SPAR Group Reports Financial Results for 2004 First Quarter

Mar 14, 2004
SPAR Group Reports Financial Results for 2004 First Quarter

SPAR Group Reports Financial Results for 2004 First Quarter

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., May 14, 2004 -- SPAR Group, Inc. (SGRP) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004.

For the 2004 period, SPAR incurred a net loss of $790,000, equal to $0.04 per share, on net revenues of $12.8 million, compared with net income of $1.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, on net revenues of $18.7 million in the first quarter of 2003.

"First quarter financial results showed improvement over the preceding quarter," said Robert G. Brown, SPAR Group's chairman and chief executive officer. "However, the company's performance as compared with the prior year's first quarter was impacted by the completion of a major project last year that did not recur this year and the loss of two key clients.

"We continue to build for the future and believe that our acquisitions of product demonstration companies earlier this year and last year, our recruitment of former executives of National MegaForce, our recently announced joint venture in India and other international efforts will pay handsome dividends over time," Brown said. "In addition, we continue to make excellent progress enhancing efficiencies and implementing our cost reduction program, which we anticipate will continue for the balance of this year.

"Our entire company is fully committed to returning SPAR to sustained profitability," Brown said. "Although the investments we are making today in product demos, local merchandising, international expansion and technology, including RFID, are currently contributing to our short-term losses, we believe these investments will help move the company forward and have a long-term positive impact on our results."

SPAR Group, Inc. is a diversified international marketing services company, providing a broad array of productivity-enhancing products and services to help Fortune 1000 companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits. The company provides in-store merchandising, in-store demonstrations, technology and research to manufacturers and retailers covering all product classifications and all classes of trade, including mass market, drug store and grocery chains, throughout the United States and internationally.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including, but not limited to, benefits to be derived from the company's acquisition of in-store demonstration companies, recruitment, India joint venture, other international efforts, and programs to enhance efficiencies, reduce costs and stimulate revenue growth. The company's actual results, performance and trends could differ materially from those indicated or implied by such statements as a result of various factors, including (without limitation) the continued strengthening of SPAR's selling and marketing functions, continued customer satisfaction and contract renewal, new product development, continued technological superiority over its competitors, continued availability of capable dedicated personnel, continued cost management, the success of its international efforts, success and availability of acquisitions, and other factors, as well as by factors applicable to most companies such as general economic, competitive and other business and civil conditions. Information respecting certain of these and other factors that could effect future results, performance or trends are discussed in SPAR Group's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.


                           SPAR Group, Inc.
                 Consolidated Statements of Operations
                              (unaudited)
                 (in thousands, except per share data)

                                            Three Months Ended
                                    ----------------------------------
                                       March 31,         March 31,
                                          2004              2003
                                    ----------------  ----------------

 Net revenues                                $12,803           $18,739
 Cost of revenues                              8,694            11,251
                                      ----------------  ----------------
 Gross profit                                  4,109             7,488

 Selling, general and administrative
  expenses                                     4,967             4,943
 Depreciation and amortization                   362               378
                                     ----------------  ----------------
 Operating (loss) income                      (1,220)            2,167

 Interest expense                                 34                68
 Other expense                                     1                38
                                     ----------------  ----------------
 (Loss) income before provision for
  income taxes                                (1,255)            2,061

 (Benefit) provision for income
  taxes                                         (465)              783
                                     ----------------  ----------------

 Net (loss) income                             $(790)           $1,278
                                     ================  ================

 Basic/diluted net (loss) income
  per common share:

   Net (loss) income                          $(0.04)            $0.07

 Weighted average common shares -
  basic                                       18,859            18,841
                                     ================  ================

 Weighted average common shares -
  diluted                                     18,859            19,443
                                     ================  ================


                           SPAR Group, Inc.
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets
                              (unaudited)
            (in thousands, except share and per share data)

                                        March 31,       December 31,
                                          2004             2003
 ASSETS
 Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents          $             -  $             -
   Accounts receivable, net                    11,401           13,942
   Prepaid expenses and other current
    assets                                        964              415
   Deferred income taxes                        1,873            1,305
 Total current assets                          14,238           15,662

 Property and equipment, net                    2,038            2,099
 Goodwill                                       9,201            8,749
 Deferred income taxes                            434              434
 Other assets                                     630              926
 Total assets                         $        26,541  $        27,870


 LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                   $        2,596  $         1,445
    Accrued expenses and other current
     liabilities                                2,220            4,367
    Accrued expense due to affiliates           1,576              996
    Restructuring charges, current                685              685
    Line of credit, short-term                  3,889            4,084
   Total current liabilities           $       10,966  $        11,577

 Other long-term liabilities                      275              270

 Commitments and contingencies

 Stockholders' equity:
   Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
    Authorized shares - 3,000,000
    Issued and outstanding shares -
    none                                           -                -
   Common stock, $.01 par value:
    Authorized shares - 47,000,000
    Issued and outstanding shares -
    18,858,972 - March 31, 2004 and
    December 31, 2003                            189              189
   Additional paid-in capital                 11,175           11,249
   Accumulated other comprehensive
    loss                                          (8)              (7)
   Retained earnings                           4,186            4,976
   Treasury stock                               (242)            (384)
 Total stockholders' equity                   15,300           16,023
 Total liabilities and stockholders'
  equity                              $       26,541  $        27,870
Contacts:  Charles Cimitile
           914-332-4100

           PondelWilkinson Inc.
           Roger S. Pondel
           323-866-6006