CULS Cost-U-Less (MM)

Cost-U-Less, Inc. (the �Company�) (Nasdaq: CULS) today announced results for its third fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2006 (Q3 2006). Highlights for Q3 2006 were as follows: EPS of $0.12 on net income of $0.5MM compared to EPS of $0.15 on net income of $0.6MM for the corresponding period a year ago (Q3 2005). Operating income of $1.0MM compared to operating income of $1.2MM for Q3 2005. Sales of $54.6MM compared to $53.0MM for Q3 2005. Comparable store sales (stores open a full 13 months) increase of 3.5% over Q3 2005. An improvement in gross margin dollars of $0.3MM on higher sales and a reduction in corporate general and administrative expenses of $0.1MM partially offset a $0.6MM or 9.0% increase in store operating expenses. Store expenses increased due to several factors, over a third of which related to utility costs that were 21% higher than in Q3 2005. Store expenses were also negatively affected by the additional labor required during the remodel and expansion of the company�s store in St. Thomas. This project was successfully completed on August 10, 2006. �Undoubtedly the escalation in our utility costs took its toll this quarter in addition to the one-time charges for expanding our St. Thomas store,� said J. Jeffrey Meder, the Company�s President and CEO. �Prior to this quarter we have largely been able to offset the rising utility costs with improvements elsewhere. Going forward, we will continue to explore every avenue either to decrease these costs with investments in energy-saving equipment, or to offset these costs with gross margin improvement strategies and lower expenses in other areas.� The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet in a listen-only mode through www.earnings.com. Hyperlinks to the webcast are available through www.costuless.com, www.streetevents.com and other financial websites. An on-demand replay of the webcast also will be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time, November 14, 2006, and subsequently will be archived and available at www.costuless.com for approximately 30 days. Cost-U-Less currently operates eleven stores in the Caribbean and Pacific region: U.S. Virgin Islands (2), Netherlands Antilles (2), Hawaiian Islands (2), California (1), Guam (2), American Samoa (1), and Republic of Fiji (1). The Company builds its business through delivering high-quality U.S. and local goods, progressive merchandising practices, sophisticated distribution capabilities, and superior customer service, primarily to island markets. Additional information about Cost-U-Less is available at www.costuless.com Forward Looking Statements This press release contains statements that are forward-looking. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including comparable store sales expectations, trends in or expectations regarding the Company�s revenue growth, and the Company�s growth plans are all based on currently available operating, financial, and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including that the Company may encounter substantial delays, increased expenses or loss of potential store sites due to the complexities, cultural differences, and local political issues associated with the regulatory and permitting processes in the island markets in which the Company may locate its stores. Prolonged adverse occurrences affecting tourism or air travel, particularly to non-U.S. destinations, including political instability, armed hostilities, terrorism, natural disasters or other activity that involves or affects air travel or the tourism industry generally, could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Other risks and uncertainties include the Company�s small store base; the mix of geographic and product revenues; relationships with third parties; litigation; the Company�s ability to maintain existing credit facilities and obtain additional credit; business and economic conditions and growth in various geographic regions; pricing pressures; political and regulatory instability in various geographic regions; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company�s filings with the SEC. COST-U-LESS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) � 13 Weeks Ended 39 Weeks Ended October 1, 2006 September 25, 2005 October 1, 2006 September 25, 2005 � Net sales $ 54,613� $ 53,011� $ 162,873� $ 158,545� Merchandise costs � 44,301� � 42,991� � 132,309� � 129,253� Gross profit 10,312� 10,020� 30,564� 29,292� � Operating expenses: Store 7,719� 7,084� 22,254� 20,789� General and administrative 1,528� 1,652� 4,871� 4,862� Store openings 106� 63� 259� 327� Store closings � 0� � 22� � 0� � 81� Total operating expenses � 9,353� � 8,821� � 27,384� � 26,059� � Operating income 959� 1,199� 3,180� 3,233� � Other income (expense): Interest expense, net (101) (121) (314) (231) Other � 14� � (14) � (1) � 68� Income before income taxes 872� 1,064� 2,865� 3,070� � Income tax provision � 350� � 425� � 1,110� � 1,185� Net income $ 522� $ 639� $ 1,755� $ 1,885� � Earnings per common share: Basic $ 0.13� $ 0.16� $ 0.44� $ 0.48� Diluted $ 0.12� $ 0.15� $ 0.41� $ 0.45� � Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic � 4,022,798� � 3,989,876� � 4,013,937� � 3,920,927� Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted � 4,255,781� � 4,207,219� � 4,240,312� � 4,159,784� COST-U-LESS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) (Unaudited) � October 1, 2006 January 1, 2006 ASSETS � Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,961� $ 5,304� Accounts receivable, net 867� 843� Inventories, net 25,463� 23,027� Other current assets � 1,593� � 1,136� Total current assets 32,884� 30,310� � Property and equipment, net 20,959� 18,550� Deposits and other assets � 718� � 772� � Total assets $ 54,561� $ 49,632� � � LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS� EQUITY � Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 17,274� $ 15,062� Accrued expenses and other liabilities 5,345� 5,422� Line of credit 454� 80� Current portion of long-term debt 267� 267� Current portion of capital lease obligations � 306� � 226� Total current liabilities 23,646� 21,057� � Other long-term liabilities 1,409� 1,192� Long-term debt, less current portion 1,811� 2,011� Capital lease obligations, less current portion � 1,684� � 1,329� Total liabilities 28,550� 25,589� � Commitments and contingencies �� �� � Shareholders� equity � 26,011� � 24,043� � Total liabilities and shareholders� equity $ 54,561� $ 49,632� Cost-U-Less, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq: CULS) today announced results for its third fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2006 (Q3 2006). Highlights for Q3 2006 were as follows: -- EPS of $0.12 on net income of $0.5MM compared to EPS of $0.15 on net income of $0.6MM for the corresponding period a year