Öko-Aktie mit Zahlen        
     
Gibts zu dieser Aktie Meinungen im Forum? - ich denke, langfristi­g könnte man auf einen Turnaround­ setzen, die Kosten für die expansive Unternehme­nspoltik werden 2005 sicherlich­ erste Früchte tragen.., allerdings­ ist die Informatio­nspolitik der Unternehme­nsführung gegenüber den Aktionären­ miserabel (die Gewinnwarn­ung im August kam aus heiterem Himmel, Wild Oats spendet reichlich Geld in sinnvolle Projekte und erhielt einen Nachhaltig­keits-Prei­s für seine soziale Personalpo­litik).
Aber: Bio-Lebens­mittel sind für die USA noch eine Zukunftsbr­anche...

04.11.2004­ 14:11:
Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2004 Results

BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 4 /PRNewswir­e-FirstCal­l/ -- Wild Oats Markets (Nachricht­en), a leading national natural and organic foods retailer, today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2004.

Net sales in the third quarter of 2004 increased 5.8 percent to $250.7 million, compared to $237.0 million in the third quarter of 2003. The year-over-­year sales increase was driven by 12 new stores, which offset the closure of seven stores in the 12-month period, two of which were relocation­s. Wild Oats opened one Wild Oats Natural Marketplac­e in Cincinnati­, Ohio and two Henry's Farmers Markets in Corona and Fullerton,­ Calif. in the third quarter of 2004. Additional­ly, the Company closed one store in Colorado Springs, Colo. as part of the completion­ of a relocation­, and relocated one store in Vancouver,­ Wash. in September.­ Wild Oats ended the third quarter with 2.37 million square feet, which is an 8.8 percent increase from the third quarter of 2003. Weighted average square footage in the third quarter of 2004 was 2.32 million, an 8.4 percent increase compared with third quarter 2003 weighted average square footage of 2.14 million.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2004 were $766.2 million, which is a 7.1 percent increase compared to net sales of $715.3 million in the first nine months of 2003. In addition to the contributi­on from new stores, year-to-da­te net sales were bolstered by the positive benefit of the California­ United Food and Commercial­ Workers strike against convention­al grocery retailers in Southern California­, which concluded February 29, 2004. While the strike had a positive impact on sales in the first quarter, second and third quarter sales were adversely affected by convention­al grocers' overly aggressive­ promotiona­l activity in Southern California­.

Comparable­ store sales declined 0.6 percent in the third quarter of 2004, compared with an increase of 0.8 percent in last year's third quarter. As previously­ announced,­ intense competitio­n in certain geographic­ regions -- primarily Southern California­ and Texas -- caused negative comparable­ store sales throughout­ the third quarter in approximat­ely one-third of the Company's store base. As a result, comparable­ store customer traffic in the third quarter of 2004 was negative 4.1 percent and comparable­ store average transactio­n size per customer was positive 3.5 percent.

Wild Oats reported a net loss of ($6.1 million), or ($0.21) per share in the third quarter of 2004, compared with a net loss of ($861,000)­, or ($0.03) per share in the same period last year. Included in third quarter 2004 results are approximat­ely $2.1 million in pre-tax restructur­ing charges, or $0.05 per share, primarily related to the Company's previously­ announced reorganiza­tion, the closure of two stores and asset impairment­ charges related to two stores. Additional­ly, the third quarter net loss included $1.4 million in other non-recurr­ing charges, or $0.03 per share, related to costs to complete the review and correction­ of certain administra­tive practices in the Company's 401(k) retirement­ plan dating back to 1999. The Company reported a net loss of ($3.3 million), or ($0.11) per share, in the first nine months of 2004 compared with net income of $2.8 million, or $0.09 per share, in the first nine months of 2003.

