MILWAUKEE, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weyco Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WEYS) (“we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company”) today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.
Fourth Quarter 2023
Consolidated net sales were $80.6 million, down 19% from $99.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Consolidated gross earnings increased to 50.3% of net sales compared to 46.6% of net sales in last year’s fourth quarter, due mainly to higher gross margins in our North American wholesale segment. Quarterly earnings from operations were $11.5 million, down 24% compared to record operating earnings of $15.1 million in 2022. Fourth-quarter 2023 net earnings were $8.5 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, compared to $10.2 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, last year.
North American Wholesale Segment
Net sales in our wholesale segment were $59.6 million, down 21% compared to $75.5 million in 2022. Our BOGS brand experienced the largest decrease, with sales down 32% for the quarter, as retailers reduced orders amid the current saturation of product in the outdoor footwear market, and due to the mild Fall and Winter weather. Sales of the Stacy Adams, Nunn Bush, and Florsheim brands were down 19%, 18%, and 13%, respectively, for the quarter. Sales volumes were down across our legacy brands as a result of weaker demand following a period of strong growth in 2022.
Wholesale gross earnings were 44.9% of net sales for the quarter compared to 41.3% of net sales in last year’s fourth quarter. Gross margins improved as a result of lower inventory costs, primarily inbound freight. Wholesale selling and administrative expenses totaled $18.9 million for the quarter compared to $20.5 million last year. The decrease was largely due to lower employee costs, mainly commission-based compensation. As a percent of net sales, wholesale selling and administrative expenses totaled 32% for the quarter versus 27% last year. Wholesale operating earnings totaled $7.9 million for the quarter, down 27% from $10.7 million in 2022, primarily due to lower sales.
North American Retail Segment
Retail net sales were $13.9 million, down 3% compared to record sales of $14.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily on the BOGS website, as a result of lower demand.
Retail gross earnings as a percent of net sales were 65.8% and 64.5% in the fourth quarters of 2023 and 2022, respectively. Selling and administrative expenses for the retail segment totaled $5.6 million for the quarter compared to $5.9 million last year, down as a result of lower web advertising costs. As a percent of net sales, retail selling and administrative expenses were flat at 41% in both 2023 and 2022. Retail operating earnings reached a record $3.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, up 6% over $3.3 million in 2022. The earnings improvement resulted from lower costs in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Other
Our other operations consist of our retail and wholesale businesses in Australia, South Africa, and Asia Pacific (collectively, “Florsheim Australia”). However, as previously disclosed, we ceased operations in the Asia Pacific region in 2023, and are in the final stages of winding down this business. Net sales of Florsheim Australia were $7.2 million, down 23% from $9.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. In local currency, Florsheim Australia’s net sales were down 22%, due mainly to the loss of a sizeable wholesale customer in Australia earlier in 2023, but also due to lower retail sales in the Asia Pacific region as a result of its wind-down.
Florsheim Australia’s gross earnings were 65.4% of net sales for the quarter compared to 61.8% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2022. Its operating earnings were $0.2 million for the quarter compared to $1.1 million last year, down due to lower sales volumes this year.
Full Year 2023
Consolidated net sales for the full year were $318.0 million, down 10% compared to record sales of $351.7 million in 2022. Consolidated gross earnings increased to 44.9% of net sales in 2023 from 41.1% last year, due mainly to higher gross margins in our North American wholesale segment. Full year 2023 operating earnings were a record $41.0 million, up 2% over our previous record of $40.4 million in 2022, despite lower sales. Net earnings were a record $30.2 million, or $3.17 per diluted share, in 2023, up 2% compared to $29.5 million, or $3.07 per diluted share, in 2022.
North American Wholesale Segment
Wholesale net sales were $250.4 million in 2023, down 12% compared to record sales of $283.2 million in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a 31% decline in BOGS sales, compared to record sales for the brand last year, as orders were down amid the current saturation of product in the outdoor footwear market. Sales of the Stacy Adams, Florsheim, and Nunn bush brands were down 10%, 4% and 2%, respectively, for the year, resulting from lower demand following strong growth last year.
