Empresas y finanzas

Callaway Golf Company Releases Preliminary Third Quarter 2007 Results



    Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) today announced that, based on
    current information, the Company estimates net sales for the third
    quarter ended September 30, 2007 of approximately $236 million, a
    year-over-year increase of 22%. Management also estimates that based
    on these sales levels, earnings per diluted share will range between
    $0.00 and $0.02, including non-cash employee equity-based compensation
    charges associated with FAS 123R and including a gain of approximately
    $0.03 per diluted share related to the sale of a building. These
    results are based on approximately 67.6 million diluted shares
    outstanding and include after-tax charges of approximately $0.04 per
    diluted share related to the gross margin improvement initiatives
    announced in November 2006. Excluding charges for these gross margin
    initiatives, pro forma earnings per diluted share are estimated to
    range from $0.04 to $0.06.

    For the third quarter of 2006, the Company reported net sales of
    $194 million and a loss per share of $0.18 (on 67.0 million shares),
    including non-cash FAS 123R charges. Those results include after-tax
    charges of approximately $0.02 per share associated with the
    restructuring initiatives announced in September 2005 and the
    Top-Flite integration. Excluding these charges, pro forma loss per
    share was $0.16.

    Business Update

    "We are very pleased with our preliminary third quarter results as
    our business continues to exceed our expectations," commented George
    Fellows, President and CEO of Callaway Golf. "Consumer and retail
    demand for our products has remained strong, resulting in record sales
    for the first nine months of 2007. We also continue to realize
    significant benefits from our November 2006 gross margin improvement
    initiatives and inventory reduction initiatives. For the first nine
    months of 2007, our estimated gross margins as a percent of sales has
    increased 5 percentage points compared to 2006 and our estimated
    inventory at the end of September decreased $28 million compared to
    last year, in line with our recent forecasts."

    Details of Third Quarter Preliminary Results

    Sales

    The estimated increase in sales for the third quarter is
    attributable to strong sales across the woods, irons, golf balls, and
    accessories categories, with a slight decline in putters.

    Gross Margins

    The Company estimates its gross margins as a percentage of net
    sales at approximately 40% for the third quarter. Excluding charges
    related to gross margin improvement initiatives, the Company estimates
    its pro forma gross margins as a percentage of net sales at
    approximately 42%. In the third quarter of 2006, the Company's gross
    margins were 35% and excluding integration and restructuring charges
    were 36%. The improvement in pro forma gross margins can be attributed
    to a positive contribution from this year's implementation of gross
    margin improvement initiatives as well as an increased mix of sales of
    higher margin products, which was driven by the continued success of
    the Company's Fusion Drivers and X-20 Irons.

    Operating Expenses

    The Company estimates that its operating expenses for the quarter
    will be approximately $93 million (40% of net sales), an increase of
    approximately $8 million when compared to last year's third quarter of
    $85 million (44% of net sales). The dollar increase is due to higher
    selling expense associated with the higher sales, increases in
    marketing expense, an increase in international expense due to the
    weaker dollar, and increased expense for annual employee incentive
    compensation associated with the improved year over year operating
    results, partially offset by the gain recognized on the sale of a
    building.

    Business Outlook

    The Company is raising the full year forecast with sales estimated
    to range from $1.095 to $1.105 billion and pro-forma fully diluted
    earnings per share of $0.85 to $0.89 (on an estimated 68.3 million
    shares). This compares to a previous forecast of sales ranging from
    $1.070 to $1.080 billion and pro-forma fully diluted earnings per
    share of $0.78 to $0.84 (on an estimated 70 million shares). Pro forma
    earnings exclude charges related to gross margin initiatives,
    currently estimated at $0.08 per share for 2007, but include employee
    equity-based compensation charges under FAS 123R.

    "We are raising our annual forecast for the third time this year
    due to the continued sales and margin momentum through the first nine
    months," commented Brad Holiday, Chief Financial Officer. "Our
    forecast for the balance of the year takes into consideration limited
    new product introductions during the fourth quarter compared to
    approximately $30 million in 2006. We have also taken into
    consideration the fact that product margins are typically lower during
    the last quarter as we move our end of life product through the retail
    channels. Additionally, our strong earnings have generated a
    significant improvement in our cash flow this year, a portion of which
    we have used to purchase $75 million of our outstanding stock during
    the third quarter."

    Conference Call

    The Company will release actual third quarter financial results on
    November 1, 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 third quarter of 2007 and that the
    Company's "preliminary" estimates of net sales, gross margins,
    operating expenses and earnings for the third 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 and earnings, 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 majority of the Company's sales each year is
    derived from the sale of new products. Accurately estimating the
    Company's sales and therefore earnings each year is therefore based
    upon various unknowns including consumer acceptance and demand for the
    Company's new products as well as future consumer discretionary
    purchasing behavior. Actual results may differ materially from those
    estimated or anticipated as a result of these unknowns or other risks
    and uncertainties, including delays, difficulties or increased costs
    in the supply of components needed to manufacture the Company's
    products, in manufacturing the Company's products, or in connection
    with the implementation of the Company's planned gross margin
    initiatives, 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 preliminary 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 August 1, 2007 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.