Circuit City Stores, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results
- Total Sales Increase 14.7% and Comparable Store Sales Increase 13.1% -
- Company Posts Consecutive Profitable Quarters -
RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 19 -- Circuit City Stores, Inc. today reported results for the third quarter ended November 30, 2005.
Statement of Operations Highlights
Three Months Ended November 30
2005 2004
(Dollar amounts in millions % of % of
except per share data) $ Sales $ Sales
Net sales and operating
revenues $2,905.7 100.0% $2,532.4 100.0%
Gross profit $703.1 24.2% $637.8 25.2%
Selling, general and
administrative expenses $676.6 23.3% $639.6 25.3%
Earnings (loss) from
continuing operations
before income taxes $16.6 0.6% $(8.7) (0.3)%
Net earnings (loss) from
continuing operations $10.1 0.3% $(5.9) (0.2)%
Net earnings (loss) $10.1 0.3% $(5.9) (0.2)%
Net earnings (loss) per
share from continuing
operations $0.06 - $(0.03) -
Nine Months Ended November 30
2005 2004
(Dollar amounts in millions % of % of
except per share data) $ Sales $ Sales
Net sales and operating
revenues $7,695.8 100.0% $7,003.3 100.0%
Gross profit $1,873.0 24.3% $1,723.8 24.6%
Selling, general and
administrative expenses $1,855.0 24.1% $1,741.7 24.9%
Earnings (loss) from continuing
operations before income taxes $(2.6) 0.0% $(34.9) (0.5)%
Net earnings (loss) from
continuing operations $(1.6) 0.0% $(22.6) (0.3)%
Net earnings (loss) $(1.6) 0.0% $(23.8) (0.3)%
Net earnings (loss) per share
from continuing operations $(0.01) - $(0.12) -
Balance Sheet Highlights
November 30
(Dollar amounts in millions) 2005 2004 % Change
Cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments $535.9 $752.5 (28.8)%
Merchandise inventory $2,681.0 $2,458.9 9.0%
Accounts payable $2,127.0 $1,757.3 21.0%
Long-term debt, including
current installments $15.4 $25.2 (39.1)%
Stockholders' equity $1,835.8 $2,054.7 (10.7)%
Third Quarter Summary
"I want to thank our Associates for their work in producing exceptional sales results this quarter as the company achieved third quarter profitability," said W. Alan McCollough, chairman and chief executive officer of Circuit City Stores, Inc. "During the quarter, we continued to build upon the traction that began in the second quarter on our parallel efforts to upgrade, evolve and innovate our business. Our sales growth is largely attributed to increases in close rate and average ticket, since store traffic for the quarter was relatively flat. During the quarter we also made significant investments in innovation, a new point-of-sales system and our merchandising systems transformation.
"Our direct sales channel, led by circuitcity.com, continued to post impressive sales gains, particularly on the day after Thanksgiving. For the quarter, Web-originated sales grew by 74 percent over the prior year.
"We saw strength in a broad number of categories, but particularly in flat panel televisions, portable digital audio products, notebook computers and digital imaging products, as our product portfolio management efforts, of strategically putting the full weight of our resources behind key categories, continued to drive the business.
"The brand transition to The Source by Circuit City in Canada is essentially complete. Our international segment produced strong sales and comparable store sales gains. During the quarter, we increased advertising levels above last year in order to familiarize consumers with the new brand.
"While the company showed improved results for the quarter, we commit to remain on course in our efforts to upgrade, evolve and innovate our business and increase shareholder value," concluded McCollough.
