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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

        For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004

OR

        For the transition period from                          to                         

Commission File Number 1-9511

THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

(408) 782-6686

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed, since last year)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

    YES  x    NO  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 12b-2)

    Yes  ¨    No  x.

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

4,603,347 shares of Common Stock as of August 1, 2004

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC.

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

Six months ended June 30,

(Unaudited)

Non-cash financing activities:

Cash dividends of $0.06 per share, declared in each of the six months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003, totaling $273,000 and $265,000, respectively, were paid in April of 2004 and 2003, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

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THE COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

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Item 2.     MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Accounting Policies and Estimates

General

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, as applied in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), we record our assets at the lower of cost or fair value. In determining the fair value of certain of those assets, principally accounts receivable, inventories and deferred income taxes, we must make judgments regarding events, circumstances or trends that could affect the value of those assets, such as economic trends that could affect our ability to collect our accounts receivable or sell our inventories. Those judgments are based on current information available to us, and assumptions that we make based on that information, at the time those judgments are made. Those events and circumstances, however, are often outside of our control and if changes in those events or circumstances subsequently occur, U.S. GAAP will require us to adjust the earlier estimates that are affected by those changes. Any resulting downward adjustments to our prior estimates of fair value are commonly referred to as “write-downs” of the assets involved.

Additionally, decisions of when adjustments of this nature should be made also require that we make judgments and predictions regarding the effects and duration of events or changes in circumstances. For example, it is not easy to predict whether events, such as occurred on September 11, 2001, or increases in interest rates or economic slowdowns, will have short or longer term consequences for a particular business and it is not uncommon for it to take some time, after the occurrence of an event or the onset of changes in economic circumstances, for the full effects of such events or changes to be recognized.

It is our practice to establish reserves or allowances against which we are able to charge any downward adjustments or “write-downs” in the carrying values of such assets to provide for potential reductions in those values that could occur due to risks inherent in the nature of our business. Examples include reserves or allowances established for uncollectible accounts receivable (sometimes referred to as “bad debt reserves”) and reserves for inventory obsolescence. The amounts at which those reserves are established and maintained are based on historical experience and also on our assumptions and judgments about business trends and market and economic conditions. Additions to those reserves are made periodically to replenish them following write-downs of uncollectible accounts or to increase them to take account of increased risks due to changes in circumstances, business trends or economic conditions. Those additions are effectuated by charges to income or increases in expense in the statements of earnings in the periods when those additions are made. As a result, our judgments and assumptions regarding economic and business conditions and trends can and will affect not only the amounts at which we record these assets on our balance sheet, but also our results of operations.

Under U.S. GAAP, most businesses also must make estimates or judgments regarding the amounts at which and the periods during which sales are recorded. Those estimates and judgments will depend on such factors as the steps or actions that a business must take to complete a sale of products or to provide services to a customer and the circumstances under which a customer would be entitled to return the products or reject or adjust the payment for services rendered to it. Additionally, in the case of a company that grants its customers contractual rights to return products sold to them, U.S. GAAP requires an allowance for product returns to be established by means of a reduction in the amount at which its sales are recorded, primarily based on the nature, extensiveness and duration of those rights and the company’s historical product return experience.

In making judgments, estimates and assumptions we follow U.S. GAAP and accounting practices applicable to our business that we believe will enable us to make fair and consistent estimates of the fair value of those assets and to establish adequate reserves or allowances.

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Critical Accounting Policies

Set forth below is a summary of the accounting policies that we believe are material to an understanding of our financial condition and the results of operations that are discussed below.

Revenue Recognition and the Allowance for Product Returns.   We recognize revenue from the sale of a product upon its shipment to the customer. We provide our customers with limited rights to return products sold to them. We establish an allowance for potential product returns which reduces the amounts of our reported sales, based on historical experience with returns of like products and current economic data, which can affect the level at which customers submit product returns.

Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.   In the normal course of business we extend 30 day payment terms to our customers and, due to the seasonality of our business, beginning in the late fall and continuing into the winter we grant extended payment terms to those of our customers that have good credit records. We regularly review our customers’ accounts and estimate the amount of and establish an allowance for uncollectible amounts or receivables in each reporting period. The amount of the allowance is based on several factors, including the age of unpaid accounts, a review of significant past due accounts and current economic trends and trends in our markets that can affect the ability of our customers to keep their accounts current. Estimates of uncollectible amounts are reviewed periodically to determine if additions should be made to the allowance and any additions are recorded in the accounting period in which the events that require such additions become known. For example, if the financial condition of customers or economic or market conditions were to deteriorate, adversely affecting the ability of customers to make payments, increases in the allowance may be required. Since the allowance is created by recording a charge which is included in, and therefore has the effect of increasing selling, general and administrative expenses, additions made to the allowance will reduce income in the period when the additions are recorded.

