CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) today announced its first nine months and third quarter 2014 financial results, reflecting its continued improvements in market share, tour success, and operating efficiencies, as well as its anticipated return to profitability for the full year, which would be the first time since 2008. Despite softer than expected market conditions, Callaway reported for the first nine months of 2014 a 5% increase in net sales driven by growth in woods (+6%), irons (+9%), golf balls (+5%) and accessories and other (+3%). In addition, the Company's improvements in gross margins (+280 basis points) and effective cost management (operating expenses were flat despite incremental investments in tour and marketing) allowed the Company to offset an almost $10 million increase in other expense, resulting primarily from adverse changes in foreign currency contract values. The 2014 results also benefitted from a $10 million decrease in pre-tax charges related to the cost-reduction initiatives that were completed in 2013. As a result, during the first nine months of 2014, income from operations doubled to $70 million and fully diluted earnings per share increased 83% to $0.66.

For the third quarter of 2014, sales were $169 million, a decrease of 5% compared to last year due to continued industry softness and the timing of new product launches compared to the same period last year. This decline in net sales, however, was more than offset by a 540 basis point improvement in gross margins, an $8 million improvement in operating expenses, and a $5 million improvement in other income due to positive changes in foreign currency contract values. As a result, income from operations improved to a loss of $3 million compared to a loss of $17 million for the third quarter last year and loss per share improved to a loss of $0.01 compared to a loss of $0.32 for the same period last year.  

GAAP RESULTS

For the third quarter of 2014, the Company reported the following results, as compared to the same period in 2013:

For the first nine months of 2014, the Company reported the following results, as compared to the same period in 2013:

"Overall, we are pleased with our results for the third quarter and first nine months," commented Chip Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While challenging market conditions have made sales growth in the first nine months of this year more difficult than we would have liked, we are encouraged by our market share gains and are confident that we are outperforming the industry. We are also benefitting from the many actions we have taken these past two years to improve our operating efficiencies, as we have been able to achieve significant improvements in profitability despite the effect of the headwinds on top-line performance."

"We believe we are well-positioned for the balance of 2014 and for 2015," continued Mr. Brewer. "Our brand continues to build momentum, our organization is strengthening, and we have an incredible product pipeline, including the Big Bertha Alpha Drivers, the Big Bertha Irons and Hybrids and our new Japan line of Big Bertha Beta Irons and Hybrids that are launching in the fourth quarter. As a result, we expect our recovery to continue with steady improvement in profitability."

Outlook for 2014

Given an improving industry outlook for the fourth quarter, coupled with the Company's planned new product launches, the Company is increasing its full year earnings guidance and updating its other guidance. The revised full year guidance is as follows:

Full Year

• Net sales for the full year 2014 are currently estimated to be approximately $890 million, an increase of 6% compared to $843 million in 2013. The Company's prior guidance was $880 million to $900 million. The Company believes this growth rate will exceed the overall market and be driven by brand momentum and market share gains.
• Gross margins are currently estimated to be approximately 41.0%, compared to prior guidance of 41.7%. This decrease is primarily the result of unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Gross margins were 37.3% in 2013. This anticipated improvement in 2014 is expected to result from improved operating efficiencies, improved pricing and mix of product sales, and the decrease in charges related to the cost-reduction initiatives.
• Operating expenses are currently estimated to be approximately $336 million, an improvement compared to previous guidance of $345 million due to the favorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates and lower stock price as well as effective cost management. The 2014 estimate is an increase compared to $326 million in 2013 due to a planned increase in investments in tour and marketing, higher variable sales related expenses, and modest cost of living increases.
• Pre-tax income is estimated to range from $18 million to $20 million, with a corresponding tax provision of approximately $5.6 million. Pre-tax income in 2013 was a loss of $13.3 million with a corresponding tax provision of $5.6 million.
• Fully diluted earnings per share is estimated to range from $0.15 to $0.18 on a base of 78 million shares, compared to a 2013 loss per share of $0.31 on 73 million shares. If the Company is successful in achieving these results, it would be the Company's first full year net profit since 2008 and would represent a significant milestone in the Company's turnaround.

