Over 154 Years of Service to the Furniture Industry
Furniture World Logo

Stanley Furniture Announces Third Quarter 2017 Result

Furniture World News Desk on 11/16/2017


Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. (Nasdaq:STLY) recently reported their sales and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Third quarter 2017 financial results compared to second quarter 2017:

  • Net sales were $10.4 million compared to $11.6 million, a decrease of 10.2%.
  • Gross profit margins were 22.4% compared to 23.5%.
  • Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.7 million, or 25.6% of net sales, compared to $2.7 million, or 23.6% of net sales.
  • Net loss was $305,000 compared to a net income of $14,000.
  • Ended the quarter with $1.9 million in cash, including $631,000 in restricted cash.

Third quarter 2017 financial results compared to prior year third quarter:
  • Net sales were $10.4 million compared to $11.0 million, down 5.5%.
  • Gross profit margins were 22.4% compared to 16.6%.
  • Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.7 million, or 25.6% of net sales, compared to $3.8 million, or 34.5% of net sales.
  • Net loss was $305,000 compared to a net loss of $2.1 million.

Year-to-date third quarter 2017 financial results compared to year-to-date prior year third quarter:
  • Net sales were $33.2 million compared to $34.8 million, down 4.4%.
  • Gross profit margins were 22.0% compared to 18.5%.
  • Selling, general and administrative expenses were $8.1 million, or 24.3% of net sales, compared to $10.6 million, or 30.6% of net sales.
  • Net loss was $707,000 compared to a net loss of $5.0 million.

Sales Overview:

Third quarter sales decreased 10.2% sequentially from the second quarter, 5.5% compared to prior year quarter and 4.4% year to date. “The company missed its goal of slight profitability for the quarter," stated Glenn Prillaman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Prolonged periods of poor service caused by past sourcing issues are now behind us. The stock availability positions that hindered demand for our products have been dramatically improved, and as a result, sales grew approximately 8% in October over the prior year same period.”

Over ninety percent of the company's product offerings – the newer of which have been delayed since early 2016 - are either now in stock in the company’s Virginia warehouse or in transit from overseas vendors. “Over the past thirty days our customers are experiencing the improvements in stock availability as 88% of orders were fulfilled in an average of less than two days. October was the company’s first month, since early last year, when stock availability served customers as expected, and with each positive experience at retail, we expect to regain the customer confidence that grows revenues," said Prillaman.

Operating Results:

Gross margins remained in the low twenties as they have for the last three sequential quarters but improved dramatically over the prior year quarter and nine months due to abnormally high discounting in both the prior year periods. Margins improved in both periods even with lower sales negatively impacting the absorption of fixed overhead.

Selling, general and administrative costs for the quarter were $2.7 million and $8.1 million year-to-date remaining consistent with sequential trends. Compared to prior year periods, selling, general and administrative costs decreased $1.1 million in the third quarter and $2.6 million year-to-date due to lower compensation expense and lower marketing and advertising expenses.

Net loss for the third quarter was $305,000 versus a sequential second quarter net income of $14,000 and a prior year third quarter net loss of $2.1 million. Year-to-date net loss improved to $707,000 compared to prior year year-to-date loss of $5.0 million. Lower discounting and cost reductions were the major factors towards improved results, partially offset by under absorption of fixed overhead due to lower sales. “While we missed the earnings results we had expected to achieve in the third quarter due to stock availability, we continue to perform better than a year ago. Additionally, we generated slight income in the month of October as sales growth drove profits,” commented Prillaman.

Balance Sheet:

"As a result of the relatively quick change in stock availability positions following such a prolonged period where we could not service customers, current inventory levels are abnormally high placing a short-term strain on cash," added Prillaman. "We are utilizing our revolver to support the business during this lag between the time the company proves its ability to provide quick deliveries and when retail salespeople in the field are once again impressed with the exceptional value of our newer product lines supported by great service."

The company remained debt free at the end of the quarter. Cash at the end of the period, including $631,000 of restricted cash, was $1.9 million, down $3.0 million from prior year end. Net working capital (working capital excluding cash) increased $2.3 million year-to-date as inventories increased $2.4 million and accounts receivables increased $373,000, partially offset by an increase in current liabilities of $615,000. An increase in inventories is due to an abnormally high amount of production which had been overdue for several periods shipping during the quarter.

Other Information:

The Coastal Living® license will not be renewed at the end of 2017. Initially launched in 2009, successive collections throughout each of the license's multiple terms have remained a popular portion of the company's product offering. The company estimates net sales under this license agreement were approximately $10.0 million in 2016 and $8.2 million in the first nine months of 2017.

"The success of this licensed product line has been remarkable, and we could not be more pleased with the relationship we have enjoyed with the people at Coastal Living," said Glenn Prillaman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Stanley Furniture has become well known for its position of design leadership, an important part of which is our work informed by the consumer’s affinity for a relaxed, coastal lifestyle from traditional or cottage styling to contemporary. Though our partnership with the brand name is coming to an end, management is confident in the reputation it has earned with the company's customer base as the industry’s authority on this upscale lifestyle-driven aesthetic, and we expect to be able to continue in the category without major disruption,” concluded Prillaman. The company’s most recent introduction, Butterbay Hill, shown to the trade last month and scheduled to arrive at retail in early spring 2018, is an unlicensed introduction yet serves customers in the same product category as its licensed product.

Under the license agreement, the company plans to continue to sell current designs under the licensed brand name until October 2018, after which these designs remain the intellectual property of Stanley.

More about Stanley Furniture: Established in 1924, Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. is a leading design, marketing and overseas sourcing resource in the upscale segment of the wood residential market. The company offers a diversified product line supported by an overseas sourcing model and markets its brands through the wholesale trade’s network of brick-and-mortar furniture retailers, online retailers and interior designers worldwide, as well as through direct sales to the consumer online. The company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol STLY.