Charles & Colvard Reports Fiscal Third Quarter 2007 Financial Results.MORRISVILLE, N.C. -- Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : CTHR), the global source of moissanite, a created jewel available for use in fine jewelry jewelry, personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring. , today reported third quarter 2007 operating results. For the three months ended September 30, 2007, 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 decreased 46% to $6.6 million as compared to $12.1 million in the third quarter of 2006. Gross profit for the quarter decreased 42% to $4.9 million compared to $8.3 million in the prior year period. Gross margin increased 520 basis points to 74.1% compared to 68.9% as a result of lower production costs. 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. for the three months ended September 30, 2007 decreased 84% to $560,000 from $3.5 million for the same period in 2006. Net income for the third quarter of 2007 decreased to $246,000, or $0.01 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 net income of $2.2 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the comparable period of 2006. Bob Thomas For the Irish footballer, see . Bob Thomas (born March 1, 1965 in Appalachia, Virginia) is a radio personality, actor, and writer. He was one of the top radio announcers in Knoxville, Tennessee for 25 years. , Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, "Our results for the third quarter have not met our expectations. The factors that negatively affected the third quarter are a continuation of what has transpired in our business during the first half of the fiscal year. Moissanite customer orders continue to be slow due primarily to ongoing higher than average inventory levels among our direct manufacturing See rapid manufacturing. customers and at the retail level. Additionally, the economic environment for some of our domestic jewelry manufacturing customers is becoming more challenging, with increased foreign competition and consolidation within the domestic industry. We also did not experience significant sell-in revenue during the third quarter 2007 compared to $2.2 million of sell-in revenue during the third quarter last year. We have reduced our quarterly inventory purchase commitment for the fourth quarter from our leading supplier by nearly one half in order to reduce our overall inventory position." "To increase orders and overall demand, we have developed specific marketing action plans to allow both the distributors and retailers to regain sales momentum and enjoy success with the moissanite category. Our ongoing initiatives show signs of increasing consumer awareness and interest for moissanite jewelry. Current marketing initiatives for the fourth quarter, such as the "Moissanite Milestone Moments" campaign launched in October with Oprah magazine and Oprah online, are primarily designed to increase consumer awareness which we believe can help drive product demand." Financial Outlook As of today, the Company is updating its 2007 financial guidance as follows: * Revenue to be in a range of $30 million to $33 million. * Gross profit margins Gross profit margin Gross profit divided by sales, which is equal to each sales dollar left over after paying for the cost of goods sold. gross profit margin A measure calculated by dividing gross profit by net sales. for 2007 to be in the range of 70% to 75%. * Marketing and sales expense to be in the range of approximately 49% to 53% of total net sales. The expectation for sales and marketing expense for fiscal 2007 has increased on a percentage basis due to lower sales expectations for 2007 as well as the Company's efforts to support revenue initiatives at a higher level than last year. Mr. Thomas concluded, "Despite our slower sales, we are optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op regarding the growth opportunities associated with our business moving forward over the long term. We believe many of our most recent innovative marketing initiatives, such as our 'Moissanite Milestone Moments' campaign, our creative television broadcast ads, and other initiatives will continue to generate consumer awareness which will ultimately lead to healthy product demand." Moissanite is positioned correctly as a compelling product in an entirely unique jewelry category and Charles & Colvard has exclusive patented rights to this product for years to come. We believe that we offer a strong value proposition for retailers and consumers alike, enjoy a highly scalable operating structure, and require very little capital to grow. Further, we are taking the appropriate steps to reduce our inventory position, which is nonperishable. We believe we have a strong foundation in place to grow sales at the retail level and will proceed with our strategic initiatives with our shareholders foremost in mind." Charles & Colvard's domestic sales in the third quarter decreased 51% to $5.3 million compared to the third quarter of 2006. Sales of moissanite jewels to the Company's top four direct customers contributed $5.0 million in revenue in the third quarter of 2007 compared to $9.8 million in the prior year period. International sales for the third quarter decreased 5% to $1.2 million, with reduced sales to Hong Kong Hong Kong (hŏng kŏng), Mandarin Xianggang, special administrative region of China, formerly a British crown colony (2005 est. pop. 6,899,000), land area 422 sq mi (1,092 sq km), adjacent to Guangdong prov. partially offset by strong results