NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kirkland's, Inc. (NASDAQ:KIRK) ("Kirkland's Home" or the "Company"), a specialty retailer of home décor and furnishings, announced financial results for the 13-week and 39-week periods ended October 28, 2023.

Third Quarter 2023 Summary

Net sales were $116.4 million, with comparable sales decreasing 9.2%.
Gross profit margin improved 130 basis points year-over-year to 26.3%.
Operating loss was flat year-over-year at $6.7 million.
Adjusted EBITDA loss of $3.2 million.
Ended the period with a cash balance of $5.8 million and $62.0 million in outstanding debt.
Closed one store and relocated one store to end the quarter with 339 stores.

Management Commentary

"The third quarter demonstrated execution of our strategic repositioning as we experienced sequential improvements in traffic and comparable sales each month of the quarter, along with expanded gross margins," said Ann Joyce, interim CEO of Kirkland's Home. "Over the last six months, we have spent a significant amount of time assessing every aspect of the business and acted quickly to implement changes to better position us going into our ever-important holiday selling season. During the quarter, we saw promising indicators that our pivots are beginning to work. We increased lapsed customer reactivations, drove improved traffic and conversion with less promotional activity, reduced operating expenses, and improved our inventory position for the remainder of the year.

"While persistent challenges in the macro-economy continue to weigh on consumers, we believe that our renewed emphasis on value and seasonally relevant décor is beginning to resonate with our customers. In fact, the trend continued into the fiscal fourth quarter, which has started off with a low single-digit increase in comparable sales for the month of November at a much-improved merchandise margin as we continue to execute against our holiday promotional strategy.

"Although there is still much work to be done, we are optimistic and encouraged by our recent improvements. We expect solid year-over-year improvement in profitability during the fourth quarter as we continue to progress towards our goal of returning to our historical average adjusted EBITDA margin in the mid-to-high single-digit range. In fiscal 2024, we will look to build off this recent momentum and continue to execute upon our strategy to return the Company to profitable growth."

Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Net sales in the third quarter of 2023 were $116.4 million, compared to $131.0 million in the prior year quarter. Comparable same-store sales decreased 9.2%, including an 8.5% decline in e-commerce sales. The decrease was primarily driven by a decline in traffic and a decrease in average ticket, partially offset by increased conversion.

Gross profit in the third quarter of 2023 was $30.7 million, or 26.3% of net sales, compared to $32.7 million, or 25.0% of net sales in the prior year quarter. The improvement as a percentage of net sales was primarily a result of improved merchandise margin, partially offset by the deleverage of fixed cost components on the lower sales base.

Operating loss in the third quarter of 2023 and 2022 remained consistent at $6.7 million, as lower operating costs, including reduced corporate compensation expense, offset the decline in gross profit dollars.

EBITDA in the third quarter of 2023 was a loss of $3.9 million compared to a loss of $2.6 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2023 was a loss of $3.2 million compared to a loss of $1.7 million in the prior year quarter.

Net loss in the third quarter of 2023 improved to $6.4 million, or a loss of $0.50 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $7.3 million, or a loss of $0.58 per diluted share in the prior year quarter.

As of October 28, 2023, the Company had a cash balance of $5.8 million, with $62.0 million of outstanding debt under its $90.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility. As of November 30, 2023, the Company had $35.0 million of outstanding debt under its senior secured revolving credit facility.

Investor Conference Call and Web Simulcast

Kirkland's Home management will host a conference call to discuss its financial results for the third quarter ended October 28, 2023, followed by a question-and-answer period with Interim CEO Ann Joyce, President and COO Amy Sullivan, and EVP and CFO Mike Madden.

Date: Thursday, November 30, 2023

Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Toll-free dial-in number: (855) 560-2577

International dial-in number: (412) 542-4163

Conference ID: 10184344

Please call the conference telephone number 10-15 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at (949) 574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.kirklands.com. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and remain available for one year.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available after the conference call through December 7, 2023.

Toll-free replay number: (877) 344-7529

International replay number: (412) 317-0088

Replay ID: 7702205

About Kirkland's, Inc.

