SFS Smart & Final Stores, Inc.

COMMERCE, Calif., July 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE:SFS), the value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, today reported financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended June 17, 2018.

Second Quarter Highlights:

• Net sales increased 4.4% to $1,125.5 million with a comparable store sales increase of 1.3%
• Business customer sales penetration in the Smart & Final banner increased to 30.1% of sales
• Gross margin increased 4.6% to $169.7 million
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 2.5% to $49.3 million
• Net income of $6.6 million or $0.09 per share
• Adjusted net income of $11.4 million or $0.16 per share

"In the second quarter, we were pleased to deliver positive comparable store sales in both our Smart & Final and Smart Foodservice Warehouse store banners.  This reflects how our unique assortment of business and club-pack items, our high-quality private label offerings, and rapidly expanding e-commerce channels resonate with shoppers," said David Hirz, president and chief executive officer.  "While investing in customer service initiatives, we also expanded merchandise margins, grew adjusted EBITDA, and reduced outstanding debt, resulting in an improved financial leverage ratio at quarter-end."

In order to aid understanding of the Company's business performance, it has presented results in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") and has also presented EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, and adjusted net income per diluted share, which are non-GAAP measures that are explained and reconciled to the comparable GAAP measures in the tables included in this release. Where applicable, the results below are first presented on a GAAP basis and then on a non-GAAP adjusted basis.

Fiscal Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results
Net sales were $1,125.5 million in the 12-week quarter ended June 17, 2018, representing a 4.4% increase as compared to $1,078.3 million for the same period of 2017. Net sales growth was driven by a 1.3% increase in comparable store sales and from the net sales contribution of new stores. Comparable store sales growth was comprised of a 2.8% increase in comparable average transaction size, partially offset by a 1.4% decrease in comparable transaction count.

Net sales for Smart & Final banner stores were $868.5 million, a 3.9% increase as compared to $836.1 million for the same period of 2017. Comparable store sales growth for the Smart & Final banner was 0.8% in the second quarter.

Net sales for Smart Foodservice Warehouse banner stores were $257.0 million, a 6.1% increase as compared to $242.2 million for the same period of 2017. Comparable store sales growth for the Smart Foodservice Warehouse banner was 3.3% in the second quarter.

Gross margin was $169.7 million, a 4.6% increase as compared to $162.3 million in the second quarter of 2017. Gross margin rate was 15.1% as compared to 15.0% for the same period of 2017. Gross margin rate in the quarter was supported by our strategic sourcing, merchandising and pricing initiatives.

Operating and administrative expenses were $150.6 million, a 5.2% increase as compared to $143.1 million for the same period of 2017. This increase was related to expenses associated with the effect of higher minimum wage rates, as well as new stores opened during the prior twelve months and their related support costs.

Interest expense in the second quarter was $9.7 million, a 15.9% increase as compared to $8.3 million in the prior year quarter, primarily driven by higher interest rates as well as accrued interest expense related to accounting for build-to-suit store developments.

The Company's effective tax rate in the 2018 second quarter was 33%, including the effect of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and certain tax adjustments.  The Company currently projects a 2018 full year effective tax rate of approximately 27%. 

Net income was $6.6 million, or $0.09 per share, as compared to net income of $7.1 million, or $0.09 per share, for the same period of 2017. Adjusted net income was $11.4 million, or $0.16 per share, as compared to adjusted net income of $11.0 million, or $0.14 per share, for the same period of 2017.   

Adjusted EBITDA was $49.3 million, an increase of 2.5% as compared to $48.0 million for the same period of 2017.

Fiscal Year-to-date Financial Results
In the twenty-four weeks ended June 17, 2018, net sales were $2,141.7 million, an increase of 4.7% as compared to $2,045.3 million in the same period of 2017. Net sales growth was driven by the net sales contribution of new stores and a 1.3% increase in comparable store sales. The increase in comparable store sales was attributable to a 1.6% decrease in comparable transaction count and a 2.9% increase in comparable average transaction size. 

Net sales for Smart & Final banner stores were $1,663.6 million, an increase of 3.9% as compared to $1,601.1 million in the first half of 2017. Year-to-date comparable store sales for the Smart & Final banner increased 0.4%.

Net sales for Smart Foodservice Warehouse banner stores were $478.1 million, a 7.6% increase as compared to $444.2 million in the same period of 2017. Year-to-date comparable store sales for the Smart Foodservice Warehouse banner increased 4.5%.

