eCOST.com (ECST) - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[panik]

Profile:eCOST.com. Inc. is a multi-category, online discount retailer of new, close-out and refurbished brandname merchandise. It offers over 100,000 products in seven merchandise categories, including computer hardware and software, home electronics, digital imaging, watches and jewelry, housewares, digital video disc (DVD) movies and video games. The Company offers two shopping formats: everyday low price and Bargain Countdown. It carries products from manufacturers, such as Canon, Citizen, Denon, Hewlett-Packard, Nikon, Onkyo, Seiko and Toshiba, and has access to a broad and deep selection of merchandise, including deeply discounted, close-out and refurbished merchandise.



http://www.ecost.com

[panik]

http://travel.ian.com/index.jsp?cid=118312

eCOST.com Launches Two New Stores: Travel and Licensed Sports Apparel, Gear and Memorabilia
Wednesday October 20, 9:15 am ET


TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 2004--Leading multi-category, online discount retailer eCOST.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:ECST - News) today announced the opening of two new online stores: the Travel Store and the Licensed Sports Apparel, Gear and Memorabilia Store. With the addition of these new stores, eCOST.com now offers merchandise in nine major product categories, further establishing the Company as a one-stop online shopping destination.
ADVERTISEMENT


eCOST.com Travel Store:

The eCOST.com Travel Store is a convenient one-stop shop for planning and booking of travel and vacations with major airlines, hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals, road trips and cruises.

Hotels: Travelers can choose from a wide selection of lodging accommodations at over 11,000 discounted premiere properties in more than 400 cities in North America, Europe, the Caribbean and Asia. The eCOST.com Travel Store offers a one-stop shopping source for comparing hotel pricing, amenities and availability, and also specializes in providing travelers with accommodations during sold-out periods.

Airlines and Car Rentals: Customers can book airfare and car rentals with major airlines and car rental companies.

Cruises: Travelers can search for cruise vacations with major cruise lines.

Vacation Rentals: The Travel Store allows customers to search discounted and exclusive vacation rentals at over 1,000 properties throughout North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia.

Destination Guides: The comprehensive Destination Guides provide information for over 5,000 cities worldwide.

eCOST.com Licensed Sports Apparel, Gear and Memorabilia Store:

eCOST.com has also opened its Licensed Sports Apparel, Gear and Memorabilia Store. The Company offers its customers discounted prices on popular and hard-to-find licensed sports apparel, gear, gifts and memorabilia. Sports fans can shop among a wide selection of professional and college sports team products.

"eCOST is a trusted destination for online deals. We have expanded our discount offering to include Travel and Licensed Sports Apparel. These new categories give our customers more reasons to buy from us and experience our excellent service," said Adam Shaffer, CEO of eCOST.com. "We are excited about our new stores and we plan to continue to add new products and categories as we expand our multi-category destination website."

About eCOST.com, Inc.

eCOST.com is a multi-category online discount retailer of high quality new, "close-out" and refurbished brand-name merchandise for consumers and small business buyers. eCOST.com markets over 100,000 different products from companies such as Canon, Denon, HP, Nikon, Onkyo, Seiko and Toshiba primarily over the Internet (http://www.ecost.com) and through direct marketing. eCOST.com is a subsidiary of PC Mall, Inc., a NASDAQ listed company (Ticker:MALL).

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include the statements regarding the Company`s expectations, hopes or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to statements regarding its new product categories: travel and licensed sports apparel. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: consumer acceptance of the Company`s new product categories; the Company`s reliance on its relationships with vendors and suppliers; limited expertise in new product categories; limited operating history; competition and pricing pressures; and risks due to shifts in market demand and the economic climate. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and in other sections of eCOST.com`s registration statement on Form S-1, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in its other periodic reports filed from time to time with the Commission. All forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.



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Contact:
eCOST.com Inc.
Adam Shaffer or Ted Sanders, 310-225-4044



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Source: eCOST.com, Inc.

[corvis]

http://www.fool.com/News/Take/2004/take040506.htm

A Dot-Com IPO!
By Rick Aristotle Munarriz (TMF Edible)

Did you hear about the latest Internet IPO? No, it`s not Google. It`s eCOST.com, taking a ride on the Google coattails. The PC Mall (Nasdaq: MALL) subsidiary filed to go public yesterday.

