Provides 2009 Revenue and EPS Guidance
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. (NYSE: HGR) announced net sales of $185.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, an increase of $14.7 million, or 8.6%, from $170.8 million in the prior year's comparable quarter. Pre-tax income increased $3.0 million, or 29.8%, to $13.0 million in the fourth quarter 2008 from $10.0 million in the same quarter last year.
Pro forma net income applicable to common stock for the quarter was $8.3 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to net income applicable to common stock of $6.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of last year. The pro forma results for the fourth quarter 2008 exclude the impact of the non-cash mark-to-market adjustment of $0.7 million related to interest rate swaps. Net income applicable to common stock on a GAAP basis, which includes the full impact of the mark-to-market adjustment related to the interest rate swaps, was $7.8 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2008.
The 8.6% sales growth was primarily the result of a $9.2 million, or 6.1%, increase in same-center sales in our patient care centers, a $3.5 million increase related to acquired entities and a $2.0 million, or 11.0%, increase in sales of the Company's distribution segment. Gross profit for the quarter increased by $2.7 million, or 2.9%, to $97.0 million compared to $94.3 million due to the sales increase. Gross margins decreased from 55.2% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2007 to 52.3% in the fourth quarter of 2008, due to the impact of a favorable inventory adjustment in the prior year.
Income from operations in the fourth quarter of 2008 increased by $2.7 million, or 14.1%, to $21.9 million compared to the same period of the prior year, principally due to the sales increase and continued control of selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses of $70.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 did not change compared to the prior year, despite a $1.3 million increase in costs related to acquisitions.
Interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $1.0 million less than last year due to lower variable rates. In May 2008, the Company entered into two $75.0 million swap contracts that fixed $150.0 million of floating rate debt and locked in LIBOR at 3.4% for three years. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a $0.7 million non-cash mark-to-market reserve related to the value of the swaps. The Company fully intends to hold the swaps until their maturity in May 2011, in which case the valuation reserve will over time reverse. As of December 31, 2008, $88.3 million, or 20.9%, of the Company's total debt of $422.3 million was subject to variable interest rates.
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 increased by $65.7 million, or 10.3%, to $703.1 million from $637.4 million in the prior year. The sales growth was principally the result of a $41.3 million, or 7.3%, increase in same-center sales in our patient care business, an $11.9 million increase related to acquired entities, and an $11.5 million, or 19.1%, increase in sales of the Company's distribution segment. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2008 increased by $30.3 million, or 9.2%, to $359.7 million, or 51.2% of net sales, compared to $329.4 million, or 51.7% of net sales, in the prior year. The decrease in gross margin was due to the increase in sales of the distribution business which have higher material costs and increased shipping costs.
Income from operations increased by $9.7 million, or 14.3%, in 2008 to $77.7 million from $68.0 million in the prior year due principally to the sales increase. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $19.3 million primarily the result of $4.1 million of personnel costs, $2.9 million of merit pay increases to employees, $3.3 million of benefits costs, $3.7 million related to acquisitions, $3.1 million in variable compensation accruals, and $2.1 million of additional investment in growth initiatives.
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2008 decreased $4.4 million, or 12.0%, from the prior year due to lower variable rates. For the year ended December 31, 2008, pro forma net income applicable to common stock was $27.2 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, a 34.4% increase, compared to net income applicable to common stock of $17.6 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, last year. The pro forma results for the year ended December 31, 2008 assume that the one-time, in-kind preferred stock dividend, which occurred in the second quarter of 2008, occurred at the beginning of the period and excludes the impact of the $0.7 million non-cash mark-to-market adjustment related to interest rate swaps.
