True Religion Q3 Results

Highlights:

-- Net income grows to $8.2 million, after giving effect to the
balance of a one-time settlement expense and to a banking
expense, which together amounted to approximately $799,000

-- Earnings per diluted share increases to $0.35, after giving
effect to a one-time settlement expense and banking expense
equal to $0.02 per diluted share

-- Company signs first global licensing deals for footwear and
headwear to help drive brand to broader lifestyle collection;
Enters into leases for six new True Religion stores in
California, New York, New Jersey and Florida; Opens outlet
store in Desert Hills, California

Although their adjusted net income grew 13% to $0.37 per diluted share, analysts were expecting 44 cents. And get this- MarketWatch's Carolyn Pritchard cites a denim-heavy product as the reason for that shortcoming. Let's just hope these creative accountant types don't set up contingencies for global warming. Well it doesn't matter now that TRLG will be selling other apparel items with GMI (oh wait that's headwear, scarves and gloves).

Full press release follows.

True Religion Apparel, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRLG) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006.

Net sales for the 2006 third quarter increased 22.6% to $42.9 million from $35.0 million in the 2005 third quarter, although were below the company's internal projections. During the quarter, the company's product mix at retail outside the U.S., which was heavily denim-based, negatively impacted sales due to exceptionally warm weather and, as much as the recovery has been solid, sales in Japan did not perform up to the company's original forecast.

Excluding unusual expenses in the quarter related to the balance of the Indigo Group arbitration settlement and legal and professional fees related to the company's ongoing engagement of Goldman Sachs, which together amounted to approximately $799,000 before income taxes, or $0.02 per diluted share, adjusted net income grew 13% to $8.7 million, or $0.37 per diluted share. This compares with net income of $7.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2005. Giving effect to these expenses, reported net income for the 2006 third quarter grew 6% to $8.2 million, or $0.35 per diluted share. Management believes that including non-GAAP net income per diluted share for the current period provides a useful and relevant measure for comparative year-over-year operating performance. Refer to the attached table for details regarding the basis for the adjusted net income per diluted share calculation.

"On both financial and operating metrics, this was a great quarter with progress on many fronts that supported our goal of becoming a global lifestyle brand with a strong denim foundation," said Jeff Lubell, Chief Executive Officer of True Religion Apparel, Inc. "We advanced initiatives that will enhance our ability to develop a richer product offering and broaden distribution channels. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, we signed our first licensing agreements for footwear, headwear, scarves and gloves; added key new members to our design and marketing teams; signed leases for new stores in Los Angeles, New York and New Jersey, and opened our first outlet store in Desert Hills, CA. As the holiday season approaches, we are hard at work to offer an increasingly diverse product mix to our growing customer base, drawing on our hallmarks of fit, style and high attention to detail."

Gross profit in the third quarter increased to $22.4 million from $18.4 million in the third quarter of 2005. Third quarter 2006 gross margins stood steady at 52.2% compared with 52.7%, in the same period last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the quarter increased to $8.8 million from $5.8 million in the 2005 third quarter, primarily reflecting ongoing infrastructure enhancements including personnel, facilities, warehousing, replenishment systems, marketing initiatives and retail build-out.

Net income from operations was $13.6 million, or 31.6% of sales, in the 2006 third quarter, versus $12.7 million, or 36.2% of sales, in the same period in 2005.

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, net sales increased 41.8% to $109.3 million from $77.1 million in the same period last year. Net income, excluding a one-time arbitration settlement of $2.1 million primarily recorded in the second quarter and unusual banking expenses previously discussed for the most recent quarter, increased 41% to $21.3 million, or $0.91 per diluted share. On a reported basis, net income rose 24.0% to $19.6 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, versus $15.8 million, or $0.68 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2005.

Gross profit in the 2006 nine-month period was $57.5 million, compared with $39.6 million last year. Gross margins for the nine month period increased to 52.6% from 51.3% in 2005.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first nine months of the year were $23.6 million, compared with $13.8 million in the first nine months of 2005. Included in the increase for 2006 is $2.5 million non-cash compensation and SFAS 123R compensation expense.

Net income from operations for the first nine months of 2006 was $33.9 million, equal to 31.1% of sales, versus $25.8 million, or 33.5% of sales, in the same period last year.

2006 Financial Guidance

Reflecting current visibility for the remainder of 2006, the company adjusted its expectation of total sales for the full year to $138 million to $140 million, representing a growth rate of 35% to 36% over last year. Earnings per diluted share, before giving effect to the one-time expenses related to the arbitration settlement and unusual banking expenses, equal to $0.08, is expected to be in the range of $1.11 to $1.12 for 2006.

True Religion Press Release