Bassett Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results

/EIN News/ -- BASSETT, Va., Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: BSET) reported today its results of operations for its fourth quarter ended November 30, 2024.

Q4 Consolidated Business Highlights: [FY 24 vs. FY 23, unless otherwise specified]

• Revenues decreased 11%.
• Operating income of $0.9 million, which included a $1.0 million charge related to the realization of cumulative translation losses associated with the wind-down of Noa Home Inc. and a $0.4 million restructuring charge for previously announced workforce reductions.
• Gross margin of 56.6%, driven primarily by improved margins in the wholesale segment.
• Recorded a $2.6 million tax benefit related to the capital loss associated with our cumulative investment in Noa Home Inc. in 2022.
• Diluted earnings per share of $0.38 vs. a loss of $0.47.
• Generated $6.4 million of operating cash flow.

Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter Overview
(Dollars in millions)

	Sales											Operating Income (Loss)
	4th Qtr					Dollar			%			4th Qtr			% of			4th Qtr			% of
	2024			2023		Change			Change				2024		Sales				2023		Sales
Consolidated (1)	$	84.3	$	94.7		$	(10.4	)	-11.0	%		$	0.9		1.1	%		$	(4.5	)	-4.8	%
Wholesale	$	52.3	$	60.6		$	(8.3	)	-13.7	%		$	8.5		16.3	%		$	8.4		13.9	%
Retail	$	53.1	$	57.9		$	(4.8	)	-8.3	%		$	0.1		0.2	%		$	0.2		0.3	%
Corporate & Other (2)	$	1.0	$	1.8		$	(0.8	)	-44.4	%		$	(7.0	)	N/A			$	(7.8	)	N/A
(1) Our consolidated results for the quarter include certain intercompany eliminations as well as a a $1.0 million charge for the realization of cumulative translation losses and a $0.4 million restructuring charge which are not allocated to our segment operating results.
See Table 4, "Segment Information" below for an illustration of the effects of these items on our consolidated sales and operating income.
(2) Corporate and Other includes the operations of Noa Home Inc. along with the shared Corporate costs that are benefiting both the Wholesale and Retail segments.

"The steps we took in our restructuring plan helped right-size our business and we returned to profitability in the fourth quarter," said Robert H. Spilman, Jr., Bassett Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We delivered strong consolidated gross margins and $0.38 in diluted earnings per share. Our team remains focused on operating efficiency, leveraging our cost structure and running a leaner business. We're driving newness and innovation into Bassett's product lines, e-commerce and marketing to deliver price and value for customers. We are well-positioned for the eventual housing industry turnaround and will focus on growth and productivity until it does."

Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its quarterly results on January 30, 2025, at 9:00 am ET. The public is invited to listen to the conference call by webcast, accessible through the Company’s investor relations website, https://investors.bassettfurniture.com/. Participants can also listen to the conference call via https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4t38wrd6. A replay and transcript of the conference call will be available on demand on the investor relations site.

About Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.
Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: BSET) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-quality home furnishings. With 87 company- and licensee-owned stores at the time of this release, Bassett leverages its strong brand name in furniture into a network of corporate and licensed stores that focus on providing consumers with a friendly environment for buying furniture and accessories. Bassett’s retail strategy includes stylish, custom-built furniture that features the latest on-trend furniture styles, free in-home design visits, and coordinated decorating accessories. Bassett also has more than 700 traditional wholesale accounts on the open market, across the United States and internationally. For more information, visit the Company’s website at https://www.bassettfurniture.com/. (BSET-E)

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements in this release, particularly those preceded by, followed by or including the words “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “should,” “estimates,” or similar expressions, or those relating to or anticipating financial results or changes in operations for periods beyond the end of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024, constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. For those statements, Bassett claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In many cases, Bassett cannot predict what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Expectations included in the forward-looking statements are based on preliminary information, as well as certain assumptions which management believes to be reasonable at this time. The following important factors affect Bassett and could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements: the effects of national and global economic or other conditions and future events on the retail demand for home furnishings and the ability of Bassett’s customers and consumers to obtain credit; the success of marketing, logistics, retail and other initiatives; and the economic, competitive, governmental and other factors identified in Bassett’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement that Bassett makes speaks only as of the date of such statement, and Bassett undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indication of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

