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HOOKER FURNISHINGS Corp - Quarter Report: 2019 November (Form 10-Q)

hookerfurn20191103_10q.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended November 3, 2019

 

Commission file number 000-25349

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Virginia

54-0251350

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(IRS employer identification no.)

 

440 East Commonwealth Boulevard, Martinsville, VA 24112

(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

 

(276) 632-2133

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Large accelerated Filer ☐

Accelerated Filer ☒

 

Non-accelerated Filer   ☐

Smaller reporting company ☐

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐  No ☒

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, no par value 

HOFT

NASDAQ Global Select Market

 

As of December 6, 2019, there were 11,838,367 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

3

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

17

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

30

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

31

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

32

 

 

 

Signature

33

 

 

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

As of

 

November 3,

   

February 3,

 
   

2019

   

2019

 
   

(unaudited)

         

Assets

               

Current assets

               

    Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 24,498     $ 11,435  

    Trade accounts receivable, net

    92,603       112,557  

    Inventories

    103,615       105,204  

    Income tax recoverable

    2,348       -  

    Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    4,119       5,735  

         Total current assets

    227,183       234,931  

Property, plant and equipment, net

    30,782       29,482  

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies

    25,016       23,816  

Deferred taxes

    3,035       4,522  

Operating leases right-of-use assets

    40,872       -  

Intangible assets, net

    33,967       35,755  

Goodwill

    40,058       40,058  

Other assets

    1,528       1,152  

         Total non-current assets

    175,258       134,785  

               Total assets

  $ 402,441     $ 369,716  
                 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

               

Current liabilities

               

    Current portion of term loans

  $ 5,833     $ 5,829  

    Trade accounts payable

    27,407       40,838  

    Accrued salaries, wages and benefits

    5,449       8,002  

    Income tax accrual

    -       3,159  

    Customer deposits

    13,030       3,023  

    Current portion of lease liabilities

    6,395       -  

    Other accrued expenses

    3,913       3,564  

         Total current liabilities

    62,027       64,415  

Long term debt

    25,253       29,628  

Deferred compensation

    10,611       11,513  

Lease liabilities

    35,304       -  

Other long-term liabilities

    3       984  

Total long-term liabilities

    71,171       42,125  

              Total liabilities

    133,198       106,540  
                 

Shareholders’ equity

               

Common stock, no par value, 20,000 shares authorized,

11,838 and 11,785 shares issued and outstanding on each date

    51,177       49,549  

    Retained earnings

    218,131       213,380  

    Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

    (65 )     247  

              Total shareholders’ equity

    269,243       263,176  

                   Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 402,441     $ 369,716  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

   

For the

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

Nov 3,

   

Oct 28,

   

Nov 3,

   

Oct 28,

 
   

2019

   

2018

   

2019

   

2018

 
                                 

Net sales

  $ 158,176     $ 171,474     $ 445,942     $ 483,026  
                                 

Cost of sales

    129,777       135,638       363,201       379,079  

Casualty loss

    -       -       -       500  

Total Cost of sales

    129,777       135,638       363,201       379,579  
                                 

      Gross profit

    28,399       35,836       82,741       103,447  
                                 

Selling and administrative expenses

    22,810       22,979       67,286       68,150  

Intangible asset amortization

    596       596       1,788       1,788  
                                 

        Operating income

    4,993       12,261       13,667       33,509  
                                 

Other income, net

    309       200       215       275  

Interest expense, net

    316       354       986       1,099  
                                 

      Income before income taxes

    4,986       12,107       12,896       32,685  
                                 

Income tax expense

    1,066       2,775       2,829       7,504  
                                 

       Net income

  $ 3,920     $ 9,332     $ 10,067     $ 25,181  
                                 

Earnings per share

                         

       Basic

  $ 0.33     $ 0.79     $ 0.85     $ 2.14  

       Diluted

  $ 0.33     $ 0.79     $ 0.85     $ 2.13  
                                 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

                         

       Basic

    11,789       11,763       11,782       11,758  

       Diluted

    11,816       11,778       11,821       11,778  
                                 

Cash dividends declared per share

  $ 0.15     $ 0.14     $ 0.45     $ 0.42  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited) 

 

   

For the

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3,

   

October 28,

   

November 3,

   

October 28,

 
   

2019

   

2018

   

2019

   

2018

 
                                 

Net Income

  $ 3,920     $ 9,332     $ 10,067     $ 25,181  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                               

                Gain on pension plan settlement

    (520 )     -       (520 )     -  

                 Income tax effect on settlement

    124       -       124       -  

                 Amortization of actuarial loss

    37       43       111       129  

                 Income tax effect on amortization

    (9 )     (10 )     (27 )     (31 )

Adjustments to net periodic benefit cost

    (368 )     33       (312 )     98  
                                 

Reclassification of tax effects due to the adoption of ASU 2018-02

    -       -       -       111  
                                 

Total Comprehensive Income

  $ 3,552     $ 9,365     $ 9,755     $ 25,390  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   

For the

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

Nov 3,

   

Oct 28,

 
   

2019

   

2018

 

Operating Activities:

         

Net income

  $ 10,067     $ 25,181  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash

provided by operating activities:

               

Depreciation and amortization

    5,260       5,558  

Gain on pension settlement

    (520 )     -  

Gain on disposal of assets

    (271 )     (66 )

Deferred income tax expense

    1,461       254  

Noncash restricted stock and performance awards

    891       919  

Provision/(benefit from) for doubtful accounts and sales allowances

    1,365       (1,692 )

Gain on life insurance policies

    (715 )     (608 )

Changes in assets and liabilities:

         

Trade accounts receivable

    18,589       9,036  

Inventories

    1,589       (16,862 )

Income tax recoverable

    (2,348 )     -  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    (638 )     (484 )

Trade accounts payable

    (13,456 )     5,566  

Accrued salaries, wages, and benefits

    (2,553 )     (484 )

Accrued income taxes

    (3,159 )     (2,412 )

Customer deposits

    10,006       (1,359 )

Operating lease liabilities

    536       -  

Other accrued expenses

    350       503  

Deferred compensation

    156       (2,253 )

Other long-term liabilities

    -       122  

              Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 26,610     $ 20,919  
                 

Investing Activities:

         

Purchases of property and equipment

    (4,745 )     (2,464 )

Proceeds received from sale of assets

    1,465       99  

Proceeds received on life insurance policies

    -       1,225  

Premiums paid on life insurance policies

    (558 )     (620 )

              Net cash used in investing activities

    (3,838 )     (1,760 )
                 

Financing Activities:

         

Payments for long-term debt

    (4,393 )     (15,679 )

Cash dividends paid

    (5,316 )     (4,946 )

              Net cash used in financing activities

    (9,709 )     (20,625 )
                 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    13,063       (1,466 )

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year

    11,435       30,915  

Cash and cash equivalents - end of quarter

  $ 24,498     $ 29,449  
                 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

         

Cash paid for income taxes

  $ 6,754     $ 9,661  

Cash paid for interest, net

    852       973  

Non-cash transactions:

         

Increase in lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets

  $ 272     $ -  

Increase in property and equipment through accrued purchases

    25       104  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

                           

Accumulated

         
                           

Other

   

Total

 
   

Common Stock

           

Retained

   

Comprehensive

   

Shareholders'

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Earnings

   

Income

   

Equity

 

      Balance at January 28, 2018

    11,762     $ 48,970     $ 180,122     $ 368     $ 229,460  

Net income

                    25,181               25,181  

Prior year adjustment for ASU 2014-09 and 2018-02

                    99       111       210  

Unrealized loss on defined benefit plan, net of tax of $31

                            98       98  

Cash dividends paid and accrued ($0.14 per share)

                    (4,945 )             (4,945 )

Restricted stock grants, net of forfeitures

    23       (30 )                     (30 )

Restricted stock compensation cost

            450                       450  

      Balance at October 28, 2018

    11,785     $ 49,390     $ 200,457     $ 577     $ 250,424  
                                         
                                         

      Balance at February 3, 2019

    11,785     $ 49,549     $ 213,380     $ 247     $ 263,176  

Net income

                    10,067               10,067  

Gain on pension settlement, net of tax of $124

                            (396 )     (396 )

Unrealized loss on defined benefit plan, net of tax of $27

                            84       84  

Cash dividends paid and accrued ($0.15 per share)

                    (5,316 )             (5,316 )

Restricted stock grants, net of forfeitures

    53       344                       344  

Restricted stock compensation cost

            600                       600  

Recognition of PSUs as equity-based awards

            684                       684  

      Balance at November 3, 2019

    11,838     $ 51,177     $ 218,131     $ (65 )   $ 269,243  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar and share amounts in tables, except per share amounts, in thousands unless otherwise indicated)

(Unaudited)

For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 3, 2019

 

1.      Preparation of Interim Financial Statements

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements of Hooker Furniture Corporation and subsidiaries (referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” “Hooker” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results of all interim periods reported herein. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. However, we believe that the disclosures made are adequate for a fair presentation of our results of operations and financial position. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2019 (“2019 Annual Report”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect both the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from our estimates. Operating results for the interim periods reported herein may not be indicative of the results expected for the fiscal year.

