Appliance Recycling Centers of America Reports Strong Second Quarter Operating Results

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARCI) today reported operating results for the second quarter ended July 2, 2011. Operating income for the second quarter increased by 112% to $2.3 million from $1.1 million in the same period of the prior year. The increase in operating income for the quarter was driven primarily by higher byproduct revenues, higher recycling revenues and stronger profit margins from ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC ("AAP"). Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2011 increased to $0.35 from $0.13 for the second quarter of 2010.

Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are very pleased with our results for the second quarter and for the first half of 2011. AAP has made significant strides in its operations with a steady increase in revenues and profitability over the past year. Additionally, our California utility replacement program was bolstered by a strong surge of advertising that increased our volumes substantially in the second quarter. While our retail revenues and gross margins remained relatively flat in the second quarter, the improvements we have made in retail operating efficiencies over the past two years have positioned us to operate effectively in the continuing difficult economic climate."

Highlights of the second quarter of 2011 included:

• A $3.7 million or 349% increase in appliance replacement revenues over the second quarter of 2010, primarily from increased volumes in a California utility customer's program.
• Recognition by Southern California Edison Company ("SCE") as the sole recipient of the 2010 Environmental Excellence Award for ARCA's "exemplary support and service of SCE's Appliance Recycling Program" and commitment to providing "the highest levels of performance and service to SCE and program participants while maintaining the strong values and ethics that exemplify a value-added supplier." ARCA has provided services for SCE since 1994.
• Selection by Austin Utilities, Owatonna Public Utilities and Rochester Public Utilities to provide recycling services for the Conserve & Save® Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program in southern Minnesota.
• Renewal of a lease through April 2016 for the Company's ApplianceSmart store in the Columbus Square Shopping Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Second Quarter Financial Overview

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2011 increased 16.6% to $32.9 million from $28.2 million in the second quarter of 2010. Comparable store revenues from ApplianceSmart stores operating during the second quarters of 2011 and 2010 decreased 0.9%, and total retail revenues decreased 0.9% to $18.4 million from $18.6 million in the second quarter of 2010. The decline in retail revenues was due primarily to lower sales in the Georgia, Ohio and Texas markets. The sales declines in those markets were partially offset by an 8.5% increase in sales in the Minnesota market.

Recycling revenues, which are comprised of appliance recycling fees and appliance replacement program revenues, increased 52.0% to $9.6 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to revenues of $6.3 million in the second quarter of 2010. Appliance recycling fees decreased 6.8% to $4.9 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $5.3 million in the second quarter of 2010, due primarily to lower average per-unit recycling fees. Replacement program revenues of $4.7 million increased 349.0% or $3.7 million from revenues of $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2010, primarily as the result of higher volumes from a California utility customer's refrigerator replacement program. The Company expects an increase in replacement program revenues in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010.  However, it does not expect this trend to continue past the third quarter of 2011.  

Byproduct revenues of $4.9 million increased 46.8% or $1.6 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $3.3 million in the second quarter of 2010. The increase in byproduct revenues was primarily the result of higher recycling volumes and higher revenues generated at AAP. Byproduct revenues include all of the revenues generated by AAP. Revenues from AAP of $2.6 million increased 39.2% or $0.7 million compared to revenues of $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2010.

Overall gross profit as a percentage of total revenues declined to 29.3% for the second quarter of 2011 compared to 30.7% for the second quarter of 2010. The gross profit percentage for the retail segment was 28.0% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 28.9% in the second quarter of 2010. The decline in the retail segment gross profit percentage was due primarily to a shift in sales mix. In the second quarter of 2011, the Company sold a higher level of in-the-box product, which typically has lower profit margins, compared to the second quarter of 2010. The gross profit percentage for the recycling segment decreased to 31.1% for the second quarter of 2011 compared to 34.5% for the second quarter of 2010, primarily related to lower average per-unit recycling fees, lower average per-unit replacement fees and higher fuel costs.

Selling expenses decreased $0.5 million to $4.6 million or 14.0% of total revenues in the second quarter of 2011 compared to $5.1 million or 18.2% of total revenues for the second quarter of 2010. The decrease in selling expenses was due primarily to reduced advertising expenses. General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2011 increased $0.3 million to $2.8 million compared to general and administrative expenses of $2.5 million for the second quarter of 2010. The increase was related primarily to the impact of restoring compensation reductions as compared to the second quarter of 2010. As a percentage of total revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 8.5% for the second quarter of 2011 compared to 8.8% of total revenues for the second quarter of 2010 as a result of leveraging overhead with increased total revenues for the quarter.

The Company recorded a $0.2 million benefit from income taxes for the second quarter of 2011 compared to a provision for income taxes of $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2010.  During the second quarter of 2011, the Company concluded, based on the assessment of all available evidence, including previous three-year cumulative income before infrequent and unusual items, a history of generating income before taxes for six consecutive quarters and estimates of future profitability, that it is more likely than not that it will be able to realize a portion of its deferred tax assets in the future and recorded a $0.9 million non-cash reversal of its deferred tax asset valuation allowance representing $0.16 per diluted share. The reversal of the valuation allowance was partially offset by a $0.7 million provision for income taxes related to taxable income generated for the second quarter of 2011.

The Company reported net income attributable to controlling interest of $2.0 million or $0.35 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2011 compared to $0.7 million or $0.13 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2010. Net income attributable to controlling interest included net income of $48,000 from AAP, which represents 50% of AAP's net income of $96,000 for the second quarter of 2011.

