Q.E.P. Co., Inc. Reports Fiscal 2024 Full Year Financial Results

Q.E.P. Co., Inc.

Adjusted Net Income More than Doubles to $9.1 Million or $2.73 per Share

BOCA RATON, Fla., June 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q.E.P. CO., INC. (OTCQX: QEPC) (the “Company” or “QEP”) today reported its consolidated results of operations for its full year ended February 29, 2024.

During fiscal 2024, QEP completed several strategic divestments to streamline operations and concentrate resources on its core product lines in the North American market. These divestments included the sale of our North American hard surface flooring business, which consisted of the Harris®, Kraus®, Naturally Aged Flooring™ and Heritage Mills® brands, as well as a wood flooring manufacturing facility in Johnson City, Tennessee. This was followed by the divestment of QEP’s businesses in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

As of fiscal 2024, these divested operations have been classified as discontinued operations in our financial statements. Amounts for prior periods, including sales and operating income, have been reclassified to conform to this presentation.

QEP reported net sales of $252.0 million for the year ended February 29, 2024, a decrease of $17.5 million or 6.5% from the $269.5 million reported in fiscal 2023, which was primarily due to softening consumer demand across multiple product categories. To mitigate this impact, the Company is expanding its regional sales coverage in order to penetrate new and existing sales channels.

The Company’s gross profit for fiscal 2024 increased $8.8 million or 12.0% to $82.0 million, from $73.2 million in fiscal 2023. As a percentage of net sales, gross margin was 32.5% in fiscal 2024, as compared to 27.2% in fiscal 2023.   The increase in gross margin as a percentage of net sales was largely due to lower inbound freight, improved product mix, and multiple cost-reduction and streamlining initiatives.

Leonard Gould, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented on the Company’s results, “I would like to personally thank all of our QEP associates for their noteworthy contributions which have enabled QEP to ‘return to its roots’ and fuel our ongoing transformation. The massive efforts underway to better serve our customers and our innovation/patent roadmap over the next few years makes me incredibly proud. Our retail and distribution partners are our lifeblood and together we continue to implement initiatives to drive volume and profitability of their QEP business. We are also grateful for the ongoing support of our vendor and banking partners.”

Lewis Gould, Executive Chairman, added, “We are pleased with our continuing transformation which has resulted in significant repayment of our debt and generated a healthy cash surplus. The Company has shared this success with its stockholders through two special dividends in 2024. We hope to continue to reward all of our stakeholders in concert with the Company’s success.”

Operating expenses were $68.7 million or 27.3% of net sales for fiscal 2024 as compared to $63.9 million or 23.7% of net sales for fiscal 2023. The increase in operating expenses was due to higher personnel and one-time transaction costs related to the divestitures in fiscal 2024.

Interest expense declined in the latter part of fiscal 2024 as the Company’s significant repayment of debt offset higher interest rates during the earlier part of the fiscal year and during fiscal 2023.

The provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before taxes was 23.4% for fiscal 2024, as compared to 37.6% for fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2023 includes a full valuation allowance on operating losses generated by the Company’s Canadian operation.

Net loss for fiscal 2024 was $4.7 million or $1.40 per diluted share, as compared to $0.1 million or $0.02 per diluted share for fiscal 2023. Excluding discontinued operations, adjusted net income for fiscal 2024 was $9.1 million or $2.73 per diluted share, as compared to $4.5 million or $1.34 per diluted share for fiscal 2023.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations for fiscal 2024 was $14.7 million or 5.8% of net sales, as compared to $10.6 million or 3.9% of net sales for fiscal 2023.

		For the Year Ended
		February 29, 2024				February 28, 2023
Net income from continuing operations		$	9,131			$	4,485
Add:	Interest expense, net		1,386				2,087
	Provision for income taxes		2,787				2,701
	Depreciation and amortization		1,364				1,357
EBITDA, as adjusted		$	14,668			$	10,630

Cash provided by operating activities during fiscal 2024 was $29.5 million as compared to cash used in operating activities of $0.1 million in the fiscal 2023 period, reflecting the reduction in inventory to more normalized levels from the elevated levels of the previous year. During the fiscal 2024 period, cash provided by operations, along with proceeds from the sale of businesses, was used to reduce borrowings under the Company’s credit facilities, fund capital expenditures, pay a dividend to stockholders and increase cash balances. During the fiscal 2023 period, borrowings under the Company’s lines of credit were used to fund operating activities and capital expenditures.

Working capital as of February 29, 2024 was $60.0 million compared to $55.0 million at the end of fiscal 2023. Aggregate available cash, net of outstanding debt at the end of fiscal 2024 was $21.7 million compared to aggregate debt, net of available cash of $26.1 million or 33.5% of equity at the end of fiscal 2023.

The Company will not be hosting a conference call to discuss these results and welcomes inquiries from investors via email at ir@qep.com.

About QEP

Founded in 1979, Q.E.P. Co., Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of best-in-class flooring installation solutions for commercial and home improvement projects. QEP offers a comprehensive line of specialty installation tools, adhesives, and underlayment. QEP sells its products throughout the world to home improvement retail centers, and professional specialty distribution outlets, under brand names including QEP®, LASH®, ROBERTS®, Capitol®, Premix-Marbletite® (PMM), Brutus®, Homelux®, PRCI®, and Tomecanic®.