 

The financial statements contained herein are being filed as part of a quarterly report on Form 10-Q covering the thirteen-week period (also referred to as “three months,” “three-month period,” “quarter,” “third quarter” or “quarterly period”) that began August 5, 2019, and the thirty-nine week period (also referred to as “nine months”, “nine-month period” or “year-to-date period”) that began February 4, 2019, which both ended November 3, 2019. This report discusses our results of operations for this period compared to the 2019 fiscal year thirteen-week period that began July 30, 2018 and the thirty-nine-week period that began January 29, 2018, which both ended October 28, 2018; and our financial condition as of November 3, 2019 compared to February 3, 2019.

 

References in these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company to:

 

 

the 2020 fiscal year and comparable terminology mean the fifty-two-week fiscal year that began February 4, 2019 and will end February 2, 2020; and

 

 

the 2019 fiscal year and comparable terminology mean the fifty-three-week fiscal year that began January 29, 2018 and ended February 3, 2019.

 

2.      Recently Adopted Accounting Policies

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“Topic 842”), which requires lessees to recognize lease right-of-use assets and liabilities on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements. We adopted Topic 842 standard on February 4, 2019 and used the effective date transition method. As a result, our condensed consolidated balance sheets prior to February 4, 2019 were not restated and continue to be reported under previous guidance that did not require the recognition of lease liabilities and corresponding lease assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. In addition, we have elected the package of practical expedients, which allowed us not to reassess prior conclusions related to the expired or existing leases, and not to reassess the accounting for initial direct costs. As a result of the adoption of Topic 842, we have operating lease right-of-use assets of $40.9 million and operating lease liabilities of $41.7 million as of November 3, 2019. The adoption of Topic 842 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated statements of income and condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three-month or nine-month period ended November 3, 2019. See Note 9 for additional information and disclosures required by Topic 842.

 

 

3.     Accounts Receivable

 

   

November 3,

   

February 3,

 
   

2019

   

2019

 
                 

Trade accounts receivable

  $ 98,818     $ 117,732  

Other accounts receivable allowances

    (5,452 )     (4,267 )

Allowance for doubtful accounts

    (763 )     (908 )

   Accounts receivable

  $ 92,603     $ 112,557  

 

4.     Inventories

 

   

November 3,

   

February 3,

 
   

2019

   

2019

 

Finished furniture

  $ 116,501     $ 112,847  

Furniture in process

    1,092       1,825  

Materials and supplies

    8,965       10,896  

   Inventories at FIFO

    126,558       125,568  

Reduction to LIFO basis

    (22,943 )     (20,364 )

   Inventories

  $ 103,615     $ 105,204  

 

5.     Property, Plant and Equipment

 

   

Depreciable Lives

   

November 3,

   

February 3,

 
   

(In years)

   

2019

   

2019

 
                       

Buildings and land improvements

 

15 - 30

    $ 31,295     $ 24,588  

Computer software and hardware

  3 - 10       19,100       18,719  

Machinery and equipment

  10       9,116       8,934  

Leasehold improvements

 

Term of lease

      9,443       9,376  

Furniture and fixtures

  3 - 10       2,454       2,318  

Other

  5       650       665  

   Total depreciable property at cost

          72,058       64,600  

Less accumulated depreciation

          42,853       39,925  

   Total depreciable property, net

          29,205       24,675  

Land

          1,077       1,067  

Construction-in-progress

          500       3,740  

   Property, plant and equipment, net

        $ 30,782     $ 29,482  

 

6.      Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid upon the transfer of a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the applicable measurement date. We use a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include:

 

 

Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

 

 

Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

 

 

Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

 

 

As of November 3, 2019 and February 3, 2019, Company-owned life insurance was measured at fair value on a recurring basis based on Level 2 inputs. The fair value of the Company-owned life insurance is determined by inputs that are readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets. Additionally, the fair value of the Company-owned life insurance is marked to market each reporting period and any change in fair value is reflected in income for that period.

 

On January 30, 2019, our Board of Directors voted to terminate the Pension Plan. We settled all Pension Plan obligations during the quarter with the purchase of annuities for plan participants. See Note 11. Employee Benefit Plans for additional information about the Plan.

 

Our assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at November 3, 2019 and February 3, 2019, were as follows:

 

   

Fair value at November 3, 2019

   

Fair value at February 3, 2019

 

Description

 

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 
    (In thousands)  

Assets measured at fair value

                                                               

Company-owned life insurance

  $ -     $ 25,016     $ -     $ 25,016     $ -     $ 23,816     $ -     $ 23,816  

Pension Plan assets

  $ -       -       -       -       10,992       -       -       10,992  

 

7.     Intangible Assets

 

     

November 3,

   

February 3,

 

Non-amortizable Intangible Assets

Segment

 

2019

   

2019

 

Goodwill

Home Meridian

  $ 23,187     $ 23,187  

Goodwill

All Other

    16,871       16,871  

   Total Goodwill

    40,058       40,058  
                   

Trademarks and trade names - Home Meridian

Home Meridian

    11,400       11,400  

Trademarks and trade names - Bradington-Young

All Other

    861       861  

Trademarks and trade names - Sam Moore

All Other

    396       396  

   Total Trademarks and trade names

  $ 12,657     $ 12,657  
                   

   Total non-amortizable assets

  $ 52,715     $ 52,715  

 

Our amortizable intangible assets are recorded in our Home Meridian segment and All Other. The carrying amounts and changes therein of those amortizable intangible assets were as follows:

 

   

Amortizable Intangible Assets

 
   

Customer

                 
   

Relationships

   

Trademarks

   

Totals

 
                         

Balance at February 3, 2019

  $ 22,320     $ 778     $ 23,098  

Amortization

    (1,743 )     (45 )     (1,788 )

Balance at November 3, 2019

  $ 20,577     $ 733     $ 21,310  

 

For the remainder of fiscal 2020, amortization expense is expected to be approximately $596,000.

 

8.     Customer Deposits

 

Due to the highly customized nature of our hospitality products, we typically require a 50% deposit with order, a 40% deposit before goods reach a U.S. port and the remaining 10% balance due within 30 days of the receipt of goods by the customer. These deposits have increased $10.0 million since our fiscal 2019 year-end principally due to increased order activity in our Home Meridian segment’s hospitality division.

 

 

9.      Leases

 

On February 4, 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 Leases. Our lease assets are composed of real estate and equipment. Real estate leases consist primarily of warehouses and offices, while equipment leases consist of vehicles, office and warehouse equipment. At the inception of a contract, we assess whether the contract is, or contains, a lease. Our assessment is based on: (a) whether there is an identified asset in the contract that is land or a depreciable asset – i.e. property, plant or equipment; (b) whether we have the right to control the use of the identified asset throughout the period of use, which may be different from the overall contract term; and (c) whether we have the right to direct the use of an identified asset if it can direct (and change) how and for what purpose the asset will be used throughout the period of use.

 

Leases are classified as either finance leases or operating leases based on criteria in Topic 842. All of our leases are classified as operating leases. We do not currently have finance leases but could in the future.

 

Operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets and liabilities are recognized on the adoption date based on the present value of lease payments over the remaining lease term. As interest rates are not explicitly stated or implicit in any of our leases, we utilized our incremental borrowing rate at the adoption date of February 4, 2019, which was one-month LIBOR plus 1.5%. For leases without explicitly stated or implicit interest rates that commenced after the adoption date, we used our incremental borrowing rate which was one-month LIBOR at the lease commencement date plus 1.5%. ROU assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option.

 

At the inception of a lease, we allocate the consideration in the contract to each lease and non-lease component based on the component's relative stand-alone price to determine the lease payments. Lease and non-lease components are accounted for separately. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Included in lease expense are any variable lease payments incurred in the period that were not included in the initial lease liability. Some of our real estate leases contain variable lease payments, including payments based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”). We used February 2019 CPI-U issued by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics to measure lease payments and calculate lease liabilities. Additional payments based on the change in an index or rate, or payments based on a change in our portion of the operating expenses, including real estate taxes and insurance, are recorded when incurred.

 

We have a sub-lease at one of our warehouses. In accordance with the provisions of Topic 842, since we have not been relieved as the primary obligor of the warehouse lease, we cannot net the sublease income against our lease payment to calculate the lease liability and ROU asset. Our practice has been, and we will continue to, straight-line the sub-lease income over the term of the sublease. We recognized $130,000 and $347,000 sub-lease income for the three-month and nine-month period ended November 3, 2019, respectively.

 

Our leases have remaining lease terms of less than one year to seven years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to seven years. We have elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities that arise from short term leases for any class of underlying asset. Short term leases are leases with lease terms of 12 months or less with either (a) no renewal option or (b) a renewal option which we are not reasonably certain to exercise.

 

We have elected to adopt a package of practical expedients provided under Topic 842 that allows us not to reassess: (a) whether expired or existing contracts contain a lease under the new definition of a lease; (b) lease classification of expired or existing leases; and (c) whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under Topic 842.