Contacts:
J. Michael Daniel
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(276) 629-6614 – Investors
mdaniel@bassettfurniture.com

Peter D. Morrison
Vice President of Communications
(276) 629-6450 – Media

Table 1
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - unaudited
(In thousands, except for per share data)
	Quarter Ended										Year Ended*
	November 30, 2024					November 25, 2023					November 30, 2024					November 25, 2023
	Amount			Percent of Net Sales		Amount			Percent of Net Sales		Amount			Percent of Net Sales		Amount			Percent of Net Sales
Net sales of furniture and accessories	$	84,340		100.0%		$	94,702		100.0%		$	329,923		100.0%		$	390,136		100.0%
Cost of furniture and accessories sold		36,645		43.4%			43,288		45.7%			150,508		45.6%			183,648		47.1%
Gross profit		47,695		56.6%			51,414		54.3%			179,415		54.4%			206,488		52.9%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		45,386		53.8%			50,518		53.3%			187,527		56.8%			205,227		52.6%
Asset impairment charges		-		0.0%			-		0.0%			5,515		1.7%
Loss on contract abandonment		-		0.0%			-		0.0%			1,240		0.4%			-		0.0%
Loss upon realization of cumulative translation adjustment		962		1.1%			-		0.0%			962		0.3%			-		0.0%
Restructuring charges		440		0.5%								440		0.1%
Goodwill impairment charge		-		0.0%			5,409		5.7%			-		0.0%			5,409		1.4%
Gain on revaluation of contingent consideration		-		0.0%			-		0.0%			-		0.0%			1,013		2.1%
Income (loss) from operations		907		1.1%			(4,513	)	-4.8%			(16,269	)	-4.9%			(3,135	)	-0.8%
Interest income		598		0.7%			883		0.9%			2,673		0.8%			2,528		0.6%
Other loss, net		(285	)	-0.3%			(500	)	-0.5%			(774	)	-0.2%			(1,881	)	-0.5%
Income (loss) before income taxes		1,220		1.4%			(4,130	)	-4.4%			(14,370	)	-4.4%			(2,488	)	-0.6%
Income tax expense (benefit)		(1,984	)	-2.4%			(28	)	-0.0%			(4,675	)	-1.4%			683		0.2%
Net income (loss)		3,204		3.8%			(4,102	)	-4.3%			(9,695	)	-2.9%			(3,171	)	-0.8%
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.38				$	(0.47	)			$	(1.11	)			$	(0.36	)
*53 weeks in fiscal 2024 versus 52 weeks in fiscal 2023.

Table 2
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
		(Unaudited)
Assets		November 30, 2024			November 25, 2023
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	39,551		$	52,407
Short-term investments			20,360			17,775
Accounts receivable, net			13,181			13,736
Inventories, net			54,965			62,982
Recoverable income taxes			4,240			2,574
Other current assets			9,242			8,480
Total current assets			141,539			157,954
Property and equipment, net			77,047			83,981
Other long-term assets
Deferred income taxes, net			6,867			4,645
Goodwill and other intangible assets			14,185			16,067
Right of use assets under operating leases			93,624			100,888
Other			7,908			6,889
Total long-term assets			122,584			128,489
Total assets		$	341,170		$	370,424
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	13,303		$	16,338
Accrued compensation and benefits			6,898			8,934
Customer deposits			25,742			22,788
Current portion of operating lease obligations			18,050			18,827
Other accrued expenses			9,410			11,003
Total current liabilities			73,403			77,890
Long-term liabilities
Post employment benefit obligations			10,882			10,207
Long-term portion of operating lease obligations			88,395			97,357
Other long-term liabilities			1,163			1,529
Total long-term liabilities			100,440			109,093
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock			43,681			43,842
Retained earnings			122,847			139,354
Additional paid-in-capital			6			93
Accumulated other comprehensive income			793			152
Total stockholders' equity			167,327			183,441
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	341,170		$	370,424

