Q.E.P. Co., Inc., Reports Quarterly Earnings of $0.35 Per Diluted Share for Its Fiscal 2009 First Quarter




                   Quarterly Sales -- $52.9 Million

                  Million Net Income -- $1.2 Million

BOCA RATON, Fla., July 15, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Q.E.P. Co., Inc. (Nasdaq:QEPC) (the "Company" or "Q.E.P."), today filed a Form 10-Q with the SEC to announce its financial results for the first quarter of its fiscal year ending on February 28, 2009.

The Company reported net sales of $52.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2009, a decrease of $4.1 million from the $57.0 million reported in the same quarter of fiscal 2008.

A better product mix at the Company's North American operations resulted in the gross margin increasing by 126 basis points from 29.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 to 30.3% in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 was $16.0 million, a decrease of only $0.5 million from the first quarter of fiscal 2008 despite the $4.1 million decrease in net sales.

By controlling operating expenses, incurring less interest costs because of lower debt levels and a decreased average interest rate and returning to a more normalized effective income tax rate, the Company reported quarterly net income of $1.2 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared to net income of $0.9 million, or $0.23 per diluted share for the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this report and are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and from historical results of operations. A more detailed discussion of risks attendant to the forward-looking statements included in this press release are set forth in the "Forward-Looking Statements" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 29, 2008, filed with the SEC, and in our quarterly reports filed with the SEC.



                  Q.E.P. CO., Inc. and Subsidiaries
                     Consolidated Balance Sheets
                  (In thousands, except share data)

                                                May 31,    February 29,
                                                  2008        2008
                                              -----------  -----------
                                              (Unaudited)
                    ASSETS
 CURRENT ASSETS
 Cash and cash equivalents                    $     1,294  $       949
 Accounts receivable, less allowance for
  doubtful accounts of $474 and $431 as of
  May 31, 2008 and February 29, 2008,
  respectively                                     29,353       32,543
 Inventories                                       28,073       26,496
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets          1,938        2,505
 Deferred income taxes                                746          754
                                              -----------  -----------
 Total current assets                              61,404       63,247

 Property and equipment, net                        7,524        7,851
 Deferred costs                                     3,168           --
 Deferred income taxes                              1,787        1,787
 Goodwill                                           9,707        9,685
 Other intangible assets, net                       2,659        2,717
 Other assets                                         333          339
                                              -----------  -----------

 Total Assets                                 $    86,582  $    85,626
                                              ===========  ===========

      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 CURRENT LIABILITIES
 Trade accounts payable                       $    16,038  $    15,968
 Accrued liabilities                                9,439       11,690
 Lines of credit                                   27,127       24,537
 Current maturities of long term debt               1,630        1,977
                                              -----------  -----------
 Total current liabilities                         54,234       54,172

 Notes payable                                      4,243        4,472
 Other long term debt                                 250          250
 Other long term liabilities                          425          377
                                              -----------  -----------
 Total Liabilities                                 59,152       59,271

 Commitments and Contingencies                         --           --

 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Preferred stock, 2,500,000 shares authorized,
  $1.00 par value; 336,660 shares issued and
  outstanding at May 31, 2008 and February 29,
  2008                                                337          337
 Common stock; 20,000,000 shares authorized,
  $.001 par value; 3,528,341 shares issued
  and 3,433,363 shares outstanding at May 31,
  2008 and February 29, 2008                            3            3
 Additional paid-in capital                        10,190       10,154
 Retained earnings                                 17,806       16,574
 Treasury stock; 94,978 shares (held at cost)
  outstanding at May 31, 2008 and February 29,
  2008                                               (756)        (756)
 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)       (150)          43
                                              -----------  -----------
 Total Shareholders' Equity                        27,430       26,355
                                              -----------  -----------
 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity   $    86,582  $    85,626
                                              ===========  ===========


                  Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (In thousands except per share data)
                             (Unaudited)

                                                  For the Three Months
                                                      Ended May 31,
                                                  --------------------
                                                    2008        2007
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Net sales                                        $  52,885  $  56,963
 Cost of goods sold                                  36,849     40,410
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Gross profit                                        16,036     16,553

 Operating costs and expenses:
   Shipping                                           5,607      6,099
   General and administrative                         4,454      4,690
   Selling and marketing                              3,625      3,100
   Other expense (income), net                         (112)         1
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Total operating costs and expenses                  13,574     13,890
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Operating income                                     2,462      2,663

 Change in put warrant liability                         --        (39)
 Interest expense, net                                 (455)      (660)
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Income before provision for income taxes             2,007      1,964

  Provision for income taxes                            769      1,107
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Net income                                       $   1,238  $     857
                                                  =========  =========

 Net income per share:
   Basic                                          $    0.36  $    0.25
                                                  =========  =========
   Diluted                                        $    0.35  $    0.23
                                                  =========  =========

 Weighted average number of common shares
  outstanding
   Basic                                              3,433      3,440
                                                  =========  =========
   Diluted                                            3,496      3,601
                                                  =========  =========


                  Q.E.P. CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                           (In Thousands)
                             (Unaudited)

                                                  For the Three Months
                                                      Ended May 31,
                                                  ---------  ---------
                                                    2008        2007
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Cash flows from operating activities:
 Net income                                       $   1,238  $     857

 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
  provided by operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                        463        553
   Change in fair value of put warrant liability         --         39
   Bad debt expense                                      34         90
   Gain on sale of businesses                            --         41
   Stock-based compensation expense                     (35)        37
   Deferred income taxes                                 --        701
 Changes in assets and liabilities:
   Accounts receivable                                3,098        713
   Inventories                                       (1,964)       111
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets            564         (9)
   Deferred costs and other assets                   (3,176)        62
   Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities    (2,025)     1,596
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Net cash provided by (used in) operating
  activities                                         (1,803)     4,791
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Cash flows from investing activities:
   Capital expenditures                                (131)      (206)
   Proceeds from sale of businesses                     335        250
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Net cash provided by investing activities              204         44
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Cash flows from financing activities:
   Net borrowings under lines of credit               2,568     (4,117)
   Borrowings of long-term debt                          --      1,400
   Repayments of long-term debt                        (573)      (918)
   Repayments of acquisition debt                        --       (871)
   Purchase of treasury stock                           (40)       (30)
   Dividends                                             (6)       (11)
                                                  ---------  ---------
 Net cash provided by (used in) financing
  activities                                          1,949     (4,547)
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                 (5)        40
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Net increase in cash                                   345        328

 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period       949        822
                                                  ---------  ---------

 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period       $   1,294  $   1,150
                                                  =========  =========


            

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