What`s this? A direct marketer with an established site like PC Mall spinning off one of its online appendages? Woo hoo! Let`s party like it`s 1999. It does have a bubblicious ring to it, but you can`t blame PC Mall.

Last night, the company reported sales growth of 18% overall, while the top line for its eCOST.com site surged a full 60%. eCOST.com also produced sequential sales growth. Not impressed? Hey, we`re talking about doing better in the March quarter than in the seasonally strong December quarter.

Still, it will be interesting to see what the market ultimately pegs as a fair value for eCOST.com. After all, while it`s a fast grower, it produced just 14% of PC Mall`s first-quarter revenues.

In fact, eCOST.com is cut in the mold of Hidden Gems pick Overstock.com (Nasdaq: OSTK) with its emphasis on bargain-priced merchandise and closeouts. Over the past few months, the site has started selling everything from video games and housewares to jewelry and DVDs.

So does Google`s pending debut mean that we`ll see a ton of dot-com upstarts rushing to go public? Let`s hope not. Internet companies that have done so are showing mixed results. Former Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) has fared well. Travel portal Orbitz (Nasdaq: ORBZ) is trading essentially where it was the day it went public. iPass (Nasdaq: IPAS) has seen its shares more than halved from last year`s highs.

Fortunately, unlike in the go-go `90s, the companies going public today have established track records, proven business models, and in some cases, actual profits. Don`t replace that lemonade stand with a tulip bulb nursery just yet. The companies that have made it this far have earned it.



Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz would file to go public if he only knew where that file was. He owns shares in Netflix but no other companies mentioned in this story.

[panik]

eCOST.com Posts Record Sales -- 70 Percent Growth Over Q3 2003
Wednesday November 3, 4:09 pm ET
New Customers for Q3 2004 Up 93 Percent From Q3 2003


TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 2004--eCOST.com (NASDAQ:ECST - News):
Highlights:

Record sales of $43.4 million for the quarter compared with $25.5 million in Q3 2003, a 70 percent increase and its seventh consecutive quarter of sequential growth.
GAAP earnings per share for the quarter was a loss of $0.06 compared with Q3 2003 diluted earnings of $0.02 per share which includes initial public offering ("IPO") related expenses and non-cash stock-based compensation.
Non-GAAP pro forma diluted earnings per share for the quarter, which excludes IPO related expenses and non-cash stock-based compensation costs, was $0.00 compared with $0.02 per share for Q3 2003.
Order volume increased 82 percent from Q3 2003.
Company continued to lower its cost to acquire new customers.
eCOST.com (NASDAQ:ECST - News) today reported record quarterly sales of $43.4 million, up 70 percent from Q3 2003 sales of $25.5 million. Earnings per share for Q3 2004 was a loss of $0.06 compared with earnings per share of $0.02 per share for Q3 2003. Non-GAAP pro forma diluted earnings per share for the quarter, which excludes IPO related expenses and non-cash stock-based compensation expenses recognized as a result of the IPO, was $0.00.

eCOST.com sales growth continued to accelerate while at the same time the Company continued to lower its cost to acquire a new customers. Gross profit per order continued to exceed new customer acquisition cost. eCOST.com also continued its focus on launching new product categories and expanding the depth of its product selection.

Adam Shaffer, CEO of eCOST.com, stated, "We are pleased with our record sales for the quarter and continued strong growth in our customer base. We also expanded our assortment of products and further enhanced our customers` online shopping experience. We continued to build-out our Home & Houseware category, now offering a growing line of bed, bath and apparel products. We are also pleased to have launched two new category stores -- Licensed Sports Apparel & Memorabilia and Travel."

