Skullcandy, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKUL), which creates world-class audio experiences through its Skullcandy® and Astro Gaming® brands, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.
Fourth quarter 2015 reported results versus the same quarter a year ago
- Net sales: $96.1 million vs. $96.8 million, (up 2% currency neutral)
- Gross margin: 40.3% vs. 43.3%, down 300 basis points (down 180 basis points currency neutral)
- SG&A: $30.2 million vs. $31.1 million, down 3%, as a percent of net sales: 31% vs. 32%
- Operating income: $8.5 million vs. $10.8 million, down $2.3 million (down 7% currency neutral)
- Diluted earnings per share $0.21 vs $0.26 (down 7% currency neutral)
Twelve months ended 2015 reported results versus twelve months ended 2014
- Net sales: $266.3 million vs. $247.8 million, up 7% (up 10% currency neutral)
- Gross margin: 41.3% vs. 44.6%, down 330 basis points (down 220 basis points currency neutral)
- SG&A: $100.9 million vs. $98.8 million, up 2%, as a percent of net sales: 38% vs. 40%
- Operating income: $9.0 million vs. $11.8 million, down $2.8 million (up 4% currency neutral)
- Diluted earnings per share $0.20 vs $0.27 (up 9% currency neutral)
“We delivered another year of solid growth fueled by our successful product innovation, demand creation and distribution strategies. Importantly, retail sell-through of both the Skullcandy and Astro brands, which is the truest measure of consumer demand, exceeded sell-in and outpaced the rest of their respective markets according to NPD. Skullcandy’s performance highlights were strong sales of our new wireless headphones, proving that we can be a leader in this burgeoning category, and the fact that the brand was #1 in terms of units sold for the second consecutive year according to NPD. Astro had an explosive fourth quarter to cap a great year for the brand. Astro has quickly emerged as a more significant piece of our business with a long runway for growth thanks to the brand’s authentic positioning with elite gamers and strong industry fundamentals,” said Skullcandy President and CEO, Hoby Darling.
“We are certainly disappointed that our strong sell-through performances didn’t translate into better top and bottom line results in the fourth quarter,” continued Darling. “While the U.S. audio headphone market was unexpectedly down in the fourth quarter, and we are still working to improve certain international markets, we remain cautiously optimistic about our near-term growth prospects and feel very good about our long-term growth, particularly for our gaming and wireless businesses based on recent market share gains and a strong pipeline of innovative new products.”
Fourth Quarter 2015 Review
Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased 0.8% to $96.1 million from $96.8 million in the same quarter a year ago, or an increase of 2% on a currency neutral basis. Domestic (U.S.) net sales increased 3% to $72.7 million from $70.6 million in the same quarter a year ago, due to increased sales of gaming products, partially offset by declines in wired audio products as the result of challenging market conditions. International (Non U.S.) net sales decreased 11% to $23.3 million from $26.3 million in the same quarter a year ago, or flat on a currency neutral basis, primarily due to decreased sales of gaming and audio products in Australia and China, offset by increased sales of gaming products in Europe.
Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased 8% to $38.7 million from $41.9 million in the same quarter a year ago, or a decrease of 2% on a currency neutral basis. Gross margin decreased to 40.3% in the fourth quarter of 2015 from 43.3% in the same quarter a year ago primarily due to a product mix shift towards lower margin wireless and gaming products and approximately 120 basis points of negative foreign currency effects.
SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased 3% to $30.2 million from $31.1 million in the same quarter a year ago. The decrease in SG&A expenses is primarily due to decreases in personnel related expenses, partially offset by increases in demand creation spend, research and innovation investments, and increased bad debt expense, primarily associated with our largest China distributor. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses decreased 70 basis points to 31% as compared to 32% in the same quarter a year ago.
Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2015 was $8.5 million compared to $10.8 million in the same quarter a year ago. This decrease in operating income is due to lower gross margins, partially offset by decreased SG&A expenses.
Net income in the fourth quarter of 2015 was $6.1 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, based on 28.6 million weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. Net income in the same quarter a year ago was $7.4 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, based on 28.8 million weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. On a currency neutral basis, net income was down 7%. Excluding the $1.6 million charge related to a China distributor, diluted earnings per share was $0.26.
