Knoll, Inc. (KNL) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Net sales were $268.7 million for the second quarter of 2017, a decrease of 8.8%, from the second quarter of 2016. Operating profit was $22.2 million for the second quarter of 2017, a decrease of 33.6%, from the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted operating profit for the second quarter of 2017 was $24.4 million, a decrease of 27.2%, from the second quarter of 2016. Net income for the second quarter of 2017 was $12.9 million, a decrease of 40.3%, when compared to the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted net income for the second quarter of 2017 was $14.3 million, a decrease of 33.8%, when compared to the second quarter of 2016. Diluted earnings per share was $0.26 and $0.44 for the second quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.29 and $0.44 for the second quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.
"In many ways, the second quarter was a continuation of the challenging conditions we saw earlier in the year as Office shipments declined year-over-year and lagged the growth we experienced in our residential businesses. However, I believe we are getting closer to a tipping point where the initiatives we've taken over the past year to increase our market penetration and Office sales will start to outweigh the various forces that have been holding us back," commented Knoll President and CEO, Andrew Cogan.
Net sales were $268.7 million for the second quarter of 2017, a decrease of 8.8%, from the second quarter of 2016. Net sales for the Office segment were $153.0 million during the second quarter of 2017, a decrease of 14.6%, when compared with the second quarter of 2016. The decrease in the Office segment was due to a combination of lower government sales and fewer large commercial projects. Net sales for the Studio segment were $88.0 million during the second quarter of 2017, a decrease of 0.7%, when compared with the second quarter of 2016. Double digit growth at Holly Hunt and the incremental sales from DatesWeiser were offset by the decreases in contract shipments at both KnollStudio and Europe. Net sales for the Coverings segment were $27.6 million during the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 3.1%, when compared with the second quarter of 2016. The increase in Coverings was driven primarily by higher volume in the Spinneybeck | FilzFelt business.
Gross profit for the second quarter of 2017 was $100.0 million, a decrease of $14.1 million, or 12.4%, when compared with the second quarter of 2016. During the second quarter of 2017, gross margin decreased to 37.2% from 38.7% in the second quarter of 2016. This decrease was driven primarily by the Office segment where lower volume had an unfavorable impact on fixed-cost leverage, partially offset by net price realization.
Total operating expenses were $77.7 million for the second quarter of 2017, or 28.9% of net sales, compared to $80.6 million, or 27.3% of net sales, for the second quarter of 2016. Operating expenses in the second quarter includes $2.2 million of restructuring charges related to headcount rationalization and modernization of equipment in the Office segment. Excluding restructuring charges, adjusted operating expenses were $75.5 million for the second quarter of 2017, compared to $80.6 million for the second quarter of 2016. The decrease was due primarily to lower incentive accruals from decreased profitability as well as lower sales commissions as a result of a reduction in volume in the Office segment.
The tax rate for the second quarter of 2017 was 35.7%, up from 32.3% in the second quarter of 2016. The increase in the tax rate was due primarily to a favorable income tax examination ruling received from a non-U.S. income tax jurisdiction during the second quarter of 2016. The tax rate was also affected by the mix of pretax income and the varying effective tax rates in the countries and states in which we operate.
Capital expenditures for the second quarter of 2017 totaled $10.1 million compared to $8.0 million in the second quarter of 2016. During the second quarter of 2017, the Company paid a quarterly dividend of $7.3 million, or $0.15 per share, compared to a quarterly dividend of $7.2 million, or $0.15 per share, in the second quarter of 2016.
Business Segment Results
The Company manages its business through its reportable segments: Office, Studio, and Coverings. All unallocated expenses are included within Corporate.
The Office segment includes a complete range of workplace products that address diverse workplace planning paradigms. These products include: systems furniture, seating, storage, tables, desks and KnollExtra® accessories as well as the international sales of our North American Office products.
The Studio segment includes KnollStudio®, HOLLY HUNT®, Knoll Europe and DatesWeiser. KnollStudio products, include iconic seating, lounge furniture, side, cafe and dining chairs as well as conference, training and dining and occasional tables. HOLLY HUNT® is known for high quality residential furniture, lighting, rugs, textiles and leathers. In 2016, HOLLY HUNT® acquired Vladimir Kagan Design Group, a renowned collection of modern luxury furnishings. Knoll Europe, which distributes both KnollStudio and Knoll Office products, manufactures and sells products to customers primarily in Europe. DatesWeiser, known for its sophisticated meeting and conference tables and credenzas, sets a standard for design, quality and technology integration.
The Coverings segment includes KnollTextiles®, Spinneybeck® (including Filzfelt®), and Edelman® Leather. These businesses provide a wide range of customers with high-quality fabrics, felt, leather and related architectural products.
In 2016, the Company revised its segment presentation to segregate Corporate costs. The Company believes this facilitates improved communication as we report segment results and better aligns with how we view and operate the Company. Corporate costs represent the portion of unallocated expenses relating to shared services and general corporate functions including, but not limited to, legal expenses, acquisition expenses, certain finance, human resources, administrative and executive expenses and other expenses that are not directly attributable to an operating segment. Dedicated, direct selling, general and administrative expenses of the segments continue to be included within segment operating profit. Management regularly reviews the costs included in the Corporate function, and believes disclosing such information provides more visibility and transparency of how the chief operating decision maker reviews the results for the Company.
The tables below present the Company’s segment information with Corporate costs excluded from operating segment results. Prior year amounts have been recast to conform to the current presentation (in thousands):
