Hastings Entertainment, Inc. Reports Net Earnings of $0.17 per Diluted Share for the First Quarter

Hastings Entertainment, Inc. Reports Net Earnings of $0.17 per Diluted Share for the First Quarter

AMARILLO, Texas, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hastings Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAST) , a leading multimedia entertainment retailer, today reported results for the three months ended April 30, 2009. Net earnings were approximately $1.7 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to net earnings of approximately $3.0 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

"The recession continued to negatively impact retailers during the first quarter," said John Marmaduke, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. "We continue to focus on our balance sheet and reducing costs. Our inventory was approximately $13.3 million less than a year ago and we reduced long-term debt by approximately $9.2 million during the quarter. Additionally, cash flows from operations totaled approximately $13.4 million for the period which compares to approximately $4.1 for the comparable period last year."

Financial Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2009

Revenues. Total revenues for the first quarter decreased approximately $6.2 million, or 4.7%, to $125.7 million compared to $131.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Included in fiscal 2008 was approximately $2.0 million in revenues resulting from an additional day of sales due to leap year. Excluding this extra day of sales, total revenues for the first quarter decreased approximately $4.2 million, or 3.2%. The following is a summary of our revenues results (dollars in thousands):

                 Three Months Ended April 30,                   2009               2008                    (Decrease)                            Percent of          Percent of                 Revenues    Total    Revenues    Total    Dollar    Percent   Merchandise    revenue      $104,096    82.8%    $108,317    82.1%   $(4,221)    -3.9%   Rental    revenue        21,597    17.2%      23,619    17.9%    (2,022)    -8.6%      Total       revenues  $125,693   100.0%    $131,936   100.0%   $(6,243)    -4.7%     Comparable-store revenues ("Comp"):                                   Fiscal                                             2009                           2009       (excludes leap day)      Total               -5.9%             -4.4%      Merchandise         -5.1%             -3.7%      Rental              -9.3%             -7.6%    

Below is a summary of the Comp results for our major merchandise categories:

                                  Three Months Ended April 30,                                                           2009                               2009        2008      (excludes leap day)   Hardback Cafe               8.5%       14.2%            10.0%   Electronics                 5.5%       26.8%             7.1%   Trends                      5.1%       36.8%             6.6%   Consumables                 4.5%       12.5%             6.4%   Books                       0.2%        5.6%             1.7%   Movies                     -5.7%        3.2%            -4.3%   Video Games               -10.4%       29.8%            -9.1%   Music                     -15.2%      -16.0%           -13.9%    

The following discussion of merchandise and rental Comp sales excludes the additional day of sales due to leap year.

Hardback Cafe Comps increased 10.0% primarily as a result of an additional four cafes open, in existing stores, during the quarter compared to the same period in the prior year and increased sales of specialty cafe drinks and mugs. Electronics Comps increased 7.1% for the quarter primarily due to strong sales of digital converter boxes, third-party gift cards and Blu-ray DVD players, partially offset by lower sales of portable electronic devices, including MP3 players. Trends Comps increased 6.6% for the quarter primarily due to strong sales of apparel and action figures, partially offset by lower sales of plush products and greeting cards. Key drivers in the apparel category included t-shirts, sports apparel, and bags. Consumables Comps increased 6.4% for the quarter, primarily due to strong sales of seasonal candy as well as candy and snacks cross-merchandised on our video rental wall. Book Comps increased 1.7% for the period. Strong sales of used and value books, as well as strong sales of new hardbacks were offset by lower sales of magazines. Strong performers during the quarter included the Twilight Saga Series by Stephenie Meyer and The Shack by William P. Young. Movie Comps decreased 4.3% for the quarter, primarily resulting from lower sales of new DVDs, partially offset by increased sales of Blu-ray DVDs and Used DVDs. Video Game Comps decreased 9.1% primarily due to lower sales of older generation video games and lower sales of video game consoles, partially offset by increased sales of used video games for the Microsoft XBOX 360, Sony Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii. Music Comps decreased 13.9% for the quarter due to lower sales of new and used CDs, resulting directly from a continued industry decline as well as reduced footprint in thirty-one stores. Merchandise Comps, excluding the sale of music, decreased 1.3% for the quarter.

Rental Comps decreased 7.6% for the first quarter, primarily due to fewer rentals of new DVDs and increased promotions offered during the current quarter, partially offset by increased rentals of Blu-ray movies and video games. Rental Video Game Comps increased 4.3% for the period while Rental Movie Comps decreased 9.0%.

Gross Profit - Merchandise. For the first quarter, total merchandise gross profit dollars decreased approximately $0.3 million, or 0.9%, to $33.1 million from $33.4 million for the same period in the prior year primarily due to lower revenues, partially offset by increased margin rates. As a percentage of total merchandise revenue, merchandise gross profit increased to 31.8% for the quarter compared to 30.8% for the same period in the prior year, primarily resulting from lower markdown expense and costs to return product, partially offset by increased shrinkage expense.

