BASSETT, Va., Jan. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: BSET) announced today its results of operations for its fourth quarter ended November 25, 2023.

Fiscal 2023 Fourth Quarter Highlights
(Dollars in millions)

 Sales Operating Income (Loss)
 4th Qtr Dollar% 4th Qtr% of 4th Qtr% of
  2023 2022 ChangeChange 2023 Sales  2022 Sales
Consolidated (1)$94.7$121.0 $(26.3)-21.7% $(4.5)-4.8% $6.7 5.5%
            
Wholesale$60.6$74.6 $(14.0)-18.8% $8.4 13.9% $10.3 13.8%
            
Retail$57.9$74.5 $(16.6)-22.3% $0.2 0.3% $5.5 7.4%
            
Corporate & Other (2)$1.8$2.0 $(0.2)-10.0% $(7.8)N/A $(9.4)N/A
            
(1) Our consolidated results include certain intercompany eliminations. See Table 4, “Segment Information” below for an illustration of the
effects of these items on our consolidated sales and operating income.      
            
(2) Corporate and Other includes the operations of Noa Home Inc. for 2023 along with the shared Corporate costs that are benefiting both
the Wholesale and Retail segments. This represents a change in our segment presentation from prior year periods. Previously, those shared
Corporate costs had been included in the Wholesale segment and the operations of Noa Home Inc. were included in the Retail segment.
Prior period results have been restated to conform to the current presentation.      


The comparison to last year’s pandemic-fueled results plagued us again in our fourth quarter as consolidated sales fell by 21.7% resulting in considerably reduced operating results. Due to a noncash goodwill impairment charge discussed below, we recorded a loss for the quarter. Excluding the charge, the GAAP reported earnings per share of ($0.47) would have been $0.15 as compared to $0.61 in the fourth quarter of 2022. Year over year comparisons will be more favorable as 2024 unfolds but the difficult sales environment for home furnishings persists for the moment. That said, we improved our quarterly gross margin to 54.3% and produced an operating profit for the period if you exclude the goodwill impairment charge. We strengthened our balance sheet by virtue of generating $8.4 million of operating cash flow, ending the quarter with $70.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt. We paid our regular quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share on November 24, 2023, and on January 11th our Board of Directors approved the next installment payable on March 1, 2024.

From a wholesale perspective, all categories experienced order declines although our Club Level, Bench Made domestic wood and domestic upholstery held up slightly better than the remaining product lines. Incoming wholesale orders were very similar for the final nine months of the year and appear to have stabilized, albeit at a relatively low level. We do sense that the massive inventory buildup at our open market accounts has finally begun to subside, which should provide new opportunities. Over the course of the year, we made necessary headcount adjustments to our domestic manufacturing footprint and remain vigilant as we match our backlogs with our production capacity. We ended the quarter and the year with $36.0 million of wholesale inventory, a 38.7% reduction compared to year end 2022. As expected, we did see a nice improvement in the overall margins compared to the third quarter of 2023 as we continue to cycle through excess Club Level inventory and imported wood product that both had the inflated container freight from 2022. We essentially cut the excess Club Level inventory in half over the course of the fourth quarter to approximately $3.5 million and expect to sell the remainder over the first two quarters of 2024. In spite of a 16.7% decrease in domestic upholstery sales from our Newton facility compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, we slightly increased our operating profit; a testament to the operational efficiencies of our associates in those facilities. We expect to continue to see margin improvement in our wholesale operations over the course of 2024.

On the back of improved gross margins, corporate retail operated profitably but significantly behind last year’s strong quarter as delivered sales fell by 22.2%. Close ratios were at all-time highs, our average order value improved, and design projects accounted for over 45% of sales. Our design staffs are doing a tremendous job of maximizing their opportunities and building bigger tickets. In short, the stores operated quite well under challenging circumstances. We believe that there is room to further improve our gross margins through new pricing and promotional strategies and by employing increased discipline in the disposition of our clearance merchandise. In late October, we completed an extensive remodeling of the first Bassett store, originally opened in Austin, Texas in 1997. We also completed the upfit of the location we purchased in Tampa, FL in 2022 with the doors opening for business in mid-January. Located in a heavily trafficked retail corridor, our fifth Florida location combines all of the elements behind the Bassett brand today. We also plan for one other opening in the Houston area later in the first quarter of 2024. After that, we will focus on refurbishing five to six of our legacy stores over the remainder of the year.

In the five quarters of ownership of Noa Home Inc., we have collaborated with the Noa team to open Western Canadian distribution, increase gross margins, better align advertising expenditures with sales, and establish a more disciplined financial reporting environment. In the next few months, we plan to exit the Australian e-commerce market, where we primarily sell mattresses, to concentrate on North America where we primarily sell furniture. However, the overall environment for e-commerce furniture sales has significantly softened since our purchase of Noa resulting in financial performance well below the original projections. Consequently, we recorded a noncash goodwill impairment charge of $5.4 million during the quarter.