Sales for Q3 2004 rose 70 percent from the same quarter last year reflecting growth in new and active customers and an increase in advertising spending. Gross profit for Q3 2004 rose 59 percent, or $1.5 million, from Q3 2003. The increase in gross profit resulted from an increase in sales. Gross profit margins as a percentage of sales declined to 9.5 percent from 10.1 percent in Q3 2003. The decline in Q3 2004 gross profit margin from Q3 2003 is primarily the result of promotional pricing and special offers to accelerate customer acquisition. The Company`s gross profit percentage will vary from quarter to quarter depending on the continuation of key vendor support programs as well as product mix, pricing strategies and other factors.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") as a percentage of sales for Q3 2004 was 12.7 percent, compared to 9.1 percent of sales for Q3 2003. The increase in Q3 2004 SG&A expenses resulted primarily from $1.4 million of IPO related transaction expenses and non-cash stock-based compensation costs recognized as a result of the IPO. Excluding IPO related expenses and non-cash stock-based compensation costs and, therefore on a non-GAAP pro forma basis, SG&A as a percentage of sales for Q3 2004 was 9.4 percent of sales. The increase in the adjusted SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales reflects the cost of additional personnel to build out the management team and public company corporate governance expenses.

Shaffer concluded, "I am proud that our eCOST.com team achieved 70 percent sales growth while maintaining our affordable customer acquisition model. We plan to continue to focus on developing new categories to deliver world-class service and exceptional value to our customers."

Non-GAAP Pro Forma Measures

As described below, the pro forma results contained herein, which are a supplement to financial results based on generally accepted accounting principles, exclude non-cash stock-based compensation expense and IPO related transaction costs. The Company believes that the presentation of results excluding these items provides meaningful supplemental information to both management and investors that is indicative of the Company`s core operating results across reporting periods. The Company has included below a full income statement reconciliation of these non-GAAP pro forma measures to provide a more complete view of their effect on results of operations.

Conference Call

Management will be holding a conference call on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss third quarter results. To participate, please dial 800-638-4930 and input pass code 76952489 no later than 4:50 p.m. EST.

To listen to eCOST.com`s management discussion of the third quarter results live, access the eCOST.com website, www.ecost.com, and click on the Investor Relations section.

A conference call replay will be available from 7:00 p.m. on November 3 until November 24, 2004 and can be accessed by calling: 888-286-8010 and inputting pass code 48436603.

About eCOST.com, Inc.

eCOST.com is a multi-category online discount retailer of high-quality new, "close-out" and refurbished brand-name merchandise for consumers and small business buyers. eCOST.com markets over 100,000 different products from leading manufacturers such as Apple, Canon, Citizen, Denon, HP, IBM, JVC, Nike, Nikon, Onkyo, Seiko, Sony, and Toshiba primarily over the Internet (http://www.ecost.com) and through direct marketing. eCOST.com is a subsidiary of PC Mall, Inc. (NASDAQ:MALL - News).

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include the statements regarding the Company`s expectations, hopes or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to statements regarding business and financial trends, customer acquisition costs, sales growth and market share, new product categories and expansion of existing categories, and growth in the Company`s customer base. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: reliance on PC Mall`s operational and administrative structure; risks relating to the Company`s transition to becoming a stand-alone company; the Company`s ability to maintain existing and build new vendor and supplier relationships; ability to obtain favorable product pricing and vendor consideration; product availability; ability to expand the Company`s website and systems to accommodate growth; ability to attract customers on cost-effective terms; consumer acceptance of the Company`s new product categories; limited expertise in new product categories; effectiveness of the Company`s management team; availability of financing on acceptable terms; costs of defending or liability from intellectual property infringement claims by third parties; ability to defend the Company`s intellectual property rights; limited operating history; competition and pricing pressures; risks relating to credit card fraud; risks relating to state sales tax collection; government regulation affecting the Company`s business; risks due to shifts in market demand and the economic climate; ability to maintain operating expenses within anticipated levels; and inability to convert back orders to completed sales. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and in other sections of the Company`s registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-115199), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in its other periodic reports filed from time to time with the Commission. All forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

eCOST.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands except per share data)

For the three For the nine
months ended months ended
September 30, September 30,
---------------- -----------------
2004 2003 2004 2003
------- ------- -------- -------
Net sales $43,397 $25,519 $120,389 $73,323

Cost of goods sold 39,294 22,940 109,055 65,867
------- ------- -------- -------

Gross profit 4,103 2,579 11,334 7,456

Selling, general and
administrative expenses:

