NELSONVILLE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocky Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCKY) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Overview

• Net sales increased 1.7% to $128.1 million versus the year-ago quarter
• Gross margin increased 120 basis points to 41.5% of net sales compared to 40.3% of net sales in the year-ago quarter
• Income from operations was $8.5 million including a $4.0 million trademark impairment charge compared to $14.7 million in the year-ago quarter
• Net income, inclusive of the trademark impairment charge, was $4.8 million $0.64 per diluted share, compared to $6.7 million, or $0.91 in the year-ago quarter
• Adjusted net income increased 22.7% to $8.9 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, compared to $7.3 million, or $0.98 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter

Full Year 2024 Overview

• Net sales decreased 1.7% to $453.8 million versus the prior year
• Gross margin increased 70 basis points to 39.4% of net sales compared to 38.7% of net sales in the prior year
• Income from operations was $31.1 million compared to $35.4 million in the year-ago period
• Net income was $11.4 million, or $1.52 per diluted share compared to $10.4 million, or $1.41 in the year-ago period
• Adjusted net income was $19.0 million, or $2.54 per diluted share compared to $14.3 million, or $1.93 per diluted share in the year-ago period
• Total debt on December 31, 2024 decreased $44.4 million or 25.7% to $128.7 million year-over-year

“Our sales trends accelerated as the holiday season progressed led by strong consumer demand for our Durango and XTRATUF brands, with particular strength in our direct to consumer channel which fueled our highest ever sales quarter for our Retail reporting segment,” said Jason Brooks, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased with our finish to the year, which included recurring Wholesale sales returning to growth and retail sales increasing over 15% for the fourth quarter. Increased marketing helped fuel our top-line performance as we brought spending back in-line with historical levels after under investing in demand creation in the year ago period. Our fourth quarter momentum has carried into early 2025, providing us with a good start to the year. While the macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, we are cautiously optimistic about our near-term prospects and confident that the substantial reduction in our debt provides us with the financial flexibility to invest in growth and deliver enhanced earnings and greater value for our shareholders.”

Fourth Quarter Review

Fourth quarter net sales increased 1.7% to $128.1 million compared with $126.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, or 8.8% after excluding certain non-recurring sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 following the change to a distributor model in Canada and temporarily elevated commercial military footwear sales to a single customer. Wholesale segment sales for the fourth quarter decreased 5.2% to $81.3 million compared to $85.8 million for the same period in 2023. Excluding the aforementioned non-recurring sales in the fourth quarter of 2023, Wholesale segment sales increased 4.5% compared to the year-ago period. Retail segment sales for the fourth quarter increased 15.3% to $43.6 million compared to $37.8 million for the same period last year. Excluding the aforementioned non-recurring sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 relating to the change to a distributor model in Canada, Retail net sales increased 16.3% compared to the year-ago period. Contract Manufacturing segment sales increased 39.1% to $3.2 million compared to $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in Contract Manufacturing sales was due to a new contract with the U.S. Military that was awarded in late 2023.

Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2024 was $53.2 million, or 41.5% of net sales, compared to $50.7 million, or 40.3% of net sales, for the same period last year. The 120-basis point increase in gross margin was attributable to an increase in Wholesale gross margin as well as a higher mix of Retail segment sales, which carry higher gross margins than the Wholesale and Contract Manufacturing segments.

Operating expenses were $44.7 million, or 34.9% of net sales, for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $36.0 million, or 28.6% of net sales, for the same period a year ago. Excluding $4.7 million of expense related to trademark impairment and acquisition-related amortization costs in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $0.8 million of acquisition-related amortization costs and costs related to the closure of a manufacturing facility in the fourth quarter of 2023, adjusted operating expenses were $40.0 million and $35.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in operating expenses was driven by higher logistics costs associated with the increase in Retail sales, as well as higher marketing spend, incentive compensation and other discretionary spending due to the pullback in spending in the year ago period. As a percentage of net sales, adjusted operating expenses were 31.2% in the fourth quarter 2024 compared with 27.9% in the year ago period.

The Company completed its annual impairment testing of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets. As a result of the testing, the Company incurred a total non-cash charge of $4.0 million related to the impairment of trademarks for The Original Muck Boot Company® brand.

Income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $8.5 million, or 6.6% of net sales, compared to $14.7 million, or 11.7% of net sales for the same period a year ago. Adjusted income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $13.2 million, or 10.3% of net sales, compared to adjusted income from operations of $15.5 million, or 12.3% of net sales, for the same period a year ago.

Interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $3.0 million compared with $5.3 million a year ago. The decrease compared to the year-ago period was driven by lower interest rates as a result of the debt refinancing completed in April 2024 as well as lower debt levels.

The Company reported fourth quarter 2024 net income of $4.8 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.7 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $8.9 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $7.3 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Full Year Review

Full year 2024 net sales decreased 1.7% to $453.8 million compared with $461.8 million in 2023. The decrease in net sales in 2024 compared to 2023 was attributed to certain non-recurring sales that occurred in 2023 that are not expected on a go-forward basis. These non-recurring sales in 2023 consisted of temporarily elevated commercial military footwear sales to a single customer, sales from Servus branded product prior to its divestiture in March 2023, sales relating to the change to a distributor model in Canada in November 2023, and sales relating to the contract manufacturing of Servus branded products following the divestiture of the Servus brand in March 2023. Excluding these non-recurring sales, net sales increased 5.3% year-over-year. Wholesale segment sales for 2024 decreased 7.0% to $313.3 million compared to $337.0 million in 2023. Excluding the aforementioned non-recurring net sales, Wholesale net sales increased 0.7% year-over-year. Retail segment sales for 2024 increased 8.5% to $126.9 million compared to $117.0 million for the same period last year. Excluding the aforementioned net sales relating to the change to a distributor model in Canada in 2023, Retail net sales increased 10.2% year-over-year. Contract Manufacturing segment sales increased 72.2% to $13.6 million compared to $7.9 million in 2023. Excluding the aforementioned sales relating to the manufacturing of Servus product, Contract Manufacturing sales increased 202.2% year-over-year.

