Callaway Golf Company Announces First Quarter 2016 Financial Results With Continued Improvements In Gross Margins And Profitability; Callaway Increases 2016 Full Year GAAP Revenue And Earnings Guidance

CARLSBAD, Calif., April 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) today announced its first quarter financial results and updated its full year financial outlook for 2016.

The Company's 2016 first quarter net sales of $274 million, as compared to $284 million in the first quarter of 2015, were consistent with the Company's expectations and primarily reflect a strategic change in product launch timing, including the extension of product lifecycles. As a result of this strategic change, a majority of the Company's anticipated sales growth in 2016 is expected to occur in the second half of the year.  Despite this change, the Company's 2016 product line has been well received by retailers and consumers alike, enabling the Company to continue its brand momentum and build upon its significant market share gains of the last few years. For the first quarter of 2016, Callaway maintained its #1 dollar market share position in the U.S. for total golf clubs and its total U.S. hard goods dollar share was the Company's highest first quarter share since 2007.   

The Company's 2016 first quarter financial results also reflect the Company's continued improvements in gross margins and profitability.  For the first quarter of 2016, despite the planned reduction in net sales, the Company's gross margins improved by 350 basis points to 48.3%, resulting in a $5 million (or 4.0%) increase in gross profit compared to the same period in 2015. These improvements are the result of continued favorable trends in the Company's business, including continued operational efficiencies, increased average selling prices, and less promotional activity.  A $3 million decrease in operating expenses also contributed to a 22.7% increase in operating income (29.2% on a constant currency basis) for the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. 

The Company's diluted earnings per share increased to $0.40 for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $0.39 for the first quarter of 2015.  On a constant currency basis, first quarter diluted earnings per share increased by 23.1%.  The improvement in earnings per share is attributable to the improved gross margins and reduced operating expenses, which allowed the Company to more than offset the over $7 million in net foreign currency losses.

"The first quarter of 2016 was a strong start to the year for Callaway Golf and we are encouraged by how our business is trending," commented Chip Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Callaway Golf Company. "We are seeing sustained improvements in market dynamics, including less promotional activity and higher average selling prices. We are also steadily improving our profitability via operational improvements and our brand momentum by maintaining our leadership position in the club category while building share in our golf ball business, which presents an excellent growth opportunity. In addition, we had an exceptional start on tour, winning the first two majors of the year. Lydia Ko won the ANA Inspiration, the LPGA's first major of the year, and Danny Willett enjoyed a strong win at the Masters. Both won with our new XR 16 driver which is contributing to the buzz around that product." 

Mr. Brewer continued, "Looking forward, we will continue to focus on our core business by delivering innovative golf products and by continuing to improve our operational efficiencies. The effectiveness of this core strategy is proven; for example, our trailing twelve month EBITDA as of March 31, 2016 increased by 49.0% to $46.2 million compared to the same period in 2015.  Moving forward, in addition to focusing on our core business, we intend to use our increased profitability and strengthened financial condition to dedicate additional resources to business development opportunities both within our core business and in tangential areas. Such opportunities include our previously announced agreement in principle to form a joint venture with our long term licensee, TSI Groove & Sports Co., Ltd., for the manufacture and distribution of Callaway branded apparel, footwear and headwear in Japan.  We are excited about this second leg of our growth strategy and believe it opens up a new and exciting path for increasing long-term shareholder value."

GAAP and Constant Currency Results

In addition to the Company's results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company also provided additional information concerning its results on a non-GAAP basis. This non-GAAP information presents the Company's financial results on a constant currency basis. The manner in which this constant currency information is derived is discussed in more detail toward the end of this release, and the Company has provided in the tables to this release a reconciliation of the non-GAAP information to the most directly comparable GAAP information.   

Summary of First Quarter 2016 Financial Results

For the first quarter of 2016, Callaway announced the following GAAP and constant currency financial results, as compared to the same period in 2015 (in millions, except eps):                             

Business Outlook for 2016

The Company revised its full year financial guidance for 2016. The Company's revised pre-tax income and earnings guidance includes an $18 million pre-tax gain on the sale of approximately 10% of the Company's investment in Topgolf International, Inc., which occurred during the second quarter of 2016. The Company still holds an approximate 15% ownership interest in Topgolf. In addition, the planned joint venture in Japan is expected to have only a limited impact on net sales and gross margins in 2016, as it is not expected to be completed until sometime in the second half of the year. However, it will have an impact on operating expenses as formation and integration activities will occur throughout 2016. The Company's best estimate of the impact of the joint venture is included in the guidance below.

The Company is only providing 2016 GAAP guidance at this time. Foreign currency exchange rates changed during the first quarter such that there are no material differences between the Company's GAAP guidance and constant currency guidance. The foreign currency exchange rates used in the Company's guidance are set forth in the schedules to this press release. Any changes in foreign currency exchange rates from the rates used by the Company will affect the Company's GAAP guidance. 

Full Year 2016

The Company currently estimates the following full year results for 2016:

The increase in the Company's estimate of full year net sales on a GAAP basis from its previous GAAP guidance of $845 - $870 million is due primarily to strengthening foreign currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar in some of the Company's foreign markets. If the U.S. Dollar were to strengthen during the balance of the year, the Company's GAAP sales estimates would be adversely affected.

The Company estimates that its 2016 GAAP gross margin as a percentage of sales will improve approximately 100 basis points from its previous guidance of 43.5% due to a stronger sales mix of in-line products compared to closeouts, continued operational improvements, and foreign currency exchange rates.

