Rocky Brands(US:RCKY)2025-04-29 21:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Reported net sales for Q1 increased 1.1% year over year to $114.1 million, slightly ahead of expectations [18] - Retail sales increased 20.5% to $36.6 million, while wholesale sales decreased by $5 million or 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, compared to 39.1% in the same period last year [19] - 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 [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The rubber boot business, particularly the XTRA TUF brand, experienced strong demand with double-digit growth in Q1 [6][8] - MUC brand also saw better than expected growth, particularly in the women's segment, driven by improved winter weather [10] - The Rocky brand group showed increases in both work and outdoor categories, with Rocky work delivering the strongest performance [12][13] - Georgia Boot faced a softer March due to economic uncertainty, but new product introductions continued to perform well [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail segment saw a 20% top line growth, indicating strong demand across distribution channels [5] - The company is shifting sourcing from China to countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and India, aiming to reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturing [7][28] - The B2B Lehigh business reported high teens sales growth, marking the third consecutive quarter of double-digit gains [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to implement price increases on most footwear styles in response to higher tariffs, while maintaining flexibility to adjust prices based on future changes [7][29] - There is a focus on diversifying sourcing to mitigate tariff impacts, with a goal to reduce product sourced from China to less than 20% by year-end [28] - The company aims to maintain gross profit dollars despite anticipated pressure on gross margins due to tariffs [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged growing macroeconomic uncertainty but expressed confidence in navigating the current retail environment due to a diverse brand portfolio [5][18] - The company reiterated its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting low single-digit revenue growth over 2024 levels [23] - Management noted that consumer demand has not shown panic despite rising prices, indicating a stable retail environment [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 [20][21] - Inventory levels increased by 6.3% year over year, as the company accelerated receipts to mitigate tariff impacts [22] 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 [27][28] 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 [32][34] Question: How much capacity is being shifted to third-party manufacturers in Vietnam and India? - Management stated that approximately 90-92% of products have found new homes, with ongoing efforts to transition the remaining 8% from China [56][57]