Net loss was $0.5 million, as compared to net income of $2.5 million in the first half of 2017, which included a tax benefit of $2.2 million. Net loss per diluted share was $0.01 as compared to net income per diluted share of $0.03 for the same period of 2017.

Adjusted net income was $8.6 million, as compared to $9.5 million in the first half of 2017. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.12, flat compared to the same period of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA was $77.9 million, as compared to $72.5 million in the same period of 2017.

Growth and Development
During the fiscal second quarter of 2018, the Company relocated one legacy Smart & Final store and closed two legacy Smart & Final stores. The Company opened one new Smart Foodservice Warehouse store in the quarter. As of June 17, 2018, the Company operated a total of 322 stores, including 195 Smart & Final Extra! stores, 63 legacy format Smart & Final stores and 64 Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores.

Leverage and Liquidity
As of June 17, 2018, the Company's debt, net of debt issuance costs, was $677.2 million and cash and cash equivalents were $64.2 million.

During the twenty-four weeks ending June 17, 2018, the Company generated cash from operations of $65.3 million and invested $65.4 million in capital expenditures, primarily related to the improvement of existing assets.

Outlook
The Company is updating its previously issued guidance for the full year ending December 30, 2018, to reflect current store development expectations:

The above guidance includes certain non-GAAP financial measures (namely adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share), which exclude certain costs and non-cash costs and provide investors with additional financial measures of the expected operating performance of the Company's business. The primary factors in reconciling these non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures include the following: pre-opening costs associated with new stores of approximately $3.1 million, non-cash rent related to stores of approximately $4.2 million, share-based compensation expense of approximately $14.5 million, and $4.2 million of store closure expenses. The other amounts needed to reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures cannot be quantified and are not available without an unreasonable effort.

Fiscal Second Quarter 2018 Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its fiscal second quarter 2018 financial results. To participate in the call, please dial (877) 407-0784 (U.S.) or (201) 689-8560 (International) ten minutes prior to the start time. The conference call can also be accessed on the "For Investors" section of the Company's web site at www.smartandfinal.com.   

For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a telephonic replay of the call will also be available beginning today at approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, by dialing (844) 512-2921 (U.S.) or (412) 317-6671 (International) and entering the replay pin number: 13681354. The telephonic replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, August 8, 2018.

About Smart & Final
Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SFS), is a value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, headquartered in Commerce (near Los Angeles), California. The Company offers quality products in a variety of sizes, saving household, nonprofit and business customers time and money. As of June 17, 2018, the Company operated 322 grocery and foodservice stores under the "Smart & Final," "Smart & Final Extra!" and "Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores" banners in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Utah, with an additional 15 stores in Northwestern Mexico operated through a joint venture. In business for over 146 years, the Company remains committed to giving back to local communities through employee volunteer opportunities and Company donations to local nonprofits.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release that are not historical information contain forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions of future events which may not prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. The Company derives many of its forward-looking statements from its operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While the Company believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is difficult to predict the impact of known factors and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results. These factors are discussed in the special note concerning "Forward-Looking Statements," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and "Business" sections and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by the Company herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these events or how they may affect it. The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company's financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures (namely EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, and adjusted net income per diluted share) to evaluate our operating and financial performance and to compare such performance to that of prior periods. We also use these non-GAAP financial measures in making operational and financial decisions and in establishing operational goals. We believe that providing these non-GAAP financial measures to investors, as a supplement to GAAP financial measures, helps investors to (i) evaluate our operating and financial performance and future prospects, (ii) compare financial results across accounting periods, (iii) better understand the long-term performance of our core business and (iv) evaluate trends in our business, all consistent with how management evaluates such performance and movements. The Company defines EBITDA as net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, interest expense and provision (benefit) for income tax, and adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for the items set forth in the table below.  The Company defines adjusted net income as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the table below. The Company defines adjusted net income per share as adjusted net income divided by the weighted average basic shares outstanding. The Company defines adjusted net income per diluted share as adjusted net income divided by the weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

Use of these non-GAAP measures may differ from similar measures reported by other companies. Each of these non-GAAP measures has its limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP.

The following tables present reconciliations of net income (loss) to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income, and net income (loss) per share to adjusted net income per share and adjusted net income per diluted share, for the twelve-week and twenty-four week periods ended June 17, 2018 and June 18, 2017.

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SOURCE Smart & Final Stores, Inc.