Preliminary Outlook for 2015

The Company believes that it will continue to grow market share in 2015 and that industry conditions will improve. The Company, however, is anticipating continued headwinds from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates and retailer conservatism during the first half of 2015, as well as a reduction in closeout sales in 2015 compared to 2014. The Company believes that these factors will be offset by full year sales growth of 5%-6% in the Company's core channel business in 2015. The Company further cautioned that the strategic change in product launch timing will adversely impact its first quarter 2015 sales comparisons to 2014, although it will benefit the Company in the long-term. Considering all of these positive and negative factors, the Company is currently estimating that its net sales will grow 1%-2% on a consolidated basis in 2015. The Company also expects steady improvement in its profitability in 2015.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will be holding a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT today to discuss the Company's financial results, outlook and business. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed at www.callawaygolf.com. To listen to the call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes before the call to register and for instructions on how to access the broadcast. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately three hours after the call ends, and will remain available through 9:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday, October 30, 2014. The replay may be accessed through the Internet at www.callawaygolf.com.

Non-GAAP Information

The GAAP results contained in this press release and the financial statement schedules attached to this press release have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). To supplement the GAAP results, the Company has provided certain non-GAAP financial information as follows:

Constant Currency Basis. The Company provided certain information regarding the Company's net sales or projected net sales on a "constant currency basis." This information estimates the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the translation of the Company's current or projected future period net sales as compared to the applicable comparable prior period. This impact is derived by taking the current or projected local currency results and translating them into U.S. Dollars based upon the foreign currency exchange rates for the applicable comparable prior period. It does not include any other effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the Company's results or business.

Excluded Items. The Company presented certain of the Company's financial results excluding sales related to the products that were transitioned to a third party model, including apparel in certain regions.

Adjusted EBITDA. The Company provided information about its results, excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses, and impairment charges ("Adjusted EBITDA").

In addition, because the Company previously reported its 2013 results on a GAAP and Non-GAAP basis, the Company has included in the schedules to this release a reconciliation of such information for 2013. The non-GAAP information presented in this release and related schedules should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure derived in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP information may also be inconsistent with the manner in which similar measures are derived or used by other companies. Management uses such non-GAAP information for financial and operational decision-making purposes and as a means to evaluate period over period comparisons and in forecasting the Company's business going forward. Management believes that the presentation of such non-GAAP information, when considered in conjunction with the most directly comparable GAAP information, provides additional useful comparative information for investors in their assessment of the underlying performance of the Company's business without regard to these items. The Company has provided reconciling information in the attached schedules.

Forward-Looking Statements: Statements used in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results, performance or prospects, including statements relating to estimated 2015 or 2014 full year sales, sales growth, gross margins, operating expenses, pre-tax income, and earnings per share, as well as the Company's recovery and improved profitability, the creation of shareholder value, future market share gains, industry or market conditions, brand momentum, improved financial performance and future product launches or sales, are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon current information and expectations and are subject to various risks and unknowns including delays, difficulties, or increased costs in implementing the Company's turnaround strategy; consumer acceptance of and demand for the Company's products; the level of promotional activity in the marketplace; unfavorable weather conditions, future consumer discretionary purchasing activity, which can be significantly adversely affected by unfavorable economic or market conditions; future retailer purchasing activity, which can be significantly negatively affected by adverse industry conditions and overall retail inventory levels; and future changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the degree of effectiveness of the Company's hedging programs. Actual results may differ materially from those estimated or anticipated as a result of these risks and unknowns or other risks and uncertainties, including continued compliance with the terms of the Company's credit facility; delays, difficulties or increased costs in the supply of components needed to manufacture the Company's products or in designing or manufacturing the Company's products; any rule changes or other actions taken by the USGA or other golf association that could have an adverse impact upon demand or supply of the Company's products; a decrease in participation levels in golf; and the effect of terrorist activity, armed conflict, natural disasters or pandemic diseases on the economy generally, on the level of demand for the Company's products or on the Company's ability to manage its supply and delivery logistics in such an environment. For additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties that could affect these statements, the golf industry, and the Company's business, see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About Callaway Golf
Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) creates products designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf accessories, under the Callaway Golf® and Odyssey® brands worldwide. For more information please visit www.callawaygolf.com.

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