 

The components of lease cost and supplemental cash flow information for leases for the three-month and nine-month periods ended November 3, 2019 were:

 

   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

   

November 3, 2019

 

Operating lease cost

  $ 2,090     $ 6,289  

Short-term lease cost

    173       467  

Total operating lease cost

  $ 2,263     $ 6,756  
                 
                 

Operating cash outflows

  $ 1,918     $ 6,255  

 

 

The right-of-use assets and lease liabilities recorded on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 3, 2019 were:

 

   

November 3, 2019

 

Real estate

  $ 39,750  

Property and equipment

    1,122  

Total operating leases right-of-use assets

  $ 40,872  
         
         

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

  $ 6,395  

Long term operating lease liabilities

    35,304  

Total operating lease liabilities

  $ 41,699  

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term is 7.5 years. We used our incremental borrowing rate which is LIBOR plus 1.5% at the adoption date. The weighted-average discount rate is 4.00%.

 

The following table reconciles the undiscounted future lease payments for operating leases to the operating lease liabilities recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at November 3, 2019:

 

   

Undiscounted Future

Operating Lease

Payments

 

Remainder of 2019

  $ 2,327  

2020

    7,732  

2021

    7,114  

2022

    5,520  

2023

    5,267  

2024 and thereafter

    20,394  

Total lease payments

  $ 48,354  

Less: impact of discounting

    (6,655 )

Present value of lease payments

  $ 41,699  

 

As of November 3, 2019, we did not have any additional operating or finance leases that had not yet commenced.

 

10.     Long-Term Debt

 

As of November 3, 2019, we had an aggregate $25.7 million available under our revolving credit facility to fund working capital needs. Standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $4.3 million, used to collateralize certain insurance arrangements and for imported product purchases, were outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of November 3, 2019. There were no additional borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of November 3, 2019.    

 

11. Employee Benefit Plans

 

We maintain three retirement plans for the benefit of certain former and current employees, including a supplemental retirement income plan (“SRIP”) for certain former and current employees of Hooker Furniture Corporation, as well as two plans for the benefit of certain and former employees of Pulaski Furniture Corporation, which we assumed when we acquired the business of Home Meridian International. These legacy pension plan obligations include:

 

 

the Pulaski Furniture Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for certain former executives. The SERP is an unfunded plan and all benefits are paid solely out of our general assets; and

 

the Pension Plan for former Pulaski Furniture Corporation employees.

 

The SRIP, SERP and Pension Plan are all “frozen” and we do not expect to add additional participants to any of these plans in the future.

 

 

On January 30, 2019, our Board of Directors voted to terminate the Pension Plan. We settled all Pension Plan obligations during the quarter with the purchase of nonparticipating annuity contracts for plan participants. Consequently, we recognized a $520,000 settlement gain during the quarter, which is recorded in the “other income” line of our condensed consolidated statements of income. The $520,000 represented an amount recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income until the pension obligation was settled upon plan termination.

  

   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3,

   

October 28,

   

November 3,

   

October 28,

 
   

2019

   

2018

   

2019

   

2018

 

Net periodic benefit costs

                               

      Service cost

    26       81       78       243  

      Interest cost

    204       206       613       618  

      Actuarial loss

    37       43       111       129  

      Expected return on pension plan assets

    (101 )     (144 )     (304 )     (431 )

      Pension plan administrative expenses

    98       70       293       210  

Consolidated net periodic benefit costs

  $ 264     $ 256     $ 791     $ 769  

 

The SRIP and SERP plans are unfunded plans. We paid $171,000 in the third quarter and $520,000 in the first nine months. We expect to pay a total of approximately $164,000 in benefit payments from our general assets during the remainder of fiscal 2020 to fund SRIP and SERP payments.

 

12.     Earnings Per Share

 

We refer you to the discussion of Earnings Per Share in Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the financial statements included in our 2019 Annual Report, for additional information concerning the calculation of earnings per share.

 

All stock awards are designed to encourage retention and to provide an incentive for increasing shareholder value. We have issued restricted stock awards to non-employee members of the board of directors since 2006 and to certain non-executive employees since 2014. We have issued restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to certain senior executives since fiscal 2012 under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan. Each RSU entitles an executive to receive one share of the Company’s common stock if the executive remains continuously employed with the Company through the end of a three-year service period. The RSUs may be paid in shares of our common stock, cash or both at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of our board of directors. We have issued Performance-based Restricted Stock Units (“PSUs”) to certain senior executives since fiscal 2019 under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan. Each PSU entitles the executive officer to receive one share of our common stock based on the achievement of two specified performance conditions if the executive officer remains continuously employed through the end of the three-year performance period. One target is based on our annual average growth in our EPS over the performance period and the other target is based on EPS growth over the performance period compared to our peers. The payout or settlement of the PSUs will be made in shares of our common stock.

 

We expect to continue to grant these types of awards annually in the future. The following table sets forth the number of outstanding restricted stock awards and RSUs and PSUs, net of forfeitures and vested shares, as of the fiscal period-end dates indicated:

 

   

November 3,

   

February 3,

 
   

2019

   

2019

 
                 

Restricted shares

    49       22  

RSUs and PSUs

    78       36  
      127       58  

 

The number of outstanding restricted shares increased due primarily to grants of restricted shares to a larger population of our non-executive employees as an incentive for retention and alignment of individual performance to our values. The number of RSUs and PSUs increased primarily due to the addition of three additional executive officers in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

 

 

All restricted shares, RSUs and PSUs awarded that have not yet vested are considered when computing diluted earnings per share. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3,

   

October 28,

   

November 3,

   

October 28,

 
   

2019

   

2018

   

2019

   

2018

 
                                 

Net income

  $ 3,920     $ 9,332     $ 10,067     $ 25,181  

Less: Unvested participating restricted stock dividends

    7       3       18       8  

           Net earnings allocated to unvested participating restricted stock

    16       17       33       41  

Earnings available for common shareholders

    3,897       9,312       10,016       25,132  
                                 

Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share

    11,789       11,763       11,782       11,758  

Dilutive effect of unvested restricted stock, RSU and PSU awards

    27       15       39       20  

   Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share

    11,816       11,778       11,821       11,778  
                                 

Basic earnings per share

  $ 0.33     $ 0.79     $ 0.85     $ 2.14  
                                 

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.33     $ 0.79     $ 0.85     $ 2.13  

 

13.   Income Taxes

 

We recorded income tax expense of $1.1 million for the fiscal 2020 third quarter compared to $2.8 million for the comparable prior year period. The effective tax rates for the fiscal 2020 and 2019 third quarters were 21.4% and 22.9%, respectively. The effective tax rates for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 and 2019 were 21.9% and 23.0%.

 

The net unrecognized tax benefits as of November 3, 2019 and February 3, 2019, which, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate are $40,000 and $38,000, respectively.

 

Tax years ending January 31, 2016 through February 3, 2019 remain subject to examination by federal and state taxing authorities.

 

14.      Segment Information

 

For financial reporting purposes, we are organized into two reportable segments and “All Other”, which includes the remainder of our businesses:

 

 

Hooker Branded, consisting of the operations of our imported Hooker Casegoods and Hooker Upholstery businesses; 

 

Home Meridian, a business acquired at the beginning of fiscal 2017, is a stand-alone, mostly autonomous business that serves a different type or class of customer than do our other operating segments and at much lower margins; and

 

All Other, which includes the domestic upholstery manufacturing operations of Bradington-Young, Sam Moore, Shenandoah Furniture and H Contract. None of these operating segments were individually reportable; therefore, we combined them in “All Other” in accordance with ASC 280.

 

 

The following table presents segment information for the periods, and as of the dates, indicated:

 

   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3,

2019

           

October 28,

2018

           

November 3,

2019

           

October 28,

2018

         
           

% Net

           

% Net

           

% Net

           

% Net

 

Net Sales

         

Sales

           

Sales

           

Sales

           

Sales

 

   Hooker Branded

  $ 43,703       27.6 %   $ 46,479       27.1 %   $ 122,707       27.5 %   $ 129,801       26.9 %

   Home Meridian

    85,776       54.3 %     95,013       55.4 %     240,594       54.0 %     266,631       55.2 %

   All Other

    28,697       18.1 %     29,982       17.5 %     82,641       18.5 %     86,594       17.9 %

Consolidated

  $ 158,176       100.0 %   $ 171,474       100.0 %   $ 445,942       100.0 %   $ 483,026       100.0 %
                                                                 

Gross Profit

                                                               

   Hooker Branded

  $ 13,947       31.9 %   $ 14,334       30.8 %   $ 38,323       31.2 %   $ 41,372       31.9 %

   Home Meridian

    7,286       8.5 %     15,382       16.2 %     24,139       10.0 %     43,196       16.2 %

   All Other

    7,166       25.0 %     6,120       20.4 %     20,279       24.5 %     18,879       21.8 %

Consolidated

  $ 28,399       18.0 %   $ 35,836       20.9 %   $ 82,741       18.6 %   $ 103,447       21.4 %
                                                                 

Operating Income (Loss)

                                                               

   Hooker Branded

  $ 6,188       14.2 %   $ 5,712       12.3 %   $ 15,453       12.6 %   $ 17,381       13.4 %

   Home Meridian

    (3,955 )     -4.6 %     4,829       5.1 %     (9,013 )     -3.7 %     10,168       3.8 %

   All Other

    2,760       9.6 %     1,720       5.7 %     7,227       8.7 %     5,960       6.9 %

Consolidated

  $ 4,993       3.2 %   $ 12,261       7.2 %   $ 13,667       3.1 %   $ 33,509       6.9 %
                                                                 

