HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES INC (HVT) FY 2023 MD&A

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion provides an analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations from management's perspective and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report. The discussion in this Form 10-K generally focuses on the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. A discussion of our results of operations and changes in financial condition for the 2022 year compared to 2021 has been excluded from this report, but can be found in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Industry

The retail residential furniture industry’s results are influenced by the overall strength of the economy, new and existing housing sales, consumer confidence, spending on large ticket items, interest rates, and availability of credit. These factors remain tempered by impediments to industry growth, such as inflation, higher interest rates, rising consumer debt, home inventory constraints, tight access to home mortgage credit, and continuing economic uncertainty.

Our Business

We sell home furnishings in our retail stores and via our website and record revenue when the products are delivered to our customer. Our products are selected to appeal to a middle to upper-middle income consumer across a variety of styles. Our commissioned sales team members receive a high level of product training and are provided a number of tools with which to serve our customers. We also have over 110 in‑home designers serving most of our stores. These individuals work with our sales team members to provide customers additional confidence and inspiration in their furniture purchase journey. We do not outsource the delivery function, something common in the industry, but instead ensure that the “last contact” is handled by a customer-oriented Havertys delivery team. We are recognized as a provider of high-quality fashionable products and exceptional service in the markets we serve.

Management Objectives

Management is focused on capturing more market share and improving profitability. This growth will be driven by concentrating our efforts on our customers, with improved interactions highlighted by new products, high-touch service and better technology. In addition, our growth strategy includes the expansion of our retail operations to increase our footprint within our distribution network. The Company’s strategies for profitability include gross margin focus, targeted marketing initiatives, productivity and process improvements, and efficiency and cost-saving measures. Our focus is to serve our customers better and distinguish ourselves in the marketplace.

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Key Performance Indicators

We evaluate our performance based on several key metrics which include net sales, comparable store sales and written comparable store sales; sales per weighted average square foot; gross profit, selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of sales; operating income; cash flow; and earnings per share. The goal of utilizing these measurements is to provide tools for economic decision-making, including decisions related to store growth, capital allocation and product pricing.

Net sales is the revenue from merchandise sales and related fees, net of expected returns and sales tax. We record our sales when the merchandise is delivered to the customer.

Comparable-store or “comp-store” sales is a measure which indicates the performance of our existing stores and website by comparing the growth in sales in store and online for a particular month over the corresponding month in the prior year. Stores are considered non-comparable if they were not open during the corresponding month in the prior year or if the selling square footage has been changed by more than 10%. Large clearance sales events from warehouses or temporary locations are also excluded from comparable store sales. The method we use to compute comp-store sales may not be the same method used by other retailers.

We also track written sales and written comp-store sales. Written sales reflect those instances when a customer makes a deposit or pays in full when placing an order. Written sales shows the current pace or trend of customer transactions. The lag time between customers' order placement and delivery grew in 2020 and continued through mid-2022 due to disruptions in supply chain and demand that outpaced merchandise supply but normalized in 2023. As a retailer, comp‑store sales and written comp‑store sales are an indicator of relative customer spending and store performance. Comp-store sales, total written sales and written comp-store sales are intended only as supplemental information and are not a substitute for net sales presented in accordance with US GAAP.

Sales per weighted average (“WAVG”) square foot is calculated by dividing net sales by WAVG square footage. WAVG square footage is a daily WAVG based on the ratio of the days open in a period to the total days in the period.

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Results of Operations

The table and discussion below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this report.

(1)Stores were closed and delivery operations were paused for approximately six weeks due to COVID-19.

(2)Includes impairment loss of $2.4 million, or $1.8 million after tax, on a retail store in 2019 which impacted diluted earnings per share $0.09.

(3)Includes gain of $31.6 million on a sale-leaseback transaction in 2020 which impacted diluted earnings per share $1.24.

(4)Includes special dividends of $1.00 for Common Stock and $0.95 for Class A Common Stock paid in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 2022, and $2.00 for Common Stock and $1.90 for Class A Common Stock paid in the fourth quarter of 2021 and 2020.

(5)We adopted ASC 840 effective January 1, 2019. The cumulative effect included a reduction of property and equipment, net of $53,519,000. Amortization of buildings under lease was included in depreciation expense.

