SPAR Group Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2018

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Nov. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SPAR Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGRP), a leading supplier of retail merchandising, business technology and other marketing services in 10 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Highlights for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, as compared to the same periods in the prior year include:

  • Revenue for the three-month period ending September 30, 2018 increased $9.6 million, or 20 percent, to $58.4 million.  International operations contributed to $2.3 million of the increase. Domestic operations contributed $7.3 million to year-over-year revenue growth with Resource Plus contributing $8.0 million of the change in Domestic revenue for the period.
  • Revenue for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2018 increased $40.8 million, or 31 percent, to $172.2 million.  International operations contributed to $18.6 of the increase. Domestic operations contributed $22.2 million to year-over-year revenue growth.  Resource Plus contributed $19.9 million to the change in Domestic revenue year-over-year.
  • Operating income for the third quarter increased $1.5 million to $2.3 million compared to $828,000 during the same period last year.  The increase in operating income in the third quarter was attributable to both international and domestic operations.
  • Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 decreased $467,000, or 19 percent, to $1.8 million compared to $2.3 million during the same period of 2017.  The decline in operating income was driven primarily by the one-time charges of $2.0 million, partially offset by the growth in the international operations.
  • Net Income attributable to SPAR Group for the third quarter of 2018 was $621,000, or $0.03 per share, compared to net income of $246,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2017.
  • Net loss attributable to SPAR Group for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was ($1.0) million, or ($0.05) per share, compared to a net income of $346,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the same period during 2017. 

Financial Results by Geography (in 000’s, except per share data)

  Three Months Ended September 30, %   Nine Months Ended September 30, %
Revenue: 2018   2017 Change   2018   2017 Change
International $ 35,975   $ 33,690 6.8%   $ 109,853   $ 91,292 20.3%
Domestic   22,413     15,062 48.8%     62,338     40,069 55.6%
Total $ 58,388   $ 48,752 19.8%   $ 172,191   $ 131,361 31.1%

  Three Months Ended September 30, %   Nine Months Ended September 30, %
Operating Income: 2018   2017 Change   2018   2017 Change
International $ 1,239   $ 485 155.5%   $ 2,952     $ 1,583 86.5%
Domestic   1,085     343 216.3%     (1,135 )     701 nmf
Total $    2,324   $    828 180.7%   $    1,817     $    2,284  (20.4%)

    Three Months Ended September 30,       Nine Months Ended September 30,  
Net income (loss): 2018   2017     2018   2017  
International $ 355   $ 3 nmf   $ 710     $ (186 ) nmf
Domestic   266     243 9.5%     (1,728 )     532   nmf
Total $    621   $    246 176.8%   $    (1,018 )   $   346   nmf
               
            (nmf = nomeaningful value)  
Earnings Per Basic and Diluted share:                
  $    0.03   $  0.01     $    (0.05 )   $    0.02     

“We posted solid improvement in financial results during the third quarter.  Domestic revenue benefited from the acquisition of Resource Plus that we made earlier in the year and our international business continued to show strong organic growth.  Near full employment rates in the U.S. continues to put cost pressure on profitability, which we were able to offset during the third quarter with a revenue mix shift and ongoing efficiency efforts,” said Chief Executive Officer, Christiaan Olivier.  “While we continue to face headwinds domestically due to the store closures of certain retail customers, we are having success adding new customers in diverse retail channels, putting us in a better position to win new business in the coming year.  Our efforts to improve efficiencies should have a greater impact in the coming quarters and allow us to partially offset ongoing labor cost pressure.” 

Gross Margin Profile by Geography

  Three Months Ended September 30, Basis Point   Nine Months Ended September 30, Basis Point
  2018   2017 Change   2018   2017 Change
International 16.1 %   15.6 % 43   15.2 %   16.7 % (146)
Domestic 27.1 %   23.5 % 362   24.6 %   26.4 % (181)
Total 20.3 %   18.0 % 225   18.6 %   19.6 % (103)

Operating Income as a % of Sales

  Three Months Ended September 30, Basis Point   Nine Months Ended September 30, Basis Point
  2018   2017 Change   2018   2017 Change
International 3.4 %   1.4 % 203   2.7 %   1.7 % 104
Domestic 4.8 %   2.3 % 251   (1.8 %)   1.8 % (357)
Total 4.0 %   1.7 % 236   1.1 %   1.7 % (66)

International gross profit margin for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 16.1% and 15.2%, compared to 15.6% and 16.7%, respectively, for the same periods in 2017.  The improvement in gross profit margin in the third quarter was directly attributable to the positive mix of business in the international markets of Brazil, Mexico and Japan.  With the exception of Canada, Mexico and Japan, year-to-date gross margin declined in all other international subsidiaries compared to last year.

Domestic gross profit margin for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was 27.1% and 24.6%, compared to 23.5% and 26.4%, respectively, for the same periods in 2017. Year-to-date domestic gross profit margin declined primarily due to an increase in lower margin project work compared to the same period last year.

Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2018

As of September 30, 2018, cash and cash equivalents totaled $7.0 million. Working capital was $14.2 million and current ratio was 1.3 to 1. Total current assets and total assets were $56.7 million and $71.2 million, respectively.  Total current liabilities and total liabilities were $42.6 million and $45.8 million, and total equity was $25.4 million as of September 30, 2018.

