Weyco Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:WEYS) is a diversified footwear manufacturer and distributor with a portfolio of well-recognized brands including Florsheim, Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, BOGS, Rafters, and Forsake. The company has two reportable segments - North American Wholesale Operations and North American Retail Operations.
Financials
In fiscal year 2023, Weyco Group reported annual net income of $30.2 million on revenue of $318.0 million. The company generated robust operating cash flow of $98.6 million and free cash flow of $95.3 million during the year. These strong financial results demonstrate Weyco Group's ability to navigate the evolving retail landscape and deliver value to shareholders.
For the first quarter of 2024, the company reported net sales of $71.6 million, down 17% compared to the record $86.3 million in the prior year period. Consolidated gross earnings increased to 44.7% of net sales, up from 43.1% in the year-ago quarter, driven by higher margins in the Wholesale segment. Earnings from operations were $8.3 million, down 21% from the record $10.4 million in Q1 2023. Net earnings for the quarter were $6.7 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, compared to $7.4 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, in the prior year period.
Segment Performance
The decline in first quarter sales was largely attributable to a 20% decrease in the Wholesale segment, which saw revenues of $56.2 million compared to $69.9 million in Q1 2023. This was driven by a 48% drop in BOGS sales as well as lower demand across the company's legacy brands following record growth in early 2023. Wholesale gross margins improved to 39.6% of net sales from 38.2% a year ago, aided by lower inbound freight costs. Wholesale selling and administrative expenses declined to $14.9 million from $17.9 million in the prior year quarter.
In contrast, the company's Retail segment posted record first quarter sales of $9.8 million, up 10% from $8.9 million in the year-ago period. Retail gross margins were 65.3% compared to 66.3% in Q1 2023, while retail operating earnings were flat at $1.3 million.
Weyco's "other" operations, which include its wholesale and retail businesses in Australia, South Africa, and the now-shuttered Asia Pacific region, saw sales decline 26% to $5.5 million. This was primarily due to the closure of Florsheim's Asia retail locations and the loss of a key wholesale account in Australia, as well as broader macroeconomic pressures in the region.
Outlook
Looking ahead, the company anticipates the conservative inventory management trends among retailers will continue through the second quarter, but is optimistic that demand will improve in the second half of 2024. Weyco remains focused on evolving its legacy brands to cater to more relaxed lifestyles and expanding its offerings in the casual and hybrid footwear categories.
Liquidity
The company's balance sheet remains strong, with $84.7 million in cash and marketable securities and no outstanding debt as of March 31, 2024. During the first quarter, Weyco generated $14.3 million in cash from operations and paid $4.7 million in dividends. Management estimates 2024 capital expenditures will be between $2.0 million and $4.0 million.
Dividend
On May 7, 2024, Weyco's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.26 per share, representing a 4% increase over the previous rate. This demonstrates the company's commitment to returning capital to shareholders and confidence in its long-term prospects.
Conclusion
Despite the near-term challenges in the retail environment, Weyco Group's diversified brand portfolio, strong balance sheet, and focus on innovation position the company well to navigate the evolving market conditions. As the company works to regain momentum in its BOGS brand and optimize its international operations, investors will be closely watching Weyco's ability to drive sustainable growth and profitability across its business segments.