Gross Profit - Rental. For the first quarter, total rental gross profit dollars decreased approximately $1.7 million, or 10.9%, to $13.9 million from $15.6 million for the same period in the prior year primarily due to lower rental revenues partially offset by lower rental shrinkage expense. As a percentage of total rental revenue, rental gross profit decreased to 64.3% for the quarter compared to 66.3% for the same period in the prior year primarily as a result of lower rental revenues.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses ("SG&A"). As a percentage of total revenue, SG&A increased to 34.9% for the first quarter compared to 33.1% for the same quarter in the prior year, primarily as a result of lower revenues. SG&A increased approximately $0.2 million during the quarter, or 0.5%, to $43.9 million compared to $43.7 million for the same quarter last year.

Stock Repurchase

On September 18, 2001, we announced a stock repurchase program of up to $5.0 million of our common stock. Prior to fiscal 2008, the Board of Directors approved increases in the program totaling $17.5 million, and on December 8, 2008, they approved an additional increase of $5.0 million. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, we purchased a total of 37,684 shares of common stock at a cost of $93,229, or $2.47 per share. As of April 30, 2009, a total of 3,457,633 shares had been repurchased under the program at a cost of approximately $21.7 million, for an average cost of approximately $6.27 per share. As of April 30, 2009, approximately $5.6 million remains available under the stock repurchase program.

Store Activity

Since March 23, 2009, which was the last date we reported store activity, we have not had any additional stores open or close.

Fiscal Year 2009 Guidance

"Net earnings for the quarter were better than our internal forecast, which is the basis for our guidance," said Dan Crow, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "Due to continued uncertainty in the retail environment, particularly with respect to the holiday selling season, we are not changing our guidance for the full fiscal year. Consequently, we are reaffirming our guidance of net earnings per share ranging from $0.40 to $0.45 for the full fiscal year ended January 31, 2010."

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Hastings Entertainment, Inc. is including this statement for the express purpose of availing itself of the protections of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to all such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and represent the beliefs of the management of the company. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks include, but are not limited to, consumer appeal of our existing and planned product offerings, and the related impact of competitor pricing and product offerings; overall industry performance and the accuracy of our estimates and judgments regarding trends; our ability to obtain favorable terms from suppliers; our ability to respond to changing consumer preferences, including with respect to new technologies and alternative methods of content delivery, and to effectively adjust our offerings if and as necessary; the application and impact of future accounting policies or interpretations of existing accounting policies; unanticipated adverse litigation results or effects; the effects of a continued deterioration in economic conditions in the U.S. or the markets in which we operate our stores; and other factors which may be outside of the company's control. Please refer to the company's annual, quarterly, and periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more detailed discussion of these and other risks that could cause results to differ materially.

About Hastings

Founded in 1968, Hastings Entertainment, Inc. is a leading multimedia entertainment retailer that combines the sale of new and used books, videos, video games and CDs, as well as trends merchandise, with the rental of videos and video games in a superstore format. We currently operate 153 superstores, averaging approximately 21,000 square feet, primarily in medium-sized markets throughout the United States.