About SPAR Group

SPAR Group, Inc. is a diversified international merchandising and marketing services Company and provides a broad array of services worldwide to help companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits at retail locations. The Company provides merchandising and other marketing services to manufacturers, distributors and retailers worldwide and coordinates the operations through the use of multi-lingual proprietary technology which drives the logistics, communication and reporting for global operations and customers.  SPAR works primarily in mass merchandiser, office supply, value, grocery, drug, independent, convenience, toy, home improvement and electronics stores, as well as providing furniture and other product assembly services, audit services, in-store events, technology services and marketing research. The Company has supplied these project and product services in the United States since certain of its predecessors were formed in 1979 and internationally since the Company acquired its first international subsidiary in Japan in May of 2001. Product services include restocking and adding new products, removing spoiled or outdated products, resetting categories “on the shelf” in accordance with client or store schematics, confirming and replacing shelf tags, setting new sale or promotional product displays and advertising, replenishing kiosks, providing in-store event staffing and providing assembly services in stores, homes and offices. Audit services include price audits, point of sale audits, out of stock audits, intercept surveys and planogram audits. Other merchandising services include whole store or departmental product sets or resets (including new store openings), new product launches, in-store demonstrations, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support and product recalls. The Company currently does business in ten countries that encompass approximately 50% of the total world population through its operations in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Africa, India, China, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and Turkey.  For more information, please visit the SPAR Group’s website at http://www.sparinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains and the above referenced recorded comments will contain “forward-looking statements” made by SPAR Group, Inc. (“SGRP”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “SPAR Group” or the “Company”), which will be filed shortly in a Current Report on Form 8-K by SGRP with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). There also are “forward-looking statements” contained in SGRP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (the “Annual Report”), which was filed by SGRP with the SEC on April 2, 2018, and SGRP’s definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on or about May 2, 2017 (the “Proxy Statement”), which SGRP filed with the SEC on April 18, 2018, and SGRP’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports and statements as and when filed with the SEC (including the Annual Report and the Proxy Statement, each a “SEC Report”). “Forward-looking statements” are defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and other applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, as amended (together with the Securities Act and Exchange Act, collectively, “Securities Laws”).

You should carefully review the risk factors described in the Annual Report (See Item 1A – Risk Factors) and any other risks, cautions or information made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into the Annual Report, the Proxy Statement or other applicable SEC Report. All forward-looking and other statements or information attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly subject to and qualified by all such risk factors and other risks, cautions and information.

The Company does not intend or promise, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, risk factors or other risks, cautions or information (in whole or in part), whether as a result of new information, risks or uncertainties, future events or recognition or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable law. 

Company Contact:
James R. Segreto
Chief Financial Officer
SPAR Group, Inc.
(248) 364-8464

Investor Contact:
Dave Mossberg
Three Part Advisors
(817) 310-0051

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive (Loss) Income
 (In thousands, except share and per share data)

  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  2018 2017   2018   2017

Net revenues

$   58,388   $ 48,752     $   172,191   $ 131,361  
Cost of revenues   46,546     39,960         140,154     105,563  
Gross profit   11,842     8,792         32,037     25,798  
           
Selling, general and administrative expenses   8,996     7,477         26,650     21,988  
Settlement and other charges               1,975      
Depreciation and amortization   522     487         1,595     1,526  
Operating income   2,324     828         1,817     2,284  
           
Interest expense   333     110         886     117  
Other (income), net   (109 )   (78 )       (413 )   (275 )
Income before income tax expense   2,100     796         1,344     2,442  
           
Income tax expense   419     210          335     907  
Net income   1,681     586         1,009     1,535  
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest   (1,060 )   (340 )        (2,027 )   (1,189 )
Net income (loss) attributable to SPAR Group, Inc. $   621   $ 246     $     (1,018 ) $ 346  

Basic net income (loss) per common share:

$   0.03   $ 0.01     $   (0.05 ) $ 0.02  

Diluted net income (loss) per common share:

$   0.03   $ 0.01     $   (0.05 ) $ 0.02  
           
Weighted average common shares – basic   20,654     20,602         20,650     20,633  
           
Weighted average common shares – diluted   21,320     21,320         20,650     21,331  
           
Net income $  1,681   $ 586     $    1,009    $ 1,535  
Other comprehensive (loss) income:          
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (2,782 )   (61 )       (3,462 )   681  
Comprehensive (loss) income   (1,101 )   525         (2,453 )   2,216  
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest   269     (318 )     (393  )   (1,523 )
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc. $   (832 ) $ 207     $   (2,846 ) $ 693  
           

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

  September 30,
2018
  December 31,
2017
Assets            
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $     6,988   $ 8,827  
Accounts receivable, net   46,783     35,964  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   2,964     2,031  
Total current assets   56,735     46,822  

Property and equipment, net

  2,902     2,712  
Goodwill   3,783     1,836  
Intangible assets, net   3,449     1,634  
Deferred income taxes   2,562     3,055  
Other assets   1,736     1,929  
Total assets $   71,167   $ 57,988  
 

Liabilities and equity

           
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $   9,542   $ 7,341  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   17,778     13,581  
Due to affiliates   5,114     3,026  
Customer incentives and deposits   499     1,539  
Lines of credit and short-term loans   9,635     6,839  
Total current liabilities   42,568     32,326  
Long-term debt and other liabilities   3,220     107  
Total liabilities   45,788     32,433  
     
Equity:    
SPAR Group, Inc. equity    
Preferred stock, $.01 par value:    
Authorized and available shares– 2,445,598    
Issued and outstanding shares–    
None – September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017        
Common stock, $.01 par value:    
Authorized shares – 47,000,000    
Issued shares – 2
0,680,717 – September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017
  208     207  
Treasury stock, at cost             
22,798 shares – September 30, 2018 and             
104,398 shares – December 31, 2017   (26 )   (115 )
Additional paid-in capital    16,275     16,271  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (3,518 )   (1,690 )
Retained earnings   3,945     4,977  
Total SPAR Group, Inc. equity   16,884     19,650  
Non-controlling interest   8,495     5,905  
Total equity   25,379     25,555  
Total liabilities and equity $   71,167   $ 57,988