IMAGE SOURCE: LUMBER LIQUIDATORS.
What happened
Shares of Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. (LL) fell 21.1% in the month of October, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, after specialty flooring retailer announced disappointing quarterly earnings.
So what
More specifically, Lumber Liquidators stock had largely held steady until the final trading day of the month, when shares plunged after the company confirmed third-quarter revenue grew 3.4% year over year, to $244.1 million -- which marked its first year-over-year increase in six quarters and arrived well above analysts' consensus estimates for $231.6 million -- but results in a significantly wider-than-expected net loss of $0.31 per share (compared to expectations for a loss of just $0.19 per share).
Lumber Liquidators' then-CEO, John Presley, admitted that while the company is "pleased with the direction of our sales performance," they also "recognize we have work to do to restore Lumber Liquidators to growth and profitability for the long term."
At the same time, Presley insisted they had "taken steps to strengthen our financial position."
Now what
Subsequent to the end of the quarter on Nov. 7, the company also announced Presley's resignation as CEO and from Lumber Liquidators' board of directors. Presley will be succeeded as CEO by Dennis Knowles, who joined Lumber Liquidators this past March as chief operating officer.
Presley took the reins as CEO late last year after Lumber Liquidators' previous CEO abruptly resigned in the wake of a negative 60 Minutes report alleging the company had sold Chinese-made laminate flooring products containing illegally high levels of formaldehyde (a known carcinogen). The company has made significant progress since then in resolving the situation, but higher advertising and uncertainties surrounding future legal costs are still holding it back.
"I am proud of the work we have accomplished to resolve many outstanding issues for Lumber Liquidators and to begin to stabilize the business," added Presley, "and I am confident that Dennis is the right leader to build on and accelerate the progress we have made."
According to Knowles:
I am honored to have been chosen to lead Lumber Liquidators forward. Lumber Liquidators has a unique value proposition of delivering the best hardwood flooring selection, prices and expertise. We have an incredibly committed team – and I know that together, we have the drive and the vision to succeed and enter the next chapter of our Company's exciting future. As CEO, I am focused on executing on our strategic initiatives and returning our company to growth and profitability. I am confident in our ability as a team to deliver on our promises.
That's fair enough. But in the end, Lumber Liquidators obviously has plenty of work to do in order to fully restore its image and recapture sustained, profitable growth. Until we see more tangible signs that the worst is over, I personally remain content continuing to watch its progress from the sidelines.
