Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Reports Improvement in Third Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results Over Prior Year

Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) today reported results for the third quarter and 39 weeks ended November 2, 2019. In the fiscal 2019 third quarter:

• Total revenues were $70.4 million compared to $68.7 million in the fiscal 2018 third quarter, inclusive of a 2.0% increase in net retail sales and a 17.9% increase in commercial revenue;
• Retail gross margin expanded to 39.5%, a 400-basis point improvement compared to the fiscal 2018 third quarter;
• Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) were $35.4 million; as a percent of total revenue, the Company showed an 80-basis point improvement compared to the fiscal 2018 third quarter; and
• Pre-tax loss was $7.7 million, a $2.3 million improvement from the fiscal 2018 third quarter, or a $1.0 million improvement over the prior period when adjusted for costs primarily related to non-cash asset impairment charges.

Sharon Price John, Build-A-Bear Workshop President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We continued to advance our strategy to leverage the power of the Build-A-Bear brand as we increased revenue and improved our pre-tax performance in the third quarter, which is the smallest quarter of our fiscal year and typically results in a loss. Net retail sales saw growth across geographies in North America and Europe inclusive of our eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit ecommerce growth while our diversification initiatives delivered an increase in our commercial revenue segment. We remain focused on evolving our company and leveraging our brand strength as we expand into additional categories reaching more consumers beyond the traditional mall-based retail model.”

Additional Third Quarter 2019 Highlights (13 weeks ended November 2, 2019 compared to the 13 weeks ended November 3, 2018):

• Net retail sales were $66.6 million compared to $65.3 million in the fiscal 2018 third quarter;
• Income tax benefit was $1.8 million, compared to an income tax benefit of $3.9 million in the fiscal 2018 third quarter; and
• Net loss was $5.9 million, or $0.40 per share, compared to a net loss of $6.1 million, or $0.42 per share, in the fiscal 2018 third quarter.

Store Activity:

The Company maintains a high level of lease optionality with nearly 70% of corporately-managed stores having a lease option within the next three years; accordingly, the Company continues to expect to selectively close up to 30 locations over the next two years partially offset by selective openings. As of November 2, 2019, the Company operated 371 corporately-managed locations, including 315 in North America inclusive of 22 shop-in-shops within select Walmart locations, and 56 outside of North America. Through its third-party retail model, there were 54 stores in operation with relationships that included Carnival Cruise Line, Great Wolf Lodge Resorts, Landry’s Inc. and Beaches Family Resorts. The Company’s international franchisees ended the quarter with 104 stores in 13 countries.

Balance Sheet:

As of November 2, 2019, cash and cash equivalents totaled $6.2 million. The Company ended the third quarter with no borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

Total inventory at quarter-end was $66.2 million compared to $57.3 million at the end of the fiscal 2018 third quarter. The fiscal 2019 third quarter inventory increase was a result of the receipt of inventory supporting key product stories and acceleration of some receipts of China-sourced goods due to potential tariffs. In the third quarter of fiscal 2019, capital expenditures totaled $5.2 million and depreciation and amortization were $3.6 million.

As the Company previously noted, for comparison purposes, on February 3, 2019, it recorded lease liabilities of $176.2 million upon adoption of the new lease accounting standard, also referred to as ASC Topic 842, based on the present value of remaining lease payments. A corresponding right-to-use asset of $151.5 million was recorded on the balance sheet upon adoption which was net of accrued and prepaid rent, deferred lease incentives and impairment charges.

2019 Expectations (52 weeks ending February 1, 2020 compared to the 52 weeks ended February 2, 2019):

On a GAAP basis, the Company is updating guidance for fiscal 2019 total revenue and depreciation and amortization.

For fiscal 2019, the Company currently expects:

• Fourth quarter total revenue to be in the range of slightly positive to down low single-digit due to lower than expected quarter-to-date traditional mall traffic and sales associated with a key licensed movie property as well as the loss of revenue from the developer’s delay in the opening of a planned flagship location, resulting in total revenue for the fiscal year to be in the flat to down low single-digit range;
• Pre-tax income to be slightly positive;
• Capital expenditures to be in the range of $12 to $14 million;
• Depreciation and amortization to be in the range of $14 to $15 million;
• Operating cash flow less capital expenditures to be positive for the year; and
• To finish the year with $20 to $25 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Although it does not expect its results to be impacted by the following, the Company notes that the above guidance does not include any potential end-of-year non-cash asset impairment charges nor a significant variance in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company has also noted that it continues to assume that there will be no changes in the rate or effective date that have been announced for the potential tariffs on China goods later this year.

