Hooker Furniture(US:HOFT)2025-06-12 14:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net sales for the first quarter were $85.3 million, a decrease of $8.3 million or 8.8% compared to the same period last year [4] - Operating loss was reduced by $1.6 million or 31% to $3.6 million, reflecting cost reduction initiatives [4] - Net loss was $3.1 million or $0.29 per diluted share, an improvement from the prior year's net loss of $4.1 million or $0.39 per diluted share [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hooker Branded achieved breakeven for the quarter, with net sales increasing slightly due to higher unit volume [5] - Domestic Upholstery segment saw a net sales decrease of about $1 million or 3.7%, but gross profit increased by $575,000 due to reduced material and labor costs [21] - Home Meridian's net sales decreased by $7.6 million or about 29%, primarily due to a significant reduction in unit volume and the loss of a major customer [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall decrease in consolidated sales was driven primarily by a double-digit sales decrease at HMI, which is positioned in the mid-price segment [5] - Existing home sales remain well below pre-pandemic levels, impacting furniture demand [11] - Furniture retail sales showed modest improvement, with April sales up 5.6% year over year [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is executing a phased cost reduction strategy aimed at achieving approximately $25 million in annualized savings by next fiscal year [13] - A new warehouse facility in Vietnam was opened to enhance supply chain efficiency and reduce lead times [6] - The company is focused on product innovation, cost optimization, and operational excellence to capitalize on emerging opportunities [27] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The home furnishings industry is navigating a challenging environment due to persistent softness in the housing market and higher mortgage rates [11] - Management believes they have successfully mitigated the impact of a 10% tariff through price increases and participation from source factories [12] - The company is optimistic about future growth, with significant increases in orders for Hooker Legacy brands in May [28] Other Important Information - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $18 million, an increase of $11.7 million from year-end, primarily due to accounts receivable collections [22] - The company maintained financial flexibility with about $40 million in available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility [23] - The company announced a regular quarterly dividend, reflecting ongoing confidence in its outlook [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you comment on the cadence of shipments from February through April? - Management noted that the cadence changed drastically due to tariffs, particularly affecting the HMI customer [32] Question: What is driving the higher orders at the Hooker legacy brands in May? - The increase in orders is attributed to a significantly broadened merchandising strategy with Collected Living [35] Question: Any comments on HMI's performance in May and early June? - There is still significant uncertainty due to tariffs, which is affecting performance [36] Question: How did Memorial Day sales go for retail partners? - Overall sentiment was relatively positive for most retailers during Memorial Day [38] Question: Can you provide insights on the cost savings initiatives for the rest of the year? - Expected cost savings from Phase one and Phase two initiatives will ramp up, with significant impacts anticipated in Q4 [44] Question: What are the company's capital allocation priorities? - Strengthening the balance sheet is the top priority, followed by maintaining dividends [45] Question: Will the strong May momentum carry over into the rest of the year? - Management believes the first half will be stronger than the second half, based on historical trends [46]