8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 29, 2005

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Virginia

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

000-25349	54-0251350
(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

440 East Commonwealth Boulevard, Martinsville, Virginia	24112
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(276) 632-0459

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

On March 29, 2005, Hooker Furniture Corporation (“Hooker”) issued a press release setting forth its results of operations for the first quarter of fiscal year 2005. A copy of Hooker’s press release is included with this report as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit	Description
99.1	Press Release dated March 29, 2005

2

Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION
By:	/s/ E. LARRY RYDER
	E. Larry Ryder
	Executive Vice President – Finance and Administration

Date: April 1, 2005

3

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit	Description
99.1	Press Release issued March 29, 2005

E-1

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

For more information, contact:

Paul B. Toms Jr.,

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (276) 632-2133, or

E. Larry Ryder,

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Phone: (276) 632-2133, or

Kim D. Shaver,

Vice President-Marketing Communications

Phone: (336) 454-7088

For immediate release: March 29, 2005

Hooker Furniture Reports Increased Sales in First Quarter

Martinsville, Va.: Hooker Furniture Corporation (NASDAQ-SCM: HOFT) today reported net sales of $80.5 million for the quarter ended February 28, 2005, representing a $2.3 million, or 2.9% increase, from $78.2 million in the same period last year. “We are pleased to report our 13^th consecutive quarter of increased sales compared to the same prior year quarter,” said Paul B. Toms Jr., chairman and chief executive officer.

Sales increases in the 2005 first quarter are attributed primarily to increased sales of Bradington-Young upholstered leather furniture (up $3.6 million or 29.3%) and of imported wood and metal furniture (up $4.8 million or 12.5%) compared to the prior year period. Shipments from leather upholstery specialist Bradington-Young accounted for $15.9 million in net sales during the 2005 three-month period compared to $12.3 million during the prior year period. Shipments of imported wood furniture increased to $43.4 million in the 2005 first quarter compared with $38.6 million in the same 2004 period. Sales of imported furniture under the Company’s Container Direct Program (included in the imported wood furniture shipment figures) increased significantly in the first quarter, fueled by the Company’s inventory investment in a warehouse and distribution center located in China. Shipments of the Company’s domestically produced wood furniture declined 22.4% to $21.2 million from $27.3 million in the year earlier quarter.

“Hooker made significant progress during the quarter in shipping products to its customers more quickly,” said Toms. “We are in the process of implementing a state-of-the-art supply chain planning and management system. This investment, along with our investments in warehouse and distribution infrastructure, management, personnel, and inventory, should enable us to ship product faster. This means that our customers can receive products on a more timely basis resulting in better service and reduced inventory carrying cost.”

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Hooker Furniture Corporation – Press Release

March 29, 2005

Page 2 of 5

Net income for the 2005 first quarter was $3.0 million, or $0.25 per share. That compares to net income of $4.0 million, or $0.35 per share for the 2004 first quarter. Operating margins declined to 6.3% in the current quarter, from 8.7% in the first quarter of 2004. The decline in the first quarter 2005 operating margin compared to the same 2004 period was due to higher selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales, an additional restructuring charge related to the previously announced Maiden, N.C. plant closing and a slight decrease in gross profit margin.

Selling and administrative expenses increased to 19.2% of net sales in the 2005 first quarter from 17.4% in the same 2004 period. The increase in these expenses as a percentage of sales is principally attributed to higher professional expenses and a one-time charge to depreciation expense of $520,000 for leasehold improvements at its High Point, N.C. showroom corresponding to the remaining term of the related lease. The impact of this depreciation error was immaterial to 2004 results and is expected to be immaterial to 2005 results. The Company incurred higher professional expenses during the 2005 first quarter in order to comply with the corporate governance mandates brought about by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company expects these compliance costs to decline during the remainder of 2005.

During the 2005 first quarter, the Company recorded an additional pretax restructuring and asset impairment charge of $366,000 ($227,000 after tax, or $0.02 per share) related to the previously announced closing and sale of its Maiden, N.C. manufacturing facility. The charge consisted principally of anticipated factory disassembly costs, additional health care benefits for terminated employees and an additional asset impairment charge based on the final sale and valuation of the Maiden, N.C. real property and equipment.

In the 2005 first quarter, Hooker completed the sale of substantially all of the Maiden property and equipment for an aggregate consideration of $5.2 million, net of selling expenses.

Gross profit margin improved for upholstered leather furniture and imported wood and metal furniture, but declined for domestically produced wood furniture. The gross profit margin for domestically produced wood furniture was negatively impacted during the 2005 first quarter compared with the same 2004 period by higher discounting principally for the sale of discontinued and slow moving product shipped during the period and higher raw material, labor and overhead costs as a percentage of sales.

