The Dixie Group Reports Third Quarter, Nine-Month Results

Business Wire, Oct 30, 2007

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The Dixie Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: DXYN) today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007. For the third quarter, income from continuing operations was $2,239,000, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared with income from continuing operations of $2,703,000, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2006. Sales for the third quarter of 2007 were $82,385,000, down 1.5% from sales of $83,606,000 in the year-earlier quarter.

For the nine months ended September 29, 2007, income from continuing operations was $5,032,000, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared with income from continuing operations of $4,657,000, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the similar period in 2006. Sales for the nine-month period in 2007 were $241,278,000, down 3.8% from sales of $250,825,000 in the prior-year period.

Commenting on the results, Daniel K. Frierson, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Our carpet sales continued to outpace the carpet industry, which reported an 8.1% decline in sales for the third quarter compared with the third quarter of last year. The industry reported that sales of residential carpet declined 13.8% and sales of commercial carpet grew 2.5%. Our third quarter carpet sales were essentially flat. Sales of our residential carpet products were down 10.7% and commercial carpet product sales rose 23.8%. Our residential carpet business continued to be affected by general industry weakness and the significant decline in sales to one large home center customer. Sales to our other customers reflected an 8% decline in sales of residential carpet products and 2.3% growth in total carpet sales. During the third quarter, sales of our new modular/carpet tile products were over $1.5 million and sales of our commercial broadloom products grew over 18% compared with the year-earlier-quarter.

"Despite higher raw material, utilities and other costs, our third quarter gross margin percent remained flat with the third quarter of last year. Higher selling prices and a more profitable product mix offset higher raw material and manufacturing costs. The full impact of the selling price increase we announced near the end of the second quarter should affect results for the fourth quarter of this year. For the first nine months of 2007, our gross margin percent improved by 1.4 percentage points. The improvement reflects higher selling prices and a better product mix, as well as lower cost from improved operational performance.

"Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was 6.2% for the third quarter of this year compared with 6.7% for the third quarter a year ago. The marginally lower operating profit percentage reflects the effect of higher selling and administrative expenses and improved other operating income. For the first nine months operating profit was 5.3%, up from 4.6% in the prior year. The first nine months of 2006 included expenses totaling $3.2 million to terminate a legacy defined benefit pension plan.

"Although it is impossible to predict the future, the slowing housing industry and tightening credit conditions will likely continue to impact demand for residential carpet products for the next several quarters. The new products we are bringing to the market this year are well placed and beginning to generate sales. We believe these new wool and nylon products will allow us to continue to increase our share of the residential carpet market. The outlook for our commercial carpet business continues to be favorable. Demand has remained strong for our commercial broadloom products, and our modular/carpet tile products continue to gain momentum. We also have expanded our offering of commercial tile and broadloom products this year. Our year-over-year commercial order entry and sales comparisons continued to be positive in October. The improvement we have seen in our commercial carpet business and the anticipated effect of our new residential and commercial products make us optimistic that our sales will continue to outpace those of the carpet industry as a whole," Frierson concluded.

During the third quarter of this year, the Company purchased 79,128 shares of its Common Stock at an average per share price of $10.53 pursuant to the program authorized by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to $10.0 million of the Company's common stock. Based on the current stock price, management believes repurchases of the Company's Stock represent an excellent investment and should provide long-term value to shareholders. In October, the Company amended its senior loan and security agreement to provide additional funds and flexibility for any share buybacks under the stock repurchase program.

Income from discontinued operations was $9,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2007, compared with a loss of $86,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2006. For the first nine months of 2007, the loss from discontinued operations was $175,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared with a loss of $261,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the year-earlier period. Including discontinued operations, the Company reported net income of $2,248,000, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2007 compared with net income of $2,617,000, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2006. For the first nine months of 2007, net income was $4,857,000, or $0.37 per diluted share, compared with net income of $4,396,000, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the 2006 period.