Capital Expenditures

                                                               

   Hooker Branded

  $ 89             $ 350             $ 600             $ 699          

   Home Meridian

    126               143               300               330          

   All Other

    871               1,138               3,845               1,435          

Consolidated

  $ 1,086             $ 1,631             $ 4,745             $ 2,464          
                                                                 

Depreciation

   & Amortization

                                                               

   Hooker Branded

  $ 471             $ 984             $ 1,453             $ 1,479          

   Home Meridian

    549               851               1,627               1,795          

   All Other

    768               1,248               2,180               2,284          

Consolidated

  $ 1,788             $ 3,083             $ 5,260             $ 5,558          

 

   

As of

November 3,

           

As of

February 3,

                                         
   

2019

   

%Total

   

2019

   

%Total

                                 

Identifiable Assets

         

Assets

           

Assets

                                 

   Hooker Branded

  $ 140,920       42.9 %   $ 108,445       36.9 %                                

   Home Meridian

    146,971       44.8 %     144,277       49.1 %                                

   All Other

    40,525       12.3 %     41,181       14.0 %                                

Consolidated

  $ 328,416       100.0 %   $ 293,903       100.0 %                                

   Consolidated Goodwill and Intangibles

    74,025               75,813                                          

Total Consolidated Assets

  $ 402,441             $ 369,716                                          

 

 

Sales by product type are as follows:

 

   

Net Sales (in thousands)

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3,

2019

   

%Total

   

October 28,

2018

   

%Total

   

November 3,

2019

   

%Total

   

October 28,

2018

   

%Total

 

Casegoods

  $ 105,018       66 %   $ 108,584       63 %   $ 288,470       65 %   $ 304,370       63 %

Upholstery

    53,158       34 %     62,890       37 %     157,472       35 %     178,656       37 %
    $ 158,176       100 %   $ 171,474       100 %   $ 445,942       100 %   $ 483,026       100 %

 

15. Subsequent Events

 

Dividends

 

On December 5, 2019, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share, an increase of 6.7% or $0.01 per share, payable on December 30, 2019 to shareholders of record at December 16, 2019.

 

 

Item 2.      Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

All references to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this document refer to Hooker Furniture Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless specifically referring to segment information. All references to the “Hooker,” “Hooker Division,” “Hooker Brands” or “traditional Hooker” divisions or companies refer to the current components of our Hooker Branded segment and All Other which includes Bradington-Young, Sam Moore, Shenandoah Furniture and H Contract.

 

References to the “Shenandoah acquisition” refer to the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Shenandoah Furniture, Inc. on September 29, 2017. References to the “HMI acquisition” refer to the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Home Meridian International, Inc. on February 1, 2016.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements made in this report, including statements under Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, are not based on historical facts, but are forward-looking statements.  These statements reflect our reasonable judgment with respect to future events and typically can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could” or “anticipates,” or the negatives thereof, or other variations thereof, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy.  Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Those risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to:

 

 

general economic or business conditions, both domestically and internationally, and instability in the financial and credit markets, including their potential impact on our (i) sales and operating costs and access to financing or (ii) customers and suppliers and their ability to obtain financing or generate the cash necessary to conduct their respective businesses;

 

 

adverse political acts or developments in, or affecting, the international markets from which we import products, including duties or tariffs imposed on those products by foreign governments or the U.S. government, such as the current U.S. administration imposing a 25% tariff on certain goods imported into the United States from China, including almost all furniture and furniture components manufactured in China, with the potential for additional or increased tariffs in the future;

 

 

sourcing transitions away from China, including the lack of adequate manufacturing capacity and skilled labor and longer lead times, due to competition and increased demand for resources in those countries;    

 

 

changes in U.S. and foreign government regulations and in the political, social and economic climates of the countries from which we source our products;

 

 

the risks specifically related to the concentrations of a material part of our sales and accounts receivable in only a few customers;

 

 

risks associated with product defects, including higher than expected costs associated with product quality and safety, and regulatory compliance costs related to the sale of consumer products and costs related to defective or non-compliant products, including product liability claims and costs to recall defective products;

 

 

our inability to collect amounts owed to us;

 

 

disruptions involving our vendors or the transportation and handling industries, particularly those affecting imported products from Vietnam and China, including customs issues, labor stoppages, strikes or slowdowns and the availability of shipping containers and cargo ships;

 

 

the interruption, inadequacy, security breaches or integration failure of our information systems or information technology infrastructure, related service providers or the internet or other related issues including unauthorized disclosures of confidential information or inadequate levels of cyber-insurance or risks not covered by cyber insurance;

 

 

disruptions and damage (including due to weather) affecting our Virginia, North Carolina or California warehouses, our Virginia or North Carolina administrative facilities or our representative offices or warehouses in Vietnam and China;

 

 

achieving and managing growth and change, and the risks associated with new business lines, acquisitions, restructurings, strategic alliances and international operations;

 

 

 

risks associated with our reliance on offshore sourcing and the cost of imported goods, including fluctuation in the prices of purchased finished goods, ocean freight costs and warehousing costs and the risk that a disruption in our offshore suppliers could adversely affect our ability to timely fill customer orders;

 

 

higher than expected employee medical and workers’ compensation costs that may increase the cost of our high-deductible healthcare and workers compensation plans;

 

 

our ability to successfully implement our business plan to increase sales and improve financial performance;

 

 

risks related to our defined benefit plans;

 

 

the possible impairment of our long-lived assets, which can result in reduced earnings and net worth;

 

 

the cost and difficulty of marketing and selling our products in foreign markets;

 

 

price competition in the furniture industry;

 

 

difficulties in forecasting demand for our imported products;

 

 

changes in domestic and international monetary policies and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affecting the price of our imported products and raw materials;

 

 

the cyclical nature of the furniture industry, which is particularly sensitive to changes in consumer confidence, the amount of consumers’ income available for discretionary purchases, and the availability and terms of consumer credit;

 

 

risks associated with domestic manufacturing operations, including fluctuations in capacity utilization and the prices and availability of key raw materials, as well as changes in transportation, warehousing and domestic labor costs, availability of skilled labor, and environmental compliance and remediation costs;

 

 

risks associated with distribution through third-party retailers, such as non-binding dealership arrangements;

 

 

capital requirements and costs, including the servicing of our floating-rate term loans;

 

 

competition from non-traditional outlets, such as internet and catalog retailers; and

 

 

changes in consumer preferences, including increased demand for lower-quality, lower-priced furniture due to, among other things, fluctuating consumer confidence, amounts of discretionary income available for furniture purchases and the availability of consumer credit.

 

Our forward-looking statements could be wrong in light of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The future events, developments or results described in this report could turn out to be materially different. Any forward-looking statement we make speaks only as of the date of that statement, and we undertake no obligation, except as required by law, to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise and you should not expect us to do so.

 

Also, our business is subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties any of which can adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition or future prospects. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties that we face, see the Forward-Looking Statements detailed above and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our 2019 annual report on Form 10-K (the “2019 Annual Report”).

 

Investors should also be aware that while we occasionally communicate with securities analysts and others, it is against our policy to selectively disclose to them any material nonpublic information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, investors should not assume that we agree with any projection, forecast or report issued by any analyst regardless of the content of the statement or report, as we have a policy against confirming information issued by others.

 

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q includes our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the thirteen-week period (also referred to as “three months,” “three-month period,” “quarter,” “third quarter” or “quarterly period”) that began August 5, 2019, and the thirty-nine week period (also referred to as “nine months,” “nine-month period” or “year-to-date period”) that began February 4, 2019, which both ended November 3, 2019. This report discusses our results of operations for this period compared to the 2019 fiscal year thirteen-week period that began July 30, 2018 and the thirty-nine-week period that began January 29, 2018, which both ended October 28, 2018; and our financial condition as of November 3, 2019 compared to February 3, 2019.

 

 

References in this report to:

 

 

the 2020 fiscal year and comparable terminology mean the fiscal year that began February 4, 2019 and will end February 2, 2020; and

 

 

the 2019 fiscal year and comparable terminology mean the fiscal year that began January 29, 2018 and ended February 3, 2019.

 

Dollar amounts presented in the tables below are in thousands except for per share data.

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements, including the related notes, contained elsewhere in this quarterly report. We also encourage users of this report to familiarize themselves with all of our recent public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), especially our 2019 Annual Report. Our 2019 Annual Report contains critical information regarding known risks and uncertainties that we face, critical accounting policies and information on commitments and contractual obligations that are not reflected in our condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as a more thorough and detailed discussion of our corporate strategy and new business initiatives.

 

Our 2019 Annual Report and our other public filings made with the SEC are available, without charge, at www.sec.gov and at http://investors.hookerfurniture.com.

 

Overview

 

Hooker Furniture Corporation, incorporated in Virginia in 1924, is a designer, marketer and importer of casegoods (wooden and metal furniture), leather furniture and fabric-upholstered furniture for the residential, hospitality and contract markets. We also domestically manufacture premium residential custom leather and custom fabric-upholstered furniture. We are ranked among the nation’s top five largest publicly traded furniture sources, based on 2018 shipments to U.S. retailers, according to a 2019 survey by a leading trade publication.

