Havertys Reports Operating Results for Third Quarter 2023

Atlanta, Georgia, November 1, 2023 – HAVERTYS (NYSE: HVT and HVT.A), today reported its operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Third quarter 2023 versus third quarter 2022:

•	Diluted earnings per common share (“EPS”) of $1.02 versus $1.46.

•	Consolidated sales decreased 19.7% to $220.3 million. Comparable-store sales decreased 20.7%.

•	Gross profit margin increased to 60.8% from 57.1%.

Clarence H. Smith, Chairman and CEO said, “Our third quarter results reflect a retrenching consumer and the agility of our teams to pivot operationally in a changing sales environment. These efficiencies and the continued focus on serving the customer helped drive the quarter’s performance.

As we move into the fourth quarter, we are focused on maintaining our gross margins, growing our average ticket, and expanding our store base within our distribution footprint. Our merchants have developed a winning assortment for our sales teams and in-home designers to offer our customers. In October, we opened an additional location in the Charlotte, NC market and entered the Dayton, Ohio market. The conversion of the four Bed Bath & Beyond locations in the Memphis, TN market and in the Florida markets of Destin, St. Petersburg, and metro Miami are underway, and we are evaluating other store opportunities for growth in the coming year.

The macro-environment is challenging, and we are cautious in our near-term expectations. Our strong financial, geographic, and brand positions support our long-term strategy of delivering profitable growth in the years ahead."

(1)	See the reconciliation of the non-GAAP metrics at the end of the release.

NEWS RELEASE – November 1, 2023

•	Total sales down 19.7%, comp-store sales down 20.7% for the quarter. Total written sales were down 11.5% and written comp-store sales declined 12.6% for the quarter.

•	Gross profit margins increased to 60.8% in 2023 from 57.1% in 2022.  In 2023, the change in the LIFO reserve generated a positive impact on gross profit of $2.3 million compared to a negative impact of $2.5 million in 2022.

•	SG&A expenses were 51.1% of sales versus 45.4% and decreased $11.8 million. The primary drivers of this change are:

◦	decrease of $4.8 million in selling expenses due to lower commissioned-based compensation expense and related payroll taxes and benefits.

◦	decrease in warehouse and delivery costs of $3.2 million primarily from reduced headcount via attrition and less usage of temporary labor, and lower expenditures for fuel and demurrage fees.

◦	decrease of $2.1 million in advertising expenses driven by reduced spending on television and interactive marketing partly offset by increased technology costs.

◦	decrease of $1.6 million in administrative costs driven by lower compensation and group insurance costs partly offset by increased relocation expense.

•	Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash equivalents at September 30, 2023 are $141.4 million.

•	Generated $79.4 million in cash from operating activities primarily from solid earnings performance and changes in working capital including $16.0 million reduction in inventories and an increase in other assets and liabilities of $10.5 million.

•	Invested 46.4 million in capital expenditures including $28.2 million for the purchase of our Florida distribution center from our landlord in May.

•	Purchased 104,221 shares of common stock for $3.2 million and paid $14.3 million in quarterly cash dividends.

•	No debt outstanding at September 30, 2023 and credit availability of $80.0 million.

•	We expect gross profit margins for 2023 will be between 60.0% to 60.2%. Gross profit margins fluctuate quarter to quarter in relation to our promotional cadence. Our estimated gross profit margins are based on anticipated changes in product and freight costs and its impact on our LIFO reserve.

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Fixed and discretionary expenses within SG&A for the full year of 2023 are expected to be in the $286.0 to $288.0 million range, a reduction in our previous guidance related to advertising and warehouse and delivery costs. Variable SG&A expenses for the full year of 2023 are anticipated to be in the 19.6% to 19.8% range.

•	Our effective tax rate for 2023 is expected to be 25% excluding the impact from the vesting of stock-based awards, potential tax credits, and any new tax legislation.

•	Planned capital expenditures for the full year of 2023 are approximately $55.0 million.

•	We expect retail square footage will increase approximately 0.6% in 2023 over 2022 as we open four stores and close two during the year.

Comparable-store or “comp-store” sales is a measure which indicates the performance of our existing stores and website by comparing the sales growth for stores and online for a particular month over the corresponding month in the prior year. Stores are considered non-comparable if they were not open during the corresponding month or if the selling square footage has been changed significantly.

 

Cost of Goods Sold and SG&A Expense  

We include substantially all our occupancy and home delivery costs in SG&A expense as well as a portion of our warehousing expenses.  Accordingly, our gross profit may not be comparable to those entities that include these costs in cost of goods sold.  

We classify our SG&A expenses as either variable or fixed and discretionary.  Our variable expenses are comprised of selling and delivery costs.  Selling expenses are primarily compensation and related benefits for our commission-based sales associates, the discount we pay for third party financing of customer sales and transaction fees for credit card usage.  We do not outsource delivery, so these costs include personnel, fuel, and other expenses related to this function.  Fixed and discretionary expenses are comprised of rent, depreciation and amortization and other occupancy costs for stores, warehouses and offices, and all advertising and administrative costs.  

Conference Call Information

The company invites interested parties to listen to the live webcast of the conference call on November 2, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. ET at its website, ir.havertys.com. If you cannot listen live, a replay will be available on the day of the conference call at the website at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET.

Havertys (NYSE: HVT and HVT.A), established in 1885, is a full-service home furnishings retailer with 123 showrooms in 16 states in the Southern and Midwestern regions providing its customers with a wide selection of quality merchandise in middle to upper-middle price ranges. Additional information is available on the Company’s website havertys.com.  

 

NEWS RELEASE – November 1, 2023

Safe Harbor  

This press release contains, and the conference call may contain forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and change based on various important factors, many of which are beyond our control.  

 

All statements in the future tense and all statements accompanied by words such as “expect,” “likely,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “preliminary,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “position,” “will,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “on track,” “anticipate,” “to come,” “may,” “possible,” “assume,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our expectations for retail and operating margins, selling square footage and capital expenditures for 2023, our liquidity position to continue to fund our growth plans, and our efforts and initiatives to execute our strategic plan.

  

We caution that our forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and while we believe that our expectations for the future are reasonable in view of currently available information you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, and they should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: disruptions in our suppliers' operations; changes in national and international legislation or government regulations or policies, including changes to import tariffs and the unpredictability of such changes; failure of vendors to meet our quality control standards or to react to changes in legislative or regulatory frameworks; disruptions in our distribution centers; changes in general economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation (including the impact of tariffs); labor shortages and the Company's ability to successfully attract and retain employees in the current labor market; uncertain credit markets and other macroeconomic conditions; competitive product, service and pricing pressures; failure or weakness in our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting; disruptions caused by a failure or breach of the Company's information systems and information technology infrastructure, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2022 and from time to time in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC. 

 

Forward-looking statements describe our expectations only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and other reports filed with the SEC.  

Contact: 

Havertys 404-443-2900 

Jenny Hill Parker 

SVP, Finance, and Corporate Secretary 

 

SOURCE:  Havertys