We completed the migration to our new world class e-commerce platform just prior to the end of our third quarter in August of 2023. Since then, we have seen increased engagement as visitors are spending more time on our website as they view a greater number of pages. Our average order value has increased and more purchases are being made at the premium end of our line. Our ultimate goal is to provide a seamless omnichannel experience for our customers allowing them to shop on-line or in the store. We expect the more complicated projects will continue to use the talents of our design consultants as customers will need assistance in maneuvering through our options in our best-in-class custom furniture offerings. Additional enhancements to bassettfurniture.com are planned during 2024 that will improve brand engagement and customer visualization resulting in what we believe will be higher store and web sales.

Favorable demographics provide optimism for the future of home furnishings as millennial household formation unfolds. The post pandemic boom has led to a period of difficulty and disruption as witnessed by the bankruptcies of several prominent players in 2023. Although last year and early 2024 have been challenging, we have seen downturns before and we have a positive outlook on the future, perhaps with anticipated interest rate reductions later this year. In the meantime, we will focus our attention on product innovation, improving sales technology, updating our stores, enhancing margins, bringing in new talent, and prudently managing our balance sheet as we anticipate the inevitable upswing in the home furnishings space.

Robert H. Spilman, Jr., Chairman and CEO

About Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.
Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:BSET), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of high quality home furnishings. With 88 company- and licensee-owned stores at the time of this release, Bassett has leveraged its strong brand name in furniture into a network of corporate and licensed stores that focus on providing consumers with a friendly environment for buying furniture and accessories. Bassett’s retail strategy includes stylish, custom-built furniture that features the latest on-trend furniture styles, free in-home design visits, and coordinated decorating accessories. Bassett also has a traditional wholesale business with more than 700 accounts on the open market, across the United States and internationally and a logistics business specializing in home furnishings. For more information, visit the Company’s website at bassettfurniture.com. (BSET-E)

Certain of the statements in this release, particularly those preceded by, followed by or including the words “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “should,” “estimates,” or similar expressions, or those relating to or anticipating financial results or changes in operations for periods beyond the end of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2023, constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. For those statements, Bassett claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In many cases, Bassett cannot predict what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Expectations included in the forward-looking statements are based on preliminary information as well as certain assumptions which management believes to be reasonable at this time. The following important factors affect Bassett and could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements: the effects of national and global economic or other conditions and future events on the retail demand for home furnishings and the ability of Bassett’s customers and consumers to obtain credit; the success of marketing, logistics, retail and other initiatives; and the economic, competitive, governmental and other factors identified in Bassett’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement that Bassett makes speaks only as of the date of such statement, and Bassett undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indication of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.


Table 1
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - unaudited
(In thousands, except for per share data)
            
            
 Quarter Ended Year Ended
 November 25, 2023 November 26, 2022 November 25, 2023 November 26, 2022
  Percent of  Percent of  Percent of  Percent of
 AmountNet Sales AmountNet Sales AmountNet Sales AmountNet Sales
            
Net sales of furniture and accessories$94,702 100.0% $121,019 100.0% $390,136 100.0% $485,601 100.0%
Cost of furniture and accessories sold 43,288 45.7%  56,784 46.9%  183,648 47.1%  237,262 48.9%
Gross profit 51,414 54.3%  64,235 53.1%  206,488 52.9%  248,339 51.1%
            
Selling, general and administrative expenses 50,518 53.3%  57,532 47.5%  205,227 52.6%  218,069 44.9%
Goodwill impairment charge 5,409 5.7%  - 0.0%  5,409 1.4%  - 0.0%
Gain on revaluation of contingent consideration - 0.0%  - 0.0%  1,013 0.3%  - 0.0%
Gain on sale of real estate - 0.0%  - 0.0%  - 0.0%  4,595 8.9%
Income (loss) from operations (4,513)-4.8%  6,703 5.5%  (3,135)-0.8%  34,865 7.2%
            
Interest income 883 1.7%  170 0.3%  2,528 4.9%  302 0.6%
Other loss, net (500)-0.5%  877 0.7%  (1,881)-0.5%  (1,105)-0.2%
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (4,130)-4.4%  7,750 6.4%  (2,488)-0.6%  34,062 7.0%
            
Income tax expense (benefit) (28)-0.0%  2,197 1.8%  683 0.2%  8,702 1.8%
Income (loss) from continuing operations (4,102)-4.3%  5,553 4.6%  (3,171)-0.8%  25,360 5.2%
            
Discontinued operations:           
Income from operations of logistical services -    -    -    1,712  
Gain on disposal (less adjustments) -    (528)   -    52,534  
Income tax expense -    (1)   -    14,261  
            
Income (loss) from discontinued operations - net of tax -    (527)   -    39,985  
            
Net income (loss)$(4,102)  $5,026   $(3,171)  $65,345  
            
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:           
Income (loss) from continuing operations$(0.47)  $0.61   $(0.36)  $2.70  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations -    (0.06)   -    4.26  
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share$(0.47)  $0.55   $(0.36)  $6.96  
            



