CARLSBAD, Calif., May 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) announced today record net sales for the first quarter of 2019 and increased its earnings per share guidance for the first half and full year 2019.

In the first quarter of 2019, as compared to the same period in 2018, the Company's net sales increased $113 million (28%) to $516 million, a new record for the Company, and Adjusted EBITDA increased $4 million (4%) to $93 million. These results were achieved despite an estimated $15 million negative impact from changes in foreign currency rates and reflect the acquisition of Jack Wolfskin in January 2019, which contributed $93 million in net sales in the first quarter of 2019. These first quarter 2019 results, compared to the first quarter of 2018, also reflect increased sales in both the Golf Equipment segment (+3.6%) and the Apparel, Gear & Other segment (+112%), as well as in all major product categories and in all major regions as follows:

"We are pleased with our first quarter 2019 results and the strong start to the year in both our golf equipment and soft goods businesses," commented Chip Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Callaway Golf Company. "These results reflect the addition of our Jack Wolfskin business as well as strong growth in all major product categories and regions. We are especially pleased to be able to deliver these results despite foreign exchange headwinds and flat golf market conditions in the first quarter."

Mr. Brewer continued, "We remain excited about the long-term prospects for the Jack Wolfskin brand and the growth and scale opportunities it presents for our overall apparel portfolio. In the short-term, however, we are lowering our outlook for this business for 2019 due to lower than anticipated pre-books for the fall/winter season as a result of the much reported softer market conditions in Central Europe and China. We firmly believe that this will be a short-term issue and we remain excited about this business over the long-term. Fortunately, given our brand momentum and the success of our 2019 product lineup, our golf equipment and TravisMathew businesses are exceeding our expectations, allowing us to confirm our full year net sales and adjusted EBITDA guidance despite stronger foreign currency exchange headwinds."

GAAP and Non-GAAP Results

In addition to the Company's results prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company provided information on a non-GAAP basis. The purpose of this non-GAAP presentation is to provide additional information to investors regarding the underlying performance of the Company's business without certain non-recurring items and non-cash purchase accounting adjustments related to our acquisitions.

The Company also provided sales information on a constant currency basis and information regarding its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash stock compensation, and the non-recurring OGIO, TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin transaction and transition-related expenses ("Adjusted EBITDA").

The manner in which this non-GAAP information is derived is discussed further 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.

Summary of First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

The Company announced the following GAAP and non-GAAP financial results for the first quarter of 2019 (in millions, except EPS):

For the first quarter of 2019, the Company's net sales increased $113 million (28%) to $516 million, compared to $403 million for the same period in 2018. Net sales increased in all operating segments, in all major product categories and in all major regions. The Jack Wolfskin business, which was acquired in January 2019, contributed $93 million in net sales in the first quarter. Excluding the Jack Wolfskin business and a $8 million negative impact on the core business, first quarter net sales increased 7% on a constant currency basis. The 7% increase in constant currency core net sales is attributable to the strength of the Company's entire 2019 golf equipment product line and continued brand momentum in the TravisMathew business despite a flat golf market in the first quarter of 2019.

For the first quarter of 2019, the Company's gross margin decreased 350 basis points to 46.2% compared to 49.7% for the first quarter of 2018, which is slightly better than the Company's expectations. Excluding non-cash purchase accounting adjustments related to the Jack Wolfskin acquisition and a 70 basis point negative impact from changes in foreign currency rates, gross margins were 47.9%, a decrease of 180 basis points. This decrease is primarily attributable to the seasonality of the Jack Wolfskin business as well as the current year product mix of higher priced products which typically have lower gross margins due to more advanced technology, partially offset by the TravisMathew business, which is accretive on a gross margin basis.

Operating expenses increased $55 million to $169 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $114 million for the same period in 2018. Excluding one-time costs related to the Jack Wolfskin acquisition, operating expenses were $163 million, an increase of $49 million in the quarter. This increase is primarily due to the addition in 2019 of operating expenses from the Jack Wolfskin business, and investments in the TravisMathew business and the golf equipment business.

First quarter 2019 earnings per share decreased $0.15 to $0.50, compared to $0.65 for the first quarter of 2018. On a non-GAAP basis, 2019 first quarter earnings per share was $0.63, which excludes $0.13 per share related to the non-cash purchase accounting adjustments and the non-recurring transaction and transition expenses related to the Jack Wolfskin acquisition. The non-GAAP earnings in 2019 includes an $8 million increase in interest expense related to the new term loan entered into in January 2019 to fund the purchase of Jack Wolfskin. This increased interest expense was substantially offset by hedging gains recorded in the quarter and a lower tax rate.

Business Outlook for 2019

Basis for Full Year 2019 Non-GAAP Estimates. The Company currently estimates that non-cash purchase accounting adjustments will have a negative impact on 2019 earnings per share in the amount of $0.09 to $0.16. The non-cash amortization expense related to the purchase accounting for the OGIO and TravisMathew acquisitions will have a $0.01 negative impact on earnings per share in 2019, consistent with 2018. Both of these estimates are unchanged from the Company's prior estimates.

The Company's non-GAAP guidance for 2019 excludes the impact of the purchase accounting adjustments related to the Jack Wolfskin, TravisMathew and OGIO acquisitions mentioned above as well as $0.07 of non-recurring transaction and transition expenses related to the Jack Wolfskin transaction. For consistency and comparability purposes, the 2018 non-GAAP adjusted results presented below also exclude the non-cash purchase accounting amortization for the OGIO and TravisMathew acquisitions discussed above as well as the $0.01 of non-recurring transaction income related to the Jack Wolfskin acquisition.

