LOVE - The Lovesac Company Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2019 Financial Results

Fourth Quarter Net Sales Increase of 64.4%; Comparable Sales Increase of 52.2%
Fiscal 2019 Net Sales Increase of 62.9%; Comparable Sales Increase of 43.8%
Q419 EBITDA increase to $8.9 million from $3.4 million in Q418; Adjusted EBITDA of $10.0 million vs. $6.0 million in Q418
Fiscal 2019 EBITDA of ($3.9) million vs. ($2.7) million in Fiscal 2018; Adjusted EBITDA increase to $3.4 million from $1.3 million in Fiscal 2018

STAMFORD, Conn., April 30, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Lovesac Company (Nasdaq:LOVE) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2019, which ended February 3, 2019.

Shawn Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our strong fourth quarter capped a great year for Lovesac during which we successfully drew new customers while strengthening the loyalty of existing customers. We continued to expand our showroom, shop-in-shop and digital presence, leaned into traditional and digital marketing to capitalize on the tremendous brand awareness opportunity we have and accelerated our infrastructure and technology investment to elevate our customer experience and further strengthen our foundation for growth.”

Mr. Nelson continued, “This year we will build on that progress in our journey to becoming a widely adopted consumer brand – one that is best known for the versatility and sustainability of its unique Designed for Life furniture, and one that is beloved by customers. The total addressable market opportunity is $31 billion dollars and as we grow our market share we are making prudent investments in the business to position the Lovesac brand for enduring, long-term success.”  

For the Thirteen Weeks Ended February 3, 2019

• Net sales increased 64.4% to $64.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 from $39.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. The increase was driven by strong showroom, Internet and shop-in-shop performance as a result of an increase in new customers combined with an increase in the total number of units sold and continued accelerated investments in marketing to increase brand awareness. Comparable sales, which includes showroom and Internet sales, increased 52.2%. Comparable showroom sales increased 43.5% and Internet sales increased 76.9%. 
• The Company opened no new showrooms, closed two, and remodeled four showrooms in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and ended the quarter with 75 showrooms in 30 states. This represents a unit increase of 14% over the same quarter in the prior year.
• Gross profit dollars increased 54.9% to $35.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 from $22.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Gross margin decreased by 340 basis points to 55.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 from 58.7% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 due primarily to growth in sactional products, which carry lower margins than sacs and higher freight costs as a percentage of net sales, an increase in sales for our shop-in-shop channel which also carries a lower gross margin than our other channels and a marginal impact of tariff related costs that were mitigated through SG&A initiatives.  The decrease in gross margin percentage was partially offset by reduced costs of our Sactionals and Sac products primarily related to cost savings from a change in the sourcing of our Lovesoft and down blend fills and lower costs negotiated with our vendors through cost reductions and volume rebates.   
• Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $5.3 million, or 33.0%, to $21.4 million in the thirteen weeks ended February 3, 2019 compared to $16.1 million in the fourteen weeks ended February 4, 2018. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily related to an increase in employment costs of $1.0 million, $1.5 million of increased rent associated with our net addition of 9 showrooms, $2.8 million of expenses related to the increase in sales such as $0.4 million of credit card fees, $0.5 million of web affiliate program and web platform hosting commissions and $1.9 million of shop in shop sales agent fees. Overhead expenses increased $0.4 million to support company initiatives and public company expenses and stock-based compensation decreased $0.5 million.  As a percent to sales, total SG&A expense decreased by 789 basis points driven largely by leverage in employment costs and rent expense. 
• Advertising and marketing expense increased 52.1%, or $1.8 million, to $5.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 from $3.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. The increase advertising and in marketing costs relates to increased media, to include national media and direct to consumer programs which drive revenue beyond the period of the expense.
• Operating income was $8.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared to operating income of $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Excluding non-recurring items of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, operating income was $8.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and $3.8 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018
• Net income and net income attributable to common shares were both $8.4 million. There were no preferred dividends and deemed dividends in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. This is compared to a net income of $2.4 million, or net income attributable to common shares of $1.9 million including $0.5 million of preferred dividends and deemed dividends in the fourth quarter in fiscal 2018. Adjusted net income, which excludes the impact of non-recurring expenses, was $8.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and $3.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (see “GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures”). Net income per share, including preferred dividends and deemed dividends, was $0.62 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared to $0.31 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Adjusted net income per common share, which is calculated by dividing adjusted net income by adjusted weighted average common shares outstanding, assuming the IPO related issuances occurred at the beginning of each period presented, was $0.63 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and $0.28 the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (see “GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures”).
• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) was $8.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 compared to $3.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. Adjusted EBITDA was $10.0 million compared to $6.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (see “GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures”).

Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for more information.

