JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) reported results for the Company’s third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Net sales for the third quarter of 2014 increased to $349.4 million, up 12% from net sales of $310.9 million reported in the comparable period in 2013. Reported net income for the third quarter increased 16% to $44.1 million, or $1.03 per diluted share. This compares to reported net income for 2013 of $36.6 million, or $1.11 per diluted share.

Net sales for the nine months ending September 30, 2014 increased 12% to $556.0 million compared to $495.2 million in 2013. Reported net income for the nine month period was $18.7 million, or $0.61 per diluted share. This compares to a net loss for the first nine months of 2013 of $37.8 million, or $1.73 per diluted share.

Stephen Berman, President and CEO, JAKKS Pacific, Inc., stated, “We are extremely pleased with our better than expected sales in the third quarter. Strong sales, particularly of our new Frozen Snow Glow Elsa doll and Light Up Musical dresses, contributed to our improved third quarter results. We are also pleased with the great performance of our Disguise Halloween offerings, Nintendo plush and figure products, and licensed large scale figures such as Star Wars, to name just a few.

“We are experiencing very positive consumer reaction to many of our products at retail, a wide variety of which were included on retailer holiday hot toy lists including Toys ‘R’ Us, Walmart, Target, Kmart, and Amazon, among others; toy industry experts’ top toy lists including Time to Play and Toy Insider; and consumer parenting media such as PARENTS and Family Fun magazines – all have touted our products as the anticipated 'must haves' for the holidays.

“This quarter has been a most gratifying one for our company, and demonstrated our core competency of creating and manufacturing great products and quickly shipping to market to meet rising consumer demand. Our goal is to maintain this momentum with a broad array of innovative products and a continued focus on improving year-to-year profitability. Our sales teams have done a stellar job growing our business in the third quarter. We have grown our offerings in alternative distribution channels such as QVC and Kohl’s, and expanded into new retailers such as Justice and GameStop – our products are everywhere that consumers shop. Our International business continues to grow as well, posting sharp year over year growth in the third quarter, led by Frozen toddler dolls, Disney Princess toddler dolls, Nintendo plush and figures, Star Wars figures and Slugterra toys. We continue to expand and grow in international markets including the UK, Europe, Middle East, Mexico, Latin America and Asia.

“To stay relevant in our changing industry landscape and ahead of evolving play patterns, we continue to launch new products in our DreamPlay portfolio and update our existing apps with fun new games and in-app purchases. New roll-outs in our DreamPlay line of technology-driven toys in the third quarter include the launch of our Max Tow Truck app and new updates to our miWorld app. We anticipate these apps and toys will be popular with children this holiday season by providing a unique interactive play experience that combines great physical toys with DreamPlay iD technology and enhanced augmented reality content brought to life on smart phones and tablet devices.

Berman concluded, “We recently completed our Fall Toy Preview meetings and are pleased with the enthusiastic response from retailers, licensors and other industry partners to our 2015 product line-up, which will feature more of the biggest licenses in children’s entertainment as well as unique, innovative products. We look forward to returning JAKKS to profitability as we wrap up a successful 2014 and look forward to a promising year in 2015.”

2014 Guidance

The Company currently expects increased net sales for the full year of 2014 to be in the range of $750 million to $760 million, an increase from its previously issued guidance of net sales in the range of $660 million to $670 million, with earnings guidance now in the range of $0.64 to $0.67 per diluted share. The Company’s previous reported earnings guidance was in the range of $0.20 to $0.30 per diluted share. Excluding the second quarter restructuring charge of $1.2 million, EBITDA is now expected to be in the range of $51 million to $53 million, an increase from the previous EBITDA guidance in the range of $43 million to $45 million.

Working Capital

As of September 30, 2014, the Company’s working capital was $246.9 million, including cash and equivalents and marketable securities of $88.8 million, compared to working capital of $195.2 million including cash and equivalents and marketable securities of $51.7 million as of September 30, 2013.

Conference Call

JAKKS Pacific will webcast its third quarter earnings conference call today, October 23, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. ET (6:00 a.m. PT). To listen to the live webcast, go to www.jakks.com/investors, and click on the earnings webcast link under Events and Presentations at least 10 minutes prior to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A telephonic playback will be available from 11:30 a.m. ET on October 23 through November 21, 2014. The playback can be accessed by calling (888) 843-7419, or (630) 652-3042 for international callers, pass code “38251775”.