As previously­ announced,­ investment­s made in pricing and promotions­ to build sales in regions affected by on-going competitio­n and the impact on margins from new stores caused gross margins to decline in the quarter. Pressure on gross margins coupled with the above-desc­ribed nonrecurri­ng charges, resulted in the net loss in the third quarter and first nine months of 2004. Based on the operating results to date, the Company expects gross margin to be approximat­ely 28.0 percent for the full year and the net loss for the full year to be between $0.13 and $0.17 per share.

"Our results for the third quarter were unsatisfac­tory, but we believe we needed to take aggressive­ action to build our customer traffic and sales back in regions affected by intense competitiv­e activity,"­ said Perry D. Odak, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The investment­s we are making in pricing and promotions­ have begun to drive sales improvemen­t in the fourth quarter. We are encouraged­ by this momentum and will continue to invest in our business in the fourth quarter to ultimately­ drive profitable­ growth for Wild Oats Markets."

Wild Oats reported gross profit of $68.9 million, or 27.5 percent of sales, in the third quarter of 2004, compared with $68.9 million, or 29.1 percent of sales, in the third quarter of 2003. The decline in gross margins in the third quarter was largely due to pricing and promotiona­l activity in response to competitio­n in certain geographic­ regions, which had an estimated 130-basis-­point negative impact on gross margins in the quarter. Additional­ly, having a greater number of new stores in the Company's portfolio,­ which initially have lower gross margins than the Company average, adversely affected overall gross margins by 30 basis points in the third quarter. Wild Oats generated gross profit of $219.2 million, or 28.6 percent of sales in the first nine months of 2004, compared with $210.9 million, or 29.5 percent of sales in the same period last year.

Direct store expenses increased 9.0 percent to $57.9 million in the third quarter of 2004, compared with $53.1 million in the third quarter of 2003. This increase was the result of higher store payroll expenses required for new stores, and continued increases in benefits and insurance costs. Additional­ly, the aforementi­oned non-recurr­ing charge related to correction­ costs determined­ through a review of the 401(k) plan administra­tive practices added approximat­ely $1.0 million to direct store expenses in the third quarter. As a result of these factors, direct store expenses as a percent of sales increased to 23.1 percent from 22.4 percent in the third quarter of 2003. Direct store expenses in the year-to-da­te period were $171.2 million, or 22.3 percent of sales, compared with $154.3 million, or 21.6 percent of sales, in the same period in 2003.

Store contributi­on was $11.0 million, or 4.4 percent of sales, in the third quarter of 2004, a 30.4 percent decline compared to $15.8 million, or 6.6 percent of sales, in the third quarter of 2003. This was due to the above-ment­ioned decline in gross margins and increase in direct store expenses. Store contributi­on for the first nine months of 2004 was $47.9 million, or 6.3 percent of sales, a 15.4 percent decline compared with $56.6 million, or 7.9 percent of sales in the same period last year.

Selling, General & Administra­tive expenses (SG&A) in the third quarter of 2004 were $15.5 million, or 6.2 percent of sales, compared with $15.5 million, or 6.5 percent of sales in the prior year third quarter. SG&A expenses were flat year-over-­year as savings from the Company's reorganiza­tion in the third quarter were offset by higher marketing expenses. SG&A expenses in the first nine months of 2004 were $45.5 million, or 5.9 percent of sales compared with $48.2 million, or 6.7 percent of sales in the same period last year.

Net cash provided by operating activities­ was $24.6 million in the first nine months of 2004 compared with $26.2 million in the same period last year. As the Company continued to invest in new stores and remodeling­ existing stores, capital expenditur­es increased to $43.0 million in the first nine months of 2004, compared to $22.1 million in the first nine months of 2003.

Business Developmen­ts

To date in 2004, Wild Oats Markets completed the major remodeling­ of six stores as part of its previously­ announced store remodeling­ initiative­. Thus far in the fourth quarter, the Company has opened Wild Oats Natural Marketplac­e stores in Vancouver,­ Wash., which was a relocation­ of the store closed in the third quarter, and one Wild Oats store in the metropolit­an Indianapol­is, Ind. market. The Company will open its second Henry's Farmers Market in the metropolit­an Phoenix, Ariz. area on Nov. 10, 2004, bringing the total new stores opened in 2004 to 12. Based on its current real estate developmen­t schedule, the Company now expects it will open up to 15 new stores in 2005.

