A.T. Cross Company Reports Strong Second Quarter Results.Net Sales Net Sales The amount a seller receives from the buyer after costs associated with the sale are deducted. Notes: This amount is calculated by subtracting the following items from gross sales: merchandise returned for credit, allowances for damaged or missing goods, freight increase 18.5% Income Increases 71% to $3.2 million EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) A PostScript file format used to transfer a graphic image between applications and platforms. EPS files contain PostScript code as well as an optional preview image in TIFF, WMF, PICT or EPSI, the latter being an ASCII-only format. doubles LINCOLN, R.I. -- A.T. Cross Company (AMEX AMEX See: American Stock Exchange : ATX See ATX motherboard. (hardware, standard) ATX - An open PC motherboard specification by Intel. ATX is a development of the Baby AT specification with the motherboard rotated 90 degrees in the chassis. ) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 28, 2008. Consolidated sales for the second quarter of 2008 increased 18.5% to $43.2 million compared to $36.5 million in the second quarter of 2007. The Cross Accessory Division (CAD), also referred to as the writing instruments and accessories segment, recorded revenue of $25.9 million, up 8.3% compared to the same period last year. The Company's optical segment, which now includes the Native Eyewear business, had a second quarter sales increase of 37.7% to $17.3 million, compared to the same period last year. This increase was driven both by continued strong growth for the Costa Del Mar Costa Del Mar is a company that designs and manufactures high quality polarized sunglasses for use in sports such as fishing, sailing and surfing. It was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Ormond Beach, Florida. brand as well as the contribution from Native. Gross margin in the second quarter improved to 56.4% versus 56.1% in last year's second quarter. The Company noted that the gross margin improvement was the result of a mix shift toward the optical segment. The Company continues to expect to see full year gains in gross margin. Operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. were $21.2 million, or 49.0% of sales in the quarter, versus $18.6 million, or 50.9% of sales for the same period a year ago. This improvement was driven by an ongoing focus on cost control and the achievement of some economies of scale on the sales growth. Consolidated operating income Operating Income The profit realized from a business' own operations. Notes: This would not include income from things such as investments in other firms. Also referred to as operating profit or recurring profit. in the second quarter was $3.2 million versus $1.9 in the second quarter of last year. Net income for the second quarter was $1.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted di·lute tr.v. di·lut·ed, di·lut·ing, di·lutes 1. To make thinner or less concentrated by adding a liquid such as water. 2. To lessen the force, strength, purity, or brilliance of, especially by admixture. share, compared to $990,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, last year. David G. Whalen, President and Chief Executive Officer of A.T. Cross said, "We are very pleased with the continued and broad-based strength of our business despite a highly challenging market environment. We believe that our performance speaks to the power of our increasingly diversified group of brands and to the ongoing improvements we are making to our operating model Operating Model is a term that is used in many contexts. In essence an operating model describes how an organization operates across both business and technology domains. The Operating Model describes what is important for the organization. . We remain on track to achieve our financial goals for the year and we have made excellent progress in advancing each of our core strategies. We have grown our accessories and writing instrument business, lowered our cost structure, grown our optical businesses, and successfully leveraged our recent acquisition." Balance Sheet At the end of the second quarter the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $14.4 million versus $13.8 million at this time last year. Accounts receivable accounts receivable n. the amounts of money due or owed to a business or professional by customers or clients. Generally, accounts receivable refers to the total amount due and is considered in calculating the value of a business or the business' problems in paying increased by 25.6% to $30.3 million. Inventory at the end of the quarter was $31.1 million versus the year-ago level of $33.4 million. The Company noted it had achieved a net reduction of inventory even with the addition of $1.8MM of inventory for the Native business. The reduction was due to a $4.4 million improvement in the inventory position of the Cross Accessory Division. The Company's long term debt increased to $21.7 million versus $3.5 million at this time last year, due primarily to the Native acquisition. Guidance The Company stated that it believes it will achieve full year net sales growth of 9%-12% and its target for full year 2008 earnings per share in the range of $0.49 to $0.51. Conference Call The Company's management will host a conference call today, July 23, 2008 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Parties interested in participating in the conference call may dial-in at (888) 599-8693, while international callers may dial-in at (913) 312-1294. A live webcast of the call will be accessible on the Company's website at www.cross.com or www.viavid.net. The webcast will be archived for 30 days on these sites, while a telephone replay of the call will be available beginning at 7:30 PM Eastern Time on July 23, 2008 through July 30, 2008 at (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820 for international callers, and entering the pass code of 3179364. About A.T. Cross Company Building on the rich tradition of its award-winning writing instruments and reputation for innovation and craftsmanship Craftsmanship Alcimedon a first-rate carver in wood. [Rom. Lit.: Vergil Eclogues, iii. 37.] Argus skillful builder of Jason’s Argo. [Gk. Myth.: Walsh Classical, 29] Athena (Rom. , A.T. Cross Company is a designer and marketer of branded personal and business accessories. Cross provides a range of distinctive products that appeal to a growing market of consumers seeking to enhance their image and facilitate their lifestyle. A.T. Cross products, including award-winning quality writing instruments, timepieces, business accessories and Costa Del Mar and Native Eyewear sunglasses sunglasses A tinted pair of glasses used to ↓ light arriving at the eye, which are labeled according to the amount of UV light blocked; nonprescription glasses are classified according to use and amount of UV radiation blocked Sunglasses , are distributed in retail and corporate gift channels worldwide. For more information, visit the A.T. Cross website at www.cross.com, the Costa Del Mar website at www.costadelmar.com and the Native Eyewear website at www.nativeyewear.com. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. made pursuant to the safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995 (including but not limited to statements relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc the expected continued strength of the consolidated business, the continued improvement in the Company's operating model, the expected attainment of the Company's financial goals, the expected continued strength of the Optical segment, and the expected success of new product introductions, brand extensions and the direct to consumer initiatives ). In addition, words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to domestic and international economic market uncertainty, the continued increase in energy costs, the continued beneficial effect of foreign exchange on the Company's revenues, consumers' and retailers' reaction to the Company's existing and new writing instrument and accessory products, and the success of the direct to consumer initiatives, and are not guarantees since there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The information contained in this document is as of July 23, 2008. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information or future events or developments. Additional discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations is contained in the Company's filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] |
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