Kirkland's, Inc. is a specialty retailer of home décor and furnishings in the United States, currently operating 339 stores in 35 states as well as an e-commerce website, www.kirklands.com, under the Kirkland's Home brand. The Company provides its customers with an engaging shopping experience characterized by a curated, affordable selection of home décor along with inspirational design ideas. This combination of quality and stylish merchandise, value pricing and a stimulating online and store experience allows the Company's customers to furnish their home at a great value. More information can be found at www.kirklands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, certain statements in this release, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to the finalization of the Company's quarterly financial and accounting procedures. Forward-looking statements deal with potential future circumstances and developments and are, accordingly, forward-looking in nature. You are cautioned that such forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "seek," "may," "could," "strategy," and similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks associated with the Company's liquidity including cash flows from operations and the amount of borrowings under the secured revolving credit facility, the Company's actual and anticipated progress towards its short-term and long-term objectives including its brand strategy, the risk that natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks (such as COVID-19), global political events, war and terrorism could impact the Company's revenues, inventory and supply chain, the continuing consumer impact of inflation and countermeasures, including raising interest rates, the effectiveness of the Company's marketing campaigns, risks related to changes in U.S. policy related to imported merchandise, particularly with regard to the impact of tariffs on goods imported from China and strategies undertaken to mitigate such impact, the Company's ability to retain its senior management team, continued volatility in the price of the Company's common stock, the competitive environment in the home décor industry in general and in the Company's specific market areas, inflation, fluctuations in cost and availability of inventory, increased transportation costs and potential interruptions in supply chain, distribution systems and delivery network, including our e-commerce systems and channels, the ability to control employment and other operating costs, availability of suitable retail locations and other growth opportunities, disruptions in information technology systems including the potential for security breaches of the Company's information or its customers' information, seasonal fluctuations in consumer spending, and economic conditions in general. Those and other risks are more fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 4, 2023 and subsequent reports. Forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date of this release. Any changes in assumptions or factors on which such statements are based could produce materially different results. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

Contact:	Kirkland's Home	Gateway Group, Inc.
	Mike Madden	Cody Slach and Cody Cree
	(615) 872-4800	KIRK@gateway-grp.com
		(949) 574-3860

KIRKLAND'S, INC. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data)

	13-Week Period Ended
	October 28,		October 29,
	2023		2022
Net sales	$	116,365	$	130,962
Cost of sales		85,712		98,275
Gross profit		30,653		32,687
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits		19,841		20,794
Other operating expenses		16,104		16,757
Depreciation (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales)		1,043		1,577
Asset impairment		316		219
Total operating expenses		37,304		39,347
Operating loss		(6,651)		(6,660)
Other expense, net		1,036		624
Loss before income taxes		(7,687)		(7,284)
Income tax (benefit) expense		(1,290)		57
Net loss	$	(6,397)	$	(7,341)
Loss per share:
Basic	$	(0.50)	$	(0.58)
Diluted	$	(0.50)	$	(0.58)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		12,921		12,754
Diluted		12,921		12,754

KIRKLAND'S, INC. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data)

	39-Week Period Ended
	October 28,		October 29,
	2023		2022
Net sales	$	302,744	$	336,348
Cost of sales		228,781		256,844
Gross profit		73,963		79,504
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits		59,097		63,193
Other operating expenses		44,932		50,549
Depreciation (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales)		3,471		4,870
Asset impairment		1,542		447
Total operating expenses		109,042		119,059
Operating loss		(35,079)		(39,555)
Other expense, net		2,069		991
Loss before income taxes		(37,148)		(40,546)
Income tax expense		720		355
Net loss	$	(37,868)	$	(40,901)
Loss per share:
Basic	$	(2.95)	$	(3.22)
Diluted	$	(2.95)	$	(3.22)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		12,852		12,686
Diluted		12,852		12,686

KIRKLAND'S, INC. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands)

	October 28,		January 28,		October 29,
	2023		2023		2022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	5,765	$	5,171	$	11,245
Inventories, net		105,190		84,071		126,315
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5,863		5,089		7,126
Total current assets		116,818		94,331		144,686
Property and equipment, net		31,648		38,676		42,629
Operating lease right-of-use assets		130,513		134,525		136,280
Other assets		6,848		6,714		7,979
Total assets	$	285,827	$	274,246	$	331,574
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	55,729	$	43,739	$	47,157
Accrued expenses		23,484		26,069		27,027
Operating lease liabilities		39,966		41,499		40,156
Total current liabilities		119,179		111,307		114,340
Operating lease liabilities		108,248		114,613		119,254
Revolving line of credit		62,000		15,000		60,000
Other liabilities		3,685		3,553		4,915
Total liabilities		293,112		244,473		298,509
Shareholders' (deficit) equity		(7,285)		29,773		33,065
Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit) equity	$	285,827	$	274,246	$	331,574

