FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contacts:

Investors — Scott Pond (801) 345-2657, spond@nuskin.com
Media — Kara Schneck (801) 345-2116, kschneck@nuskin.com

 

 

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES REPORTS FOURTH-QUARTER AND 2014 RESULTS

PROVO, Utah — Feb. 5, 2015 — Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced fourth-quarter results with revenue of $609.6 million, the top end of the company’s guidance, compared to $1.06 billion in the prior-year period. Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2013 was augmented by $350 million in limited-time offer sales of the ageLOC TR90 weight management system. Revenue for the quarter was negatively impacted 4 percent by foreign currency fluctuations. Earnings per share for the quarter were at the top end of guidance at $0.77, versus $2.02 in the prior-year period. Earnings per share for the quarter were negatively impacted $0.08 by prepayment fees associated with the refinancing of the company’s debt, and $0.06 by foreign currency translation expense.

 

The company reported full-year 2014 revenue of $2.57 billion, a 19 percent year-over-year decline.  Annual revenue was negatively impacted 3 percent by foreign currency fluctuations. Earnings per share for the year were $3.11 compared to $5.94 in 2013.

 

“Our business performed as we expected for the quarter, and we look forward to a solid 2015,” said Truman Hunt, president and chief executive officer. “As we review the year, three factors impacted our results. First, our year-over-year comparisons were especially challenging considering that we were lapping a $550 million TR90 launch in the second half of 2013, our largest product introduction. Second, a strengthening U.S. dollar negatively impacted revenue by more than $100 million in 2014, and by $24 million sequentially from the third to the fourth quarter. Third, the proactive steps we took early in 2014 in Mainland China to address a regulatory review impacted revenue significantly, although we stabilized revenue from the second to the fourth quarter. Despite the 2014 revenue decline, our three-year compounded annual revenue growth rate was 14 percent, reflecting longer-term business improvement.”

 

Regional Results

 

The company’s regional revenue results are presented in the following table.

 

Revenue Results for the Fourth Quarters Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands)

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

% Change

 

 Constant Currency
% Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greater China

 

 $        212,981

 

 $        481,561

 

 

(56%)

 

(55%)

North Asia

 

           186,041

 

           286,288

 

 

(35%)

 

(30%)

Americas

 

             82,470

 

           126,149

 

 

(35%)

 

(14%)

South Asia/Pacific

 

             86,626

 

             99,477

 

 

(13%)

 

(9%)

EMEA

 

             41,489

 

             62,311

 

 

(33%)

 

(32%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$         609,607

 

$      1,055,786

 

 

(42%)

 

(38%)

 

 

The company’s regional Actives and Sales Leaders statistics are presented in the following table.

 

Actives/Sales Leaders Statistics as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

% Increase (Decrease)

 

 

Actives

 

Sales Leaders

 

Actives

 

Sales Leaders

 

Actives

 

Sales Leaders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greater China

 

        393,000

 

          24,537

 

        490,000

 

          61,546

 

(19.8%)

 

(60.1%)

North Asia

 

        391,000

 

          17,478

 

        409,000

 

          19,816

 

  (4.4%)

 

(11.8%)

Americas

 

        186,000

 

            7,471

 

        193,000

 

            8,274

 

  (3.6%)

 

  (9.7%)

South Asia/Pacific

 

        124,000

 

            8,458

 

        120,000

 

            7,992

 

  3.3%

 

  5.8%

EMEA

 

        114,000

 

            4,065

 

        123,000

 

            4,489

 

  (7.3%)

 

  (9.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

     1,208,000

 

          62,009

 

     1,335,000

 

        102,117

 

  (9.5%)

 

(39.3%)

 

 

“Actives” are persons who purchased products directly from the company during the previous three months.

 

“Sales Leaders” are independent distributors, and sales employees, contractual sales promoters and independent marketers in China, who achieve certain qualification requirements.

 

 

Operational Performance

The company’s comparable financial results were significantly impacted by the large revenue and selling expenses generated from the fourth-quarter 2013 launch of TR90. Operating margin was 15.0 percent for the quarter, compared to 17.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013. Gross margin during the quarter was 82.5 percent, versus 84.4 percent in the prior-year period. Selling expenses were 42.1 percent of sales in the fourth quarter, compared to 48.2 percent in the prior-year period. General and administrative expenses were 25.4 percent of sales compared to 18.3 percent in the prior-year period. The company’s effective income tax rate for the quarter was 38.1 percent, compared to 34.8 percent in the prior year, due primarily to a non-deductible currency charge related to Venezuela earlier in the year. Cash and current investments at the end of the quarter were $300.2 million and debt was $247.3 million. Dividend payments during the quarter were $20.4 million. Cash flow from operations for the quarter were approximately $90 million, and the company repurchased $20.7 million of its outstanding shares, leaving $348.8 million in the company’s repurchase authorization.

