Forum Report: Quarterly Report of Continuing
Deterioration
(February 12. 2008)
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 7:54 PM
Subject: Farmer Bros. reports continuing dissipation of resources
Farmer Bros. Co.
reported its results for the second quarter of its 2008 fiscal year last
night in a press release, copied below, and
Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. The Form
10-Q section summarizing the past two years of quarterly results is also
copied below.
The following examples
of reported conditions suggest a continuing deterioration of the company’s
business and financial resources:
►
Another net loss for the quarter
►
Another $5,525,000 loss on derivative investments, which management
explains only as “primarily the result of market volatility” (Form
10-Q, page 9)
►
Continued decrease of gross margin, in spite of the company’s acquisition
of a premium coffee roaster
►
Another extension of the expected time for implementing the “enterprise
resource management system” that was started in 2002 as a 2-year project
►
Another $8.3 million reduction of the corporate reserve fund, as shown
below
Considering this report
and
observations of the previous quarter, it
must be assumed that the company’s “new” management is either unable to
determine or unwilling to report the conditions on which successful
competition depends.
Please let me know if
you think Forum participants may benefit from continuing monitoring of
this dissipation process.
GL
Gary Lutin
Lutin & Company
575 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Tel: 212-605-0335
Email: gl@shareholderforum.com
Quarterly
Financial Data
|
|
March 31, |
|
June 30, |
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
2006 |
|
2006 |
|
2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands except share data) |
|
|
|
Net
sales |
|
$ |
53,561 |
|
$ |
50,518 |
|
$ |
48,264 |
|
$ |
55,476 |
|
Gross
profit |
|
$ |
32,039 |
|
$ |
28,465 |
|
$ |
28,083 |
|
$ |
32,481 |
|
Income
(loss) from operations |
|
$ |
67 |
|
$ |
(5,057 |
) |
$ |
(2,737 |
) |
$ |
1,140 |
|
Net
income (loss) |
|
$ |
2,463 |
|
$ |
(792 |
) |
$ |
1,013 |
|
$ |
2,953 |
|
Net
income (loss) per common share |
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
$ |
0.07 |
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
June 30, |
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2007 |
|
2007 |
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands except share data) |
|
|
|
Net
sales |
|
$ |
54,382 |
|
$ |
58,137 |
|
$ |
60,943 |
|
$ |
71,359 |
|
Gross
profit |
|
$ |
31,664 |
|
$ |
34,539 |
|
$ |
33,847 |
|
$ |
39,297 |
|
Income
(loss) from operations |
|
$ |
(2,247 |
) |
$ |
(232 |
) |
$ |
(2,528 |
) |
$ |
789 |
|
Net
income (loss) |
|
$ |
1,512 |
|
$ |
1,337 |
|
$ |
(953 |
) |
$ |
(227 |
) |
Net
income (loss) per common share |
|
$ |
0.11 |
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
Press Release |
Source:
Farmer Bros. Co. |
Farmer Bros. Reports Loss of $0.02 Per Share for Second Quarter of Fiscal
2008
Monday February 11, 4:10 pm ET
TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Farmer
Bros. Co. (NASDAQ:FARM) today reported a net loss for its second fiscal
quarter ended Dec. 31, 2007 of $0.2 million or $0.02 per share, compared
with net income in last year’s second quarter
of $2.9 million or $0.21 per share.
The Company reported revenues in the
second quarter of $71.4 million, up 28.6% from $55.5 million in last
year’s second quarter. Most of the gain
– $11.0 million of the increase of $15.9
million, representing a 19.9% increase over last year’s
total sales – was contributed by Coffee Bean
Intl. (CBI), which the Company acquired in April 2007. Sales of the
balance of Farmer Bros. operations grew by $4.8 million or 8% over the
same period last year.
"We were pleased to have achieved a sales
increase for both the second quarter and the year to date,”
said Rocky Laverty, President and CEO. “We are
encouraged by the progress we have made to tap the combined strengths of
Farmer Brothers and CBI as we pursue a larger share of the institutional
and wholesale segments of the coffee market. As a combined Company, we
are now offering an array of products and services that is unique and
compelling; our sales and marketing teams are showing real progress; and
the operations at both divisions are becoming more efficient and
effective at meeting the needs of our many customers. We recognize that
there is much yet to be done but we remain confident that our growth
strategy will create real value for our shareholders.”
The Company’s
gross profit margin decreased to 55% compared with 59% in the prior year’s
second quarter, primarily reflecting the lower margins of CBI, as well
as a 13% year-over-year increase in the average cost of green coffee.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter
increased 23% to $38.5 million. Approximately 70% of the increase was
associated with CBI’s operating expenses,
with the balance primarily reflecting higher legal fees, freight costs
and expenses for the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
The Company also reported Other Net
Losses in the second quarter of $5.2 million, compared with Other Net
Income of $0.4 million in last year’s second
quarter. This net unrealized loss primarily reflects the accounting
effects on the Company’s interest-bearing
investments of the volatility in the sub-prime mortgage securities
market. Although the Company has no direct exposure to sub-prime
mortgages and made no substantial sales of its investments in the
quarter, the mark-to-market accounting treatment of its investments
reflects the current trends in credit and stock market volatility. The
Company continues to invest in a diversified portfolio of investment
grade preferred stock, typically issued by banks and utilities.