Sales
Three Months Ended Year- Comparable
November 30 Over- Store
(Dollar amounts in millions) 2005 2004 Year Sales
Change Change(a)
Domestic segment sales $2,735.1 $2,390.5 14.4% 13.3%
International segment sales 170.6 142.0 20.2% 7.5%
Net sales and operating
revenues $2,905.7 $2,532.4 14.7% 13.1%
Nine Months Ended Year- Comparable
November 30 Over- Store
(Dollar amounts in millions) 2005 2004 Year Sales
Change Change(a)
Domestic segment sales $7,269.0 $6,721.9 8.1% 6.5%
International segment
sales(b) 426.9 281.4 51.7% 7.8%
Net sales and operating
revenues $7,695.8 $7,003.3 9.9% 6.5%
(a) A store's sales are included in comparable store sales after the store
has been open for a full 12 months. In addition, comparable store
sales include Web-originated sales and sales from relocated stores.
Beginning June 1, 2005, international segment sales are included in
the company's comparable store sales and are calculated in local
currency. The calculation of comparable store sales excludes the
impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
(b) International segment sales are included from May 12, 2004, when
Circuit City acquired a controlling interest in InterTAN, Inc.
For the third quarter ended November 30, 2005, total sales increased 14.7 percent to $2.91 billion from $2.53 billion in the same period last year, with consolidated comparable store sales increasing 13.1 percent from the prior year.
Domestic Segment Sales
For the third quarter, total sales for the domestic segment increased 14.4 percent to $2.74 billion from $2.39 billion in the same period last year, with comparable store sales increasing 13.3 percent from the prior year.
During the third quarter, the domestic segment relocated four Superstores and opened ten new Superstores. In addition, the company closed one Superstore, in the New Orleans, La. market, that received significant storm- related damage from Hurricane Katrina.
The percent of sales represented by each major product category for the periods ended November 30, 2005, and November 30, 2004, is shown below.
Percent of Domestic Segment Sales by Category(a)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
November 30 November 30
2005 2004 2005 2004
Video 46% 43% 43% 42%
Information technology 28 30 30 33
Audio 15 14 16 13
Entertainment 11 13 11 12
Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
(a) Excludes extended warranty revenue and installation revenue
In the video category, Circuit City produced a double-digit comparable store sales increase in the third quarter. Television comparable store sales increased by double digits, led by triple-digit comparable store sales growth in flat panel displays. Growth in television sales and double-digit comparable store sales growth in digital imaging were partially offset by double-digit comparable store sales declines in DVD players.
In the information technology category, Circuit City produced a single- digit comparable store sales increase in the third quarter driven by a double- digit comparable store sales increase in notebook computers.
In the audio category, Circuit City produced a double-digit comparable store sales increase in the third quarter, primarily reflecting triple-digit comparable store sales growth in portable digital audio products. Double- digit comparable store sales growth in mobile audio products reflects growth in digital satellite radio and navigation products. Comparable store sales growth in portable and mobile audio products was partially offset by a single- digit comparable store sales decline in home audio products.
In the entertainment category, Circuit City produced a single-digit comparable store sales decrease in the third quarter, reflecting a double- digit comparable store sales decrease in music software and game products, partially offset by a single-digit comparable store sales increase in video software.
Domestic segment extended warranty revenue was as follows for the periods ended November 30, 2005, and 2004:
Domestic Segment Extended Warranty Revenue
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
November 30 November 30
(Dollar amounts in millions) 2005 2004 2005 2004
Extended warranty revenue $104.7 $91.0 $287.1 $260.0
Percent of domestic segment
sales 3.8% 3.8% 3.9% 3.9%
International Segment Sales
Circuit City's total sales for the third quarter include international segment sales of $170.6 million, compared to $142.0 million in the same period last year, an increase of 20.2 percent. The effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates accounted for approximately 6 percentage points of the international segment's third quarter total sales increase. Comparable store sales increased 7.5 percent for the quarter in local currency.
Gross Profit
The gross profit margin was 24.2 percent in the third quarter, compared with 25.2 percent in the same period last fiscal year. The domestic segment gross profit margin decreased 79 basis points. Approximately half of the change in the domestic gross profit margin reflects a decline in store merchandise margin due to continued margin rate declines in video software, as the company continued its efforts to drive traffic through aggressive movie pricing, and projection televisions, as the company opted to remain competitive in the marketplace. The other half of the decline in domestic gross profit margin results from higher costs associated with the company's promotional financing program. The higher costs result from higher interest rates, higher penetration of Circuit City credit card sales and the implementation of promotional financing offers that were more market competitive than those offered last year.