Reserve for Excess and Obsolete Inventory.   Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out flow assumption) or net realizable value and that value is reduced by an allowance for excess and slowing moving or obsolete inventories. The amount of the allowance is determined on the basis of historical experience with different product lines, an evaluation of economic and market conditions and judgments regarding economic and business trends. If it is determined that the carrying value of any product inventories need to be reduced or “written down” due to changes in conditions or the obsolescence of a product line, those reductions or write-downs are charged against the allowance. We periodically review the adequacy of that allowance and replenish it after write-downs have been made or increase it to take account of changes in economic or market conditions or trends that we believe will lead to a slowing of sales or an accumulation of particular products in our inventories. Another occurrence that might require us to increase the allowance or record inventory write downs are reductions in pricing or the introduction of new or competitive products by manufacturers; however, due to the relative maturity of the markets in which we operate, usually these have not been significant factors in our determinations regarding the adequacy or amount of the allowance. Additions made to this allowance also will cause a decline in operating results because such additions are charged to and result in increases in costs of sales.

Allowance for Deferred Income Taxes.   We record as a “deferred tax asset” on our balance sheet, tax loss and tax credit carryforwards and tax deductions that can be applied in future periods to offset or reduce our future income tax liability. At June 30, 2004 the amount of that asset totaled approximately $2.8 million. Under applicable federal and state income tax laws and regulations, tax loss and tax credit carryforwards and tax deductions will expire if not used within specified periods of time. Accordingly, our ability to use this deferred tax asset depends on our generating taxable income during those time periods. Under U.S. GAAP we are permitted to record, as a deferred tax asset, the amount of available tax loss and tax credit carryforwards that we believe it is more likely than not that we will be able to utilize prior to their expiration based on an estimate of our future taxable income. In estimating future taxable income, we consider current operating and economic and market trends as they may affect the amounts and timing of future taxable income that we currently believe we can generate during the periods remaining prior to the expiration of those tax loss and tax credit carryforwards. If that estimate indicates that we are not likely to be able to fully utilize the available tax loss and tax credit carryforwards, we would establish a valuation allowance that would be applied as a reduction of the gross amount of that deferred tax asset. Currently available evidence leads us to believe that it is more likely than not that we will be able to utilize fully the net deferred tax asset that is recorded in our financial statements. However, if due to future events

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or changes in circumstances, such as an economic downturn that might adversely affect our operating results, we subsequently come to a different conclusion regarding our future taxable income and, hence, our ability to fully utilize this asset, we would establish or increase any existing allowance and thereby reduce the amount at which we record the deferred tax asset. That reduction would be effectuated by an increase in the provision (or a reduction in the credit) for income taxes in our statement of earnings, which would have the effect of causing a decline in our operating results.

Results of Operations

We believe that we are one of the largest wholesale distributors of replacement parts, accessories and supplies for recreational vehicles (“RVs”), and one of the largest distributors of replacement parts, accessories and supplies for boats, in North America. Our sales are made to retail parts and supplies stores, service and repair establishments and new and used RV and boat dealers (“After-Market Customers”).

Factors Generally Affecting Sales of RV and Boating Products.   Our sales are affected primarily by (i) the usage of RVs and boats by the consumers to whom After-Market Customers sell our products, and (ii) sales of new RVs and boats, because consumers often “accessorize” their RVs and boats at the time of purchase.

The usage and the purchase, by consumers, of RVs and boats depend, in large measure, upon the extent of discretionary income available to consumers and their confidence about economic conditions. As a result, recessionary conditions and increases in interest rates can lead to declines in the purchase and, to a lesser extent, in the usage, of RVs and boats. Weather conditions also affect the usage of RVs and boats. Additionally, shortages in the supply of gasoline and, depending on other economic conditions, increases in the prices of gasoline, also can lead to declines in the usage and purchases of RVs and boats. The usage and purchases of RVs and boats also can be affected by geopolitical conditions. The events of September 11, 2001, for example, appear to have resulted in a decrease in international travel and also in plane travel and a concomitant increase in the usage of RVs.

As a result, our sales and operating results can be, and in the past have been, adversely affected by recessionary economic conditions, increases in interest rates, increases in the price of gasoline, unusually adverse weather conditions and geopolitical events.

Overview of Operating Results – Three and Six Months ended June 30, 2004 vs. Three and Six Months ended June 30, 2003.

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As is indicated in the above table, in the second quarter of 2004 operating income increased 54% and net earnings increased 63% as compared to the same quarter of 2003. For the six months ended June 30, 2004 operating income increased 55% and net earnings increased 67% as compared to the same period in 2003. Those improvements were primarily attributable to (i) increases in net sales, (ii) improvements in gross profit margin and (iii) reductions in selling, general and administrative expenses, both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of net sales in the three months ended June 30, 2004, and as a percentage of net sales in the six months ended June 30, 2004.

