Callaway Golf Reports Record First Half Sales

July 25, 2001 at 12:00 AM EDT

Quarter Results | Statement of Operations  | Balance Sheet

CARLSBAD, Calif./ July 25, 2001/ Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) today reported second quarter and six months operating results for the period ended June 30, 2001.

Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2001 increased 6% to a record $515.0 million, compared to $487.3 million during the same period in 2000. Net income during the period increased 9% to $61.1 million from $56.3 million for the comparable period last year, and earnings per diluted share increased 6% to $0.83 per diluted share from $0.78 per diluted share for the comparable period last year. Excluding a non-cash charge related to a long-term energy supply contract, Callaway Golf's net income for the first six months increased 20% to $67.3 million, and diluted earnings per share increased 17% to $0.91.

"We are pleased to announce a record first half of the year given today's challenging worldwide economic environment," said Ron Drapeau, President and CEO of Callaway Golf. "In particular, we are pleased with first half earnings growth of 9% in contrast to industry trends. Given the current environment, I believe the sales and earnings growth are testaments to our products, brand strength, and team of managers and employees."

Second quarter net sales declined 13% to $253.7 million from $289.9 million during the same quarter in 2000. Net income during the quarter declined 39% to $27.0 million from $44.2 million the previous year. Second quarter 2001 diluted earnings per share decreased 41% to $0.36 from $0.61 in the same period last year. Excluding the non-cash energy supply contract charge, Callaway Golf's net income decreased 25% to $33.2 million and diluted earnings per share decreased 28% to $0.44.

Callaway Golf entered into a long-term energy supply contract during the second quarter to manage its electricity costs in light of uncertainty in the California energy market. Accounting rules mandate the value of such contracts be adjusted based on current market rates and any resulting gain or loss be recorded as either income or expense. During the quarter, Callaway Golf recorded a non-cash expense of $6.2 million after-tax or $0.08 per diluted share, as a result of fluctuating electricity rates. The Company may report non-cash income or expense charges in the future as California's underlying energy prices fluctuate in relation to the contract price.

"Our second quarter results were in line with our guidance," continued Mr. Drapeau. "While our international business remains solid, our consolidated results were negatively impacted by the strong U.S. dollar relative to other currencies. When measured in constant dollars, our first half net income increased 25% from last year. Furthermore, we believe our inventories, both domestically and internationally, are well controlled and will allow us to capitalize on sales opportunities as industry conditions improve."

Mr. Drapeau added, "Our strategic initiatives into the golf ball business and direct sales in Japan continue to trend positively. The May launch of our CB1™ two piece golf ball was very well received by retailers and consumers, resulting in a 12% U.S. market share in its price category. Combined with sales of our Rule 35® golf balls, our golf ball sales in the first half of 2001 nearly equaled all of 2000. We also remain pleased with our decision to invest in our Japanese subsidiary, which posted a 32% year-over-year sales increase during the first six months of 2001 despite the weak yen. This increase partially offset sales declines in Europe and the rest of Asia. We continue executing on our business and brand strategies with an eye toward maintaining our market-leading position, while exploring reasonable growth and expansion opportunities."

* Six month net sales of $515 million by product category and region were as follows:

  • Metal woods sales increased 19% to $279 million
  • Irons sales decreased 25% to $136 million
  • Golf ball sales increased 95% to $32 million
  • Putters, accessories, and other sales increased 26% to $68 million
  • U.S. market sales increased 7% to $287 million
  • International sales increased 4% to $228 million (in constant dollars, international sales increased 14% to $250 million)
* Second quarter net sales of $254 million by product category and region were as follows:
  • Metal woods sales decreased 11% to $126 million
  • Irons sales decreased 32% to $72 million
  • Golf ball sales increased 97% to $21 million
  • Putters, accessories, and other sales increased 8% to $35 million
  • U.S. market sales decreased 10% to $140 million
  • International sales decreased 16% to $114 million (in constant dollars, international sales decreased 7% to $126 million)


* Prior year amounts have been restated to reflect the Company's current year presentation including the adoption of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 and Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-10.