Full Year 2015 Review
Net sales in the twelve months ended 2015 increased 7% to $266.3 million from $247.8 million in the prior year, or an increase of 10% on a currency neutral basis. Domestic (U.S.) net sales increased 9% to $190.9 million from $174.7 million in the prior year, due to a product mix shift towards higher priced audio and gaming products, partially offset by declines in wired audio products. International (Non U.S.) net sales increased 3% to $75.4 million from $73.1 million in the prior year, or an increase of 12% on a currency neutral basis, International net sales increased primarily due to increased sales of both gaming and audio products in Europe, and audio sales in Japan and to a lesser extent Canada. International net sales were partially offset by foreign currency effects which led to a decrease in average selling price.
Gross profit in the twelve months ended of 2015 decreased 1% to $109.9 million from $110.6 million in the prior year, or an increase of 5% on a currency neutral basis. Gross margin decreased to 41.3% in the twelve months ended 2015 from 44.6% in the prior year primarily due to approximately 110 basis points of negative foreign currency effects combined with a product mix shift towards generally lower margin wireless and gaming products, partially offset by minimal decreases in freight related expenses.
SG&A expenses in the twelve months ended 2015 increased 2% to $100.9 million from $98.8 million in the prior year. The increase in SG&A expenses is primarily due to increased bad debt expense of $1.6 million related to a China distributor, marketing, demand creation and innovation expenses, partially offset by decreases in personnel related expenses. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses decreased 200 basis points to 37.9% as compared to 39.9% in the prior year.
Operating income in the twelve months ended 2015 was $9.0 million compared to $11.8 million in the prior year. This decrease in operating income is due to flat fourth quarter net sales, a lower gross margin percentage and increased SG&A expenses.
Net income in the twelve months ended 2015 was $5.9 million, or $0.20 per share, based on 28.8 million weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. Net income in the prior year was $7.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, based on 28.6 million weighted average diluted common shares outstanding. On a currency neutral basis, diluted earnings per share was up 9%.
*”Currency neutral basis,” assumes the foreign exchange rates in effect for the three months ended December 31, 2015 were in effect for the three months ended December 31, 2014 and that neither period receives the effect of foreign currency related income or expense. See the supplemental financial information for additional information regarding currency neutral basis.
Balance Sheet Highlights
Net Book Value increased $6.6 million to $160.1 million as of December 31, 2015 from $153.5 million as of December 31, 2014. Working Capital, as defined by Current Assets minus Current Liabilities, increased by $8.6 million to $125.0 million as of December 31, 2015 from $116.4 million as of December 31, 2014. Inventories, net decreased 24% to $41.7 million as of December 31, 2015 from $55.0 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $23.6 million compared to $36.6 million as of December 31, 2014. This decrease mostly reflects the Company’s optional accelerated payment programs with certain contract manufacturers that began during the second quarter of 2015. As a result, our accounts payable and accrued liabilities decreased $14.1 million and $7.2 million from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015, respectively. While the optional accelerated payment programs with certain contract manufacturers resulted in a temporary decrease to our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment, we expect our cash and cash equivalents to grow significantly in 2016. The Company continued to have no outstanding debt.
2016 First Quarter and Full Year Financial Outlook
For the first quarter of 2016 we expect the net sales change versus prior year to be within a range of (4%) to flat and earnings per share in a range of $(0.15) to $(0.17).
For the full year 2016, we expect net revenue growth versus prior year of mid to high single digits and earnings per share in a range of $0.24 to $0.28.
About Skullcandy, Inc.
Skullcandy, Inc. creates world-class audio experiences through its Skullcandy® and Astro Gaming® brands. Founded at the intersection of music, sports, technology and creative culture, Skullcandy brand creates world-class audio and gaming products for the risk takers, innovators, and pioneers who inspire us all to live life at full volume. From new innovations in the science of sound and human potential, to collaborations with up-and-coming musicians and athletes, Skullcandy lives by its mission to inspire life at full volume through forward-thinking technologies and ideas, and leading edge design and materialization. ASTRO Gaming creates premium video gaming equipment for professional gamers, leagues, and gaming enthusiasts. ASTRO Gaming was founded in the pits of competitive gaming and has become synonymous with pinnacle gaming experiences. Skullcandy and Astro Gaming products are sold and distributed through a variety of channels around the world from the Company’s global locations in Park City, San Francisco, London, Tokyo, Zurich, Mexico City, and Shanghai, as well as through partners in some of the most important culture, sports, and gaming hubs in the world. The Skullcandy brand website can be found at https://www.skullcandy.com. The Astro Gaming website can be found at https://www.astrogaming.com.