Wholesale gross earnings as a percent of net sales were 39.7% in 2023 and 35.6% in 2022. Gross margins improved as a result of increased selling prices and lower inventory costs, primarily inbound freight. Selling and administrative expenses totaled $66.0 million in 2023 compared to $68.2 million in 2022. The decrease in 2023 was primarily due to lower employee costs, mainly commission-based compensation. As a percent of net sales, wholesale selling and administrative expenses were 26% in 2023 and 24% in 2022. Wholesale operating earnings reached a record $33.3 million in 2023, up 2% over our previous record of $32.6 million in 2022, due to higher gross margins and lower selling and administrative expenses.
North American Retail Segment
Retail net sales were a record $38.0 million in 2023, up 4% over our previous record of $36.7 million in 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher sales on our legacy brands’ websites, partially offset by lower sales on the BOGS website. Sales at our four domestic brick and mortar stores were down 4% for the year.
Retail gross earnings were 65.9% of net sales in 2023 and 65.7% of net sales in 2022. Selling and administrative expenses totaled $18.3 million, or 48% of net sales, for the year compared to $18.1 million, or 49% of net sales, last year. The retail segment achieved record operating earnings of $6.8 million in 2023, up 11% over $6.1 million in 2022, due mainly to the increase in web sales.
Other
Net sales at Florsheim Australia totaled $29.6 million in 2023, down 7% from $31.8 million in 2022. In local currency, Florsheim Australia’s net sales were down 3% for the year, with sales down in its wholesale businesses due to the previously mentioned mid-year loss of a wholesale customer in Australia, partially offset by higher sales in its retail businesses.
Florsheim Australia’s gross earnings were 62.5% of net sales in 2023 versus 61.1% of net sales in 2022. Its operating earnings totaled $1.0 million in 2023 and $1.7 million in 2022, down as a result of lower sales.
“We generated record annual earnings in 2023 as a result of stronger gross margins and efforts to contain costs,” stated Thomas W. Florsheim, Jr., Chairman and CEO. “We are particularly pleased with these results despite the lower sales volumes. The last couple of years have had distortions in revenues such as unusually robust fourth quarter sales in Fall of 2022, resulting from timing shifts due to supply chain issues. Looking ahead, we expect to face headwinds in the first half of 2024, but continue to focus on building our backlogs and are optimistic that demand will improve in the back half of the year.”
On March 5, 2024, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share to all shareholders of record on March 15, 2024, payable March 29, 2024.
Conference Call Details: Weyco Group will host a conference call on March 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results in more detail. To participate in the call, you will first need to pre-register online. Pre-registration takes only a few minutes and you may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. To pre-register, please go to: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI03d3ec598dac468082a42ffaf8a159e8.
The pre-registration process will provide the conference call phone number and a passcode required to enter the call. A replay will be available for one year beginning about two hours after the completion of the call at the following webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4yvkihqo. The conference call will also be available in the investor relations section of Weyco Group’s website at www.weycogroup.com.
