Blue Nile Announces Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Second Quarter Net Sales of $113.8 million 
Second Quarter Earnings Per Diluted Share of $0.18

SEATTLE, Aug. 08, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Nile, Inc. (Nasdaq:NILE), a leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended July 3, 2016.

Net sales increased to $113.8 million for the second quarter ended July 3, 2016 compared to $113.7 million for the second quarter ended July 5, 2015. Operating income for the quarter totaled $3.3 million, representing an operating margin of 2.9% of net sales, compared to $3.4 million in operating income and 3.0% operating margin for the second quarter 2015. Net income totaled $2.1 million, or $0.18 per diluted share versus $2.3 million, or $0.20 per diluted share for the second quarter 2015.

Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the quarter totaled $5.6 million compared to $5.7 million for the second quarter 2015. For the trailing twelve month period ended July 3, 2016, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $9.3 million compared to $16.2 million for the trailing twelve month period ended July 5, 2015. For the trailing twelve month period ended July 3, 2016, non-GAAP free cash flow totaled $4.7 million, as compared to $12.1 million for the trailing twelve month period ended July 5, 2015.

“Blue Nile continues to reimagine the retail experience by bridging the on and offline user experience through the Webroom concept, which will feature five locations by year end,” said Harvey Kanter, Blue Nile Chairman, CEO and President. “Our results reflect a higher level of investment than we anticipated, and while this impacted short-term results, we believe it will create long-term scale and profitability.”

Highlights

  • U.S. engagement net sales for the second quarter 2016 decreased 4.4% to $62.6 million, compared to $65.5 million for the second quarter 2015.
     
  • U.S. non-engagement net sales for the second quarter 2016 increased 5.9% to $30.4 million, compared to $28.7 million for the second quarter 2015.
     
  • International net sales for the second quarter 2016 were $20.8 million, compared to $19.5 million for the second quarter 2015, an increase of 6.4%. Excluding the impact from changes in foreign exchange rates, international net sales increased 9.4%.
     
  • Gross profit for the second quarter 2016 totaled $22.4 million. As a percent of net sales, gross profit was 19.7% compared to 19.4% for the second quarter 2015.
     
  • Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter 2016 were $19.1 million, compared to $18.7 million in the second quarter 2015. Selling, general and administrative expenses included stock-based compensation expense of $1.1 million for the second quarter in 2016 and $1.3 million for the second quarter in 2015.
     
  • Earnings per diluted share for the second quarter 2016 was $0.18 compared to $0.20 for the second quarter 2015.  Earnings per diluted share included stock-based compensation expense of $0.07 for both the second quarter 2016 and the second quarter 2015.
     
  • At the end of the second quarter 2016, cash and cash equivalents totaled $36.6 million.
     
  • During the second quarter 2016, Blue Nile repurchased 12,765 shares of its common stock for $0.3 million.

Financial Guidance

The following forward-looking statements reflect Blue Nile’s expectations as of August 8, 2016.  Actual results may be materially affected by many factors, such as consumer spending, economic conditions and the various factors detailed below.

Expectations for the third quarter of 2016 (Quarter ending October 2, 2016):

  • Net sales are expected to be between $107 million and $111 million.
  • Earnings per diluted share are projected at $0.11 to $0.14.

Expectations for the fiscal year 2016 (Year ending January 1, 2017):

  • Net sales are expected to be between $465 million and $495 million.
  • Earnings per diluted share are projected at $0.88 to $0.95.

Blue Nile reports fiscal results on a 52/53-week format.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, all statements related to future financial and business performance, market opportunity and plans to grow our business. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to commodity prices, general economic conditions, consumer spending (particularly spending by high-end consumers), product assortment, our fluctuating operating results, currency fluctuations, seasonality in our business, our ability to acquire products on reasonable terms, our online business model, demand for our products, our ability to attract customers in a cost effective manner, the strength of our brand, competition, fraud, system interruptions, our ability to fulfill orders and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2016.  Additional information will also be set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 3, 2016, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before August 12, 2016. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Blue Nile undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Conference Call

