UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 3, 2011

BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		000-49850 (Commission File Number)		95-4388794 (IRS Employer Identification No.)
2525 East El Segundo Boulevard, El Segundo, California (Address of principal executive offices)				90245   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (310) 536-0611

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2):

        o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

        o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

        o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

        o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (7 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     The information in Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to liability under that Section, except as specifically incorporated by reference into a filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

     On May 3, 2011, Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation issued a press release in which, among other things, it reported financial results for its fiscal 2011 first quarter. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press release, dated May 3, 2011, issued by Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation.

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION
		(Registrant)
Date: May 3, 2011
		/s/ Barry D. Emerson
		Barry D. Emerson
		Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit 99.1

Contact:
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation
Barry Emerson
Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(310) 536-0611

ICR, Inc.
John Mills
Senior Managing Director
(310) 954-1105

BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES FISCAL 2011
FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

§

Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.075 per Share

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 3, 2011 — Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation (NASDAQ: BGFV), a leading sporting goods retailer, today reported financial results for the fiscal 2011 first quarter ended April 3, 2011.

For the fiscal 2011 first quarter, net sales were $221.1 million, compared to net sales of $218.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Same store sales decreased 0.9% for the first quarter of 2011 versus the comparable period in the prior year. This compares to a same store sales increase of 2.4% in the first quarter of 2010. Sales results in fiscal 2011 reflect a benefit over the prior year from the calendar shift of the Easter holiday, during which the Company’s stores are closed, out of the first quarter and into the second quarter this year.

Gross profit for the fiscal 2011 first quarter was $72.2 million, compared to $71.6 million in the first quarter of the prior year. The Company’s gross profit margin was 32.6% in the fiscal 2011 first quarter versus 32.7% in the first quarter of the prior year. The slight gross profit margin decrease reflects an increase in store occupancy costs related to new store openings, partially offset by an increase in merchandise margins of 12 basis points.

Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of net sales was 30.4% in the fiscal 2011 first quarter versus 28.8% in the first quarter of the prior year. Overall selling and administrative expense increased $4.2 million during the quarter from the prior year due mainly to an increase in store-related expenses, which reflected a higher store count and increased employee benefit costs, as well as increased advertising expense.

Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 was $2.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to net income of $5.0 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

“Our sales results for the first quarter were at the lower end of our guidance range and reflect continued macroeconomic weakness in our markets,” said Steven G. Miller, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Sales were negatively impacted by a decrease in customer traffic, as we believe many of our consumers reduced purchases of discretionary items in response to the challenging economic environment, characterized by rising gas prices and high unemployment. Earnings were lower than our previous expectations primarily due to higher than anticipated expenses associated with employee benefits, including workers’ compensation, health and welfare and California unemployment taxes.”

Mr. Miller continued, “Sales trends in the second quarter to-date remain challenging as we believe that our consumer continues to be highly sensitive to the adverse economic conditions prevalent in our markets, which are concentrated in the western United States. We continue to look at all aspects of our business in order to drive sales and earnings. We are taking steps to further enhance our merchandise, pricing, and promotional strategies, while remaining focused on operating as efficiently as possible. We believe that our continued emphasis on improving the execution of our overall business model will enable us to weather the current environment and position us well when the consumer climate improves.”

Quarterly Cash Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share of outstanding common stock, which will be paid on June 15, 2011 to stockholders of record as of June 1, 2011.

Guidance

For the fiscal 2011 second quarter, the Company expects same store sales in the flat to negative low single-digit range and earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.06 to $0.14. For comparative purposes, the Company’s earnings per diluted share for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 were $0.22.

Store Openings

During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company opened two new stores, both of which were relocations, and closed two stores as part of relocations that began in late 2010. The Company ended the fiscal 2011 first quarter with 396 stores and anticipates closing one store during the fiscal 2011 second quarter as part of a relocation that began in late 2010. Excluding stores closed as part of relocations that began last year, the Company currently expects to open between 10 and 15 net new stores during fiscal 2011.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast today, May 3, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific (5:00 p.m. EDT) to discuss financial results for the fiscal 2011 first quarter. To access the conference call, participants in North America should dial (888) 634-9984, and international participants should dial (719) 325-2138. Participants are encouraged to dial in to the conference call ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time. The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and accessible through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.big5sportinggoods.com. Visitors to the website should select the “Investor Relations” link to access the webcast. The webcast will be archived and accessible on the same website for 30 days following the call. A telephone replay will be available through May 17, 2011 by calling (877) 870-5176; passcode is 9019902.

About Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation

Big 5 is a leading sporting goods retailer in the western United States, operating 396 stores in 12 states under the “Big 5 Sporting Goods” name. Big 5 provides a full-line product offering in a traditional sporting goods store format that averages 11,000 square feet. Big 5’s product mix includes athletic shoes, apparel and accessories, as well as a broad selection of outdoor and athletic equipment for team sports, fitness, camping, hunting, fishing, tennis, golf, snowboarding and roller sports.

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause Big 5’s actual results in current or future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, continued or worsening weakness in the consumer spending environment and the U.S. financial and credit markets, the competitive environment in the sporting goods industry in general and in Big 5’s specific market areas, inflation, product availability and growth opportunities, seasonal fluctuations, weather conditions, changes in cost of goods, operating expense fluctuations, litigation risks, disruption in product flow, changes in interest rates, credit availability, and higher costs associated with sources of credit resulting from uncertainty in financial markets and economic conditions in general. Those and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Big 5’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2011. Big 5 conducts its business in a highly competitive and rapidly changing environment. Accordingly, new risk factors may arise. It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor to assess the impact of all such risk factors on Big 5’s business or the extent to which any individual risk factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Big 5 undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf.

# # #

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share amounts)

		April 3,				January 2,
		2011				2011
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	6,500			$	5,620
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $105 and $201, respectively			11,903				15,000
Merchandise inventories, net			255,525				254,217
Prepaid expenses			7,400				7,588
Deferred income taxes			8,958				9,447
Total current assets			290,286				291,872
Property and equipment, net			78,026				81,333
Deferred income taxes			12,959				12,396
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $151 and $69, respectively			2,247				2,322
Goodwill			4,433				4,433
Total assets		$	387,951			$	392,356
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	95,148			$	94,818
Accrued expenses			55,342				64,392
Current portion of capital lease obligations			1,697				1,925
Total current liabilities			152,187				161,135
Deferred rent, less current portion			23,489				24,349
Capital lease obligations, less current portion			1,374				1,569
Long-term debt			51,808				48,313
Other long-term liabilities			6,883				6,264
Total liabilities			235,741				241,630
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued 23,466,120 and 23,315,832 shares, respectively; outstanding 21,982,825 and 21,832,537 shares, respectively			235				233
Additional paid-in capital			98,270				97,910
Retained earnings			75,071				73,949
Less: Treasury stock, at cost; 1,483,295 shares			(21,366	)			(21,366	)
Total stockholders’ equity			152,210				150,726
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	387,951			$	392,356

BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)

		13 Weeks Ended
		April 3,				April 4,
		2011				2010
Net sales		$	221,143			$	218,521
Cost of sales			148,960				146,971
Gross profit			72,183				71,550
Selling and administrative expense			67,262				63,063
Operating income			4,921				8,487
Interest expense			605				404
Income before income taxes			4,316				8,083
Income taxes			1,556				3,050
Net income		$	2,760			$	5,033
Earnings per share:
Basic		$	0.13			$	0.23
Diluted		$	0.13			$	0.23
Dividends per share		$	0.075			$	0.05
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic			21,619				21,484
Diluted			21,946				21,843