About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products with a wide range of products that feature popular brands and children's toy licenses. JAKKS’ diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, Halloween Costumes, Kids Furniture, Vehicles, Plush, Art Activity Kits, Seasonal Products, Infant/Pre-School, Construction Toys, Ride-On Vehicles, Wagons, Inflatable Environments and Tents, Impulse Toys and Pet Products sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific®, Road Champs®, Funnoodle®, JAKKS Pets®, Plug It In & Play TV Games™, miWorld™, Kids Only!®, Tollytots®, Disguise®, Moose Mountain® and Maui®. JAKKS is also the creator of the underlying Monsuno® property and toy line. JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks including Nickelodeon®, Warner Bros.®, DC Comics®, Saban’s Power Rangers® and Cabbage Patch Kids®. DreamPlay Toys, LLC is a joint venture between JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and NantWorks LLC to develop, market and sell toys and related consumer products incorporating NantWorks’ proprietary iD recognition technology. www.jakks.com

This press release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS Pacific's business based partly on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above, changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and difficulties with integrating acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS undertakes no obligation to update any of them to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

© 2014 JAKKS Pacific, Inc. All rights reserved.

     
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                   
September 30, December 31,
2014 2013
(In thousands)
 
ASSETS
 
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 88,617 $ 117,071
Marketable securities 220 220
Accounts receivable, net 304,338 101,223
Inventory, net 87,787 46,784
Income taxes receivable 24,008 24,008
Deferred income taxes 3,953 3,953
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   27,187     27,673  
Total current assets   536,110     320,932  
 
Property and equipment 105,372 97,325
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization   94,820     86,229  
Property and equipment, net   10,552     11,096  
 
Goodwill 44,776 44,876
Trademarks & other assets, net 63,825 65,922
Investment in joint venture - 18
Investment in DreamPlay LLC   7,000     7,000  
Total assets $ 662,263   $ 449,844  
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 195,989 $ 94,361
Reserve for sales returns and allowances 28,878 31,374
Income taxes payable 25,430 20,762
Current portion of long term debt   38,905     38,098  
Total current liabilities   289,202     184,595  
 
Long term debt, net of current portion 215,000 100,000
Other liabilities 7,249 7,021
Income taxes payable 2,725 2,597
Deferred tax liability   6,946     6,946  
Total liabilities   521,122     301,159  
 
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.001 par value 23 23
Additional paid-in capital 177,662 200,665
Accumulated deficit (29,443 ) (48,154 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (7,101 )   (3,849 )
Total stockholders' equity   141,141     148,685  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 662,263   $ 449,844  
 
Working Capital $ 246,908 $ 136,337
 
 

                       
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Third Quarter Earnings Announcement, 2014
Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited)
   
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
2014201320142013

(In thousands, except per share data)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 
Net sales $ 349,362 $ 310,894 $ 556,044 $ 495,195
Less cost of sales
Cost of goods 199,696 179,218 318,189 299,751
Royalty expense 49,704 35,822 73,535 70,398
Amortization of tools and molds   5,225     4,459     8,210     8,034  
Cost of sales   254,625     219,499     399,934     378,183  
Gross profit 94,737 91,395 156,110 117,012
Direct selling expenses 18,359 13,015 35,422 30,487
Selling, general and administrative expenses 29,158 33,873 87,540 106,137
Restructuring charges - - 1,154 -
Depreciation and amortization   3,408     4,854     7,925     8,868  
Income (loss) from operations 43,812 39,653 24,069 (28,480 )
Other income (expense):
Equity in net income (loss) of joint venture - (572 ) 314 (2,024 )
Other income (expense) 5,932 - 5,932
Interest income 32 92 89 301
Interest expense   (3,969 )   (2,298 )   (9,158 )   (7,202 )
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes 45,807 36,875 21,246 (37,405 )
Provision for income taxes   1,738     278     2,535     433  
Net income (loss) $ 44,069   $ 36,597   $ 18,711   $ (37,838 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 1.03 $ 1.11 $ 0.61 $ (1.73 )
Shares used in per share calculations 45,010 34,283 39,841 21,921