Big 5 Sporting Goods Q1'FY14 same store sales decline 7.9%

30 Apr '14

3 min read

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation, a leading sporting goods retailer, reported financial results for the fiscal 2014 first quarter ended March 30, 2014.

For the fiscal 2014 first quarter, net sales were $231.3 million, compared to net sales of $246.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Same store sales declined 7.9% for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. For comparison purposes, the Company's same store sales increased 10.5% for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 over the first quarter of the prior year.

Sales results for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 reflect the anticipated reduction in demand for firearms, ammunition and related products, as well as weak sales of winter-related products due to unseasonably warm and dry conditions in most of the Company's western markets. Additionally, sales results in the fiscal 2014 first quarter reflect a small benefit over the prior year from the calendar shift of the Easter holiday, during which the Company's stores are closed, out of the first quarter and into the second quarter this year.

Gross profit for the fiscal 2014 first quarter was $72.7 million, compared to $80.5 million in the first quarter of the prior year. The Company's gross profit margin was 31.4% in the fiscal 2014 first quarter versus 32.7% in the first quarter of the prior year, reflecting a decrease in merchandise margins of 28 basis points and an increase in store occupancy costs as a percentage of net sales. For comparison purposes, merchandise margins in the first quarter last year increased by 113 basis points versus the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of net sales increased to 29.8% in the fiscal 2014 first quarter from 27.6% in the first quarter of the prior year, due primarily to lower sales levels.

Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was $2.1 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, including expenses associated with the development of the Company's new e-commerce platform of $0.01 per diluted share, compared to net income of $7.5 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

"As expected, our first quarter results declined when compared to a very strong performance during the prior year, due largely to substantially reduced demand for firearms and ammunition products and soft sales of winter products resulting from warm and dry conditions in most of our western markets throughout the winter season," said Steven G. Miller, the Company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We were encouraged by the strength of our non-firearm and non-winter-related product categories during the quarter.

Quarterly Cash Dividend

The Company's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per diluted share, which will be paid on June 13, 2014 to stockholders of record as of May 30, 2014.

Big 5 Sporting Goods

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