EX-99 2 ex_717837.htm EXHIBIT 99 ex_717837.htm
 

Exhibit 99

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results

 

 

 

NELSONVILLE, Ohio, October 30, 2024 – Rocky Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCKY) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

 

Third Quarter 2024 Overview

 

Net sales decreased 8.8% to $114.6 million versus the year-ago quarter, or 2.4%, excluding certain non-recurring sales from the year-ago quarter
Gross margin increased 110 basis points to 38.1% compared to 37.0% in the year-ago quarter
Operating income was $10.1 million as compared to $14.3 million in the year-ago quarter
Net income was $5.3 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, as compared to $6.8 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, for the year-ago quarter
Adjusted net income was $5.8 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, as compared to $8.0 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the year-ago quarter
Inventories at September 30, 2024 decreased 11.8% year-over-year
Total debt at September 30, 2024 decreased 29.7% year-over-year

 

"While cautious consumer spending outside of peak shopping periods and warm, dry weather acted as headwinds this quarter, the underlying strength of our business remains intact," said Jason Brooks, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The benefits of our multi-brand, multi-channel model were evident in the third quarter as double digit sales growth in both our Durango brand and our Lehigh CustomFit safety footwear platform partially offset Wholesale declines primarily within our work, outdoor and commercial military categories. Based on our current order book for 2025, we believe this softness is transitory and that recent brand and marketing investments, along with our improved capital structure, have the Company well positioned to drive sustainable, profitable growth and long-term shareholder value."

 

Third Quarter 2024 Review

 

Third quarter net sales decreased 8.8% to $114.6 million compared with $125.6 million in the third quarter of 2023. Excluding certain non-recurring sales relating to the manufacturing of Servus product following the divestiture of the Servus brand, the change to a distributor model in Canada in November 2023, and temporarily elevated commercial military footwear sales to a single customer throughout 2023, net sales decreased 2.4% year-over-year. Wholesale sales for the third quarter were $84.0 million, down 15.7% compared to the third quarter of 2023, or 9.7% excluding the aforementioned non-recurring sales. Retail sales for the third quarter increased 9.2%, or 11.8% excluding the non-recurring sales related to the change in the Canadian distribution model, to $26.8 million compared to the third quarter of 2023. Contract Manufacturing sales were $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $1.4 million in the prior year period, or up $3.4 million excluding the aforementioned non-recurring sales.

 

Gross margin in the third quarter of 2024 was $43.6 million, or 38.1% of net sales, compared to $46.5 million, or 37.0% of net sales, for the same period last year. The 110-basis point increase in gross margin as a percentage of net sales was due to a higher mix of Retail segment sales which carry higher gross margins than the Wholesale and Contract Manufacturing segments.

 

Operating expenses were $33.6 million, or 29.3% of net sales, for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $32.3 million, or 25.7% of net sales, for the same period a year ago. Excluding $0.7 million of acquisition-related amortization in the third quarter of 2024 and $1.5 million of costs related to closure of a manufacturing facility, acquisition-related amortization, and restructuring costs in the third quarter of 2023, adjusted operating expenses were $32.9 million in the current year period and $30.7 million in the year-ago period. This increase was primarily attributable to incremental brand building and advertising programs to support future growth. As a percentage of net sales, adjusted operating expense were 28.7% in the third quarter 2024 compared with 24.5% in the year-ago period.

 

Income from operations for the third quarter of 2024 was $10.1 million, or 8.8% of net sales compared to $14.3 million or 11.4% of net sales for the same period a year ago. Adjusted operating income for the third quarter of 2024 was $10.8 million, or 9.4% of net sales compared to adjusted operating income of $15.8 million, or 12.6% of net sales a year ago.

 

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2024 was $3.3 million compared with $5.8 million a year ago. The decrease was driven by lower debt levels and interest rates as a result of the debt refinancing completed in April 2024.

 

The Company reported third quarter net income of $5.3 million, or $0.70 per diluted share compared to $6.8 million, or $0.93 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2024 was $5.8 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, compared to $8.0 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, in the year-ago period.

 

Balance Sheet Review

 

Cash and cash equivalents were $3.7 million at September 30, 2024 compared to $4.2 million on the same date a year ago.

