Haverty Furniture(US:HVT)2026-02-24 16:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q4 2025 were $201.9 million, an increase of 9.5%, with comparable sales up 8.2% [3][4] - Gross margins for Q4 were 60.4%, down from 61.9% the previous year, with LIFO charges of $3.9 million impacting results [3][4] - Pre-tax income for Q4 was $10.8 million, resulting in earnings of $0.51 per share, compared to $0.49 per share in the same quarter last year [4][16] - For the full year 2025, net sales were $759 million, up 5%, with comparable sales up 2.1% [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The design business accounted for 33.3% of sales, driven by a 14.8% increase in upholstery special orders [5] - Average ticket for Q4 increased by 10.9% to $3,759, with design average ticket growing 11.9% to $8,072 [5][6] - Written sales for the year were up 2.8%, with comparable sales up 0.7% [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Traffic for Q4 ended with a decrease in the low single digits, following a positive trend in the previous months [5][6] - The company experienced a mid-single-digit increase in traffic for the full year, with conversion rates showing improvement [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open five new stores in 2026, including its first location in Pennsylvania, while closing one underperforming store [10][11] - Capital expenditures for 2026 are projected to be around $33.5 million, focusing on store growth and remodels [11][19] - The company aims to continue testing new ideas and processes while maintaining organic store growth [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the business rebound in 2025, feeling they hit an inflection point in Q3 with momentum continuing into Q4 [12] - The company is monitoring tariff developments closely, with expectations that gross margins for 2026 will be between 60.5% and 61% [18][19] - Management noted that the recent government shutdown may have impacted consumer behavior and traffic [38] Other Important Information - The company ended Q4 with $125.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and no funded debt [16] - Marketing expenses were down slightly as a percentage of net sales, with plans to keep marketing spend flat in 2026 [10][43] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide details about same-store sales trends throughout the quarter? - Management reported high single-digit growth in October, mid-single-digit growth in November, and low single-digit decline in December [24] Question: What factors are affecting the variable component of SG&A outlook for 2026? - Management indicated that higher selling costs and competitive pressures are expected, but they aim to keep the percentage flat [26][28] Question: How will the evolving tariff environment affect pricing actions? - Management stated they will be deliberate in their approach and will wait to see how the new tariffs impact inventory before making pricing decisions [29] Question: How long will it take to work through current inventory at the previous tariff rate? - Management anticipates it will take the first half of the year to work through the current inventory [36] Question: What changes are being made in the mattress or bedding refresh program? - Management noted improvements in presentation and information for consumers, which have positively impacted sales in tested stores [40][42] Question: What are the expectations for marketing and advertising expenses in 2026? - Management expects marketing spend to remain flat compared to 2025 after increasing it in the previous year [43]