from India, Taiwan and Italy. Total shipments of 40,800 carats for the current third quarter period were less than the 77,300 carats shipped in the same period of 2006. Shipments of carats in the U.S. for the quarter decreased 51% while international shipments of carats decreased 9%. At September 30, 2007 total inventory (including consignment The delivery of goods to a carrier to be shipped to a designated person for sale. A Bailment of goods for sale. A consignment is an arrangement resulting from a contract in which one person, the consignor, either ships or entrusts goods to another, the ) increased by $2.5 million compared to June 30, 2007 primarily due to the level of raw material purchases. The Company's raw material inventories of silicon carbide silicon carbide, chemical compound, SiC, that forms extremely hard, dark, iridescent crystals that are insoluble in water and other common solvents. Widely used as an abrasive, it is marketed under such familiar trade names as Carborundum and Crystolon. crystals are purchased under exclusive supply agreements with a limited number of suppliers. Because the supply agreements restrict the sale of these crystals to only the Company, the suppliers negotiate minimum purchase commitments with the Company that may result in periodic levels of raw and in-process inventories that are higher than the Company might otherwise maintain. Share and per share data for all periods presented reflect the effect of the one share for every four shares owned stock split, effected in the form of a 25% stock dividend, distributed on January 30, 2006. Conference Call The Company will hold a conference call with senior management to discuss the financial results at 4:45 p.m. EDT EDT abbr. Eastern Daylight Time EDT Eastern Daylight Time EDT n abbr (US) (= Eastern Daylight Time) → hora de verano de Nueva York EDT on October 23, 2007. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 913-312-6684. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet. To listen to the live webcast of the event, please go to www.moissanite.com and click on the Investor Relations Investor relations The process by which the corporation communicates with its investors. section where conference calls are posted. Please go to the website 15 minutes early to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available from October 23, 2007 through October 30, 2007. To access the telephone replay, participants should dial (719) 457-0820. The access code for the replay is 3463994. About Charles & Colvard, Ltd. Charles & Colvard, Ltd. (NASDAQ: CTHR), based in the Research Triangle Park Research Triangle Park, research, business, medical, and educational complex situated in central North Carolina. It has an area of 6,900 acres (2,795 hectares) and is 8 × 2 mi (13 × 3 km) in size. Named for the triangle formed by Duke Univ. area of North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. , is the global sole-source of lab-created moissanite, a unique, near-colorless jewel that is distinct from other gemstones and jewels based on its exceptional fire, brilliance, luster, durability and rarity. Currently used in fine jewelry, Charles & Colvard created Moissanite[TM] is primarily marketed to the self-purchasing woman as the perfect reward or indulgence indulgence, in the Roman Catholic Church, the pardon of temporal punishment due for sin. It is to be distinguished from absolution and the forgiveness of guilt. The church grants indulgences out of the Treasury of Merit won for the church by Christ and the saints. for a woman celebrating her achievements, whether personal or professional, big or small. For more information, please access www.moissanite.com or www.charlesandcolvard.com. This press release contains 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. within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements expressing expectations regarding our future and projections relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc products, sales, revenues and earnings are typical of such statements and are made under 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. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations and contentions and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. All forward-looking statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties inherent in predicting the future. You should be aware that although the forward-looking statements included herein represent management's current judgment and expectations, our actual results may differ materially from those projected, stated or implied in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to the Company's ability to manage growth effectively, dependence on Cree, Inc. as the current supplier of the substantial majority of the raw material, ability to develop a material second source of supply, dependence on a limited number of jewelry manufacturing customers, dependence on continued growth and consumer acceptance of the Company's products, in addition to the other risks and uncertainties described in more detail in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or or unanticipated events as they occur except as required by the federal securities laws, and you are urged to review and consider disclosures that we make in the reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that discuss other factors relevant to our business. [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] |
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