 

Inventories at September 30, 2024 were $171.8 million, down 11.8% from $194.7 million on the same date a year ago.

 

Total debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $2.4 million, at September 30, 2024 was $150.3 million consisting of a $47.2 million senior term loan and $105.5 million of borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility. Compared with September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023, total debt at September 30, 2024 was down 29.7% and 13.2%, respectively.

 

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Conference Call Information

 

The Company's conference call to review third quarter 2024 results will be broadcast live over the internet today, Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 704-4453 (domestic) or (201) 389-0920 (international). The conference call will also be available to interested parties through a live webcast at www.rockybrands.com. Please visit the website and select the “Investors” link at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary software.

 

About Rocky Brands, Inc.

 

Rocky Brands, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium quality footwear and apparel marketed under a portfolio of well recognized brand names. Brands in the portfolio include Rocky®, Georgia Boot®, Durango®, Lehigh®, The Original Muck Boot Company®, XTRATUF® and Ranger®. More information can be found at RockyBrands.com.

 

 

Safe Harbor Language

 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Those statements include, but may not be limited to, all statements regarding intent, beliefs, expectations, projections, forecasts, and plans of the Company and its management and include statements in this press release regarding softness in consumer spending being transitory (Paragraph 2) and that recent brand and marketing investments along with an improved capital structure have the Company well positioned to drive sustainable, profitable growth and long-term shareholder value (Paragraph 2). These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the various risks inherent in the Company’s business as set forth in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (filed March 15, 2024) and the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 (filed May 9, 2024) and June 30, 2024 (filed August 8, 2024). One or more of these factors have affected historical results, and could in the future affect the Company’s businesses and financial results in future periods and could cause actual results to differ materially from plans and projections. Therefore there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation or warranty by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information presently available to the management of the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

 

Company Contact:

Tom Robertson

 

Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

(740) 753-9100

   

Investor Relations:

Brendon Frey

 

ICR, Inc.

 

(203) 682-8200

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

   

September 30,

 
   

2024

   

2023

   

2023

 

ASSETS:

                       

CURRENT ASSETS:

                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 3,705     $ 4,470     $ 4,240  

Trade receivables – net

    77,130       77,028       97,844  

Contract receivables

    -       927       2,990  

Other receivables

    177       1,933       2,207  

Inventories – net

    171,847       169,201       194,734  

Income tax receivable

    -       1,253       2,445  

Prepaid expenses

    5,205       3,361       4,985  

Total current assets

    258,064       258,173       309,445  

LEASED ASSETS

    6,705       7,809       7,982  

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT – net

    50,380       51,976       53,124  

GOODWILL

    47,844       47,844       47,844  

IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLES – net

    110,521       112,618       113,321  

OTHER ASSETS

    1,503       965       1,015  

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 475,017     $ 479,385     $ 532,731  
                         

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

                       

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

                       

Accounts payable

  $ 63,148     $ 49,840     $ 62,733  

Contract liabilities

    -       927       2,990  

Current portion of long-term debt

    8,361       2,650       2,704  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    20,845       18,112       21,275  

Total current liabilities

    92,354       71,529       89,702  

LONG-TERM DEBT

    141,929       170,480       211,190  

LONG-TERM TAXES PAYABLE

    -       169       169  

LONG-TERM LEASE

    4,232       5,461       5,715  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

    7,475       7,475       8,006  

DEFERRED LIABILITIES

    777       716       1,179  

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    246,767       255,830       315,961  

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

                       

Common stock, no par value;

                       

25,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding September 30, 2024 - 7,449,020; December 31, 2023 - 7,412,480; September 30, 2023 - 7,366,201

    73,537       71,973       70,757  

Retained earnings

    154,713       151,582       146,013  

Total shareholders' equity

    228,250       223,555       216,770  

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  $ 475,017     $ 479,385     $ 532,731  

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2024

   

2023

   

2024

   

2023

 

NET SALES

  $ 114,554     $ 125,614     $ 325,718     $ 335,881  

COST OF GOODS SOLD

    70,908       79,076       199,886       208,012  

GROSS MARGIN

    43,646       46,538       125,832       127,869  
                                 

OPERATING EXPENSES

    33,575       32,259       103,271       107,233  
                                 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

