LL Flooring reports Q4 EPS (64c) vs. (29c) last year

Reports Q4 revenue $211.78M vs. $263.87M last year. Total comparable store sales decreased 20.2% versus the same period last year. “Fourth quarter business conditions remain difficult as we continue to experience the impact of weakness in existing home sales and the corresponding softness in the home improvement industry. We reported comparable store sales down 19.6% as we saw continued declines in traffic and lower average project sizes for our consumer and pro customers. Despite external headwinds, we are focused on our ability to deliver the high-touch service of an independent flooring retailer combined with the value, assortment, and convenience of a national brand,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Tyson. Tyson continued “Leading economic indicators suggest that home improvement spending will continue to be challenged through at least the first half of 2024, however, the long-term fundamentals of our business are strong due to aging housing stock, increased household formation and rising home values. To that end, we remain focused on executing on our brand transformation and on our strategic initiatives which we believe will drive revenue growth, increase brand awareness, spur product innovation and deliver a consistent customer experience. We are also gaining traction on several of our operating strategies, focusing on the customer experience, driving and improving NPS scores, innovating products including the execution of our carpet initiatives, and maintaining a strong focus on improving operational efficiencies and working capital management. All of which, gives us confidence in achieving long-term growth.”