Today’s Conference Call Webcast:

Build-A-Bear Workshop will host a live internet webcast of its quarterly investor conference call at 9 a.m. ET today. The audio broadcast may be accessed at the Company’s investor relations website, http://IR.buildabear.com. The call is expected to conclude by 10 a.m. ET.

A replay of the conference call webcast will be available in the investor relations website for one year. A telephone replay will be available beginning at approximately noon ET today until midnight ET on December 12, 2019. The telephone replay is available by calling [phone]. The access code is: 13695127.

About Build-A-Bear

Build-A-Bear is a global brand kids love and parents trust that seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop has more than 450 stores worldwide where Guests can create customizable furry friends, including corporately-managed stores in the United States, Canada, China, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom, and franchise stores in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $336.6 million in fiscal 2018. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that are, or may be considered to be, “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. We generally identify these statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “future,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative or any derivative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All of the information concerning our future liquidity, future revenues, margins and other future financial performance and results, achievement of operating of financial plans or forecasts for future periods, sources and availability of credit and liquidity (including our ability to amend our credit facility on a timely basis on terms acceptable to us or at all), future cash flows and cash needs, success and results of strategic initiatives and other future financial performance or financial position, as well as our assumptions underlying such information, constitute forward-looking information.

These statements are based only on our current expectations and projections about future events. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed under the caption entitled “Risks Related to Our Business” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 18, 2019 and other periodic reports filed with the SEC which are incorporated herein.

All of our forward-looking statements are as of the date of this Press Release only. In each case, actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking information. We can give no assurance that such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. An occurrence of or any material adverse change in one or more of the risk factors or other risks and uncertainties referred to in this Press Release or included in our other public disclosures or our other periodic reports or other documents or filings filed with or furnished to the SEC could materially and adversely affect our continuing operations and our future financial results, cash flows, available credit, prospects and liquidity. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
					November 2,			February 2,			November 3,
					2019			2019			2018
ASSETS
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents				$	6,167		$	17,894		$	8,631
	Inventories					66,205			58,356			57,309
	Receivables					10,250			10,588			12,962
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets					6,327			12,960			16,848
			Total current assets			88,949			99,798			95,750
Operating lease right-of-use asset						135,810			-			-
Property and equipment, net						65,954			66,368			73,343
Deferred tax assets						3,203			3,099			6,783
Other intangible assets, net						27			731			887
Other assets, net						2,734			2,050			2,091
Total Assets					$	296,677		$	172,046		$	178,854
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable				$	18,390		$	22,551		$	18,179
	Accrued expenses					9,985			10,047			7,559
	Operating lease liability short term					31,537			-			-
	Gift cards and customer deposits					19,141			21,643			18,580
	Short-term borrowings					-			-			7,250
	Deferred revenue and other					2,347			1,936			2,006
			Total current liabilities			81,400			56,177			53,574
Operating lease liability long term						130,394			-			-
Deferred rent						-			18,440			18,066
Deferred franchise revenue						1,289			1,625			1,557
Other liabilities						1,651			1,490			1,765
Stockholders' equity:
	Common stock, par value $0.01 per share					152			150			150
	Additional paid-in capital					69,955			69,088			68,274
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss					(11,927)			(12,018)			(12,049)
	Retained earnings					23,763			37,094			47,517
			Total stockholders' equity			81,943			94,314			103,892
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity					$	296,677		$	172,046		$	178,854

