Empresas y finanzas

Callaway Golf Company Releases Preliminary First Quarter 2007 Results



    Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) today announced that, based on
    current information, the Company estimates net sales for the first
    quarter ended March 31, 2007 of $330 million to $335 million, an
    estimated increase of approximately 10%, with a corresponding
    estimated increase of approximately 42% in earnings per diluted share
    that is estimated to range from $0.46 to $0.48 (on 68.3 million
    shares), including long-term incentive compensation expense. These
    results also include after-tax charges of approximately $0.01 per
    share related to gross margin improvement initiatives announced in
    November 2006.

    For the first quarter of 2006, the Company reported net sales of
    $302 million and fully diluted earnings per share of $0.33 (on 70.1
    million shares), including long-term incentive compensation expense.
    Those results included after-tax charges of approximately $0.01 per
    share for the Top-Flite integration.

    Business Update

    "We are very pleased with our preliminary first quarter results,"
    commented George Fellows, President and CEO of Callaway Golf. "As a
    result of improved product development and supply chain processes, we
    were able to ship more of our new products to retail than originally
    anticipated. The earlier sales of these higher margin products,
    together with the progress we have made on our gross margin
    improvement initiatives, are estimated to result in a marked
    improvement in gross margins for the quarter compared to last year."

    "Initial acceptance of our new products has been encouraging thus
    far," continued Mr. Fellows. "However it is still early in the year
    and the first quarter should be viewed partly as a retail pipeline
    fill rather than a total indicator of our full year performance. The
    second quarter will be a better indicator in that regard as its
    success is driven by consumer purchases of our products and resulting
    retail reorders. Therefore, although we expect the second quarter to
    be our highest revenue quarter for the year, we will be in a better
    position, if necessary, to update our annual outlook at our May 3rd
    earnings conference call."

    Details of First Quarter Results

    Sales

    The estimated increase in sales for the first quarter is
    attributable to several factors including:

    -- increased driver sales associated with the early launch of the
    FT-i and FT-5 fusion technology products

    -- increased irons sales associated with the X-20 and X-20 tour
    models as well as the new X-forged product line

    -- increased accessories sales associated with footwear, bags,
    and gloves

    Gross Margins

    The Company estimates its gross margins as a percentage of net
    sales to be approximately 48% for the first quarter. Excluding charges
    related to gross margin improvement initiatives, it is estimated that
    pro forma gross margins as a percentage of net sales would also be
    approximately 48%. In the first quarter of 2006, the Company's gross
    margins were 43% and excluding integration and restructuring charges
    were 44%. The four percentage point increase in pro forma gross
    margins is primarily attributable to increased sales of higher margin
    products such as fusion drivers, X-series irons, and accessories, as
    well as manufacturing efficiencies and the successful implementation
    of gross margin improvement initiatives.

    Operating Expenses

    The Company estimates that its operating expenses for the quarter
    will be approximately $105 million, an increase of approximately $10
    million when compared to last year's first quarter. The increase is
    primarily due to an increase in marketing expense associated with the
    first quarter launches of the Company's new products and higher
    expenses associated with the year over year increase in net sales.

    Conference Call

    The Company will release actual first quarter financial results on
    May 3, 2007. A conference call and webcast will also take place at
    that time.

    Disclaimer: Investors should be aware that the Company has not yet
    finalized its results for the first quarter of 2007 and that the
    Company's "preliminary" estimates of net sales, gross margins,
    operating expenses and earnings for the first quarter reflect
    management's estimates based upon the information available at the
    time made. These estimates could differ materially from the Company's
    actual results if the information on which the estimates were based
    ultimately proves to be incorrect or incomplete. In addition,
    statements used in this press release that relate to future plans,
    events, financial results, performance or prospects, including
    statements relating to estimated future sales, are forward-looking
    statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
    Act of 1995. These estimates and statements are based upon current
    information and expectations. Investors should understand that it is
    very difficult to forecast sales of the Company's products as a
    substantial portion of the Company's sales each year is derived from
    the sale of new products. Accurately estimating the Company's sales
    each year is therefore based upon various unknowns including consumer
    acceptance of the Company's new products as well as consumer
    discretionary purchasing behavior in the upcoming year. Actual results
    may differ materially from those estimated or anticipated as a result
    of these unknowns or as a result of certain risks and uncertainties,
    including but not limited to, delays or difficulties associated with
    the re-launch of the Top-Flite brand or the implementation of future
    initiatives; market acceptance of current and future products; adverse
    market and economic conditions; adverse weather conditions and
    seasonality; any rule changes or other actions taken by the USGA or
    other golf association that could have an adverse impact upon demand
    or supply of the Company's products; a decrease in participation
    levels in golf; and the effect of terrorist activity, armed conflict,
    natural disasters or pandemic diseases on the economy generally, on
    the level of demand for the Company's products or on the Company's
    ability to manage its supply and delivery logistics in such an
    environment. For additional information concerning these and other
    risks and uncertainties that could affect these statements and the
    Company's business, see Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report
    on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as well as other
    risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's
    reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K subsequently filed from time to
    time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are
    cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
    statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company
    undertakes no obligation to republish revised forward-looking
    statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or
    to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    Regulation G: The financial results reported in this press release
    have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
    accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). In addition to the GAAP
    results, the Company has also provided additional information
    concerning its results, which includes certain financial measures not
    prepared in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures
    included in this press release exclude charges associated with the
    integration of the Callaway Golf Company and Top-Flite Golf Company
    operations, charges related to the September 2005 restructuring
    initiatives, and charges related to the Company's gross margin
    initiatives. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be
    considered a substitute for any measure derived in accordance with
    GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures may also be inconsistent with
    the manner in which similar measures are derived or used by other
    companies. Management believes that the presentation of such non-GAAP
    financial measures, when considered in conjunction with the most
    directly comparable GAAP financial measures, provides additional
    useful information concerning the Company's operations without these
    charges. The Company has provided reconciling information in the text
    of this press release and for 2006 in the supplemental financial
    information contained in the Company's April 26, 2006 press release,
    which is available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's
    website at www.callawaygolf.com.

    About Callaway Golf

    Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway Golf
    Company creates products and services designed to make every golfer a
    better golfer. Callaway Golf Company, which celebrates its 25th
    Anniversary in 2007, manufactures and sells golf clubs and golf balls,
    and sells golf accessories, under the Callaway Golf(R), Odyssey(R),
    Top-Flite(R), and Ben Hogan(R) brands in more than 110 countries
    worldwide. For more information please visit www.callawaygolf.com.