The Company ended the second fiscal
quarter with cash and short-term investments of $149.0 million compared
with $157.4 million at the end of the first quarter and $170.6 million
on June 30, 2007. This primarily reflects additions to inventory,
increased receivables and additions of fixed assets.
The Company also reported the following
operational highlights during the quarter:
- Coffee
Bean International, a wholly owned subsidiary based in Portland, Ore.
and one of the nation's leading specialty coffee roasters and
wholesalers, selected a site in Portland for a new facility that will
increase its production capacity and efficiency so it can meet growing
demand. As previously announced, the construction will be funded from
internal sources.
- The
continued investment in marketing and sales efforts at both CBI and
Farmer Brothers has resulted in the signing of new national chain
account business.
- During
the quarter CBI continued to consolidate its accounting systems with
those of Farmer Bros., and began the planned year-long process of
converting to the Company’s financial,
manufacturing and sales systems.
- Farmer
Bros. remains on schedule to implement its new enterprise resource
management system throughout the sales and distribution organization
by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. This is part of the multi-year
computer system upgrade that was designed to help employees be more
efficient and effective in serving customers.
About Farmer Bros.
Farmer Bros. Co. is an institutional
coffee roaster that sells a variety of coffee and allied products to the
food service industry and private-label customers such as retailers. The
Company's signature Farmer Bros. trucks and vans bearing the
"Consistently Good" logo are seen throughout Farmer Brothers' 28-state
service area. The Company's wholly owned Coffee Bean Intl. is one of the
nation's leading specialty coffee roasters and wholesalers. Farmer
Brothers has paid a dividend in every year since 1953, increased its
dividend in every year since 1997, and its stock price has risen on a
split-adjusted basis from $1.80 a share in 1980. For more information,
go to:
www.farmerbroscousa.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this
press release regarding the risks, circumstances and financial trends
that may affect our future operating results, financial position and
cash flows are not based on historical fact and are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and
regulations. These statements are based on management's current
expectations, assumptions, estimates and observations of future events
and include any statements that do not directly relate to any historical
or current fact. These forward-looking statements can be identified by
the use of words like "anticipates," "feels," "estimates," "projects,"
"expects," "plans," "believes," "intends," "will," "assumes" and other
words of similar meaning. Owing to the uncertainties inherent in
forward-looking statements, actual results could differ materially from
those set forth in forward-looking statements. We intend these
forward-looking statements to speak only at the time of this report and
do not undertake to update or revise these statements as more
information becomes available except as required under federal
securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, fluctuations
in availability and cost of green coffee, competition, organizational
changes, our ability to successfully integrate the CBI Acquisition, the
impact of a weaker economy, business conditions in the coffee industry
and food industry in general, the Company's continued success in
attracting new customers, variances from budgeted sales mix and growth
rates, and weather and special or unusual events, as well as other risks
described in this press release and the quarterly reports filed by the
Company on Form 10-Q and the annual report filed by the Company on Form
10-K and other factors described from time to time in the Company's
filings with the SEC.
FARMER BROS. CO.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except share
and per share data)
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended
December 31, |
|
Six months ended
December 31, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
71,359
|
|
|
$
|
55,476
|
|
$
|
132,302
|
|
|
$
|
103,740
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
32,062
|
|
|
|
22,995
|
|
|
59,158
|
|
|
|
43,176
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
$
|
39,297
|
|
|
$
|
32,481
|
|
$
|
73,144
|
|
|
$
|
60,564
|
|
Selling expense
|
|
|
30,606
|
|
|
|
26,131
|
|
|
59,081
|
|
|
|
50,795
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
7,902
|
|
|
|
5,210
|
|
|
15,802
|
|
|
|
11,366
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
$
|
38,508
|
|
|
$
|
31,341
|
|
$
|
74,883
|
|
|
$
|
62,161
|
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
$
|
789
|
|
|
$
|
1,140
|
|
|
($1,739
|
)
|
|
|
($1,597
|
)
|
Other (expense) income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividend income
|
|
|
1,050
|
|
|
|
986
|
|
|
2,077
|
|
|
|
1,942
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
965
|
|
|
|
1,457
|
|
|
2,224
|
|
|
|
2,917
|
|
Other, net (expense) income
|
|
|
(5,168
|
)
|
|
|
387
|
|
|
(8,062
|
)
|
|
|
1,691
|
|
Total other (expense) income
|
|
|
($3,153
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,830
|
|
|
($3,761
|
)
|
|
$
|
6,550
|
|
(Loss) income before taxes
|
|
|
(2,364
|
)
|
|
|
3,970
|
|
|
(5,500
|
)
|
|
|
4,953
|
|
Income tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
(2,137
|
)
|
|
|
1,017
|
|
|
(4,320
|
)
|
|
|
987
|
|
Net (loss) income
|
|
|
($227
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,953
|
|
|
($1,180
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,966
|
|
Net (loss) income per common share
|
|
|
($0.02
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
|
($0.08
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.28
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
14,255,374
|
|
|
|
14,075,523
|
|
|
14,226,424
|
|
|
|
14,048,023
|
|
Contact:
Abernathy MacGregor Group
Jim Lucas, 213-630-6550
Source: Farmer Bros. Co.
|
|