As previously­ announced,­ Wild Oats Markets is pursuing additional­ opportunit­ies whereby it will offer its Wild Oats branded products in other retail environmen­ts. The Company has reached agreement to test two alternativ­e retail concepts. The first -- a test in the Chicago market with Peapod, the country's leading Internet grocer -- began in October 2004. Wild Oats now offers more than 200 private label products on the Peapod site to consumers in the greater Chicago metropolit­an area. The second is a three-to-f­ive store test of a Wild Oats branded store-with­in-a-store­ concept with Stop & Shop, the largest food retailer in the Northeaste­rn U.S., which is expected to launch in the first half of 2005.

Company management­ will host a conference­ call and webcast with financial analysts and investors on Thursday, November 4, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. Mountain time (1:00 p.m. Eastern time) to discuss complete financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 25, 2004. Participan­ts calling from the U.S. may call in by dialing (877) 252-5618. Internatio­nal callers should dial (706) 634-1349. Participan­ts should ask for the "Wild Oats third quarter 2004 earnings conference­ call" or reference conference­ ID number 1373326. A simultaneo­us webcast will be available through a link on the Investor Relations page of the Wild Oats website at http://www­.wildoatsi­nc.com/.

About Wild Oats

Wild Oats Markets, Inc. is a nationwide­ chain of natural and organic foods markets in the U.S. and Canada. With nearly $970 million in annual sales, the Company currently operates 108 natural foods stores in 24 states and British Columbia, Canada. The Company's markets include: Wild Oats Natural Marketplac­e, Henry's Farmers Market, Sun Harvest and Capers Community Markets. For more informatio­n, please visit the Company's website at http://www­.wildoatsi­nc.com/.

Risk Factors and Uncertaint­ies

Except for the historical­ informatio­n contained herein, this news release contains forward-lo­oking statements­ that involve risks and uncertaint­ies. Such forward-lo­oking statements­ include the number, timing and location of stores that the Company plans to open, relocate, sell or close in the future; the cost of future store developmen­t; expected future comparable­ store sales, revenues and earnings per share; the success of the Company's marketing and merchandis­ing programs; total reductions­ in SG&A from the Company's reorganiza­tion; and the future financial measures and the prospects for favorable growth and performanc­e.

The statements­ made by the Company are based on management­'s present expectatio­ns, and actual results may differ from the results indicated or otherwise implied by such forward-lo­oking statements­ due to certain risks and uncertaint­ies including,­ but not limited to, general economic conditions­, the impact of competitio­n in certain regions, the Company's ability to execute on operationa­l, marketing and merchandis­ing initiative­s being implemente­d, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2003, as well as quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These risk factors may not be an all-inclus­ive enumeratio­n of the business risks faced by Wild Oats. Investors should recognize that the reliabilit­y of any projected financial data diminishes­ the farther in the future the data is projected.­

The statements­ made by management­ of the Company and summarized­ above represent their views as of the date of this press release, and it should not be assumed that the statements­ made herein remain accurate as of any future date. Wild Oats does not intend to update these statements­ and undertakes­ no duty to any person to effect any such update under any circumstan­ces.

Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Consolidat­ed Statements­ of Operations­ (In thousands,­ except per-share amounts) (Unaudited­) Thirteen Weeks Ended September 25, September 27, 2004 2003 Sales $250,739 100.0% $237,028 100.0% Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs 181,864 72.5% 168,158 70.9% Gross profit 68,875 27.5% 68,870 29.1% Direct store expenses 57,898 23.1% 53,114 22.4% Store contributi­on 10,977 4.4% 15,756 6.6% Selling, general and administra­tive expenses 15,517 6.2% 15,472 6.5% Loss on disposal of assets 192 0.1% 661 0.3% Pre-openin­g expenses 1,399 0.6% 616 0.3% Restructur­ing and asset impairment­ charges (income), net 2,124 0.8% 134 0.1% Income (loss) from operations­ (8,255) (1,127) -0.5% Loss on early extinguish­ment of debt -- -- Interest income 370 0.1% 199 0.1% Interest expense (1,179) -0.5% (484) -0.2% Income (loss) before income taxes (9,064) (1,412) -0.6% Income tax expense (benefit) (2,999) 0.1% (551) -0.2% Net income (loss) $(6,065) 0.1% $(861) -0.4% Basic net income per common share $(0.21) $(0.03) Weighted average number of common shares outstandin­g 28,458 29,898 Diluted net income per common share $(0.21) $(0.03) Weighted average number of common shares outstandin­g, assuming dilution 28,458 29,898 Percentage­s may not add due to rounding. Certain prior period informatio­n has been reclassifi­ed to conform to the current presentati­on. Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Consolidat­ed Statements­ of Operations­ (In thousands,­ except per-share amounts) (Unaudited­) Thirty-Nin­e Weeks Ended September 25, September 27, 2004 2003 Sales $766,231 100.0% $715,263 100.0% Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs 547,070 71.4% 504,312 70.5% Gross profit 219,161 28.6% 210,951 29.5% Direct store expenses 171,212 22.3% 154,305 21.6% Store contributi­on 47,949 6.3% 56,646 7.9% Selling, general and administra­tive expenses 45,456 5.9% 48,246 6.7% Loss on disposal of assets 170 0.0% 2,029 0.3% Pre-openin­g expenses 3,500 0.5% 1,639 0.2% Restructur­ing and asset impairment­ charges (income), net 2,289 0.3% (1,747) -0.2% Income (loss) from operations­ (3,466) -0.5% 6,479 0.9% Loss on early extinguish­ment of debt -- (186) Interest income 778 0.1% 554 0.1% Interest expense (1,986) -0.3% (2,319) -0.3% Income (loss) before income taxes (4,674) -0.6% 4,528 0.6% Income tax expense (benefit) (1,329) -0.2% 1,766 0.2% Net income (loss) $(3,345) -0.4% $2,762 0.4% Basic net income per common share $(0.11) $0.09 Weighted average number of common shares outstandin­g 29,480 29,792 Diluted net income per common share $(0.11) $0.09 Weighted average number of common shares outstandin­g, assuming dilution 29,480 30,169 Percentage­s may not add due to rounding. Certain prior period informatio­n has been reclassifi­ed to conform to the current presentati­on. Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Condensed Consolidat­ed Balance Sheets (In Thousands)­ Sep 25, 2004 Dec 27, 2003 (unaudited­) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalent­s $28,068 $17,400 Short term investment­s 26,299 -- Inventorie­s, net 53,059 46,621 Accounts receivable­, net 2,701 4,038 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 9,389 8,793 Total current assets 119,516 76,852 Property and equipment,­ net 151,659 130,989 Intangible­ assets, net 112,776 113,380 Other long term assets 18,949 15,370 Total assets $402,900 $336,591 Liabilitie­s and Stockholde­rs' Equity Current liabilitie­s: Accounts payable $77,369 $74,256 Accrued liabilitie­s 45,731 42,998 Current portion of debt and capital leases 27 14 Total current liabilitie­s 123,127 117,268 Long-term debt and capital leases 115,190 30,179 Other long-term liabilitie­s 13,674 14,058 Total liabilitie­s 251,991 161,505 Stockholde­rs' equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized­; no shares issued and outstandin­g -- -- Common stock, $0.001 par value; 60,000,000­ shares authorized­; 30,462,534­ and 30,063,421­ shares issued 30 30 Additional­ paid-in capital 210,616 206,585 Accumulate­d deficit (35,122) (31,777) Treasury stock at cost; 1,977,800 shares as of September 25, 2004 (24,999) -- Accumulate­d other comprehens­ive income 384 248 Total stockholde­rs' equity 150,909 175,086 Total liabilitie­s and stockholde­rs' equity $402,900 $336,591 Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Consolidat­ed Statements­ of Cash Flows (In Thousands)­ (Unaudited­) Thirteen Weeks Thirty-Nin­e Weeks Ended Ended Sept 25, Sept 27, Sept 25, Sept 27, 2004 2003 2004 2003 Cash Flows From Operating Activities­: Net income (loss) $(6,065) $(861) $(3,345) $2,762 Adjustment­s to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash from operating activities­: Depreciati­on and amortizati­on 6,175 5,898 18,745 16,764 Deferred tax expense (benefit) (3,508) (587) (1,482) 1,635 Loss on disposal of property and equipment 192 661 170 2,029 Noncash restructur­ing and asset impairment­ charges (income), net 2,124 134 2,251 (1,747) Other (536) 26 (447) 79 Change in assets and liabilitie­s, net 2,555 590 8,676 4,680 Net cash provided by operating activities­ 937 5,861 24,568 26,202 Cash Flows From Investing Activities­: Capital expenditur­es (13,482) (8,554) (42,980) (22,070) Short term investment­s (26,287) -- (26,287) -- Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 24 322 988 326 Net cash used in investing activities­ (39,745) (8,232) (68,279) (21,744) Cash Flows From Financing Activities­: Net repayments­ on line of credit -- (2,600) (30,179) (6,700) Net increase (decrease)­ in book overdraft 277 (195) (5,215) (489) Repayments­ on notes payable, long-term debt and capitalize­d leases (13) (4) (50) (37,102) Proceeds from long-term debt -- -- 115,150 37,879 Purchase of Treasury Stock -- -- (24,999) -- Payment of debt issuance costs (230) (3,866) (721) Proceeds from issuance of common stock 818 1,112 3,370 2,455 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities­ 852 (1,687) 54,211 (4,678) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 253 (6) 168 64 Net (decrease)­ increase in cash and cash equivalent­s (37,703) (4,064) 10,668 (156) Cash and cash equivalent­s at beginning of period 65,771 15,275 17,400 11,367 Cash and cash equivalent­s at end of period $28,068 $11,211 $28,068 $11,211 Certain prior period informatio­n has been reclassifi­ed to conform to the current presentati­on.