    10,071       14,279       22,561       20,636  
                                 

INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER – net

    (3,180 )     (5,649 )     (13,964 )     (15,943 )
                                 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

    6,891       8,630       8,597       4,693  
                                 

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

    1,612       1,803       2,011       980  
                                 

NET INCOME

  $ 5,279     $ 6,827     $ 6,586     $ 3,713  
                                 

INCOME PER SHARE

                               

Basic

  $ 0.71     $ 0.93     $ 0.89     $ 0.50  

Diluted

  $ 0.70     $ 0.93     $ 0.88     $ 0.50  
                                 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

                               
                                 

Basic

    7,449       7,366       7,432       7,355  

Diluted

    7,503       7,375       7,479       7,374  

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2024

   

2023

   

2024

   

2023

 
                                 

NET SALES

                               

NET SALES, AS REPORTED

  $ 114,554     $ 125,614     $ 325,718     $ 335,881  

ADD: RETURNS RELATING TO SUPPLIER DISPUTE

    -       -       -       1,542  

ADJUSTED NET SALES

  $ 114,554     $ 125,614     $ 325,718     $ 337,423  
                                 

COST OF GOODS SOLD

                               

COST OF GOODS SOLD, AS REPORTED

  $ 70,908     $ 79,076     $ 199,886     $ 208,012  

LESS: SUPPLIER DISPUTE INVENTORY ADJUSTMENT

    -       -       -       (181 )

ADJUSTED COST OF GOODS SOLD

  $ 70,908     $ 79,076     $ 199,886     $ 207,831  
                                 

GROSS MARGIN

                               

GROSS MARGIN, AS REPORTED

  $ 43,646     $ 46,538     $ 125,832     $ 127,869  

ADJUSTED GROSS MARGIN

  $ 43,646     $ 46,538     $ 125,832     $ 129,592  
                                 

OPERATING EXPENSES

                               

OPERATING EXPENSES, AS REPORTED

  $ 33,575     $ 32,259     $ 103,271     $ 107,233  

LESS: ACQUISITION-RELATED AMORTIZATION

    (692 )     (692 )     (2,076 )     (2,148 )

LESS: CLOSURE OF MANUFACTURING FACILITY

    -       (398 )     -       (398 )

LESS: RESTRUCTURING COSTS

    -       (453 )     -       (1,486 )

ADJUSTED OPERATING EXPENSES

  $ 32,883     $ 30,716     $ 101,195     $ 103,201  
                                 

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME

  $ 10,763     $ 15,822     $ 24,637     $ 26,391  
                                 

INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER – net, AS REPORTED

  $ (3,180 )   $ (5,649 )   $ (13,964 )   $ (15,943 )

ADD: TERM LOAN FACILITY EXINGUISHMENT COSTS

    -       -       2,597       -  

LESS: GAIN ON SALE OF BUSINESS

    -       -       -       (1,341 )

ADJUSTED INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER – net

    (3,180 )     (5,649 )     (11,367 )     (17,284 )
                                 

NET INCOME

                               

NET INCOME, AS REPORTED

  $ 5,279     $ 6,827     $ 6,586     $ 3,713  

TOTAL NON-GAAP ADJUSTMENTS

    692       1,543       4,673       4,414  

TAX IMPACT OF ADJUSTMENTS

    (162 )     (322 )     (1,093 )     (922 )

ADJUSTED NET INCOME

  $ 5,809     $ 8,048     $ 10,166     $ 7,205  
                                 

NET INCOME PER SHARE, AS REPORTED

                               

BASIC

  $ 0.71     $ 0.93     $ 0.89     $ 0.50  

DILUTED

  $ 0.70     $ 0.93     $ 0.88     $ 0.50  
                                 

ADJUSTED NET INCOME PER SHARE

                               

BASIC

  $ 0.78     $ 1.09     $ 1.37     $ 0.98  

DILUTED

  $ 0.77     $ 1.09     $ 1.36     $ 0.98  
                                 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

                               

BASIC

    7,449       7,366       7,432       7,355  

DILUTED

    7,503       7,375       7,479       7,374  

 

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Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

In addition to GAAP financial measures, we present the following non-GAAP financial measures: "non-GAAP adjusted net sales," "non-GAAP adjusted costs of goods sold," "non-GAAP adjusted gross margin," "non-GAAP adjusted operating expenses," "non-GAAP adjusted operating income," "non-GAAP adjusted interest expense and other - net," "non-GAAP adjusted net income," and "non-GAAP adjusted net income per share." Adjusted results exclude the impact of items that management believes affect the comparability or underlying business trends in our consolidated financial statements in the periods presented. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to management and investors and other users of our consolidated financial statements as an additional tool for evaluating operating performance. We believe they also provide a useful baseline for analyzing trends in our operations.

