Our small-cap pick for the day is specialty retail player, LL Flooring (NYSE:LL), a company that has recently been buzzing all over the news after Live Ventures, a diversified holding company specializing in the retail and flooring industries, has expressed its intent to acquire LL Flooring. The all-cash acquisition offer stands at $5.85 per share, which represents a substantial 106% premium over LL Flooring's stock price. This bold acquisition proposal could have far-reaching implications for investors and the flooring industry as a whole. Live Ventures' track record of successful value creation and extensive experience in working with retailers facing similar challenges make them a formidable partner for LL Flooring. The proposal is set to provide shareholders with a combination of certainty, full and fair value, and immediate liquidity, which can be enticing in today's financial landscape. Let us take a closer look at the business of LL Flooring and evaluate the rationale behind the generous offer from Live Ventures.
What Does LL Flooring Do?
LL Flooring Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries are key players in the multi-channel specialty retail industry, focusing on hard-surface flooring and various related enhancements and accessories. Their product range includes an array of hard-surface flooring options such as waterproof hybrid resilient, waterproof vinyl plank, engineered hardwood, laminate, bamboo, tile, and cork products. They also provide flooring enhancements and accessories like moldings, underlayment, adhesives, and tools, carrying reputable brand names such as Bellawood and Coreluxe. Alongside their extensive product catalog, the company offers convenient in-home delivery and installation services. LL Flooring Holdings, Inc. caters to a diverse customer base through its physical stores, digital platforms, and catalogs.
Strategic Focus on Sales Productivity & Brand Awareness
LL Flooring's strategic initiatives to focus on sales productivity and increase brand awareness are crucial drivers for the company's future performance. Despite facing challenges in the home improvement market due to macroeconomic uncertainty and inflation, LL Flooring focuses on improving its brand awareness through a rebranding effort and marketing campaigns. They are enhancing their customer experience through training and by streamlining their CRM platform, which will enable personalized customer interactions. Moreover, the company is investing in Pro sales, aiming to increase retention and customer scale within this segment. These initiatives align with their goal to become a one-stop shop for complete flooring solutions. Success in these areas will contribute to improving sales productivity and long-term profitability.
Margin Improvement & Supply Chain Optimization
LL Flooring is actively working to mitigate disruptions in its supply chain, particularly related to vinyl flooring products from Asia, impacted by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Despite the challenges, the company is diversifying its supplier base and exploring alternative sourcing geographies. They have reduced imports from China to 15%, emphasizing flexibility in their supply chain. LL Flooring expects merchandise margins to improve as they realize benefits from lower transportation costs, especially in the second half of 2023. Despite these disruptions, the company is focused on maintaining cost savings, managing working capital efficiently, and continuing to optimize inventory management practices, ultimately contributing to margin improvement and financial stability.
New Product Innovation & Market Expansion
LL Flooring's entry into the carpet segment is a significant driver for the company's growth. This strategic move opens up a $13 billion market opportunity, and they aim to capture market share in this fragmented segment. The customer feedback from the pilot launch of carpet products has been promising, leading to plans for further expansion. The addition of new products like carpet, coupled with their strong brand value and pricing strategies, positions LL Flooring to compete effectively in the market. Additionally, the company plans to expand its assortment in the premium Duravana brand, which has demonstrated success in generating above-category ticket and margins. These product innovations contribute to diversifying their offerings and attracting a broader customer base.
Final Thoughts
Source: Yahoo Finance
We can see a visible spike in the stock price of LL Flooring after the announcement of the offer from Live Ventures. Even after the spike, LL Flooring is trading at an EV/ Sales multiple of 0.30x and an EV/ EBITDA multiple of 7.54x which explains the huge premium offered by Live Ventures for the acquisition. Live Ventures' portfolio includes companies like Marquis Industries, a leading flooring products manufacturer, and Flooring Liquidators, a retailer and installer of floors, carpets, and countertops. These acquisitions have seen remarkable revenue growth and shareholder value enhancement, which strengthens Live Ventures' case as a potential partner for LL Flooring.
It is important to highlight that LL Flooring’s management's strategic focus on sales productivity, brand awareness, margin improvement, and new product innovation, along with effective supply chain management, should play a pivotal role in determining the company's future. Overall, we believe that despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, LL Flooring is positioned for long-term growth in the hard surface flooring industry and housing remodels.