 

Outlook

“We believe we are on course to renew constant-currency growth in 2015,” said Hunt. “We look forward to introducing new anti-aging products in both the nutrition and skin care categories during the second half of the year. On the nutrition front, we plan to introduce ageLOC Youth, our most advanced anti-aging supplement. We also plan to introduce ageLOC Me, an innovative anti-aging skin care system that enables consumers to personalize a daily regimen based on individual preferences and skin care needs. In the Americas and Greater China we plan to launch our new essential oil lines. Early sales leader enthusiasm, encouraging consumer testing, and the size of each of these product categories lead us to believe these products will be important business drivers,” concluded Hunt.

 

“The fundamentals of the business are improving, and we continue to anticipate constant-currency growth in 2015,” said Ritch Wood, chief financial officer. “Foreign currency continues to weigh on our results, and we typically see a seasonal revenue decline from the fourth quarter to the first quarter. Consequently, we anticipate first-quarter revenue of $530 to $550 million, which includes a negative foreign currency impact of approximately $50 million, and first-quarter earnings per share of $0.70 to $0.74. Our full year 2015 revenue and earnings guidance remains consistent with prior guidance of $2.50 billion to $2.56 billion and $3.80 to $4.00 per share, respectively.”

 

The Nu Skin management team will host a conference call with the investment community on Feb. 5, 2015, at 11 a.m. (EST). Those wishing to access the webcast, as well as the financial information presented during the call, can visit the Investor Relations page on the company’s website at ir.nuskin.com. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same URL through Feb. 20, 2015.

 

About Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. demonstrates its tradition of innovation through its comprehensive anti-aging product portfolio, independent business opportunity and corporate social responsibility initiatives. The company’s scientific leadership in both skin care and nutrition has established Nu Skin as a premier anti-aging company. The company’s anti-aging products feature the new ageLOC® line of products including ageLOC® Tru Face® Essence Ultra firming serum, the ageLOC® TR90® weight management and body shaping system, ageLOC® R2 nutritional supplement, and ageLOC® Transformation daily skin care system. A global direct selling company, Nu Skin operates in 53 markets worldwide and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NUS.” More information is available at http://www.nuskin.com.

 

Please Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that represent the company's current expectations and beliefs. All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws and include, but are not limited to, statements of management's expectations regarding the company's performance, growth and new product introductions; projections regarding revenue, earnings per share, foreign currency fluctuations and other financial items; statements of belief; and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "project," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "targets," "likely," "will," "would," "could," "may," "might," the negative of these words and other similar words.

 

The forward-looking statements and related assumptions involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

·         risk that continuing media and regulatory scrutiny and investigations in China, and any actions taken by the company or by regulators, could cause unanticipated complications or other difficulties, could make it more difficult to forecast results for future periods, and could negatively impact the company's revenue, sales force and business in this market, including the interruption of sales activities, loss of licenses, the imposition of fines, and any other adverse actions or events;

·         risks related to negative publicity regarding media allegations and subsequent regulatory investigations and fines;

·         risk that direct selling regulations in China may be modified, interpreted or enforced in a manner that results in negative changes to our business model or the imposition of a range of potential penalties;

·         any failure of current or planned initiatives or products to generate interest among our sales force and customers and generate sponsoring and selling activities on a sustained basis;

·         risks related to accurately predicting, delivering or maintaining sufficient quantities of products to support our planned initiatives or launch strategies, and increased risk of inventory write-offs if we over-forecast demand for a product or change our planned initiatives or launch strategies;

·         risk of foreign currency fluctuations and the currency translation impact on the company's business associated with these fluctuations;

·         unpredictable economic conditions and events globally;

·         regulatory risks associated with the company's products, which could require the company to modify its claims or inhibit the company's ability to import or continue selling a product in a market if it is determined to be a medical device or if it is unable to register the product in a timely manner under applicable regulatory requirements;

·         adverse publicity related to the company's business, products, industry or any legal actions or complaints by the company’s sales force or others;

·         any prospective or retrospective increases in duties on the company's products imported into the company's markets outside of the United States and any adverse results of tax audits or unfavorable changes to tax laws in the company's various markets; and

·         continued competitive pressures in the company's markets.

