Weyco Reports Second Quarter Sales And Earnings

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Weyco Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WEYS) (the "Company") today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the Company's second quarter results. The majority of retailers, including our retail stores, were closed for a majority of the quarter due to government orders, and business recovery has been slow.  As a result, the Company experienced significant sales volume losses during the quarter, which led to substantially lower second quarter earnings.

Net sales for the second quarter of 2020 were $16.7 million, down as compared to second quarter 2019 net sales of $60.5 million. Operating losses totaled $13.0 million for the quarter, down from operating earnings of $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2019.  The Company's net loss totaled $8.9 million for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $1.5 million in last year's second quarter. Diluted loss per share was $0.91 in the second quarter of 2020, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.15 in the second quarter of 2019.

Net sales in the North American wholesale segment, which include North American wholesale sales and licensing revenues, were $9.3 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared to $46.1 million in the second quarter of 2019.  Net sales across all of the Company's brands were down significantly in all major categories as a result of retail shutdowns due to the pandemic. Licensing revenues declined to $141,000 in the second quarter of 2020, from $636,000 in last year's second quarter, in line with reductions in licensees' sales of branded products.

Gross earnings for the North American wholesale segment were 34.7% of net sales in the second quarter of 2020, compared to 35.1% of net sales in last year's second quarter. The wholesale segment had operating losses totaling $10.2 million for the quarter, compared to operating earnings of $2.2 million in last year's second quarter. The losses this quarter included the write-off of approximately $3.3 million in receivables as a result of the J.C. Penney bankruptcy filing in May 2020, offset by $1.4 million of income from U.S. and Canada government wage subsidies.

Net sales in the North American retail segment, which include sales from the Company's Florsheim retail stores and its e-commerce businesses in the United States, were $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $5.4 million in the second quarter of 2019.  Same store sales (which include U.S. e-commerce sales) were down 31% for the quarter due to retail store closures, partially offset by higher sales on the Company's websites. The retail segment had operating losses totaling $856,000 for the quarter, down from operating earnings of $401,000 in last year's second quarter, due to larger operating losses at brick-and-mortar stores.

Other net sales, which include the wholesale and retail net sales of Florsheim Australia and Florsheim Europe, were $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2020, down from $9.0 million in the second quarter of 2019. The decrease was due to lower net sales at both Florsheim Australia and Florsheim Europe resulting from retail shutdowns. Collectively, Florsheim Australia and Florsheim Europe had operating losses totaling $2.0 million for the quarter, compared to operating losses of $749,000 in the second quarter of 2019.  The losses this quarter included the write-down of approximately $1.0 million of obsolete inventory at Florsheim Asia, and $1.3 million of income from rent and wage subsidies recognized during the period.

"Cost management and liquidity remain top priorities of the Company during this challenging time," stated Thomas W. Florsheim, Jr., Chairman and CEO. "We are taking measures to right-size our cost structure in light of decreased demand. Our balance sheet and liquidity remain strong, which we believe affords us the ability to withstand the economic effects of the current pandemic situation."

On August 4, 2020, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.24 per share to all shareholders of record on August 28, 2020, payable September 30, 2020. 

Conference Call Details:

Weyco Group will host a conference call on August 5, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the second quarter financial results in more detail. To participate in the call, you will first need to pre-register online. Pre-registration takes only a few minutes and you may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. To pre-register, please go to: http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/6982938. The pre-registration process will provide the conference call phone number and a passcode required to enter the call. A replay will be available for one year beginning about two hours after the completion of the call at the following webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ugwesai7. The conference call will also be available in the investor relations section of Weyco Group's website at www.weycogroup.com.

About Weyco Group:

Weyco Group, Inc., designs and markets quality and innovative footwear principally for men, but also for women and children, under a portfolio of well-recognized brand names including: Florsheim, Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, BOGS, and Rafters. The Company's products can be found in leading footwear, department, and specialty stores, as well as on e-commerce websites worldwide.  Weyco Group also operates Florsheim stores in the United States and Australia, as well as in a variety of international markets.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Various factors could cause the results of Weyco Group to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to: (i) successfully market and sell its products in a highly competitive industry and in view of changing consumer trends, consumer acceptance of products and other factors affecting retail market conditions; (ii) procure its products from independent manufacturers; and (iii) other factors, including those detailed from time to time in Weyco Group's filings made with the SEC.  With respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous factors will determine the extent and length of the impact on the Company, including the extent and duration of the pandemic and resulting global economic slowdown; actions taken by governments, such as stay-at-home and similar orders that, among other effects, require retail store closures; the financial health of the Company's customers and business partners, including the effects of any bankruptcy proceedings by such parties; the performance/resiliency of the Company's supply chain; and the health and welfare of the Company's employees. Weyco Group undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Weyco Group, Inc.