On May 23, Hot Topic (NASDAQ:HOTT) released first-quarter earnings for the period ended May 5.

  • In spite of a 2.3% decline in comparable-store sales, revenues increased by 2.1%.
  • During the quarter, the company opened two Hot Topic stores and closed one; it remodeled or relocated 17 others. It currently operates 826 Hot Topic and Torrid stores.
  • For the second quarter, management expects earnings per share to be in the range of $0.02-$0.04.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data.)

Income Statement Highlights

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Sales

$157.3

$154.0

2.1%

Net Profit

($0.8)

($1.4)

N/A

EPS

($0.02)

($0.03)

N/A

Diluted Shares

44.2

44.1

0.4%

Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change*

Gross Margin

32.8%

31.3%

1.5

Operating Margin

(1.2%)

(1.7%)

0.6

Net Margin

(0.5%)

(0.9%)

0.4

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$49.2

$26.4

86.1%

Inventory

$75.1

$82.4

(8.9%)

Liabilities

Q1 2007

Q1 2006

Change

Accounts Payable

$21.6

$27.5

(21.6%)

The balance sheet reflects the company's health.

Cash Flow Highlights

The company gave us enough information to calculate owner's earnings, but that doesn't cut it for a retail operation that requires lots of working capital. Looks like we'll have to wait for the 10-Q for the cash flow information.

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

Related Foolishness:

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