Q3 2022 Dixie Group Inc Earnings Call

Good day and welcome to the Dixie Group incorporated 2022 third quarter earnings Conference call today's.

Today's call is being recorded at this time for opening remarks, and introductions I would like to turn the call over to the chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dan Frierson. Thank you Sir Please go ahead.

Thank you John and welcome everyone I have with me Allen <unk> our CFO .

Our safe Harbor statement is included by reference both to our website and press release.

The company had net sales from continuing operations of $71 7 million and a net loss of eight 8 million or 58 cents per diluted share.

In the third quarter of Tony in the third quarter of 2021 net sales from continuing operations were $89 3 million with net income of $6 4 million or 40 cents per diluted share.

Net sales from continuing operations for the nine months period, ending September 24th were $233 million a decrease of seven 5% from the net sales of 252 million in the same period of the previous year.

The net loss for the nine months period, ending September 24, 2022 was $16 6 million.

Or a dollar and nine cents per diluted share compared to net income of $7 seven.

No you know or 49 cents per diluted share in the nine month period, ending September 25th 2021.

During the third quarter, our sales were weaker than we anticipated as the retail market softened in all geographic regions and product categories.

Lack of volume resulted in higher unabsorbed costs, and inflationary pressure impacted material people energy and transportation costs.

We have undertaken a number of initiatives to mitigate the impact of these trends, which I will discuss after Allen has reviewed our financial results Allen.

Thank you Dan.

The third quarter reflected the very significant unfavorable impact on our inventory costs and.

First half of the year related to the price increases that were imposed.

Former primary raw material provider.

Also extremely high freight rates on imported products and also the higher cost overall as a result of inflation.

As a result of these collective negative factors combined with lower sales volume.

Most profit as a percent of net sales for the quarter was 17, 5% compared to the 27, 9% in the third quarter of 2021.

Within the third quarter, we completed the conversion to other fiber suppliers at price points more in line with market and we have seen significant improvement in recent freight rates on our imported products.

Dan mentioned, we also began a plan to reduce cost and plant consolidations on the east coast and other initiatives to bring our margins more closely aligned with our expectations.

Selling and administrative expenses were 25, 9% of net sales in the third quarter of 2022.

That compares to 23% in the third quarter of 2021.

The increase in expenses from 2022 were primarily directed at investment in samples professional fees and finance and information systems and higher overall costs as a result of inflation.

Interest expense in the quarter was $1 $3 million increase over the previous year, $1 2 million and driven by a higher level of debt during the quarter.

Looking at the changes on the balance sheet for the third quarter, our receivables decreased by $5 million from our 2020 one fiscal year end balance primarily due to the loss of sales volume was a primary homes that are customer and as well as lower retail sales volume within the current quarter.

Investment in inventory for the launch of our decorative segment, along with inflationary increases in raw material costs.

Drove an $11 $2 million increase in inventory from the 2021 fiscal year end balance.

So having a payments on AP and accrued expenses decreased the total balance by $1 6 million from fiscal year end.

Our capital expenditures during the quarter were $1 million, bringing our year to date capex to $4.4 million.

Total capital expenditures are planned at approximately $5 million for the 2022 fiscal year <unk>.

And on a year to date was $6 1 million.

Our debt increased by $8 $2 million during the quarter driven by the investment in inventory and the higher cost of operations.

Borrowing availability under our senior credit facility at quarter end was $23 $7 million.

Our Investor presentation is also available on our website at Www Dot group Dot com.

Dan.

Thank you Allen our third quarter results were the culmination of the impact of several factors beginning in the fourth quarter of 2021 that has had an unfavorable impact.

One of our company.

We also experienced the general industry downturn, which began in mid second quarter and extended through the third quarter.

The lower sales volume in the third quarter was also partially attributable.

$8 million year over year loss of volume with our largest mass merchant retailer customer are.

Sales with this customer ended earlier in the year as a result, because there change in strategy to focus on lower price point products.

Our sales volume in 2022 and has also been negatively impacted by the delay of new product introductions due to supply chain problems and issues with our sample vendors.

This call is particular delays with the launch of our new decorative and hard surface products, which meant we had incurred the cost of launching these products, but have not benefited from the sales.

Gross margins in the third quarter of 2020 to reflect the impact of several major items.

In the third quarter, we continued to work through the balance of the higher cost inventory, resulting from the unprecedented price increases from our previous raw material supplier, coupled with their decision to exit the business.

We identified other suppliers to replace this volume and bring our costs down in line with the market.

And we began manufacturing inventory using these newer new lower cost raw materials in the third quarter.

Secondly margins from our sales of hard surface products, it's hard surface goods reflected the negative impact from dramatic increases in ocean freight costs.

Fortunately beginning with it in the second quarter these freight costs.

We have continued to decline, but remain above prior year levels.

And last as what.

Most industry. Most every industry, we have received inflation from cost increases throughout the year and most of all most all of our raw materials freight people and energy related costs.

In the third quarter, we began a restructuring plan in order to reduce our manufacturing costs.

Under this plan, we have consolidated all of our East coast Tufting to one plant in North Georgia.

We also began relocating our east coast distribution of luxury vinyl flooring from our facility in Sarah land, Alabama to our plant in Atmore, Alabama.

Our Atmore plant will house the L D F distribution and our previously announced joint venture for future.

L P a production.

We will retain office space in central and Alabama for our values and inexperienced administrative team located there.

As we look to sublease, our warehouse space in the building.

The cost of this restructuring plan in the third quarter was $1 million and at this time, we estimate the total cost of this plan to be approximately $3 million.

We are implementing our restructuring plans.

To lower both our fixed and variable cost by shutting in higher cost assets, reducing staffing and aligning production with demand.

As a result of these and other actions our head count is down by 20% for the year.

We're currently experiencing much lower ocean freight costs for our imported products as I indicated earlier and lower raw material costs as we exit the investor fibers in our inventory.

Additionally, we're seeing reductions in raw material costs that shut alone our current pricing.

Higher cost inventory.

Felipe.

All of the actions taken should reduce cost by approximately $25 million or more in 2023.

While we expect cost reductions in the fourth quarter and next year to be significant we plan to reduce inventories in the fourth quarter, which will result in higher level than normal of unabsorbed fixed costs.

But it will significantly improve our cash flow.

We are postponing capital projects that do not impact our long term strategies, while completing those that are critical to the near term performance of the business.

Our capital expenditures this year as Alan pointed out will be about $5 million, but included investments in new testing technology.

By investing in product for the decorative and hard surface markets. We're preparing for the market rebound that always occurs after our industry contracts.

We believe our position in these segments will continue to be very strong.

Under our stock purchase plan, which we began in late August we have purchased approximately 250000 shares to date.

At this time, we will open the meeting to questions.

Thank you Sir we will now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question. Please press star one on your telephone keypad, a confirmation tone will indicate that your line is in the question queue. You May press star two if he would like to remove your question from the queue and for participants using speaker equipment. It may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing.

The Star Keys.

One moment, please while we poll for any questions.

As a reminder, if you'd like to ask a question. Please press star one.

I'm not seeing any questions coming in at this time I would like to turn the floor back over to Dan Frierson for any closing comments.

Thank you John and thank all of you for joining US today, obviously third quarter was a difficult quarter for us, but we are.

We're making plans to improve our results going forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. This does conclude today's teleconference. You may disconnect. Your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation and have a great day.

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