The Company estimates that its 2016 GAAP operating expenses will be slightly higher than its previous guidance of $345 million driven by foreign currencies strengthening in select markets.

The Company estimates that its 2016 pre-tax income will increase from its previous guidance of $20 - $30 million due to the impact of the second quarter gain on the sale of a portion of the Company's Topgolf shares, continued improvements in gross margins and profitability, and changes in foreign currency rates. 

The Company estimates that its fully diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis will increase from its previous 2016 GAAP guidance of $0.15 - $0.25 earnings per share due primarily to the impact of the sale of a portion of its Topgolf investment, anticipated continued improvements in gross margins and profitability, and changes in foreign currency rates. The Company's revised earnings estimate represents an increase of $0.23 - $0.33 over its performance in 2015 with the gain on the sale of the Topgolf shares accounting for approximately $0.18 of the increase.

The Company's 2016 earnings per share estimates assume a base of 95 million shares as compared to 85 million shares in 2015. The increased share count in 2016 is primarily the result of the conversion of the Company's convertible debt into equity in 2015. This estimate also includes taxes of approximately $6 million.

Second Quarter 2016

The Company currently estimates the following financial results for the second quarter of 2016.

The anticipated increase in net sales during the second quarter of 2016 as compared to the same period in 2015 reflects the Company's brand momentum, the success of the Company's 2016 product line and the timing of product launches.

The anticipated increase in earnings per share for the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in the prior year reflects the gain on the sale of a portion of the Company's investment in Topgolf, which accounts for $0.18 of the expected increase, as well anticipated continued improvements in gross margins and profitability, partially offset by a shift in marketing expense from the first quarter to the second quarter.   

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will be holding a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PDT today to discuss the Company's financial results, outlook, and business. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed at www.callawaygolf.com. To listen to the call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes before the call to register and for instructions on how to access the broadcast. A replay of the conference call will be available approximately three hours after the call ends, and will remain available through 9:00 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. The replay may be accessed through the Internet at www.callawaygolf.com.

Non-GAAP Information

The GAAP results contained in this press release and the financial statement schedules attached to this press release have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). To supplement the GAAP results, the Company has provided certain non-GAAP financial information as follows:

Constant Currency Basis. The Company provided certain information regarding the Company's financial results or projected financial results on a "constant currency basis." This information estimates the impact of changes in foreign currency rates on the translation of the Company's current or projected future period financial results as compared to the applicable comparable period. This impact is derived by taking the current or projected local currency results and translating them into U.S. Dollars based upon the foreign currency exchange rates for the applicable comparable period. This calculation also excludes foreign currency net gains and losses recognized during the period from the translation of transactions denominated in foreign currencies and foreign currency gains and losses recognized from the Company's hedging contracts. It does not include any other effect of changes in foreign currency rates on the Company's results or business.  

EBITDA. The Company provided information about its results, excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses.

In addition, the Company has included in the schedules to this release a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP information to the most directly correlated GAAP information. The non-GAAP information presented in this release and related schedules should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measure derived in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP information may also be inconsistent with the manner in which similar measures are derived or used by other companies.  Management uses such non-GAAP information for financial and operational decision-making purposes and as a means to evaluate period over period comparisons and in forecasting the Company's business going forward. Management believes that the presentation of such non-GAAP information, when considered in conjunction with the most directly comparable GAAP information, provides additional useful comparative information for investors in their assessment of the underlying performance of the Company's business without regard to these items.

Forward-Looking Statements: Statements used in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results, performance or prospects, including statements relating to the estimated 2016 sales, gross margins, operating expenses, pre-tax income, taxes, and earnings per share (or related share count), the expected terms and timing of the Company's planned joint venture in Japan, as well as the Company's momentum, success of future products, growth opportunities, the investment in corporate development opportunities, future operational efficiencies, and the creation of long-term shareholder value, are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon current information and expectations. Accurately estimating the forward-looking statements is based upon various risks and unknowns including the negotiation and completion of final terms for the planned joint venture in Japan; consumer acceptance of and demand for the Company's products; the level of promotional activity in the marketplace; unfavorable weather conditions; future consumer discretionary purchasing activity, which can be significantly adversely affected by unfavorable economic or market conditions; future retailer purchasing activity, which can be significantly negatively affected by adverse industry conditions and overall retail inventory levels; and future changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the degree of effectiveness of the Company's hedging programs. Actual results may differ materially from those estimated or anticipated as a result of these risks and unknowns or other risks and uncertainties, including continued compliance with the terms of the Company's credit facilities; delays, difficulties or increased costs in the supply of components or commodities needed to manufacture the Company's products or in manufacturing the Company's products; any rule changes or other actions taken by the USGA or other golf association that could have an adverse impact upon demand or supply of the Company's products; a decrease in participation levels in golf; and the effect of terrorist activity, armed conflict, natural disasters or pandemic diseases on the economy generally, on the level of demand for the Company's products, or on the Company's ability to manage its supply and delivery logistics in such an environment. For additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties that could affect these statements, the golf industry, and the Company's business, see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About Callaway Golf
Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) creates products designed to make every golfer a better golfer. Callaway Golf Company manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls, and sells golf accessories, under the Callaway Golf® and Odyssey® brands worldwide. For more information please visit www.callawaygolf.com.

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