Table 2
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
  (Unaudited)  
Assets November 25, 2023 November 26, 2022
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $52,407 $61,625
Short-term investments  17,775  17,715
Accounts receivable, net  13,736  17,838
Inventories, net  62,982  85,477
Recoverable income taxes  2,574  2,353
Other current assets  8,480  11,487
Total current assets  157,954  196,495
     
Property and equipment, net  83,981  77,001
     
Other long-term assets    
Deferred income taxes, net  4,645  5,528
Goodwill and other intangible assets  16,067  21,727
Right of use assets under operating leases  100,888  99,472
Other  6,889  6,050
Total long-term assets  128,489  132,777
Total assets $370,424 $406,273
     
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity    
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable $16,338 $20,359
Accrued compensation and benefits  8,934  12,921
Customer deposits  22,788  35,963
Current portion of operating lease obligations  18,827  18,819
Other accrued expenses  11,003  12,765
Total current liabilities  77,890  100,827
     
Long-term liabilities    
Post employment benefit obligations  10,207  9,954
Long-term portion of operating lease obligations  97,357  97,477
Other long-term liabilities  1,529  2,406
Total long-term liabilities  109,093  109,837
     
     
Stockholders’ equity    
Common stock  43,842  44,759
Retained earnings  139,354  150,800
Additional paid-in-capital  93  -
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)  152  50
Total stockholders' equity  183,441  195,609
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $370,424 $406,273
     



Table 3
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - unaudited
(In thousands)
     
  Year Ended
  November 25, 2023 November 26, 2022
Operating activities:    
Net income $(3,171) $65,345 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in)    
operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization  10,141   11,309 
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations  -   (52,534)
Gain on sale of property and equipment  5   (4,595)
Goodwill impairment charges  5,409   - 
Gain on revaluation of contingent consideration  (1,013)  - 
Inventory valuation charges  4,626   3,648 
Deferred income taxes  831   (2,339)
Other, net  2,031   (302)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities    
Accounts receivable  4,102   3,169 
Inventories  17,869   (9,536)
Other current and long-term assets  1,773   5,944 
Right of use assets under operating leases  18,680   20,531 
Customer deposits  (13,175)  (16,588)
Accounts payable and other liabilities  (9,188)  (4,073)
Obligations under operating leases  (20,196)  (22,949)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  18,724   (2,970)
     
Investing activities:    
Purchases of property and equipment  (17,489)  (21,296)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment  500   8,226 
Proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations, net  1,000   84,534 
Cash paid for business acquisition, net of cash acquired  -   (5,582)
Other  (1,774)  (40)
Net cash used in investing activities  (17,763)  65,842 
     
Financing activities:     
Cash dividends  (5,982)  (20,162)
Other issuance of common stock  318   424 
Repurchases of common stock  (4,176)  (15,122)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards  (109)  (19)
Repayments of finance lease obligations  (278)  (684)
Net cash used in financing activities  (10,227)  (35,563)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents  48   (58)
Change in cash and cash equivalents  (9,218)  27,251 
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period  61,625   34,374 
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period $52,407  $61,625 
     



Table 4 
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Segment Information - unaudited 
(In thousands) 
  Quarter Ended   Year Ended 
  November 25, 2023   November 26, 2022   November 25, 2023   November 26, 2022 
Sales Revenue               
Wholesale sales of furniture and accessories$60,593  $74,624  $248,911  $324,569 
Less: Sales to retail segment (25,587)  (29,913)  (103,519)  (125,889)
Wholesale sales to external customers 35,006   44,711   145,392   198,680 
Retail sales of furniture and accessories 57,936   74,506   235,940   285,119 
Corporate & Other (1) 1,760   1,802   8,804   1,802 
Consolidated net sales of furniture and accessories 94,702   121,019   390,136   485,601 
                
                
Income from Operations               
Wholesale$8,360  $10,323  $30,699  $41,979 
Retail 215   5,548   (536)  19,352 
Net expenses - Corporate and other (1) (7,786)  (9,364)  (29,926)  (30,997)
Inter-company elimination 107   196   1,024   (64)
Goodwill impairment charge (5,409)  -   (5,409)    
Gain on revaluation of contingent consideration -   -   1,013   - 
Gain on sale of real estate -   -   -   4,595 
Consolidated$(4,513) $6,703  $(3,135) $34,865 
                
                
                
(1) Corporate and Other includes the operations of Noa Home Inc. for 2023 along with the shared         
Corporate costs that are benefiting both the Wholesale and Retail segments. This represents a         
change in our segment presentation from prior year periods. Previously, those shared Corporate costs      
had been included in the Wholesale segment and the operations of Noa Home Inc. were included         
in the Retail segment. Prior period results have been restated to conform to the current presentation.      


J. Michael Daniel
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
mdaniel@bassettfurniture.com

Peter D. Morrison
Vice President of Communications
(276) 629-6450 – Media


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Source: Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated

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