Smart & Final Stores, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results

COMMERCE, Calif., Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SFS), the value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, today reported financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended October 9, 2016.

Third Quarter Highlights:

• Net sales increase of 11.9% to $1,394.4 million
• Comparable store sales decrease of 1.3%, including impacts of deflation and cannibalization
• Net income of $7.0 million, or $0.09 per diluted share
• Adjusted net income of $15.0 million, or $0.19 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $57.2 million

"Smart & Final Stores continues to execute our planned growth by expanding both Smart & Final Extra! and Cash & Carry banners," said David Hirz, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Year-to-date, we've opened 33 new Smart & Final Extra! and Cash & Carry banner stores and relocated six Smart & Final legacy to new Extra! store locations. With four additional new stores and six legacy-to-Extra! store conversions planned in the fourth quarter, we are on track to deliver by year-end 15% annual new unit growth in the Smart & Final banner, and above historical average growth in the Cash & Carry banner.  We continue to build upon our differentiated brand message and support growth in our two strong, well-positioned store banners."

Mr. Hirz added, "In the third fiscal quarter, the effects of deflation and anticipated cannibalization continued to pressure comparable store sales growth and earnings, despite overall growth in customer visits.  We are pleased that our merchandising and marketing initiatives are driving broader exposure to Smart & Final's unique brands, products and service.  We will continue to focus on developing product categories with strong potential sales growth and a robust marketing program and digital campaign to support store performance during the upcoming holiday season."

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 adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, adjusted net income per diluted share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, 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 numbers below are first presented on a GAAP basis and then on an adjusted basis.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2016 Financial Results
Net sales were $1,394.4 million, representing an 11.9% increase as compared to $1,246.1 million in the same period of 2015.  Net sales growth was driven by the net sales contribution of new stores, partially offset by a 1.3% decrease in comparable store sales. Comparable store sales were comprised of a 0.3% increase in comparable transaction count, including the effect of anticipated cannibalization from new stores, and a 1.6% decrease in comparable average transaction size, including the impact of deflation in key product categories in both store banners.

Net sales for Smart & Final banner stores were $1,083.4 million, a 15.2% increase as compared to $940.2 million in the same period of 2015.  Comparable store sales for the Smart & Final banner decreased 1.6% in the third quarter.

Net sales for Cash & Carry banner stores were $311.0 million, a 1.7% increase as compared to $305.9 million in the same period of 2015.  Comparable store sales for the Cash & Carry banner decreased 0.4% in the third quarter.

Gross margin from operations was $203.0 million, an 8.4% increase as compared to $187.2 million in the third quarter of 2015. Gross margin rate was 14.6% as compared to 15.0% in the same period of 2015.

Operating and administrative expenses were $183.4 million, a 16.8% increase as compared to $157.0 million in the same period of 2015. This increase was primarily related to expenses associated with 39 new stores developed over the prior 12 months and related support costs.

Net income was $7.0 million, including the effects of higher store development costs, store closures, and the amendment of our First Lien Term Loan Credit Facility, as compared to net income of $12.4 million in the same period of 2015. Net income per diluted share was $0.09 as compared to $0.16 in the same period of 2015.

Adjusted net income was $15.0 million, a decrease of 11.2% as compared to $16.9 million for the same period of 2015. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.19 as compared to $0.22 in the same period of 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA was $57.2 million, as compared to $59.8 million in the third quarter of 2015.

Fiscal Year-to-Date Financial Results
In the forty weeks ended October 9, 2016, net sales were $3,341.2 million, an increase of 12.4% as compared to $2,973.4 million in the same period of 2015.  Net sales growth was driven by the net sales contribution of new stores, partially offset by a 0.1% decline in comparable store sales.  The decline in comparable store sales was comprised of a 0.9% increase in comparable transaction count and a 1.0% decrease in comparable average transaction size. 

Net sales for Smart & Final banner stores were $2,604.5 million, a 15.4% increase as compared to $2,256.4 million in the same period of 2015. Year-to-date comparable store sales decline for the Smart & Final banner was 0.1%.

Net sales for Cash & Carry banner stores were $736.7 million, a 2.7% increase as compared to $717.0 million in the same period of 2015.  Year-to-date comparable store sales for the Cash & Carry banner were flat.

Net income was $13.2 million, including the effects of higher store development costs, store closures, and the amendment of our First Lien Term Loan Credit Facility, as compared to $28.3 million in the same period of 2015. Net income per diluted share was $0.17 as compared to $0.37 for the same period of 2015.

Adjusted net income was $37.1 million, a 10.6% decrease as compared to $41.6 million in the same period of 2015. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.47 as compared to $0.54 in the same period of 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA was $142.9 million, as compared to $145.5 million in the same period of 2015.

Growth and Development
During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company opened two new Smart & Final Extra! stores, completed two relocations of legacy Smart & Final stores to the Smart & Final Extra! format and closed five legacy Smart & Final stores. The Company opened one new Cash & Carry store during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016.  As of October 9, 2016, the Company operated a total of 304 stores, including 165 Smart & Final Extra! stores, 83 legacy Smart & Final stores and 56 Cash & Carry stores.

Leverage and Liquidity
As of October 9, 2016, the Company's debt, net of debt issuance costs, was $651.6 million and cash and cash equivalents were $54.0 million.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company amended and extended its First Lien Term Loan Credit Facility by increasing the borrowing base by $30.1 million to $625.0 million, extending the maturity of the facility from November 15, 2019 to November 15, 2022, and increasing the applicable margin by 0.25%.

In the forty week period ended October 9, 2016, the Company generated cash from operations of $86.0 million and invested $117.7 million in capital expenditures, primarily related to the development of Extra! format stores and to improvements of existing assets.

Outlook
The Company is revising certain elements of its previously issued guidance for the 2016 fiscal year ending January 1, 2017, to reflect revised expectations of the impact of deflation on net sales growth, as well as the anticipated lost sales as a result of the five Smart & Final legacy store closures during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, and resulting impact on measures of income (revised elements noted in bold type):

The above guidance includes certain non-GAAP financial measures (namely adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA), 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: costs associated with the acquired Haggen store locations of approximately $18 million, non-cash rent related to other stores of approximately $6 million, and share-based compensation expense of approximately $10 million. 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.  

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company expects to open one new Smart & Final Extra! store, complete six Smart & Final legacy to Extra! store conversions, and open three new Cash & Carry stores.

Third Quarter 2016 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 third quarter 2016 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 "Investors" section of the Company's web site at http://www.smartandfinal-investor.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: 13647684.  The telephonic replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on Wednesday, November 30, 2016.

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 October 9, 2016, the Company operated 304 grocery and foodservice stores under the "Smart & Final," "Smart & Final Extra!" and "Cash & Carry Smart Foodservice" banners in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho, with an additional 15 stores in Northwestern Mexico operated through a joint venture. In business for 145 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 adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, adjusted net income per diluted share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA) 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 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.  The Company defines EBITDA as net income before depreciation and amortization, interest expense and provision for income tax, and adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for the items set forth in the table below.

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 adjusted net income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income, and adjusted net income per share and adjusted net income per diluted share to net income per share, for the sixteen-week and forty-week periods ended October 9, 2016 and October 4, 2015.

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SOURCE Smart & Final Stores, Inc.