ATLANTA, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES, INC. (NYSE: HVT; HVT.A) today reported earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006. Net income for the third quarter was $4.1 million or $0.18 per diluted share of Common Stock, as compared to the third quarter 2005 net income of $3.8 million or $0.17 per diluted share of Common Stock. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net income was $12.8 million or $0.56 per diluted share of Common Stock versus net income of $8.3 million or $0.36 per diluted share of Common Stock for the same period in 2005. As previously reported, net sales for the third quarter of 2006 were $222.9 million, an increase of 10.3% over sales of $202.0 million for the corresponding quarter in 2005. Comparable-store sales increased 8.2% for the quarter. Clarence H. Smith, president and chief executive officer, said, "Our third quarter results reflect strong sales and gross profit relative to last year, tempered by increased costs and much lower other income. Sales were helped by better in-stock levels and a reduction in the time to complete home delivery after a customer's purchase. Gross profit margin was 135 basis points better than last year due to the strength of our product line-up but 32 basis points lower than achieved for the second quarter this year. The sequential quarter reduction was influenced by the closing of two stores and the sell through of clearance merchandise. "Total SG&A expenses were up 44 basis points as a percent of net sales compared to the third quarter last year. Our increased sales productivity leveraged expenses in advertising, warehouse, occupancy and administrative areas. Selling expenses were up for the current quarter as compared to the third quarter of last year as the volume financed by customers under outsourced no-interest credit promotions grew and the discount rates we pay increased in this higher interest rate environment. The total discount expense for these promotions increased by 73 basis points as a percent of sales for the quarter compared to last year. We also had an increase in local delivery expense in the current quarter as compared to last year due to labor costs and the higher fuel prices in effect for most of the period. These delivery expenses were comparable to the second quarter as a percent of net sales. "Last year's results for the quarter included a $2.6 million gain on the sale of real estate which was included in the other income line item. "We opened two new stores in August this year. One was our first store in the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida area, located near the Sawgrass Mills Mall. The other was in Cedar Hill, a southern suburb of Dallas, Texas that replaced an older store in the Redbird shopping area. Our Texarkana, Texas store was also closed during the quarter. Today we are opening an additional store in the greater Cincinnati market area located in Florence, Kentucky. No other openings or closings are planned for the fourth quarter. "We have separately just announced a decrease in sales for October compared to last year. Retail furniture sales as reported by many of the industry participants have shown a definite slowdown in recent months that appears to be continuing. We are cautious about making changes other than minor ones to our pricing and promotional plans but will review opportunities to increase top line growth if it helps overall profitability. Given the slow start in October, we believe total fourth quarter sales are likely to be below last year. Our policy is not to give specific earnings guidance; however, we expect that fourth quarter gross profit margins and overhead expense levels will be similar to the run rates experienced in the third quarter. "We believe that our investment in the Havertys Collections(R) brand, together with our reputation as a quality retailer, will serve us well as we weather any temporary soft business climate in our space and will allow us to reap benefits as trends improve in the future." Havertys is a full-service home furnishings retailer with 120 showrooms in 17 states in the Southern and Midwestern regions providing its customers with a wide selection of quality merchandise in middle- to upper-middle price ranges. Additional information is available on the Company's website at http://www.havertys.com/. News releases include forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that might cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, the consumer spending environment for large ticket items, competition in the retail furniture industry and other uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. The company will sponsor a conference call Friday, November 3, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to review the third quarter. Listen-only access to the call is available via the web at http://www.havertys.com/ (For Investors) and at streetevents.com (Individual Investor Center), both live and for a limited time, on a replay basis. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Amounts in thousands except per share data) (Unaudited) Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2006 2005 2006 2005 Net sales $222,940 $202,044 $643,063 $602,071 Cost of goods sold 113,892 105,947 325,349 315,746 Gross profit 109,048 96,097 317,714 286,325 Credit service charges 682 837 2,135 2,702 Gross profit and other revenue 109,730 96,934 319,849 289,027 Expenses: Selling, general and administrative 103,774 93,154 300,897 276,827 Interest, net (206) 166 (144) 1,464 Provision for doubtful accounts 151 152 268 668 Other (income) expense, net (100) (2,645) (1,337) (3,084) Total expenses 103,619 90,827 299,684 275,875 Income before income taxes 6,111 6,107 20,165 13,152 Income taxes 1,975 2,291 7,335 4,852 Net income $4,136 $3,816 $12,830 $8,300 Basic earnings per share: Common Stock $0.18 $0.17 $0.58 $0.37 Class A Common Stock $0.17 $0.16 $0.54 $0.35 Diluted earnings per share: Common Stock $0.18 $0.17 $0.56 $0.36 Class A Common Stock $0.17 $0.16 $0.54 $0.35 Weighted average shares - basic: Common Stock 18,410 18,278 18,295 18,361 Class A Common Stock 4,237 4,306 4,259 4,311 Weighted average shares - assuming dilution(1): Common Stock 22,807 22,652 22,715 22,860 Class A Common Stock 4,237 4,306 4,259 4,311 Cash dividends per common share: Common Stock $0.0675 $0.0625 $0.2025 $0.1875 Class A Common Stock $0.0625 $0.0575 $0.1875 $0.1725 (1) See additional details at the end of this release. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) September December September 30, 31, 30, 2006 2005 2005 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $8,630 $11,121 $8,188 Accounts receivable, net of allowance 62,413 80,716 84,806 Inventories, at LIFO cost 118,087 107,631 108,928 Other current assets 25,841 21,703 22,901 Total Current Assets 214,971 221,171 224,823 Accounts receivable, long-term 12,232 10,394 7,724 Property and equipment, net 219,881 217,391 215,371 Other assets 9,471 14,096 7,854 $456,555 $463,052 $455,772 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Notes payable to banks $-- $4,300 $-- Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 101,964 113,363 112,969 Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations 13,291 13,139 13,253 Total Current Liabilities 115,255 130,802 126,222 Long-term debt and capital lease obligations 26,022 31,022 35,407 Other liabilities 24,441 21,958 19,659 Stockholders' equity 290,837 279,270 274,484 $456,555 $463,052 $455,772 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 2005 Operating Activities Net Income $12,830 $8,300 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 16,092 15,781 Provision for doubtful accounts 268 669 Deferred income taxes 293 206 (Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment (1,178) (2,570) Other 802 897 Changes in operating assets and liabilities (2,698) (2,388) Net cash provided by operating activities 26,409 20,895 Investing Activities Capital expenditures (17,968) (27,290) Proceeds from sale of auction rate securities - 5,000 Proceeds from sale of land, property and equipment 3,651 7,185 Other investing activities 215 1,490 Net cash used in investing activities (14,102) (13,615) Financing Activities Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facilities 543,605 367,850 Payments of borrowings under revolving credit facilities (547,905) (367,850) Net decrease in borrowings under revolving credit facilities (4,300) - Payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations (8,114) (15,838) Treasury stock acquired - (3,811) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 2,026 605 Dividends paid (4,506) (4,185) Other 96 - Net cash used in financing activities (14,798) (23,229) Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (2,491) (15,949) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 11,121 24,137 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $8,630 $8,188 Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation. Prior to December 31, 2005, cash on hand in depository bank accounts and checks outstanding for disbursing bank accounts were both classified as cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheets and statements of cash flows. At December 31, 2005 and all prior periods, checks outstanding for disbursing bank accounts have been reclassified to accounts payable. For balance sheet and statement of cash flow purposes, the amount of checks outstanding for disbursing bank accounts reclassified from cash and cash equivalents to accounts payable totaled approximately $7.4 million at September 30, 2005. Earnings per Share The following details how the number of shares in calculating the diluted earnings per share for Common Stock are derived under SFAS 128 and EITF 03-6 (shares in thousands): Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended September 30 September 30 2006 2005 2006 2005 Common Stock: Weighted-average shares outstanding 18,410 18,278 18,295 18,361 Assumed conversion of Class A Common shares 4,237 4,306 4,259 4,311 Dilutive options and stock awards 160 68 161 188 Total weighted-average diluted common shares 22,807 22,652 22,715 22,860 The amount of earnings used in calculating diluted earnings per share of Common Stock is equal to net income since the Class A shares are assumed to be converted. Diluted earnings per share of Class A Common Stock includes the effect of dilutive common stock options and awards which reduces the amount of undistributed earnings allocated to the Class A Common Stock. Contact: Dennis L. Fink, EVP & CFO or Jenny Hill Parker, VP, Secretary & Treasurer 404-443-2900 DATASOURCE: Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. CONTACT: Dennis L. Fink, EVP & CFO, or Jenny Hill Parker, VP, Secretary & Treasurer, both of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., +1-404-443-2900 Web site: http://www.havertys.com/ http://www.streetevents.com/

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