Cost Plus, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2004 Results and Rel

Cost Plus, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2004 Results and Releases Initial Guidance for 2005

    Business Editors

    OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2005--Cost Plus, Inc. (Nasdaq:CPWM) announced unaudited results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 and released initial guidance for its fiscal year ending January 28, 2006. The Company also announced that it has corrected its accounting for leases after a review of generally accepted accounting principles applicable to leases and leasehold improvements.

    Fiscal 2004 Results

    For the fourth quarter, net income was $23.5 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, compared to a restated $26.7 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2003.
    Net income for fiscal 2004 was $30.2 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to restated net income of $32.7 million, or $1.46 per diluted share in the prior fiscal year.
    During the fourth quarter, net sales increased 9.7% to $342.9 million from $312.6 million last year. Same store sales for the quarter decreased 1.3% compared to a 3.1% increase in the prior year. For the full year, net sales were $908.6 million, a 13.4% increase from the prior year, with same store sales increasing 0.9% compared to 2.7% in fiscal 2003.

    Lease Accounting Corrections

    The Company has corrected its prior accounting for leases based upon the clarifications contained in the February 7, 2005 letter from the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC to the Center for Public Company Audit Firms of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
    In periods prior to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company had recognized straight line rent expense for leases beginning when a new store opened but excluded periods during which the Company paid no rent but had possession of the facility to prepare it for opening. The Company now recognizes rent expense on the date it takes possession of the store. Rent expense incurred prior to the store opening is recorded in store preopening expenses.
    In addition, prior to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company's balance sheet reflected the unamortized balance of tenant improvement allowances as a reduction of property and equipment with amortization of the credit recorded as a reduction to depreciation expense. The Company now records the unamortized balance of tenant improvement allowances as a deferred rent credit and includes its amortization in the income statement as a decrease in occupancy expense as opposed to depreciation expense. Additionally, the statement of cash flows will now reflect tenant improvement allowances received as cash flows from operating activities rather than as a reduction of capital expenditures.
    The prior period financial statements included in this release were restated to reflect these changes.
    Restated annual financial statements and quarterly financial data will be filed with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005. The Company's previously issued financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q should no longer be relied upon.
    The impact on the Company's balance sheet as of January 31, 2004, restated and presented herein, was to increase deferred rent credits by $14.5 million, increase property and equipment by $9.2 million, increase other assets by $2.1 million and decrease retained earnings by approximately $3.2 million.
    The impact of the restatement on the Company's statement of operations for the fourth quarter and full year ended January 31, 2004, is as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

Fourth Quarter Ended Fiscal Year Ended January 31, 2004 January 31, 2004 Increase (Decrease)

Cost of sales and occupancy $ (480) $ (1,651) Selling, general and administrative expenses 328 1,041 Store preopening expenses 101 1,109 Income taxes 20 (198) Net income 31 (301) Net income per share-diluted - (.02)

    The effect of the change in accounting on the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 net income was an increase of $0.1 million in fourth quarter net income and a reduction of $0.2 million in fiscal 2004 net income.

    Guidance for Fiscal 2005

    The Company's net income guidance is estimated to be between $0.8 million and $1.6 million, or $0.03 to $0.07 per diluted share, for the first fiscal quarter compared to restated net income of $3.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the prior year first quarter. Included in first quarter net income is a $2.3 million pre-tax charge, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the costs associated with the departure of the Company's CEO and a $1 million pre-tax charge, or $0.03 per diluted share, for closing four stores in the quarter.
    The estimate for the first quarter is based on the following major assumptions:

--	The Company will open five new stores and will close four stores vs. opening eight new stores in the prior year first quarter. The closed stores have been or will be replaced by new stores in the same markets.
--	Same store sales will range from a decrease of 1.0% to an increase of 1.0% vs. a 3.4% increase in the prior year. Although sales thus far in the quarter are at the upper end of this range, the Company has noted continued erratic traffic patterns and believes an earlier Easter this year has modestly contributed to the quarter-to-date increase.
--	Total sales will grow to between $202 million to $206 million vs. $186 million in the prior year.
--	Gross profit rate between 33.6% and 33.8% vs. a restated 33.9% last year. Improvements in distribution costs and merchandise margins are offset by additional fuel costs and the lack of leverage on occupancy costs due to an anticipated decrease or only modest increase in comparable store sales.
--	SG&A rate between 31.5% and 31.9% vs. a restated 29.7% in the prior year. Included in first quarter 2005 expense is $2.3 million in costs associated with the departure of the Company's CEO and $1 million for costs associated with closing four stores in the quarter.
--	Store pre-opening expense at $1.3 million vs. a restated $1.8 million in the prior year, reflecting five stores opened in the current year first quarter vs. eight in the prior year first quarter. Included in pre-opening expense is $0.2 million in the current year quarter and $0.4 million in the prior year quarter for rent expense on new stores from the date of possession to the store opening date.
--	Interest expense at $0.8 million vs. $0.8 million in the prior year.
--	Effective tax rate at 38.5% vs. 38.0% in the prior year.
--	A weighted average diluted share count for the quarter estimated at 22,200,000 vs. 22,560,000 for the prior year first quarter. The estimate for fiscal 2005 does not anticipate any repurchases of stock under the Company's stock repurchase program.

    The Company's net income guidance for the fiscal year is between $32.0 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, and $34.5 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, vs. $30.2 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, for the prior year. The estimate for fiscal 2005 includes a $2.3 million pre-tax charge, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the costs associated with the departure of the Company's CEO and a $1 million pre-tax charge, or $0.03 per diluted share, for store closures. Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2005, the Company will be required to begin expensing stock options, and the impact on its reported earnings for the fiscal year will be significant. This guidance does not include the potential effect of accounting for stock-based compensation, the impact of which is under review.
    The estimate for the fiscal year is based on the following major assumptions:

    -- The Company will open 35 new stores vs. 34 in the prior year.
    Five stores will close and have been or will be replaced by
    new stores in the same market. One store closed in the prior
    fiscal year.

    -- Same store sales growth between 1.5% and 2.3% vs. a 0.9%
    increase in the prior year. The same store sales estimate
    assumes continued weak performance throughout the year in the
    home furnishing retail sector.

    -- Total sales between $1.014 billion and $1.023 billion. vs.
    $908.6 million in the prior year.

    -- Gross profit rate between 34.2% and 34.3% vs. 34.1% in the
    prior year. A lower rate of markdowns and lower relative
    distribution costs are estimated to be partially offset by
    higher fuel costs. Fuel costs are estimated to remain at their
    current level for the entire fiscal year.

    -- SG&A rate between 27.6% and 27.8% vs. 27.7% in the prior year.
    Included in fiscal 2005 expense is a $2.3 million pre-tax
    charge associated with the departure of the prior CEO and a
    $1.0 million pre-tax charge for store closures.

    -- Store pre-opening expense at $7.9 million vs. $7.6 million in
    the prior year, reflecting one more store opened in fiscal
    2005 vs. fiscal 2004. Included in pre-opening expense is $1.0
    million in the current fiscal year and $1.0 million in the
    prior year for rent expense on new stores from the date of
    possession to the store opening date.

    -- Interest expense at $5.4 million vs. $3.0 million in the prior
    year.

    -- Effective tax rate at 38.5% vs. 37.6% in the prior year.

    -- A weighted average diluted share count for the fiscal year
    estimated at 22,400,000 vs. 22,300,000 for the prior year. The
    estimate for fiscal 2005 does not anticipate the repurchase of
    any stock under the Company's stock repurchase program.

    The Company's fourth quarter earnings conference call will be today, March 17, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. PST. It will be in a "listen-only" mode for all participants other than the Company's current sell-side and buy-side investment professionals. Phone numbers for the call are (415) 908-6247 or (212) 346-6540. Callers are advised to dial in approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A telephonic replay will be available at (402) 977-9140 Access Code: 21231645 from 10:00 a.m. on March 17 to 10:00 a.m. on March 18 PST. Investors may also access the live call or the replay over the internet at www.streetevents.com; www.companyboardroom.com and www.costplusworldmarket.com. The replay will be available approximately one hour after the live call concludes.

