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Fred's Pharmacy Reports First Quarter 2017 Results
[June 06, 2017]

Fred's Pharmacy Reports First Quarter 2017 Results


Fred's Inc. (NASDAQ:FRED) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended April 29, 2017.

Commenting on today's results, Michael K. Bloom, Chief Executive Officer, said, "In the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, we continued executing the Fred's Pharmacy healthcare transformation, a clear point of differentiation in our markets, which resulted in positive script comps in Retail Pharmacy and record sales and year-over-year growth in Specialty Pharmacy. Our strong performance in Total Pharmacy was the primary driver for sequential improvement in our operating performance excluding non-operating items. With the right leadership team in place, we continue to enhance our talent, invest in technology, expand the Specialty salesforce and diversify the Specialty portfolio. We also continue to improve the pharmacist-patient relationship, which is reflected in our positive script comps in the Retail Pharmacy. Both our Retail and Specialty Pharmacy businesses are rapidly improving and driving momentum. In the Front Store, our remodel program, which will be accelerated in the back half of 2017, is already improving the customer experience and driving sales. Notably, the comp sales of our remodeled stores with our new prototype are performing approximately 4.0% better than the chain average through April."

Mr. Bloom continued, "Looking ahead, we are focused on executing our key objectives for 2017, including diversifying and optimizing our assets to improve performance and cash flow. In large part we are on track with the Fred's 2017 plan, and doing exactly what we said we would do to optimize Fred's Pharmacy's business model and enhance value for our shareholders. We anticipate continued sequential operational improvement excluding non-operating items throughout 2017 as the initiatives underway continue to take hold, and we expect to be profitable on an operational basis by the end of 2017."

For the first quarter ended April 29, 2017, Fred's recorded a net loss of approximately $36.5 million or $0.98 per share, which included the following charges totaling $45.0 million, or $0.92 per share after tax:

  • $14.6 million or $0.39 per share after tax for a valuation allowance against the Company's deferred tax asset resulting from the pretax loss created primarily by the following charges in the first quarter;
  • $16.9 million or $0.29 per share after tax for professional and legal advisory fees incurred in connection with the proposed acquisition of Rite Aid stores, the development and implementation of the Company's growth strategy and other professional and legal advisory fees; and
  • $13.5 million or $0.24 per share after tax for lease liability impairments and other expenses pertaining to the closing of 39 underperforming stores.

Fred's first quarter loss compares to net income of $1.3 million or $0.03 per share for the first quarter of 2016.

Net sales for the first quarter were $532.3 million, down 3.1% from $549.5 million in the same period last year. Comparable store sales for the first quarter declined 1.2% versus an increase of 1.0% in the first quarter last year. Comparable store sales in the first quarter of 2017 included a negative 1.4% impact as a result of the sale of low productive discontinued inventory versus the first quarter of 2016.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2017 decreased to $132.9 million from $141.3 million in the prior-year period, primarily explained by a decrease in sales resulting from the closure of 39 underperforming stores. Gross profit margin for the quarter decreased 70 basis points to 25.0% from 25.7% in the same quarter last year. Gross margin rate decrease was driven by markdowns recorded during going out of business sales for underperforming stores closed in 2017.

Fred's recorded LIFO reductions of $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared with increases of $0.9 million in the same quarter last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter, including depreciation and amortization, increased to 31.4% of sales from 25.3% of sales in the prior-year quarter. Much of the increase in expenses was attributable to professional and legal advisory fees incurred in connection with the proposed acquisition of Rite Aid stores and the development and implementation of the Company's growth strategy.

For the first quarter of 2017, operating income, which is equivalent to earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, a non-GAAP financial measure, decreased to a loss of $34.2 million or 6.4% of sales compared with operating income of $2.4 million in the same quarter last year.

In the first quarter of 2017, EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure that further excludes depreciation and amortization from EBIT, declined to a loss of $22.6 million. First quarter EBITDA included charges totaling $30.4 million, including:

  • $16.9 million for professional and legal advisory fees incurred in connection with the proposed acquisition of Rite Aid stores, the development and implementation of the Company's growth strategy and other professional and legal advisory fees; and
  • $13.5 million for lease liability impairments and other expenses pertaining to the closing of 39 underperforming stores.

Webcast Information

A public, listen-only simulcast and replay of Fred's first quarter 2017 conference call may be accessed at the Company's web site. The simulcast will begin at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time today; a replay of the call will be available beginning two hours after the conclusion of the live call and will remain available through July 6, 2017.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company's management believes that the disclosure of operating income (EBIT) and EBITDA provides useful information to investors because the measures present an alternative and more relevant method for measuring the Company's results of operations and financial condition, and, when viewed together with the Company's GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations, provides a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company than the GAAP results alone. Additionally, EBITDA is a common alternative measure of financial performance used by investors, financial analysts, and rating agencies. These groups use EBITDA, along with other measures, to estimate the value of a company and to compare the operating performance of a company to others in its industry. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measure appears in the financial tables attached to this news release.

