Inter Parfums, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: IPAR) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

First Quarter 2018 Compared to First Quarter 2017:

  • Net sales were $171.8 million, up 20.1% from $143.1 million; at comparable foreign currency exchange rates, net sales increased 13.1%;
  • Sales by European based operations rose 24.9% to $149.5 million from $119.7 million;
  • Sales by U.S. based operations declined 4.6% to $22.3 million from $23.4 million;
  • Gross margin was 61.5% of net sales compared to 63.0%;
  • S,G&A expense as a percentage of net sales was 43.8% compared to 44.7%;
  • Operating income increased 16.2% to $30.4 million as compared to $26.2 million;
  • Operating margin was 17.7% compared to 18.3%;
  • The effective income tax rate was 30.5% compared to 32.8 %;
  • Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. increased to $15.9 million, up 19.0% from $13.4 million; and,
  • Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. per diluted share rose 18.6% to $0.51 from $0.43.

Jean Madar, Chairman & CEO of Inter Parfums, Inc. noted, “All regions in which we operate achieved sales growth, with our three largest markets, North America, Western Europe and Asia producing comparable quarter gains of 19%, 10% and 34%, respectively. The performance of smaller markets was also quite good, with sales growth of 33%, 15% and 18%, in the Middle East, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe, respectively.”

Commenting on the performance of the larger brands within European based operations, Mr. Madar continued, “Montblanc and Coach brand fragrances drove top line growth with sales gains of 33% and 242%, respectively. With last year’s first quarter sales up 57% attributable in great part to new product launches, Jimmy Choo fragrances declined 28% in the current first quarter. We expect better comparisons in future quarters with the introduction of Jimmy Choo Man Blue and Jimmy Choo Fever later in the year. The strength of the euro magnified the sales performances of Lanvin and Rochas, whose sales were down slightly in local currency, but in dollars, were up 10% and 14%, respectively.”

On the subject of launches, Mr. Madar continued, “We would characterize 2018 as a year focused on complementary initiatives, including the two noted above for the Jimmy Choo brand. Thus far this year, we have already debuted Lanvin’s Modern Princess Eau Sensuelle and Coach Floral. In addition, we have another brand extension for the Lanvin Éclat fragrance family, and debuting later this year, Coach Platinum, a flanker for the very successful signature men’s scent. With regard to Rochas, our goal is to expand the brand’s market by opening distribution in Asia and South America.”

Moving on to U.S. based operations, Mr. Madar noted, “While comparable quarter sales gains by Anna Sui and Oscar de la Renta fragrance were achieved in the first quarter, we expect much better sales comparisons by U.S. based operations in later quarters as we unveil new products for many of our other brands and commence sales of GUESS brand fragrances in the second quarter.”

Russell Greenberg, Executive Vice President and CFO of Inter Parfums, Inc., pointed out, “In the current first quarter, changes in foreign currency exchange rates had the expected impact on our top and bottom lines, as the average U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate was 1.23, as compared to 1.065 in the first quarter of 2017. The weakness of the dollar had a favorable impact on our net sales while gross margins were negatively affected, because over 45% of net sales of our European operations are denominated in dollars, while almost all costs of our European operations are incurred in euro. Gross profit margin for European operations was 63.0% of sales for the first quarter of 2018, as compared to 65.5% for the corresponding period of the prior year. With the exception of the lower tax rate noted earlier, there were no other unusual operating or non-operating fluctuations for the quarter.”

Mr. Greenberg also pointed out, “We closed the first quarter with working capital of $401 million, including approximately $251 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, a working capital ratio of almost 3.4 to 1 and $56.0 million of long-term debt, including current maturities, incurred in connection with the 2015 Rochas brand acquisition.”

Affirms 2018 Guidance

Mr. Greenberg concluded, “As we reported last month, we expect 2018 net sales to approximate $665 million and net income per diluted share attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. to come in at $1.59. Guidance assumes the dollar remains at current levels.”

