Collectors Universe Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2011 Results

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT), a leading provider of value-added authentication and grading services to dealers and collectors of high-value collectibles, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended June 30, 2011.

Fourth Quarter Operational and Financial Highlights:

• Grading, authentication and related service revenues, as compared to fiscal 2010, increased 13% in this year's fourth quarter and 10% for the fiscal year.  The fourth quarter increase to $12.2 million was driven primarily by an 18% increase in coin service revenues.  The increase in coin service revenues was primarily the result of a 25% increase in modern coin grading revenues and 152% increase in world coin grading revenues in the quarter.
• The gross profit margin on service revenues was 62% of revenues for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year.
• Operating income, excluding a $1.4 million non-cash impairment charge related to the Expos business, would have been $3.0 million in the fourth quarter and $9.7 million for the fiscal year, representing increases of 15% and 16 %, respectively, as compared to the prior year corresponding periods.  
• Expos continues to be profitable and cash flow positive and will continue to be part of our future service offerings, despite the non-cash impairment charge of $1.4 million. Expos represented 4% of revenues in fiscal 2011.
• Income from continuing operations was $1.0 million, or $0.13 per diluted share for the current fourth quarter and $5.0 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, for fiscal 2011.  The current period results reflect income tax provisions of $0.6 million for the quarter and $3.3 million for the year, as compared to income tax benefits of $8.3 million in the prior year periods.  The increase in the tax provision for fiscal 2011 resulted from the release of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets at June 30, 2010.  Cash payments for taxes continue to be minimal.
• The Company's cash position at June 30, 2011 was $21.9 million, compared with $20.3 million at June 30, 2010.  The net cash generated of $1.6 million in fiscal 2011, comprised cash generated from continuing operations of $11.3 million and proceeds received from the exercise of stock options of $1.1 million, net of payments of $9.9 million for cash dividends to stockholders, $0.4 million related to discontinued operations and $0.5 million for capital expenditures.
• On August 1, 2011, we announced our quarterly cash dividend of $0.325 per share, to be paid on August 26, 2011 to stockholders of record on August 12, 2011.

Commentary and Outlook

Michael McConnell, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The Company performed well in fiscal 2011 and the various strategic initiatives launched over the last two years continue to build momentum.  Our strategy remains to extend pragmatically in our core markets; through both organic growth, as well as prudent investments.  Additionally, we will maintain our focus on operational efficiency, while maintaining high levels of customer service.  We enter fiscal 2012 looking to continue to build on the progress the Company has made over the last two years."

Conference Call and Webcast

Collectors Universe will host a conference call to discuss results on Friday, August 26, 2011 at 4:15 p.m.  Eastern Time/1:15 p.m. Pacific Time.  Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing (877) 303-9119 or (408) 940-3827, five to ten minutes prior to the initiation of the call.  A replay of the conference call will be available through September 9, 2011, by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and entering access code 93997336.  A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Collectors Universe website, www.collectors.com under Investor Relations: Earnings Conference Calls.  The webcast will be archived for 12 months.

About Collectors Universe

Collectors Universe, Inc. is a leading provider of value-added services to the high-value collectibles markets. The Company authenticates and grades collectible coins, trading cards, event tickets, autographs, memorabilia and stamps ("collectibles").  The Company also compiles and publishes authoritative information about United States and world coins, collectible trading cards and sports memorabilia, collectible stamps, and operates its CCE dealer-to-dealer Internet bid-ask market for certified coins and its Expos trade show and conventions business.  This information is accessible to collectors and dealers at the Company's website, http://www.collectors.com and is also published in print.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains statements regarding our expectations, beliefs or views about our future financial performance and trends in our business and in our markets, which constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "project," or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may."

Due to a number of risks and uncertainties to which our business and our markets are subject, our future financial performance may differ, possibly significantly, from our expected financial performance as set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release.  Information regarding those risks and uncertainties, and their possible impact on our future financial performance, include, but are not limited to, the following: our continued dependence on our coin business which generated more than 60% of our consolidated revenues and a substantial portion of our operating income in the year ended June 30, 2011, making our operating results more vulnerable to conditions that could adversely affect the precious metals and coin markets; the risk that the hoped for improvement in economic conditions in the United States may not materialize or increases in the prices of gold and silver, may slow or even decline, either of which could result in reductions in the demand for our collectibles authentication or grading services and, consequently, in our revenues; the risk that the economic downturn from 2008 to 2010 and the anemic economic recovery will lead to longer-term changes in the spending habits of consumers and in the availability and use of credit by smaller businesses, such as collectibles dealers, to fund purchases of collectibles, which could lead to longer-term declines in collectibles commerce and, therefore, in the demand for our services; the risk that our strategies of offering new services and geographically expand existing services in our continuing collectibles markets will not be successful in enabling us to improve our profitability or may even cause us to incur significant losses; the risk that it may become necessary for us to reduce the amount of, or suspend or discontinue the payment of cash dividends in the future, due to conditions or circumstances outside of our control, such as adverse economic or market conditions, as well as our future financial performance and the cash needs of our business in the future; and the risk that our continuing financial obligations with respect to two facilities in New York City, which we had leased for our subsequently discontinued jewelry businesses, will lead to reductions in cash flows and additional losses from discontinued operations in future periods.

Additional information regarding these risks and information regarding other risks and uncertainties to which our business is subject is contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today.  Due to these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release or in our Annual or Quarterly Reports, which speak only as of their respective dates.  We also disclaim any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law or NASDAQ rules.

SOURCE Collectors Universe, Inc.