Delta Apparel (DLA) Q2 Earnings & Sales Rise Year Over Year

Delta Apparel, Inc. (NYSE:DLA) reported second-quarter fiscal 2018 results, wherein both the top and bottom lines improved year over year and the latter marked its second consecutive beat. Shares of the company gained 1.2% on May 7, following the announcement.

Well, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has jumped 3.1% in a month, in comparison with the industry’s 0.6% rise.

Quarterly earnings came in at 48 cents per share, up 2.1% year over year. Notably, the figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 27 cents.

Net sales climbed 2% to $100 million, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Higher basic segment revenues were partly offset by lower sales at the company’s branded segment wherein the year-over-year sales figure was marred by the divestiture of Junkfood Clothing business.

Gross profit tumbled 8.2% to $22.2 million, whereas the gross margin contracted 110 basis points (bps) to 22.2%. The gross margin contraction stemmed from lower margins at the Activewear business, which in turn resulted from escalated raw material and other input expenses. This was somewhat countered by improved branded segment and DTG2Go margins.

Segment Analysis

Sales at Basics segment jumped 4% to $73.7 million, with Activewear sales up 2%. This was driven by higher catalog sales that gained from robust demand across all sales networks, whereas private label sales remained soft. Further, management stated that the company’s digital print and fulfillment business, which now includes DTG2Go’s buyout, performed exceptionally well.

Sales at the combined DTG2Go business (earlier Art Gun) surged about 60% year over year, with organic sales up 20%. Also, the DTG2Go business witnessed solid gross margin growth, courtesy of enhanced efficiencies and higher sales volumes.

Moving to the Branded segment, sales slumped 21% to $26.3 million, largely due to divestiture of Junkfood Clothing business. Within the branded segment, sales of Salt Life rose 7%, thanks to higher sales at all channels buoyed by strong demand. Also, e-commerce sales remained strong here. Soffe’s sales slipped marginally, though it also witnessed e-commerce revenue growth.

Other Financial Updates

Delta Apparel ended the quarter with cash worth $0.4 million, long-term debt of $105.8 million and total shareholders equity of $145.5 million.

Further, management made capital expenditures of $1.7 million during the second quarter, while its year-to-date expenditure came in at $6.7 million. The company plans to incur capital expenditure of $13 million in fiscal 2018.

Delta Apparel repurchased almost 75,000 shares for $1.5 million during the second quarter. With this, the company bought back more than 220,000 shares for roughly $4.5 million in the first half of fiscal 2018 and had shares worth $6.8 million remaining for buyback as of the quarter end.

Outlook

Management remains impressed with its solid second-quarter performance, wherein earnings and organic sales grew despite a tough retail landscape and cost pressure. Management remains encouraged about its DTG2Go business in particular, which is likely to benefit the company in the high-growth digital print arena. Also, the company expects demand for its high-margin catalog products to remain sturdy in the second half of fiscal 2018, which will boost Activewear sales.

All said, management expects its focus on strategic initiatives to drive top and bottom lines going forward and remains well placed for further organic growth in fiscal 2018.

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