Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - BLUE NILE INCd253391d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

Blue Nile Announces Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results

Third Quarter Sales of $75.0 Million, Representing Growth of 11.2%

Third Quarter International Sales Growth of 54.8%

Earnings Per Diluted Share Total $0.13

SEATTLE, November 8, 2011 — Blue Nile, Inc. (Nasdaq: NILE), the leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended October 2, 2011.

Net sales increased 11.2% to $75.0 million, a record third quarter sales level. Operating income for the quarter totaled $2.9 million, representing an operating margin of 3.8% of net sales. Net income totaled $1.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the quarter totaled $5.4 million. For the trailing twelve month period ended October 2, 2011, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $29.5 million compared to $26.2 million for the trailing twelve month period ended October 3, 2010. For the trailing twelve month period ended October 2, 2011, non-GAAP free cash flow totaled $24.5 million.

“Our record third quarter sales exceeded the high end of our guidance and was driven by solid growth in our engagement and non-engagement businesses. We also continue to experience strong growth in our international business, validating the value proposition we have for our consumers abroad. Overall, engagement sales growth at the high-end continues to perform very well, showcasing the depth of selection we have in the luxury category. Key to our strategy, we will continue to aggressively invest in our brand and business through marketing programs and additional merchandising assortments,” said Vijay Talwar, Chief Executive Officer. “During the quarter, we repurchased $30.9 million of stock, underscoring the confidence we have in the long-term potential of our business.”

Highlights

 

   

International sales grew 54.8% in the quarter to $14.4 million, a record level for any third quarter in Blue Nile’s history. Excluding the impact from changes in foreign exchange rates, international sales increased 46.2%.

 

   

Gross profit for the quarter totaled $14.8 million, an increase of 1.4% from the prior year. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 19.8% compared to 21.7% for the third quarter of 2010.

 

   

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter were $12.0 million, compared to $10.4 million in the third quarter of 2010. Selling, general and administrative expenses included stock-based compensation expense of $1.6 million in the third quarter.

 

   

Net income per diluted share for the quarter included stock-based compensation expense of $0.08, compared to $0.07 for the third quarter of 2010.

 

   

At the end of the third quarter, cash and cash equivalents totaled $40.2 million.

 

   

During the third quarter, Blue Nile repurchased 880,300 shares of its common stock for $30.9 million.

Financial Guidance

The following forward-looking statements reflect Blue Nile’s expectations as of November 8, 2011. Actual results may be materially affected by many factors, such as consumer spending, economic conditions and the various factors detailed below.


Expectations for the fourth quarter of 2011 (Quarter Ending January 1, 2012):

 

   

Net sales are expected to be between $121 million and $125 million.

 

   

Diluted earnings per share are projected at $0.41 to $0.43.

Expectations for the full year 2011 (Year Ending January 1, 2012):

 

   

Net sales are expected to be between $356 million and $360 million.

 

   

Diluted earnings per share are projected at $0.87 to $0.89.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that include risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, all statements related to future financial and business performance, market opportunity and plans to grow our business. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to general economic conditions, our fluctuating operating results, seasonality in our business, our ability to acquire products on reasonable terms, our online business model, demand for our products, our ability to attract customers in a cost effective manner, the strength of our brand, competition, fraud, system interruptions, our ability to fulfill orders and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2011. Additional information will also be set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 2, 2011, which we expect to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before November 14, 2011. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Blue Nile undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Conference Call

Blue Nile will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter financial results today at 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET. A live webcast of the conference call may be accessed at http://investor.bluenile.com. Following the completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days at the same Internet address. This call will contain forward-looking statements and other material information regarding Blue Nile’s financial and operating results. In the event that any non-GAAP financial measure is discussed on the conference call that is not described in this release, related complementary information will be made available at http://investor.bluenile.com as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the conference call.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Blue Nile’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), Blue Nile uses non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow as measures of certain components of financial performance. Blue Nile defines non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest and other income, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of stock-based compensation expense. Blue Nile defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash outflows for purchases of fixed assets, including internal use software and website development. Blue Nile reports sales information in accordance with GAAP. Internally, management monitors its sales performance on a non-GAAP basis that eliminates the positive or negative effects that result from translating international sales into U.S. dollars (the “constant exchange rate basis”). Blue Nile’s management does not itself, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors should also note that the non-GAAP financial measures used by Blue Nile may not be the same non-GAAP financial measures, and may not be calculated in the same manner, as that of other companies. Whenever Blue Nile uses such non-GAAP financial measures, it provides a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measures. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.


Blue Nile’s management believes that non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow, as defined, as well as international sales on a constant exchange rate basis provide meaningful supplemental information to the company and to investors. Blue Nile believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP measures in assessing the performance of Blue Nile and when planning and forecasting future periods. Further, management believes that the inclusion of the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP free cash flow calculations provide consistency in Blue Nile’s financial reporting and comparability with similar companies in Blue Nile’s industry. Management believes the constant exchange rate measurement provides a more representative assessment of the sales performance and provides better comparability between reporting periods.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to net income is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Quarter ended     Quarter ended  
     October 2, 2011     October 3, 2010  

Net Income

   $ 1,869      $ 2,772   

Income tax expense

     1,004        1,479   

Other income, net

     (13     (13

Depreciation and amortization

     849        776   

Stock-based compensation

     1,671        1,581   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 5,380      $ 6,595   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
    
