Columbia Sportswear posts marginal dip in 2012 sales

Tim Boyle, Columbia’s president and chief executive officer, commented, “Diligent expense management throughout the year enabled us to deliver solid results during what proved to be another year of unseasonably warm weather in North America. As a result, despite a slight decline in 2012 full year sales, we were able to achieve 8 percent operating margin, similar to 2011 operating margin of 8.1 percent.”

Fourth Quarter Results

Consolidated net sales totaled $501.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2012, a 5 percent decrease compared with net sales of $526.1 million for the same period in 2011. Changes in currency exchange rates had a neutral effect on the net sales comparison.

The company’s fourth quarter results rely heavily on the rate of sell-through in the company’s direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels, which are both heavily affected by global fall and winter weather patterns and consumers’ holiday shopping behavior.

Mild winter weather in North America during most of the holiday shopping period and general consumer caution resulted in reduced retail traffic and a more promotional environment in key markets, which caused higher order cancellations and fewer reorders from wholesale customers, as well as lower than expected direct-to-consumer sales, primarily in the U.S. In addition, approximately $9 million of factory-direct shipments of international distributors’ spring 2013 advance orders shifted into the first quarter of 2013.

Fourth quarter net income increased 8 percent to $39.5 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, compared with net income of $36.7 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, for the same period in 2011.

Fourth quarter U.S. net sales declined $19.1 million, or 7 percent. Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region net sales declined $15.1 million, or 20 percent, including a 3 percentage point negative effect from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Those declines were partially offset by a $7.7 million, or 6 percent, increase in Latin America/Asia Pacific (LAAP) region net sales, with a neutral effect of changes in currency exchange rates. Net sales in Canada increased $1.5 million, or 5 percent, primarily attributable to the positive impact of changes in currency exchange rates.

Apparel, Accessories & Equipment net sales decreased $7.7 million, or 2 percent, to $392.3 million, and Footwear net sales declined $17.3 million, or 14 percent, to $108.8 million.

Columbia brand net sales declined $16.0 million, or 4 percent, to $400.5 million, primarily due to lower sales of cold weather products. Sorel brand net sales declined $7.8 million, or 12 percent, to $56.5 million, also primarily due to lower sales of cold weather footwear. Mountain Hardwear and Montrail net sales each declined less than $1.0 million.