Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. Announces Record Third Quarter Results
~ Third Quarter Net Income Increases 19.8% to a Record $4.9 Million ~
~ Third Quarter Sales Increase 15.1% to a Record $103.8 Million ~
~ Monro's Board Approves $30 Million Share Repurchase Program ~
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 16 -- Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. a leading provider of automotive undercar repair and tire services, today announced record financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended December 23, 2006.
Financial Results
Third quarter sales increased 15.1% to a record $103.8 million from $90.2 million last year. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 2.9% on top of last year's third quarter gain of 4.7%. The Company's comparable store sales increase was led by major maintenance categories, such as shocks, brakes, and alignment, as well as the service and tire categories. Sales from new stores contributed $11.9 million of the sales increase during the third quarter, including $9.9 million related to the 75 ProCare Automotive locations that were acquired on April 29, 2006. The Company opened one location and closed three during the quarter.
Gross profit in the third quarter increased 15.7% to $40.4 million. Gross margin slightly improved to 38.9% versus 38.7% last year, as higher vendor rebates, which reduce cost of goods sold, were largely offset by cost increases in tires and oil as well as lower gross margin at the ProCare locations. The increased vendor rebates resulted from both new vendor agreements and a shift of these credits from SG&A expense to cost of goods sold as required by EITF 02-16. Selling, general, and administrative expenses improved to 29.2% of sales compared to 30.5% of sales last year. This improvement was due mainly to reduced benefits costs as a percent of sales, partially offset by the shifting of vendor rebates from SG&A to cost of goods sold. Interest expense was $1.8 million in the current year quarter versus $.8 million last year, reflecting the recording of 44 ProCare locations as capital leases. This accounting had no impact on net income for the quarter as it was a reclassification of expenses between occupancy costs and interest expense.
Third quarter net income increased 19.8% to a record $4.9 million compared to $4.1 million in the year-ago period. Diluted earnings per share increased 18.5% to $.32 versus $.27 last year.
Robert G. Gross, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "As expected, consumers began to return to more normalized spending patterns after several soft quarters and we were pleased that our comparable store sales recovered, highlighted by a 6.5% increase in December. Specifically, the major repair purchases, which consumers had deferred earlier in the year due to rising gas prices and general macroeconomic concerns, rebounded in the quarter. In addition, store traffic and oil changes showed solid increases, which are key indicators of the overall health of our business."
For the nine-month period, sales increased 10.4% to a record $310 million from $280 million. Net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was $18.0 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, which includes a $1.7 million impairment charge related to the Company's Strauss Discount Auto equity investment. Excluding the impairment charge, net income was $19.7 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, versus $19.4 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, in the year-ago period.
Mr. Gross continued, "The integration of ProCare continues to proceed as we outlined at the beginning of the year. We held Grand re-Opening events in November, which were well received by our consumers and drove traffic and sales increases. We continued to invest in store staffing and advertising to support the re-branding and build a platform for long-term growth. During the quarter, comparable store sales in these stores were down approximately 10%, a significant improvement from the 30% decline we inherited, and in line with our expectations. The business was dilutive by approximately $.02 to our earnings per share for the quarter. We expect continuing improvement from this group of stores and remain confident it will contribute at least $.10 to our bottom line in fiscal 2008."
Company Outlook
The Company currently expects comparable store sales growth for the fourth quarter (adjusted for days) to be in the range of 6% to 7%, and earnings per diluted share to be $.37 to $.40, including an approximate $.01 contribution from the ProCare stores, versus $.21 last year. As previously noted, Monro gets the benefit of an additional four days in the fourth quarter due to fiscal 2007 being a 53-week fiscal year. For the full year, the Company now anticipates earnings per diluted share in the range of $1.66 to $1.69, excluding the $.11 impact of the aforementioned one-time impairment charge, compared to $1.51 per diluted share in fiscal 2006.
Mr. Gross continued, "Thus far, three weeks into January, our comparable store sales are up high single digits, and consumers continue to purchase major maintenance services and repairs. We remain focused on driving traffic and providing industry-leading customer service in order to retain and build our loyal customer base. In addition, we continue to actively evaluate acquisition opportunities that would grow our business at a reasonable price."
