SPAR Group Reports Third Quarter, Nine-Months Results

Nov 10, 2003
SPAR Group Reports Third Quarter, Nine-Months Results

SPAR Group Reports Third Quarter, Nine-Months Results

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Nov 10, 2003 -- SPAR Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGRP) today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2003.

The company sustained a net loss for the quarter of $345,000, equal to $0.02 per fully diluted share, compared with net income of $1.2 million, or $0.06 per fully diluted share, a year ago. Net revenue for the 2003 third quarter amounted to $16.6 million vs. $17.8 million last year.

Net income for the 2003 year-to-date period was $1.5 million, equal to $0.08 per fully diluted share, compared with $2.8 million, or $0.14 per fully diluted share, for the first nine months of 2002. Net revenue rose to $52.7 million from $51.4 million last year.

"A lower level of sales, reflecting an increasingly competitive environment, had a disproportionate impact on earnings for the third quarter," said Bob Brown, SPAR Group's chairman and chief executive officer. "Higher selling, general and administrative expenses, along with increased field costs, also affected the quarter.

"While we are currently implementing cost reductions throughout the company, we will continue to invest in systems, technology and a number of growth programs that we believe will enhance returns over the long term," Brown said. "Domestically, we plan to expand our merchandising services through development of new products as well as the development of attractive sales and marketing programs. We also plan to expand our in-store demonstration business through both acquisition and organic growth. Internationally, we will focus on acquisitions, as well as joint ventures in various countries.

"SPAR's merchandising expertise has proven to enhance our customers' sales and profitability," Brown said. "We believe SPAR is well positioned to attract new customers and increase business with our existing customer base. While the investments we are currently making may have a short term negative impact on operating results, and not all of the cost reductions will have an immediate impact, we believe the actions we are taking now will improve SPAR's profitability in the future."

SPAR Group, Inc. is a diversified 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 demonstration, database and research services to general retail, mass market, drug and grocery chains both 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 cost reductions, new products, sales and marketing programs and international expansion. 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, the 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   Nine Months Ended
                               Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
                                 2003      2002      2003      2002

Net revenues                    $16,615   $17,775   $52,704   $51,363
Cost of revenues                 11,380    10,760    33,777    31,102
Gross profit                      5,235     7,015    18,927    20,261

Selling, general and
 administrative expenses          5,334     4,571    15,044    14,212
Depreciation and amortization       385       467     1,162     1,345
Operating (loss) income            (484)    1,977     2,721     4,704

Interest expense                     69       144       209       231
Other expense                         -        32        28       166
(Loss) income before provision
 for income taxes                  (553)    1,801     2,484     4,307

(Benefit) provision for income
 taxes                             (208)      588       943     1,544

Net (loss) income                 $(345)   $1,213    $1,541    $2,763

Net (loss) income per common share:
  Basic                          $(0.02)    $0.06     $0.08     $0.15
  Diluted                        $(0.02)    $0.06     $0.08     $0.14

Weighted average common shares
 - basic                         18,859    18,696    18,853    18,700

Weighted average common shares
 - diluted                       18,859    19,103    19,508    19,118


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

                                              Sept. 30,      Dec. 31,
                                                2003          2002
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                   $      -       $      -
  Accounts receivable, net                      15,002         16,458
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets      1,055            783
  Deferred income taxes                            707            903
Total current assets                            16,764         18,144
Property and equipment, net                      2,166          1,972
Goodwill                                         8,157          7,858
Deferred income taxes                              648            705
Other assets                                       664            121
Total assets                                  $ 28,399       $ 28,800

LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                            $  1,219       $    422
  Accrued expenses and other current
   liabilities                                   2,700          5,140
  Accrued expense due to affiliates              1,628            958
  Restructuring charges, current                   772          1,354
  Line of credit, short-term                     4,673              -
  Due to certain stockholders                        -          3,951
Total current liabilities                       10,992         11,825

Line of credit, long-term                            -            148
Restructuring charges, long-term                     -            235

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 - September 30, 2003
    18,824,527 - December 31, 2002                 189            188
   Treasury stock                                 (710)           (30)
   Additional paid-in capital                   10,872         10,919
   Retained earnings                             7,056          5,515
Total stockholders' equity                      17,407         16,592
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity    $ 28,399       $ 28,800
CONTACT:  SPAR Group, Inc.
          Charles Cimitile, 914-332-4100
          or
          PondelWilkinson MS&L
          Roger S. Pondel, 323-866-6060