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Scott's Liquid Gold - Inc. (SLGD)·Q4 2021 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 2021 net sales were $8.9M, down 2% year over year (vs. $9.1M in Q4 2020), with brand growth in Alpha Skin Care, Denorex, and Batiste offset by declines in Scott’s Liquid Gold, Kids N Pets, and Prell .
- Reported Q4 net loss was $7.3M, driven by $6.3M non-cash impairment of goodwill and intangibles and a $0.8M loss on sale of the Dryel brand; logistics and supply chain cost inflation persisted .
- No quantitative guidance ranges were provided; management emphasized portfolio optimization (sale of Dryel to reduce net debt), cost reduction, and e-commerce innovation (new products launched on Amazon) .
- Wall Street consensus estimates from S&P Global for SLGD were unavailable due to missing mapping; thus, no comparison vs. estimates is provided*.
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Portfolio optimization progressed: Dryel sale in Q4 2021, with proceeds used to reduce net debt; Board continues to evaluate portfolio to maximize long-term value .
- Focused brand innovation and channel execution: “We have positioned our highest potential brands for growth by focusing on innovation with new products recently launched on Amazon.” – Tisha Pedrazzini, President .
- Continued brand momentum: FY growth aided by acquisitions (BIZ, Dryel) and organic growth in Alpha Skin Care and Denorex despite macro pressures .
What Went Wrong
- Significant non-cash charges: $6.3M impairment of goodwill/intangibles in Q4 and $0.4M inventory impairment for the year .
- Ongoing supply chain/logistics headwinds: Rising costs and shipping delays pressured gross profit and contributed to losses in Q4 .
- Tax valuation allowance and restructuring impacts earlier in year: Q3 loss driven by $1.6M deferred tax asset valuation allowance and $0.4M inventory impairment ; Q2 loss impacted by $0.8M restructuring costs .
Financial Results
Quarterly Financial Summary
Note: Q4 2021 provided quarterly net sales and key charges but not a full quarterly P&L or EPS.
YoY Net Sales Comparison (same quarter prior year)
QoQ Net Sales Trend
Balance Sheet KPIs (Quarter/Year-end)
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Note: An earnings call transcript for Q4 2021 was not found in our corpus; themes below are synthesized from company press releases for Q2–Q4 2021.
Management Commentary
- “In 2021, we continued to face supply chain disruptions that impacted sales and increased logistics costs… We have positioned our highest potential brands for growth by focusing on innovation with new products recently launched on Amazon.” – Tisha Pedrazzini, President .
- “One of our key strategic priorities has been evaluating and optimizing Scott’s portfolio of brands… sale of the Dryel brand, the proceeds of which we used to reduce net debt.” – Dan Roller, Chairman .
- Q3 tone emphasized operational initiatives: “Actions to improve operating performance, reduce costs, stabilize inventory levels, implement pricing initiatives… accelerating conversion in the e-commerce channel.” – Tisha Pedrazzini .
- Q2 focus on transition year and brand acceleration via messaging, packaging, and go-to-market strategies; efficiency actions amid inflationary backdrop – Tisha Pedrazzini and Kevin Paprzycki .
Q&A Highlights
No Q4 2021 earnings call transcript was available in our corpus; therefore, Q&A details and any in-call guidance clarifications cannot be provided.
Estimates Context
- S&P Global Wall Street consensus estimates for SLGD (EPS and revenue) for Q4 2021 and prior quarters were unavailable due to missing CIQ mapping; as a result, we cannot assess beats/misses vs. consensus at this time*.
- Given the magnitude of Q4 non-cash impairments and Dryel sale loss, any prior estimates would likely have required downward revisions to reported EPS; future estimate adjustments may hinge on the pace of cost inflation relief and portfolio optimization .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Q4 revenue held at ~$8.9M but mix was uneven; core skin and hair brands grew while legacy brands declined, with supply chain and logistics cost inflation persisting .
- The $6.3M impairment and $0.8M Dryel sale loss drove a large reported loss; these are predominantly non-cash/one-time and reflect revised forecasts and portfolio actions .
- Portfolio rationalization is an active lever: Dryel sale proceeds used to reduce net debt; continued evaluation could unlock value or reduce complexity .
- Operational discipline remains central: management is reducing overhead, simplifying supply chain/3PLs, and pushing e-commerce innovation (Amazon launches) to drive brand momentum .
- Balance sheet improved on year-end cash/restricted cash and lower debt, while inventories normalized from mid-year peaks, supporting working capital progress .
- Without explicit guidance or consensus estimates*, near-term stock drivers likely hinge on demonstrable margin stabilization, cost pass-through effectiveness, and brand growth execution .
- Watch for continued logistics cost moderation, additional brand portfolio actions, and e-commerce traction as catalysts to reshape the earnings power .
Footnote: *Estimates unavailable; values normally retrieved from S&P Global Capital IQ.