UMA Members in the News

Questar Board Declares Increased Quarterly Dividend

By Business Wire

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Questar Corp.'s board of directors today approved an increase in the company's quarterly common stock dividend from $0.125 (12.5 cents) per share to $0.13 (13 cents) per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 14, 2009, to shareholders of record on Nov. 20, 2009. The quarterly dividend is a half-cent per share higher than a year earlier and is the company's 260th consecutive dividend without a reduction. Questar has increased its dividend 36 times in the last 37 years.

USANA Health Sciences Announces Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

By Business Wire

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USANA Health Sciences, Inc. today announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter, ended October 3, 2009.

Financial Performance

Net sales for the third quarter of 2009 improved to $110.8 million, compared with $107.2 million in the third quarter of the prior year, an increase of 3.3%. The year-over-year increase was due to an overall increase in product sales, driven primarily by an 8.2% increase in the number of active Associates. The negative effect of changes in currency exchange rates, on a year-over-year basis, reduced net sales in the third quarter by approximately $4.1 million. Net earnings for the third quarter were $7.9 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, compared with $8.1 million or $0.50 per diluted share in the third quarter of the prior year. The decrease in net earnings resulted from higher Associate incentives expense, partially offset by lower selling, general and administrative expenses and improved gross profit margins. The increase in earnings per share in third quarter of 2009 was due to a lower number of average shares outstanding.

Dave Wentz, chief executive officer, said, "We are pleased to report another quarter of solid operating results. The two compensation plan enhancements that we introduced last year continue to drive our growth in sales and Associates. We recognize that offering a rewarding compensation plan that attracts and retains talented entrepreneurs is central to our long-term objectives of generating top-line growth and returning value to our shareholders. While Associate incentive expense has initially increased due to our compensation plan enhancements, we expect that it will decrease as a percentage of sales over the next several quarters. Additionally, we will continue to closely manage our SG&A costs and expect further improvements in our gross profit margins."

For the nine months ended October 3, 2009, net sales increased by 0.7% to $320.2 million, compared with $318.0 million for the first nine months of the prior year. This growth in sales was due to an overall increase in product sales, driven by a higher average number of active Associates. This increase was largely offset by the negative effect of changes in currency exchange rates versus the prior year, which reduced net sales by approximately $23.6 million. Excluding the impact of currency fluctuations, net sales for the first nine months of 2009 would have been $343.8 million, a year-over-year increase of 8.1%. Net earnings for the first nine months of 2009 were $23.3 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $25.5 million, or $1.56 per diluted share for the first nine months of the prior year. Unfavorable currency exchange rates and higher Associate incentives expense were the primary cause for lower net earnings and earnings per share. These decreases, however, were partially offset by lower selling, general and administrative expenses and a lower number of average shares outstanding.

Regional Results

During the third quarter of 2009, net sales in North America decreased by 6.7%, or $4.3 million, to $60.3 million, compared with the third quarter of the prior year. This decline was primarily the result of the negative effect of changes in currency exchange rates, which decreased net sales in this region by $2.5 million. Additionally, sales in the U.S. decreased by 5.2% and local currency sales in Canada decreased by 3.8%. In Mexico, however, local currency sales increased by 14.9% compared with the third quarter of 2008. Active Associates in the North America region decreased by 1.0% to 102,000, compared with the third quarter of the prior year.

"North America continues to be the region most affected by the difficult economic conditions," continued Wentz. "Additionally, our third quarter sales tend to be softer in North America, as many of our Associates slow their business activities during the summer vacation months. We continue to implement new initiatives, including targeted marketing campaigns, to keep our customers in this region consistently purchasing our products and our Associates actively building their home-based business."

Net sales in the Asia Pacific region for the third quarter of 2009 increased by 18.5% to $50.5 million, compared with the third quarter of the prior year. Excluding the negative effect of a stronger U.S. dollar, net sales in this region increased during the quarter by 22.3%. This improvement was due to an overall increase in product sales, driven by 19.8% growth in the number of active Associates and, to a lesser extent, higher product prices. Active associates in this region grew to a record 97,000, compared with 81,000 for the third quarter of the prior year. This increase in the number of active Associates was due primarily to double-digit growth in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea. Additionally, the Company's newest market, the Philippines, added 6,000 Associates.

"Momentum in our Asia Pacific region continues to build with record sales and Associate counts. Our balanced approach of providing best-in-class products, coupled with a rewarding compensation plan, continues to drive our record results in this region. Furthermore, we are pleased with the success of our 17th annual International Convention, which we held in Salt Lake City during August. This exciting event was highlighted by new product announcements and several renowned speakers, including Larry King. In light of our solid operating results and the success of our Convention, we look forward to continued success for the balance of 2009 and anticipate carrying positive momentum into 2010," concluded Wentz.

Outlook

Jeff Yates, chief financial officer, said, "Following another solid quarter, we are raising our financial guidance for 2009. Accordingly, we are projecting consolidated net sales for 2009 to be between $431 million and $434 million. We are also raising our earnings per share guidance for 2009 and now estimate that EPS will be between $2.07 and $2.10."

"We are pleased with the performance of the business in this difficult economic environment and remain confident that our business model and operating efficiencies will give us a distinct advantage in our industry. We are firmly committed to increasing the number of Associates and customers and look forward to completing what we believe will be yet another record year for sales at USANA."

USANA Supported Clinical Study Demonstrates Improved Bone Health in Girls

New Study Involving Active CalciumT Chewable Offers Promising Results

By Business Wire

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USANA Health Sciences, Inc. announced today that a third-party clinical study led by Dr. David Greene at Australian Catholic University found that use of USANA's Active CalciumTM Chewable supplement improves bone health in young girls.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 20 pairs of identical twin girls, ages 9-12 years old, who were randomly assigned to receive USANA's Active Calcium Chewable or a matching placebo. The results of the study found that after six months of supplementation, Active Calcium Chewable improved measures of bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and bone strength in these girls.

"We are delighted with the results of the ACU National study," said Dr. Tim Wood, USANA's Executive Vice President of Research and Development. "These results confirm the findings of a similar 2003 clinical trial conducted at the University of Utah. The ACU National study design, in which one twin received Active Calcium Chewable while her sister received the placebo, goes a step further and factors out genetic influences."

Results of the ACU National study are particularly significant, because young women accumulate bone mass most rapidly during adolescence, and ideal skeletal development can only be achieved when dietary intakes of calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium are optimal during this period. Dr. Greene of ACU National said maximizing bone during the growing years was essential to offsetting the effects of osteoporosis in later life.

"It is estimated that only 10 to 25 percent of children and teens get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D," said Dr. Christine Wood. "My own experience as a pediatrician confirms this when I question my patients about their calcium intakes. Parents and teens need to understand the potential long-term risks of chronic calcium and vitamin D deficiency during adolescence. We can't turn back the clock as these children age into adults." Dr. Christine Wood is an expert in nutritional medicine for children and speaks on healthy lifestyles to parents worldwide. She is also a member of USANA's Scientific Advisory Council.