Nature's Sunshine Posts Growth

Nature's Sunshine Posts Growth

PROVO, Utah--Nature's Sunshine Products Inc. (NASDAQ:NATR)reported April 21 that for its first quarter (1Q03), ended March 31, increaseddistributors and managers due to favorable international conditions.

Sales for the quarter were down to $72.1 million from 1Q02's $75.9 million,while gross margin remained constant at 82 percent of sales. Operating expenseswere nipped to $24.8 million from $27.1 million. Net income was $1.6 million, or$.11 per share earned, compared to 1Q02's net loss of $888,000, or $.05 pershare lost.

For the quarter, sales increases were reported in the Russian Federation,Mexico, Israel, El Salvador, Ecuador and other international markets. However,sales were affected by decreased sales in South Korea, in addition to currencydevaluations in Brazil and Venezuela.

The company reported the number of worldwide distributors was approximately516,000 March 31, compared to 509,000 logged on Dec. 31, 2002; the number ofmanagers also increased to 15,900 from 14,000.