Weyco Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Weyco Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WEYS) reported financial results for Q4 and full year 2023, with consolidated net sales at $80.6 million, down 19% YoY. Operating earnings were $11.5 million, a 24% decrease from 2022. Record full-year earnings of $30.2 million in 2023, up 2% YoY, despite lower sales.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The financial results of Weyco Group, Inc. reveal a mixed performance with several key indicators worth noting. Despite a decrease in consolidated net sales by 19% in Q4 2023 compared to the previous year, the company managed to increase its consolidated gross earnings to 50.3% of net sales. This indicates an improvement in cost management, particularly in the North American wholesale segment, where gross margins benefited from lower inventory costs, such as inbound freight. However, the decrease in net earnings and earnings per diluted share suggests that the company is not immune to the challenges in the market, including product saturation and a mild seasonal effect impacting the outdoor footwear market.

Looking at the full year, the company's ability to achieve record operating and net earnings despite a 10% decrease in sales is noteworthy. This suggests a strong operational focus on maintaining profitability through cost containment and margin improvement. Investors might view this positively as it demonstrates the company's resilience in a challenging market environment. Nevertheless, the decline in sales volumes across key brands such as BOGS, Stacy Adams and Florsheim raises concerns about the company's growth prospects and market dynamics.

The declared dividend of $0.25 per share is a direct indicator of the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders, which can be an attractive point for investors seeking income in addition to capital gains.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, Weyco Group's performance reflects broader trends in consumer behavior and market saturation within the footwear industry. The significant decrease in BOGS sales due to reduced orders amidst market saturation indicates a potential shift in consumer preferences or an oversupply situation. This could signal a need for the company to reevaluate its product strategy and positioning within the competitive landscape.

The company's mention of headwinds in the first half of 2024, followed by an optimistic outlook for demand improvement in the latter half, suggests an anticipation of cyclical recovery. However, this also implies that the company may continue to face short-term challenges that could affect its stock performance. Investors and analysts should monitor consumer trends, inventory levels and the company's adaptability to these conditions.

The closure of operations in the Asia Pacific region and the loss of a significant wholesale customer in Australia point to strategic adjustments that could have long-term implications on the company's international market presence and revenue diversification.

Economist

Weyco Group's financial results can be interpreted within the broader economic context. The decline in demand for certain brands and the saturation of the outdoor footwear market may be indicative of macroeconomic conditions such as consumer spending shifts or economic slowdowns. The improvement in gross margins despite lower sales volumes suggests that the company has effectively leveraged cost-saving measures to navigate economic headwinds.

The company's performance in the face of a mild Fall and Winter also highlights the impact of weather patterns on seasonal industries such as footwear. This underscores the importance of flexibility and diversification in product offerings to mitigate such risks.

Finally, the company's focus on building backlogs and its optimistic outlook for the latter half of 2024 may reflect a broader economic anticipation of recovery or growth. However, this optimism should be cautiously weighed against ongoing economic indicators and potential shifts in consumer confidence and spending power.

MILWAUKEE, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Weyco Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WEYS) (“we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company”) today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

Fourth Quarter 2023

Consolidated net sales were $80.6 million, down 19% from $99.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Consolidated gross earnings increased to 50.3% of net sales compared to 46.6% of net sales in last year’s fourth quarter, due mainly to higher gross margins in our North American wholesale segment. Quarterly earnings from operations were $11.5 million, down 24% compared to record operating earnings of $15.1 million in 2022. Fourth-quarter 2023 net earnings were $8.5 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, compared to $10.2 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, last year.

North American Wholesale Segment

Net sales in our wholesale segment were $59.6 million, down 21% compared to $75.5 million in 2022. Our BOGS brand experienced the largest decrease, with sales down 32% for the quarter, as retailers reduced orders amid the current saturation of product in the outdoor footwear market, and due to the mild Fall and Winter weather. Sales of the Stacy Adams, Nunn Bush, and Florsheim brands were down 19%, 18%, and 13%, respectively, for the quarter. Sales volumes were down across our legacy brands as a result of weaker demand following a period of strong growth in 2022.