Net Sales.

We believe that the increases in net sales during the three months and six months ended June 30, 2004 were attributable to a number of factors, including (i) increased consumer demand for RV products, which we believe was largely attributable to a strengthening of consumer confidence due to an improving economic environment and low market rates of interest; (ii) security concerns about foreign travel and travel by air, which we believe has caused an increase in the usage and in purchases of RVs; and (iii) an increase in the level of inventory that we carry, which has enabled us to improve our service levels to our customers and, we believe, increase our share of RV After-Market sales.

Gross Margin.

Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of products sold from net sales. Cost of products sold consists primarily of the amounts paid to manufacturers and suppliers for the products that we purchase for resale, and warehouse and distribution costs, including freight charges. Gross margin is gross profit stated as a percentage of net sales.

The increases in our gross margin in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2004 as compared to the same periods in 2003 were due primarily to (i) price increases on selected product lines, (ii) a strengthening in the Canadian dollar, as compared to2003, which reduced our Canadian subsidiary’s cost of purchasing products for resale from U.S. based suppliers, and (iii) the fact that the fixed components of our warehouses costs were being spread over increased sales.

  Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.

Our selling, general and administrative (SG&A”) expenses decreased in the three months ended June 30, 2004 by $339,000 or 5.3%, primarily as a result of reduced marketing and computer expenses during the quarter. The increase in SG&A expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2004 of $1,201,000, or 10.0%, was due primarily to increases in selling and marketing costs incurred in connection with the Company’s annual Product Trade Show held in February 2004. Notwithstanding that increase, however, as a percentage of net sales SG&A expenses still declined in the six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to the same period of 2003.

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Other Expense

The decreases in other expense in the three and six months ended June 30, 2004, as compared to the same periods in 2003, were primarily the result of decreases in interest expense that were attributable to (i) a reduction in average long-term borrowings outstanding and (ii) a reduction in the rate of interest charged on credit line borrowings in 2004, that we were able to obtain as a result of the improvements that we achieved in our cash flows and operating results during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

Income Taxes.

Our effective tax rate declined to 40.2% and 39.9% in the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2004, respectively, from 40.9% and 40.6% in the same respective periods of 2003, due primarily to a reduction in franchise and capital taxes as a percentage of our estimated earnings for fiscal 2004. That reduction is due to the fact that such taxes generally are not determined on the basis of income, but rather on the number of shares of stock outstanding.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

We finance our working capital requirements for our operations primarily with borrowings under a long-term revolving bank credit facility and internally generated funds. Under the terms of the revolving credit facility, which expires in May 2008, we may borrow up to the lesser of: (i) $50 million with a seasonal reduction to $40 million between August 1 and February 28 of each year, or (ii) an amount equal to 80% of eligible accounts receivable and between 50% to 55% of eligible inventory. Interest on the revolving credit facility is payable at the bank’s prime rate plus 0.25% per annum or, at the Company’s option but subject to certain limitations, at the bank’s LIBOR rate, plus 2.0% per annum. By comparison, during fiscal 2003 interest on our revolving credit line borrowings were payable at the bank’s prime rate plus 0.75% per annum, or at the bank’s LIBOR rate, plus 2.5% per annum.

At August 1, 2004, outstanding bank borrowings totaled $26.4 million. Our bank borrowings are secured by substantially all of our assets, and rank senior in priority to other indebtedness of the Company.

We generally use cash for, rather than generate cash from, operations in the first half of the year, because we build inventories, and accounts receivables increase, as our customers begin increasing their product purchases for the spring and summer months when product sales increase due to seasonal increases in the usage and purchases of RVs and boats. See “Seasonality and Inflation” below.

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Although our sales increased 14.4% during the six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to the same period of 2003, our accounts receivable balance increased by only $1.8 million, or 7.6%, at June 30, 2004 as compared to our accounts receivable balance at June 30, 2003, primarily as a result of an acceleration in our accounts receivable collections.

We increased our inventories by $3.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to a reduction in inventory levels of $190,000 in the corresponding six month period of 2003. We decided to increase inventory levels in order to increase customer service levels, which we believed has helped us to achieve an increase in market share during the past 12 months. In conjunction with this increase in inventory, our accounts payable due suppliers increased by $3.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to a reduction of $610,000 in the same period of 2003.

Capital expenditures, primarily for computer enhancements and warehouse equipment, were $274,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to $387,000 in the corresponding six months of 2003. At June 30, 2004 we had no commitments for capital expenditures and we do not anticipate any significant capital additions in the next 12 months. Our bank credit facility limits capital expenditures to $1 million per year.

