EX-99 4 exh99-1_release.htm Q1F08 PRESS RELEASE

EXHIBIT 99.1

 


 

Contact:

Gary Smith

 

Vice-President &

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

(205) 942-4292

 

HIBBETT REPORTS FISCAL FIRST QUARTER 2008 RESULTS

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (May 24, 2007) – Hibbett Sports, Inc. (NASDAQ/GS: HIBB), a sporting goods retailer, today announced results for the first quarter ended May 5, 2007.

Financial Highlights

Net sales for the 13-week period ended May 5, 2007 increased 5.5% to $133.8 million compared with $126.9 million for the 13-week period ended April 29, 2006. Comparable store sales increased 0.7% on a comparable store, comparable week basis. Net income for the first quarter was $10.2 million compared with $11.5 million in the prior-year period. Earnings per diluted share was $0.32 compared with $0.35 in the prior year.

 

Each quarter of fiscal 2008 starts one week later than the same quarter of fiscal 2007, due to the Company’s 2007 fiscal year having 53 weeks versus the normal 52 weeks. This timing shift can have a significant impact on quarterly sales comparisons. The measurement of sales in comparable stores for comparable weeks above is based on sales during the thirteen weeks ended May 5, 2007 in relation to the thirteen weeks ended May 6, 2006. On a fiscal quarter basis, comparing the thirteen weeks ended May 5, 2007 with the thirteen weeks ended April 29, 2006, comparable store sales decreased 2.6%.

 

Hibbett opened 9 new stores and closed 2 stores during the first quarter, bringing the store base to 620 in 23 states as of May 5, 2007. The Company plans to open 15 to 18 stores and close 2 to 3 stores in the second quarter. The Company plans to open 90 to 95 stores and close 5 to 10 stores in fiscal 2008.

 

Mickey Newsome, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "As expected, the shift of the first week in February from the first quarter into last year’s fourth quarter negatively impacted our overall sales and our comparable store sales on a fiscal basis. Through the first nine weeks of the quarter, the Company was slightly above its earnings per share forecast. A very difficult retail environment in the month of April prevented us from maintaining that earnings pace and led to earnings at the lower end of our guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Positive sales results in technical apparel, youth products and team sports equipment offset some softness experienced in our urban enclosed mall stores."

 

Fiscal 2008 Outlook

For the second quarter ending August 4, 2007, the Company expects to report earnings per diluted share of $0.20 to $0.24 with a comparable store sales increase in the high single digits. The Company maintained its EPS guidance for the 52-week period ending February 2, 2008 of $1.30 to $1.35 per diluted share.

 

Stock Repurchase

During the first quarter, the Company repurchased 338,000 shares of common stock for a total expenditure of $9.9 million, bringing the total shares repurchased since the inception of the program in August 2004 to 4.6 million shares for a total expenditure of $107.2 million. After considering past stock repurchases, $42.8 million of the total authorization remained for future stock repurchases at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

 



 

 

Investor Conference Call and Simulcast

Hibbett Sports, Inc. will conduct a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET on May 25, 2007, to discuss the first quarter results. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (913) 981-4905. A replay of the conference call will be available until June 1, 2007, by dialing (719) 457-0820 and entering the passcode, 1448409.

 

The Company will also provide an online Web simulcast and rebroadcast of its fiscal 2007-first quarter conference call. The live broadcast of Hibbett's quarterly conference call will be available online at www.streetevents.com and www.earnings.com on May 25, 2007, beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue through June 1, 2007.

 

Hibbett Sports, Inc. operates sporting goods stores in small to mid-sized markets, predominately in the Sunbelt, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. The Company’s primary store format is Hibbett Sports, a 5,000-square-foot store located in dominant strip centers and enclosed malls.

 

A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward looking statements" as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements address future events, developments or results and typically use words such as believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, forecast, guidance, outlook, or estimate. For example, our forward looking statements include statements regarding company growth, store opening and closing plans, sales (including comparable store sales), sale shifts and earnings expectations. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including economic conditions, industry trends, merchandise trends, vendor relationships, customer demand, and competition. For a complete description of these factors, as well as others which could affect our business, you should carefully review the "Risk Factors," "Business," and "MD&A" sections in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 4, 2007 and our most recent prospectus supplement filed May 2, 2003. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the future events, developments or results described by our forward looking statements in this document could turn out to be materially and adversely different from those we discuss or imply. We are not obligated to release publicly any revisions to any forward looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report and you should not expect us to do so.

 

 



 

 

HIBBETT SPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

First Quarter Ended

 

 

 

May 5,

 

April 29,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

Net sales

 

$

133,842

 

$

126,914

Cost of goods sold, including distribution center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and store occupancy costs

 

 

88,789

 

 

82,774

 

Gross profit

 

 

45,053

 

 

44,140

Store operating, selling and administrative expenses

 

 

26,031

 

 

23,310

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

2,920

 

 

2,705

 

Operating income

 

 

16,102

 

 

18,125

Interest income, net

 

 

393

 

 

321

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

 

16,495

 

 

18,446

Provision for income taxes

 

 

6,268

 

 

6,923

 

Net income

 

$

10,227

 

$

11,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.35

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

 

0.32

 

$

0.35

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

31,671

 

 

32,478

 

Diluted

 

 

32,219

 

 

33,131

 

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

 

 

 

May 5,

 

April 29,

 

February 3,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

18,704

 

$

15,335

 

$

30,367

Short-term investments

 

292

 

 

11,427

 

 

--

Accounts receivable, net

 

3,963

 

 

5,209

 

 

4,651

Inventories, net

 

133,371

 

 

116,142

 

 

125,240

Prepaid expenses and other

 

6,953

 

 

6,072

 

 

6,631

 

Total current assets

 

163,283

 

 

154,185

 

 

166,889

Property and equipment, net

 

42,104

 

 

37,860

 

 

42,573

Other assets

 

1,105

 

 

3,246

 

 

3,391

 

Total assets

$

206,492

 

$

195,291

 

$

212,853

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

36,578

 

$

39,954

 

$

42,016

Accrued expenses

 

15,299

 

 

14,374

 

 

18,445

 

Total current liabilities

 

51,877

 

 

54,328

 

 

60,461

Non-current liabilities

 

15,574

 

 

14,845

 

 

15,751

Stockholders’ investment

 

139,041

 

 

126,118

 

 

136,641

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ investment

$

206,492

 

$

195,291

 

$

212,853

 

 

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