SHOO Steven Madden Ltd

Steve Madden (Nasdaq: SHOO), a leading designer and marketer of fashion footwear and accessories for women, men and children, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

• Third quarter consolidated net sales increased 9.4% to $140.1 million.
• Operating margin rose to 20.2% in the third quarter 2009, compared with operating margin of 13.8% in the same period of 2008.
• Net income for the third quarter was $17.8 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, compared to $11.1 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008.
• Full-year 2009 guidance for diluted EPS is in the range of $2.55 to $2.65.

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, "We were extremely pleased to have delivered record sales and earnings for the third quarter of 2009. The strength in our business is a reflection of Steve and his team’s ability to consistently create trend-right product and our organization’s speed in getting that merchandise to market. Looking ahead, we are very enthusiastic about our recently announced business ventures including the launch of our newly licensed Steve Madden apparel line as well as our new license agreement for Olsenboye footwear and accessories. Both of these ventures offer significant growth opportunity. Overall, we feel good about our portfolio of brands and the long term growth prospects for our company.”

Third Quarter 2009 Results:

Third quarter consolidated net sales were $140.1 million compared to $128.1 million reported in the comparable period of 2008. Net sales from the wholesale business grew 15.0% to $112.0 million compared to $97.3 million in the third quarter of 2008, driven by strength in the Madden Girl, Steven by Steve Madden, Steve Madden Women’s and Steve Madden Men’s wholesale footwear divisions. In addition, the new Elizabeth and James brand and the recently acquired Madden Zone, formerly SML Brands, also contributed to the sales growth.

Retail net sales totaled $28.2 million compared to $30.7 million in the third quarter of the prior year. Same store sales decreased 7.6% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to a 7.8% same store sales increase in the same period of 2008.

Gross margin improved to 44.0% as compared to 41.4% in the third quarter of 2008. For the wholesale business, gross margin was 41.2% as compared to 36.3% in the prior year's third quarter, with the increase driven primarily by reduced markdown allowances as a result of strong sell-through at retail. Retail division gross margin was 55.2% as compared to 57.4% for the comparable period last year. The decrease in retail gross margin was primarily due to increased promotional activity at retail stores as compared to last year’s third quarter.

Operating expenses as a percent of sales for the third quarter of 2009 were 27.9% as compared to 31.0% in the same period of the prior year. The 310 basis point improvement was mainly driven by leverage on higher sales as well as fewer stores and reduced store payroll expense in the Company’s remaining stores.

Net income for the third quarter of 2009 totaled $17.8 million, or $0.97 per diluted share as compared to net income of $11.1 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the same period of 2008.

The Company closed one retail location and licensed out three stores during the third quarter of 2009, ending the quarter with 88 retail locations, including the Internet store.

Nine-Month 2009 Results:

For the first nine months of 2009, consolidated net sales were $364.0 million compared to $337.9 million in the comparable period last year.

Net income totaled $36.6 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2009 compared to $20.8 million or $1.11 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2008. Net income for the first nine months of 2008 included a charge totaling $3.0 million post-tax, or $0.16 per diluted share, related to the resignation of the Company’s former CEO.

As of September 30, 2009, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $125.7 million.

Arvind Dharia, Chief Financial Officer, commented, "Our balance sheet remains very healthy as a result of the continuation of strong growth in our earnings and prudent capital management."

Company Outlook

For fiscal 2009, the Company expects net sales to increase in the range of 7%-8% compared to net sales in 2008.

Diluted EPS for 2009 is expected to be in the range of $2.55 to $2.65.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host its third quarter 2009 earnings conference call on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto http://www.stevemadden.com under the Investor Relations section and an online archive of the broadcast will be available within one hour of the conclusion of the call which will remain accessible for a period of 30 days following the call. Additionally, a replay will also be available two hours following the call through December 3, 2009, via telephone at 1-888-203-1112 (U.S.) and 1-719-457-0820 (international) by entering the replay pin 8357547.

About Steve Madden

Steve Madden designs and markets fashion-forward footwear and accessories for women, men and children. The shoes and accessories are sold through 88 company-owned retail stores (including the Company’s online store), department stores, and apparel, footwear, and accessories specialty stores. The Company has several licensees for its brands, including for apparel, outerwear, cold weather accessories, eyewear, hosiery, and bedding and bath products. The Company is the licensee for footwear, handbags and belts for Fabulosity and Olsenboye, for footwear for Elizabeth and James and l.e.i. and for handbags and belts for Betsey Johnson and Daisy Fuentes.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains certain statements which are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the federal securities laws. The events described in forward-looking statements contained in this press release may not occur. Generally these statements are based on current expectations and assumptions relating to business plans or strategies, projected or anticipated benefits or other consequences of the Company's plans or strategies, projected or anticipated benefits from acquisitions to be made by the Company, or projections involving anticipated revenues, earnings or other aspects of the Company's operating results. The words "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend," "estimate," and "continue," and their opposites and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company cautions you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks and other influences, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that may influence the accuracy of the statements and the projections upon which the statements are based. Factors which may affect the Company's results include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. Any one or more of these uncertainties, risks and other influences could materially affect the Company's results of operations and whether forward-looking statements made by the Company ultimately prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results, performance and achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements.

All information in this release is as of November 3, 2009. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether from new information, future events or otherwise.

STEVEN MADDEN LTD

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)         Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended

Consolidated:

Sep 30, 2009

Sep 30, 2008

Sep 30, 2009

Sep 30, 2008

  Net Sales $ 140,138 $ 128,093 $ 364,039 $ 337,949 Cost of Sales   78,462   75,114   209,313   199,218 Gross Profit 61,676 52,979 154,726 138,731 Commission and licensing fee income 5,726 4,497 15,993 11,056 Operating Expenses   39,088   39,770   112,729   117,097 Income from Operations 28,314 17,706 57,990 32,690 Interest and other Income, Net   488   248   1,252   1,142 Income Before provision for Income Taxes 28,802 17,954 59,242 33,832 Provision for Income Tax   10,971   6,866   22,690   13,058 Net Income $ 17,831 $ 11,088 $ 36,552 $ 20,774     Basic income per share $ 0.99 $ 0.62 $ 2.03 $ 1.12 Diluted income per share $ 0.97 $ 0.62 $ 2.00 $ 1.11   Weighted average common shares           outstanding - Basic   18,101   17,763     18,002   18,478 Weighted average common shares           outstanding - Diluted   18,449   17,986     18,239   18,675 STEVEN MADDEN LTD

BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS

(In thousands, except per share data)       Sep 30 2009 Dec 31, 2008 Sep 30, 2008

Consolidated

Consolidated

Consolidated

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

  Cash and cash equivalents $ 47,622 $ 89,588 $ 33,115 Investment Securities 78,069 35,224 23,554 Total Current Assets 182,550 194,736 175,996 Total Assets 316,290 284,693 246,296 Advances Payable - Factor - 30,168 - Total Current Liabilities 61,144 72,490 42,824 Total Stockholder Equity 249,898 206,242 198,864