Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. Reports 28% Increase in Second Quarter Income

By: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory | 0 Shares 673 Reads

COMPANY REITERATES ANNUAL EARNINGS GUIDANCE AS FIRST HALF DILUTED E.P.S. RISE 24% FROM PRIOR-YEAR PERIOD

October 04, 2007 // Franchising.com // DURANGO, Colo., -- Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMCF) (the "Company"), which franchises gourmet chocolate and confection stores and manufactures an extensive line of premium chocolates and other confectionery products, today reported its operating results for the second quarter and first half of FY2008.

For the three months ended August 31, 2007, revenues increased 11 percent to approximately $7.5 million, compared with revenues of approximately $6.8 million for the three months ended August 31, 2006. Same-store sales at franchised retail outlets increased 1.6 percent during the most recent quarter, when compared with the year-earlier quarter. Same-store pounds of products purchased by franchisees from the Company's factory decreased 9 percent during the most recent quarter, when compared with the prior-year quarter, primarily due to a shift in the mix of factory-made products versus products made in the stores operated by franchisees.

Net income for the three months ended August 31, 2007 increased 28 percent to approximately $1,333,000, compared with approximately $1,040,000 in the three months ended August 31, 2006. Basic and diluted earnings per share totaled $0.21 and $0.20, respectively, in the three months ended August 31, 2007, compared with $0.16 and $0.16, respectively for the three months ended August 31, 2006.

For the six months ended August 31, 2007, revenues increased 9 percent to approximately $14.8 million, compared with revenues of approximately $13.5 million for the six months ended August 31, 2006. Same-store sales at franchised retail outlets increased 0.7 percent during the six months ended August 31, 2007, while same-store pounds of products purchased from the Company's factory by franchisees decreased 9 percent, when compared with the prior-year period.

Net income rose 20 percent to approximately $2,365,000 in the six months ended August 31, 2007, compared with approximately $1,970,000 for the six months ended August 31, 2006. Basic earnings per share increased 23 percent to a record $0.37 for the six months ended August 31, 2007, compared with $0.30 for the six months ended August 31, 2006. Diluted earnings per share increased 24 percent to a record $0.36 in the six months ended August 31, 2007, versus $0.29 for the six months ended August 31, 2006.

Total retail sales for the Company's network of stores increased 8.2 percent to approximately $54.9 million in the six months ended August 31, 2007, compared with system-wide sales of approximately $50.8 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

"I am pleased to report that the second quarter of Fiscal 2008 was our 16th record quarter, of the past 17 quarters in terms of earnings, when compared with prior-year periods," noted Bryan Merryman, Chief Operating Officer of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. "We reported a 28 percent increase in net income and a 28.6 percent pretax profit margin during the most recent quarter. These results were achieved despite lower franchise fees, reflecting a change in the revenue recognition policy for franchise fee revenue, and a reduction in retail sales due to a decrease in the average number of stores operated by the Company. Despite unusually hot weather in many markets again this summer, our franchisees posted a modest increase in same-store sales and ended the second quarter with 316 stores in operation, a 6% increase when compared with 298 stores in operation at the end of the prior-year quarter. Our second quarter sales to specialty markets (i.e., customers outside our system of franchise retail stores), increased 219% from a year earlier, partly due to the timing of holiday shipments to a warehouse club customer."

"A highlight of our second quarter was the signing of an Airport Franchise Development Agreement ("the Agreement") with The Grove, Inc., a privately-owned retailer of natural snacks and other branded products. The Grove currently owns and operates food and beverage units and retail stores in 13 airports throughout the U.S., and the agreement gives The Grove the exclusive right to open Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory stores in all airports in the U.S. where there are no Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory stores currently operating or under development. This is an exciting development for our Company, because retail stores that are currently operated by franchisees at airports, in general, outperform the average Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store by a factor of more than two-to-one. We currently have nine retail airport locations in operation and plans call for at least eight additional airport stores to be operating under the agreement with The Grove within the next two years."

"Once again, the timing of franchised store openings during Fiscal 2008 has been skewed towards the second half of the fiscal year, with only ten new stores coming on line during the six months ended August 31, 2007," continued Merryman. "The pace of store openings should accelerate significantly during the third and fourth quarters, and we expect to reach our target of 35-40 new stores for the fiscal year ending February 29, 2008. We are also reiterating our previous guidance that earnings for the current fiscal year should rise 15 to 20 percent from the record levels reported in Fiscal 2007."

During the second quarter of Fiscal 2008, franchisees opened new stores in Charleston, West Virginia; Farmington, New Mexico; Keystone, Colorado; Rogers, Arkansas; South Lake Tahoe (Heavenly Village), California and Tustin, California.

On May 10, 2007, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors had approved the repurchase of up to approximately $5.0 million of the Company's common stock in the open market, or in private transactions, whenever deemed appropriate by management. The timing of any such transactions will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, and the program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. To date, the Company has repurchased approximately 25,500 shares of common stock under this authorization.

On September 14, 2007, the Company paid its 17th consecutive quarterly cash dividend, in the amount of $0.095 per share, to shareholders of record as of September 4, 2007.