(6)We have no funded debt.

(7)Average ticket is calculated by dividing total sales by the number of orders.

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Net Sales

The following outlines our sales and comp-store sales increases and decreases for the periods indicated. (Amounts and percentages may not always add to totals due to rounding.)

Sales in 2023 were below the record levels of the previous two years. The soft housing market has contributed to the slowing pace of sales along with persistent inflationary pressures and shifts in consumer spending. During the first quarter of 2023 we benefited from the delivery of previously written orders. Consumers have returned to their historical shopping patterns of concentrating spending around traditional holiday events and our in-store traffic has declined, particularly outside these peak periods. Our sales associates and design consultants are providing excellent service to each customer, and average ticket value was up 3.4% over last year. Design consultant engagement increased in 2023 and accounted for 28.5% of our 2023 sales, with an average written ticket of $6,486. Merchandise sales for most categories have returned to their historical pre-COVID percentages of total sales, with the exception of mattresses. (See Note 2, "Revenues and Segment Reporting" of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

Gross Profit

Our cost of goods sold consists primarily of the purchase price of the merchandise together with inbound freight, handling within our distribution centers and transportation costs to the local markets we serve. Our gross profit is primarily dependent upon vendor pricing, the mix of products sold and promotional pricing activity. Substantially all of our occupancy and home delivery costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses as is a portion of our warehousing expenses. Accordingly, our gross profit may not be comparable to those entities that include some of these expenses in cost of goods sold.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 60.7% in 2023 compared to 57.7% in 2022. The increase of 300 basis points was primarily due to reductions in freight and product costs. The change in the LIFO reserve generated a positive impact on gross profit of $9.4 million for 2023 compared to a negative impact of $10.8 million in 2022.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses are comprised of five categories: selling, occupancy, delivery and certain warehousing costs, advertising, and administrative. Selling expenses are primarily comprised of compensation of sales team members and sales support staff, and fees paid to credit card and third-party finance companies. Occupancy costs include rents, depreciation charges, insurance and property taxes, repairs and maintenance expense and utility costs. Delivery costs include personnel, fuel costs, and depreciation and rental charges for rolling stock.

Warehouse costs include supplies, depreciation, and rental charges for equipment. Advertising expenses are primarily media production and space expenditures, direct mail costs, market research expenses and agency fees. Administrative expenses are comprised of compensation costs for store personnel exclusive of sales team members, information systems, executive, accounting, merchandising, advertising, supply chain, real estate and human resource departments.

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We classify our SG&A expenses as either variable or fixed and discretionary. Our variable expenses include the costs in the selling and delivery categories and certain warehouse expenses as these amounts will generally move in tandem with our level of sales. The remaining categories and expenses are classified as fixed and discretionary because these costs do not fluctuate with sales.

The following table outlines our SG&A expenses by classification:

Our SG&A costs as a percent of sales for 2023 were 52.9% versus 46.4% in 2022. SG&A dollars decreased $30.5 million, or 6.3%, for 2023 compared to 2022. The change is driven by the reduction in sales and lower variable costs and less leveraging of fixed costs. Our selling expenses were $14.1 million lower, inclusive of an $0.8 million increase in third-party credit costs due to rate increases. Warehouse, delivery, and transportation expenses declined $10.2 million from 2022 to 2023 as we adjusted personnel levels, fuel prices fell, and our accessorial charges declined. Advertising expenditures were $7.9 million lower in 2023 compared to 2022 and our occupancy costs were relatively flat. Our total administrative expenses were basically unchanged for 2023 compared to 2022 as lower compensation costs were offset by higher professional service fees.

Interest (Income) Expense, Net

We earned $3.9 million more interest income, net of interest expense, in 2023 than in 2022 due to higher rates paid on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash equivalents.

Provision for Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was 22.5% in 2023 compared to 25.2% in 2022. The rates vary from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes. See Note 7, “Income Taxes” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about our income taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At December 31, 2023, we had $120.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $7.1 million in restricted cash equivalents. See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our restricted cash equivalents. We believe that our current cash position, cash flow generated from operations, funds available from our credit agreement, and access to the long-term debt capital markets should be sufficient for our operating requirements and to enable us to fund our capital expenditures, dividend payments, and lease obligations through the next several years.

