The Sportsman’s Guide reported record results of operations for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2004, with earnings per share that were above the Company’s most recent guidance. In addition, the Company’s board of directors has declared a 3-for-2 stock split in the form of a 50% stock dividend.
The split shares will be distributed on April 15, 2005 to shareholders of record March 25, 2005. The Company has 4.7 million shares outstanding pre-split and will have just over 7 million following the distribution; however, the per share calculations in the results that are disclosed and discussed in the following release have not as yet been adjusted to reflect the split.
Sales for the quarter were $92.5 million, a 29% increase over the $71.7 million reported for the same period one year ago. The Company reported net earnings of $4.6 million, or $0.85 per fully diluted share for the fourth quarter, compared to $3.8 million, or $0.71 per share, reported for the three months ended December 31, 2003.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, sales were $232.5 million, a 19% increase over the $194.7 million reported for 2003. The Company recorded net earnings of $7.6 million, or $1.43 per fully diluted share, for the year, compared to net earnings of $6.2 million, or $1.16 per share, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003.
Company officials also noted that the fourth quarter of 2004 included 14 weeks of activity, compared to 13 weeks one year ago. The additional week resulted in approximately $4 million of incremental sales with minimal effect on net earnings in the quarter or for the year.
Gregory R. Binkley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, “Our 2004 results showed annual sales up just under 20% and net earnings up 23%. These increases were due to our June 29, 2004 acquisition of The Golf Warehouse, TGW.com, and the continuing growth of The Sportsman’s Guide base business, which had a 6% growth in sales in 2004 on a stand-alone basis and saw its percentage of Internet-related sales to total sales increase to approximately 42%, compared to 36% in 2003.
“Today, we are also pleased to announce the board’s decision to split the stock. It should result in greater liquidity for our shareholders and greater visibility for our stock.”
Binkley went on to note that the Company made significant progress toward paying down the debt incurred as a result of the TGW acquisition, ending the year with $8.6 million in cash and $5.0 million in long-term bank debt.
The Sportsman's Guide, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
For The Three Months And Years Ended
December 31, 2004 and 2003
(In thousands, except per share data)
Three months ended
December 31, Years ended
(unaudited) December 31,
2004 2003 2004 2003
Sales $92,453 $71,700 $232,462 $194,703
Cost of sales 60,752 46,318 158,081 130,639
Gross profit 31,701 25,382 74,381 64,064
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses 24,283 19,411 62,122 54,467
Earnings from
operations 7,418 5,971 12,259 9,597
Interest expense (193) -- (361) --
Miscellaneous income
(expense), net (82) 38 (2) 24
Earnings before
income taxes 7,143 6,009 11,896 9,621
Income tax expense 2,585 2,164 4,305 3,463
Net earnings $4,558 $3,845 $7,591 $6,158
Net earnings per share:
Basic $.97 $.80 $1.61 $1.29
Diluted $.85 $.71 $1.43 $1.16
Weighted average common
and common equivalent
shares outstanding:
Basic 4,717 4,834 4,719 4,785
Diluted 5,333 5,437 5,323 5,290
