La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE: LZB) reported its operating results for the fiscal 2016 full year and fourth quarter ended April 30, 2016.

Fiscal 2016 full-year highlights:

Consolidated sales for the full fiscal 2016 year increased 7.0% to $1.53 billion compared with fiscal 2015.  The fiscal 2016 period included 53 weeks, with the additional week having an approximate 2 percentage point impact;

Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to La-Z-Boy Incorporated increased 21.1% to $1.55, including the previously announced $0.07 per share charge in fiscal 2016 related to a pending legal matter;

Consolidated gross margin increased to 38.2% versus 35.4% in fiscal 2015;

Consolidated operating income increased to $122.4 million from $103.2 million in fiscal 2015 with the consolidated operating margin increasing to 8.0% from 7.2% in fiscal 2015;

The company generated cash from operating activities of $112.4 million for the year;

Same-store written sales for the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® store network increased 2.0% for the full fiscal 2016 year on a comparable basis; and
The company returned $62.2 million to shareholders through share purchases and an increased dividend.

Fiscal 2016 fourth-quarter highlights:

Consolidated sales for the fourth quarter increased 11.2% to $417.1 million compared with the fiscal 2015 fourth quarter. The fiscal 2016 quarter included one additional week, which had an approximate 8 percentage point impact;

Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to La-Z-Boy Incorporated increased 18.4% to $0.45, including the previously announced $0.07 per share charge related to a pending legal matter in the fiscal 2016 fourth quarter;

Consolidated gross margin increased to 39.3% versus 35.6% in the fiscal 2015 fourth quarter;

Consolidated operating income for the fiscal 2016 fourth quarter increased 15.9% to $34.2 million, with the consolidated operating margin increasing to 8.2% from 7.9% in the fiscal 2015 fourth quarter;

The company generated cash from operating activities of $42.6 million during the quarter;

Same-store written sales for the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® network increased 2.2% on a comparable basis.

Kurt L. Darrow, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of La-Z-Boy, said, "We delivered exceptional performance in fiscal 2016 and continued on a five-year path of sales and earnings increases.  Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategic growth initiatives in today's retail environment and the efficiencies throughout our manufacturing platform.  We had an excellent quarter and year, which would have been even stronger without the previously announced $0.07 per share charge for the pending legal matter.  We recorded increases in sales, earnings per share, and consolidated operating margin, reflecting improved operating performance across all three business segments.  We also returned $62.2 million to shareholders through dividends and share purchases, all while reinvesting in our business – including the acquisition of 11 La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores – to drive long-term profitable growth.  Our balance sheet remains strong and we are well positioned for ongoing success as we enter fiscal 2017."

Wholesale Segments

For the fiscal 2016 fourth quarter, sales in the company's upholstery segment increased 9.7% to $334.9 million.  This compares with sales of $305.3 million in the prior year's fourth quarter.  The segment increased its operating margin to 11.8% for the period compared with 11.6% in the prior year's quarter.  In the casegoods segment, sales for the fiscal 2016 fourth quarter were $26.3 million, up 1.6% from last year's fourth quarter, and the segment's operating margin increased to 6.2% versus 4.0% in the comparable period last year.

Darrow commented, "We increased our operating margin to 11.8%  in the upholstery segment for the quarter, despite the accrual for the previously announced legal matter which exerted a 1.6  percentage point drag on the segment's operating margin in the fiscal 2016 fourth quarter.  This performance was driven by increased volume and our ability to leverage the fixed-cost structure of our manufacturing facilities as well as supply chain savings, which included procurement and plant efficiencies.  Additionally, we are realizing the benefits of our new ERP system throughout the La-Z-Boy branded facilities.  With a truly integrated system, we have better information flow and data visibility, which we are leveraging to provide improved service to our customers."

Darrow added, "On the merchandising side, at the High Point Furniture Market in April, we introduced an exciting new fabric program, called iClean™, which uses innovative technology to surround each fabric fiber to repel spills.  The product was very well received by dealers, and we expect it to be very popular with consumers.  Within our stationary and motion lines, we are updating our offering to appeal to a wide array of consumers.  Our Urban Attitudes® line remains a key collection, and power continues to increase in popularity."

Darrow continued, "With a pure-import model in place for our casegoods business, we have improved the profitability of the business and are focused on driving sales throughout the segment.  Our product refresh at American Drew and Kincaid is just about complete, and at the High Point Furniture Market in April, American Drew introduced a new collection, AD Modern, which was well received by dealers and should be available on retail floors in September.  Moving forward, we believe the changes we have made across our casegoods model will ensure more consistent performance."

Retail Segment

Darrow stated, "We are very pleased with the performance of our retail segment.  The segment posted a 6.4% operating margin for the full fiscal year versus 3.4% in fiscal 2015 and more than doubled its operating income.  These results demonstrate the efficiencies with which we are running the business and our ability to leverage the segment's fixed-cost structure with increased volume."

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, retail delivered sales were $109.2 million, up 25.9% from last year's comparable quarter.  On the core base of 107 stores included in last year's fourth quarter, sales for the segment increased 13.0%, which included the extra week.   The segment's operating margin for the quarter was 5.8%, compared with 3.8% in the prior-year period.

Darrow continued, "In fiscal 2016, we achieved a new milestone, with sales for the segment exceeding $400 million.  As part of our 4-4-5 store build out strategy, we are opening new stores and acquiring stores from independent dealers.  We acquired one independent La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® store in Fort Collins, Colorado during the quarter and a total of 11 stores during fiscal 2016.  Subsequent to year end, we acquired a store in Reno, Nevada, and believe there are additional acquisition opportunities ahead.  We have succeeded in integrating these stores into our portfolio quickly, and they have been accretive from the start.  As our retail segment continues to increase in size, we will have further opportunity to benefit from the combined margin associated with our integrated retail strategy, where we earn a profit on both the wholesale and retail sales.  At the end of fiscal 2016, we owned 124 La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores.  We expect to own approximately 40% to 50% of the store network when our 4-4-5 initiative is complete."

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® Store Network

System-wide, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, including company-owned and independent-licensed stores, same-store written sales, which the company tracks as an indicator of retail activity, were up 2.2% versus last year's fourth quarter. Same-store written sales are reported on a regular calendar three-month basis.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, total written sales from new and closed stores, reported on a regular calendar three-month basis, increased 4.3% compared with the fiscal 2015 comparable period.  At the end of the fourth quarter, the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® store system was composed of 338 stand-alone stores, with 89 in the new concept design format.

Darrow commented, "Across the network, 28 projects were executed in fiscal 2016, including new stores, relocations and remodels.  In addition to opening new stores, we are working to upgrade the entire network of stores by remodeling older stores into the new concept design format, which is performing at a higher level than stores in the other formats.  For fiscal 2017, we have approximately 25 to 30 projects scheduled to be completed, and we expect to end the year with about 120 stores in the new concept design format and 350 in total."

The tables below summarize the store projects for the network in 2016 and provide a projection for activity during fiscal 2017.

(Source: La-Z-Boy Incorporated)