Share Repurchase Program
Earlier this month, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to purchase up to $30 million of its common stock. The purchases may be made from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions at management's discretion, depending on market conditions and other factors, in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission requirements. The share repurchase program has a term of 12 months.
Mr. Gross concluded, "While our priority remains seeking attractively priced acquisitions, the stock buyback program gives us the flexibility to be strategic with our capital and take advantage of opportunities the market may present. We will evaluate purchasing our own stock the same way we assess acquisitions. That is, we will be opportunistic. The repurchase program provides us with more options for our capital, which in turn will allow us to provide the maximum value to our shareholders."
Additionally, the Company extended its existing credit facility for 18 months, from July 2010 to January 2012, and increased the accordion feature by $40 million to a total debt facility of $200 million. All other terms of the agreement are essentially the same.
Conference Call Information
Monro Muffler Brake will be hosting a conference call today, January 16, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern to discuss the quarterly results. The call will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet at www.vcall.com. An archive of the webcast will be available at this web site an hour after the live call through midnight January 30, 2007.
Monro Muffler Brake operates a chain of stores providing automotive undercar repair and tire services in the United States, operating under the brand names of Monro Muffler Brake and Service, ProCare, Mr. Tire and Tread Quarters Discount Tires. The Company currently operates 699 stores and has 16 dealer locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maine and Michigan. Monro's stores provide a full range of services for exhaust systems, brake systems, steering and suspension systems, tires and many vehicle maintenance services.
Certain statements made above may be forward-looking and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from those expressed. These uncertainties include, but are not necessarily limited to, uncertainties affecting retail generally (such as consumer confidence and demand for auto repair); risks relating to leverage and debt service (including sensitivity to fluctuations in interest rates); dependence on, and competition within, the primary markets in which the Company's stores are located; the need for, and costs associated with, store renovations and other capital expenditures; and the risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC reports which include the report on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended March 25,2006.
MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.
Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
Quarter Ended Fiscal December
2006 2005 % Change
Sales $103,787 $90,188 15.1%
Cost of sales, including
distribution and
occupancy costs 63,436 55,300 14.7
Gross profit 40,351 34,888 15.7
Operating, selling,
general and administrative
expenses 30,282 27,463 10.3
Operating income 10,069 7,425 35.6
Interest expense, net 1,833 845 116.9
Other expense, net 451 30
Income before provision for
income taxes 7,785 6,550 18.9
Provision for income taxes 2,919 2,489 17.3
Net income $4,866 $4,061 19.8
Diluted earnings per
common share $.32 $.27 18.5
Weighted average number of
diluted shares outstanding 15,282 15,038
Number of stores open
(at end of quarter) 699 625
MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.
Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
Nine Months Ended Fiscal December
2006 2005 % Change
Sales $ 309,518 $ 280,454 10.4%
Cost of sales, including
distribution and
occupancy costs 184,027 165,119 11.5
Gross profit 125,491 115,335 8.8
Operating, selling,
general and administrative
expenses 92,002 81,142 13.4
Operating income 33,489 34,193 (2.1)
Interest expense, net 3,364 2,537 32.6
Other expense, net 1,972 333
Income before provision
for income taxes 28,153 31,323 (10.1)
Provision for income
taxes 10,129 11,903 (14.9)
Net income $ 18,024 $ 19,420 (7.2)
Diluted earnings
per share $ 1.18 $ 1.30 (9.2)
Weighted average number
of diluted shares
outstanding 15,236 14,970
MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.
Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
December 23, March 25,
2006 2006
Assets
Current assets
Cash $ 685 $ 3,780
Inventories 63,373 60,378
Other current assets 21,884 20,950
Total current assets 85,942 85,108
Property, plant and
equipment, net 181,964 163,625
Other noncurrent assets 67,767 54,662
Total assets $ 335,673 $ 303,395
Liabilities and
Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities $ 53,622 $ 53,716
Long-term debt 56,558 46,327
Other long-term
liabilities 11,419 10,362
Total liabilities 121,599 110,405
Total shareholders' equity 214,074 192,990
Total liabilities
and shareholders'
equity $ 335,673 $ 303,395