Marginal fall in Q1 sales at Select Comfort

First-quarter Financial Summary

- Net sales decreased 2% to $258 million, compared to $262 million in the first quarter of 2012.

- Company-controlled comparable sales declined 9% year-over-year.

- Operating income, adjusted both years for the non-cash impact of the 2012 chief executive officer (CEO) transition, decreased to $34.8 million, compared with $39.9 million in the first quarter of 2012. As a percentage of net sales, adjusted operating income was 13.5% compared to 15.2% in the first quarter of 2012.

- The 170 basis-point, year-over-year decrease in adjusted operating margin included a 200 basis-point increase in sales and marketing expenses and a 50 basis-point increase in research and development expenses, partially offset by a 70 basis-point improvement in gross margin and a 20 basis-point decrease in general and administrative (G&A) expenses.

Earnings per diluted share on a GAAP basis were $0.42, compared with $0.39 in the first quarter of 2012. Adjusted earnings per diluted share (excluding CEO transition charges) were $0.41 per share, a 9% decrease compared to $0.45 in the first quarter of 2012.

During the quarter, the company opened 10 stores and closed nine, ending the quarter with 411 stores.

“As reported in early March, changes to our media buying negatively impacted traffic and sales, resulting in first-quarter underperformance. We took decisive action to correct the issue and are making steady progress against a backdrop of soft industry performance,” said Shelly Ibach, president and CEO, Select Comfort.

“During the quarter, we progressed as planned in the other key areas of our customer-focused growth strategy, specifically exclusive distribution and product innovation.”

Ibach continued, “In the second quarter, we are introducing the first in a series of break-through sleep innovations that have been in development for the past 15 months. We are excited to expand our offering of individualized air products that provide meaningful benefits for our customers.”

Cash flows from operating activities were $45 million in the first quarter, which was consistent with the prior year. Capital expenditures increased to $14.3 million as compared to $9.3 million in 2012, driven by increased investment in stores, information systems and product innovation.

During the first quarter, the company repurchased 0.5 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of $10 million. As of the end of the quarter, cash, cash equivalents and marketable-debt securities totaled $181 million, and the company had no borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

Select Comfort