     Year to date ended     Year to date ended  
     October 2, 2011     October 3, 2010  

Net Income

   $ 7,129      $ 7,963   

Income tax expense

     3,680        4,248   

Other income, net

     (177     (145

Depreciation and amortization

     2,521        2,301   

Stock-based compensation

     5,153        5,279   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 18,306      $ 19,646   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


A reconciliation of differences of non-GAAP free cash flow from the comparable GAAP measure of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Quarter ended     Quarter ended  
     October 2, 2011     October 3, 2010  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   $ (2,164   $ 1,811   

Purchases of fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development

     (973     (696
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-GAAP free cash flow

   $ (3,137   $ 1,115   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
    
     Twelve months ended     Twelve months ended  
     October 2, 2011     October 3, 2010  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 29,468      $ 26,184   

Purchases of fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development

     (4,971     (1,885
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-GAAP free cash flow

   $ 24,497      $ 24,299   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table reconciles year-over-year total company sales as well as international sales percentage increases (decreases) from the GAAP sales measures to the non-GAAP constant exchange rate basis:

 

Quarter ended

October 2, 2011

   Year over year growth   

Effect of foreign

exchange movements

  

Year over year growth on

constant exchange rate basis

 

International Sales    54.8%    8.6%    46.2%
        

Quarter ended

October 3, 2011

   Year over year growth   

Effect of foreign

exchange movements

  

Year over year growth on

constant exchange rate basis

 

International Sales    5.7%    2.3%    3.4%

About Blue Nile, Inc.

Blue Nile, Inc. is the leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry. The Company delivers the ultimate customer experience, providing consumers with a superior way to buy engagement rings, wedding rings and fine jewelry. Blue Nile offers in-depth educational materials and unique online tools that place consumers in control of the jewelry shopping process. The Company has some of the highest quality standards in the industry and offers thousands of independently certified diamonds and fine jewelry at prices significantly below traditional retail. Blue Nile can be found online at www.bluenile.com, www.bluenile.ca and www.bluenile.co.uk. Blue Nile’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol NILE.

Contact:

Blue Nile, Inc.

Nancy Shipp, 206.388.3626 (Investors)

nancys@bluenile.com

or

John Baird, 206.336.6805 (Media)

johnb@bluenile.com


BLUE NILE, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

 

     October 2,     January 2,  
     2011     2011  
     (unaudited)        
ASSETS  

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 40,159      $ 113,261   

Trade accounts receivable

     1,930        1,405   

Other accounts receivable

     338        366   

Inventories

     23,020        20,166   

Deferred income taxes

     293        557   

Prepaids and other current assets

     1,263        1,083   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     67,003        136,838   

Property and equipment, net

     8,568        6,157   

Intangible assets, net

     267        274   

Deferred income taxes

     9,378        8,424   

Other assets

     128        118   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 85,344      $ 151,811   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 53,255      $ 90,296   

Accrued liabilities

     4,441        11,490   

Current portion of long-term financing obligation

     59        48   

Current portion of deferred rent

     209        86   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     57,964        101,920   

Long-term financing obligation, less current portion

     700        748   

Deferred rent, less current portion

     2,080        82   

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock

     20        20   

Additional paid-in capital

     180,810        173,143   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     2        (66

Retained earnings

     70,270        63,141   

Treasury stock

     (226,502     (187,177
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     24,600        49,061   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 85,344      $ 151,811   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


BLUE NILE, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Quarter ended      Year to date ended  
     October 2,     October 3,      October 2,      October 3,  
     2011     2010      2011      2010  

Net sales

   $ 74,987      $ 67,451       $ 235,689       $ 218,110   

Cost of sales

     60,149        52,813         186,758         171,472   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     14,838        14,638         48,931         46,638   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     11,978        10,400         38,299         34,572   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     2,860        4,238         10,632         12,066   

Other income (expense), net:

          

Interest income, net

     33        10         116         22   

Other (expense) income

     (20     3         61         123   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

     13        13         177         145   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     2,873        4,251         10,809         12,211   

Income tax expense

     1,004        1,479         3,680         4,248   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 1,869      $ 2,772       $ 7,129       $ 7,963   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.13      $ 0.19       $ 0.50       $ 0.55   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.13      $ 0.19       $ 0.48       $ 0.53   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares used for computation (in thousands):

          

Basic

     13,996        14,334         14,375         14,442   

Diluted

     14,362        14,904         14,906         15,096   


BLUE NILE, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     Year to date ended  
     October 2,     October 3,  
     2011     2010  

Operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 7,129      $ 7,963   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash usedin operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     2,521        2,301   

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

     35        —     

Stock-based compensation

     5,243        5,369   

Deferred income taxes

     (690     (1,148

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     579        3,615   

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     (367     (190

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Receivables

     (473     103   

Inventories

     (2,854     2,226   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     (190     (214

Accounts payable

     (37,123     (34,145

Accrued liabilities

     (7,065     (4,756

Deferred rent and other

     2,097        (142
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (31,158     (19,018
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (4,731     (1,603

Maturity of short-term investments

     —          15,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (4,731     13,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

    

Repurchase of common stock

     (39,325     (25,336

Proceeds from stock option exercises

     1,724        1,682   

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     367        190   

Principal payments under long-term financing obligation

     (37     (34
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (37,271     (23,498
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     58        (39
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (73,102     (29,158

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     113,261        78,149   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 40,159      $ 48,991