Second quarter gross margin as a percent of net sales increased to 52% versus 50% for the same period last year. This improvement was primarily attributable to higher golf club and golf ball margins resulting from lower production costs and a more favorable product mix.

Selling and tour expenses for the second quarter were $54.1 million (21% of net sales), compared to $48.0 million (17% of net sales) in 2000. This increase was primarily due to higher marketing costs associated with new product launches, additional advertising, the rollout of the new fitting cart systems and store-in-store project, and other demand creation initiatives.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2001 were $20.6 million (8% of net sales), compared to $17.6 million (6% of net sales) in 2000. This increase was primarily due to higher employee compensation and legal expenses, partially offset by a decrease in depreciation expense.

"We are encouraged by our gross margin improvement during the second quarter," stated Brad Holiday, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Our gross margins have expanded as we leverage our manufacturing costs and improve golf ball profitability. While we are pleased with our profitability improvement, we are pursuing strategies to improve our financial performance even further. In addition, our ability to ship new products early in 2001 had the expected effect of increasing overall sales in the first half of the year."

During the second quarter, the Company repurchased 1,022,200 of its shares at an average cost of $19.07 per share completing the original $100 million repurchase authorization granted by the Board in May 2000. The program resulted in the repurchase of a total of 5,837,441 shares at an average price of $17.13.

In accordance with the Company's dividend practice for 2001, the dividend for the second quarter will be determined by the Board of Directors at its meeting in August 2001.


BUSINESS OUTLOOK

In light of SEC Regulations, the Company elects to provide certain forward-looking information in this press release. These statements are based on current information and expectations, and actual results may differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this information. See further disclaimer below.

Full Year 2001

The Company estimates:

  • Expected net sales for the year of approximately $830 - $840 million
  • Expected gross margins for the year of approximately 50% of net sales
  • Expected pre-tax profit for the year of approximately 15% of net sales
  • Expected earnings per diluted share for the year of approximately $1.00 - $1.05


"This guidance for the remainder of 2001 assumes that current industry trends will continue," concluded Mr. Holiday. "Obviously, this guidance is subject to change depending upon economic, competitive, and other market conditions, including fluctuations in foreign currencies as compared to the dollar."

 

*****

The Company will be holding a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT today, which will be hosted by Ron Drapeau, CEO and President, and Brad Holiday, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed at http://www.callawaygolf.com. To listen to the call, please go to the web site at least 15 minutes before the call to register and for instructions on how to access the broadcast. Those wishing to listen via telephone should call (877) 356-4615 for US/Canada participants and (706) 643-0832 for International/Local participants prior to the start of the call and ask to be connected to the Callaway Golf Earnings Release call. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the call ends through 5:00 p.m. PDT, on July 27, 2001 by calling (800) 642-1687 for US/Canada participants and (706) 645-9291 for International/Local participants. You will be asked to enter the Conference ID #1349208 for the replay only. You may also access it via our home page at http://www.callawaygolf.com.

*****


Disclaimer: Statements used in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results or performance, including statements in the Business Outlook section of this press release relating to the Company's future prospects, and estimated revenues, margins, profitability and earnings, are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon current information and expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to market acceptance of current and future products, including the Company's golf ball products and the Company's new golf club products (not all of which conform to USGA rules), adverse weather conditions and seasonality, adverse market and economic conditions, competitive pressures, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, delays, difficulties or increased costs in the manufacturing of the Company's golf club or ball products, or in the procurement of materials or resources needed to manufacture the Company's golf club or ball products (including business interruptions or increased costs resulting from power outages or shortages), and any actions taken by the USGA or other golf association that could have an adverse impact upon demand for the Company's products (such as the USGA's announcement that scores in rounds played with clubs that do not conform to USGA rules such as the Company's ERCâ II Forged Titanium Driver may not be posted for USGA handicap purposes). For additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, see Part I, Item 2 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K subsequently filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

