Earnings Call
Crown Crafts Inc (CRWS)
Earnings Call Transcript - CRWS Q2 2025
Operator, Operator
Good day and welcome to the Crown Crafts Incorporated Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to John Beisler with Three Part Advisors, the company's Investor Relations firm. Please go ahead.
John Beisler, Investor Relations
Thank you, Cindy, and good morning everyone. We appreciate you for joining us for the Crown Crafts' second quarter fiscal 2025 conference call. Joining me today are Crown Crafts' President and CEO, Olivia Elliott; and the company's CFO, Craig Demarest. Earlier this morning, Crown Crafts filed its 10-Q and issued a press release regarding their second quarter fiscal 2025 financial results. A copy of the release is available on the company's website crowncrafts.com. During today's call, the company will make certain forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may be beyond Crown Crafts's control and the company is under no obligation to update these statements. For more information about the company's risk factors and other uncertainties, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Finally, I would like to remind you today's call is being recorded and a replay will be available through the company's Investor Relations page. Now I would like to turn the call over to the President and CEO, Olivia Elliott.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Thank you, John, and good morning everyone. We're pleased to report our second quarter results, which reflect a favorable contribution from our recent acquisition of Baby Boom assets, a solid overall gross profit and continued strong execution as we await a stronger macro environment. The highlight of the quarter was our purchase of the assets of Baby Boom Consumer Products, which positively contributed to our bottom line. We're excited about the addition of Baby Boom's portfolio of branded and licensed products that enhances our presence in the toddler segment and further extends our product offerings with the addition of diaper bags. The Baby Boom acquisition comes at a potential positive inflection point for customer demand just as we head into our most important selling season. Interest rate cuts and lower inflation are adding to consumer purchasing power. And just this past Friday, the University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index climbed to its highest level since April. Looking ahead, we're confident in our forward trajectory. Before I share more on our strategy and outlook, I'll turn it over to Craig to cover our solid second quarter results in more detail.
Craig Demarest, CFO
Thank you, Olivia. Good morning everyone. Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 were $24.5 million, up from $24.1 million in the prior year quarter. The increase is primarily attributable to the addition of Baby Boom, which added $3.4 million of net sales in the current year quarter and was largely offset by declines in our legacy businesses, including the previously discussed loss of a bid program at a major retailer. Gross profit for the quarter was 28.4%, improved from 27.3% a year earlier. The profit increase reflects a slight change in product mix, partially offset by higher lease costs for our warehouse in California. We're actively evaluating our footprint and look to reduce the associated expense through strategic consolidation in fiscal 2026. Our second quarter marketing and administrative expenses were $5.4 million, up $1.4 million from the prior year quarter and increased from 16.7% of net sales in the prior year quarter to 22.3%. More than half of the increase, or $788,000, relates to costs associated with the Baby Boom acquisition. Net income for the quarter was $860,000 or $0.08 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.8 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. Turning now to our balance sheet. We remain in a strong financial position as cash and cash equivalents at the end of the second quarter were $2 million, up from $1.1 million at the end of the first quarter and $829,000 at the end of fiscal 2024. Borrowings on our revolver at the end of the quarter were $20.8 million compared to $8.1 million at the end of fiscal 2024, reflecting amounts borrowed in the second quarter to fund the Baby Boom acquisition. The acquisition closed on July 19 for a total purchase price of $18 million, or $16.4 million after adjustments for working capital at closing. We funded the purchase through an $8 million four year term-loan and available borrowings under our revolving line of credit, which was increased from $35 million to $40 million. We expect to use our cash flow to rapidly repay our borrowings. However, as always, our debt balance may fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to the timing of inventory purchases and other working capital needs. Finally, we paid our long-standing regular dividend of $0.08 per share and declared our next dividend, which will be paid in January. Now I'll turn the call back over to Olivia for additional comments.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Thank you, Craig. We're optimistic about the upcoming holiday season and the opportunity to drive higher revenues. For one, we've now owned Baby Boom for approximately four months and have made significant progress integrating the brand into NoJo. In addition, we have several Manhattan Toy products in Walmart and will continue to pursue additional cross-selling opportunities among Manhattan Toy, Baby Boom and our legacy brands. As Craig mentioned, we continue to strategically evaluate warehouse options and expect we can achieve consolidation sometime in fiscal 2026. Overall, while driving top line growth, we will continue to actively manage our cost structure and position our business to profitably capture market share as the macro environment improves. We're as optimistic as ever about our long-term prospects and look forward to updating you on our progress next quarter. With that, I would like to open up the line for questions. Cindy?