Six Months Ended July 2, 2011 Financial Overview

Total revenues for the six months ended July 2, 2011 increased 13.2% to $62.8 million from $55.5 million for the six months ended July 3, 2010. Comparable store revenues from ApplianceSmart stores operating during the six months ended July 2, 2011 and July 3, 2010 decreased 5.4%, and total retail revenues decreased 5.4% to $37.6 million from $39.8 million for the six months ended July 3, 2010. Revenues for the six months ended July 3, 2010 were boosted by sales from state-administered ENERGY STAR® appliance rebate programs that were not repeated this year, resulting in the year-over-year decrease in retail revenues for the six months ended July 2, 2011.

Recycling revenues, which are comprised of appliance recycling fees and appliance replacement program revenues, increased 44.6% to $15.3 million for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to revenues of $10.6 million for the six months ended July 3, 2010. Appliance recycling fees of $8.5 million remained the same for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to the six months ended July 3, 2010. For the six months ended July 2, 2011, recycling volumes were up 16.6% and average per-unit recycling fees were down 13.4% compared to the six months ended July 3, 2010. Replacement program revenues of $6.8 million increased 222.4% or $4.7 million from revenues of $2.1 million for the six months ended July 3, 2010, primarily as the result of higher volumes from a California utility customer's refrigerator replacement program.

Byproduct revenues of $9.9 million increased 92.4% or $4.8 million for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to $5.1 million for the six months ended July 3, 2010. The increase in byproduct revenues was primarily the result of higher recycling volumes and higher revenues generated at AAP. Byproduct revenues include all of the revenues generated by AAP. Revenues from AAP of $5.2 million increased 103.7% or $2.6 million compared to revenues of $2.6 million for the six months ended July 3, 2010.

Overall gross profit as a percentage of total revenues declined to 29.7% for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to 30.1% for the six months ended July 3, 2010. Gross profit for the retail segment was 28.3% for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to 28.5% for the six months ended July 3, 2010.  Gross profit for the recycling segment decreased to 31.9% for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to 34.5% for the six months ended July 3, 2010, primarily related to lower average per-unit recycling fees and higher fuel costs.

Selling expenses decreased $0.9 million to $9.4 million or 15.0% of total revenues for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to $10.3 million or 18.6% of total revenues for the six months ended July 3, 2010. The decrease in selling expenses was due primarily to a combination of lowering retail store operating expenses and reducing advertising expenses. General and administrative expenses for the six months ended July 2, 2011 increased $0.5 million to $5.4 million compared to general and administrative expenses of $4.9 million for the six months ended July 3, 2010. The increase was related primarily to the impact of restoring compensation reductions as compared to the same period in 2010. As a percentage of total revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 8.6% for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to 8.9% of total revenues for the six months ended July 3, 2010.

The Company recorded a $0.3 million provision for income taxes for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to $0.2 million for the six months ended July 3, 2010.  As a result of generating taxable income for the six months ended July 2, 2011, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $1.2 million at an effective tax rate of 40.4%.  The provision for income taxes was partially offset by recording a $0.9 million discrete item or $0.16 per diluted share related to the reversal of a portion of the Company's deferred tax asset valuation allowance during the second quarter of 2011.

The Company reported net income attributable to controlling interest of $2.7 million or $0.47 per diluted share for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to $0.8 million or $0.16 per diluted share for the six months ended July 3, 2010. Net income attributable to controlling interest included net income of $111,000 from AAP, which represents 50% of AAP's net income of $222,000 for the six months ended July 2, 2011. Net income of $0.2 million generated by AAP increased $0.4 million for the six months ended July 2, 2011 compared to a net loss of $0.2 million for the same period in 2010.  The increase is related primarily to stronger revenues, higher profit margins and the elimination of start-up expenses.

Liquidity

Cash and cash equivalents as of July 2, 2011 were $4.5 million compared to $3.1 million as of January 1, 2011. As of July 2, 2011, the Company had $5.0 million of available borrowings under its revolving line of credit. Working capital increased to $8.4 million as of July 2, 2011 compared to $1.3 million as of January 1, 2011. The improvement in working capital was related primarily to three factors: 1) paying off several of AAP's short-term loans with the $4.75 million in proceeds from three Susquehanna Bank term loans, which mature over ten years, 2) a higher level of accounts receivable from the increased volume of a California utility customer's replacement program and 3) cash generated from operations as a result of the overall positive improvement in operating results for the six months ended July 2, 2011.

Conference Call Information

In conjunction with this release, Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. will host a conference call tomorrow, August 9, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. CDT. To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number ten minutes prior to the scheduled time: 1-800-699-5854. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website at www.ARCAInc.com.

About ARCA

ARCA (www.ARCAInc.com), one of the nation's largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities, currently provides services for more than 175 utilities in the U.S. and Canada. Toxic chemicals and environmentally harmful materials such as ozone-depleting refrigerants, PCBs, mercury and oil are carefully recovered in the decommissioning process for destruction or disposal, preventing them from contaminating soil, air and water resources. The Company is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of the world's leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap. Through its ApplianceSmart operation (www.ApplianceSmart.com), ARCA also is one of the nation's leading retailers of special-buy household appliances, primarily those manufactured by General Electric, Electrolux and Whirlpool. These special-buy appliances, which include close-outs, factory overruns and discontinued models, typically are not integrated into the manufacturer's normal distribution channel. ApplianceSmart sells these new appliances at a discount to full retail, offers a 100% money-back guarantee and provides warranties on parts and labor. As of August 2011, ApplianceSmart was operating 19 stores: six in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market; one in the Rochester, Minn., market; four in the Columbus, Ohio, market; six in the Atlanta market; and two in San Antonio, Texas.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding ARCA's future success. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including the risks associated with general economic conditions, competition in the retail and recycling industries and regulatory risks. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in ARCA's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other risks may be detailed from time to time in reports to be filed with the SEC.

SOURCE Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.