Gross profit for the fiscal 2012 second quarter increased to $73.1 million from $71.8 million in the second quarter of the prior year. The company's gross profit margin was 32.2 percent in the fiscal 2012 second quarter versus 32.7 percent in the second quarter of the prior year. The decrease in gross profit margin reflects higher store occupancy and distribution costs, partially offset by an increase in merchandise margins of approximately 12 basis points. The improvement in merchandise margins was driven by a shift in the product sales mix and an adjustment in promotional activities, partially offset by the continuation of product cost inflation.
Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of net sales improved to 30.3 percent in the fiscal 2012 second quarter from 30.5 percent in the second quarter of the prior year. Overall selling and administrative expense increased $1.8 million during the quarter from the prior year due primarily to higher store-related expenses reflecting an increased store count and increased employee benefit-related costs, as well as a pre-tax charge of $0.7 million related to store closing costs. These expenses were partially offset by lower advertising costs as well as lower debit card fees resulting from recent federal legislation. The company recorded a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of $0.2 million related to certain underperforming stores in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to $0.6 million in the same period last year.
Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was $2.6 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, including 3 cents per diluted share of store closing and non-cash impairment charges. For the second quarter of fiscal 2011, net income was $3.1 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, including a non-cash impairment charge of 2 cents per diluted share.
For the 26-week period ended July 1, 2012, net sales increased to $445.1 million from net sales of $440.7 million in the 26 weeks ended July 3, 2011. Same store sales decreased 1.0 percent in the first 26 weeks of fiscal 2012 versus the comparable period last year. Net income was $2.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, including $0.03 of store closing and impairment charges, for the first 26 weeks of fiscal 2012, compared to net income of $5.9 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, including the $0.02 impairment charge, for the first half of last year.
"We are pleased to report that, despite continuing to operate in a challenging macroeconomic environment, our business generated growth in same store sales and merchandise margins and achieved better than expected earnings for the second quarter," said Steven G. Miller, the company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "This marked our first quarterly same store sales increase since the third quarter of 2010 and our first quarter of merchandise margin growth since the first quarter of 2011. We believe this positive trending reflects the growing impact of the merchandise and marketing initiatives that we have been implementing over the last several quarters. The improved performance was particularly evident with our softgoods products, as we experienced the strongest quarterly growth in both our apparel and footwear categories since 2006."
Mr. Miller continued, "Our positive momentum has continued in the third quarter and, as anticipated, sales in early July also benefited from the calendar shift of the Fourth of July holiday further into the third quarter this year. Looking forward, we plan to continue our efforts to broaden our appeal in today's consumer environment while providing the core value, quality and convenience that have been hallmarks of Big 5 for over 55 years."
Quarterly Cash Dividend
The company's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share of outstanding common stock, which will be paid on September 14, 2012 to stockholders of record as of August 31, 2012.
Share Repurchases
During the fiscal 2012 second quarter, the company repurchased 131,420 shares of its common stock for a total expenditure of $0.9 million. As of the end of the second quarter, the company had approximately $10.9 million available for future stock repurchases under its $20.0 million share repurchase program authorized in the fiscal 2007 fourth quarter.
Guidance
For the fiscal 2012 third quarter, the company expects same store sales in the positive low to mid-single-digit range and earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.28 to $0.34. This guidance includes an estimated pre-tax charge of approximately $0.4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, to provide for the closing of one underperforming store that had been expected to close in the second quarter. For comparative purposes, the company's earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 were $0.27.
Store Openings
During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, the company opened three stores, one of which relates to a relocation, and closed three stores, one of which relates to a relocation. The company ended the fiscal 2012 second quarter with 407 stores in operation. During the fiscal 2012 third quarter, the company anticipates opening three new stores, one of which relates to a relocation, and closing two stores, one of which relates to a relocation. During the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, the company currently anticipates opening approximately nine stores and closing one store that relates to a relocation. For the fiscal 2012 full year, the company currently anticipates opening approximately thirteen new stores, relocating three stores and closing three stores. The company currently expects to end fiscal 2012 with approximately 416 stores in operation.
Conference Call Information
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