GlobeNewswire Inc | Nov 10, 2021 06:45AM EST

November 10, 2021

-- Net sales excluding Carousel Designs up 9.8% year-to-date -- Board declares a special dividend of $0.35 per share in addition to a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share

GONZALES, La., Nov. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Crafts, Inc. (NASDAQ-CM: CRWS) (the Company) today reported results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2022, which ended September 26, 2021.

We are extremely proud of our teams accomplishments through the first half of this fiscal year, said E. Randall Chestnut, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Despite labor shortages, shipment delays and rising costs, along with the inconvenience of having to close our main office for several weeks because of damage from Hurricane Ida, management has done an outstanding job working through these challenges to produce solid results.

Our continuing operations have remained strong, and we have taken several actions to strengthen our business for both the short and the long term, said Olivia Elliott, President and Chief Operating Officer. For example, we implemented a new system to streamline our warehouse operations in Compton, California, and we are constantly working to control expenses and pass along increasing costs whenever we can.

Financial Results

Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2022 was $2.4 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, on net sales of $20.2 million, compared with net income of $2.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, on net sales of $21.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Gross profit for the current-year quarter was 30.0% of net sales, down from 32.8% of net sales in the prior-year quarter. The current-year quarter included net sales and net income of $8,000 and $7,000, respectively, associated with the Carousel Designs business, which ceased operations in May 2021. The prior-year quarter included net sales and net income of $1.5 million and $97,000, respectively, associated with Carousel.

Excluding the impact of Carousel from both quarters, current-year net sales, gross margin percentage, net income and diluted earnings per share would have been $20.2 million, 30.2%, $2.4 million and $0.24, respectively, compared to prior-year net sales, gross margin percentage, net income and diluted earnings per share of $20.2 million, 32.1%, $2.4 million and $0.23, respectively.

For the six-month fiscal period, net income was $5.1 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, on net sales of $38.9 million, compared with net income of $3.7 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, on net sales of $37.9 million for the first six months of fiscal 2021. Current-year net income was impacted favorably by a pre- and post-tax $1,985,000 gain on extinguishment of debt related to the forgiveness of the Companys Paycheck Protection Program Loan (the PPP Loan). The current year also included net sales and a net loss of $639,000 and $795,000, respectively, associated with Carousel, while the prior year included net sales and net income of $3.0 million and $72,000, respectively, associated with Carousel.

Excluding the impact of the PPP Loan and Carousel from both quarters, current-year net sales, gross margin percentage, net income and diluted earnings per share would have been $38.3 million, 29.8%, $3.9 million and $0.38, respectively, compared to prior-year net sales, gross margin percentage, net income and diluted earnings per share of $34.9 million, 31.3%, $3.6 million and $0.36, respectively.

Board Declares Special and Quarterly Cash Dividends

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend on the Companys Series A common stock of $0.35 per share, along with a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share. Both dividends will be paid on December 31, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2021. In challenging times like these, the commitment of our Board and management team to deliver consistent returns to shareholders is more important than ever. By declaring these dividends, our Board recognizes the outstanding efforts of the entire Crown Crafts team to manage through this difficult environment and maintain our position to generate long-term value, Chestnut said. Upon payment of the special and quarterly dividends, Crown Crafts will have distributed more than $52.9 million in total dividends to its shareholders since 2010, he continued.

Conference Call

The Company will host a teleconference today at 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time to discuss the Companys results, during which interested individuals will be given the opportunity to ask appropriate questions. To join the teleconference, dial (844) 861-5504 and ask to be joined into the Crown Crafts, Inc. call. The teleconference can also be accessed in listen-only mode by visiting the Companys website at www.crowncrafts.com. The financial information to be discussed during the teleconference may be accessed prior to the call on the investor relations portion of the Companys website. A telephone replay of the teleconference will be available one hour after the end of the call through 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on February 8, 2022. To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529 in the United States or (412) 317-0088 from international locations and refer to conference number 10161702.

About Crown Crafts, Inc.

Crown Crafts, Inc. designs, markets and distributes infant, toddler and juvenile consumer products. Founded in 1957, Crown Crafts is one of Americas largest producers of infant bedding, toddler bedding, bibs and developmental toys. The Company operates through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, NoJo Baby & Kids, Inc. and Sassy Baby, Inc., which market a variety of infant, toddler and juvenile products under Company-owned trademarks, as well as licensed collections and exclusive private label programs. Sales are made directly to retailers such as mass merchants, large chain stores and juvenile specialty stores. For more information, visit the Companys website at www.crowncrafts.com.

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon managements current expectations, projections, estimates and assumptions. Words such as expects, believes, anticipates and variations of such words and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks include, among others, general economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, in the overall level of consumer spending and in the price of oil, cotton and other raw materials used in the Companys products, changing competition, changes in the retail environment, the Companys ability to successfully integrate newly acquired businesses, the level and pricing of future orders from the Companys customers, the extent to which the Companys business is concentrated in a small number of customers, the Companys dependence upon third-party suppliers, including some located in foreign countries, customer acceptance of both new designs and newly-introduced product lines, actions of competitors that may impact the Companys business, disruptions to transportation systems or shipping lanes used by the Company or its suppliers, and the Companys dependence upon licenses from third parties. Reference is also made to the Companys periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional factors that may impact the Companys results of operations and financial condition. The Company does not undertake to update the forward-looking statements contained herein to conform to actual results or changes in our expectations, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Craig J. DemarestVice President and Chief Financial Officer (225) 647-9118cdemarest@crowncrafts.com

CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOMESELECTED FINANCIAL DATAIn thousands, except percentages and per share data(Unaudited)

Three-Month Periods Ended Six-Month Periods Ended September September September September 26, 2021 27, 2020 26, 2021 27, 2020Net sales $ 20,220 $ 21,659 $ 38,932 $ 37,864 Gross profit 6,068 7,094 10,724 12,117 Gross profit percentage 30.0 % 32.8 % 27.5 % 32.0 %Income from operations 2,904 3,292 4,194 4,935 Gain on extinguishment - - 1,985 - of debtIncome before income 2,978 3,290 6,252 4,930 tax expenseIncome tax expense 592 803 1,201 1,228 Net income 2,386 2,487 5,051 3,702 Basic and diluted $ 0.24 $ 0.24 $ 0.50 $ 0.36 earnings per share Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:Basic 10,053 10,208 10,028 10,189 Diluted 10,094 10,214 10,071 10,193

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETSSELECTED FINANCIAL DATAIn thousands

September 26, 2021 (Unaudited) March 28, 2021Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,904 $ 613 Accounts receivable, net of allowances 18,485 19,338 Inventories 24,234 20,335 Total current assets 45,339 41,470 Operating lease right of use assets 3,249 4,068 Finite-lived intangible assets - net 2,904 3,163 Goodwill 7,125 7,125 Total assets $ 60,576 $ 58,082 Total current liabilities 12,542 12,946 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 1,733 2,641 Shareholders' equity 45,600 41,865 Total liabilities and shareholders' $ 60,576 $ 58,082 equity