Production costs as a percentage of sales at the Company’s domestic wood furniture operations were higher in the 2005 period than in the 2004 period principally as a result of temporary inefficiencies created in transferring and manufacturing products, previously produced at the Maiden, N.C. manufacturing facility, for the first time at different facilities. Concurrent with successfully transferring products and patterns, the Company discontinued certain slow-moving domestic wood products, gaining efficiencies in current demand for warehouse space. There was an $871,000 increase in obsolescence discounts in the first quarter versus the prior year quarter, as these additional discontinued items were sold or written down. Additionally, the Company experienced price increases in lumber and wood products, finishing material and fuel.

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Hooker Furniture Corporation – Press Release

March 29, 2005

Page 3 of 5

The Company generated strong, positive cash flow during the 2005 first quarter, primarily as a result of reduced inventory, the sale of the Maiden, N.C. property and lower accounts receivable; partially offset by lower trade accounts payable and other current liabilities. Cash and cash equivalents have more than doubled since the 2004 year end.

“As we look toward the second quarter the outlook is positive for continued near term growth in the upholstered leather business and imported wood and metal furniture business as a result of past investments in sales and marketing, as well as in warehousing and distribution capabilities,” Toms said.

Overall, Hooker has a “cautiously optimistic outlook for the second quarter, based on mixed results at retail,” Toms said. “Retail is continuing to recover slowly. In the meantime, recent incoming order rates have been flat compared to last year’s rates. We expect net sales to be on par with last year’s record second quarter.”

Ranked among the nation’s top 10 publicly traded furniture producers based on furniture shipments to U.S. retailers, Hooker Furniture is an 80-year old manufacturer and importer of home theater, wall units, home office, bedroom and youth bedroom, casual and formal dining, accent and occasional pieces, and upholstered leather and fabric-covered furniture. With approximately 1,700 employees, the Company operates seven manufacturing facilities, a supply plant, three showrooms, a corporate headquarters and five distribution centers and warehouses in Virginia and North Carolina. The Company also utilizes a distribution center and warehouse in China. The Company’s stock is listed on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market under the symbol HOFT, and closed at $23.91 on March 29, 2005. Please visit our websites at www.hookerfurniture.com and www.bradington-young.com.

Statements made in this release, other than those concerning historical financial information, may be considered forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: domestic and international competition in the furniture industry, including price competition from lower-priced imports; general economic or business conditions, both domestically and internationally; the cyclical nature of the furniture industry; achieving or managing growth and change, including risks associated with acquisitions, restructurings, strategic alliances and international operations; risks associated with manufacturing operations, such as fluctuations in the price of key raw materials, including lumber, and environmental matters; supply and transportation disruptions or delays affecting imported products; adverse political developments in, or affecting, the international markets from which the Company imports products, including duties or tariffs imposed on products imported by the Company; changes in domestic and international monetary policies and foreign currency exchange rates affecting the price of the Company’s imported products; risks associated with distribution through retailers, such as non-binding dealership arrangements; and capital requirements and costs.

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TABLE I

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months Ended
	February 28, 2005		February 29, 2004
Net sales	$	80,526	$	78,222
Cost of sales		59,595		57,810
Gross profit		20,931		20,412
Selling and administrative expenses		15,486		13,572
Restructuring and related asset impairment charges (a)		366
Operating income		5,079		6,840
Other income, net		133		168
Income before interest and income taxes		5,212		7,008
Interest expense		339		493
Income before income taxes		4,873		6,515
Income taxes		1,923		2,475
Net income	$	2,950	$	4,040
Earnings per share:
Basic and diluted	$	.25	$	.35
Weighted average shares outstanding		11,767		11,606

(a) In the 2005 first quarter, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $366,000 ($227,000 after tax, or $0.02 per share) principally for anticipated factory disassembly cost, additional health care benefits for terminated employees and an additional asset impairment charge related to the previously announced closing and sale of the Maiden, N.C. manufacturing facility.

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TABLE II

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

	February 28, 2005			November 30, 2004
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	19,033		$	9,230
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,270 and $1,341 on each date		37,082			40,960
Inventories		63,776			69,735
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		4,020			3,540
Assets held for sale		175			5,376
Total current assets		124,086			128,841
Property, plant and equipment, net		43,298			44,142
Goodwill		2,396			2,396
Intangible assets		4,721			4,765
Other assets		8,912			8,774
Total assets	$	183,413		$	188,918
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Trade accounts payable		10,560		$	14,930
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits		4,202			7,090
Other accrued expenses		4,228			3,011
Current maturities of long-term debt		5,486			6,671
Total current liabilities		24,476			31,702
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities		14,940			16,495
Deferred compensation		2,770			2,775
Other long-term liabilities		1,438			1,361
Total liabilities		43,624			52,333
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, no par value, 20,000 shares authorized, 14,475 shares issued and outstanding on each date		8,044			7,385
Unearned ESOP shares, 2,670 and 2,708 shares on each date		(16,689	)		(16,927	)
Retained earnings		149,012			146,886
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(578	)		(759	)
Total shareholders’ equity		139,789			136,585
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	183,413		$	188,918

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