* * * * *

Callaway Golf Company makes and sells Big Bertha® Metal Woods and Irons, including Big Bertha ERC® II Forged Titanium Drivers, Big Bertha Hawk Eye® VFT™ and Big Bertha Hawk Eye VFT Pro Series Titanium Drivers and Fairway Woods, Big Bertha Steelhead Plus™ Stainless Steel Drivers and Fairway Woods, Hawk Eye Tungsten Injected™ Titanium Irons, Steelhead™ X-14® and Steelhead X-14 Pro Series Stainless Steel Irons. Callaway Golf Company also makes and sells Odyssey® Putters, including White Hot®, TriHot™, and Dual Force® Putters. Callaway Golf Company makes and sells the Callaway Golf® Rule 35® Firmfeel™ and Softfeel™ golf balls, and the CB1™ Red and CB1 Blue golf balls. For more information about Callaway Golf Company, please visit our Web sites at www.callawaygolf.com and www.odysseygolf.com.


 

| Quarter Results  |  Statement of Income | Balance Sheet  |

 
                             
Callaway Golf Company
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
 
        June 30,     June 30,  
        2001     2000     2001     2000  
 
Net sales $ 253,655 100%   $ 289,922 100%   $515,021 100%   $487,328 100%
Cost of goods sold 121,719 48%   145,415 50%   246,177 48%   254,556 52%
Gross profit 131,936 52%   144,507 50%   268,844 52%   232,772 48%
 
Operating expenses:                      
  Selling 54,131 21%   47,990 17%   107,377 21%   90,740 19%
  General and administrative 20,586 8%   17,614 6%   40,436 8%   35,121 7%
  Research and development 8,444 4%   8,132 3%   17,378 3%   16,349 3%
Income from operations 48,775 19%   70,771 24%   103,653 20%   90,562 19%
 
Other (expense) income, net (3,557)     2,141     (2,627)     3,726  
 
Income before income taxes                      
  and cumulative effect of accounting change 45,218 18%   72,912 25%   101,026 20%   94,288 19%
Income tax provision 18,243     28,723     39,976     37,001  
 
Income before cumulative effect of                      
  accounting change 26,975 11%   44,189 15%   61,050 12%   57,287 12%
Cumulative effect of accounting change             (957)  
 
Net income $ 26,975 11%   $ 44,189 15%   $ 61,050 12%   $ 56,330 12%
 
 
Earnings per common share:                      
  Basic                      
    Income before cumulative effect of                      
      accounting change $0.38     $0.63     $0.86     $0.80  
    Cumulative effect of accounting change             (0.01)  
    Net income $0.38     $0.63     $0.86     $0.79  
 
  Diluted                      
    Income before cumulative effect of                      
      accounting change $0.36     $0.61     $0.83     $0.79  
    Cumulative effect of accounting change             (0.01)  
    Net income $0.36     $0.61     $0.83     $0.78  
 
Common equivalent shares:                      
  Basic 71,490     70,693     70,754     70,946  
  Diluted 74,777     72,686     73,619     72,584  
| Quarter Results  |  Statement of Income | Balance Sheet  |

 

 
             
Callaway Golf Company
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet
(In thousands)
        June 30,   December 31,
        2001   2000
ASSETS (unaudited)    
Current assets:      
  Cash and cash equivalents $ 131,831   $ 102,596
  Accounts receivable, net 141,936   58,836
  Inventories, net 138,810   133,962
  Deferred taxes 24,773   29,354
  Other current assets 14,452   17,721
  Total current assets 451,802   342,469
 
Property, plant and equipment, net 132,611   134,712
Intangible assets, net 124,441   112,824
Other assets 37,402   40,929
        $ 746,256   $ 630,934
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY      
Current liabilities:      
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 56,187   $ 44,173
  Accrued employee compensation and benefits 29,709   22,574
  Accrued warranty expense 38,212   39,363
  Income taxes payable   3,196
  Total current liabilities 124,108   109,306
 
Long-term liabilities 21,520   9,884
 
Shareholders' equity 600,628   511,744
        $ 746,256   $ 630,934