 

We believe that consumer tastes and channels in which they shop for furniture are evolving at a rapid pace and we continue to change to meet these demands.

 

Our strategy is to leverage the financial strength afforded us by Hooker’s slower-growing but highly profitable traditional businesses in order to boost revenues and earnings both organically and by acquiring companies selling in faster-growing channels of distribution in which our traditional businesses are under-represented. Consequently, Hooker acquired the business of Home Meridian on February 1, 2016 and Shenandoah Furniture on September 29, 2017.

 

We believe our acquisition of Home Meridian has better positioned us in some of the fastest growing and advantaged channels of distribution, including e-commerce, warehouse membership clubs and contract furniture. While growing faster than industry average, these channels tend to operate at lower margins.

 

We also believe our acquisition of Shenandoah Furniture, a North Carolina-based domestic upholsterer has better positioned us in the “lifestyle specialty” retail distribution channel. For that channel, domestically- produced, customizable upholstery is extremely viable and preferred by the end consumers who shop at retailers in that channel. 

 

Executive Summary-Results of Operations

 

Consolidated net sales for fiscal 2020 third quarter decreased $13.3 million or 7.8% as compared to the prior year period, from $171.5 million to $158.2 million due primarily to $9.2 million or 9.7% net sales decrease in the Home Meridian segment, and to a lesser extent net sales decreases in the Hooker Branded segment and All Other of $2.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

 

For the first nine months of fiscal 2020, consolidated net sales decreased $37.1 million or 7.7% from $483.0 million to $445.9 million as compared to the prior year period due to sales decreases in both of our reportable segments as well as All Other. Home Meridian segment net sales declined by $26.0 million or 9.8%, the Hooker Branded segment net sales decreased $7.1 million or 5.5% and All Other net sales decreased $4.0 million or 4.6%, all as compared to the fiscal 2019 nine-month period.

 

Consolidated net income decreased $5.4 million or 58.0% and $15.1 million or 60.0%, as compared to the prior year third quarter and first nine months, respectively.

 

 

As discussed in greater detail under “Results of Operations” below, the following are the primary factors that affected our consolidated fiscal 2020 third quarter and first nine months results of operations:

 

 

Gross profit. Fiscal 2020 third quarter and first nine-months, consolidated gross profit decreased both in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales due to decreased gross profit in the Home Meridian segment and to a lesser extent in the Hooker Branded segment, partially offset by increased gross profit in All Other. In the nine-month period, the gross profit decrease was also partially offset by the absence of $500,000 casualty loss related to the damage caused by torrential rains at one of our warehouse facilities recorded in the fiscal 2019 second quarter.

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses. Consolidated selling and administrative (“S&A”) expenses decreased in absolute terms but increased as a percentage of net sales in the fiscal 2020 third quarter and first nine months. S&A expense increased as a percentage of net sales due to lower sales. S&A expenses decreased in absolute terms due to decreased selling expenses and compensation costs resulting from lower net sales and profitability, partially offset by increased salaries and wages and the absence of $1.0 million one-time life insurance gain recorded in fiscal 2019 first quarter.

 

 

Intangible asset amortization expense. Intangible amortization expense on the Home Meridian and Shenandoah acquisition-related intangible assets was unchanged compared to the prior year periods.

 

 

Operating income. Consolidated operating income decreased from $12.3 million to $5.0 million and from 7.2% to 3.2% as a percentage of net sales in the fiscal 2020 third quarter. For the fiscal 2020 first nine months, consolidated operating income decreased from $33.5 million to $13.7 million and from 6.9% to 3.1% as a percentage of net sales, due to the factors discussed above and in greater detail in the analysis below.

 

Review

 

Our lower third quarter sales and earnings were disappointing. They were impacted significantly by higher chargebacks and reduced volume from a single large retail customer in our Home Meridian segment. The lingering effects of 25% tariffs on finished goods and component parts imported from China, along with spotty retail demand that has continued through the first nine months of the year, also negatively affected our performance.

 

The sales decline with the single major customer represented 70% of a $9 million volume reduction at the Home Meridian segment, and approximately $3 million in chargebacks from the same retailer drove a $4.0 million operating loss for the quarter in the segment. That compares to operating income of about $5 million at Home Meridian in the same quarter a year ago. Several other factors also negatively affected Home Meridian’s current quarter results including about $600,000 in demurrage costs due to excess inventory that we added in anticipation of increased sales, and $450,000 in costs to store that inventory and additional excess inventory due to quality-related customer returns from a major customer last year. We also wrote that inventory down by $650,000 to market value during the quarter to increase the rate of sale. Additionally, Home Meridian incurred about $200,000 in start-up costs for HMIdea during the current quarter. These costs were partially offset by a $520,000 gain on the settlement of our pension plan during the quarter, recorded in other income.

 

On a more positive note, Home Meridian’s hospitality and e-commerce sales continued to grow. Samuel Lawrence Hospitality’s (“SLH”) net sales increased over 30% for the first nine months and ended the quarter with backlog 27% higher than the prior year period and is expected to continue to grow. Home Meridian has also launched a new division, HMidea, which will offer better-quality, ready-to-assemble furniture to mass marketers and e-commerce customers. HMidea’s initial launch was well received at the October High Point Furniture Market and the line is expected continue to grow in the coming months.

 

Percentage-wise, sales in Hooker Branded and All Other were down in the mid-to-low single digits, respectively, and gross profits and operating income improved compared to the prior year third quarter as a percentage of net sales. The impact of 25% tariffs on imported furniture from China enacted this summer has generally resulted in a 10% price increase on the portion of the Company’s product line imported from China in the Hooker Branded segment, suppressing retail demand. In total, given the challenging retail environment and the continued impact of tariffs, we were gratified to improve profitability performance in the Hooker Branded segment and All Other. The Hooker Branded Segment achieved a 190-basis-point improvement in operating income margin, and All Other achieved a 390-basis-point improvement compared to prior year third quarter.

 

 

The Hooker Branded segment’s net sales decreased $2.8 million or 6.0% in the fiscal 2020 third quarter, due to a net sales decrease in the Hooker Casegoods division, partially offset by a net sales increase at Hooker Upholstery. Hooker Casegoods experienced reduced incoming orders and lower sales volume driven by lower consumer demand and softness in the home furnishings industry. Volume loss was partially mitigated by higher average selling prices as we adjusted pricing to mitigate increased product costs and excess tariffs. Hooker Upholstery continued to grow net sales and gross profit, both in the double digits, due to broader product offerings and favorable product mix with more higher-priced sofas and sectionals sold. Hooker Upholstery’s incoming orders increased over 10% compared to fiscal 2019 third quarter.

 

Our sourcing transitions to non-tariff countries are on schedule. Company-wide, we expect to reduce the portion of our overall product line imported from China from about 40% at the end of our most recent fiscal year to approximately 22% by this fiscal year end, with further progress expected in fiscal 2021.

 

Net sales in All Other decreased $1.3 million or 4.3% in the fiscal 2020 third quarter due to sales declines at Bradington –Young and Sam Moore, driven by decreased incoming orders, partially offset by continued strong sales in H Contract division and a lower-single digit sales increase at Shenandoah. Despite net sales declines, three out of four divisions improved gross margin in the third quarter, benefiting from lower material costs and better cost containment, partially offset by operating inefficiencies and higher direct labor due to lower production volume in the third quarter. However, favorable material costs have leveled out and we do not expect additional decreases in the near future. H Contract incoming orders increased over 15% in the third quarter and finished the quarter with backlog over 20% higher than the prior year quarter end. Broader product offerings and favorable product mix with heavier weighting of imported casegoods significantly improved H Contract net sales and profitability. All Other reported a solid operating income margin of 9.6% and 8.7% for the fiscal 2020 third quarter and year to date, respectively.

 

Cash and cash equivalents increased $13.1 million to $24.5 million compared to $11.4 million at fiscal 2019 year-end, principally due to customer deposits in Home Meridian’s hospitality division and the collection of accounts receivable. Despite disappointing operating results thus far in fiscal 2020, we generated $26.6 million in cash from operating activities and $1.4 million from proceeds received on a note receivable from the sale of a former distribution facility. In addition, we paid $5.3 million in cash dividends to our shareholders, $4.7 million for capital expenditures to expand our manufacturing facilities, and $4.4 million towards our term loans. Our total assets and liabilities as of November 3, 2019 each increased approximately $41 million due to the adoption of Topic 842, Leases on the first day of the current fiscal year. We are working to reduce excess inventory and exited one of the temporary warehouses early in the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter. With strategic inventory management and cautious capital expenditures, along with an aggregate $25.7 million available under our existing revolving credit facility to fund working capital, we are confident in our financial condition going forward.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of certain items included in the condensed consolidated statements of income included in this report.

