SKECHERS registers record sales in third quarter

23 Oct '08

4 min read

SKECHERS USA Inc announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

Net sales for the third quarter of 2008 were $403.2 million compared to $395.0 million in the third quarter of 2007. Net earnings for the quarter were $28.3 million versus net earnings of $24.7 million in the third quarter of 2007. Net earnings per diluted share were $0.60 on 46.8 million diluted shares outstanding, versus diluted earnings per share of $0.53 on 46.7 million diluted shares outstanding for the third quarter of 2007.

Earnings for the third quarter of 2008 reflects a tax benefit resulting from an advance pricing agreement reached with the Internal Revenue Service during the quarter, which will lower the Company's ongoing effective annual tax rate from 34 percent to 27 percent.

“SKECHERS broke its quarterly sales record with its first $400 million-plus quarter, an achievement made during a soft retail environment,” stated Fred Schneider, chief financial officer of SKECHERS. “Although we achieved record revenues, we did not grow quite to the degree that we had expected in our domestic, international and retail businesses due to the economic climate. However, based on our high single-digit backlog increase and reports from our key retailers, we believe that our product is well-positioned in the marketplace and will withstand the current economic challenges.”

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008 net sales were $1.143 billion compared to net sales of $1.092 billion in the first nine months of 2007. Net earnings for the first nine months were $75.8 million compared to net earnings of $63.6 million in the first nine months of 2007. Net earnings per diluted share in the first nine months of 2008 were $1.62 per share on 46.8 million diluted shares outstanding, versus $1.37 per share on 46.8 million diluted shares outstanding for the same period last year.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2008 was $171.5 million compared to $171.7 million in the third quarter of 2007. Gross margin was 42.5 percent for the third quarter of 2008 compared to 43.5 percent in the third quarter of 2007. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2008 reached $500.9 million or 43.8 percent of net sales versus $472.7 million or 43.3 percent of net sales in the first nine months of 2007.

Robert Greenberg, chief executive officer of SKECHERS, said: “Our first $400 million-plus sales quarter is a reflection of the strength of our back-to-school and fall collections supported by our advertising efforts. The incredible diversity of our product offerings and our affordable price points has allowed us to maintain our position in the market during this very difficult environment."

"Our core SKECHERS product lines remain solid, and our fashion lines have shown double-digit growth. The addition of Punkrose and Public Royalty has broadened our offering with a junior sneaker business for women and men. Our productis in place and we're supporting it with a multi-level marketing campaign that also utilizes the power of American Idol winner David Cook for SKECHERS and High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens for Red by Marc Ecko."

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