Columbia Sportswear Q2 sales rise 8% in Q2 2012

Second quarter net loss improved 42 percent to $7.9 million, or $(0.23) per diluted share, compared with net loss of $13.6 million, or $(0.40) per diluted share, for the same period in 2011.

Tim Boyle, Columbia's president and chief executive officer, commented, "Second quarter sales growth reflected improved operational execution and supply chain capacities which allowed us to deliver a larger portion of our international distributors' Fall 2012 advance orders in the second quarter.

“We are also in good position entering the third quarter to fulfill wholesale customers' orders on a timely basis because we have received Fall 2012 inventory earlier this year. Second quarter sales were also strong in Japan and in our U.S. direct-to-consumer business. Continued focus on expense management, reflected by lower SG&A expense, more than offset lower gross margins, resulting in meaningful improvement in our second quarter financial performance."

Boyle continued, "Based on our performance through the first half of 2012, and despite increasing macro-economic headwinds in key markets, we are reaffirming our full year guidance for 2012 sales growth of up to 1 percent, and operating margins to approximate the 8.1 percent operating margins achieved in 2011.

“While we recognize the higher degree of uncertainty posed by today's macro-economic conditions, we remain focused on innovation, operational execution and expense control as we position our brands for renewed sales growth and improved profitability."

Second Quarter Results

Net sales in the U.S. increased $3.1 million, or 2 percent, to $132.1 million; Latin America/Asia Pacific (LAAP) region net sales increased $7.5 million, or 10 percent, to $84.1 million, including a 1 percentage point negative effect from changes in currency exchange rates; Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region net sales grew $16.4 million, or 31 percent, to $70.0 million, including a 2 percentage point negative effect from changes in currency exchanges rates; partially offset by a $4.6 million, or 52 percent, decline in net sales in Canada, including a 1 percentage point negative effect from changes in currency exchanges rates.

Apparel, Accessories & Equipment net sales increased $22.9 million, or 11 percent, to $240.9 million. Footwear net sales of $49.5 million were down 1 percent.

Columbia brand net sales increased $21.6 million, or 9 percent, to $260.7 million, accounting for nearly all of the growth in the quarter.

Balance Sheet