Columbia Sportswear Co. reported Q1 revenues rose 3% to $297.4 million from 289.6 million a year ago. Earnings fell 23.8% to $19.9 million, or 56 cents a share, from $26.1 million, or 71 cents, a year ago. Global fall 2008 order backlog was $714.4 million at March 31, a 4% decrease compared to March 31, 2007.


The 3% increase in first quarter 2008 net sales consisted of 20% growth in the Latin America & Asia Pacific region (LAAP) to $49.0 million, and 4% net sales growth in Canada to $26.9 million, partially offset by a 3% net sales decline in the Europe, Middle-East & Africa region (EMEA) to $65.7 million. First quarter 2008 U.S. net sales of $155.8 million were essentially equal to net sales in the first quarter of 2007.  Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared with the first quarter of 2007 contributed 5 percentage points of consolidated net sales growth, 4 percentage points of LAAP net sales growth, 15 percentage points of benefit to the Canada net sales comparison, and 10 percentage points to the EMEA net sales comparison.


Compared with the first quarter of 2007, first quarter 2008 outerwear net sales increased 16% to $69.6 million and accessories and equipment net sales increased 12% to $15.4 million. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of 1% in sportswear net sales to $161.1 million and a decrease in footwear net sales of 3% to $51.3 million.


Compared with the first quarter of 2007, first quarter 2008 Columbia brand net sales increased 2% to $267.2 million, Mountain Hardwear brand net sales increased 23% to $21.8 million, and Sorel brand net sales increased 6% to $3.7 million. These increases were partially offset by a 20% decline in Montrail brand net sales to $3.9 million. Net sales of Pacific Trail brand products were insignificant during the first quarter of both years.

The company ended the quarter with $278.1 million in cash and short-term investments, compared with $273.5 million at December 31, 2007. Inventories declined $27.8 million sequentially, or 10%, to $238.1 million. Compared with March 31, 2007, inventory increased 14%, primarily to support the company's planned 2008 retail store openings and expanded replenishment program.


Tim Boyle, Columbia's president and chief executive officer, commented, “We are pleased with our first quarter results, the strength of our brands and the continued strength of our balance sheet. Initial anecdotal evidence from several of our top U.S. retail partners suggests that our launch of Omni-Shade apparel and Techlite footwear during the quarter is off to a strong start, despite cooler than normal spring weather in many key markets. As seasonal demand improves for warm-weather products, we expect to benefit from our cohesive marketing efforts around Omni-Shade and Techlite.''


Share Repurchase Program


During the first quarter, the company repurchased approximately 968,000 shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $40.3 million. Through March 31, 2008, the company has repurchased a total of approximately 7.6 million shares at an aggregate purchase price of $356.3 million since the inception of the current $400 million stock repurchase program in 2004.


Dividend


The board of directors approved a dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on May 29, 2008 to shareholders of record on May 15, 2008.


2008 Guidance


The company expects 2008 net sales growth of approximately 2% compared with 2007, based primarily on its global backlog as of March 31, 2008, its expanding U.S. retail operations, and the estimated affect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared with 2007.


The company reported that as of March 31, 2008, combined 2008 order backlog for the spring and fall seasons totaled $849.8 million, a decrease of approximately 4% compared with combined 2007 spring and fall order backlog of $888.7 million at March 31, 2007. Changes in currency exchange rates contributed approximately 4 percentage points of benefit to the combined order backlog comparison.


The company's fall 2008 order backlog at March 31, 2008 totaled $714.4 million, approximately 4% lower than at March 31, 2007. U.S. backlog was down high-single digits and EMEA backlog was down mid-single digits, partially offset by double digit increases in the smaller Canada and LAAP regions. Global fall 2008 apparel backlog experienced a mid-single digit decline, partially offset by a mid-single digit increase in the smaller footwear backlog. Changes in currency exchange rates contributed approximately 4 percentage points of benefit to the fall 2008 backlog comparison.


Boyle commented, “We believe our lower global backlog reflects, in part, the challenging U.S. retail environment that has motivated many of our key retail partners to be conservative in projecting consumer demand for the second half of the year. In addition, backlog in our Europe-direct countries reflects disappointing sell-through of our regional fall 2007 assortment, as we discussed in prior quarters, partially offset by the benefit of a weaker U.S. dollar against the Euro. Our new European sales, marketing and operations teams are making steady progress reorienting our product assortment and implementing the regional elements of our global go-to-market strategy for the spring 2009 season. We believe these steps will lay a foundation for renewed revenue growth in our Europe-direct business.''


The company expects full year 2008 consolidated gross margins to increase approximately 50 basis points from 2007 levels, primarily as a result of favorable foreign currency hedged rates, increased contribution from the company's retail operations, and increases in some average selling prices internationally.


The company's previously stated plans to invest in incremental marketing activities during 2008 in support of key seasonal brand and product initiatives, together with initial investments and incremental operating costs of the company's new retail stores, are expected to increase full year 2008 operating expenses as a percentage of consolidated net sales by approximately 350 basis points compared with 2007 levels.


Based on the above projections, the company expects full year 2008 operating margins of approximately 11.7% and diluted earnings per share of approximately $3.15 – $3.20.


The company expects net sales in the second quarter of 2008 to increase approximately 6% and expects second quarter diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.03 compared to $0.27 in last year's second quarter. The second quarter is the company's lowest volume quarter of the year, which amplifies the effect on net income of changes in the timing of shipments and the company's planned incremental marketing, advertising and retail expansion investments.


Boyle continued, “While our primary focus is on our wholesale business and serving our wholesale customers, we remain on pace to expand our U.S. retail footprint during 2008, including opening several new first-line branded stores in key U.S. metropolitan markets. We believe these and future branded stores will allow us to create stronger emotional connections with consumers by presenting the breadth and depth of our brands and seasonal initiatives in inspiring retail environments, increasing demand for our products and ultimately benefiting our wholesale partners in those markets. In addition, we expect our expanding network of outlet stores in top-tier outlet centers to improve inventory management and be accretive to earnings.''


“We remain firmly committed to offering consumers innovative outdoor products and focusing our increased marketing and advertising investments around well-defined brand and seasonal initiatives. We believe these investments, together with the evolving execution of our global go-to-market strategy, will have an increasingly positive impact on consumer demand and sell-through in future seasons, particularly when the current macroeconomic uncertainties begin to ease,'' Boyle concluded.