Blue Nile will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter financial results today at 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET. A live webcast of the conference call may be accessed at http://investor.bluenile.com. Following the completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days at the same Internet address. This call will contain forward-looking statements and other material information regarding Blue Nile’s financial and operating results. In the event that any non-GAAP financial measure is discussed on the conference call that is not described in this release, related complementary information will be made available at http://investor.bluenile.com as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the conference call.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Blue Nile’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), Blue Nile uses non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow as measures of certain components of financial performance. Blue Nile defines non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest and other income, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of stock-based compensation expense. Blue Nile defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash outflows for purchases of fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development. Blue Nile reports sales information in accordance with GAAP. Internally, management monitors its sales performance on a non-GAAP basis that eliminates the positive or negative effects that result from translating international sales into U.S. dollars (the “constant exchange rate basis”). Blue Nile’s management does not itself, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors should also note that the non-GAAP financial measures used by Blue Nile may not be the same non-GAAP financial measures, and may not be calculated in the same manner, as that of other companies. Whenever Blue Nile uses such non-GAAP financial measures, it provides a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measures. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

Blue Nile’s management believes that non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow, as defined, as well as international sales on a constant exchange rate basis provide meaningful supplemental information to the company and to investors. Blue Nile believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP measures in assessing the performance of Blue Nile and when planning and forecasting future periods. Further, management believes that the inclusion of the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow calculations provide consistency in Blue Nile’s financial reporting and comparability with similar companies in Blue Nile’s industry. Management believes the constant exchange rate measurement provides a more representative assessment of the sales performance and provides better comparability between reporting periods.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to net income is as follows (in thousands):

                   
        Quarter ended         Quarter ended
        July 3, 2016         July 5, 2015
Net income       $ 2,127           $ 2,331  
Income tax expense       1,177           1,252  
Other income, net       (35 )         (144 )
Depreciation and amortization       1,227           927  
Stock-based compensation       1,111           1,310  
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA       $ 5,607           $ 5,676  
         
        Year to date ended         Year to date ended
        July 3, 2016         July 5, 2015
Net income       $ 3,207           $ 3,518  
Income tax expense       1,816           1,928  
Other income, net       (506 )         (97 )
Depreciation and amortization       2,378           1,831  
Stock-based compensation       2,297           2,518  
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA       $ 9,192           $ 9,698  
 

 

A reconciliation of differences of non-GAAP free cash flow from the comparable GAAP measure of net cash (used in) provided by operating activities is as follows (in thousands):

                   
        Quarter ended         Quarter ended
        July 3, 2016         July 5, 2015
Net cash provided by operating activities       $ 8,796           $ 10,746  
Purchases of fixed assets, including internal-use                  
software and website development       (1,729 )         (1,153 )
Non-GAAP free cash flow       $ 7,067           $ 9,593  
                   
                   
         Twelve months ended          Twelve months ended
        July 3, 2016         July 5, 2015
Net cash provided by operating activities       $ 9,329           $ 16,231  
Purchases of fixed assets, including internal-use                  
software and website development       (4,674 )         (4,158 )
Non-GAAP free cash flow       $ 4,655           $ 12,073  
                           

The non-GAAP free cash flow for the twelve months ended July 5, 2015 presented above includes financial information from the Company’s fiscal 2014 reporting period which included 53 weeks, with an additional week falling into the fourth quarter.

The following table reconciles year-over-year international net sales percentage (decreases) increases from the GAAP sales measures to the non-GAAP constant exchange rate basis:

 

 
Quarter ended July 3, 2016           Effect of foreign     Year over year growth on
    Year over year growth     exchange movements     constant exchange rate basis
International net sales       6.4 %       (3.0 )%       9.4 %
Quarter ended July 5, 2015           Effect of foreign     Year over year growth on
    Year over year growth     exchange movements     constant exchange rate basis
International net sales       8.9 %       (6.4 )%       15.3 %
       
Year to date ended July 3, 2016           Effect of foreign     Year over year growth on
    Year over year growth     exchange movements     constant exchange rate basis
International net sales       2.7 %       (4.0 )%       6.7 %
Year to date ended July 5, 2015           Effect of foreign     Year over year growth on
    Year over year growth     exchange movements     constant exchange rate basis
International net sales       8.6 %       (7.1 )%       15.7 %
                               

 

 

About Blue Nile, Inc.

Blue Nile, Inc. is the original online jeweler. The company offers a smarter way to buy engagement rings, wedding rings, and fine jewelry by providing in-depth educational materials and unique online tools that place consumers in control of the jewelry shopping process. Blue Nile has some of the highest quality standards in the industry and offers thousands of independently certified diamonds and fine jewelry at prices significantly below traditional retail. Blue Nile can be found online at www.bluenile.com. Blue Nile’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol NILE.


