Kirkland’s, Inc. (NASDAQ: KIRK) operates as a specialty home décor retailer. Shares of the specialty retailer rallied 34.13% during trading on Thursday, November 29, 2018. Over the past three months, Kirkland’s has seen average daily volume of 263,290 shares. However, volume of 1.59 million shares or dollar volume of $16.06 million, exchanged hands during trading on Thursday.
Shares of Kirkland’s rallied on Thursday, after the company reported fiscal third quarter earnings for the 13-week and 39-week period ending on November 3, 2018. During the 13-week period, Kirkland’s reported a net loss of $2.8 million or ($0.18) per diluted share. This compares to a net loss of $2.4 million or ($0.15) during the same period in 2017. During the 39-week period, Kirkland’s reported net sales of $430.90 million, which is growth of 5.20% compared to the same time last year. However, the home décor retailer reported a net loss of $10.4 million or ($0.66) per diluted share. The company noted that “the decline in gross profit as a percentage of sales in the third quarter was driven by a decline in merchandise margin primarily due to higher inbound freight costs and deleverage of store occupancy costs.” Here is the full press release detailing of the fiscal third quarter results:
Kirkland’s, Inc. Press Release:
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Kirkland’s, Inc. (KIRK) today reported financial results for the 13-week and 39-week periods ended November 3, 2018.
“I am excited to join the Kirkland’s team and encouraged with the ongoing initiatives as well as the energy across the company,” said Steve “Woody” Woodward, Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time, I believe there is significant opportunity to improve the consistency and relevancy of our assortments to make Kirkland’s the destination of choice for quality home décor at an affordable price.”
Mike Cairnes, President and Chief Operating Officer added, “Quarterly performance benefitted from strong sell through of seasonal merchandise and continued progress in operating performance. E-commerce trends improved in the quarter while expenses and inventory remained well managed. We are operating the business with greater efficiency and believe we are well positioned to deliver a solid holiday season.”
Financial Performance
Net sales for the 13 weeks ended November 3, 2018 increased 6.6% to $154.6 million compared with $145.0 million for the 13 weeks ended October 28, 2017. Net sales for the third quarter were driven by an increase in both store count and e-commerce revenue. Kirkland’s opened six stores and closed no stores during the third quarter, bringing the total number of stores to 432 at quarter-end. Comparable store sales, including e-commerce sales, increased 1.4% compared with an increase of 0.7% in the prior-year quarter. Brick and mortar traffic trends improved versus year-ago levels; negative store traffic was partially offset by an improvement in conversion and average ticket. E-commerce sales were driven by gains in traffic and conversion.
Net loss for the 13 weeks ended November 3, 2018 was $2.8 million, or ($0.18) per diluted share compared with a net loss of $2.4 million, or ($0.15) per diluted share, for the 13 weeks ended October 28, 2017. Adjusted loss, excluding charges associated with the transition of the Company’s Chief Executive Officers, for the 13 weeks ended November 3, 2018 was $2.0 million, or ($0.13) per diluted share. The decline in gross profit as a percentage of sales in the third quarter was driven by a decline in merchandise margin primarily due to higher inbound freight costs and the deleverage of store occupancy costs. Total operating expenses as a percentage of sales declined versus the prior-year period.
Net sales for the 39 weeks ended November 3, 2018 increased 5.2% to $430.9 million compared with $409.5 million for the 39 weeks ended October 28, 2017. Comparable store sales for the 39 weeks ended November 3, 2018, including e-commerce sales, decreased 0.3% compared with a decrease of 0.6% in the prior-year period. Kirkland’s opened 22 stores and closed eight during the 39-week period ended November 3, 2018.
Net loss for the 39 weeks ended November 3, 2018 was $10.4 million, or ($0.66) per diluted share compared with a net loss of $7.6 million, or ($0.48) per diluted share, for the 39 weeks ended October 28, 2017. Adjusted loss, excluding severance and other charges associated with the transition of the Company’s Chief Executive Officers, for the 39 weeks ended November 3, 2018 was $8.5 million, or ($0.54) per diluted share.
Fiscal 2018 Outlook
Kirkland’s is updating its outlook for fiscal 2018 as follows:
| Store Growth: | For the 52-week period ending February 2, 2019 (“fiscal 2018”), the Company expects to achieve approximately 3% to 4% square footage growth with 25 new store openings and 13 to 15 store closings. |
| Sales: | The Company expects total sales for fiscal 2018 to increase 3% to 4% compared with fiscal 2017. This level of sales performance implies flat to modest growth in comparable store sales. |
| Earnings: | The Company expects fiscal 2018 diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $0.50 to $0.60, excluding costs in the second half related to the hiring of a new CEO. The full year earnings projection assumes a tax rate of approximately 30%. |
| Cash Flow: | Capital expenditures in fiscal 2018, which are driven primarily by new store openings and investments in omni-channel capabilities and the supply chain, are estimated to range between $29 million and $31 million. |
This performance outlook is based on current information as of November 29, 2018. The information on which this outlook is based is subject to change, and the Company may update its full-year business outlook or any portion thereof at any time for any reason.
Investor Conference Call and Web Simulcast
Kirkland’s will hold its earnings call for the third quarter later today at 11:00 a.m. ET. Participating on the call will be Steve Woodward, Chief Executive Officer, Mike Cairnes, President and Chief Operating Officer and Nicole Strain, Interim Chief Financial Officer. The number to call for the interactive teleconference is (412) 542-4163. A replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, December 6, 2018 by dialing (412) 317-0088 and entering the confirmation number 10126322.
A live webcast of Kirkland’s quarterly conference call will be available online on the Company’s Investor Relations Page on November 29, 2018, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue for one year.
About Kirkland’s, Inc.
Kirkland’s, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is a specialty retailer of home décor in the United States. Although originally focused in the Southeast, the Company has grown beyond that region and currently operates 434 stores in 37 states as well as an e-commerce enabled website, www.kirklands.com. The Company’s stores present a broad selection of distinctive merchandise, including holiday décor, framed art, furniture, ornamental wall décor, fragrance and accessories, mirrors, lamps, decorative accessories, textiles, housewares, gifts, artificial floral products, frames, clocks and outdoor living items. The Company’s stores offer an extensive assortment of holiday merchandise during seasonal periods as well as items carried throughout the year suitable for gift-giving. More information can be found at www.kirklands.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to the finalization of the Company’s quarterly financial and accounting procedures. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Kirkland’s actual results to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the competitive environment in the home décor industry in general and in Kirkland’s specific market areas, inflation, fluctuations in cost and availability of products, interruptions in supply chain and distribution systems, including our e-commerce systems and channels, the ability to control employment and other operating costs, availability of suitable retail locations and other growth opportunities, disruptions in information technology systems including the potential for security breaches of Kirkland’s or its customers’ information, seasonal fluctuations in consumer spending, and economic conditions in general. Those and other risks are more fully described in Kirkland’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 3, 2018 and subsequent reports. Kirkland’s disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.