Dividend

The Company’s regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share is payable on July 13, 2018 to shareholders of record on June 29, 2018.

Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call to discuss financial results and business developments at 11:00 am ET on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing (201) 493-6749; please call in 10 minutes before the conference call is scheduled to begin and ask for the Inter Parfums call. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet. To listen to the live call, please go to www.interparfumsinc.com and click on the Investor Relations section.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Inter Parfums, Inc. is a premier fragrance company with a diverse portfolio of prestige brands that includes Abercrombie & Fitch, Agent Provocateur, Anna Sui, bebe, Boucheron, Coach, Dunhill, Graff, GUESS, Hollister, Jimmy Choo, Karl Lagerfeld, Lanvin, Montblanc, Oscar de la Renta, Paul Smith, Repetto, Rochas, S.T. Dupont and Van Cleef & Arpels. The fragrance products developed, produced and distributed by Inter Parfums are sold in more than 100 countries throughout the world.

Statements in this release which are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would," or similar words. You should not rely on forward-looking statements, because actual events or results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed under the headings “Forward Looking Statements” and "Risk Factors" in Inter Parfums' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and the reports Inter Parfums files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Inter Parfums does not intend to and undertakes no duty to update the information contained in this press release.

See Accompanying Tables

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 
Three months ended
March 31,
2018   2017
 
 
Net sales $ 171,767 $ 143,058
 
Cost of sales   66,138     52,988  
 
Gross margin 105,629 90,070
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses   75,231     63,899  
 
Income from operations   30,398     26,171  
 
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense 462 271
Loss on foreign currency 206 156
Interest income   (1,745 )   (1,272 )
 
  (1,077 )   (845 )
 
Income before income taxes 31,475 27,016
 
Income taxes   9,613     8,849  
 
Net income 21,862 18,167
 
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest   5,953     4,794  
 
Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. $ 15,909   $ 13,373  
 
Net income attributable to Inter Parfums, Inc. common shareholders:
Basic $ 0.51 $ 0.43
Diluted $ 0.51   $ 0.43  
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic 31,267 31,145
Diluted   31,429     31,254  
 
 
Dividends declared per share $ 0.21   $ 0.17  
 
 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 
ASSETS
  March 31,   December 31,
2018 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 168,929 $ 208,343
Short-term investments 81,813 69,899
Accounts receivable, net 166,077 120,749
Inventories 141,253 137,058
Receivables, other 2,672 2,405
Other current assets 8,347 7,356
Income taxes receivable   2,114     3,468  
 
Total current assets 571,205 549,278
 
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net 10,160 10,330
 
Trademarks, licenses and other intangible assets, net 205,489 200,495
Deferred tax assets 10,113 9,658
 
Other assets   8,139     8,011  
 
Total assets $ 805,106   $ 777,772  
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt $ 24,991 $ 24,372
Accounts payable – trade 58,740 52,609
Accrued expenses 72,876 81,843
Income taxes payable 6,762 1,722
Dividends payable   6,569     6,561  
 
Total current liabilities   169,938     167,107  
 
Long–term debt, less current portion   31,011     36,207  
 
Deferred tax liability   3,881     3,821  
 
Equity:
Inter Parfums, Inc. shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.001 par; authorized
1,000,000 shares; none issued -- --
Common stock, $.001 par; authorized 100,000,000 shares;
outstanding 31,282,333 and 31,241,548 shares at
March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively 31 31
Additional paid-in capital 67,288 66,004
Retained earnings 432,065 422,570
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (8,426 ) (17,832 )
Treasury stock, at cost, 9,864,805 shares at
March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017   (37,475 )   (37,475 )
 
Total Inter Parfums, Inc. shareholders’ equity 453,483 433,298
 
Noncontrolling interest   146,793     137,339  
 
Total equity   600,276     570,637  
 
Total liabilities and equity $ 805,106   $ 777,772