KIRKLAND'S, INC. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands)

	39-Week Period Ended
	October 28,		October 29,
	2023		2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(37,868)	$	(40,901)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation of property and equipment		9,118		12,925
Amortization of debt issue costs		80		69
Asset impairment		1,542		447
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment		(20)		195
Stock-based compensation expense		891		1,460
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories, net		(21,119)		(12,286)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(891)		3,184
Accounts payable		11,885		(14,648)
Accrued expenses		(2,775)		(1,873)
Income taxes payable (refundable)		307		(1,684)
Operating lease assets and liabilities		(3,933)		(4,670)
Other assets and liabilities		97		(427)
Net cash used in operating activities		(42,686)		(58,209)

Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		130		35
Capital expenditures		(3,313)		(6,964)
Net cash used in investing activities		(3,183)		(6,929)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving line of credit		52,000		60,000
Repayments on revolving line of credit		(5,000)		—
Debt issuance costs		(456)		—
Cash used in net share settlement of stock options and restricted stock units		(81)		(2,383)
Proceeds received from employee stock option exercises		—		16
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		—		(6,253)
Net cash provided by financing activities		46,463		51,380

Cash and cash equivalents:
Net increase (decrease)		594		(13,758)
Beginning of the period		5,171		25,003
End of the period	$	5,765	$	11,245

Supplemental schedule of non-cash activities:
Non-cash accruals for purchases of property and equipment	$	804	$	573

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), this earnings release and the related earnings conference call contain certain non-GAAP financial measures, including EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating loss. These measures are not in accordance with, and are not intended as alternatives to, GAAP financial measures. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing our financial results and believes that they provide useful information to analysts and investors, as a supplement to GAAP financial measures, in evaluating the Company's operational performance.

The Company defines EBITDA as net loss before interest and the provision for income tax, which is equivalent to operating loss, adjusted for depreciation, adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA with non-GAAP adjustments and adjusted operating loss as operating loss with non-GAAP adjustments.

Non-GAAP financial measures are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standard meanings prescribed by GAAP. Use of these terms may differ from similar measures reported by other companies. Each non-GAAP financial measure has its limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP. The Company's non-GAAP adjustments remove asset impairment and stock-based compensation expense, due to the non-cash nature of these expenses, and remove severance charges and lease termination costs, as those expenses can fluctuate based on the needs of the business and do not represent a normal, recurring operating expense.

The following table shows a reconciliation of operating loss to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) for the 13-week and 39-week periods indicated:

	13-Week Period Ended				39-Week Period Ended
	October 28, 2023		October 29, 2022		October 28, 2023		October 29, 2022
Operating loss	$	(6,651)	$	(6,660)	$	(35,079)	$	(39,555)
Depreciation		2,769		4,088		9,118		12,925
EBITDA		(3,882)		(2,572)		(25,961)		(26,630)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Closed store and lease termination costs in cost of sales⁽¹⁾		—		—		—		46
Asset impairment⁽²⁾		316		219		1,542		447
Stock-based compensation expense⁽³⁾		277		295		891		1,460
Severance charges⁽⁴⁾		50		397		957		776
Total adjustments in operating expenses		643		911		3,390		2,683
Total non-GAAP adjustments		643		911		3,390		2,729
Adjusted EBITDA		(3,239)		(1,661)		(22,571)		(23,901)
Depreciation		2,769		4,088		9,118		12,925
Adjusted operating loss	$	(6,008)	$	(5,749)	$	(31,689)	$	(36,826)


(1)	Costs associated with asset disposals, closed store and lease termination costs.
(2)	Asset impairment charges are related to property and equipment, software costs and cloud computing implementation costs.
(3)	Stock-based compensation expense includes amounts amortized to expense related to equity incentive plans.
(4)	Severance charges include expenses related to severance agreements and permanent store closure compensation costs.

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SOURCE Kirkland's, Inc.

KIRKLAND'S HOME REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2023 RESULTS