CARLSBAD, Calif., July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) today announced its second quarter financial results and revised its full year financial outlook. For the second quarter, despite headwinds from unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates and softer than anticipated international market conditions (particularly in Asia), the Company achieved second quarter net sales essentially flat with 2014 but growing over 6% on a constant currency basis. Due to significantly improved gross margins, the Company also increased second quarter 2015 operating income by 72% compared to the same period in 2014 and increased earnings per share by $0.11 to $0.15. As a result of the more challenging international market conditions and the higher than anticipated profitability, the Company revised its full year net sales estimates to $830 - $840 million (as compared to its prior estimate of $840 - $860 million) and increased its earnings outlook to $0.01 - $0.06 earnings per share (as compared to its prior estimate of a loss of ($0.03) to earnings of $0.04 per share).

"Overall, we are pleased with our performance in the second quarter and the progress we have made turning our business around," commented Chip Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Callaway Golf Company. "Foreign currency exchange rates and softer than expected market conditions in Asia have proved challenging this year; however, our brand momentum and market shares have continued to increase, we have made substantial progress improving our profitability, and our product pipeline remains robust. Looking forward, despite a continued rebalancing of retail inventory in Asia, we are encouraged by the overall fundamentals of the golf industry with less overall promotional activity, more reasonable production and inventory levels, and a general stabilization of participation in golf."

Summary of Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results

GAAP and Constant Currency Results

In addition to the Company's results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company also provided additional information concerning its results on a non-GAAP basis. This non-GAAP information presents the Company's financial results on a constant currency basis, which is calculated by excluding the offsetting hedging gains and losses recorded during the period and applying the prior period exchange rates to the adjusted current period local currency results. The manner in which this constant currency information is derived is discussed in more detail toward the end of this release, and the Company has provided in the tables to this release a reconciliation of the non-GAAP information to the most directly comparable GAAP information.   

For the second quarter of 2015, the Company announced the following GAAP and constant currency financial results, as compared to the same period in 2014 (in millions, except eps):

The Company's $231 million in net sales for the second quarter of 2015 were essentially flat with net sales of $232 million for the same period in 2014 despite unfavorable changes in foreign currency rates and softer than anticipated market conditions in the international markets, particularly Asia.  Unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates negatively affected 2015 second quarter net sales by approximately $16 million.  On a constant currency basis, net sales for the second quarter of 2015 grew by over 6% compared to 2014.

The Company's earnings per share for the second quarter of 2015 increased by $0.11 per share to $0.15 compared to $0.04 for the same period in 2014.  Despite flat sales, the Company was able to significantly improve its earnings as a result of a 500 basis point improvement in gross margins due to more favorable product pricing and mix of higher margin products as well as improved operational efficiencies. This significant improvement in gross margins more than offset a slight increase in operating expenses. On a constant currency basis, the Company's earnings per share would have been $0.30. Compared to 2014, the Company's earnings per share for the second quarter of 2015 were also adversely affected by an increase of over 16 million common equivalent shares in the earnings per share calculation.  

Summary of First Half 2015 Financial Results

GAAP and Constant Currency Results

As noted above, in addition to the Company's results prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company also provided additional information concerning its results on a non-GAAP basis. This non-GAAP information presents the Company's financial results on a constant currency basis, which is calculated by excluding the offsetting hedging gains and losses recorded during the period and applying the prior period exchange rates to the adjusted current period local currency results. The manner in which this constant currency information is derived is discussed in more detail toward the end of this release and the Company has provided in the tables to this release a reconciliation of the non-GAAP information to the most directly comparable GAAP information.  

For the first half of 2015, the Company announced the following GAAP and constant currency financial results, as compared to the same period in 2014 (in millions, except eps):

For the first half of 2015, the Company's net sales decreased 12% (or 6% on a constant currency basis), compared to the same period in 2014.  The decrease was largely the result of unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, a strategic shift in product launch timing which adversely affected first quarter net sales, and softer than expected market conditions in the Company's international markets, particularly in Asia.  The effects of the strategic shift in launch timing should smooth out as the year progresses.

The Company's earnings per share for the first half of 2015 decreased $0.12 compared to the first half of 2014 primarily due to unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which adversely affected 2015 first half earnings per share by $0.26.  On a constant currency basis, the Company's first half earnings per share increased 21% to $0.80 due to a 400 basis point constant currency improvement in gross margins and a decrease in operating expenses.

Business Outlook for 2015

Given the softer than anticipated market conditions in the Company's international markets and the Company's significantly improved gross margins, the Company is revising its full year sales estimates and increasing its full year earnings estimates. Given the significant effects that foreign currencies will have on the Company's GAAP results in 2015, the Company has provided guidance on both a GAAP and constant currency basis. The GAAP guidance is generally based upon a blend of current foreign currency exchange rates and the exchange rates at which the Company entered into hedging transactions. The Company's hedging program will mitigate but not eliminate the effects of future foreign currency rate changes and therefore any such future changes will affect the Company's GAAP guidance. The constant currency estimates are derived by taking the estimated 2015 local currency results and translating them into U.S. Dollars based upon the foreign currency exchange rates for the comparable period in 2014.

Full Year

The Company currently estimates the following full year results for 2015:

The decline in the Company's estimates for full year net sales from its previous GAAP guidance of $840 - $860 million is due to softer than anticipated international market conditions. A further strengthening of the U.S. Dollar for the balance of the year would also negatively affect the Company's GAAP sales estimates.

The Company estimates that its 2015 GAAP gross margins as a percent of sales will improve approximately 100 basis points from its previous guidance of 41.0% due to a stronger sales mix and continued operational improvements.

The Company estimates that its 2015 GAAP operating expenses will remain consistent with its previous guidance, despite the decrease in first half operating expenses. Much of the first half decrease reflects a timing shift of marketing expense to support second half product launches and incremental marketing support for the Chrome Soft golf balls. 

The Company estimates that its 2015 Pre-tax income will increase from its previous guidance of $4 - $11 million due to improved gross margins more than offsetting the lower net sales estimates. 

The Company estimates that its fully diluted earnings per share will increase from its previous guidance of ($0.03) - $0.04 due to improved gross margins more than offsetting the softer than expected international market conditions. The Company's 2015 earnings per share estimates assume a base of 80 million shares as compared to 78 million shares in 2014.

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 Wednesday, August 5, 2015.  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 financial results or projected financial results on a "constant currency basis."  This information estimates the impact of changes in foreign currency rates on the translation of the Company's current or projected future period financial results as compared to the applicable comparable period.  This impact is derived by excluding the offsetting hedging gains and losses recorded during the applicable period and taking the adjusted current or projected local currency results and translating them into U.S. Dollars based upon the foreign currency exchange rates for the applicable comparable period. It does not include any other effect of changes in foreign currency rates on the Company's results or business.  

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

In addition, the Company has included in the schedules to this release a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP information to the most directly correlated GAAP information.  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 the estimated 2015 net sales, gross margins, operating expenses, pre-tax income, and earnings per share (or related share count), as well as the Company's recovery, and ability to maximize current conditions or to leverage and capitalize on improved conditions, are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based upon current information and expectations.  Accurately estimating the forward-looking statements is based upon 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; 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; unfavorable weather conditions and seasonality; the ability to manage international business risks; 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 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, 2014 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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