Selling, general and
administrative expenses 4,081 2,327 10,749 6,657

Non-cash stock-based
compensation expense 1,287 - 1,381 -

IPO related expenses 159 - 653 -
------- ------- -------- -------
Total selling, general and
administrative
expenses 5,527 2,327 12,783 6,657

Income (loss) from operations (1,424) 252 (1,449) 799

Interest (income) expense, net (7) - (7) 76
Interest expense-PC Mall
Commercial line of credit 304 363 1,264 951
Interest income-PC Mall
Commercial line of credit (304) (363) (1,264) (951)
------- ------- -------- -------

Income (loss) before income taxes (1,417) 252 (1,442) 723

Income tax provision (benefit) (525) - (535) -
------- ------- -------- -------

Net income (loss) $ (892) $ 252 $ (907) $ 723
======= ======= ======== =======
Earnings per share
Basic $ (0.06) $ 0.02 $ (0.06) $ 0.05
Diluted $ (0.06) $ 0.02 $ (0.06) $ 0.05

Shares used in computing per
share (in thousands)
Basic 15,155 14,000 14,385 14,000
======= ======= ======== =======
Diluted 15,155 14,465 14,385 14,448
======= ======= ======== =======


eCOST.COM, INC.
IMPACT OF NON-GAAP PRO FORMA ADJUSTMENTS ON NET LOSS
(unaudited, in thousands except per share data)

For the three months ended
September 30, 2004
------------------------------
2004 Non-GAAP
As Pro Forma Non-GAAP
Reported Adjustments Pro Forma
------------------------------

Net sales $43,397 $ - $43,397

Cost of goods sold 39,294 - 39,294
------- ------- -------
Gross profit 4,103 - 4,103
Selling, general and administrative
expenses:

Selling, general and administrative
expenses 4,081 - 4,081

Non-cash stock-based compensation
expense 1,287 (1,287)(a) -

IPO related expenses 159 (159)(b) -
------- ------- -------
Total selling, general and administrative
expenses 5,527 (1,446) 4,081
------- ------- -------
Income (loss) from operations (1,424) 1,446 22

Interest (income) expense, net (7) - (7)
Interest expense-PC Mall commercial line
of credit 304 - 304
Interest income-PC Mall commercial line
of credit (304) - (304)
------- ------- -------
Income (loss) before income taxes (1,417) 1,446 29

Income tax provision (benefit) (525) 536 11
------- ------- -------

Net income (loss) $ (892) $ 910 $ 18
======= ======= =======
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic $ (0.06) $ 0.06 $ 0.00
Diluted $ (0.06) $ 0.06 $ 0.00

Shares used in computing per share
(in thousands)
Basic 15,155 15,155 15,155
======= ======= =======
Diluted 15,155 15,390 15,390
======= ======= =======


For the nine months ended
September 30, 2004
------------------------------
2004 Non-GAAP
As Pro Forma Non-GAAP
Reported Adjustments Pro Forma
------------------------------

Net sales $120,389 $ - $120,389

Cost of goods sold 109,055 - 109,055
-------- ------- --------

Gross profit 11,334 - 11,334
Selling, general and administrative
expenses:

Selling, general and administrative
expenses 10,749 - 10,749

Non-cash stock-based compensation
expense 1,381 (1,381)(a) -

IPO related expenses 653 (653)(b) -
-------- ------- --------
Total selling, general and
administrative expenses 12,783 (2,034) 10,749
-------- ------- --------
Income (loss) from operations (1,449) 2,034 585

Interest (income) expense, net (7) - (7)
Interest expense-PC Mall commercial
line of credit 1,264 - 1,264
Interest income-PC Mall commercial line
of credit (1,264) - (1,264)
-------- ------- --------
Income (loss) before income taxes (1,442) 2,034 592

Income tax provision (benefit) (535) 755 220
-------- ------- --------

Net income (loss) $ (907) $ 1,279 $ 372
======== ======= ========
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic $ (0.06) $ 0.09 $ 0.03
Diluted $ (0.06) $ 0.09 $ 0.03

Shares used in computing per share (in
thousands)
Basic 14,385 14,385 14,385
======== ======= ========
Diluted 14,385 14,639 14,639
======== ======= ========

(a) Non-cash stock-based compensation expense for eCOST.com options
recognized as a result of the initial public offering.

