On Aug. 9, Wild Oats Markets (NASDAQ:OATS) released second-quarter earnings for the period ended June 30.

  • Comparable-store sales increased 3.1% to help move total sales ahead 5.1%.
  • Gross margin decreased by 20 bps because of increased occupancy costs, a rise in promotional activities, and a shift in sales to lower-margin products.
  • Wild Oats' proposed merger with its competitor Whole Foods (NASDAQ:WFMI) is running into rough weather, with questions of monopoly cropping up.

(Figures in millions except per-share data.)

Income Statement Highlights

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Sales

$311.8

$296.6

5.1%

Net Profit

$0.1

$4.9

(97.4%)

EPS

$0.00

$0.16

N/A

Diluted Shares

30.4

30.0

1.5%

Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change*

Gross Margin

31.9%

32.1%

(0.2)

Operating Margin

0.6%

2.1%

(1.5)

Net Margin

0%

1.6%

(1.6)

*Expressed in percentage points

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$38.1

$66.7

(42.9%)

Accounts Rec.

$3.3

$5.0

(34%)

Inventory

$73.1

$69.1

5.8%

Liabilities

Q2 2007

Q2 2006

Change

Accounts Payable

$59.8

$59.7

0.1%

Long-Term Debt

$147.5

$147.9

(0.3%)

The balance sheet reflects the company's health.

Cash Flow Highlights

YTD 2007

YTD 2006

Change

Cash From Ops.

$10.2

$21.0

(51.4%)

Capital Expenditures

$19.8

$15.1

31.3%

Free Cash Flow

($9.6)

$6.0

N/A

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

Related Foolishness:

Whole Foods is a Stock Advisor selection.

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