Gross margin in 2024 was $179.0 million, or 39.4% of net sales, compared to $178.6 million, or 38.7% of net sales, for 2023. The 70-basis point improvement in gross margin was driven by a 190-basis point increase in Wholesale gross margin as well as a higher mix of Retail segment sales which carry higher gross margins than the Wholesale and Contract Manufacturing segments.

Operating expenses were $147.9 million, or 32.6% of net sales, for 2024 compared to $143.2 million, or 31.0% of net sales, for 2023. Excluding $6.8 million of expense relating to impairment of trademark and acquisition-related amortization costs in 2024, adjusted operating expenses were $141.2 or 31.1% of net sales in 2024. Excluding $4.8 million of acquisition-related amortization costs, restructuring costs and costs relating to the closure of a manufacturing facility in 2023, adjusted operating expenses were $138.4 million or 30.0% of net sales in 2023.

Income from operations for 2024 was $31.1 million, or 6.9% of net sales, compared to $35.4 million or 7.7% of net sales for 2023. Adjusted income from operations for 2024 was $37.8 million, or 8.3% of net sales, compared to adjusted income from operations of $41.9 million, or 9.0% of net sales a year ago.

Interest expense for 2024 was $17.0 million, inclusive of a $2.6 million one-time term loan extinguishment charge, compared with $21.2 million in 2023. Excluding the one-time term loan extinguishment charge, interest expense for 2024 was $14.4 million. The $6.8 million decrease in interest expense compared to the year-ago period was driven by lower interest rates as a result of the debt refinancing completed in April 2024 as well as lower debt levels.

The effective tax rate for 2024 was 19.0% compared to 26.3% for the full year 2023. The decrease from the year-ago period was driven primarily by a return to provision adjustment resulting from foreign tax credits recognized in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The Company reported 2024 net income of $11.4 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, compared to net income of $10.4 million, or $1.41 per diluted share, in 2023. Adjusted net income for 2024 was $19.0 million, or $2.54 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $14.3 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, in 2023.

Balance Sheet Review

Cash and cash equivalents were $3.7 million on December 31, 2024, compared to $4.5 million on the same date a year ago.

Total debt, net of unamortized debt issuance cost of $2.3 million, on December 31, 2024 was $128.7 million, consisting of $35.1 million term loan and $95.9 million of borrowings under the Company's senior secured asset-backed credit facility. Compared with December 31, 2023, and September 30, 2024, total debt on December 31, 2024, was down 25.7% and 14.4%, respectively.

Inventory on December 31, 2024, was $166.7 million compared to $169.2 million on the same date a year ago. Compared with December 31, 2023, and September 30, 2024, inventories on December 31, 2024, were down 1.5% and 3.0%, respectively.

Share Repurchase Program

The Company is also announcing that its Board of Directors has approved a new share repurchase program of up to $7,500,000 of the Company’s outstanding common stock, no par value per share. This repurchase program replaces the previous repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors that expired on March 4, 2022.

Repurchases under the Company’s new program will be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b-18, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other relevant factors. This share repurchase plan does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and it may be suspended at any time at the Company’s discretion.

Conference Call Information

The Company's conference call to review fourth quarter 2024 results will be broadcast live over the internet today, Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 704-4453 (domestic) or (201) 389-0920 (international). The conference call will also be available to interested parties through a live webcast at www.rockybrands.com. Please visit the website and select the “Investors” link at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary software.

About Rocky Brands, Inc.

Rocky Brands, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium quality footwear and apparel marketed under a portfolio of well recognized brand names. Brands in the portfolio include Rocky®, Georgia Boot®, Durango®, Lehigh®, The Original Muck Boot Company®, XTRATUF®, and Ranger®. More information can be found at RockyBrands.com.

Safe Harbor Language

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Those statements include, but may not be limited to, all statements regarding intent, beliefs, expectations, projections, forecasts, and plans of the Company and its management and include statements in this press release regarding the ability of the Company to carry fourth quarter momentum into 2025 (Paragraph 2), the Company's optimism about near term prospects (Paragraph 2), and the Company’s ability to invest in growth and deliver enhanced earnings for greater value for shareholders (Paragraph 2). These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the various risks inherent in the Company’s business as set forth in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (filed March 15, 2024), and the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 (filed May 9, 2024), June 30, 2024 (filed August 8, 2024) and September 30, 2024 (filed November 12, 2024). One or more of these factors have affected historical results, and could in the future affect the Company’s businesses and financial results in future periods and could cause actual results to differ materially from plans and projections. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation or warranty by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information presently available to the management of the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to GAAP financial measures, we present the following non-GAAP financial measures: "adjusted net sales," "adjusted cost of goods sold," "adjusted gross margin," "adjusted operating expenses," "adjusted operating income" (or "income from operations, adjusted")," "adjusted net income," and "adjusted net income per share." Adjusted results exclude the impact of items that management believes affect the comparability or underlying business trends in our consolidated financial statements in the periods presented. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors and other users of our consolidated financial statements as an additional tool for evaluating operating performance. We believe they also provide a useful baseline for analyzing trends in our operations.

Investors should not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. See "Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures" accompanying this press release.

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