(b) External costs associated with the initial public offering of
eCOST.com.


eCOST.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(in thousands, except share data)

September 30, December
2004 31,
(unaudited) 2003
-------------- ---------
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 19,738 $ -
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts 3,276 2,044
Inventories 1,526 1,199
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 294 51
Deferred income taxes 155 155
Receivable from the Parent - 30,676
-------- --------
Total current assets 24,989 34,125

Property and equipment, net 219 125
Due from Affiliate, net - 991
Deferred income taxes 4,741 4,206
Other assets 107 29
-------- --------
Total assets $ 30,056 $ 39,476
======== ========

Liabilities and Stockholders` Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 1,622 $ 1,678
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 2,358 1,738
Deferred revenue 1,712 1,345
Net advances from Affiliate 3,300 -
Line of credit - 30,676
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 8,992 35,437
-------- --------

Total liabilities 8,992 35,437
-------- --------
Stockholders` equity:
Common stock, $.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares
authorized, 17,465,000 and 14,000,000 shares
issued and outstanding, respectively 17 14
Additional paid-in capital 33,442 16,598
Deferred stock-based compensation (1,458) -
Capital contribution due from Affiliate - (2,543)
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) (10,937) (10,030)
-------- --------
Total stockholders` equity 21,064 4,039
-------- --------
$ 30,056 $ 39,476
======== ========


eCOST.COM, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING DATA
(unaudited)

For the three For the nine
months ended months ended
September 30, September 30,
----------------- -------------------
2004 2003 2004 2003
------- ------- ------- -------
Total customers (1) 948,777 640,630 948,777 640,630

Active customers (2) 388,918 211,465 388,918 211,465

New customers (3) 88,378 45,909 232,867 123,434

Number of orders (4) 140,468 77,294 376,828 203,919

Average order value (5) $ 320 $ 341 $ 331 $ 373

Advertising expense (6) $1,378,000 $815,000 $3,878,000 $2,260,000


(1) Total customers has been calculated as the cumulative number of
customers for which orders have been taken from our inception to
the end of the reported period.

(2) Active customers consists of the number of customers who placed
orders during the 12 months prior to the end of the reported
period.

(3) New customers represents the number of persons that established a
new account and placed an order during the reported period.

(4) Number of orders represents the total number of orders shipped
during the reported period (not reflecting returns).

(5) Average order value has been calculated as gross sales divided by
the total number of orders during the period presented. The impact
of returns is not reflected in average order value.

(6) Advertising expense includes the total dollars spent on
advertising during the reported period, including Internet, direct
mail, print and e-mail advertising, as well as customer list
enhancement services.



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Contact:
eCOST.com, Inc.
Adam Shaffer or Ted Sanders, 310-225-4044



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: eCOST.com, Inc.

[Macros]

Irgendwelche Meinungen wie weit es noch abwärts geht?

Weder bei Ecost noch bei PCMall bin ich mir sicher ob ich jetzt schon wieder einsteigen sollte.
Dachte das die Online retailer ganz dick zur Weinnachtszeit mitverdienen.

Vieleicht interessiert sich ja noch jemand für die Aktien außer Panik der eh nur die News copy&past macht

Gruss
Macros

[Macros]

Gestern Ende der Konsolidierung oder nur Strohfeuer?
Gleich werden wirs wissen

Gruss
Macros

[Macros]

Bin ja gespannt wenn bei ecost mal endlich der boden gefunden ist. Viel tiefer kann ichs mir jedenfalls nicht mehr vorstellen.

[panik]

[panik]

[Macros]

Jetzt wird sie auch noch von der Nasdaq verbannt und zum pennystock fehlt auch nicht mehr viel.

Wenn die mal wieder schwarze Zahlen schreiben geht das ding sicher durch die decke. Jetzt wohl erstmal noch richtung süden wie die letzten Monate.

[benefactor [KommA]]

eCOST.com wurde von PFSweb übernommen.