On Dec. 19, hotel and cinema operator Marcus (NYSE:MCS) released second-quarter 2007 earnings for the period ended Nov. 23.

  • Let's see whether we can knock down a few of the craziest year-over-year changes in these statements. Net earnings jumped 124%, thanks to $8.6 million of gains on the sale of assets in discontinued movie theaters and hotels, and condominium sales.

  • How about the inventory change? The new balance reflects a bushel of freshly built condos in the Las Vegas Platinum Hotel & Spa condominium hotel project, all held for sale.

  • Marcus paid out $214.6 million as a special dividend in the fourth quarter of 2006, which explains the massive drop in cash on hand, assets, and shareholders' equity. Unloading that cash did wonders for the ROE and ROA metrics, though it's somewhat troubling that management couldn't put it to work in more forward-looking ways.

(Figures in thousands, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Sales

$70,605

$67,025

5.3%

Net Profit, Continuing Operations

$10,263

$4,581

124.0%

EPS, Continuing Operations

$0.33

$0.15

120.0%

Diluted Shares

30,805

30,703

0.3%

Get back to basics with a look at the income statement.

Management Effectiveness

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change*

Return on Average Assets

6.4%

4.5%

1.9

Return on Average Equity

13.1%

3.6%

9.5

*Expressed in percentage points.

See how management puts its financial tools to work.

Margin Checkup

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change*

Gross Margin

51.7%

50.7%

1.0

Operating Margin

12.0%

12.4%

(.4)

Net Margin

14.5%

6.8%

7.7

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine. See how they work.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Cash + Short-Term Investments

$23,267

$273,632

(91.5%)

Accounts Receivable

$17,634

$14,653

20.3%

Inventory

$76,413

$0

N/A

Liabilities

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Accounts Payable

$14,363

$9,647

48.9%

Long-Term Debt*

$248,596

$192,745

29.0%

*Including substantial current portions.

Learn the ways of the balance sheet.

Cash Flow Highlights
Marcus didn't give us the benefit of a cash flow statement at this time. Et tu, Marcus?

Find out why Fools always follow the money.

Cash Conversion Checkup

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Days in Inventory

100.8

0.0

100.8

Days in Receivables

21.6

19.1

2.5

Days Payables Outstanding

42.9

28.8

14.1

Cash Conversion Cycle

79.5

(9.7)

89.2

Read up on cash conversion metrics.

Related Companies:

  • Hilton Hotels (NYSE:HLT)
  • Marriot International (NYSE:MAR)
  • Carmike Cinemas (NASDAQ:CKEC)
  • Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN)

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Fool by Numbers is designed to give you the raw earnings information in a timely fashion, putting all the numbers you need in one easy-to-read place. But at The Motley Fool, we believe numbers tell only part of the story, so checkFool.com for more of our in-depth discussion of what the numbers mean.

At the time of publication, Fool contributorAnders Bylund had no position in any company mentioned. Fool rules are here.