Our material cash requirements include contractual and other obligations arising in the normal course of business. These obligations primarily include operating lease obligations and purchase obligations. In addition to our cash requirements, we follow a disciplined approach to capital allocation. This approach first prioritizes investing in the business, followed by paying dividends. We may also return excess cash to shareholders in the form of share repurchases or special cash dividends. We expect capital expenditures of approximately $32.0 million in 2024 to support our operations and strategic expansion, however these plans are subject to other potential opportunities, the economic environment, general business conditions and our financial performance.

Long-Term Debt

We currently have a $80.0 million revolving credit facility (the "Credit Agreement") with a bank. As of December 31, 2023, we had no outstanding borrowings and $80.0 million of available borrowings under the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement matures October 24, 2027. See Note 5, “Credit Arrangement” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information about our Credit Agreement.

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Leases

We use operating leases to fund a portion of our real estate, including our stores, distribution centers, and store support space.

At December 31, 2023, we had aggregate lease obligations of $217.8 million, with $37.4 million payable within 12 months. See Note 8, “Leases” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of our operating leases.

Share Repurchases

The board of directors has authorized management, at its discretion, to purchase and retire limited amounts of our Common Stock and Class A Common Stock. We made cash payments of $6.9 million for repurchases of approximately 227,000 shares of our Common Stock through open market purchases during 2023 and there is approximately $13.1 million at December 31, 2023 that may yet be purchased under the existing authorization.

Cash Flows Summary

Operating Activities. Cash flow generated from operations provides us with a significant source of liquidity. Our operating cash flows result primarily from cash received from our customers, offset by cash payments we make for products and services, employee compensation, operations, and occupancy costs.

Cash provided by or used in operating activities is also subject to changes in working capital. Working capital at any specific point in time is subject to many variables, including seasonality, inventory selection, the timing of cash receipts and payments, and vendor payment terms.

Net cash provided by operating activities in 2023 was $97.2 million driven primarily by net income of $56.3 million and non-cash adjustments to net income of $26.7 million consisting primarily of depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation expense, and by working capital changes driven primarily by a $24.4 million decrease in inventories partly offset by a $12.1 million reduction in customer deposits.

Net cash provided by operating activities in 2022 was $51.0 million driven primarily by net income of $89.4 million and non-cash adjustments to net income of $25.8 million consisting primarily of depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation expense, and by working capital changes driven primarily by a $50.9 million reduction in customer deposits.

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Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities in 2023 consisted primarily of $53.1 million of capital expenditures.

Cash used in investing activities in 2022 primarily reflected $28.4 million of capital expenditures.

Financing Activities. Cash used in financing activities in 2023 consisted primarily of $19.1 million of quarterly cash dividends, $16.1 of special cash dividends, and $6.9 million of share repurchases.

Cash used in financing activities in 2022 primarily reflected $17.9 million of quarterly cash dividends, $16.1 of special cash dividends, and $30.0 million of share repurchases.

Store Expansion and Capital Expenditures

We have entered new markets and made continued improvements and relocations of our store base. The following outlines the change in our selling square footage for each of the three years ended December 31 (square footage in thousands):

The following table summarizes our store activity in 2023 and current plans for 2024.

Assuming the new stores open and existing stores close as planned, the above activity and other changes should increase net selling space in 2024 approximately 2.8% compared to 2023.

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Our investing activities in stores and operations in 2023, 2022 and 2021 and planned outlays for 2024 are categorized in the table below. Capital expenditures for stores in the years noted do not necessarily coincide with the years in which the stores open.

(1)In 2023 we purchased one distribution facility that was previously leased and in 2021 we purchased one retail location and one distribution facility that were previously leased.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions

Our discussion and analysis is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, and evaluate our estimates and judgments required by our policies on an ongoing basis and update them as appropriate based on changing conditions.

Accounting estimates are considered critical if both of the following conditions are met: (a) the nature of the estimates or assumptions is material because of the levels of subjectivity and judgment needed to account for matters that are highly uncertain and susceptible to change and (b) the effect of the estimates and assumptions is material to the financial statements.

We have reviewed our accounting estimates, and none were deemed to be considered critical for the accounting periods presented.