Operator, Operator
We will now begin the question-and-answer session. Our first question comes from Doug Ruth of Lenox Financial Services. Please go ahead.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Congratulations on the higher revenue and the improved gross margin.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Thank you, Doug.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
You're welcome. And then I wanted to ask some questions about the warehouse first. Could you tell us the status of where you are and you previously told us that you thought you might be able to narrow down the choices from maybe three to one to two by March 31, 2025. Just curious any kind of update on that?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
I think that's still a probability. We're currently at three locations that we're considering, and we're going to do some site visits before the holidays, well before the Christmas holidays. Hopefully, we'll have it narrowed down to at least two, hopefully one by the end of the fiscal year.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay, that sounds positive. And then I had some questions about Manhattan Toy. You noted that you have some of the products in Walmart and is there any feedback about the sell-through and how that's been going?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Yes. So, we have some of the Manhattan Toy products in what kind of Walmart considers their better area or their better stores. And so far the sell-through is doing well. I think the products are popular and they are doing very well.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay. And then previously you had told us about the effort to improve the Manhattan Toy margins. How has that been working?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
They're improving. It takes a little bit of time because, if you've already got something placed or you already have the product in the warehouse, it's hard to do that. But as we're developing new products, and as we're switching manufacturers for some other products and adjusting pricing, we're definitely getting improved profitability.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
And then is there any feedback on the new Manhattan Toy website? I thought it looked really great. I thought that the company did a wonderful job with that.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Thank you. Yes, we think it's very good, it flows better, and we do believe that we have a little bit more engagement when someone comes to our website looking for products.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay, and then what about the using your Sassy toy distributor in Europe to distribute some of the Manhattan Toys in Europe? Is there any progress on that?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Yes. We had both lines together in the same booth in Germany in September, and so we're already making some progress on getting the Manhattan Toy products sold through those distributors.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Very good. And then what about the product development team? You seem to be very encouraged with what your team there was doing with developing new toys for Manhattan Toy.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Yes. We're utilizing the Manhattan Toy and Sassy teams together. They are working on all the products, and we think that we're getting some very good new products developed.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Shifting to Baby Boom, can you give us some feedback? You have the four licenses, Bluey, Cocomelon, Ms. Rachel, and Paw Patrol. Is there any one that seems to be doing quite a bit better than another?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
So all of the licenses are doing well. I mean, clearly Bluey is one of the most popular licenses around right now, so it's on fire. Ms. Rachel is extremely popular. That product had just started coming in after we did the acquisition, but I think it looks really good and has a lot of promise.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
What is the product for Ms. Rachel?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
It's the toddler bedding.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Little bedding sets and some blankets, squishy pillows, that type of thing.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Yes. So, the consumer brands did not have that or were in the process of developing it, and now you folks have continued on with that. Is that what happened?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Correct. I mean, it was already on order. It may have just started coming in, but it had not hit any shelves yet. And so we should be shipping that now.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Can you talk a little bit about the diaper bags and what's specifically happening with that business?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Diaper bags are new for us. We retained the design team in New Jersey and are in the process of moving them to a permanent office. They were still residing in the previous offices in kind of a little carved-out area. That team came with the acquisition, and we're focusing heavily on growing that product line. It had shrunk a little bit prior to the acquisition, and we want to put a lot of focus on it. It's a category that has always interested us. We think there is a lot of opportunity there.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay. And are you pleased with the efforts of the people there and what they're doing for the company?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Yes, absolutely.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay. And then Legoland, you told us previously that you thought that there would be an opportunity to expand that business. Is there any update with that?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Yes. We've expanded not only our product, the number of products that we sell to Legoland, but we also are looking forward to, I believe it starts in 2025. They are building some new parks that should open sometime in the summer of 2025.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay. I got two more questions. How about the direct-to-consumer business? Is there any update on that?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Yes. We're hoping to have NoJo’s website up and running, selling direct-to-consumer before the holidays. We are working fast and furiously to get Sassy Babies up and running and ready to go.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay, and then the last thing was, sort of your last comment was what does this strategic process that you are talking about for 2026? Could you offer any additional comments there?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
I mean, really, we're focusing heavily on just integrating the acquisitions, cost control, the warehouse; we're really not looking right now at any additional acquisitions because we need to take the time to absorb what we've already done. That being said, I mean, it wouldn't mean that we wouldn't do something possibly if it came along and we couldn't say no, but that's not our focus right now.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay, well, thank you very much for answering my questions. And congratulations to you and to the team for what you're doing for the shareholders.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Thank you.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Thank you both.
Operator, Operator
Our next question comes from John Deysher of Pinnacle. Go ahead, please.
John Deysher, Analyst
Good morning. Solid quarter.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Good morning.
John Deysher, Analyst
A couple questions. One, Baby Boom, you said in the press release when you bought it that you expected sales to be about $20 million. Are you still tracking that way? I know you've only owned it for four months, but do you still expect $20 million in sales per year?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
I think that's a good estimate. I mean, it won't happen in fiscal 2025 because we'll only have them for eight months; that's more of an annual run rate.
John Deysher, Analyst
Okay. You're so confident there. And on the marketing and administration, if we take out the acquisition costs, it looks like it was about 19% of sales. Is that a reasonable run rate to use going forward, or how should we think about that?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
If you take out the acquisition cost it's probably not a bad number. I mean, there was nothing else in there that was one-time.
John Deysher, Analyst
Okay, so 19% of sales, that's reasonable; that's good. And then in terms, just to make sure I understand where we are with the real estate consolidation, you're suggesting that by the time we have the fourth quarter call next year, we'll have a better idea as to what the footprint looks like?
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Yes, I think that's a likely option.
Doug Ruth, Analyst
Okay. All right, good. I think that does it for me. Thank you very much.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Thank you.
Operator, Operator
This concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Olivia Elliott for any closing remarks.
Olivia Elliott, CEO
Thank you for your continued interest in our company. We will be participating in the Three Part Advisors IDEAS Conference in Dallas on November 19th, and we look forward to speaking with you again when we report our third quarter results in February. Thank you.
Operator, Operator
The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.