Culp reports Q2 EPS (19c), two estimates (22c)

Reports Q2 revenue $58.7M, two estimates $57.8M. Commenting on the results, Iv Culp, president and chief executive officer of Culp, Inc., said, “We are pleased to report both sequential and year-over-year improvement in our consolidated sales and operating performance for the second quarter, a solid outcome considering the challenging macro environment for furniture and bedding. These results, which were in line with our expectations, reflect the strategic business transformation initiatives underway in both divisions that are focused on driving performance despite ongoing demand softness. In our mattress fabrics segment, we are increasing sales and gaining market position with new fabric and sewn cover placements. This segment also achieved a 90 percent improvement in its operating results as compared to the prior-year period, and a 33 percent improvement as compared sequentially to the prior quarter. This performance was driven by balanced inventory management, higher sales, better pricing and margin, and an ongoing focus by our strengthened leadership team on operational efficiencies across our locations. For our upholstery fabrics segment, as expected, sales for residential fabrics were lower than the prior-year period due to demand softness affecting the home furnishings industry. However, demand remained solid in our hospitality/contract business. The segment also saw a significant improvement in operating performance, driven by better inventory management, fixed cost savings, and other operational improvements.