Business News

American Greetings Announces Third Quarter Earnings

Friday 21. December 2012 - American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) today announced its results for the third fiscal quarter ended November 23, 2012.

Third Quarter Results
For the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company reported total revenue of $506.8 million, a pre-tax loss of $2.1 million, and a net loss of $0.8 million or 3 cents per share (all per-share amounts assume dilution).
The Company announced, on June 7, 2012, the acquisition of certain assets of United Kingdom-based Clinton Cards, including approximately 400 stores and related overhead as well as the Clinton Cards and related brands. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recognized during the third quarter of fiscal 2013 a revenue increase of approximately $67.6 million from the operations of the Clintons retail stores, reflected in the Company’s new Retail Operations segment. This revenue increase was partially offset by the revenue reduction of approximately $25.5 million from inter-segment sales eliminations, reflected in the Company’s International Social Expressions segment, resulting in a net increase in consolidated revenue of approximately $42.1 million in the quarter. The revenue being eliminated would have been third party sales in the prior year quarter.
The Company recognized a loss of $11.5 million (after-tax of approximately $7.0 million or 22 cents per share) from the operation of its Retail Operations segment. The Company also recognized a reduction in pre-tax income of approximately $4.1 million (after-tax of approximately $2.5 million or 8 cents per share) as a result of inter-segment items within the International Social Expressions segment. The total consolidated net reduction in pre-tax income associated with the operation of the Clintons retail stores during the third fiscal quarter was approximately $15.6 million (after-tax of approximately $9.5 million or 30 cents per share).
During the quarter, consolidated revenue was also reduced by $0.6 million as a result of scan-based trading conversions that occurred during the current year’s third quarter while the impact of scan-based trading conversions on pre-tax income was $0.6 million (after-tax of approximately $0.4 million or 1 cent per share).
Also impacting the consolidated results was a pre-tax non-operating income benefit of $1.1 million (after-tax of approximately $0.7 million or 2 cents per share) from a gain on the sale of a portion of a legacy minority investment. A separate but related gain from this minority investment was previously recognized during our second fiscal quarter of 2013.
In the prior year’s third quarter, the Company reported total revenue of $465.0 million, pre-tax income of $29.7 million, and net income of $20.2 million or 50 cents per share. Scan-based trading conversions reduced revenue by approximately $1.2 million during the quarter and reduced pre-tax income by approximately $1.1 million (after-tax of approximately $0.7 million or 2 cents per share).
Financing Activities
During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, under the Company’s $75 million share repurchase program announced July 2012, the Company purchased approximately 1.1 million shares of its common stock for approximately $15.9 million. Purchases under this share repurchase program were suspended as of September 26, 2012.