For the Fifty-Two Weeks Ended February 3, 2019

• Net sales increased 62.9% to $165.9 million in fiscal 2019 from $101.8 million in fiscal 2018. This increase was driven by strong showroom, Internet and shop-in-shop performance as a result of an increase in new customers combined with an increase in the total number of units sold and continued accelerated investments in marketing to increase brand awareness. Comparable sales, which includes showroom and Internet sales, increased 43.8%. Comparable showroom sales increased 35.2% and Internet sales increased 75.1%.
• The Company opened 13 new showrooms and closed four showrooms in fiscal 2019.
• Gross profit dollars increased 58.8% to $90.9 million in fiscal 2019.
• Gross margin decreased by 140 basis points to 54.8% in fiscal 2019 from 56.2% in the same period of fiscal 2018. The decrease in gross margin percentage was primarily due to increase in sactional products, which carry lower margins than sacs and higher freight costs as a percentage of net sales, an increase in our shop-in-shop channel sales which also carries a lower gross margin than our other channels, and a marginal impact of tariff related costs that were mitigated through SG&A initiatives.  The decrease in gross margin percentage was partially offset by reduced costs of our Sactionals and Sac products primarily related to cost savings from a change in the sourcing of our Lovesoft and down blend fills and lower costs negotiated with our vendors through cost reductions and volume rebates.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $25.6 million, or 50.4%, to $76.4 million in the fifty-two weeks ended February 3, 2019 compared to $50.8 million in the fifty-three weeks ended February 4, 2018. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily related to an increase in employment costs of $3.9 million, $4.5 million of increased rent associated with our net addition of 9 showrooms, $10.6 million of expenses related to the increase in sales such as $2.2 million of credit card fees, $0.8 million of showroom and web related selling expenses, $1.1 million of web affiliate program and web platform hosting commissions and $6.5 million of shop in shop sales agent fees. Overhead expenses increased $2.2 million to support company initiatives and public company expenses, stock-based compensation increased $2.4 million and $1.9 million of expenses were related to capital raises.  As a percent to sales, total SG&A expense decreased by 387 basis points due to leverage in employment costs and rent expense.
• Advertising and marketing expense increased by $9.2 million or 99.8% to $18.4 million in fiscal 2019 from $9.2 million in fiscal 2018. The increase in advertising and marketing costs relates to increased media, to include national media and direct to consumer programs which drive revenue beyond the period of the expense.
• Operating loss was $7.0 million in fiscal 2019 compared to an operating loss of $5.0 million in fiscal 2018. Excluding non-recurring items of $2.0 million in both fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, operating loss was $5.0 million and $3.0 million in the respective periods.
• Net loss was $6.7 million, and net loss attributable to common shares was $34.5 million, including preferred dividends and deemed dividends in fiscal 2019. This compares to a net loss of $5.5 million in fiscal 2018 and a net loss attributable to common shares of $6.7 million including preferred dividends and deemed dividends. Adjusted net loss, which excludes IPO related sponsor fees and equity-based compensation and certain other non-recurring expenses, was $2.6 million in fiscal 2019 compared to a loss of $3.5 million in fiscal 2018 (see “GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures”). Net loss per share, including preferred dividends and deemed dividends, was $3.28 in fiscal 2019 compared to $1.12 in fiscal 2018. Adjusted net loss per common share, which is calculated by dividing adjusted net loss by adjusted weighted average common shares outstanding assuming the IPO related issuances occurred at the beginning of each period presented, was $0.19 in fiscal 2019 compared to $0.27 in fiscal 2018 (see “GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures”).
• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), was a loss of $3.9 million for fiscal 2019 compared to a loss of $2.7 million in fiscal 2018. Adjusted EBITDA was $3.4 million compared to $1.3 million in the prior year period (see “GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures”).

Please see Non-GAAP financial measures. Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for more information.

Conference Call Details

A conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and fiscal 2019 financial results is scheduled for today, April 30, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 877-407-3982 (international callers please dial 201-493-6780) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at investor.lovesac.com.

A recorded replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed online at investor.lovesac.com for 90 days.

About The Lovesac Company

Based in Stamford, Connecticut, The Lovesac Company is a direct-to-consumer specialty furniture brand currently with 77 retail showrooms supporting its ecommerce delivery model. Lovesac’s name comes from its original Durafoam filled beanbags called Sacs. The Company derives a majority of its current sales from its proprietary platform called Sactionals, a washable, changeable, reconfigurable, and FedEx-shippable solution for large upholstered seating. Founder and CEO, Shawn Nelson’s, “Designed for Life” philosophy emphasizes sustainable products that are built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve with the customer’s needs, providing long-term utility and ultimately reducing the amount of furniture discarded into landfills.

Non-GAAP Information

This press release includes the following financial measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”): adjusted net loss, adjusted diluted loss per share and Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted net loss excludes the effect of one-time costs related to the Company’s IPO in June 2018 and fees associated with fundraising and reorganizing activities.  Adjusted diluted loss per share is defined as adjusted net loss divided by a pro forma share count which assumes the IPO took place before the relevant time period. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income plus interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, sponsor fees, deferred rent, equity-based compensation, write-off of property and equipment, one-time IPO-related expenses, and fees associated with fundraising and reorganizing activities. The Company has reconciled these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures under “GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures” in this release. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures not only provide its management with comparable financial data for internal financial analysis but also provide meaningful supplemental information to investors. Specifically, these non-GAAP financial measures allow investors to better understand the performance of the Company’s business and facilitate a more meaningful comparison of its diluted income per share and actual results on a period-over-period basis. The Company has provided this information as a means to evaluate the results of its ongoing operations. Other companies in the Company’s industry may calculate these items differently than the Company does. Each of these measures is not a measure of performance under GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements either contained in or incorporated by reference into this communication, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections and statements relating to Lovesac’s business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in or incorporated by reference into this press release regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Lovesac may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Lovesac disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Investor Relations Contact:
Rachel Schacter, ICR
(203) 682-8200
InvestorRelations@lovesac.com

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