits and
other assets � 723� � 723� � Total assets $ 56,666� $ 54,035� � �
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS� EQUITY � Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 17,115� $ 15,831� Accrued expenses and other
liabilities 6,438� 5,706� Current portion of long-term debt 267�
267� Current portion of capital lease � 316� � 311� Total current
liabilities 24,136� 22,115� � Other long-term liabilities 1,643�
1,576� Long-term debt, less current portion 1,677� 1,744� Capital
lease, less current portion � 1,523� � 1,604� Total liabilities
28,979� 27,039� � Commitments and contingencies �� �� �
Shareholders� equity � 27,687� � 26,996� � Total liabilities and
shareholders� equity $ 56,666� $ 54,035�
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