BLUE NILE, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
  July 3, 2016   January 3, 2016   July 5, 2015
           
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents $ 36,617     $ 86,542     $ 39,661  
Trade accounts receivable 2,725     3,339     3,875  
Other accounts receivable, net 871     706     1,262  
Note receivable 300     600     1,200  
Inventories 43,382     46,376     36,794  
Prepaids and other current assets 1,719     1,585     1,947  
Total current assets 85,614     139,148     84,739  
Property and equipment, net 11,239     10,530     10,736  
Deferred income taxes(1) 4,649     5,089     4,525  
Other investments 2,280     2,280     2,280  
Other assets 282     367     317  
Total assets $ 104,064     $ 157,414     $ 102,597  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable $ 76,688     $ 121,917     $ 81,571  
Accrued liabilities 7,945     12,336     9,366  
Current portion of long-term financing obligation 34     33     33  
Current portion of deferred rent 337     290     292  
Total current liabilities 85,004     134,576     91,262  
Long-term financing obligation, less current portion 438     455     472  
Deferred rent, less current portion 1,688     1,697     1,844  
Unearned income 1,683     1,988      
Other long-term liabilities 263     242     169  
Commitments and contingencies          
Stockholders’ equity:          
Common stock 22     22     22  
Additional paid-in capital 233,927     232,148     229,283  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (232 )   (239 )   (197 )
Retained earnings 109,087     114,023     107,007  
Treasury stock (327,816 )   (327,498 )   (327,265 )
Total stockholders’ equity 14,988     18,456     8,850  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 104,064     $ 157,414     $ 102,597  
           
(1) In November 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. We early adopted this standard effective January 3, 2016 retrospectively and reclassified the current deferred income tax assets previously presented in the consolidated balance sheet as of July 5, 2015, to noncurrent deferred income tax assets.
 


BLUE NILE, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
    Quarter ended   Year to date ended
    July 3, 2016   July 5, 2015   July 3, 2016   July 5, 2015
Net sales   $ 113,771     $ 113,693     $ 216,827     $ 220,140  
Cost of sales   91,373     91,604     174,203     178,078  
Gross profit   22,398     22,089     42,624     42,062  
Selling, general and administrative expenses   19,129     18,650     38,107     36,713  
Operating income   3,269     3,439     4,517     5,349  
Other income, net:                
Interest income, net   16     28     25     64  
Other income, net   19     116     481     33  
Total other income, net   35     144     506     97  
Income before income taxes   3,304     3,583     5,023     5,446  
Income tax expense   1,177     1,252     1,816     1,928  
Net income   $ 2,127     $ 2,331     $ 3,207     $ 3,518  
Basic net income per share   $ 0.18     $ 0.20     $ 0.28     $ 0.30  
Diluted net income per share   $ 0.18     $ 0.20     $ 0.27     $ 0.30  
                 
Shares used for computation (in thousands):                
Basic   11,618     11,728     11,605     11,798  
Diluted   11,650     11,761     11,671     11,849  
                         


BLUE NILE, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
   
  Year to date ended
  July 3,   July 5,
2016 2015
Operating activities:      
Net income $ 3,207     $ 3,518  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization 2,378     1,831  
Stock-based compensation 2,317     2,538  
Deferred income taxes 440     (338 )
Tax deficiency from share-based awards (148 )   (183 )
Changes in assets and liabilities:      
Receivables 449     (1,428 )
Inventories 2,994     4,874  
Prepaid expenses and other assets (66 )   (392 )
Accounts payable (45,379 )   (47,394 )
Accrued liabilities (4,391 )   (2,626 )
Unearned income (305 )    
Deferred rent and other 59     (138 )
Net cash used in operating activities (38,445 )   (39,738 )
Investing activities:      
Purchases of property and equipment (2,871 )   (1,952 )
Payments received on note receivable 300     800  
Net cash used in investing activities (2,571 )   (1,152 )
Financing activities:      
Repurchase of common stock (318 )   (10,279 )
Proceeds from stock option exercises 1      
Taxes paid for net share settlement of share-based awards (460 )   (282 )
Principal payments under long-term financing obligation (16 )   (16 )
Cash dividends paid (8,123 )    
Net cash used in financing activities (8,916 )   (10,577 )
       
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 7     (58 )
       
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (49,925 )   (51,525 )
       
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 86,542     91,186  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 36,617     $ 39,661  
   
  Year to date ended
  July 3,   July 5,
2016 2015
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:      
Cash paid for income taxes $ 2,546     $ 3,020  
Non-cash investing and financing activities:      
Unsettled repurchases of common stock $     $ 268  
               
Contact:

Blue Nile, Inc.
Nancy Shipp, 206.388.3626 (Investors)
nancys@bluenile.com
or
Josh Holland, 206.336.6773 (Media)
joshh@bluenile.com

08/08/2016 16:05

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