Wholesale gross earnings were 44.9% of net sales for the quarter compared to 41.3% of net sales in last year’s fourth quarter. Gross margins improved as a result of lower inventory costs, primarily inbound freight. Wholesale selling and administrative expenses totaled $18.9 million for the quarter compared to $20.5 million last year. The decrease was largely due to lower employee costs, mainly commission-based compensation. As a percent of net sales, wholesale selling and administrative expenses totaled 32% for the quarter versus 27% last year. Wholesale operating earnings totaled $7.9 million for the quarter, down 27% from $10.7 million in 2022, primarily due to lower sales.

North American Retail Segment

Retail net sales were $13.9 million, down 3% compared to record sales of $14.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily on the BOGS website, as a result of lower demand.

Retail gross earnings as a percent of net sales were 65.8% and 64.5% in the fourth quarters of 2023 and 2022, respectively. Selling and administrative expenses for the retail segment totaled $5.6 million for the quarter compared to $5.9 million last year, down as a result of lower web advertising costs. As a percent of net sales, retail selling and administrative expenses were flat at 41% in both 2023 and 2022. Retail operating earnings reached a record $3.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, up 6% over $3.3 million in 2022. The earnings improvement resulted from lower costs in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Other

Our other operations consist of our retail and wholesale businesses in Australia, South Africa, and Asia Pacific (collectively, “Florsheim Australia”). However, as previously disclosed, we ceased operations in the Asia Pacific region in 2023, and are in the final stages of winding down this business. Net sales of Florsheim Australia were $7.2 million, down 23% from $9.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. In local currency, Florsheim Australia’s net sales were down 22%, due mainly to the loss of a sizeable wholesale customer in Australia earlier in 2023, but also due to lower retail sales in the Asia Pacific region as a result of its wind-down.

Florsheim Australia’s gross earnings were 65.4% of net sales for the quarter compared to 61.8% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2022. Its operating earnings were $0.2 million for the quarter compared to $1.1 million last year, down due to lower sales volumes this year.

Full Year 2023

Consolidated net sales for the full year were $318.0 million, down 10% compared to record sales of $351.7 million in 2022. Consolidated gross earnings increased to 44.9% of net sales in 2023 from 41.1% last year, due mainly to higher gross margins in our North American wholesale segment. Full year 2023 operating earnings were a record $41.0 million, up 2% over our previous record of $40.4 million in 2022, despite lower sales. Net earnings were a record $30.2 million, or $3.17 per diluted share, in 2023, up 2% compared to $29.5 million, or $3.07 per diluted share, in 2022.

North American Wholesale Segment

Wholesale net sales were $250.4 million in 2023, down 12% compared to record sales of $283.2 million in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a 31% decline in BOGS sales, compared to record sales for the brand last year, as orders were down amid the current saturation of product in the outdoor footwear market. Sales of the Stacy Adams, Florsheim, and Nunn bush brands were down 10%, 4% and 2%, respectively, for the year, resulting from lower demand following strong growth last year.

Wholesale gross earnings as a percent of net sales were 39.7% in 2023 and 35.6% in 2022. Gross margins improved as a result of increased selling prices and lower inventory costs, primarily inbound freight. Selling and administrative expenses totaled $66.0 million in 2023 compared to $68.2 million in 2022. The decrease in 2023 was primarily due to lower employee costs, mainly commission-based compensation. As a percent of net sales, wholesale selling and administrative expenses were 26% in 2023 and 24% in 2022. Wholesale operating earnings reached a record $33.3 million in 2023, up 2% over our previous record of $32.6 million in 2022, due to higher gross margins and lower selling and administrative expenses.

North American Retail Segment

Retail net sales were a record $38.0 million in 2023, up 4% over our previous record of $36.7 million in 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher sales on our legacy brands’ websites, partially offset by lower sales on the BOGS website. Sales at our four domestic brick and mortar stores were down 4% for the year.

Retail gross earnings were 65.9% of net sales in 2023 and 65.7% of net sales in 2022. Selling and administrative expenses totaled $18.3 million, or 48% of net sales, for the year compared to $18.1 million, or 49% of net sales, last year. The retail segment achieved record operating earnings of $6.8 million in 2023, up 11% over $6.1 million in 2022, due mainly to the increase in web sales.

Other

Net sales at Florsheim Australia totaled $29.6 million in 2023, down 7% from $31.8 million in 2022. In local currency, Florsheim Australia’s net sales were down 3% for the year, with sales down in its wholesale businesses due to the previously mentioned mid-year loss of a wholesale customer in Australia, partially offset by higher sales in its retail businesses.

Florsheim Australia’s gross earnings were 62.5% of net sales in 2023 versus 61.1% of net sales in 2022. Its operating earnings totaled $1.0 million in 2023 and $1.7 million in 2022, down as a result of lower sales.

“We generated record annual earnings in 2023 as a result of stronger gross margins and efforts to contain costs,” stated Thomas W. Florsheim, Jr., Chairman and CEO. “We are particularly pleased with these results despite the lower sales volumes. The last couple of years have had distortions in revenues such as unusually robust fourth quarter sales in Fall of 2022, resulting from timing shifts due to supply chain issues. Looking ahead, we expect to face headwinds in the first half of 2024, but continue to focus on building our backlogs and are optimistic that demand will improve in the back half of the year.”

On March 5, 2024, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share to all shareholders of record on March 15, 2024, payable March 29, 2024.

Conference Call Details:
Weyco Group will host a conference call on March 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results in more detail. To participate in the call, you will first need to pre-register online. Pre-registration takes only a few minutes and you may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. To pre-register, please go to: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI03d3ec598dac468082a42ffaf8a159e8.

The pre-registration process will provide the conference call phone number and a passcode required to enter the call. A replay will be available for one year beginning about two hours after the completion of the call at the following webcast link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4yvkihqo. The conference call will also be available in the investor relations section of Weyco Group’s website at www.weycogroup.com.

About Weyco Group:
Weyco Group, Inc., designs and markets quality and innovative footwear principally for men, but also for women and children, under a portfolio of well-recognized brand names including: Florsheim, Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, BOGS, Rafters, and Forsake. The Company’s products can be found in leading footwear, department, and specialty stores, as well as on e-commerce websites worldwide. Weyco Group also operates Florsheim stores in the United States and Australia, as well as in certain other international markets.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Various factors could cause our results to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the impact of inflation generally and, specifically, increases in our costs for materials, labor and other manufacturing inputs, a slow down or contraction in the overall U.S. or Australian economies, our ability to successfully market and sell our products in a highly competitive industry and in view of changing and unpredictable consumer trends, our ability to successfully procure our products from independent manufacturers on a timely basis, consumer acceptance of products and other factors affecting retail market conditions, increased interest rates, the uncertain impact of the wars in Ukraine and Israel and the related economic and other sanctions imposed by the U.S. and European Union, and other factors detailed from time to time in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2023, which are incorporated herein by reference. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For more information, contact:

Judy Anderson
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
414‑908‑1833

WEYCO GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
	2023				2022				2023				2022
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales	$	80,590			$	99,047			$	318,048			$	351,737
Cost of sales		40,029				52,940				175,165				207,344
Gross earnings		40,561				46,107				142,883				144,393
Selling and administrative expenses		29,056				31,045				101,859				104,028
Earnings from operations		11,505				15,062				41,024				40,365
Interest and dividend income		509				95				1,107				361
Interest expense		(7	)			(501	)			(529	)			(710	)
Other expense, net		(307	)			(593	)			(738	)			(277	)
Earnings before provision for income taxes		11,700				14,063				40,864				39,739
Provision for income taxes		3,158				3,841				10,676				10,199
Net earnings	$	8,542			$	10,222			$	30,188			$	29,540
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic		9,422				9,540				9,449				9,555
Diluted		9,523				9,582				9,535				9,624
Earnings per share
Basic	$	0.90			$	1.07			$	3.19			$	3.09
Diluted	$	0.90			$	1.06			$	3.17			$	3.07
Cash dividends declared (per share)	$	0.25			$	0.24			$	0.99			$	0.96
Comprehensive income	$	11,966			$	16,735			$	33,070			$	34,141

WEYCO GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

		December 31,				December 31,
		2023				2022
		(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	69,312			$	16,876
Investments, at fair value			—				107
Marketable securities, at amortized cost			215				1,385
Accounts receivable, net			39,275				53,298
Income tax receivable			245				945
Inventories			74,890				127,976
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			6,172				5,870
Total current assets			190,109				206,457
Marketable securities, at amortized cost			6,354				7,123
Deferred income tax benefits			1,096				1,038
Property, plant and equipment, net			29,504				28,812
Operating lease right-of-use assets			12,520				13,428
Goodwill			12,317				12,317
Trademarks			33,168				33,618
Other assets			24,274				23,827
Total assets		$	309,342			$	326,620
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY:
Short-term borrowings		$	—			$	31,136
Accounts payable			8,845				14,946
Dividend payable			2,352				2,290
Operating lease liabilities			3,979				4,026
Accrued liabilities			14,446				15,137
Total current liabilities			29,622				67,535
Deferred income tax liabilities			11,819				8,530
Long-term pension liability			13,412				15,523
Operating lease liabilities			9,531				10,661
Other long-term liabilities			465				466
Total liabilities			64,849				102,715
Common stock			9,497				9,584
Capital in excess of par value			71,661				70,475
Reinvested earnings			180,646				164,039
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(17,311	)			(20,193	)
Total equity			244,493				223,905
Total liabilities and equity		$	309,342			$	326,620

WEYCO GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

		2023				2022
		(Dollars in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings		$	30,188			$	29,540
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities -
Depreciation			2,579				2,485
Amortization			271				282
Bad debt expense			519				151
Deferred income taxes			2,462				1,297
Net foreign currency transaction losses			99				43
Share-based compensation expense			1,352				1,523
Pension settlement charge			—				894
Pension expense			1,293				178
Impairment of trademark			450				1,150
Loss on disposal of fixed assets			59				117
Gain from fair value remeasurement of contingent consideration			—				(857	)
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance			(684	)			(690	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities -
Accounts receivable			13,531				(282	)
Inventories			53,047				(56,963	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets			(358	)			(1,429	)
Accounts payable			(6,074	)			(4,293	)
Accrued liabilities and other			(982	)			(2,553	)
Accrued income taxes			879				(497	)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities			98,631				(29,904	)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities			1,960				1,719
Proceeds from sale of investment securities			107				8,049
Purchases of property, plant and equipment			(3,309	)			(2,342	)
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities			(1,242	)			7,426
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Cash dividends paid			(9,286	)			(6,951	)
Shares purchased and retired			(4,338	)			(4,195	)
Net proceeds from stock options exercised			103				293
Payment of contingent consideration			(500	)			—
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards			(186	)			(12	)
Proceeds from bank borrowings			70,060				120,608
Repayments of bank borrowings			(101,196	)			(89,472	)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities			(45,343	)			20,271
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			390				(628	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		$	52,436			$	(2,835	)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS at beginning of year			16,876				19,711
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS at end of year		$	69,312			$	16,876
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Income taxes paid, net of refunds		$	7,115			$	9,441
Interest paid		$	977			$	710

FAQ

What were Weyco Group's consolidated net sales for Q4 2023?

Weyco Group's consolidated net sales for Q4 2023 were $80.6 million, down 19% from the previous year.

How did Weyco Group's operating earnings in Q4 2023 compare to 2022?

Weyco Group's operating earnings in Q4 2023 were $11.5 million, down 24% compared to $15.1 million in 2022.

What were Weyco Group's full-year earnings in 2023?

Weyco Group reported record full-year earnings of $30.2 million in 2023, up 2% compared to $29.5 million in 2022.