Full Year 2019 Guidance

(in millions, except EPS):

The Company reiterates its previous guidance for full year 2019 net sales growth of 34% - 37%. Due to softening market conditions in Europe and China, the Company now expects that Jack Wolfskin's full year 2019 net sales will be 4% - 6% (or 2% - 3% on a constant currency basis) lower than the previous estimate of $382 million. Given the strong 2019 first quarter growth in the Company's other golf equipment, apparel and accessories businesses, the Company anticipates that growth in those other businesses will offset the expected lower sales in the Jack Wolfskin business. These estimates assume no further material changes in foreign currency exchange rates in 2019, which are expected to have a negative $35 million impact on 2019 full year net sales compared to 2018.

The Company reiterates its previous guidance of 47.0% for 2019 gross margins, which are estimated to be approximately 50 basis points higher than 2018. The anticipated negative impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on gross margins for the full year are anticipated to be offset by continued improvements in operating performance.

The Company reiterates its previous 2019 operating expense guidance of $630 million.

The Company increased its non-GAAP earnings per share guidance to $0.96 - $1.06 driven by lower interest costs and a lower effective tax rate, which is currently estimated at 20.5% for full year 2019. These estimates still assume a base of 97 million fully diluted shares.

The Company reiterated its full year 2019 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $200 million - $215 million which is consistent with prior guidance. The Adjusted EBITDA in the core golf equipment, apparel and accessories businesses is expected to be offset by lower expected Adjusted EBITDA for the Jack Wolfskin business. The Company now expects the 2019 Adjusted EBITDA contribution of the Jack Wolfskin business to be $20 million - $26 million, compared to prior guidance of $33 million. The decrease is due to softer market conditions in Central Europe and China, particularly in the second half of 2019. Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-cash stock compensation expense, as well as purchase accounting adjustments and non-recurring transaction and transition expenses related to the Jack Wolfskin acquisition.

First Half 2019

Basis for First Half 2019 Non-GAAP Estimates. In order to make the 2019 guidance more comparable to 2018, as discussed above, the Company has presented 2019 first half guidance, as well as the comparable period in 2018, on a non-GAAP basis. The non-GAAP presentation excludes non-cash purchase accounting amortization and non-recurring transaction and transition expenses related to the Jack Wolfskin, TravisMathew, and OGIO acquisitions in the amount of approximately $0.19 for the first half of 2019. The effect of these items on the first half of 2018 was nominal.

(in millions, except EPS):

The Company revised first half 2019 guidance for net sales, non-GAAP earnings per share, and Adjusted EBITDA. The Company now expects first half net sales growth of 17% - 19% compared to 2018 driven by increases in the core golf equipment, apparel and accessories businesses despite an estimated negative impact of $24 million related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to 2018.

The Company increased its non-GAAP earnings per share guidance to $0.84 - $0.89 driven by net sales increases in the core golf equipment, apparel, and accessories businesses, a lower estimated tax rate and hedging gains recorded in the first quarter. These estimates still assume a base of 97 million shares.

The Company increased first half 2019 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $142 million - $148 million. The increase is driven by net sales increases in the core golf equipment, apparel and accessories businesses, and hedging gains recorded in the first quarter. Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-cash stock compensation expense, as well as purchase accounting adjustments and non-recurring transaction and transition expenses related to the Jack Wolfskin acquisition.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will be holding a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time 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 http://ir.callawaygolf.com/. To listen to the call, and to access the Company's presentation materials, 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. Pacific time on May 16, 2019. The replay may be accessed through the Internet at http://ir.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 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 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 provides information about its results excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses, as well as non-recurring OGIO, TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin transaction and transition expenses.

Other Adjustments. The Company presents certain of its financial results excluding the non-recurring OGIO, TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin transaction and transition expenses.

In addition, the Company has included in the schedules to this release a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP information to the most directly comparable 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, prospects or growth and scale opportunities, including statements relating to the Company's estimated 2019 sales, gross margins, operating expenses, and earnings per share (or related tax rate and share count), future industry, market conditions, brand momentum, and the assumed benefits to be derived from investments in the Company's core business or the OGIO, TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin acquisitions, are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "estimate," "could," "should," "intend," "may," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made and are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based upon current information and expectations. Accurately estimating the forward-looking statements is based upon various risks and unknowns, including unanticipated delays, difficulties or increased costs in integrating the acquired OGIO, TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin businesses or implementing the Company's growth strategy generally; the Company's ability to successfully integrate, operate and expand the retail stores of the acquired TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin businesses, softening market conditions in various parts of the world, any changes in U.S. trade, tax or other policies, including restrictions on imports or an increase in import tariffs; consumer acceptance of and demand for the Company's and its subsidiaries' products; competitive pressures; 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 facilities; delays, difficulties or increased costs in the supply of components or commodities needed to manufacture the Company's products or in manufacturing the Company's products; the ability to secure professional tour player endorsements at reasonable costs; 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 and its subsidiaries' 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, 2018 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 Company
Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) is a premium golf equipment and active lifestyle company with a portfolio of global brands, including Callaway Golf, Odyssey, OGIO, TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin. Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway manufactures and sells premium golf clubs, golf balls, golf and lifestyle bags, golf and lifestyle apparel and other accessories. For more information please visit www.callawaygolf.com, www.odysseygolf.com, www.OGIO.com, www.travismathew.com, and www.jack-wolfskin.com.