Nature’s Sunshine Q1 2015 Results Down 10.3% To $83.9 Million

May 8, 2015
By Team Business For Home International

Nature's Sunshine, Chairman & CEO, Greg Probert

Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company engaged in the manufacture and direct selling of nutritional and personal care products, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015, and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share.

In the first quarter of 2015, we observed sustainable local currency growth in NSP Americas and Synergy WorldWide, which were offset by currency headwinds from the negative impacts of the strong dollar and continuing sales challenges in NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe. Synergy Europe delivered a third consecutive quarter of net sales growth driven by the investments made in additional sales resources and the launch of our weight management program, SLMsmart. NSP North America also achieved a third consecutive quarter of net sales growth through increased adoption of the IN.FORM sales program, commented Gregory L. Probert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Probert continued, In April 2015, we initiated a plan to streamline our operations and refocus our activities on profitable growth opportunities, which we expect will bring improved efficiencies and reduced costs resulting in $10 to $15 million of annualized savings.

Mr. Probert concluded, Our entry into China through our joint venture with Fosun Pharma remains on track for late 2015. During the quarter, we made significant progress towards our direct selling license submission as well as finalizing our product offerings in the e-commerce, retail and direct selling channels. Expansion into China is part of our vision to transform Nature's Sunshine into a multi-brand, multi-channel organization and to further drive distributor adoption, leadership and engagement on a global scale.

For the First Quarter of 2015:

Local currency net sales decreased 6.6 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014. Net sales growth in the NSP Americas and Synergy WorldWide segments was offset by declines in the NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe segment. Excluding this decline, the remaining business segments grew by 1.7 percent year-over-year. Reported net sales revenue decreased 10.3 percent to $83.9 million, compared to $93.5 million in the first quarter of 2014, including unfavorable currency fluctuations.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 9.7 percent to $26.3 million, compared to $29.2 million in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease was primarily due to reduced management service costs in NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe due to lower net sales and reduced benefit costs. The reduction in SG&A expenses was partially offset by $0.8 million of increased investment in China.
Operating income decreased 22.1 percent to $5.3 million, compared to $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease was primarily due to lower net sales revenue in NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe and an increase in cost of sales as a percentage of net sales due to the devaluation of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar in many of the Company's foreign markets.
Adjusted EBITDA, defined here as net income from continuing operations before taxes, depreciation, amortization and other income adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense, decreased 16.4 percent to $7.7 million, compared to $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2014.
Net income from continuing operations was $4.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted common share, compared to $10.2 million, or $0.63 per diluted common share in the first quarter of 2014.
In April 2014, the Company announced its plan to streamline its operations and refocus its activities on profitable growth opportunities. The planned streamlining is expected to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and renew focus on larger and more profitable Company markets. As part of the plan, the Company will cease operations in Vietnam and will eliminate approximately 100 to 130 positions worldwide through both severance and attrition. The Company anticipates it will incur approximately $3.9 million of one-time expenses. The vast majority of these costs will be incurred in the second quarter of 2015. As a result of this action, the Company expects to realize annualized savings of approximately $10 million to $15 million from lower operating and employment costs. Net sales in Vietnam were approximately 0.3 percent of consolidated net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2015, were $50.1 million, compared to $58.7 million as of December 31, 2014. The Company used cash to pay dividends of $1.9 million, repurchase shares of common stock of $2.9 million, and reinvest in its information technology systems of $4.1 million.
Shareholders' equity as of March 31, 2015, was $132.8 million, compared to $129.0 million as of December 31, 2014.
Active Managers worldwide were 14,700 and active Distributors and customers worldwide were 277,000 as of March 31, 2015, compared to 16,700 and 328,300, respectively, in the first quarter of 2014. The number of independent Managers, Distributors and customers decreased primarily in Ukraine and Russia.

NSP Americas Results for the First Quarter of 2015:

Local currency net sales revenue increased by 2.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014. The increase was primarily driven by growth in NSP United States which was partially offset by declines in NSP Latin America during the quarter. Reported net sales revenue increased 0.3 percent to $46.5 million, compared to $46.4 million in the first quarter of 2014.
NSP North America recorded net sales growth of 3.4 percent, its third consecutive quarter of growth. New sales programs gained traction as a result of the increased adoption of new retail sales tools and products, specifically IN.FORM, which is focused on building a daily Habit of Health and weight management. Last year's re-launch of the Silver Shield immune system product line further contributed to the increase in net sales year-over-year.
Contribution margin, defined as net sales revenue less cost of sales and volume incentive expense, increased 2.4 percent to $19.5 million, compared to $19.1 million in the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to the growth in net sales.
Active Managers within the segment were approximately 7,700 and active Distributors and customers within the segment were approximately 141,200 as of March 31, 2015, as compared to approximately 7,700 and 145,600, respectively, as of March 31, 2014. While Managers were flat, Distributors and customers in NSP Americas were down 3.0 percent compared to the prior year quarter. While Distributors and customers decreased 0.9 percent in North America, this decline was more than offset by a higher average order size related to IN.FORM and retail sales, resulting in net sales growth in North America. In Latin America, Distributors and customers declined 7.0 percent due to difficulties importing products as a result of changing product registration requirements.

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe Results for the First Quarter of 2015:

Net sales revenue decreased 50.5 percent to $7.4 million, compared to $15.0 million in the first quarter of 2014. Net sales continue to be adversely affected by the devaluation of the Ukrainian hryvnia and the Russian ruble, political unrest in Ukraine and Russia, and sanctions against Russia. As a result, the Company does not expect net sales declines to reverse in the near term. To keep the Distributor base engaged in Russia and Ukraine, the Company has introduced new product kits and promotions.
Contribution margin decreased 51.9 percent to $2.6 million, compared to $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to lower net sales revenue.
Active Managers within the segment were approximately 3,400 and active Distributors and customers within the segment were approximately 78,300 as of March 31, 2015, as compared to 5,200 and 125,200, respectively, as of March 31, 2014 as a result of the conditions in the region noted above.

Synergy WorldWide Results for the First Quarter of 2015:

Local currency net sales revenue increased by 3.6 percent, compared to the first quarter of 2014, driven by increased sales in Europe, Indonesia and Japan, partially offset by declines in North America. The increase in net sales revenue is primarily a result of re-engaged leadership and investments in additional sales resources coupled with strong execution and momentum stemming from the launch of Synergy's SLMsmart weight-management program. Reported net sales revenue decreased 4.2 percent to $28.8 million, compared to $30.0 million in the first quarter of 2014.
Synergy Europe recorded local currency net sales growth of 9.1 percent, the third consecutive quarter of growth. Synergy Indonesia, Japan and Korea recorded local currency net sales growth of 120.1 percent, 10.1 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.
Contribution margin decreased 15.1 percent to $9.0 million, compared to $10.7 million in the first quarter of 2014, primarily as a result of unfavorable changes in exchange rates, which increased the cost of goods sold relative to net sales in the local currencies.

Active Managers within the segment were approximately 3,600 and active Distributors and customers within the segment were approximately 57,500 as of March 31, 2015, as compared to 3,700 and 52,900, respectively, as of March 31, 2014. The decrease in Managers is primarily due to lower sales in Synergy North America. Active Distributors and customers were up 8.7% due to increased local currency sales volume in Synergy Europe, Indonesia, Japan and Korea, offset by continued declines in Synergy North America.

China and New Markets Results for the First Quarter of 2015:

Net sales revenue for the Company's export markets decreased 42.8 percent to $1.2 million, compared to $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease was primarily due to the transition of NSP United Kingdom to an export market in 2015 where the Company sells its products to an independent locally managed entity that has distribution rights for the market at wholesale prices. NSP United Kingdom was formerly a direct selling market in the first quarter of 2014.
Contribution margin decreased 43.2 percent to $0.5 million, compared to $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2014, primarily as a result of the decrease in net sales.
There are no Managers, Distributors, and customers in the China and New Markets segment as the export business accounts for all of the segment's sales to date.

Effective Income Tax Rate

The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2015 was 16.1 percent, compared to a benefit of (55.6) percent in the first quarter of 2014. The current quarter's effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35.0 percent, which is primarily attributable to the partial utilization of foreign tax credit benefits related to intercompany dividends paid by foreign subsidiaries to the U.S corporation in prior years.

Quarterly Cash Dividend and Ongoing Share Repurchase Program

The Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share, payable on June 2, 2015, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 22, 2015.

In November 2014, the Board of Directors authorized a new $20 million share repurchase program beginning January 1, 2015, to be implemented over two years. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company repurchased 0.2 million shares of its common stock under the approved share repurchase program for $2.9 million.

The quarterly dividend, in addition to the special dividends that were paid in August 2013 and in September 2014, and the on-going share repurchase programs, are enabled by the Company's strong cash flow, healthy cash balance, and the Board's commitment to return capital to shareholders and confidence in the Company's long-term growth prospects.

About Nature's Sunshine Products

Nature's Sunshine Products (Nasdaq:NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company, markets and distributes nutritional and personal care products through a global direct sales force of over 640,000 independent Managers, Distributors and customers in more than 40 countries. Nature's Sunshine manufactures most of its products through its own state-of-the-art facilities to ensure its products continue to set the standard for the highest quality, safety and efficacy on the market today. The Company has four reportable business segments that are divided based on the characteristics of their Distributor base, similarities in compensation plans, as well as the internal organization of NSP's officers and their responsibilities (NSP Americas; NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe; Synergy WorldWide; and China and New Markets). The Company also supports health and wellness for children around the world through its partnership with the Sunshine Heroes Foundation. Additional information about the Company can be obtained at its website, www.naturessunshine.com.