The international segment's gross profit margin decline, due primarily to changes in the product sales mix, contributed 20 basis points to the consolidated gross profit margin decline. The sales mix change was driven by weak sales performance in higher-margin categories including batteries, parts, accessories and toys, and strength in lower-margin categories including video and personal electronics. Promotional activity in the wireless communications business produced revenue and margin dollar growth, but at a lower margin rate.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Consolidated
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
November 30 November 30
2005 2004 2005 2004
(Dollar amounts % of % of % of % of
in millions) $ Sales $ Sales $ Sales $ Sales
Store
expenses $587.4 20.2% $559.5 22.1% $1,615.8 21.0% $1,543.4 22.0%
General and
administrative
expenses 86.6 3.0 61.0 2.4 243.1 3.2 161.4 2.3
Remodel
expenses - - 0.2 - - - 0.3 -
Relocation
expenses 2.6 0.1 14.9 0.6 4.9 0.1 33.3 0.5
Pre-opening
expenses 4.4 0.1 7.5 0.3 6.7 0.1 12.0 0.2
Interest
income (4.3) (0.1) (3.4) (0.1) (15.4) (0.2) (8.8) (0.1)
Total $676.6 23.3% $639.6 25.3% $1,855.0 24.1% $1,741.7 24.9%
Domestic Segment
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
November 30 November 30
(Amounts in millions) 2005 2004 2005 2004
Store expenses $543.0 $521.3 $1,501.0 $1,466.6
General and administrative
expenses 68.5 52.6 188.1 143.4
Remodel expenses - 0.2 - 0.3
Relocation expenses 2.6 14.9 4.9 33.3
Pre-opening expenses 4.4 7.5 6.7 12.0
Interest income (4.2) (3.4) (14.8) (8.7)
Total $614.2 $593.0 $1,685.8 $1,646.9
International Segment
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
November 30 November 30
(Amounts in millions) 2005 2004 2005 2004(a)
Store expenses $44.3 $38.2 $114.8 $76.8
General and administrative
expenses 18.1 8.4 55.0 18.0
Interest income (0.1) - (0.6) (0.1)
Total $62.3 $46.6 $169.2 $94.8
(a) Selling, general and administrative expenses are included from May
12, 2004, when Circuit City acquired a controlling interest in
InterTAN, Inc.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were 23.3 percent of total sales in the third quarter, compared with 25.3 percent of total sales in the same period last year. The domestic expense-to-sales ratio decreased 235 basis points, partially offset by a 38 basis point increase attributable to the international segment. The decrease in the domestic segment's ratio for the third quarter reflects leverage on higher sales and less store relocation activity compared with the prior year, partially offset by $15.6 million in higher advertising expense. Results for the quarter also include expenses associated with innovation work. During the third quarter, the company recorded its portion of the 2003 settlement in the Visa/MasterCard antitrust litigation. The $9.4 million gain is reflected as a reduction to domestic store expenses.
"We view the additional advertising expense during the quarter as an important investment in building the Circuit City brand. Since our retail stores team held labor expense relatively flat on a dollar basis, we were able to gain significant leverage on our higher level of sales as we continued work to optimize the labor model in our stores," said McCollough.
The increase in the international segment's ratio for the third quarter principally reflects $8.3 million in expenses, primarily related to incremental advertising, associated with the brand transition in Canada.
Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations
The fiscal 2006 third quarter net earnings from continuing operations totaled $10.1 million, or 6 cents per share, compared with a net loss from continuing operations of $5.9 million, or 3 cents per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2005.
Financial Condition
At November 30, 2005, Circuit City had cash, cash equivalents and short- term investments of $535.9 million, compared with $752.5 million at November 30, 2004. The year-over-year change in the cash balance primarily reflects the use of $348.3 million to repurchase common stock.