About Weyco Group: Weyco Group, Inc., designs and markets quality and innovative footwear principally for men, but also for women and children, under a portfolio of well-recognized brand names including: Florsheim, Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, BOGS, Rafters, and Forsake. The Company’s products can be found in leading footwear, department, and specialty stores, as well as on e-commerce websites worldwide. Weyco Group also operates Florsheim stores in the United States and Australia, as well as in certain other international markets.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Various factors could cause our results to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the impact of inflation generally and, specifically, increases in our costs for materials, labor and other manufacturing inputs, a slow down or contraction in the overall U.S. or Australian economies, our ability to successfully market and sell our products in a highly competitive industry and in view of changing and unpredictable consumer trends, our ability to successfully procure our products from independent manufacturers on a timely basis, consumer acceptance of products and other factors affecting retail market conditions, increased interest rates, the uncertain impact of the wars in Ukraine and Israel and the related economic and other sanctions imposed by the U.S. and European Union, and other factors detailed from time to time in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2023, which are incorporated herein by reference. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
For more information, contact:
Judy Anderson Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary 414‑908‑1833
WEYCO GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended December 31,
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales
$
80,590
$
99,047
$
318,048
$
351,737
Cost of sales
40,029
52,940
175,165
207,344
Gross earnings
40,561
46,107
142,883
144,393
Selling and administrative expenses
29,056
31,045
101,859
104,028
Earnings from operations
11,505
15,062
41,024
40,365
Interest and dividend income
509
95
1,107
361
Interest expense
(7
)
(501
)
(529
)
(710
)
Other expense, net
(307
)
(593
)
(738
)
(277
)
Earnings before provision for income taxes
11,700
14,063
40,864
39,739
Provision for income taxes
3,158
3,841
10,676
10,199
Net earnings
$
8,542
$
10,222
$
30,188
$
29,540
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic
9,422
9,540
9,449
9,555
Diluted
9,523
9,582
9,535
9,624
Earnings per share
Basic
$
0.90
$
1.07
$
3.19
$
3.09
Diluted
$
0.90
$
1.06
$
3.17
$
3.07
Cash dividends declared (per share)
$
0.25
$
0.24
$
0.99
$
0.96
Comprehensive income
$
11,966
$
16,735
$
33,070
$
34,141
WEYCO GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
69,312
$
16,876
Investments, at fair value
—
107
Marketable securities, at amortized cost
215
1,385
Accounts receivable, net
39,275
53,298
Income tax receivable
245
945
Inventories
74,890
127,976
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
6,172
5,870
Total current assets
190,109
206,457
Marketable securities, at amortized cost
6,354
7,123
Deferred income tax benefits
1,096
1,038
Property, plant and equipment, net
29,504
28,812
Operating lease right-of-use assets
12,520
13,428
Goodwill
12,317
12,317
Trademarks
33,168
33,618
Other assets
24,274
23,827
Total assets
$
309,342
$
326,620
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Short-term borrowings
$
—
$
31,136
Accounts payable
8,845
14,946
Dividend payable
2,352
2,290
Operating lease liabilities
3,979
4,026
Accrued liabilities
14,446
15,137
Total current liabilities
29,622
67,535
Deferred income tax liabilities
11,819
8,530
Long-term pension liability
13,412
15,523
Operating lease liabilities
9,531
10,661
Other long-term liabilities
465
466
Total liabilities
64,849
102,715
Common stock
9,497
9,584
Capital in excess of par value
71,661
70,475
Reinvested earnings
180,646
164,039
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(17,311
)
(20,193
)
Total equity
244,493
223,905
Total liabilities and equity
$
309,342
$
326,620
WEYCO GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
2023
2022
(Dollars in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings
$
30,188
$
29,540
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities -
Depreciation
2,579
2,485
Amortization
271
282
Bad debt expense
519
151
Deferred income taxes
2,462
1,297
Net foreign currency transaction losses
99
43
Share-based compensation expense
1,352
1,523
Pension settlement charge
—
894
Pension expense
1,293
178
Impairment of trademark
450
1,150
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
59
117
Gain from fair value remeasurement of contingent consideration
—
(857
)
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance
(684
)
(690
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities -
Accounts receivable
13,531
(282
)
Inventories
53,047
(56,963
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(358
)
(1,429
)
Accounts payable
(6,074
)
(4,293
)
Accrued liabilities and other
(982
)
(2,553
)
Accrued income taxes
879
(497
)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities
98,631
(29,904
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities
1,960
1,719
Proceeds from sale of investment securities
107
8,049
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(3,309
)
(2,342
)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities
(1,242
)
7,426
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Cash dividends paid
(9,286
)
(6,951
)
Shares purchased and retired
(4,338
)
(4,195
)
Net proceeds from stock options exercised
103
293
Payment of contingent consideration
(500
)
—
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards
(186
)
(12
)
Proceeds from bank borrowings
70,060
120,608
Repayments of bank borrowings
(101,196
)
(89,472
)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities
(45,343
)
20,271
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
390
(628
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