The Company will host its second quarter conference call on Thursday September 27, 2007 at 4:15 p.m. EDT. To access the conference call, please dial 888-694-4702 (international/local participants dial 973-582-2741) approximately five minutes prior to 4:15 p.m. EDT and enter the access code 9287886. A replay of the call will be available through October 5, 2007 by dialing 877-519-4471 (international callers dial 973-341-3080) and entering the replay access code 9287886.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc., headquartered in Durango, Colorado, is an international franchiser of gourmet chocolate and confection stores and a manufacturer of an extensive line of premium chocolates and other confectionery products. As of September 21, 2007, the Company and its franchisees currently operate 323 stores in 38 states, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. The Company's common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "RMCF".

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include, without limitation, seasonality, consumer interest in the Company's products, general economic conditions, consumer trends, costs and availability of raw materials, competition, the effect of government regulations, the success of the Company's agreement with The Grove, Inc. to open new airport stores and other risks. Readers are referred to the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The information contained in this press release is a statement of the Company's present intentions, beliefs or expectations and is based upon, among other things, the existing business environment, industry conditions, market conditions and prices, the economy in general and the Company's assumptions. The Company may change its intentions, beliefs or expectations at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in its assumptions or otherwise. The cautionary statements contained or referred to in this press release should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that the Company or persons acting on its behalf may issue.

For Further Information, Contact Bryan J. Merryman COO/CFO (970) 259-0554



                             STORE INFORMATION



                               New stores opened during

                                the six months ended        Stores open as of

                                   August 31, 2007           August 31, 2007



    United States:

      Franchised Stores                   10                        277

      Company-owned Stores                 -                          5

    International Licensed Stores          1                         39

    Total                                 11                        321







                              INTERIM UNAUDITED

                             STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                    (in thousands, except per share data)



                                        Three Months Ended Three Months Ended

                                              August 31,        August 31,

                                           2007       2006     2007    2006

    Revenues

      Factory sales                       $5,422     $4,508    71.8%   66.5%

      Royalty and marketing fees           1,518      1,362    20.1%   20.1%

      Franchise fees                         101        180     1.4%    2.6%

      Retail sales                           507        730     6.7%   10.8%

      Total revenues                       7,548      6,780   100.0%  100.0%



    Costs and Expenses

      Cost of sales                        3,605      3,167    47.8%   46.7%

      Franchise costs                        357        384     4.7%    5.7%

      Sales and marketing                    337        354     4.5%    5.2%

      General and administrative             650        586     8.6%    8.6%

      Retail operating                       266        403     3.5%    5.9%

      Depreciation and amortization          196        226     2.6%    3.4%



      Total costs and expenses             5,411      5,120    71.7%   75.5%



    Income from Operations                 2,137      1,660    28.3%   24.5%



    Other Income (Expense)

      Interest expense                         -          -       -       -

      Interest income                         25         12     0.3%    0.2%

      Other, net                              25         12     0.3%    0.2%



    Income Before Income Taxes             2,162      1,672    28.6%   24.7%



    Provision for Income Taxes               829        632    11.0%    9.4%



    Net Income                            $1,333     $1,040    17.6%   15.3%



    Basic Earnings per Common Share        $0.21      $0.16



    Diluted Earnings per Common Share      $0.20      $0.16



    Weighted Average Common            6,376,445  6,383,031

     Shares Outstanding

    Dilutive Effect of Stock Options     167,250    228,584

    Weighted Average Common Shares

     Outstanding, Assuming Dilution    6,543,695  6,611,615







                              INTERIM UNAUDITED

                             STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                    (in thousands, except per share data)



                                           Six Months Ended  Six Months Ended

                                              August 31,        August 31,

                                           2007       2006     2007    2006

    Revenues

      Factory sales                      $10,931     $9,213    73.7%   68.0%

      Royalty and marketing fees           2,813      2,654    19.0%   19.6%

      Franchise fees                         172        307     1.2%    2.3%

      Retail sales                           911      1,374     6.1%   10.1%

      Total revenues                      14,827     13,548   100.0%  100.0%



    Costs and Expenses

      Cost of sales                        7,395      6,503    49.9%   48.0%

      Franchise costs                        779        717     5.2%    5.3%

      Sales and marketing                    696        705     4.7%    5.2%

      General and administrative           1,294      1,219     8.7%    9.0%

      Retail operating                       513        812     3.5%    6.0%

      Depreciation and amortization          388        461     2.6%    3.4%



      Total costs and expenses            11,065     10,417    74.6%   76.9%



    Income from Operations                 3,762      3,131    25.4%   23.1%



    Other Income (Expense)

      Interest expense                         -          -       -       -

      Interest income                         59         37     0.4%    0.3%

      Other, net                              59         37     0.4%    0.3%



    Income Before Income Taxes             3,821      3,168    25.8%   23.4%



    Provision for Income Taxes             1,456      1,198     9.8%    8.9%



    Net Income                             2,365      1,970    16.0%   14.5%



    Basic Earnings per Common Share        $0.37      $0.30

    Diluted Earnings per Common Share      $0.36      $0.29



    Weighted Average Common Shares

     Outstanding                       6,378,587  6,461,292

    Dilutive Effect of Stock Options     160,778    247,831

    Weighted Average Common Shares

     Outstanding, Assuming Dilution    6,539,365  6,709,123







                         SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA

                                (in thousands)



                                   August 31, 2007     February 28, 2007

                                                           (audited)

    Current Assets                     $11,324             $10,759

    Total assets                       $18,881             $18,456

    Current Liabilities                 $3,462              $3,256

    Stockholders' Equity               $14,733             $14,515