Cost-U-Less Reports Earnings of 12 Cents Per Share for Third Quarter.BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Cost-U-Less, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq: CULS CULS Capital University Law School (Columbus, Ohio) ) today announced results for its third fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2006 (Q3 2006). Highlights for Q3 2006 were as follows: * 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. of $0.12 on net income of $0.5MM compared to EPS of $0.15 on net income of $0.6MM for the corresponding period a year ago (Q3 2005). * 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. of $1.0MM compared to operating income of $1.2MM for Q3 2005. * Sales of $54.6MM compared to $53.0MM for Q3 2005. * Comparable store sales (stores open a full 13 months) increase of 3.5% over Q3 2005. An improvement in gross margin dollars of $0.3MM on higher sales and a reduction in corporate general and administrative expenses of $0.1MM partially offset a $0.6MM or 9.0% increase in store 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. . Store expenses increased due to several factors, over a third of which related to utility costs that were 21% higher than in Q3 2005. Store expenses were also negatively affected by the additional labor required during the remodel re·mod·el tr.v. re·mod·eled also re·mod·elled, re·mod·el·ing also re·mod·el·ling, re·mod·els also re·mod·els To make over in structure or style; reconstruct. and expansion of the company's store in St. Thomas. This project was successfully completed on August 10, 2006. "Undoubtedly the escalation in our utility costs took its toll this quarter in addition to the one-time charges for expanding our St. Thomas store," said J. Jeffrey Meder, the Company's President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "Prior to this quarter we have largely been able to offset the rising utility costs with improvements elsewhere. Going forward, we will continue to explore every avenue either to decrease these costs with investments in energy-saving equipment, or to offset these costs with gross margin improvement strategies and lower expenses in other areas." The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet in a listen-only mode through www.earnings.com. Hyperlinks to the webcast are available through www.costuless.com, www.streetevents.com and other financial websites. An on-demand replay of the webcast also will be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time, November 14, 2006, and subsequently will be archived and available at www.costuless.com for approximately 30 days. Cost-U-Less currently operates eleven stores in the Caribbean and Pacific region: U.S. Virgin Islands (2), Netherlands Antilles Netherlands Antilles, island group, an autonomous part of the Netherlands (2005 est. pop. 220,000), 371 sq mi (961 sq km), West Indies. Formerly known as the Dutch West Indies and Netherlands West Indies, they are divided into two groups. (2), Hawaiian Islands (2), California (1), Guam (2), American Samoa American Samoa, officially Territory of American Samoa, unincorporated territory of the United States (2000 pop. 57,291), comprising the eastern half of the Samoa island chain in the South Pacific. (1), and Republic of Fiji (1). The Company builds its business through delivering high-quality U.S. and local goods, progressive merchandising practices, sophisticated distribution capabilities, and superior customer service, primarily to island markets. Additional information about Cost-U-Less is available at www.costuless.com Forward Looking Statements This press release contains statements that are forward-looking. These statements are 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. Such statements, including comparable store sales expectations, trends in or expectations regarding the Company's revenue growth, and the Company's growth plans are all based on currently available operating, financial, and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including that the Company may encounter substantial delays, increased expenses or loss of potential store sites due to the complexities, cultural differences, and local political issues associated with the regulatory and permitting processes in the island markets in which the Company may locate its stores. Prolonged adverse occurrences affecting tourism or air travel, particularly to non-U.S. destinations, including political instability, armed hostilities, terrorism, natural disasters or other activity that involves or affects air travel or the tourism industry generally, could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Other risks and uncertainties include the Company's small store base; the mix of geographic and product revenues; relationships with third parties; litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. ; the Company's ability to maintain existing credit facilities credit facilities npl → facilidades fpl de crédito credit facilities npl → facilités fpl de paiement credit facilities and obtain additional credit; business and economic conditions and growth in various geographic regions; pricing pressures; political and regulatory instability in various geographic regions; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. [TABLE OMITTED] [TABLE OMITTED] |
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