 

The company's financial performance and the forward-looking statements contained herein are further qualified by a detailed discussion of associated risks set forth in the documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements set forth the company's beliefs as of the date that such information was first provided and the company assumes no duty to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect any change except as required by law.

 

 

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

For the Fourth Quarters Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

Revenue:

 

 

 

        Greater China

$                212,981

 

$                481,561

        North Asia

                  186,041

 

                  286,288

        Americas

                    82,470

 

                  126,149

        South Asia/Pacific

                    86,626

 

                    99,477

        Europe

                    41,489

 

                    62,311

Total revenue

                  609,607

 

               1,055,786

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

                  106,505

 

                  164,672

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

                  503,102

 

                  891,114

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

        Selling expenses

                  256,693

 

                  508,846

        General and administrative expenses

                  155,111

 

                  193,673

Total operating expenses

                  411,804

 

                  702,519

 

 

 

 

Operating income

                    91,298

 

                  188,595

 

 

 

 

Other (expense)/income, net

                   (16,127)

 

                      3,399

Income before provision for income taxes

                    75,171

 

                  191,994

Provision for income taxes

                    28,664

 

                    66,723

 

 

 

 

Net income

$                  46,507

 

$                125,271

 

 

 

 

Net income per share:

 

 

 

        Basic

$                      0.79

 

$                      2.13

        Diluted

$                      0.77

 

$                      2.02

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

        Basic

                    59,117

 

                    58,791

        Diluted

                    60,442

 

                    61,881

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

 





NU SKIN ENTERPRISES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

Revenue:

 

 

 

        Greater China

$               948,523

 

$            1,363,182

        North Asia

                 782,985

 

                 869,400

        Americas

                 329,027

 

                 370,087

        South Asia/Pacific

                 328,388

 

                 378,988

        Europe

                 180,572

 

                 195,061

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

              2,569,495

 

              3,176,718

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

                 478,434

 

                 505,806

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

              2,091,061

 

              2,670,912

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

        Selling expenses

              1,116,572

 

              1,476,772

        General and administrative expenses

                 622,301

 

                 640,028

Total operating expenses

              1,738,873

 

              2,116,800

 

 

 

 

Operating income

                 352,188

 

                 554,112

 

 

 

 

Other (expense)/income, net

                  (53,681)

 

                     2,828

Income before provision for income taxes

                 298,507

 

                 556,940

Provision for income taxes

                 109,331

 

                 192,052

 

 

 

 

Net income

$               189,176

 

$               364,888

 

 

 

 

Net income per share:

 

 

 

        Basic

$                     3.20

 

$                     6.23

        Diluted

$                     3.11

 

$                     5.94

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

        Basic

                   59,073

 

                   58,606

        Diluted

                   60,887

 

                   61,448

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

ASSETS

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

        Cash and cash equivalents

$                288,415

 

$                525,153

        Current investments

                    11,793

 

                    21,974

        Accounts receivable

                    35,834

 

                    68,652

        Inventories, net

                  338,491

 

                  339,669

        Prepaid expenses and other

                  160,134

 

                  162,886

 

                  834,667

 

               1,118,334

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

                  464,783

 

                  396,042

Goodwill

                  112,446

 

                  112,446

Other intangible assets, net

                    75,062

 

                    83,168

Other assets

                  127,476

 

                  111,072

                Total assets

$             1,614,434

 

$             1,821,062

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

        Accounts payable

$                  34,712     

 

$                  82,684     

        Accrued expenses

                  300,847

 

                  626,284

        Current portion of long-term debt

                    82,770

 

                    67,824

 

                  418,329           

 

                  776,792           

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

                  164,567

 

                  113,852

Other liabilities

                    89,100

 

                    71,799

        Total liabilities

                  671,996

 

                  962,443

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

        Class A common stock

                           91        

 

                           91        

        Additional paid-in capital

                  414,394

 

                  397,383

       Treasury stock, at cost

                 (862,608)

 

                 (826,904)

        Accumulated other comprehensive loss

                   (51,521)

 

                   (46,228)

        Retained earnings

               1,442,082

 

               1,334,277

 

                  942,438

 

                  858,619

                Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$             1,614,434

 

$             1,821,062

 

 

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