We also operate www.gohastings.com, an e-commerce Internet Web site that makes available to our customers new and used entertainment products and unique, contemporary gifts and toys. The site features exceptional product and pricing offers. The Investor Relations section of our web site contains press releases, a link to request financial and other literature and access our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                           Consolidated Balance Sheets                              (Dollars in thousands)                                        April 30,    April 30,   January 31,                                         2009         2008         2009                                      (unaudited)  (unaudited)                   Assets   Current Assets     Cash and cash equivalents           $3,754      $4,003      $7,449     Merchandise inventories, net       150,917     164,199     147,957     Deferred income taxes               10,660       3,590      11,180     Prepaid expenses and other      current assets                     10,791      10,384      11,224        Total current assets            176,122     182,176     177,810    Rental assets, net                    13,295      13,613      15,463   Property and equipment, net           54,620      51,006      56,585   Deferred income taxes                  3,461       2,831       2,434   Intangible assets, net                   391         391         391   Other assets                           1,051       1,143       1,020    Total assets                        $248,940    $251,160    $253,703          Liabilities and Shareholders'    Equity   Current liabilities     Trade accounts payable             $69,919     $64,335     $61,823     Accrued expenses and other      liabilities                        34,479      35,682      40,614        Total current liabilities       104,398     100,017     102,437    Long-term debt, excluding current    maturities                           35,270      42,686      44,507   Other liabilities                      5,551       4,639       4,723    Shareholders' equity     Preferred stock                          -           -           -     Common stock                           119         119         119     Additional paid-in capital          36,702      37,249      36,651     Retained earnings                   81,653      78,881      79,951     Accumulated other comprehensive      (loss) income                         (41)          3         (67)     Treasury stock, at cost            (14,712)    (12,434)    (14,618)        Total shareholders' equity      103,721     103,818     102,036    Total liabilities and    shareholders' equity                $248,940   $251,160    $253,703                      Consolidated Statements of Earnings                   (In thousands, except per share data)                                              Three Months Ended                                                  April 30,                                            2009             2008                                         (unaudited)      (unaudited)     Merchandise revenue                    $104,096         $108,317   Rental revenue                           21,597           23,619      Total revenues                       125,693          131,936    Merchandise cost of revenue              70,994           74,952   Rental cost of revenue                    7,713            7,971      Total cost of revenues                78,707           82,923       Gross profit                          46,986           49,013    Selling, general and    administrative expenses                 43,898           43,694   Pre-opening expenses                          2                2       Operating income                       3,086            5,317    Other income (expense):      Interest expense, net                   (295)            (472)      Other, net                                18               17         Income before income taxes           2,809            4,862    Income tax expense                        1,107            1,873         Net income                          $1,702           $2,989    Basic income per share                    $0.17            $0.29    Diluted income per share                  $0.17            $0.28    Weighted-average common shares    outstanding:     Basic                                   9,729           10,362     Dilutive effect of stock awards            29              296      Diluted                                 9,758           10,658                        Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                             (Dollars in thousands)                                                  April 30,     April 30,                                                   2009          2008                                                (unaudited)   (unaudited)    Cash flows from operating activities:     Net income                                    $1,702        $2,989     Adjustments to reconcile net income      to net cash provided by operations:        Rental asset depreciation expense           3,610         4,037        Purchases of rental video                  (4,459)       (8,363)        Property and equipment depreciation         expense                                    4,850         4,867        Deferred income tax                          (507)         (224)        Loss on rental videos lost, stolen         and defective                                202           297        Loss on disposal of other assets              169           188        Noncash stock-based compensation               51           164     Changes in operating assets and      liabilities:        Merchandise inventory                        (145)       11,011        Other current assets                          433           658        Trade accounts payable                     12,775       (10,563)        Accrued expenses and other liabilities     (6,135)         (954)        Excess tax benefit from stock based         compensation                                   -           (39)        Other assets and liabilities, net             823             -          Net cash provided by operating           activities                              13,369         4,068    Cash flows from investing activities:       Purchases of property, equipment        and improvements                           (3,054)       (3,490)          Net cash used in investing activities    (3,054)       (3,490)    Cash flows from financing activities:       Net borrowings (repayments) under        revolving credit facility                  (9,237)        2,070       Purchase of treasury stock                     (94)       (1,294)       Change in cash overdraft                    (4,679)       (1,466)       Proceeds from exercise of stock        options                                         -            94       Excess tax benefit from stock based        compensation                                    -            39           Net cash used in financing            activities                            (14,010)         (557)    Net (decrease) increase in cash and    cash equivalents                               (3,695)           21    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning    of period                                       7,449         3,982    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period      $3,754        $4,003                        Balance Sheet and Other Ratios ( A )              (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)                                                    April 30,      April 30,                                                      2009          2008    Merchandise inventories, net                    $150,917      $164,199   Inventory turns, trailing 12 months ( B )           1.81          1.73    Long-term debt                                   $35,270       $42,686   Long-term debt to total capitalization ( C )        25.4%         29.1%    Book value ( D )                                $103,721      $103,818    Book value per share ( E )                        $10.63         $9.74    Price to Earnings Ratio, trailing 12 months ( F )   13.3           8.4                                             Three Months Ended April 30,                                                               2009                                       2009      2008   (excludes leap day)   Comparable-store revenues ( G ):      Total                           -5.9%      4.2%          -4.4%      Merchandise                     -5.1%      4.3%          -3.7%      Rental                          -9.3%      3.8%          -7.6%     ( A ) Calculations may differ in the method employed from similarly titled         measures used by other companies.   ( B ) Calculated as merchandise cost of goods sold for the period's         trailing twelve months divided by average merchandise inventory over         the same period.   ( C ) Defined as long-term debt divided by long-term debt plus total         shareholders' equity (book value).   ( D ) Defined as total shareholders' equity.   ( E ) Defined as total shareholders' equity divided by weighted average         diluted shares outstanding for the three month period ended April         30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.   ( F ) Defined as closing market value of the Company's common stock on the         last day of the period divided by fully diluted earnings per share         for the period's trailing twelve months.   ( G ) Stores included in the comparable-store revenues calculation are         those stores that have been open for a minimum of 60 weeks.  Also         included are stores that are remodeled or relocated during the         comparable period.  Sales via the Internet are included and closed         stores are removed from each comparable period for the purpose of         calculating comparable-store revenues.  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Hastings Entertainment, Inc.

CONTACT: Dan Crow, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Hastings Entertainment, Inc., +1-806-677-1422

Web Site: http://www.gohastings.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment