UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 28, 2024
or
[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________to_________
Commission File Number 1-5039
WEIS MARKETS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania
24-0755415
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1000 S. Second Street
P. O. Box 471
17801-0471
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (570) 286-4571
Registrant’s web address: www.weismarkets.com
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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 has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer [X]
Accelerated filer [ ]
Non-accelerated filer [ ]
Smaller reporting company [ ]
Emerging growth company [ ]
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [X]
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the act:
Title of each class
Trading symbol
Name of exchange on which registered
Common stock, no par value
WMK
New York Stock Exchange
As of November 7, 2024, there were issued and outstanding 26,898,443 shares of the registrant’s common stock.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
1
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
11
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
18
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Part II. Other Information
Item 5. Other Information
19
Item 6. Exhibits
Signatures
20
Exhibit 31.1 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification – CEO
Exhibit 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification – CFO
Exhibit 32 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
Table of Contents
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM I – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(amounts in thousands, except shares)
September 28, 2024
December 30, 2023
Assets
Current:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
149,757
184,217
Marketable securities
231,435
225,991
SERP investment
30,947
26,651
Accounts receivable, net
93,233
65,092
Inventories
304,328
296,157
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
37,270
34,107
Total current assets
846,970
832,214
Property and equipment, net
983,516
961,353
Operating lease right-to-use
167,862
174,208
Goodwill
52,330
Intangible and other assets, net
19,959
19,527
Total assets
2,070,637
2,039,632
Liabilities
Accounts payable
223,348
226,164
Accrued expenses
33,392
42,676
Operating leases
39,785
40,658
Accrued self-insurance
21,179
18,353
Deferred revenue, net
9,117
12,416
Income taxes payable
760
516
Total current liabilities
327,581
340,782
Postretirement benefit obligations
32,940
29,032
25,151
25,174
136,070
142,345
Deferred income taxes
111,352
118,091
Other
14,815
9,871
Total liabilities
647,909
665,296
Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,800,000 shares authorized, 33,047,807 shares issued, 26,898,443 shares outstanding
9,949
Retained earnings
1,564,265
1,516,438
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(Net of deferred taxes of $227 in 2024 and $430 in 2023)
(629)
(1,193)
1,573,585
1,525,194
Treasury stock at cost, 6,149,364 shares
(150,857)
Total shareholders’ equity
1,422,728
1,374,337
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
13 Weeks Ended
39 Weeks Ended
(amounts in thousands, except shares and per share amounts)
September 30, 2023
Net sales
1,186,232
1,160,306
3,546,602
3,483,975
Cost of sales, including advertising, warehousing and distribution expenses
895,092
874,583
2,669,728
2,613,417
Gross profit on sales
291,140
285,723
876,874
870,558
Operating, general and administrative expenses
261,582
256,050
787,465
762,644
Income from operations
29,558
29,673
89,409
107,914
Investment income (loss) and interest expense
7,848
1,409
17,461
7,715
Other income (expense)
(1,621)
774
(3,429)
(1,399)
Income before provision for income taxes
35,785
31,856
103,441
114,230
Provision for income taxes
9,945
8,630
28,178
30,925
Net income
25,840
23,226
75,263
83,305
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
26,898,443
Cash dividends per share
0.34
1.02
Basic and diluted earnings per share
0.96
0.86
2.80
3.10
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(amounts in thousands)
Other comprehensive income (loss) by component, net of tax:
Available-for-sale marketable securities
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period
(Net of deferred taxes of $285 and $347, respectively for the thirteen weeks ended, and $204 and $237, respectively for the thirty-nine weeks ended)
790
(962)
564
613
Other comprehensive income gain (loss), net of tax
Comprehensive income, net of tax
26,630
22,264
75,827
83,918
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accumulated
Total
For the Thirteen Weeks Ended
Common Stock
Retained
Comprehensive
Treasury Stock
Shareholders’
September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023
Shares
Amount
Earnings
Income (Loss)
Equity
Balance at June 29, 2024
33,047,807
1,547,571
(1,419)
6,149,364
1,405,244
—
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
-
Dividends paid
(9,145)
Balance at September 28, 2024
Balance at July 1, 2023
1,490,979
(4,874)
1,345,198
Balance at September 30, 2023
1,505,060
(5,836)
1,358,316
For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
Balance at December 30, 2023
(27,436)
Balance at December 31, 2022
1,449,191
(6,449)
1,301,834
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
83,909
81,533
(Gain) loss on disposition of fixed assets
(4,466)
Unrealized (gain) loss in value of equity securities
(1,038)
815
(6,740)
4,476
Unrealized (gain) loss in SERP
(3,201)
(1,222)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(8,171)
(10,450)
Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses
(31,304)
(26,342)
Accounts payable and other liabilities
(4,546)
(89,437)
Income taxes
244
81
374
359
Net cash provided by operating activities
100,324
43,125
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment
(107,932)
(75,645)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment
6,329
336
Purchase of marketable securities
(135,197)
(92,569)
Proceeds from the sale and maturities of marketable securities
130,967
58,725
Purchase of intangible assets
(419)
(29)
Change in SERP investment
(1,094)
(213)
Net cash used in investing activities
(107,347)
(109,394)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net cash used in financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(34,459)
(93,706)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
157,997
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
64,291
See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024, there was $34.6 million cash paid for income taxes compared to $26.4 million in 2023 for the same period. Cash paid for interest related to long-term debt was $37 thousand and $25 thousand in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024 and 2023, respectively.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(unaudited)
(1) Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation: The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring deferrals and accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The Company has evaluated subsequent events for disclosure through the date of issuance of the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and there were no material subsequent events which require additional disclosure. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2) Current Relevant Accounting Standards
The Company regularly monitors recently issued accounting standards and assesses their applicability and impact.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), that is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 requires disclosures of reconciliation of the expected tax at the applicable statutory federal income tax rate to the reported tax in a tabular format, using both percentages and amounts, broken out into specific categories with certain reconciling items of five percent or greater of the expected tax further broken out by nature and/or jurisdiction, disclosure of income taxes paid, net of refunds received, broken out between federal and state and local income taxes and payments to individual jurisdictions representing five percent or more of the total income tax payments must also be separately disclosed.
The disclosures required by ASU 2023-09 are required in the Company’s annual financial statements beginning with the year ended December 28, 2024, with early adoption permitted.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), that is intended to improve disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and provide additional information about a segment’s expenses. ASU 2023-07 requires incremental line-item disclosures about each reportable segment’s expenses and expands the scope of interim disclosures to include all required annual disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets, including the newly required expense disclosures. The amendments in the ASU do not remove any of the existing requirements for disclosure of specific items (such as depreciation, amortization, or depletion expenses) nor do they change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments.
The disclosures required by ASU 2023-07 are required in the Company’s annual financial statements beginning with the year ended December 28, 2024, with early adoption permitted.
(3) Marketable Securities
The Company’s marketable securities are all classified as available-for-sale within “Current Assets” in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The FASB has established three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2Observable inputs, other than Level 1 inputs in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
The Company’s marketable securities valued using Level 1 inputs include highly liquid equity securities, for which quoted market prices are available. The Company’s bond and commercial paper portfolio is valued using a combination
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(unaudited)
of pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions, cash flow models with yield curves and other pricing models utilizing observable inputs, which are considered Level 2 inputs.
For Level 2 investment valuation, the Company utilizes standard pricing procedures of its investment advisory firm which includes various third-party pricing services. These procedures also require specific price monitoring practices as well as pricing review reports, valuation oversight and pricing challenge procedures to maintain the most accurate representation of investment fair market value.
The Company accrues interest on its bond and commercial paper portfolio throughout the life of each bond and commercial paper held. Unrealized gains and losses on debt securities are recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Dividends from the equity securities are recognized as received. Interest, dividends and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities are recognized in “Investment income (loss) and interest expense” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognized an investment gain of $6.2 million in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024, which included an unrealized gain in equity securities of $653 thousand. In the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized investment income of $2.2 million, which included an unrealized loss in equity securities of $437 thousand. In the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024, the Company recognized investment income of $14.1 million, which included an unrealized gain in equity securities of $1.0 million. In the thirty-nine weeks ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized investment income of $6.3 million, which included an unrealized loss in equity securities of $815 thousand.
Marketable securities, as of September 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, consisted of:
Gross
Amortized
Unrealized
Fair
Cost
Holding Gains
Holding Losses
Value
Available-for-sale:
Level 1
Equity securities
5,948
Level 2
Corporate and municipal bonds
180,308
4,214
(5,627)
178,895
Commercial Paper
46,035
557
46,592
226,343
4,771
4,910
177,972
3,853
(6,553)
175,272
Commercial paper
44,732
1,076
45,808
222,704
4,929
7
Maturities of marketable securities classified as available-for-sale at September 28, 2024, were as follows:
Due within one year
110,075
111,033
Due after one year through five years
58,115
56,527
Due after five years through ten years
13,650
12,953
Due after ten years
44,503
44,974
225,487
SERP Investments
The Company also maintains a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan for certain of its associates which allows them to defer income to future periods. Participants in the plans earn a return on their deferrals based on mutual fund investments. The Company chooses to invest in the underlying mutual fund investments to offset the liability associated with the non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Such investments are reported on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as “SERP investment,” are classified as trading securities and are measured at fair value using Level 1 inputs with gains and losses included in “Investment income (loss) and interest expense” on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognized investment income of $1.6 million and investment loss of $774 thousand in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. The Company recognized investment income of $3.4 million and $1.4 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. The changes in the underlying liability to the associates are recorded in “Other income (expense).”
(4) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
All balances in accumulated other comprehensive income are related to available-for-sale marketable debt securities. The following table sets forth the balance of the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.
Unrealized Gains (Losses)
on Available-for-Sale
Marketable Securities
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balance as of December 30, 2023
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balance as of September 28, 2024
(5) Long-Term Debt
On September 1, 2016, Weis Markets entered into a revolving credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (the “Credit Agreement”), which was last amended on September 29, 2023, and matures on October 1, 2027. The Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30.0 million with an additional discretionary amount available of $70.0 million. As of September 28, 2024, the availability under the Credit Agreement was $13.2 million, net of $16.8 million letters of credit. The letters of credit are maintained primarily to support performance, payment, deposit or surety obligations of the Company. The Company has not had an obligation on the Credit Agreement since the second quarter of 2018.
Interest expense related to long-term debt was $8 thousand in each of the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024, and September 30, 2023. Interest expense related to long-term debt was $37 thousand and $25 thousand in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.
8
(6) Revenue Recognition
The interim Chief Operating Officer, the Company’s chief operating decision maker, analyzes store operational revenues by geographical area but each area offers customers similar products, has similar distribution methods, and is supported by centralized management processes. The Company’s operations are reported as a single reportable segment.
The following tables represent net sales by type of product for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024, and September 30, 2023:
Grocery
968,575
81.7
%
960,072
82.7
Pharmacy
155,236
13.1
133,289
11.5
Fuel
60,859
5.1
64,524
5.6
Manufacturing
1,562
0.1
2,421
0.2
Total net sales
100.0
2,917,024
82.3
2,915,444
83.7
446,677
12.6
380,917
10.9
178,577
5.0
179,768
5.2
4,324
7,846
9
(7) Leases
As of September 28, 2024, the Company leased approximately 47% of its open store facilities under operating leases that expire at various dates through 2038, with the remaining store facilities being owned. These leases generally provide for fixed annual rentals; however, several provide for minimum annual rentals plus variable lease costs related to real estate taxes and insurance as well as contingent rentals based on a percentage of annual sales or increases periodically based on inflation. These variable lease costs are not included in the measurement of the operating lease right-to-use assets or lease liabilities and are charged to the related expense category included in “Operating, general and administrative expenses.” Most of the leases contain multiple renewal options, under which the Company may extend the lease terms from 5 to 20 years. Additionally, the Company has operating leases for certain transportation and other equipment.
The Company leases or subleases space to tenants in owned, vacated and open store facilities. Rental income is recorded when earned as a component of “Operating, general and administrative expenses.”
The following is a schedule of the lease costs included in “Operating, general and administrative expenses” for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024, and September 30, 2023.
Operating lease cost
11,470
11,778
34,664
35,351
Variable lease cost
2,724
2,837
8,263
8,493
Lease or sublease income
(2,754)
(2,649)
(7,985)
(7,755)
Net lease cost
11,440
11,966
34,942
36,089
(8) Acquisitions
In September 2024, the Company announced plans to purchase two Sunnyway Foods stores located in Pennsylvania. The Company will acquire these locations and operations in an effort to expand its presence in the Franklin County region and plans to complete the acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2024.
10
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of Weis Markets, Inc.’s (the “Company”) financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the cautionary statement captioned "Forward-Looking Statements" immediately following this analysis.
Company Summary
Weis Markets is a conventional supermarket chain that currently operates 198 retail stores with over 22 thousand associates located in Pennsylvania and six surrounding states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia. Approximately 94% of Weis Markets associates are paid an hourly wage. Its products sold include groceries, dairy products, frozen foods, meats, seafood, fresh produce, floral, pharmacy services at certain locations, deli products, prepared foods, bakery products, beer and wine, fuel, and general merchandise items, such as health and beauty care and household products. The store product selection includes national, local and private brands and the Company promotes competitive pricing by using Everyday Lower Price; Low Price Guarantee; Low, Low Price; 3 Day Sale; senior and military discounts; and Loyalty programs. The Loyalty program includes reward points that may be redeemed for discounts on items in store, at one of the Company’s fuel stations or one of its third-party fuel station partners.
Utilizing its own strategically located distribution center and transportation fleet, Weis Markets self distributes approximately 52% of products with the remaining being supplied by direct store delivery vendors and regional wholesalers. In addition, the Company has three manufacturing facilities which process milk, ice cream and fresh meat products. The corporate offices are located in Sunbury, PA where the Company was founded in 1912.
The Company has provided additional product offerings and customer conveniences such as “Weis 2 Go Online,” currently offered at 190 store locations. “Weis 2 Go Online” allows the customer to order on-line and have their order delivered or picked up at an expedient store drive-thru. The Company also currently offers home delivery to customers in all 198 of its locations via multiple grocery delivery partners.
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS(continued)
Two-Year Stacked Comparable Store Sales Analysis
Management is providing Comparable Store Sales Two-Year Stacked analysis, a non-GAAP measure, because management believes this metric is useful to investors and analysts. A Comparable Store Sales Two-Year Stacked analysis presents a comparison of results and trends over a longer period of time to demonstrate the effect of fluctuating economic activity on the operating results of the Company. Information presented in the tables below is not intended for use as an alternative to any other measure of performance. It is not recommended that this table be considered a substitute for the Company’s operating results as reported in accordance with GAAP.
Year-over-year and sequential comparisons are the primary calculations used to analyze operating results, however, due to fluctuations caused by declining government benefits, pharmacy sales growth, and inflationary trends in the food retail industry, management believes it is necessary to provide a Two-Year Stacked Comparable Store Sales analysis. The following tables provide the two-year stacked comparable store sales, including and excluding fuel, for the periods ended September 28, 2024, and September 30, 2023, as well as periods ended September 30, 2023, and September 24, 2022, respectively. Comparable store sales increased 2.5 percent on an individual year-over-year basis and increased 3.3 percent on a two-year stacked basis for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024. Comparable store sales increased 2.0 percent on an individual year-over-year basis and increased 4.5 percent on a two-year stacked basis in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024.
Percentage Change
2024 vs. 2023
2023 vs. 2022
Comparable store sales (individual year)
2.5
0.8
Comparable store sales (two-year stacked)
3.3
Comparable store sales, excluding fuel (individual year)
3.0
1.1
Comparable store sales, excluding fuel (two-year stacked)
4.1
2.0
4.5
2.2
3.1
5.3
When calculating the percentage change in comparable store sales, the Company defines a new store to be comparable after it has been in operation for five full fiscal quarters. Relocated stores and stores with expanded square footage are included in comparable store sales since these units are located in existing markets and are open during construction. Planned store dispositions are excluded from the calculation. The Company only includes retail food stores in the calculation.
12
Results of Operations
Analysis of Consolidated Statements of Income
(amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
1.8
2.3
1.9
0.7
Gross profit margin
24.5
24.6
24.7
25.0
O, G & A, percent of net sales
22.1
22.2
21.9
(0.4)
(17.1)
Operating margin
2.6
457.0
126.3
Investment income (loss) and interest expense, percent of net sales
0.5
(309.4)
(145.1)
Other income (expense), percent of net sales
(0.1)
(0.0)
12.3
(9.4)
Income before provision for income taxes, percent of net sales
2.7
2.9
15.2
(8.9)
Effective income tax rate
27.8
27.1
27.2
11.3
(9.7)
Net income, percent of net sales
2.1
2.4
11.6
Net Sales
Individual Year-Over-Year Analysis of Sales
Net sales, excluding fuel
2.8
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report, the Seasonally Adjusted Food-at-Home Consumer Price Index increased 0.7% and 0.5% for the thirteen week periods ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. The Seasonally Adjusted Food-at-Home Consumer Price Index increased 1.6% and 1.0% for thirty-nine week periods ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average price of gasoline in the Central Atlantic States decreased 8.4% or $0.31 per gallon in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The average price of gasoline in the Central Atlantic States decreased 10.1% or $0.38 per gallon in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023. Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ and the U.S. Department of Energy indices may be reflective of broader trends, they will not necessarily be indicative of the Company’s actual results.
13
Total net sales increased 2.2% to $1.2 billion for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024, from $1.2 billion for the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2023. In the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024, total net sales increased 1.8% to $3.5 billion from $3.5 billion. The increase in total net sales includes retail price inflation in grocery, pharmacy and fresh product categories. Comparable store sales for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023 increased 2.5% including fuel and 3.0% excluding fuel. Comparable store sales for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023 increased 2.0% including fuel and 2.2% excluding fuel.
Although the Company experienced retail inflation and deflation in various commodities for the periods presented, the Company anticipates overall product costs to increase given the recent inflationary indicators in the food retail industry. Management cannot accurately measure the full impact of inflation or deflation on retail pricing due to changes in the types of merchandise sold between periods, shifts in customer buying patterns and the fluctuation of competitive factors. Management remains confident in its ability to generate long-term sales growth in a highly competitive environment, but also understands some competitors have greater financial resources and could use these resources to take measures which could adversely affect the Company’s competitive position.
Cost of Sales and Gross Profit
Cost of sales consists of direct product costs (net of discounts and allowances), net advertising costs, distribution center and transportation costs, as well as manufacturing facility operations.
Gross profit on sales increased 1.9% and 0.7% for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024, compared to the same periods in 2023. Gross profit margin decreased 0.1% and 0.3% for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023.
Non-cash LIFO inventory valuation adjustments represent expense of $2.5 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024 compared to expense of $4.3 million in the same period in 2023. Although the Company experienced cost inflation and deflation in various commodities for the periods presented, the Company anticipates overall product costs to slightly increase given the recent inflationary trends in the food retail industry.
Operating, General and Administrative Expenses
The majority of the operating, general and administrative expenses are driven by sales volume.
Employee expenses such as wages, employer paid taxes, health care benefits and retirement plans, comprise approximately 60.4% of the total “Operating, general and administrative expenses.” As a percent of sales, direct store labor increased 0.2% in each of the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 28, 2024 when compared to the same periods in 2023, respectively.
Depreciation and amortization expense charged to “Operating, general and administrative expenses” was $25.8 million, or 2.2% of net sales during the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024 compared to $24.7 million, or 2.1% of net sales during the thirteen weeks ended September 30, 2023. During the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024 and 2023, depreciation and amortization expense charged to “Operating, general and administrative expenses” was $75.7 million, or 2.1% of net sales and $73.6 million, or 2.1% of net sales, respectively. See the Liquidity and Capital Resources section for further information regarding the Company’s capital expenditure program.
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A breakdown of the material increases (decreases) as a percent of sales in "Operating, general and administrative expenses" is as follows:
Increase
Increase (Decrease)
(Decrease)
as a % of sales
Employee expenses
8,214
0.4
Gain on disposition of fixed assets
(4,582)
Third party services (professional, financial service fees and IT expenses)
2,081
Other expenses (utilities, repairs and maintenance, supplies)
(181)
20,101
0.3
(4,452)
6,682
2,490
0.0
Overall, the operating, general and administrative expenses as a percent of sales presented for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024 benefited in comparison with the 2023 percent of sales due to the gain on disposition of fixed assets, while employee expenses and third party services, mainly professional, financial service fees and IT expenses, increased in dollars as a percent of sales for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024.
Provision for Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 27.2% and 27.1% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. The effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate, primarily due to the effect of state taxes, net of permanent differences.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The primary source of cash is cash flows generated from operations. In addition, the Company has access to a revolving credit agreement entered into on September 1, 2016, and last amended on September 29, 2023, with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement matures on October 1, 2027, and provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30.0 million with an additional discretionary amount available of $70.0 million. As of September 28, 2024, the availability under the Credit Agreement was $13.2 million, net of $16.8 million letters of credit. The letters of credit are maintained primarily to support performance, payment, deposit or surety obligations of the Company. The Company has not had an obligation on the Credit Agreement since the second quarter of 2018.
The Company’s investment portfolio consists of high-grade bonds and commercial paper with maturity dates between one and 30 years and four high yield, large capitalized public company equity securities. The portfolio totaled $231.4 million as of September 28, 2024. Management anticipates maintaining the investment portfolio but has the ability to liquidate if needed.
The Company’s capital expenditure program includes the construction of new superstores, the expansion and remodeling of existing units, the acquisition of sites for future expansion, new technology purchases and the continued upgrade of the Company’s distribution facilities and transportation fleet. Management continues to invest in its long-term capital expenditure program including plans to complete multiple carryover projects from previous years that were delayed due to labor and supply chain disruptions.
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The Company anticipates funding the long-term capital expenditure program, the acquisition of retail stores, the construction of additional distribution facilities, repurchases of common stock, and cash dividends on common stock through its cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, cash flows from operating activities, and the Credit Agreement. The Company has no other commitment of capital resources as of September 28, 2024, other than the lease commitments on its store facilities and transportation equipment under operating leases that expire at various dates through 2038.
The Board of Directors’ 2004 resolution authorizing the repurchase of up to one million shares of the Company’s common stock has a remaining balance of 752,468 shares, and no repurchases were made during the quarter ended September 28, 2024.
Quarterly Cash Dividends
At its regular meeting held in October, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.34 per share, payable on November 26, 2024, to shareholders of record on November 12, 2024. The Company expects to continue paying regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, the Board of Directors reconsiders the declaration of dividends quarterly. The Company pays these dividends at the discretion of the Board of Directors and the continuation of these payments and the amount of the dividends depends upon the results of operations, the financial condition of the Company and other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant.
Cash Flow Information
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
57,200
Investing activities
2,048
Financing activities
Operating
Cash flows from operating activities increased $57.2 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024 compared to the first thirty-nine weeks of 2023. The increase in cash flow from operating activities is primarily due to the one-time business practice used in late September 2023 to settle most outstanding working capital obligations in advance of the conversion to a new enterprise resource planning system in early October 2023 in order to mitigate any possible payment delays.
Investing
In the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024, when compared to the same period in 2023, the purchase of property and equipment, net of proceeds from sales, increased $26.3 million and the purchases of marketable securities, net of proceeds from sales and maturities, decreased $29.6 million. Additionally, as a percent of sales, capital expenditures were 3.0% in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024 and 2.2% in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2023. The increase as a percent of sales in 2024 compared to 2023 is due to the purchase of two previously leased store locations. For the remainder of 2024, management anticipates maintaining the investment portfolio but has the ability to liquidate if needed.
Financing
The Company paid dividends of $27.4 million in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2024 and 2023.
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Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Company has chosen accounting policies that it believes are appropriate to accurately and fairly report its operating results and financial position, and the Company applies those accounting policies in a consistent manner. The Significant Accounting Policies are summarized in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no changes to the Significant Accounting Policies since the Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this Form 10-Q report may contain forward-looking statements, which are included pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. For example, risks and uncertainties can arise with changes in: general economic conditions, including their impact on capital expenditures; business conditions in the retail industry; the regulatory environment; rapidly changing technology, including cybersecurity and data privacy risks, and competitive factors, including increased competition with regional and national retailers; and price pressures. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect Management’s analysis only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents the Company files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Quantitative Disclosure - There have been no material changes in the Company’s market risk during the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2024. Quantitative information is set forth in Item 7a on the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” which was filed for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Qualitative Disclosure - This information is set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” within “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which was filed for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, together with the Company’s Disclosure Committee, evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2024. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports was accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
In connection with the evaluation described above, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2024, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
During the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2024, no director or officer of the Company, nor the Company itself, adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibits
Exhibit 31.1 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification - CEO
Exhibit 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification - CFO
Exhibit 101 The following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 28, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
Exhibit 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
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.
(Registrant)
Date:
11/7/2024
/s/ Jonathan H. Weis
Jonathan H. Weis
Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Michael T. Lockard
Michael T. Lockard
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)