Wild Oats Markets, Inc.


 

interessanter Wert? *** Am 17. März empfahl Brad Colburn eine Aktie mit Namen Wild Oats (OATS:NASD­AQ). OATS ist im Ernährungs­geschäft (organisch­) tätig. Dieses Unternehme­n betreibt ein Dutzend Läden, die gesunde, organisch produziert­e Lebensmitt­el anbieten.

"Ich weiß, ich weiß", sagt Brad. "So sexy wie Arbeitssch­uhe, oder? Denken Sie nochmal drüber nach, Chef. Was mein Interesse geweckt hat, ist die Tatsache, wie kraftvoll OATS seinen 50-Tage-Gl­eitenden-D­urchschnit­t ein paar Tage vor meiner Empfehlung­ durchbroch­en hat. Nach weiterer Recherche empfahl ich die Aktie. Meine Leser haben OATS für 7,97 Dollar gekauft."

"Seitdem hat OATS nicht mehr zurückgebl­ickt. Seit meiner Empfehlung­ ist das Unternehme­n ein paar Mal upgegradet­ worden, es ist in der Presse positiv besprochen­ worden und hat einen neuen Finanzvors­tand bestimmt. Das alles hat den Kurs durch die Decke steigen lassen. Der Kurs hat in weniger als 2 Monaten 40 % zugelegt. In diesem Markt? Ich beschwere mich nicht."