  

   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3,

   

October 28,

   

November 3,

   

October 28,

 
   

2019

   

2018

   

2019

   

2018

 

Net sales

    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %

Cost of sales

    82.0       79.1       81.4       78.5  

Casualty loss

    -       -       -       0.1  

Total cost of sales

    82.0       79.1       81.4       78.6  

Gross profit

    18.0       20.9       18.6       21.4  

Selling and administrative expenses

    14.4       13.4       15.1       14.1  

Intangible asset amortization

    0.4       0.3       0.4       0.4  

Operating income

    3.2       7.2       3.1       6.9  

Other income, net

    0.2       0.1       -       0.1  

Interest expense, net

    0.2       0.2       0.2       0.2  

Income before income taxes

    3.2       7.1       2.9       6.8  

Income tax expense

    0.7       1.6       0.6       1.6  

Net income

    2.5       5.4       2.3       5.2  

  

 

Fiscal 2020 Third Quarter Compared to Fiscal 2019 Third Quarter 

 

   

Net Sales

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
           

% Net Sales

           

% Net Sales

                 

Hooker Branded

  $ 43,703       27.6 %   $ 46,479       27.1 %   $ (2,776 )     -6.0 %

Home Meridian

    85,776       54.3 %     95,013       55.4 %     (9,237 )     -9.7 %

All Other

    28,697       18.1 %     29,982       17.5 %     (1,285 )     -4.3 %

Consolidated

  $ 158,176       100 %   $ 171,474       100 %   $ (13,298 )     -7.8 %

 

Unit Volume

 

FY20 Q3 %

Increase

vs. FY19 Q3

   

Average Selling Price (ASP)

 

FY20 Q3 %

Increase

vs. FY19 Q3

 
                     

Hooker Branded

    -21.1 %  

Hooker Branded

    19.7 %

Home Meridian

    -4.7 %  

Home Meridian

    -1.7 %

All Other

    -11.2 %  

All Other

    6.7 %

Consolidated

    -7.5 %  

Consolidated

    1.7 %

 

Consolidated net sales decreased primarily due to sales decline in the Home Meridian segment and to a lesser extent in the Hooker Branded segment and All Other.

 

 

The net sales decrease in the Hooker Branded segment was due to a sales decrease in Hooker Casegoods while partially offset by continued sales growth in Hooker Upholstery. The sales decline was attributable to decreased unit volume, partially offset by increased ASP, which was due to price increases necessitated by the imposition of tariffs on goods imported from China and higher freight costs, as well as increased sales of higher-priced products by Hooker Upholstery.

 

 

Net sales decreased in the Home Meridian segment due to sales volume loss with club accounts and higher quality chargebacks from a large customer, partially offset by increased volume in Pulaski Furniture and Samuel Lawrence Furniture as their sales begin to return to normal, as well as in Accentrics Home business, which focuses on the growing e-commerce channels. ASP decreased in three out of five divisions but increased significantly at Samuel Lawrence Hospitality due to favorable product mix, and at PRI as the result of margin improvement efforts.

 

 

All Other net sales decreased due to reduced incoming orders at our domestic upholstery manufacturing divisions, partially offset by continued strong sales at H Contract. All Other ASP increased due primarily to increased sales of higher-priced products at Bradington-Young and Shenandoah.

 

   

Gross Income and Margin

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Hooker Branded

  $ 13,947       31.9 %   $ 14,334       30.8 %   $ (387 )     -2.7 %

Home Meridian

    7,286       8.5 %     15,382       16.2 %     (8,096 )     -52.6 %

All Other

    7,166       25.0 %     6,120       20.4 %     1,046       17.1 %

Consolidated

  $ 28,399       18.0 %   $ 35,836       20.9 %   $ (7,437 )     -20.8 %

 

 

Consolidated gross profit decreased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales in the fiscal 2020 third quarter.

 

 

The Hooker Branded segment’s gross profit increased as a percentage of net sales and decreased in absolute terms, which was attributable to lower discounting and increased sales at Hooker Upholstery.

 

 

The Home Meridian segment’s gross profit decreased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales due principally to lower sales and the effects of higher customer chargebacks as well as increased product costs due to excess tariff costs, higher freight costs and charges to write inventory of quality-related returns down to market price. Increased warehousing and distribution costs to handle the excess inventory related to quality issues also negatively impacted gross margin.

 

 

All Other’s gross profit increased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales despite a sales decline in the third quarter. Our domestic upholstery manufacturing divisions continued to benefit from favorable cost of goods sold due to lower material costs, decreased benefits expense due to lower medical claims, partially offset by under-absorption of overhead expense due to reduced order volumes and sales of heavily discounted discontinued product at Sam Moore. H Contract gross profit benefitted from favorable product mix.

 

   

Selling and Administrative Expenses (S&A)

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Hooker Branded

  $ 7,760       17.8 %   $ 8,623       18.6 %   $ (863 )     -10.0 %

Home Meridian

    10,907       12.7 %     10,219       10.8 %     688       6.7 %

All Other

    4,143       14.4 %     4,137       13.8 %     6       0.1 %

Consolidated

  $ 22,810       14.4 %   $ 22,979       13.4 %   $ (169 )     -0.7 %

 

Consolidated S&A expenses decreased in absolute terms but increased as a percentage of net sales in the fiscal 2020 third quarter.

 

 

Hooker Branded segment S&A expenses decreased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales due to decreased compensation costs, lower selling expenses, decreased bad debt expense and other costs.

 

 

Home Meridian segment S&A expenses increased in absolute terms due primarily to increased wages related to the resourcing transition underway in Asia, increased professional services expenses due to higher compliance costs and consulting fees and start-up costs for the new HMIdea division. The increase in Home Meridian S&A expenses was partially offset by decreased selling expenses due to lower sales. Home Meridian segment S&A expenses increased as a percentage of net sales due to lower net sales and higher S&A expenses.

 

 

All Other S&A expenses stayed flat in absolute terms and increased as a percentage of net sales due to lower net sales.

 

   

Intangible Asset Amortization

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Intangible asset amortization

  $ 596       0.4 %   $ 596       0.3 %   $ -       0.0 %

 

Intangible asset amortization expense stayed the same compared to the prior year third quarter.

 

   

Operating Profit (Loss) and Margin

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
           

% Net Sales

           

% Net Sales

                 

Hooker Branded

  $ 6,188       14.2 %   $ 5,712       12.3 %   $ 476       8.3 %

Home Meridian

    (3,955 )     -4.6 %     4,829       5.1 %     (8,784 )     -181.9 %

All Other

    2,760       9.6 %     1,720       5.7 %     1,040       60.5 %

Consolidated

  $ 4,993       3.2 %   $ 12,261       7.2 %   $ (7,268 )     -59.3 %

 

 

Operating profitability decreased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales, due to the factors discussed above.

 

   

Interest Expense, net

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Consolidated interest expense, net

  $ 316       0.2 %   $ 354       0.2 %   $ (38 )     -10.7 %

 

Consolidated interest expense decreased due to lower average loan balances, partially offset by increased interest rates on our variable-rate term loans.

 

   

Income taxes

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Consolidated income tax expense

  $ 1,066       0.7 %   $ 2,775       1.6 %   $ (1,709 )     -61.6 %
                                                 

Effective Tax Rate

    21.4 %             22.9 %                        

 

We recorded income tax expense of $1.1 million for the fiscal 2020 third quarter compared to $2.8 million for the comparable prior year period. The effective tax rates for the fiscal 2020 and 2019 third quarters were 21.4% and 22.9%, respectively.

 

   

Net Income

 
   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
Net Income           % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Consolidated

  $ 3,920       2.5 %   $ 9,332       5.4 %   $ (5,412 )     -58.0 %
                                                 

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.33             $ 0.79                          

 

Fiscal 2020 First Nine Months Compared to Fiscal 2019 First Nine Months 

 

   

Net Sales

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Hooker Branded

  $ 122,707       27.5 %   $ 129,801       26.9 %   $ (7,094 )     -5.5 %

Home Meridian

    240,594       54.0 %     266,631       55.2 %     (26,037 )     -9.8 %

All Other

    82,641       18.5 %     86,594       17.9 %     (3,953 )     -4.6 %

Consolidated

  $ 445,942       100 %   $ 483,026       100 %   $ (37,084 )     -7.7 %

 

 

Unit Volume

 

FY20 YTD %

Increase

vs. FY19 YTD

   

Average Selling Price (ASP)

 

FY20 YTD %

Increase

vs. FY19 YTD

 
                     

Hooker Branded

    -14.0 %  

Hooker Branded

    10.5 %

Home Meridian

    -9.4 %  

Home Meridian

    1.1 %

All Other

    -9.8 %  

All Other

    5.5 %

Consolidated

    -10.0 %  

Consolidated

    3.5 %

 

 

Consolidated net sales decrease was driven by net sales decline in the Home Meridian segment, and to a lesser extent in the Hooker Branded segment and All Other. Incoming orders declined primarily due to the soft retail environment, especially earlier in the fiscal year.

 

 

Net sales decreased in the Hooker Branded segment due to decreased net sales in the Hooker Casegoods division, partially offset by a net sales increase at Hooker Upholstery. Unit volume decreased in this segment while ASP increased due to price increases in response to excess tariffs and higher freight costs, lower discounts, as well as increased sales of higher-priced sofas and sectionals at Hooker Upholstery. Net sales were negatively impacted by higher than expected allowances on increased e-commerce sales.

 

 

Net sales decreased in Home Meridian segment due to sales volume loss with club accounts and major furniture chains, as well as higher allowances and chargebacks due to quality issues, partially offset by increased volume in the Samuel Lawrence Hospitality business and e-commerce sales growth. ASP increased at Samuel Lawrence Hospitality due to favorable product mix and Accentrics Home which focuses on e-commerce channels, partially offset by decreased ASP in the traditional channels.

