McRAE INDUSTRIES, INC. REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST SIX MONTHS OF FISCAL 2023

MOUNT GILEAD, N.C., March 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- McRae Industries, Inc. (Pink Sheets:  MCRAA and MCRAB) reported consolidated net revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 of $30,769,000 as compared to $31,426,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2022.  Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 amounted to $1,729,000, or $0.76 per diluted Class A common share as compared to $2,536,000, or $1.12 per diluted Class A common share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2022.

Consolidated net revenues for the first six months of fiscal 2023 totaled $64,552,000 as compared to $59,014,000 for the first six months of fiscal 2022.  Net earnings for the first six months of fiscal 2023 amounted to $4,586,000, or $2.02 per diluted Class A common share, as compared to net earnings of $4,758,000, or $2.11 per diluted Class A common share, for the first six months of fiscal 2022.

SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2023 COMPARED TO SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2022

Consolidated net revenues totaled $30.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 as compared to $31.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022.  Sales related to our western/lifestyle boot products for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 totaled $22.8 million as compared to $23.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022.  This decrease in net revenues was spread across most of our product lines, as the demand for western boots was unprecedented in the prior year and many retailers were in an over inventoried position for the quarter.  Revenues from our work boot products increased from $7.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 to $8.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2023.  This was primarily a result of increased military boot sales.

Consolidated gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 amounted to approximately $8.0 million as compared to $9.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022.  Gross profit, as a percentage of net revenues, was down from 29.1% for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 to 25.9% for the second quarter of fiscal 2023.  This is primarily because of decreased margins on military boot sales driven by increased labor cost and rising material cost associated with fixed price military boot contracts.  We continue to have difficult hiring and training qualified employees to work in our manufacturing facility.

Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately $6.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 as compared to $5.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022.  This increase resulted primarily from increased employee related expenses and product samples.

As a result of the above, the consolidated operating profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 amounted to $1.8 million as compared to $3.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2022.

FIRST SIX MONTHS FISCAL 2023 COMPARED TO FIRST SIX MONTHS FISCAL 2022

Consolidated net revenues for the first six months of fiscal 2023 totaled $64.6 million as compared to $59.0 million for the first six months of fiscal 2022.  Our western and lifestyle product sales totaled $49.5 million for the first six months of fiscal 2023 as compared to $43.4 million for the first six months of fiscal 2022, as our increases from the first quarter outweighed the decreases in the second.  As noted in our first quarter earnings release, we do expect sales for these products to continue to decrease during the remainder of Fiscal 2023 as compared to the prior year.  Net revenues from our work boot business increased from $14.2 million for the first six months of fiscal 2022 to $15.1 million for the first six months of fiscal 2023.  This was primarily a result of increased military boot sales, offset by a decrease in Dan Post work boot sales.

Consolidated gross profit totaled $18.3 million, or 28.3%, for the first six months of fiscal 2023 as compared to $17.1 million, or 29.0%, for the first six months of fiscal 2022.  This is primarily due to our lower margins on military boot sales as discussed for the quarter.  This was exacerbated by the fact that military boot sales made up a larger percentage of total sales for the first six months of 2023 as compared to 2022.

Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately $12.2 million for the first six months of fiscal 2023 as compared to $10.9 million for the first six months of fiscal 2022.  This increase resulted primarily from increased commissions and employee related expenses.

As a result of the above, the consolidated operating profit amounted to $6.1 million for the first six months of fiscal 2023 as compared to $6.3 million for the first six months of fiscal 2022.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

Our financial condition remained strong at January 28, 2023 as cash and cash equivalents totaled $15.4 million as compared to $15.3 million at July 30, 2022.  Our working capital increased from $67.0 million at July 30, 2022 to $69.7 million at January 28, 2023.

We currently have two lines of credit totaling $6.75 million, all of which was fully available at January 28, 2023.  One credit line totaling $1.75 million (which is restricted to one hundred percent of the outstanding receivables due from the Government) expires in January 2024.  Our $5.0 million line of credit, which also expires in January 2024, is secured by the inventory and accounts receivable of our Dan Post Boot Company subsidiary.

For the first six months of fiscal 2023, operating activities provided approximately $2.6 million of cash.  Net earnings, as adjusted for depreciation, contributed approximately $5.1 million of cash.  Increased inventory, accounts payable, and employee benefits used approximately $8.5 million of cash.  Decreased accounts receivable provided approximately $6.2 million of cash.

Net cash used by investing activities totaled approximately $0.8 million, primarily due to the purchase of fixed assets and securities.

Net cash used in financing activities totaled $1.8 million, which was used primarily for dividend payments.

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, cash generated from operations, and available credit lines will be sufficient to meet our capital requirements for the remainder of fiscal 2023.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected, estimated, assumed or anticipated in any such forward-looking statements include: uncertainties associated with COVID-19 or coronavirus, including its possible effects on our operations, supply chain, and the demand for our products and services, the effect of competitive products and pricing, risks unique to selling goods to the Government (including variation in the Government's requirements for our products and the Government's ability to terminate its contracts with vendors), changes in fashion cycles and trends in the western boot business, loss of key customers, acquisitions, supply interruptions, additional financing requirements, our expectations about future Government orders for military boots, loss of key management personnel, our ability to successfully develop new products and services, and the effect of general economic conditions in our markets.

SOURCE McRae Industries, Inc.