Operating income decreased approximately $1.0 million to $3.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in operating income is primarily attributable to lower gross profit margins and increased general and administrative expenses related to Flooring Liquidators and PMW. The decline in gross profit margin is primarily due to the acquisition of PMW, which historically has generated lower margins, as well as overall decreased margins in the Steel Manufacturing segment due to reduced production and lower operating margins.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2023, net loss was approximately ($0.7) million, and diluted loss per share was ($0.22), compared with net income of $1.8 million and diluted EPS of $0.60 in the prior year period. The decrease in net income is attributable to lower profit margins and higher interest expense compared to the prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $8.7 million, an increase of approximately $1.2 million, or 15.3%, compared to the prior year period. The increase is primarily due to an increase in non-operating and other non-recurring expenses, partially offset by a decrease in operating income.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had a total cash availability of $45.0 million, consisting of cash on hand of $5.6 million and availability under its various lines of credit of $39.4 million.

First Quarter FY 2024 Segment Results (in thousands)

Retail - Entertainment

Retail - Entertainment segment revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $20.6 million, a decrease of approximately $2.7 million, or 11.5%, compared to prior year period revenue of approximately $23.3 million. Revenue decreased primarily due to reduced consumer demand and a shift in sales mix toward used products, which generally have lower ticket sales with higher margins. The shift in sales mix also contributed to the increase in gross margin to 56.0% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 52.5% for the prior year period. Operating income for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $3.1 million, compared to operating income of approximately $3.7 million for the prior year period.

Retail - Flooring

The Retail - Flooring segment includes Flooring Liquidators, which was acquired in January 2023. Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $34.3 million, and gross margin was 38.0%. Operating income for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $0.1 million.

Flooring Manufacturing

Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $29.2 million, an increase of approximately $2.8 million, or 10.6%, compared to prior year period revenue of approximately $26.4 million. The gross margin was 22.0% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 17.6% for the prior year period. The increase in revenue and gross margin are primarily due to the buildup of the sales force as a result of the acquisition of the Harris Flooring Group® brands in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023. Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $0.95 million, compared to operating income of approximately $0.75 million for the prior year.

Steel Manufacturing

Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $33.4 million, an increase of approximately $15.4 million or 85.5%, compared to the prior year period revenue of approximately $18.0 million. The increase is primarily due to increased revenue of approximately $18.3 million at The Kinetic Co., Inc. and PMW, partially offset by a $2.9 million decrease in our other Steel Manufacturing business. This decrease is primarily due to reduced customer demand as a result of general economic conditions. The gross margin was 15.8% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 24.4% for the prior year period. The decrease in gross margin is primarily due to the acquisition of PMW, which has historically generated lower margins as well as overall decreased margins in the Steel Manufacturing segment due to reduced production. Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $1.0 million, compared to operating income of approximately $1.5 million in the prior year period.

Corporate and Other

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $0.1 million, a decrease of approximately $1.2 million, or 93.2%, compared to the prior year period revenue of approximately $1.3 million. The decrease was primarily due to the closure of SW Financial in May 2023. Operating loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, was approximately $1.6 million, compared to a loss of approximately $1.3 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

Adjusted EBITDA

We evaluate the performance of our operations based on financial measures, such as “Adjusted EBITDA,” which is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, interest income, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, and other non-cash or nonrecurring charges. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is an important indicator of the operational strength and performance of the business, including the business’s ability to fund acquisitions and other capital expenditures and to service its debt. Additionally, this measure is used by management to evaluate operating results and perform analytical comparisons and identify strategies to improve performance. Adjusted EBITDA is also a measure that is customarily used by financial analysts to evaluate a company’s financial performance, subject to certain adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent cash flows from operations, as defined by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), should not be construed as an alternative to net income or loss, and is indicative neither of our results of operations, nor of cash flow available to fund our cash needs. It is, however, a measurement that the Company believes is useful to investors in analyzing its operating performance. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, net income, cash flow provided by operating activities, and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. As companies often define non-GAAP financial measures differently, Adjusted EBITDA, as calculated by Live Ventures Incorporated, should not be compared to any similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

The use of the word “Company” refers to Live Ventures and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Certain statements in this press release contain or may suggest "forward-looking" information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Words such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar statements are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Live Ventures may also make forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, in its annual report to stockholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the Company, including, but not limited to, plans and objectives of management for future operations or products, the market acceptance or future success of our products, and our future financial performance. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Additionally, new risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, or to assess the impact such risk factors might have on our business. Live Ventures undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Live Ventures Incorporated

Live Ventures is a diversified holding company with a strategic focus on value-oriented acquisitions of domestic middle-market companies. Live Ventures’ acquisition strategy is sector-agnostic and focuses on well-run, closely held businesses with a demonstrated track record of earnings growth and cash flow generation. The Company looks for opportunities to partner with management teams of its acquired businesses to build increased stockholder value through a disciplined buy-build-hold long-term focused strategy. Live Ventures was founded in 1968. In late 2011 Jon Isaac, Chief Executive Officer and strategic investor, joined the Board of Directors of the Company and later refocused it into a diversified holding company. The Company’s current portfolio of diversified operating subsidiaries includes companies in the textile, flooring, tools, steel, and entertainment industries.

Contact:
Live Ventures Incorporated
Greg Powell, Director of Investor Relations
725.500.5597
gpowell@liveventures.com
www.liveventures.com

Source: Live Ventures Incorporated