We lease all of our facilities and certain of our equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. Our future lease commitments are described in Note 4 of Notes to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements included earlier in this Report.

We believe that borrowings under our revolving bank credit facility and internally generated funds will be sufficient to fund our cash requirements for at least the next twelve months and we do not currently anticipate any material changes in the cash requirements of our business or in the sources of funds for our operations.

The Company’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends of $0.06 per share in each of the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and March 31, 2003. Those cash dividends, which totaled $273,000 and $265,000 respectively, were paid in April of each of those years.

Seasonality and Inflation

Seasonality.   Sales of recreational vehicle and boating parts, supplies and accessories are seasonal. We have significantly higher sales during the six-month period from April through September than we do during the remainder of the year. Because a substantial portion of our expenses are fixed, operating income declines and the Company sometimes incurs losses and must rely more heavily on borrowings to fund operating requirements in the months when sales are lower.

Inflation.   Generally, we have been able to pass inflationary price increases on to our customers. However, inflation also may cause or may be accompanied by increases in interest rates and gasoline prices. Increases in interest rates and gasoline prices, or even the prospect of such increases or of shortages in the supply of gasoline, can adversely affect the purchase and usage of RVs and boats, which can result in a decline in the demand for the products we sell.

Forward Looking Information and Factors that Could Affect Our Future Financial Performance

Statements contained in this Report that are not historical facts or that discuss our expectations or beliefs regarding our future operations or future financial performance, or financial or other trends in our business, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Often, such statements include the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” Readers of this Report are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, or to rely on historical operating results, including our operating results in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2004, to predict future financial performance, because

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actual results in the future may differ materially from currently anticipated operating results, depending on the effect of a number of risks and uncertainties. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

Increases in Price Competition.   Price competition within the Company’s distribution channels may increase, which could result in reduction in our profit margins.

Difficult Economic Conditions.   Economic conditions in the United States may not improve significantly or interest rates and gasoline prices may increase, any of which could cause consumers to reduce discretionary spending, and, therefore, result in reduced consumer demand for our products.

Gasoline Shortages or Price Increases or the Occurrence of Unusually Severe Weather Conditions. Shortages in the supply or increases in the price of gasoline, due to, among other things, political conditions in the Middle East, or unusually severe weather conditions in the United States or Canada could reduce the usage of RV’s and pleasure boats and, hence, purchases of the products we sell.

Reliance of Suppliers; Possible Changes in Supply Relationships.   Although in most cases there are multiple suppliers from which we could obtain each of the products we sell, we have chosen to obtain each of a number of those products from a single supplier. If any of those suppliers were to encounter production delays or production problems, our ability to supply products to our customers could be harmed and result in a reduction in our sales and, possibly also a reduction in the share of the market for the particular product or products affected thereby. Additionally, changes in the structure of relationships among manufacturers, distributors and retailers within our industry, have occurred in the past. If such changes were to occur in the future, we could encounter supply problems or we could incur increased operating costs or increased competition or a loss of market share for particular products or product lines involved that would adversely affect our operating results.

Evolving regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses and continuing uncertainty.   Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new SEC regulations and AMEX Stock Market rules and new accounting standards are creating uncertainty for public companies such as ours. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a result, we intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to our practices, our reputation may be harmed or we may be subject to litigation.

Additional information concerning these and other factors and risks that could affect our future operating results are set forth above in this section of this Report entitled, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our exposure to market risk with respect to financial instruments is primarily related to changes in interest rates with respect to borrowing activities, which may adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The fair value of borrowings under our revolving credit facility approximates the carrying value of such obligations. As of August 1, 2004, we had approximately $26.4 million of borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility.

To a lesser degree, we are exposed to market risk from foreign currency fluctuations associated with our Canadian operations and our Canadian currency denominated debt. We do not use financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes and are not party to any derivative financial instruments.

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We sometimes enter into forward exchange agreements to reduce the effect of foreign currency fluctuations on a portion of our inventory purchases in Canada for our Canadian operations. The gains and losses on these contracts are reflected in earnings in the period during which the transactions being hedged are recognized. We believe that these agreements do not subject us to significant market risk from exchange rate movements because the agreements offset gains and losses on the balances and transactions being hedged. As of June 30, 2004, there were no such agreements outstanding.

Approximately 25% of our debt is denominated in Canadian currency, which also exposes us to market risk associated with exchange rate movements. Historically, we have not used derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuations since the market risk associated with our foreign currency denominated debt has not been considered significant.

ITEM 4.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in effect as of June 30, 2004. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2004, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective and designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within these entities.

There were no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6.     EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K AND EXHIBITS

The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 10, 2004 to furnish, under Item 12 of that Report, a copy of its press release announcing its results of operations for the quarter ended, and its financial condition as of, March 31, 2004.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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