Callaway Golf Co quarterly report, Q1 FY2020

Callaway Golf Company — Q1 2020 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Three months ended March 31, 2020. Unaudited results; comparisons are with Q1 2019 unless noted. The company sells golf equipment and apparel, gear and other products, including brands such as Callaway, TravisMathew, OGIO and Jack Wolfskin.

Financial performance

MetricQ1 2020Q1 2019Change
Net sales$442.3 million$516.2 millionDown 14.3%
Gross profit / margin$195.7 million / 44.2%$238.4 million / 46.2%Margin down 200 basis points
Income from operations$40.7 million$69.6 millionDown 41.6%
Net income$28.9 million$48.5 millionDown 40.4%
Diluted EPS$0.30$0.50Down $0.20
Cash used in operating activities$93.7 million$120.6 millionUse narrowed by $26.9 million
Capital expenditures$17.0 million$11.3 millionUp $5.7 million

Revenue fell across both segments: Golf Equipment declined 9.9% to $291.7 million; Apparel, Gear and Other declined 21.8% to $150.6 million. Golf balls were down 34.5%, while golf clubs declined 4.0%. Japan was the only major region with reported growth, up 5.6%; management also cited growth in Korea. Foreign exchange reduced sales by $3.8 million.

Cash and cash equivalents were $166.6 million at March 31, up from $106.7 million at year-end. The increase reflected financing, including $191.0 million in net proceeds from credit facilities; operating activities used cash. Accounts receivable rose to $259.5 million from $140.5 million at year-end, while inventory fell to $412.7 million from $456.6 million.

At March 31, asset-based credit facilities had $335.6 million outstanding; long-term debt included $445.2 million under the Term Loan Facility and $28.3 million of equipment notes. The company reported $259.4 million of available liquidity, comprising cash and remaining facility availability after borrowings and letters of credit. It was in compliance with debt covenants at quarter-end. Shareholders’ equity was $760.0 million.

Material changes and drivers

  • COVID-19-related shutdowns and restrictions disrupted retail and wholesale demand, supply and distribution, and company facilities. Management said the effects significantly hurt Q1 sales, particularly from mid-March onward.
  • Gross margin was pressured by lower sales, increased U.S. tariffs on imports from China, and temporary redundant distribution-center costs. Selling expenses fell with lower media and tour spending; G&A also declined, partly because Q1 2019 included $4.7 million of Jack Wolfskin acquisition-related costs.
  • Apparel, Gear and Other reported a $3.8 million pretax loss, versus $22.1 million pretax income a year earlier. Golf Equipment pretax income fell to $58.6 million from $70.6 million.
  • Other income was $6.5 million versus a $1.9 million expense, mainly reflecting foreign-currency hedge gains. This partially offset operating deterioration.
  • Foreign-currency translation reduced accumulated other comprehensive income by $14.9 million during the quarter.

Outlook, liquidity actions and risks

  • The company did not provide earnings or revenue guidance. It said the duration and overall impact of COVID-19 could not be reasonably estimated and warned near-term and later results would be significantly adversely affected.
  • Management reported early signs of recovery in parts of Asia, stronger-than-expected April performance in China, and global e-commerce sales exceeding expectations. These developments did not establish a quantified recovery outlook.
  • Through April 30, the company said it had reduced planned operating expenses and capital expenditures by almost 20%, including lower discretionary and infrastructure spending and voluntary compensation reductions for senior leaders and directors. It also focused on reducing inventory and conserving cash; open-market repurchases were suspended.
  • 2020 capital expenditure expectations were reduced from $55.0 million to approximately $32.5–$37.5 million.
  • After quarter-end, the company issued $258.75 million of 2.75% convertible senior notes due 2026. It reported net proceeds of approximately $218 million after capped-call costs and transaction expenses; capped-call transactions cost approximately $31.8 million and are intended to reduce potential dilution.
  • Other key risks include weaker consumer demand or retailer payments, further supply-chain interruptions, foreign-exchange and interest-rate exposure, tariffs, seasonal working-capital needs, debt service and covenant compliance. The company disclosed routine legal matters but could not estimate aggregate potential losses; it did not expect pending matters to have a material annual adverse effect.

Investor facts to verify

  • Whether COVID-19 disruptions, customer demand and operating capacity recover as management anticipated, and how subsequent results compare with the Q1 decline.
  • Liquidity, borrowing-base availability and covenant headroom as seasonal receivables and inventory change; the filing’s $259.4 million liquidity figure is as of March 31.
  • Cash generation and working-capital trends, particularly receivables, inventory and operating cash use.
  • Execution of the revised capital-spending plan and the actual cash proceeds and potential dilution from the convertible notes and capped calls.
  • Whether segment margins improve, especially in Apparel, Gear and Other, and the continuing effects of tariffs, distribution costs and foreign exchange.