LL Flooring Reports Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

LL Flooring Holdings, Inc. (“LL Flooring” or “Company”) (NYSE: LL), a leading specialty retailer of hard-surface flooring in the U.S., today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

“Our second quarter performance primarily reflected the continued impact of the difficult macro backdrop that has impacted big ticket discretionary purchases as well as the demand for home remodeling projects. We also continued to experience pressure from low brand awareness as we continue on our transition to LL Flooring. We are actively pursuing operational opportunities to improve our performance including broadening and growing our brand awareness among consumers to drive traffic; ensuring a consistent customer experience across our omnichannel network to improve conversion; and improving operating efficiencies by intently working to reduce costs while focusing investments on our top growth priorities,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Tyson.

Tyson continued, “While our near-term results have been challenged, we remain confident in our ability to deliver the high-touch service of an independent flooring retailer combined with the value, assortment and convenience of a national brand. To that end, we continue to focus on our five strategic initiatives that will improve sales productivity and profitability. We have fortified our executive leadership team with new leaders that bring a wealth of financial, retail, brand building, and consultative selling experience and ideas to drive these initiatives, focusing on implementing our CRM platform to drive Pro sales, improving store execution to remove friction and enhance the customer experience, increasing our brand awareness, executing on our carpet initiative which provides a meaningful expansion of our addressable market and aligning our cost structure to our run-rate of revenues. We are very proud of the entire LL Flooring team and all that they accomplished across our stores and supply chain, while navigating an uncertain and dynamic environment this quarter.”

Tyson concluded, “As we look to the second half of 2023, we expect the challenging macro environment to persist, continuing to limit sales visibility. As a result, we will focus to operate the business with discipline from an expense and capital management standpoint, including further leveraging our inventory management practices to yield continued improvements in our overall working capital. This, combined with the strength of our balance sheet, and the work we are doing on our initiatives give us confidence that we will return to growth and drive long-term shareholder value.”

Second Quarter Financial Highlights

• Net sales of $236.4 million decreased $62.5 million, or 20.9%, versus the second quarter of 2022, driven by a decrease in transaction count reflecting by lower spending by consumers and Pros.
• Total comparable store sales decreased 22.2% versus the same period last year.
• Gross profit decreased 20.8% and gross margin of 35.8% increased 10 basis points. Included in gross profit was $2.4 million in incremental costs related to U.S. Customs (“CBP”) detentions on flooring products that contain PVC as a consequence of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”). Adjusted gross profit¹ of $86.9 million decreased $21.1 million and adjusted gross margin¹ of 36.7% increased 60 basis points. The decreases in both gross profit and adjusted gross profit¹ are driven by a decrease in transaction count reflecting lower spending by Pros and consumers, while the increase in gross margin and adjusted gross margin¹ reflects the Company’s ability to offset higher material and transportation costs (collectively up more than 400 basis points) through pricing, promotion, and alternative country/vendor sourcing strategies.
• SG&A as a percentage of net sales of 44.4% increased 1,030 basis points versus the second quarter of last year and included a $0.5 million charge for legal fees charged to earnings related to the vinyl CBP detentions. Excluding the impact of the legal fees, Adjusted SG&A¹ as a percentage of net sales of 44.2% increased 1,010 basis points compared to the second quarter of last year.
  • The increases in both SG&A and Adjusted SG&A¹ as a percentage of net sales were due primarily to expense deleverage from lower sales volumes.
  • In addition, operating expenses were higher due to inflationary cost increases and planned growth investments partially offset by restructuring cost savings and lower variable costs due to lower sales volume.
• Operating margin of (8.7)% decreased 1,030 basis points compared to the second quarter of last year. Adjusted operating margin¹ of (7.5)% decreased 880 basis points compared to the second quarter of last year.
• Loss per Diluted Share was $1.35 for the second quarter, compared to net income per diluted share of $0.09 for the second quarter of last year. Adjusted Loss Per Diluted Share¹ was $1.28 for the second quarter, compared to adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.13 for the second quarter of last year.
• During the second quarter, the Company closed one store, bringing total stores to 442 as of June 30, 2023.

¹Please refer to the “Non-GAAP and Other Information” section and the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation tables below for more information.

Cash Flow & Liquidity

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had liquidity of $145.5 million, consisting of excess availability under its Credit Agreement of $137.8 million, and cash and cash equivalents of $7.7 million.

During the first six months of 2023, the Company generated $39.0 million of cash flows from operating activities primarily driven by sell throughs of merchandise inventories rebuilt from the prior year end and reduced inventory purchases.

2023 Business Outlook

The Company continues to navigate uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment due to consumer confidence, inflation, a volatile interest and mortgage rate environment and lower existing home sales. As a result, the Company is not providing financial guidance at this time.

The Company is, however, providing the following commentary. The Company expects:

• Full year revenues to continue to be challenged due to macro uncertainty. However, the Company continues to focus on areas of improvement including increasing brand awareness, ensuring a seamless customer experience and driving product innovation.
• Adjusted gross margins are expected to improve year-over-year, with a stronger second half, driven primarily by a reduction in international shipping rates and sourcing costs. The Company will continue to monitor the competitive pricing environment to inform its pricing and promotion strategies. In addition, the Company expects its gross margin rate in 2023 to benefit from a greater mix of our premium Duravana brand which carries higher margins and delivers on customer needs for scratch-resistant and waterproof flooring.
• SG&A dollar spend and SG&A spend as a percentage of sales are expected to increase year-over-year, primarily due to continued deleverage from lower sales volumes, inflationary pressures on wages and benefits and investments in its new distribution center and customer relationship management platform, which it expects will support higher sales levels and make its operating structure more efficient over time. The Company has implemented labor savings initiatives and is working with consultants to identify further labor productivity through efficiencies at the store level and to pursue opportunities to reduce indirect spending and optimize costs throughout the organization.
• Capital expenditures in the range of approximately $15 million to $20 million in 2023, primarily to support the new distribution center, productivity investments, maintenance CapEx and three store openings.

Learn More about LL Flooring

• Our commitment to quality, compliance, the communities we serve and corporate giving: https://llflooring.com/corp/quality.html
• Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For the complete press release, click here.

About LL Flooring

LL Flooring is one of the country’s leading specialty retailers of hard-surface flooring with more than 440 stores nationwide. The Company seeks to offer the best customer experience online and in stores, with more than 500 varieties of hard-surface floors featuring a range of quality styles and on-trend designs. LL Flooring’s online tools also help empower customers to find the right solution for the space they’ve envisioned. LL Flooring’s extensive selection includes waterproof hybrid resilient, waterproof vinyl plank, solid and engineered hardwood, laminate, bamboo, porcelain tile, and cork, with a wide range of flooring enhancements and accessories to complement. LL Flooring stores are staffed with flooring experts who provide advice, Pro partnership services and installation options for all of LL Flooring’s products, the majority of which is in stock and ready for delivery.

Contact:

Bruce Williams – Investor Relations – ir@llflooring.com – (804) 420-9801

Source: LL Flooring Holdings, Inc.