Books-A-Million Announces Third Quarter Results

Comparable Store Sales Increase 4.4%

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (November 19, 2003) -- Books-A-Million, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:BAMM) today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended November 1, 2003. Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 increased 6.6% to $103.1 million from $96.7 million in the year-earlier period. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 4.4%. Net loss for the quarter was $755,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $2.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the year-earlier period.

For the 39-week period ended November 1, 2003, net sales increased 4.6% to $315.4 million from sales of $301.4 million in the prior-year period. Comparable store sales increased 2.6% when compared with the same period of fiscal 2003. For the 39-week period, the Company reported a net loss of $436,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the year-earlier period. Last year's net loss included a decrease to earnings to reflect the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $1.2 million after tax, or $0.08 per diluted share. Before the change in accounting principle, the Company reported a loss of $3.3 million, or $0.20 per diluted share.

Commenting on the results, Clyde B. Anderson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "One of the best title lineups in years resulted in strong comparable store sales increases during the quarter. Bestsellers in several categories, along with the performance of our Joe Muggs cafes, contributed to our success during the quarter. Diet and Health was one of the leading categories, led by The South Beach Diet and Dr. Phil McGraw's The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution. Fiction performed well with strong sales from Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, John Grisham's Bleachers, and The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. In the inspiration category, Purpose Driven Life dominated. Politics provided dueling bestsellers from comedian Al Franken and talk show host Bill O'Reilly."

The strong title lineup released during the third quarter should continue to perform well into the holiday selling season. That lineup, combined with several upcoming new titles, is expected to lead to improved comparable store sales versus last year's fourth quarter.

Books-A-Million is one of the nation's leading book retailers and sells on the Internet at www.booksamillion.com. The Company presently operates 204 stores in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The Company operates three distinct store formats, including large superstores operating under the names Books-A-Million and Books & Co., traditional bookstores, operating under the name Bookland and Books-A-Million, and Joe Muggs Newsstands. The Company's wholesale operations include American Wholesale Book Company and Book$mart, both based in Florence, Alabama. NetCentral, Inc., an Internet development and service Company is located in Nashville, Tennessee.


                         BOOKS-A-MILLION, INC.
              Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income
                 (In thousands, except per share data)

                             13 Weeks Ended         39 Weeks Ended      
                           -------------------    -------------------
                            Nov. 1,    Nov. 2,     Nov. 1,    Nov. 2,
                             2003       2002        2003       2002   
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
NET SALES                  $103,067   $ 96,694    $315,385   $301,426
Cost of sales (including
  warehouse, distribution 
  and store occupancy
  costs)                     76,720     73,952     233,106    223,163
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
GROSS PROFIT                 26,347     22,742      82,279     78,263
Operating, selling and 
  administrative expenses    22,899     21,774      68,308     68,255
Depreciation and
  amortization                3,864      4,078      11,881     11,966
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)        (416)    (3,110)      2,090     (1,958)
Interest expense, net           747      1,274       2,464      3,208
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
LOSS FROM CONTINUING
  OPERATIONS BEFORE
  INCOME TAXES AND
  CUMULATIVE EFFECT
  OF CHANGE IN
  ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE       (1,163)    (4,384)       (374)    (5,166)
Income tax benefit             (442)    (1,667)       (142)    (1,964)
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
LOSS FROM CONTINUING
  OPERATIONS BEFORE
  CUMULATIVE EFFECT
  OF A CHANGE IN
  ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE         (721)    (2,717)       (232)    (3,202)
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Loss from discontinued
  operations (including
  loss on disposal)             (54)       (60)       (329)      (143)
  Income tax benefit            (20)       (22)       (125)       (54)
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED
  OPERATIONS                    (34)       (38)       (204)       (89)
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
  CUMULATIVE EFFECT
  OF A CHANGE IN
  ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE         (755)    (2,755)       (436)    (3,291)
Cumulative effect of a
  change in accounting
  principle, net of
  income taxes                  --         --          --      (1,201)
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
NET LOSS                   $   (755)  $ (2,755)   $   (436)  $ (4,492)
                           ========   ========    ========   ========

NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic:
  Loss from continuing 
    operations before
    cumulative effect of a 
    change in accounting 
    principle              $  (0.05)  $  (0.17)   $  (0.02)  $  (0.19)
  Loss from discontinued 
    operations                (0.00)     (0.00)      (0.01)     (0.01)
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
  Loss before cumulative 
    effect of a change in 
    accounting principle      (0.05)     (0.17)      (0.03)     (0.20)
  Cumulative effect of a 
    change in accounting 
    principle                  0.00       0.00        0.00      (0.08)
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
  Net loss                 $  (0.05)  $  (0.17)   $  (0.03)  $  (0.28)
                           ========   ========    ========   ========
Diluted:
  Loss from continuing 
    operations before
    effect of a change in 
    accounting principle   $  (0.05)  $  (0.17)   $  (0.02)  $  (0.19)
  Loss from discontinued 
    operations                (0.00)     (0.00)      (0.01)     (0.01)
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
  Loss before cumulative 
    effect of a change in
    accounting principle      (0.05)     (0.17)      (0.03)     (0.20)
  Cumulative effect of a 
    change in accounting 
    principle                  0.00       0.00        0.00      (0.08)
                           --------   --------    --------   --------
  Net loss                 $  (0.05)  $  (0.17)   $  (0.03)  $  (0.28)
                           ========   ========    ========   ========
Weighted average shares 
  outstanding:
    Basic                    16,278     16,200      16,249     16,187
                           ========   ========    ========   ========
    Diluted                  16,278     16,200      16,249     16,187
                           ========   ========    ========   ========




Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform 
  Act of 1995:

     This document contains certain forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. A number of factors
could cause actual results, performance, achievements of the Company,
or industry results to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited
to, the competitive environment in the book retail industry in general
and in the Company's specific market area; inflation; economic
conditions in general and in the Company's specific market areas; the
number of store openings and closings; the profitability of certain
product lines, capital expenditures and future liquidity; liability
and other claims asserted against the Company; uncertainties related
to the Internet and the Company's Internet initiative. In addition,
such forward-looking statements are necessarily dependent upon
assumptions, estimates and dates that may be incorrect or imprecise
and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors.
Accordingly, any forward-looking statements included herein do not
purport to be predictions of future events or circumstances and may
not be realized. Given these uncertainties, shareholders and
prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligations
to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any
revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect future events or developments.

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