 

Investors should not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. See "Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures" accompanying this press release.

 

Non-GAAP adjustment or measure

Definition

Usefulness to management and investors

Returns relating to supplier dispute Returns relating to supplier dispute consist of returns of product produced by a manufacturing supplier. We excluded these returns for calculating certain non-GAAP measures because these returns are inconsistent in size with our normal course of business and were unique to a resolved dispute with a manufacturing supplier. These adjustments facilitate a useful evaluation of our current operating performance and comparison to past operating performance and provide investors with additional means to evaluate net sales trends.
Supplier dispute inventory adjustment Supplier dispute inventory adjustment consists of an inventory adjustment to cost of goods sold for product produced by a manufacturing supplier. We excluded this inventory adjustment to cost of goods sold for calculating certain non-GAAP measures because this adjustment is noncustomary and was unique to a resolved dispute with a manufacturing supplier. This adjustment facilitates a useful evaluation of our current operating performance and comparison to past operating performance and provides investors with additional means to evaluate net cost of goods sold trends.

Acquisition-related amortization

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets consists of amortization of intangible assets such as brands and customer relationships acquired in connection with the acquisition of the performance and lifestyle footwear business of Honeywell International Inc. Charges related to the amortization of these intangibles are recorded in operating expenses in our GAAP financial statements. Amortization charges are recorded over the estimated useful life of the related acquired intangible asset, and thus are generally recorded over multiple years.

We excluded amortization charges for our acquisition-related intangible assets for purposes of calculating certain non-GAAP measures because these charges are inconsistent in size and are significantly impacted by the valuation of our acquisition. These adjustments facilitate a useful evaluation of our current operating performance and comparison to past operating performance and provide investors with additional means to evaluate cost and expense trends.

Closure of Manufacturing Facility Closure of manufacturing facility relates to the expenses and overhead incurred associated with closing our Rock Island manufacturing facility. We excluded costs associated with the closure of our manufacturing facility for purposes of calculating non-GAAP measures because these costs did not reflect our current operating performance. These adjustments facilitated a useful evaluation of our current operating performance and comparison to past operating results and provided investors with additional means to evaluate expense trends.
Restructuring Costs Restructuring costs represent severance expenses associated with headcount reductions following the integration of the acquired performance and lifestyle footwear business of Honeywell International Inc. in 2022 and the sale of Servus in 2023. We excluded restructuring costs for purposes of calculating non-GAAP measures because these costs do not reflect our current operating performance. These adjustments facilitate a useful evaluation of our current operations performance and comparisons to past operating results and provide investors with additional means to evaluate expense trends.
Term debt extinguishment costs Term debt extinguishment costs relate to the loss incurred on the extinguishment of debt during the second quarter 2024. The prepayment penalty associated with the early termination of the term debt, as well as the accelerated amortization of deferred financing fees of the term debt, was recorded as expense within Interest Expense and Other - net accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. We excluded these costs for purposes of calculating non-GAAP measures because these costs do not reflect our current operating performance. This adjustment is a one-time cost for refinancing the term debt and is not reoccurring. This adjustment facilitates a useful evaluation of our current operations performance and comparisons to past operating results and provide investors with additional means to evaluate expense trends.
Gain on sale of business Gain on sale of business relates to the sale of the brand Servus. This includes the disposal of non-financial assets and corresponding expenses relating to the sale of the brand along with assets held at our Rock Island manufacturing facility. We excluded the disposition of non-financial assets and related expenses for purposes of calculating certain non-GAAP measures because the gain does not accurately reflect our current operating performance and comparisons to past operating results and provide investors with additional means to evaluate cost trends.

 

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