Forward Looking Statements

Comments in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A reader can identify forward-looking statements because they are not limited to historical facts or they use such words as "outlook," "guidance," "may," "should," "could," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "committed," "continue," or "will likely result" and similar expressions that concern the Company's strategy, plans, intentions or beliefs about future occurrences or results. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those associated with the Company's announced strategic plan, the success of announced acquisition activities and future growth trends in businesses acquired; general economic trends; risks related to the possibility that the transactions may not close, including because one or more closing conditions to the transactions, including certain regulatory approvals, may not be satisfied or waived, on a timely basis or otherwise, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the transactions, or may require conditions, limitations or restrictions in connection with such approvals; the risk that the businesses and acquired stores, as applicable, will not be integrated successfully; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the proposed transaction; changes in consumer demand or purchase patterns; delays or interruptions in the flow of merchandise between the Company's distribution centers and its stores or between the Company's suppliers and same; a disruption in the Company's data processing services; cyber-security threats; costs and delays in acquiring or developing new store sites; and the factors listed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly filings on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Fred's Pharmacy

Tracing its history back to an original store in Coldwater, Mississippi, opened in 1947, today Fred's Pharmacy is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, and operates 601 pharmacy and general merchandise stores, including 14 franchised Fred's Pharmacy locations, and three specialty pharmacy-only locations. With a unique store format and strategy that combines the best elements of a healthcare-focused drug store with a value-focused retailer, Fred's Pharmacy stores offer more than 12,000 frequently purchased items that address the healthcare and everyday needs of its customers and patients. This includes nationally recognized brands, proprietary Fred's Pharmacy label products, and a full range of value-priced selections. The company has two distribution centers, one in Memphis, Tennessee, and Dublin, Georgia.

On December 20, 2016, the Company announced that it signed an agreement with Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Rite Aid to purchase 865 stores for $950 million in cash. Fred's Pharmacy is working collaboratively with Walgreens Boots Alliance, Rite Aid and the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC (News - Alert)") to help obtain the FTC's approval of Walgreen Boots Alliance's pending acquisition of Rite Aid and the divestiture of certain Rite Aid assets to Fred's Pharmacy. Fred's Pharmacy remains committed to purchasing additional assets, including up to 1,200 Rite Aid stores, to the extent necessary to obtain the FTC's approval of the transaction. Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the FTC, as well as other customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

The proposed acquisition of the stores, which are based in highly attractive markets, is a transformative event that will add substantial scale to the Company and transform Fred's Pharmacy, the largest regional pharmacy player, into an even stronger competitor and the third-largest drugstore chain in the nation. The transaction will accelerate the Company's healthcare growth strategy, generating considerable benefits for our customers, patients, payors, supplier partners, team members and shareholders.

For more information about the Company, visit Fred's website at www.fredsinc.com.





 

     

 

 

 

FRED'S, INC.
Unaudited Financial Highlights
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
 

13 Weeks
Ended
April 29,
2017

13 Weeks
Ended
April 30,
2016

Net sales $ 532,320 $ 549,548
Operating income (loss) $ (34,172 ) $ 2,428
Net income (loss) $ (36,461 ) $ 1,256
Net income (loss) per share, basic and diluted $ (0.98 ) $ 0.03
Average shares outstanding:
Basic 37,355 37,073
Diluted 37,355 37,093
 

 

FRED'S, INC.
Unaudited Fiscal 2017 First Quarter Results
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
     

13 Weeks
Ended
April 29,
2017

 

% of
Total

 

13 Weeks
Ended
April 30,
2016

 

% of
Total

Net sales $ 532,320 100.0 % $ 549,548 100.0 %
Cost of goods sold   399,408   75.0 %   408,226 74.3 %
Gross profit 132,912 25.0 % 141,322 25.7 %
Depreciation & amortization 11,626 2.2 % 11,563 2.1 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses   155,458   29.2 %   127,331 23.2 %
Operating income (loss) (34,172 ) (6.4 )% 2,428 0.4 %
Interest expense, net   1,287   0.3 %   515 0.1 %
Income (loss) before income taxes (35,459 ) (6.7 )% 1,913 0.3 %
Income tax provision   1,002   (0.1 )%   657 0.1 %
Net income (loss) $ (36,461 ) (6.8 )% $ 1,256 0.2 %

Net income (loss) per share, basic and diluted

$ (0.98 ) $ 0.03
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 37,355 37,073
Diluted 37,355 37,093
 

 

     

 

 

 

FRED'S, INC.
Unaudited Balance Sheet
(In thousands)

 

April 29,
2017

April 30,
2016

 

ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,640 $ 6,768
Inventories 339,552 350,558
Receivables 52,980 52,849
Other non-trade receivables 45,401 38,383
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   11,805   11,418
Total current assets 456,378 459,976
Property and equipment, net 126,146 137,007
Goodwill 41,490 41,490
Other intangible assets, net 81,504 95,638
Other non-current assets   11,090   1,630
Total assets $ 716,608 $ 735,741
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Accounts payable $ 143,962 $ 191,331
Current portion of indebtedness 61 57
Accrued expenses and other   82,765   53,352
Total current liabilities 226,788 244,740
Long-term portion of indebtedness 156,692 57,284
Deferred income taxes 2,959 8,344
Other non-current liabilities   29,630   21,321
Total liabilities 416,069 331,689
Shareholders' equity   300,539   404,052
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 716,608 $ 735,741
 

 

FRED'S, INC.
Reconciliation of Unaudited Net Income (Loss) to EBIT and EBITDA
(Non-GAAP Financial Measures)
(In thousands)

 
     

13 Weeks
Ended
April 29,
2017

 

13 Weeks
Ended

April 30,
2016

Net income (loss) $ (36.5 ) $ 1.3
Interest expense 1.3 0.5
Income tax provision   1.0     0.6
Operating income (loss) / EBIT (34.2 ) 2.4
Depreciation and amortization   11.6     11.6
EBITDA $ (22.6 ) $ 14.0
 


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