 

 

All Other net sales decreased due to sales declines at our domestic upholstery manufacturing divisions which experienced reduced incoming orders, partially offset by a strong net sales increase at H Contract. ASP increased in all four divisions included in All Other; however, it was not sufficient to mitigate the volume loss.

 

   

Gross Income and Margin

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Hooker Branded

  $ 38,323       31.2 %   $ 41,372       31.9 %   $ (3,049 )     -7.4 %

Home Meridian

    24,139       10.0 %     43,196       16.2 %     (19,057 )     -44.1 %

All Other

    20,279       24.5 %     18,879       21.8 %     1,400       7.4 %

Consolidated

  $ 82,741       18.6 %   $ 103,447       21.4 %   $ (20,706 )     -20.0 %

 

Consolidated gross profit decreased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales in the fiscal 2020 first nine months.

 

 

The Hooker Branded segment’s gross profit decreased due to lower net sales and increased cost of sales in Hooker Casegoods, partially offset by increased gross profit in Hooker Upholstery due to steady sales growth, favorable product mix, and the absence of a $500,000 casualty loss recorded in fiscal 2019 second quarter. Hooker Branded segment product costs were negatively impacted by excess tariffs and higher freight costs.

 

 

The Home Meridian segment’s gross margin decreased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales due primarily to the sales decline, increased product costs and loss of margin due to higher quality allowances. This segment was more impacted by excess tariff costs, increased freight costs, resourcing transition costs, and increased warehousing and distribution costs to handle excess inventory related to quality issues and inventory build due to business being slower than forecast.

 

 

All Other’s gross profit increased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales, primarily due to the sales increase at H Contract; however, all four divisions improved gross margin as a percentage of net sales. In our domestic upholstery manufacturing divisions, favorable cost of goods sold was attributable to lower material costs, lower benefits expense and cost containment efforts, partially offset by under-absorbed overhead and operating costs as our domestic upholstery divisions continue to operate at lower production levels due to reduced incoming orders. H Contract benefitted from favorable product mix and contributed 75% of the increased gross profit in All Other.

 

 

   

Selling and Administrative Expenses (S&A)

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Hooker Branded

  $ 22,870       18.6 %   $ 23,992       18.5 %   $ (1,122 )     -4.7 %

Home Meridian

    32,152       13.4 %     32,027       12.0 %     125       0.4 %

All Other

    12,264       14.8 %     12,131       14.0 %     133       1.1 %

Consolidated

  $ 67,286       15.1 %   $ 68,150       14.1 %   $ (864 )     -1.3 %

 

Consolidated S&A expenses decreased in absolute terms but increased as a percentage of net sales in the fiscal 2020 first nine months.

 

 

Hooker Branded segment S&A expenses decreased in absolute terms due to decreased compensation costs and selling expenses as the result of lower net sales and profitability, and the recognition of a deferred gain related to the sale of a former distribution facility which we had owner-financed which was paid off during the first quarter. Lower costs were partially offset by higher salaries and wages due to increased headcount, higher expenses to support e-commerce, and the absence of a $1.0 million life insurance gain recorded in the prior year period. Hooker Branded segment S&A expenses stayed essentially flat as a percentage of net sales.

 

 

Home Meridian segment S&A expenses increased in absolute terms due primarily to increased labor costs related to the sourcing transition in Asia, increased professional service fees for compliance and training, increased travel expenses incurred during the sourcing transition and start-up costs for HMIdea, partially offset by decreased selling expenses and bonus attributable to lower sales and profitability. Home Meridian segment S&A expenses increased as a percentage of net sales due to lower net sales.

 

 

All Other S&A expenses increased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales due to higher compensation costs, higher benefits expenses due to medical claims and increased advertising supplies expenses to support the launch of a new brand.

 

   

Intangible Asset Amortization

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Intangible asset amortization

  $ 1,788       0.4 %   $ 1,788       0.4 %   $ -       0.0 %

 

Intangible asset amortization expense stayed the same compared to the prior year nine-month period.

 

   

Operating Profit (Loss) and Margin

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

             

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales               % Net Sales                  

Hooker Branded

  $ 15,453       12.6 %     $ 17,381       13.4 %   $ (1,928 )     -11.1 %

Home Meridian

    (9,013 )     -3.7 %       10,168       3.8 %     (19,181 )     -188.6 %

All Other

    7,227       8.7 %       5,960       6.9 %     1,267       21.3 %

Consolidated

  $ 13,667       3.1 %     $ 33,509       6.9 %   $ (19,842 )     -59.2 %

 

Operating profitability decreased in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales in fiscal 2020 first nine months, due to the factors discussed above.

 

   

Interest Expense, net

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Consolidated interest expense, net

  $ 986       0.2 %   $ 1,099       0.2 %   $ (113 )     -10.3 %

 

 

Consolidated interest expense decreased due to loan balances, partially offset by increased interest rates on our variable-rate term loans.

 

   

Income taxes

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Consolidated income tax expense

  $ 2,829       0.6 %   $ 7,504       1.6 %   $ (4,675 )     -62.3 %
                                                 

Effective Tax Rate

    21.9 %             23.0 %                        

 

We recorded income tax expense of $2.8 million for the fiscal 2020 first nine months compared to $7.5 million for the comparable prior year period. The effective tax rates for the fiscal 2020 and 2019 first nine months were 21.9% and 23.0%, respectively.

 

   

Net Income

 
   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3, 2019

           

October 28, 2018

           

$ Change

   

% Change

 
            % Net Sales             % Net Sales                  

Consolidated

  $ 10,067       2.3 %   $ 25,181       5.2 %   $ (15,114 )     -60.0 %
                                                 

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.85             $ 2.13                          

 

Outlook

 

We face a number of significant risks and uncertainties, as more fully discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our 2019 Annual Report.

 

Compared to the fiscal 2020 second quarter, consolidated orders increased by about $8 million or 5% in the fiscal 2020 third quarter. However, compared to the same period a year ago, consolidated orders dipped approximately $15 million or about 8%. The decline in orders from the one large Home Meridian segment customer is a significant part of that reduction, along with the subdued demand resulting from increased prices due to tariffs. While some retail components of the home furnishings industry like large national chains, club stores, international sales and full-line furniture independent retailers are sluggish, sales performance in other channels such as e-commerce, hospitality, contract furniture and interior design are up.

 

On a consolidated basis, we expect earnings to improve on a sequential basis next quarter. We believe the earnings performance momentum we have in the Hooker Branded segment and in All Other will continue, and for the Home Meridian segment earnings to improve significantly from the third quarter of fiscal 2020 despite the reduced volume from the single large customer.

 

However, there are two calendar dynamics that will impact our performance in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. First, last year was a 53-week leap year, so Company-wide we will have one less week of shipments this year. In addition to this lost week of shipping, the Chinese and Vietnamese New Year holiday vacations are earlier, which will result in an additional five to ten fewer shipping days this fiscal year for our container direct customers.

 

We remain highly engaged as a management team in strategic planning and continue to benefit from having a diverse portfolio of 11 operating units across many different distribution channels, price points and products. We are addressing our long-term and short-term challenges and have active strategies in place to expand our business beyond the current product line and customer base. We remain confident in our business model, market position and strategies and believe we will adapt successfully to the challenges posed by the current business climate.

 

 

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash Flows – Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

 

   

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended

 
   

November 3,

   

October 28,

 
   

2019

   

2018

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 26,610     $ 20,919  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (3,838 )     (1,760 )

Net cash used in financing activities

    (9,709 )     (20,625 )

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  $ 13,063     $ (1,466 )

 

During the nine months ended November 3, 2019, we used some of the $26.6 million of cash generated from operations and $1.4 million of proceeds on a note receivable to pay for $5.3 million in cash dividends, $4.7 million of capital expenditures to expand our domestic manufacturing capacities and to enhance our business systems and facilities, $4.4 million in long-term debt payments, and $558,000 in life insurance premiums.

 

In comparison, during the nine months ended October 28, 2018, cash generated from operations of $20.9 million (despite a $3.0 million contribution to our Pension Plan) and $1.2 million in proceeds received under Company-owned life insurance policies helped to pay $15.7 million in long-term debt payments, $4.9 million in cash dividends, $2.5 million of capital expenditures to enhance our business systems and facilities, and $620,000 in life insurance premiums.

 

Liquidity, Financial Resources and Capital Expenditures

 

Our financial resources include:

 

 

available cash and cash equivalents, which are highly dependent on incoming order rates and our operating performance;

 

expected cash flow from operations; and

 

available lines of credit.

 

We believe these resources are sufficient to meet our business requirements through fiscal 2020 and for the foreseeable future, including:

 

 

capital expenditures;

 

working capital, including capital required to fund our retirement plans;

 

the payment of regular quarterly cash dividends on our common stock; and

 

the servicing of our acquisition-related debt.

 

Loan Agreements and Revolving Credit Facility

 

We currently have one unsecured term loan and one secured term loan outstanding and a revolving credit facility. The term loans are related to the Home Meridian acquisition. Details of our loan agreements and revolving credit facility are outlined below.

