OfficeMax income beats expectations

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax reported net income of $10.7 million for the second quarter, besting Wall Street predictions and representing a strong turnaround from last year’s $3 million loss stemming from store closures and severance expenses.



Revenue for the quarter slipped 2.7% to $1.6 billion, missing analysts’ forecasted $1.64 billion in revenue. The office supply retailer said it will reinstate its quarterly common stock dividend, which it suspended more than three years ago.



Based on the current environment, OfficeMax anticipates that total company sales for the third quarter will be approximately flat, to slightly higher than, the third quarter of 2011, including the projected unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation. Additionally, OfficeMax anticipates that for the third quarter of 2012, adjusted operating income margin will be approximately in line with the 2.3% for the prior year period.



For the full year 2012, OfficeMax anticipates that total company sales will be approximately in line with the prior year, including the projected unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation in 2012 and excluding the additional week in 2011, which generated $86 million in sales. For the full year 2012, OfficeMax anticipates that adjusted operating income margin will be approximately in line with, to slightly higher than, the 1.7% for the prior year.



"We have continued to streamline and contain costs in a challenging economic environment, which puts us in a better position to take steps to address our capital structure," said Bruce Besanko, EVP, CFO and chief administrative officer of OfficeMax. "We are also continuing to explore ways to simplify our balance sheet and to leverage the value of our operating and non-operating assets."