BOCA RATON, Fla., July 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q.E.P. CO., INC. (OTCQX:QEPC) (the "Company" or "QEP") today reported its consolidated results of operations for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ended on May 31, 2024. During the prior fiscal year, QEP completed several strategic divestments to streamline operations and concentrate resources on its core product lines in the North American market. These divestments included the sale of the Company's Harris Flooring Group in North America and the Company's businesses in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. These divested operations have been classified as discontinued operations in our financial statements for all periods presented. QEP reported net sales of $63.5 million for the quarter ended May 31, 2024, a decrease of $2.5 million or 3.7% from the $66.0 million reported for the first quarter of fiscal 2024, which was primarily due to continued softening of consumer demand across multiple product categories and sales channels. The Company continues to invest in the expansion of its regional sales coverage in order to penetrate new and existing sales channels. The Company's gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 increased $2.5 million or 12.2% to $22.5 million, from $20.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. As a percentage of net sales, gross margin was 35.4% for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, as compared to 30.4% for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase in gross margin as a percentage of net sales was largely due to lower inbound freight, along with continued improvement in product mix and other cost-reduction initiatives. Leonard Gould, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented on the Company's results, "I am grateful for the support of the QEP Team as we continue our transformation. These positive results allow us to reinvest in resources to provide the ultimate service to our customers and critically to move forward with the numerous innovations in our product pipeline." Operating expenses were $17.3 million or 27.2% of net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 as compared to $16.9 million or 25.6% of net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase in operating expenses was due to higher personnel and outbound shipping costs in the current period. Interest income was $0.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 as compared to interest expense of $0.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. This change is due to the Company's significant repayment of debt in the latter part of fiscal 2024 and the investment of the Company's cash surplus in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before taxes was 28% for both the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was $4.5 million or $1.34 per diluted share, as compared to $0.9 million or $0.28 per diluted share for first quarter of fiscal 2024. Excluding discontinued operations, adjusted net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was $3.9 million or $1.17 per diluted share, as compared to $1.8 million or $0.55 per diluted share for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was $5.6 million or 8.8% of net sales, as compared to $3.5 million or 5.3% of net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2024.             For the Three Months Ended       May 31,2024   May 31,2023               Net income from continuing operations $ 3,903     $ 1,820                 Add: Interest (income) expense, net   (183 )     603       Provision for income taxes   1,508       709       Depreciation and amortization   338       356     EBITDA, as adjusted $ 5,566     $ 3,488                 Cash provided by operating activities during first quarter of fiscal 2025 was $6.1 million compared to $13.1 million in the comparable fiscal 2024 period, reflecting the reduction in inventory to more normalized levels during the prior year period. In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, cash provided by operations, along with proceeds from the sale of businesses, was used to repurchase stock and increase the Company's cash surplus. In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, cash provided by operations was used to reduce borrowings under the Company's lines of credit and increase cash balances. Working capital as of May 31, 2024 was $62.3 million compared to $60.0 million at the end of fiscal 2024. Aggregate available cash, net of outstanding debt at May 31, 2024 was $30.1 million compared to $21.7 million at the end of fiscal 2024. The Company will not be hosting a conference call to discuss these results and welcomes inquiries from investors via email at About QEP Founded in 1979, Q.E.P. Co., Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of best-in-class flooring installation solutions for commercial and home improvement projects. QEP offers a comprehensive line of specialty installation tools, adhesives, and underlayment. QEP sells its products throughout the world to home improvement retail centers, and professional specialty distribution outlets, under brand names including QEP®, LASH®, ROBERTS®, Capitol®, Premix-Marbletite® (PMM), Brutus®, Homelux®, PRCI®, and Tomecanic®. QEP is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with other facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Please visit our website at www.qepcorporate.com. Forward-Looking Statements All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding implementation of the Company's strategies and increasing profitability and stockholder value. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and beliefs, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those listed in the Company's annual report, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports and disclosures made by the Company. Forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, scarcity and rising cost for raw materials, shifts in global sourcing patterns, and general inflationary pressures, economic conditions, sales growth, price increases, maintaining and improving profitability, product development and marketing, operating expenses, cost savings, the successful completion of acquisitions and dispositions, acquisition integration, operational synergy realization, global sourcing, political uncertainty, cash flow, debt and currency exchange rates, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law. CONTACT: Q.E.P. Co., Inc.Enos BrownExecutive Vice President andChief Financial Officer561-994-5550 -Financial Information Follows-   Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS     (In thousands except per share data)     (Unaudited)                   For the Three Months Ended       May 31,   May 31,       2024   2023                 Net sales $ 63,524   $ 65,978       Cost of goods sold   41,021     45,928       Gross profit   22,503     20,050                   Operating expenses:           Shipping   7,081     7,010       General and administrative   6,284     6,126       Selling and marketing   3,905     3,871       Other income, net   5     (89 )     Total operating expenses   17,275     16,918                   Operating income   5,228     3,132                   Interest income (expense), net   183     (603 )                 Income before provision for income taxes   5,411     2,529                   Provision for income taxes   1,508     709                   Net income from continuing operations operations   3,903     1,820                   Gain/(Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax   565     (895 )                 Net income $ 4,468   $ 925                   Basic earnings (loss) per share:           From continuing operations   1.17     0.55       From discontinued operations   0.17     (0.27 )     Basic earnings per share   1.34     0.28                   Diluted earnings (loss) per share:           From continuing operations   1.17     0.55       From discontinued operations   0.17     (0.27 )     Diluted earnings per share   1.34     0.28                   Weighted average number of common           shares outstanding:           Basic   3,323     3,343       Diluted   3,334     3,350                 Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS   (In thousands, except par values)               May 31,2024   February 29,2024     (Unaudited)   (Audited)             ASSETS