ago (Q3 2005). -- Operating income of $1.0MM compared to operating income of $1.2MM for Q3 2005. -- Sales of $54.6MM compared to $53.0MM for Q3 2005. -- Comparable store sales (stores open a full 13 months) increase of 3.5% over Q3 2005. An improvement in gross margin dollars of $0.3MM on higher sales and a reduction in corporate general and administrative expenses of $0.1MM partially offset a $0.6MM or 9.0% increase in store operating expenses. Store expenses increased due to several factors, over a third of which related to utility costs that were 21% higher than in Q3 2005. Store expenses were also negatively affected by the additional labor required during the remodel and expansion of the company's store in St. Thomas. This project was successfully completed on August 10, 2006. "Undoubtedly the escalation in our utility costs took its toll this quarter in addition to the one-time charges for expanding our St. Thomas store," said J. Jeffrey Meder, the Company's President and CEO. "Prior to this quarter we have largely been able to offset the rising utility costs with improvements elsewhere. Going forward, we will continue to explore every avenue either to decrease these costs with investments in energy-saving equipment, or to offset these costs with gross margin improvement strategies and lower expenses in other areas." The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet in a listen-only mode through www.earnings.com. Hyperlinks to the webcast are available through www.costuless.com, www.streetevents.com and other financial websites. An on-demand replay of the webcast also will be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time, November 14, 2006, and subsequently will be archived and available at www.costuless.com for approximately 30 days. Cost-U-Less currently operates eleven stores in the Caribbean and Pacific region: U.S. Virgin Islands (2), Netherlands Antilles (2), Hawaiian Islands (2), California (1), Guam (2), American Samoa (1), and Republic of Fiji (1). The Company builds its business through delivering high-quality U.S. and local goods, progressive merchandising practices, sophisticated distribution capabilities, and superior customer service, primarily to island markets. Additional information about Cost-U-Less is available at www.costuless.com Forward Looking Statements This press release contains statements that are forward-looking. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements, including comparable store sales expectations, trends in or expectations regarding the Company's revenue growth, and the Company's growth plans are all based on currently available operating, financial, and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including that the Company may encounter substantial delays, increased expenses or loss of potential store sites due to the complexities, cultural differences, and local political issues associated with the regulatory and permitting processes in the island markets in which the Company may locate its stores. Prolonged adverse occurrences affecting tourism or air travel, particularly to non-U.S. destinations, including political instability, armed hostilities, terrorism, natural disasters or other activity that involves or affects air travel or the tourism industry generally, could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Other risks and uncertainties include the Company's small store base; the mix of geographic and product revenues; relationships with third parties; litigation; the Company's ability to maintain existing credit facilities and obtain additional credit; business and economic conditions and growth in various geographic regions; pricing pressures; political and regulatory instability in various geographic regions; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. -0- *T COST-U-LESS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) 13 Weeks Ended 39 Weeks Ended -------------------------- ------------------------- October 1, September 25, October 1, September 25, 2006 2005 2006 2005 ------------ ------------- ----------- ------------- Net sales $ 54,613 $ 53,011 $ 162,873 $ 158,545 Merchandise costs 44,301 42,991 132,309 129,253 ------------ ------------- ----------- ------------- Gross profit 10,312 10,020 30,564 29,292 Operating expenses: Store 7,719 7,084 22,254 20,789 General and administrative 1,528 1,652 4,871 4,862 Store openings 106 63 259 327 Store closings 0 22 0 81 ------------ ------------- ----------- ------------- Total operating expenses 9,353 8,821 27,384 26,059 ------------ ------------- ----------- ------------- Operating income 959 1,199 3,180 3,233 Other income (expense): Interest expense, net (101) (121) (314) (231) Other 14 (14) (1) 68 ------------ ------------- ----------- ------------- Income before income taxes 872 1,064 2,865 3,070 Income tax provision 350 425 1,110 1,185 ------------ ------------- ----------- ------------- Net income $ 522 $ 639 $ 1,755 $ 1,885 ============ ============= =========== ============= Earnings per common share: Basic $ 0.13 $ 0.16 $ 0.44 $ 0.48 ============ ============= =========== ============= Diluted $ 0.12 $ 0.15 $ 0.41 $ 0.45 ============ ============= =========== ============= Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic 4,022,798 3,989,876 4,013,937 3,920,927 ============ ============= =========== ============= Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted 4,255,781 4,207,219 4,240,312 4,159,784 ============ ============= =========== ============= *T -0- *T COST-U-LESS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) (Unaudited) October 1, January 1, 2006 2006 ---------- ---------- ASSETS ------------------------------------------------ Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,961 $ 5,304 Accounts receivable, net 867 843 Inventories, net 25,463 23,027 Other current assets 1,593 1,136 ---------- ---------- Total current assets 32,884 30,310 Property and equipment, net 20,959 18,550 Deposits and other assets 718 772 ---------- ---------- Total assets $ 54,561 $ 49,632 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY ------------------------------------------------ Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 17,274 $ 15,062 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 5,345 5,422 Line of credit 454 80 Current portion of long-term debt 267 267 Current portion of capital lease obligations 306 226 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 23,646 21,057 Other long-term liabilities 1,409 1,192 Long-term debt, less current portion 1,811 2,011 Capital lease obligations, less current portion 1,684 1,329 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities 28,550 25,589 Commitments and contingencies -- -- Shareholders' equity 26,011 24,043 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 54,561 $ 49,632 ========== ========== *T