    Cost Plus, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of casual home living and entertaining products. As of March 17, 2005, the Company operated 236 stores in 30 states compared to 208 stores in 26 states as of March 18, 2004.

    The above statements relating to the future financial results, operating margins, same store sales increases, operating costs, share repurchases, fuel costs, rates of merchandise markdowns, distribution center costs, store openings and retail industry conditions are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forecasted. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to: unseasonable weather, general economic conditions, changes in fuel costs, changes in transportation rates, fluctuations in the price of the US Dollar vs. foreign currencies, delays in the flow of merchandise, new store performance, the timing and level of markdowns, litigation, claims and assessments, changes in insurance costs, changes in the Company's stock price, new store construction delays, international conflicts and terrorist activities, changes in interest rates, the availability of acceptable new store locations, competitive factors and changes in accounting rules and regulations. In addition, beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2005, the Company will be required to begin expensing stock options, and the impact on its reported earnings for the fiscal year will be significant. This guidance does not include the potential effect of accounting for stock-based compensation, the impact of which is under review. Please refer to documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more detailed discussion of the Company's risk factors. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update its forward-looking statements.

COST PLUS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)

Fourth Quarter January 29, 2005 January 31, 2004 (As Restated)

Net sales $342,941 100.0% $312,569 100.0% Cost of sales and occupancy 222,532 64.9 198,602 63.5 Gross profit 120,409 35.1 113,967 36.5

Selling, general and administrative expenses 80,302 23.4 69,427 22.2 Store preopening expenses 1,836 0.5 2,003 0.6

Income from operations 38,271 11.2 42,537 13.7 Net interest expense 726 0.2 939 0.3

Income before income taxes 37,545 11.0 41,598 13.4 Income taxes 14,089 4.2 14,873 4.8

Net income $ 23,456 6.8% $ 26,725 8.6%

Net income per share -- diluted $ 1.06 $ 1.18

Weighted average shares outstanding -- diluted 22,156 22,648

New stores opened 8 10

For the Year Ended January 29, 2005 January 31, 2004 (As Restated)

Net sales $908,560 100.0% $801,566 100.0% Cost of sales and occupancy 598,357 65.9 520,109 64.9 Gross profit 310,203 34.1 281,457 35.1 Selling, general and administrative expenses 251,223 27.7 220,288 27.5 Store preopening expenses 7,552 0.8 6,845 0.9 Income from operations 51,428 5.6 54,324 6.7 Net interest expense 2,983 0.3 3,285 0.4 Income before income taxes 48,445 5.3 51,039 6.3 Income taxes 18,224 2.0 18,352 2.2 Net income $ 30,221 3.3% $ 32,687 4.1% Net income per share -- diluted $ 1.35 $ 1.46 Weighted average shares outstanding -- diluted 22,323 22,349 New stores opened 34 31

COST PLUS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, unaudited)

January 29, 2005 January 31, 2004 (As Restated) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 42,918 $ 52,431 Short-term investments -- 8,999 Merchandise inventories 253,119 210,432 Other current assets 19,924 15,311

Total current assets 315,961 287,173

Property and equipment, net 163,756 133,043 Goodwill 4,178 4,178 Other assets 11,204 6,613

Total assets $ 495,099 $ 431,007

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 72,450 $ 61,008 Income taxes payable 9,692 12,028 Accrued compensation 12,620 11,774 Short-term debt 2,391 -- Other current liabilities 23,360 18,719

Total current liabilities 120,513 103,529

Capital lease obligations 13,851 36,167 Long-term debt 36,740 -- Other long-term obligations 33,492 27,613

Shareholders' equity: Common stock 218 218 Additional paid-in capital 158,183 148,263 Retained earnings 133,189 115,217 Other comprehensive income (1,087) --

Total shareholders' equity 290,503 263,698

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 495,099 $ 431,007

--30--JR/sf*

CONTACT: Cost Plus, Inc. John Luttrell, 510-808-9119

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALLS SOURCE: Cost Plus, Inc.

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