Table 3
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - unaudited
(In thousands)
		Year Ended*
		November 30, 2024				November 25, 2023
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)		$	(9,695	)		$	(3,171	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			9,918				10,141
Non-cash asset impairment charges			5,515				-
Non-cash goodwill impairment charges			-				5,409
Net loss on sale of property and equipment			7				5
Gain on revaluation of contingent consideration			-				(1,013	)
Inventory valuation charges			5,001				4,626
Deferred income taxes			(2,442	)			831
Other, net			2,277				2,031
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			555				4,102
Inventories			3,016				17,869
Other current and long-term assets			(2,427	)			1,773
Right of use assets under operating leases			17,254				18,680
Customer deposits			2,954				(13,175	)
Accounts payable and other liabilities			(7,246	)			(9,188	)
Obligations under operating leases			(20,637	)			(20,196	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			4,050				18,724
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(5,211	)			(17,489	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			-				500
Proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations, net			-				1,000
Investment in certificates of deposit			(2,585	)			(60	)
Other			(972	)			(1,714	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(8,768	)			(17,763	)
Financing activities:
Cash dividends			(6,654	)			(5,982	)
Other issuance of common stock			371				318
Repurchases of common stock			(1,420	)			(4,176	)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards			(161	)			(109	)
Repayments of finance lease obligations			(253	)			(278	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(8,117	)			(10,227	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(21	)			48
Change in cash and cash equivalents			(12,856	)			(9,218	)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period			52,407				61,625
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period		$	39,551			$	52,407
*53 weeks in fiscal 2024 versus 52 weeks in fiscal 2023.

Table 4
BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Segment Information - unaudited
(In thousands)
		Quarter Ended				Year Ended*
		November 30, 2024		November 25, 2023		November 30, 2024		November 25, 2023
Sales Revenue
Wholesale sales of furniture and accessories		$ 52,324		$ 60,593		$ 207,462		$ 248,911
Less: Sales to retail segment		(22,054)		(25,587)		(87,021)		(103,519)
Wholesale sales to external customers		30,270		35,006		120,441		145,392
Retail sales of furniture and accessories		53,085		57,936		204,563		235,940
Corporate & Other - Noa Home (1)		985		1,760		4,919		8,804
Consolidated net sales of furniture and accessories		$ 84,340		$ 94,702		$ 329,923		$ 390,136
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes
Income (Loss) from Operations
Wholesale		$ 8,471		$ 8,360		$ 25,357		$ 30,699
Retail		70		215		(6,604)		(536)
Net expenses - Corporate and other (1)		(6,956)		(7,786)		(28,456)		(29,926)
Inter-company elimination		724		107		1,591		1,024
Asset impairment charges		-		-		(5,515)		-
Loss on contract abandonment		-		-		(1,240)		-
Loss upon realization of cumulative translation adjustment		(962)		-		(962)		-
Restructuring charges		(440)		-		(440)		-
Gain on revaluation of contingent consideration		-		-		-		1,013
Goodwill impairment charge		-		(5,409)		-		(5,409)
Consolidated income (loss) from operations		907		(4,513)		(16,269)		(3,135)
Interest income		598		883		2,673		2,528
Other loss, net		(285)		(500)		(774)		(1,881)
Consolidated income (loss) before income taxes		$ 1,220		$ (4,130)		$ (14,370)		$ (2,488)
*53 weeks in fiscal 2024 versus 52 weeks in fiscal 2023.
(1) Corporate and Other includes the operations of Noa Home Inc. along with the shared Corporate costs that are benefiting both the Wholesale and Retail segments.