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Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. Reports Very Strong Growth for Fiscal 2008 Fourth Quarter and Full Year |
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Fourth Quarter EPS up 96% over Prior Year - 2008 Fiscal Year EPS up 68% |
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., (NASDAQ: GMCR) today announced its fiscal 2008 and fiscal fourth quarter results for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2008, reporting strong sales and even stronger earnings growth. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, 273 million K-Cup portion packs were shipped system-wide by all Keurig licensed roasters, up 62% over the year-ago quarter.
Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 totaled $134.8 million as compared to $93.0 million reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, representing an increase of 45% year over year.
Net income for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2008 increased 99% to $7.1 million or $0.28 per diluted share, from $3.6 million or $0.14 per diluted share in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2007.
For the fifty-two weeks ended September 27, 2008, the Company recorded net sales of $500.3 million, up 46% from $341.7 million for the year ended September 29, 2007. Net income for fiscal 2008 increased 74% to $22.3 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $12.8 million, or $0.52 per diluted share for the prior year.
Excluding the impact of the non-cash amortization expense related to the Keurig intangibles of approximately $4.8 million (pre-tax) or $0.11 per diluted share in both fiscal 2008 and 2007, non-GAAP net income totaled $25.2 million in fiscal 2008 compared to non-GAAP net income of $15.7 million for the comparable year-ago period.
Lawrence J. Blanford, President and CEO, said, 'I am thrilled with our employees' ability to execute and innovate, building for the future and delivering the strong financial results we are reporting today. Some people feel that coffee is a basic need in all economic times, yet still in today's business environment, I am proud of the strong top and bottom line growth we have delivered to our stockholders. With our proprietary Keurig Single-Cup Brewing system, we are truly turning opportunity into success, driving sales growth and profitability. Looking forward, our great coffee, our long history of success in focusing on innovation, our passion for socially responsible initiatives, and the opportunities presented by single-cup brewing create very exciting prospects for our Company in terms of brand expansion, continued growth, and helping make the world a better place.'
Fiscal 2008 Fourth Quarter Financial Review
Net Sales
For the Green Mountain Coffee segment, net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were up 38% to $84.5 million, prior to the elimination of inter-company sales, as compared to $61.2 million reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Dollar sales growth was strongest in the channels that benefit from sales of the Keurig K-Cup portion packs including reseller, office coffee service (OCS), consumer direct and supermarket channels. Coffee, tea and hot cocoa pounds shipped increased 12% this quarter over the prior period. As previously announced, the Company increased prices in May 2008 by 8 to 12 percent on average across business channels and package types for coffee products sold by its Green Mountain Coffee division because of rising green coffee costs and increases in prices of other raw materials, and higher energy and transportation costs. The net impact of the price increase in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was an increase in net sales of approximately 10% over the prior year period.
For the Keurig segment, net sales (prior to the elimination of inter-company sales) included in the Company's fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $74.6 million, up 75% from net sales of $42.6 million in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2007. This increase in sales was primarily due to higher K-Cup and brewer sales and royalty income from the sales of K-Cups. Keurig announced a royalty rate increase of a penny on all system-wide K-Cup portion packs that went into effect on August 1st. This increase contributed to an approximate 4% increase in Keurig segment's fourth quarter net sales over the prior year. Further detail on shipments of Keurig brewers and K-Cup portion packs is provided in the chart accompanying this press release.
As part of the consolidation, $11.4 million of inter-company Keurig segment sales and $12.8 million of inter-company Green Mountain Coffee segment sales were eliminated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
Costs, Margins and Income
Consolidated cost of sales increased a little less than 100 basis points to 65.6% of total net sales compared to 64.7% for the corresponding quarter last year. The increase over last year primarily is due to the significant increase in sales of Keurig At Home Single-Cup Brewers where these brewers are sold at approximately cost (no gross margin) as part of the Company's strategy to increase the installed base of Keurig brewers. In addition, higher green coffee and other commodity costs contributed to the increase in cost of sales as compared to the year ago fourth quarter. Partially offsetting the increase in cost of sales was the $0.01 increase in the K-Cup royalty rate paid by all Keurig licensed roasters effective August 1, 2008.
More than offsetting the decline in gross margin, selling, general and administrative (S,G& A) expenses improved as a percentage of net sales by 250 basis points to 24.8% from 27.3% in the prior year quarter. This improvement was the result of leveraging selling and organizational resources on a higher sales base. Additionally, included in this quarter's S,G& A are approximately $1,000,000 in litigation expenses related to the patent infringement suit filed against Kraft which was recently settled, as detailed below.
The Company's operating income was $13.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, as compared to $7.5 million reported in the prior year period, and improved as a percentage of net sales to 9.6% from 8.0%.
Interest expense was $1.3 million in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2008 and 2007.
Income before taxes for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 increased 92% to $11.7 million as compared to $6.1 million reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.