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
									13 Weeks					13 Weeks
									Ended					Ended
									November 2,		% of Total			November 3,		% of Total
									2019		Revenues (1)			2018		Revenues (1)
Revenues:
	Net retail sales							$	66,575		94.6		$	65,298		95.0
	Commercial revenue								2,560		3.6			2,171		3.2
	International franchising								1,249		1.8			1,225		1.8
				Total revenues					70,384		100.0			68,694		100.0
Cost of merchandise sold:
	Cost of merchandise sold - retail (1)								40,284		60.5			42,129		64.5
	Cost of merchandise sold - commercial (1)								1,412		55.2			773		35.6
	Cost of merchandise sold - international franchising (1)								962		77.0			731		59.7
				Total cost of merchandise sold					42,658		60.6			43,633		63.5
Consolidated gross profit									27,726		39.4			25,061		36.5
	Selling, general and administrative expense								35,412		50.3			35,069		51.1
	Interest expense (income), net								8		0.0			(16)		(0.0)
				Income (loss) before income taxes					(7,694)		(10.9)			(9,992)		(14.5)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(1,821)		(2.6)			(3,928)		(5.7)
				Net income (loss)				$	(5,873)		(8.3)		$	(6,064)		(8.8)
Income (loss) per common share:
	Basic							$	(0.40)				$	(0.42)
	Diluted							$	(0.40)				$	(0.42)
Shares used in computing common per share amounts:
	Basic								14,752,307					14,590,614
	Diluted								14,752,307					14,590,614
	(1)			Selected statement of income data expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except cost of merchandise sold - retail, cost of merchandise sold - commercial and cost of merchandise sold - international franchising that are expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue and international franchising, respectively. Percentages will not total due to cost of merchandise sold being expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue or international franchising and immaterial rounding.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
									39 Weeks					39 Weeks
									Ended					Ended
									November 2,		% of Total			November 3,		% of Total
									2019		Revenues (1)			2018		Revenues (1)
Revenues:
	Net retail sales							$	222,837		95.3		$	227,760		96.9
	Commercial revenue								8,507		3.6			4,245		1.8
	International franchising								2,616		1.1			3,051		1.3
				Total revenues					233,960		100.0			235,056		100.0
Costs and expenses:
	Cost of merchandise sold - retail (1)								126,722		56.9			134,115		58.9
	Cost of merchandise sold - commercial (1)								3,887		45.7			1,843		43.4
	Cost of merchandise sold - international franchising (1)								2,417		92.4			1,650		54.1
					Total cost of merchandise sold				133,026		56.9			137,608		58.5
Consolidated gross profit									100,934		43.1			97,448		41.5
	Selling, general and administrative expense								106,940		45.7			109,334		46.5
	Interest expense (income), net								21		0.0			5		0.0
				Income (loss) before income taxes					(6,027)		(2.6)			(11,891)		(5.1)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(126)		(0.1)			(4,381)		(1.9)
				Net income (loss)				$	(5,901)		(2.5)		$	(7,510)		(3.2)
Income (loss) per common share:
	Basic							$	(0.40)				$	(0.51)
	Diluted							$	(0.40)				$	(0.51)
Shares used in computing common per share amounts:
	Basic								14,697,592					14,597,255
	Diluted								14,697,592					14,597,255
	(1)			Selected statement of income data expressed as a percentage of total revenues, except cost of merchandise sold - retail, cost of merchandise sold - commercial and cost of merchandise sold - international franchising that are expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue and international franchising, respectively. Percentages will not total due to cost of merchandise sold being expressed as a percentage of net retail sales, commercial revenue or international franchising and immaterial rounding.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Selected Financial and Store Data
(dollars in thousands)
					13 Weeks			13 Weeks					39 Weeks			39 Weeks
					Ended			Ended					Ended			Ended
					November 2,			November 3,					November 2,			November 3,
					2019			2018					2019			2018
Other financial data:
		Retail gross margin ($) (1)		$	26,291		$	23,169				$	96,115		$	93,645
		Retail gross margin (%) (1)			39.5%			35.5%					43.1%			41.1%
		Capital expenditures (2)		$	5,155		$	1,742				$	10,099		$	8,853
		Depreciation and amortization		$	3,561		$	4,048				$	10,359		$	12,186
Store data (3):
		Number of corporately-managed retail locations at end of period
			North America										315			312
			Europe										55			58
			Asia										1			1
			Total corporately-managed retail locations										371			371
		Number of franchised stores at end of period											104			94
		Corporately-managed store square footage at end of period (4)
			North America										719,277			729,445
			Europe										78,786			81,198
			Asia										1,750			1,750
			Total square footage										799,813			812,393
(1)		Retail gross margin represents net retail sales less cost of merchandise sold - retail. Retail gross margin percentage represents retail gross margin divided by net retail sales.
(2)		Capital expenditures represents cash paid for property, equipment, other assets and other intangible assets.
(3)		Excludes e-commerce. North American stores are located in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. In Europe, stores are located in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark. In Asia, the store is located in China.
(4)		Square footage for stores located in North America is leased square footage. Square footage for stores located in Europe is estimated selling square footage.

 

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