Net-owned inventory decreased by $147.5 million year-over-year. Merchandise inventory increased to $2.68 billion from $2.46 billion last year driven by investments in key product categories for both segments. Accounts payable increased to $2.13 billion from $1.76 billion.
Stock Buyback
Circuit City continued to repurchase stock, consistent with the board's $800 million authorization. As of November 30, 2005, the company had repurchased 46.2 million shares under this authorization at a cost of $642.7 million. Of this total, repurchases during the third quarter totaled 6.0 million shares at a cost of $102.2 million.
Fiscal 2006 Outlook
Based on its performance during the first nine months of fiscal 2006, the company updated its fiscal 2006 outlook.
The company raised its range of expectations for total sales growth. The company now expects total sales growth of eight to 10 percent. The previous expectation was total sales growth of five to eight percent.
The company raised its range of expectations for domestic comparable store sales growth. The company now expects domestic comparable store sales growth in the mid- to upper-single digit range. The company's previous expectation was comparable store sales growth in the low- to mid-single digit range.
The company narrowed its expectations for operating margin (earnings from continuing operations before income taxes as a percent of sales) to a range of 1.6 percent to 2.0 percent. The company's previous expectation was a range of 1.3 percent to 2.3 percent.
The fiscal 2006 outlook is based on the following assumptions: * continued strong comparable sales performance * a stable competitive environment * a stable macroeconomic environment * no unforeseen inventory shortages
The company expects three new Superstore openings and one relocated Superstore opening in the fourth quarter.
"Over the summer, we made substantial changes to our real estate organization, and we still need to improve our real estate portfolio," said McCollough. "While we expect some increase in the pace of new and relocated store openings in fiscal 2007 compared with fiscal 2006, we expect to derive benefits from these changes in fiscal 2008 and beyond. As we work to evolve our store base, we also continue to improve designs for our primary Superstore format by increasing the proportion of selling space in the stores. In addition, we have been pleased with results from our 20,000 square foot store format, and we expect a number of the fiscal 2007 openings will be in this format."
For the year, the company expects expenses related to domestic store relocations to total approximately $7 million and stock-based compensation expenses to total approximately $28 million. The company expects the consolidated effective income tax rate applicable to results from continuing operations will be 37.2 percent. For the year, capital expenditures, net of landlord reimbursements and sale leaseback transactions, are expected to total approximately $205 million.
When the company reports sales and earnings for fiscal 2006, it plans to provide guidance for expected fiscal 2007 operating margin, store openings, stock-based compensation expense and capital expenditures.
In a separate release today, the company announced the retirement plans of McCollough, the designation of Philip J. Schoonover as chief executive officer effective March 1, 2006, and the election of Schoonover to the board of directors.
Segment Performance Summary
Domestic Segment Performance Summary
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
November 30 November 30
(Amounts in millions) 2005 2004 2005 2004
Net sales and operating
revenues $2,735.1 $2,390.5 $7,269.0 $6,721.9
Gross profit $644.2 $581.8 $1,717.2 $1,612.9
Selling, general and
administrative expenses $614.2 $593.0 $1,685.8 $1,646.9
Net earnings (loss) from
continuing operations $13.1 $(11.4) $7.8 $(31.8)
International Segment Performance Summary
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
November 30 November 30
(Amounts in millions) 2005 2004 2005 2004
Net sales and operating
revenues $170.6 $142.0 $426.9 $281.4
Gross profit $58.9 $56.0 $155.8 $110.9
Selling, general and
administrative expense $62.3 $46.6 $169.2 $94.8
Net (loss) earnings from
continuing operations $(3.0) $5.5 $(9.5) $9.2
Conference Call Information
About Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Circuit City Stores, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics. At November 30, the domestic segment operated 625 Superstores and six other locations in 157 U.S. media markets. At November 30, the international segment operated through 954 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at http://www.circuitcity.com/ and at http://www.thesourcecc.ca/.