The Company's tax rate was 39.2% as compared to 41.3% in the prior year quarter. The difference primarily was due to foreign tax credits associated with royalties earned on K-Cup portion packs from the Canadian licensed roasters for fiscal 2008.
Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $7.1 million or 5.3% of net sales as compared to $3.6 million or 3.8% of net sales in the corresponding quarter last year.
Balance Sheet Highlights
Inventories increased as planned by 119% to $85.3 million at September 27, 2008 from $38.9 million at September 29, 2007 in order to meet expected strong holiday sales of At Home Single-Cup Keurig brewers and K-Cups. The Company anticipates selling more than double the amount of At Home Single-Cup Keurig brewers and K-Cups during this holiday season in retail stores. In addition, the product line of At Home brewers has expanded to include the new 'Keurig Mini' and other models contributing to the build in inventories.
Long-term debt increased to $123.5 million at 9/27/08 from $90 million at 9/29/07 primarily to fund capital expenditures of $48 million in fiscal 2008. Annual cash from operations funded the Company's working capital needs in fiscal 2008.
Subsequent Event
As previously announced on October 23, 2008, the Company's Keurig subsidiary entered into a Settlement and License Agreement to settle its patent litigation with Kraft Foods Inc., Kraft Foods Global, Inc., and Tassimo Corporation (collectively "Kraft'). Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement and License Agreement, Kraft paid to Keurig, after the fourth quarter ended, a lump sum of $17,000,000 and Keurig granted to Kraft and its affiliates a limited, non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, fully paid up license of Keurig's United States Patents Numbered 6,607,762 (the '762 Patent') and 7,377,162 (the '162 Patent'), and United States and foreign counterpart patents connected to the 762 Patent or 162 Patent, for use in connection with the manufacture, distribution and sale of beverage brewing machines and certain beverage filter cartridges. This settlement will be recorded in the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2009 as a non-recurring item in operating income of $17 million and will be taxed at the annual effective tax rate. Upon receipt of this lump sum payment at the end of October, the Company used the majority of these funds to pay down debt outstanding under its existing credit facility.
Business Outlook and Other Forward-Looking Information
Company Estimates for Fiscal Year 2009:
Total consolidated net sales growth of 40% to 45%.
Total K-Cup portion packs shipped system-wide by all Keurig licensed roasters to increase in the range of 50% to 60%.
An operating margin in the range of 8.5% to 9.3%, including $4.8 million or $0.11 per diluted share for non-cash amortization expenses related to the identifiable intangibles, and excluding the pre-tax $17 million Kraft patent litigation settlement.
Interest expense of $7.5 million to $8.5 million excluding any additional interest expense associated with financing the Tully's acquisition.
A tax rate of 41.0% as compared to 38.9% in fiscal 2008.
Fully diluted GAAP earnings per share in the range of $1.58 to $1.68 per share, including the pre-tax $17 million or $0.38 per diluted share Kraft patent litigation settlement, and including the non-cash amortization expenses related to the identifiable intangibles mentioned above of $4.8 million or approximately $0.11 per share. Excluding the Kraft litigation settlement, fully diluted non-GAAP EPS in the range of $1.20 to $1.30 per share.
As previously announced on September 15, 2008, the Company executed an Asset Purchase Agreement to acquire the Tully's coffee brand and wholesale business from Tully's Coffee Corporation for a cash purchase price of $40.3 million, subject to adjustment at closing. The Company intends to finance the purchase through its existing $225 million senior revolving credit facility and has received consent from the lenders under its existing revolving credit agreement. This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Tully's shareholders, and is expected to close in the next few months. The Company anticipates the acquisition will be neutral to modestly accretive to its earnings per share for the first twelve months of ownership following the closing of the transaction, and accretive thereafter.
Company Estimates Relating to Balance Sheet and Cash Flow:
Capital expenditures for fiscal 2009 in the range of $50 to $57 million.
Depreciation and amortization expenses in the range of $22 to $24 million including $4.8 million for amortization of identifiable intangibles.
Company Estimates for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2009:
Total consolidated net sales growth of 45% to 55%.
An operating margin in the range of 3.7% to 4.4% including non-cash amortization expenses for identifiable intangibles of approximately $1.2 million or $0.03 per share, and excluding the pre-tax $17 million patent litigation settlement. The Company anticipates selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of net sales during the first quarter of fiscal 2009 to be about the same as a year ago. Operating margins are expected to be less than a year ago due to the planned increase in net sales of At Home Single-Serve Keurig brewers with no contribution to gross margins.
Fully diluted GAAP earnings per share in the range of $0.48 to $0.52 per share, including the non-cash amortization expenses related to the identifiable intangibles that are estimated to reduce EPS by approximately $0.03 per share, and including the pre-tax $17 million or $0.38 per diluted share patent litigation settlement. Excluding the Kraft litigation settlement, fully diluted non-GAAP EPS in the range of $0.10 to $0.14 per share.
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