Rocky Brands(RCKY) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Reported net sales for Q1 increased 1.1% year over year to $114.1 million, slightly ahead of expectations [17] - Retail sales increased 20.5% to $36.6 million, while wholesale sales decreased by 6.3% to $74.8 million [18] - Gross profit for Q1 was $47 million, representing 41.2% of sales, the highest gross margin reported in Q1 [18] - Adjusted net income for Q1 was $5.5 million or $0.73 per diluted share, compared to $3.1 million or $0.41 per diluted share a year ago [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The XTRA TUF brand experienced double-digit growth, with bookings up approximately 80% versus last year [8] - MUC brand saw better-than-expected growth, particularly in the women's segment, with double-digit increases [9] - Rocky work category delivered the strongest performance, while Rocky Outdoor returned to growth with a single-digit increase [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The retail segment showed healthy demand, particularly in the B2B Lehigh business, which saw high teens sales growth [14] - Direct-to-consumer business grew faster than Lehigh, driven by marketplace volumes [15] - Wholesale sales were impacted by a planned reduction in commercial military sales, contributing to the overall decline [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to implement price increases on most footwear styles in response to higher tariffs [6] - Efforts are being made to reduce sourcing from China, with a goal to have less than 20% of total volume from China by year-end [27] - The company is leveraging its manufacturing facilities in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to mitigate tariff impacts [37] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a higher degree of uncertainty for the remainder of the year but expressed confidence in maintaining financial targets [16] - The company is well-positioned to navigate current challenges due to its diversified sourcing structure and strong brand portfolio [6] - Management noted that consumer demand has not shown signs of panic despite economic uncertainties [34] Other Important Information - Interest expense decreased significantly to $2.4 million from $4.5 million year over year due to lower interest rates from refinancing [19] - Inventory levels increased by 6.3% year over year, reflecting proactive measures taken in anticipation of tariff impacts [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the guidance and the migration out of China? - Management indicated a strong inventory position allowing them to navigate tariff impacts and transition sourcing out of China effectively [26][27] Question: What are wholesale partners saying about consumer ability to absorb price increases? - Management noted that retail partners are cautiously optimistic, with no significant panic from consumers regarding price increases [34] Question: How are pricing increases being planned? - The company is focused on preserving gross profit dollars while implementing price increases to offset higher costs [46][47] Question: What is the capacity shift to third-party manufacturers in Vietnam, India, and Cambodia? - Management confirmed that approximately 90-92% of products have found new homes, with ongoing efforts to transition remaining capacity [56]