QEP is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with other facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Please visit our website at www.qepcorporate.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding implementation of the Company’s strategies and increasing profitability and stockholder value. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and beliefs, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those listed in the Company’s annual report, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports and disclosures made by the Company. Forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, scarcity and rising cost for raw materials, shifts in global sourcing patterns, and general inflationary pressures, economic conditions, sales growth, price increases, maintaining and improving profitability, product development and marketing, operating expenses, cost savings, the successful completion of acquisitions and dispositions, acquisition integration, operational synergy realization, global sourcing, political uncertainty, cash flow, debt and currency exchange rates, among other factors.  The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

CONTACT:
Q.E.P. Co., Inc.
Enos Brown
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
561-994-5550

 

-Financial Information Follows-

Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands except per share data)
	For the Year Ended
	February 29,				February 28,
		2024				2023
Net sales	$	251,986			$	269,448
Cost of goods sold		169,989				196,246
Gross profit		81,997				73,202
Operating expenses:
Shipping		28,129				30,208
General and administrative		26,135				20,176
Selling and marketing		13,633				13,680
Other (income) expense, net		796				(135	)
Total operating expenses		68,693				63,929
Operating income		13,304				9,273
Interest expense, net		(1,386	)			(2,087	)
Income before provision for income taxes		11,918				7,186
Provision for income taxes		2,787				2,701
Net income from continuing operations		9,131				4,485
Loss from discontinued operations		(13,839	)			(4,548	)
Net loss	$	(4,708	)		$	(63	)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
From continuing operations		2.73				1.34
From discontinued operations		(4.14	)			(1.36	)
Basic earnings (loss) per share		(1.41	)			(0.02	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
From continuing operations		2.73				1.34
From discontinued operations		(4.13	)			(1.36	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share		(1.40	)			(0.02	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		3,343				3,335
Diluted		3,350				3,343

Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par values)
	February 29, 2024				February 28, 2023
ASSETS
Cash	$	22,369			$	3,060
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $134 and
$306 at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively		30,338				37,492
Inventories, net		29,913				37,176
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		7,491				2,939
Prepaid income taxes		1,375				-
Discontinued operations		693				58,332
Current assets		92,179				138,999
Property and equipment, net		9,894				7,840
Right of use operating lease assets		19,852				24,155
Deferred income taxes, net		2,548				3,751
Intangibles, net		99				118
Other assets		1,276				2,256
Discontinued operations		-				19,271
Total assets	$	125,848			$	196,390
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	$	14,438			$	8,147
Accrued liabilities		13,352				12,555
Current operating lease liabilities		3,210				2,983
Income taxes payable		-				384
Lines of credit		601				21,718
Current maturities of debt		74				1,908
Discontinued operations		479				36,299
Current liabilities		32,154				83,994
Long term debt		-				5,513
Non-current operating lease liabilities		19,855				23,007
Other long term liabilities		1,209				2,240
Discontinued operations		-				3,796
Total liabilities		53,218				118,550
Preferred stock, 2,500 shares authorized, $1.00 par value; 0 shares
issued and outstanding at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023,		-				-
respectively
Common stock, 20,000 shares authorized, $.001 par value;
4,005 shares issued: 3,286 and 3,293 shares outstanding at
February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively		4				4
Additional paid-in capital		11,901				11,449
Retained earnings		73,211				81,205
Treasury stock, 719 and 712 shares held at cost at February 29, 2024
and February 28, 2023, respectively		(9,517	)			(9,410	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		(2,969	)			(5,408	)
Shareholders' equity		72,630				77,840
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	125,848			$	196,390

Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
	For the Year Ended
	February 29, 2024				February 28, 2023
Operating activities:
Net loss	$	(4,708	)		$	(63	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		2,656				3,796
Loss on disposal of businesses		9,278				285
Loss on sale of property		34				(14	)
Gain from insurance recoveries		(134	)			-
Proceeds from settlement of insurance claims		537				911
Impairment of right of use operating lease asset		1,221				-
Other non-cash adjustments		317				(71	)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		5,098				5,593
Inventories		21,295				14,469
Prepaid expenses and other assets		4,568				6,809
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(10,682	)			(31,787	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		29,480				(72	)
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(3,808	)			(4,994	)
Proceeds from sale of businesses		32,842				-
Proceeds from sale of property		108				1,413
Proceeds from sale of equity investment		-				209
Proceeds from settlement of insurance claims		285				-
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		29,427				(3,372	)
Financing activities:
Net borrowings (repayments) under lines of credit		(30,549	)			6,368
Net repayments of term loan facilities		(7,250	)			(709	)
Purchase of treasury stock		(227	)			(249	)
Principal payments on finance leases		(108	)			(112	)
Dividends paid		(3,286	)			-
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(41,420	)			5,298
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(114	)			(61	)
Net increase in cash		17,373				1,793
Cash at beginning of period		3,060				1,055
Cash at beginning of the period from discontinued operations		1,936				2,148
Cash at end of period	$	22,369			$	4,996

Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(In thousands, except shares data)
																						Accumulated
																						Other				Total
	Preferred Stock					Common Stock					Paid-in			Retained				Treasury				Comprehensive				Shareholders'
	Shares		Amount			Shares		Amount			Capital			Earnings				Stock				Income				Equity
Balance at February 28, 2022	-		$	-		4,005,370		$	4		$	11,449		$	81,268			$	(9,1	)		$	(4,195	)		$	79,402
Net loss															(63	)											(63	)
Unrealized currency translation adjustments																							(1,213	)			(1,213	)
Purchase of treasury stock																			(286	)							(286	)
Balance at February 28, 2023	-		$	-		4,005,370		$	4		$	11,449		$	81,205			$	(9,410	)		$	(5,408	)		$	77,840
Net loss															(4,708	)											(4,708	)
Reclassification of currency translation adjustments to earnings																							2,376				2,376
Unrealized currency translation adjustments																							63				63
Purchase of treasury stock																			(107	)							(107	)
Stock-based compensation expense												452															452
Dividends paid															(3,286	)											(3,286	)
Balance at February 29, 2024	-		$	-		4,005,370	-	$	4		$	11,901		$	73,211			$	(9,517	)		$	(2,969	)		$	72,630