RCKY Rocky Brands Inc

First Quarter 2017 Sales Increased 9.6%

First Quarter Diluted EPS Improved to $0.20

Funded Debt Decreased 75.8% Year-over-Year to $5.2 Million

Rocky Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:RCKY) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2017.

First Quarter 2017 Sales and Income

First quarter net sales increased 9.6% to $63.1 million compared to $57.5 million in the first quarter of 2016. The Company reported first quarter net income of $1.5 million, or $0.20 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $0.2 million, or ($0.03) per diluted share in the first quarter of 2016.

Mike Brooks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our first quarter results represent a solid start to 2017. We achieved approximately 10% top-line growth by more than doubling our military segment sales to a quarterly record $12 million. Importantly, we were able to fulfill this significant increase in military footwear demand at margins well above the last half of 2016 due to improved efficiencies at our company-operated production facility in Puerto Rico. At the same time, sales trends in our wholesale segment have stabilized, particularly in Work and Western, our two largest categories. On top of this, wholesale gross margins improved meaningfully year-over-year driven by a higher mix of full priced selling. The actions we have taken over the past six months to better position the company for profitable growth are clearly gaining traction. While there is still work ahead of us in order to maximize shareholder value over the long-term, we are confident we are heading in the right direction.”

First Quarter Review

Net sales for the first quarter increased 9.6% to $63.1 million compared to $57.5 million a year ago. Wholesale sales for the first quarter were $39.2 million compared to $40.2 million for the same period in 2016. Retail sales for the first quarter were $11.9 million compared to $11.5 million for the same period last year. Military segment sales for the first quarter increased 107% to $12.0 million compared to $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2016.

Gross margin in the first quarter of 2017 increased to $19.7 million, or 31.3% of sales, compared to $18.9 million, or 32.9% of sales, for the same period last year. The 160 basis point decrease was driven by the increase in military segment sales which carry lower gross margins than our wholesale and retail segments.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased to $17.4 million, or 27.6% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $19.1 million, or 33.3% of net sales, a year ago. The $1.7 million decrease in SG&A expenses was primarily related to lower compensation expense following the workforce reductions in the second half of 2016.

Income from operations was $2.4 million, or 3.8% of net sales compared to a loss from operations of $0.2 million a year ago.

Interest expense was $90,000 for the first quarter of 2017, versus $136,000 for the same period last year.

The Company’s funded debt decreased $16.4 million, or 75.8% to $5.2 million at March 31, 2017 versus $21.6 million at March 31, 2016.

Inventory at March 31, 2017 decreased 18.6% to $68.8 million compared to $84.5 million on the same date a year ago.

Conference Call Information

The Company’s conference call to review first quarter 2017 results will be broadcast live over the internet today, Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. The broadcast will be hosted at http://www.rockybrands.com.

About Rocky Brands, Inc.

Rocky Brands, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium quality footwear and apparel marketed under a portfolio of well recognized brand names including Rocky®, Georgia Boot®, Durango®, Lehigh®, Creative Recreation®, and the licensed brand Michelin®.

Safe Harbor Language

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Those statements include, but may not be limited to, all statements regarding intent, beliefs, expectations, projections, forecasts, and plans of the Company and its management. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the various risks inherent in the Company’s business as set forth in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (filed March 9, 2017). One or more of these factors have affected historical results, and could in the future affect the Company’s businesses and financial results in future periods and could cause actual results to differ materially from plans and projections. Therefore there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the Company, or any other person should not regard the inclusion of such information as a representation that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information presently available to the management of the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

Rocky Brands, Inc. and SubsidiariesCondensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

              March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016 March 31, 2016 Unaudited Audited Unaudited ASSETS:   CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,693,078 $ 4,480,505 $ 3,716,716 Trade receivables – net 39,131,277 40,844,583 38,253,999 Other receivables 768,729 688,251 597,343 Inventories 68,819,390 69,168,442 84,502,529 Income tax receivable - 1,243,678 1,214,755 Prepaid expenses   2,619,898   2,354,107   3,073,814 Total current assets 114,032,372 118,779,566 131,359,156 FIXED ASSETS – net 25,633,199 26,511,493 28,103,995 IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLES 33,383,261 33,415,694 36,514,458 OTHER ASSETS   225,670   232,509   253,621 TOTAL ASSETS $ 173,274,502 $ 178,939,262 $ 196,231,230     LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:   CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable $ 14,620,330 $ 11,589,040 $ 15,044,942 Accrued other expenses:   6,931,149   6,130,871   6,085,947 Total current liabilities 21,551,479 17,719,911 21,130,889

 

LONG TERM DEBT 5,240,000 14,584,008 21,649,319 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 10,464,436 11,365,800 11,968,791 DEFERRED LIABILITIES   176,219   176,219   265,262   TOTAL LIABILITIES 37,432,134 43,845,938 55,014,261   SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: Common stock, no par value;

25,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstandingMarch 31, 2017 - 7,435,467; December 31, 2016 -7,421,455; March 31, 2016 - 7,583,901

69,362,641

69,291,637

71,004,499

Retained earnings   66,479,727   65,801,687   70,212,470   Total shareholders' equity   135,842,368   135,093,324   141,216,969   TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 173,274,502 $ 178,939,262 $ 196,231,230          

Rocky Brands, Inc. and SubsidiariesCondensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

  Three Months Ended March 31,   2017         2016   Unaudited Unaudited NET SALES $ 63,072,954 $ 57,529,945   COST OF GOODS SOLD   43,324,874     38,619,053     GROSS MARGIN 19,748,080 18,910,892   SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES   17,381,909     19,131,894     INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS 2,366,171 (221,002 )   OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSES): Interest expense (90,466 ) (135,976 ) Other – net   (9,764 )   67,528   Total other - net (100,230 ) (68,448 )   INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES 2,265,941 (289,450 )   INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)   770,000     (98,000 )   NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 1,495,941   $ (191,450 )   INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE Basic $ 0.20 $ (0.03 ) Diluted $ 0.20 $ (0.03 )   WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING Basic   7,435,000     7,583,170   Diluted   7,436,788     7,583,170  

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Rocky Brands, Inc.Tom Robertson, 740-753-1951Chief Financial OfficerorInvestor Relations:ICR, Inc.Brendon Frey, 203-682-8200