 

Original Loan Agreement

 

On February 1, 2016, we entered into an amended and restated loan agreement (the “Original Loan Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A. (“BofA”) in connection with the closing of the Home Meridian acquisition. Also on February 1, 2016, we borrowed in full the amounts available under the Unsecured Term Loan (the “Unsecured Term Loan”) and the Secured Term Loan (the “Secured Term Loan”) in connection with the completion of the Home Meridian acquisition.

 

Details of the individual credit facilities provided for in the Original Loan Agreement are as follows:

 

 

Unsecured revolving credit facility. The Original Loan Agreement increased the amount available under our existing unsecured revolving credit facility from $15 million to $30 million and increased the sublimit of the facility available for the issuance of letters of credit from $3 million to $4 million. Amounts outstanding under the revolving facility bear interest at a rate, adjusted monthly, equal to the then-current LIBOR monthly rate plus 1.50%. We must also pay a quarterly unused commitment fee that is based on the average daily amount of the facility utilized during the applicable quarter;

 

 

 

Unsecured Term Loan. The Original Loan Agreement provided us with a $41 million Unsecured Term Loan. Any amount borrowed under the Unsecured Term Loan bears interest at a rate, adjusted monthly, equal to the then-current LIBOR monthly rate plus 1.50%. We must repay any principal amount borrowed under the Unsecured Term Loan in monthly installments of approximately $490,000, together with any accrued interest, until the full amount borrowed is repaid or until February 1, 2021, at which time all amounts outstanding under the Unsecured Term Loan will become due and payable; and

 

 

Secured Term Loan. The Original Loan Agreement provided us with a $19 million term loan secured by a security interest in certain Company-owned life insurance policies granted to BofA under a security agreement, dated as of February 1, 2016 (the “Security Agreement”). Any amount borrowed under the Secured Term Loan bears interest at a rate, adjusted monthly, equal to the then-current LIBOR monthly rate plus 0.50%. We must pay the interest accrued on any principal amounts borrowed under the Secured Term Loan on a monthly basis until the full principal amount borrowed is repaid or until February 1, 2021, at which time all amounts outstanding under the Secured Term Loan will become due and payable. BofA’s rights under the Security Agreement are enforceable upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Original Loan Agreement.

 

New Loan Agreement

 

On September 29, 2017, we entered into a second amended and restated loan agreement (the “New Loan Agreement”) with BofA in connection with the completion of the Shenandoah acquisition.  The New Loan Agreement:

 

 

amends and restates the Original Loan Agreement detailed above such that our existing $30 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Existing Revolver”), Unsecured Term Loan, and Secured Term Loan all remain outstanding under the New Loan Agreement; and

 

 

provided us with a new $12 million unsecured term loan (the “New Unsecured Term Loan”), which we subsequently paid off in full.

 

The New Loan Agreement also included customary representations and warranties and requires us to comply with customary covenants, including, among other things, the following financial covenants:

 

Maintain a ratio of funded debt to EBITDA not exceeding:

 

o

2.25:1.0 through August 31, 2019; and

 

o

2.00:1.00 thereafter.

 

o

A basic fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.25:1.00; and

 

o

Limit capital expenditures to no more than $15.0 million during any fiscal year beginning in fiscal 2020.

 

The New Loan Agreement also limits our right to incur other indebtedness, make certain investments and create liens upon our assets, subject to certain exceptions, among other restrictions. The New Loan Agreement does not restrict our ability to pay cash dividends on, or repurchase shares of our common stock, subject to our compliance with the financial covenants discussed above, if we are not otherwise in default under the New Loan Agreement. We paid off the New Unsecured Term Loan in fiscal 2019.

 

We were in compliance with each of these financial covenants at November 3, 2019 and expect to remain in compliance with existing covenants for the foreseeable future.

 

As of November 3, 2019, $14.0 million was outstanding under the Unsecured Term Loan, $17.1 million was outstanding under the Secured Term Loan, respectively. We expect to refinance any outstanding balances due under these term loans prior to their due dates of February 1, 2021.

 

Revolving Credit Facility Availability

 

As of November 3, 2019, we had an aggregate $25.7 million available under our revolving credit facility to fund working capital needs. Standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $4.3 million, used to collateralize certain insurance arrangements and for imported product purchases, were outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of November 3, 2019. There were no additional borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of November 3, 2019.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

We spent $4.7 million for capital expenditures during fiscal 2020 first nine months, $3.3 million of which was spent on the expansion of our Bradington-Young manufacturing facility. We expect to spend minimal amounts during the remainder of fiscal 2020 to maintain and continue to enhance our operating systems and facilities.

 

 

Share Repurchase Authorization

 

During fiscal 2013, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $12.5 million of shares of the Company’s common stock. The authorization does not obligate us to acquire a specific number of shares during any period and does not have an expiration date, but it may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, or through privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject to our cash requirements for other purposes, compliance with the covenants under the Loan Agreement and other factors we deem relevant. No shares have been repurchased since fiscal 2013. Approximately $11.8 million remained available for future repurchases under the authorization as of November 3, 2019.

 

Commitments and Contractual Obligations

 

As of November 3, 2019, our commitments and contractual obligations related to our operating leases were as follows:

 

   

Cash Payments Due by Period (In thousands)

   

Less than

                   

More than

         
   

1 Year

   

1-3 Years

   

3-5 Years

   

5 years

   

Total

 

Operating leases*

    2,516       20,366       10,507       15,155       48,544  

 


*These amounts represent estimated cash payments due under operating leases for real estate utilized in our operations and warehouse and office equipment, as well as short term leases with remaining terms less than 12 months. See Note 9 for additional information and disclosures about our leases.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326). This update seeks to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments, including trade receivables, and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The amendments require an entity to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects current expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which guidance is effective, which is a modified-retrospective approach. We are presently completing our analysis of the effects of adopting this standard on our consolidated financial statements and results of operations. Based on our analysis to-date, we do not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements or results of operations. 

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Except as discussed below, there have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our 2019 Annual Report.

 

On the first day of the current fiscal year, we adopted the accounting standard outlined in Part 1, Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, “Note 2. Recently Adopted Accounting Policies” (“Note 2”). See Note 2 for additional information related to the impact of adopting this accounting standard.

  

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of our business, including the impact of interest rate changes, raw materials price risk and changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which could impact our results of operations or financial condition. We manage our exposure to this risk through our normal operating activities.

 

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Borrowings under our revolving credit facility and the Unsecured Term Loan bear interest based on LIBOR plus 1.5% and borrowings under the Secured Term Loan bear interest based on LIBOR plus 0.5%. As such, these debt instruments expose us to market risk for changes in interest rates. There was no outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility as of November 3, 2019, other than standby letters of credit in the amount of $4.3 million; however, as of November 3, 2019, $31.1 million was outstanding under our term loans. A 1% increase in the LIBOR rate would result in an annual increase in interest expenses on our terms loans of approximately $284,000.

 

Raw Materials Price Risk

 

We are exposed to market risk from changes in the cost of raw materials used in our domestic upholstery manufacturing processes; principally, wood, fabric and foam products.  Increases in home construction activity could result in increases in wood and fabric costs. Additionally, the cost of petroleum-based foam products we utilize are sensitive to crude oil prices, which vary due to supply, demand and geo-political factors.

 

Currency Risk

 

For imported products, we generally negotiate firm pricing denominated in U.S. Dollars with our foreign suppliers, typically for periods of at least one year.  We accept the exposure to exchange rate movements beyond these negotiated periods. We do not use derivative financial instruments to manage this risk but could choose to do so in the future.  Most of our imports are purchased from suppliers located in Vietnam and China.  The Chinese currency floats within a limited range in relation to the U.S. Dollar, resulting in exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

 

Since we transact our imported product purchases in U.S. Dollars, a relative decline in the value of the U.S. Dollar could increase the price we pay for imported products beyond the negotiated periods. We generally expect to reflect substantially all of the effect of any price increases from suppliers in the prices we charge for imported products. However, these changes could adversely impact sales volume or profit margins during affected periods.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended November 3, 2019. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of November 3, 2019 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended November 3, 2019, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 6.     Exhibits

 

  

3.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended March 28, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the quarter ended February 28, 2003)

  

  

  

  

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended December 10, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the year ended February 2, 2014)

  

  

  

  

4.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (See Exhibit 3.1)

 

  

  

  

4.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended (See Exhibit 3.2)

     
 

10.1

First Amendment to the 2010 Amended and Restated Hooker Furniture Corporation Supplemental Retirement Income plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) filed with the SEC on November 15, 2019)

  

  

  

  

31.1*

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Company’s principal executive officer

  

  

  

  

31.2*

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Company’s principal financial officer

  

  

  

  

32.1**

Rule 13a-14(b) Certification of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

  

  

  

  

101*

The following financial statements from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 3, 2019, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”): (i) condensed consolidated balance sheets, (ii) condensed consolidated statements of income, (iii) condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iv) condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, and (v) the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements


*Filed herewith

** Furnished herewith

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

Date: December 13, 2019

By:

/s/ Paul A. Huckfeldt

 

 

 

Paul A. Huckfeldt

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and

Senior Vice President – Finance and

Accounting

 

 

 

 

 

33