Audiovox Blames Lower Q3 Sales On Sat Radio

By Steve Smith On Oct 23 2006 - 6:00am

Audiovox reported a reduced net loss but double digit reduction in sales for its fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 31, due in part to a decline in satellite radio sales.

The company reported net sales for the quarter of $97.4 million, a decrease of 20.8 percent compared to $122.9 million reported in the comparable prior year quarter. Net loss from continuing operations for the fiscal 2006 second quarter was $1.6 million. This compares to a net loss from continuing operations of $3.6 million in the comparable prior year period. Including discontinued operations, Audiovox reported a net loss of $2 million in the quarter as compared to a net loss of $3.7 million in the similar 2005 period.

Mobile electronics sales, which represented 69.2 percent of net sales, were $67.4 million, a decrease of 14.2 percent compared to sales of $78.6 million reported in the comparable prior year period. This decrease was due primarily to a decline in satellite radio sales as the company no longer sells Sirius plug-and-play units and the voluntary suspension of sales of the Audiovox XM Express product.

Audiovox has resumed shipments of XM Express products following the resolution of that model with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Additionally, mobile electronics sales were adversely impacted by the continued decline of SUV sales and the insolvency of one of the company's vendors. In the comparable prior year period, mobile electronics comprised 63.9 percent of net sales.

Consumer electronics, which represented 30.8 percent of sales, were $30 million, a decrease of 32.3 percent compared to net sales of $44.4 million reported in the comparable period last year. This decline is a direct result of price erosion in the LCD TV and portable DVD categories and the decision by Audiovox to eliminate low margin retail programs and focus on selling higher margin products. In the fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 31, 2006, CE sales comprised 36.1 of net sales.

Pat Lavelle, president/CEO of Audiovox stated, “As a result of the FCC issue, we experienced sales weakness this quarter. However, the FCC matter has been resolved and we expect to have all of our retail partners fully stocked for the holiday season. We have a number of new XM products, in addition to XM Express planned for introduction in the second half of the year that will help us achieve our goal of becoming the No. 1 XM satellite radio supplier.”