Ethan Allen(US:ETD)2026-01-28 23:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net sales for the second quarter were $149.9 million, impacted by lower consumer confidence and traffic due to the government shutdown, with retail written orders declining by 17.9% and wholesaler orders down 19.3% year-over-year [7][10] - Consolidated gross margin improved to 60.9%, up 60 basis points from the previous year, attributed to a favorable sales mix and reduced headcount [8][10] - Adjusted operating income was $13.5 million, with an operating margin of 9%, compared to 5.4% in the same quarter of 2019 [8][9] - Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.44, with an effective tax rate of 25.3% [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail written orders experienced a decline of 17.9%, while wholesaler orders decreased by 19.3%, reflecting a challenging comparison to the previous year [7][10] - The wholesale backlog at the end of the quarter was $49.8 million, influenced by a lower volume of contract orders [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Design center traffic declined by 11%, contributing to the overall decrease in demand [7] - Positive written order growth was observed in January, indicating a potential recovery in consumer behavior [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to strengthen its vertically integrated structure, focusing on product development, marketing, and logistics [14][16] - Approximately 75% of furniture is manufactured in North America, providing a competitive advantage and mitigating tariff exposure [12][13] - Increased marketing spend by 25%, primarily in digital media, is expected to yield future benefits despite not fully impacting the second quarter [15][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the government shutdown significantly impacted results, but there are signs of recovery with improved traffic and orders in January [5][20] - The company is optimistic about maintaining strong gross margins due to disciplined expense management and operational improvements [22] Other Important Information - The company has a robust balance sheet with total cash and investments of $179.3 million and no debt [10][11] - A quarterly cash dividend of $10 million was declared, reflecting the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Retail written orders trends during the quarter - Management indicated that retail written orders averaged a decrease of 18% during the quarter, with a stronger start in October that decelerated due to the government shutdown and tough prior year comparisons [18][19] Question: Improvement in contract side of the business post-government shutdown - Management confirmed that new orders are coming in, albeit at a lower rate than the previous year, with a gradual increase observed [20] Question: Sustainability of gross margins moving forward - Management expressed confidence in maintaining gross margins due to improvements in talent and technology across operations [22] Question: Impact of tariffs and mitigation strategies - Management outlined a three-pronged approach to mitigate tariff impacts, including vendor cost sharing, sourcing diversification, and selective retail price increases [29][30] Question: January trends and consumer behavior - Management attributed improved trends in January to returning consumer confidence and effective engagement by interior designers [33] Question: Future marketing spend and its effectiveness - Management plans to continue focusing on digital marketing while reducing spending in other areas, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changing marketing mediums [36]