Grows Revenue by 5%, Increases Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ by 13%, and Narrows 2024 Outlook

MARKHAM, ON, Nov. 5, 2024 /CNW/ - Pet Valu Holdings Ltd. ("Pet Valu" or the "Company") (TSX: PET),  the leading Canadian specialty retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 28, 2024.

Third Quarter Highlights

• System-wide sales⁽²⁾ were $358.2 million, an increase of 0.3% versus Q3 2023. Same-store sales growth⁽²⁾ was -2.5%.
• Revenue was $276.0 million, up 5.2% versus Q3 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $64.6 million, up 13.0% versus Q3 2023, representing 23.4% of revenue. Operating income was $40.4 million, up 8.0% versus Q3 2023.
• Net income was $23.2 million, up from $18.0 million in Q3 2023.
• Adjusted Net Income⁽¹⁾ was $29.9 million or $0.41 per diluted share, compared to $28.2 million or $0.39 per diluted share, respectively, in Q3 2023.
• Opened 6 new stores and ended the quarter with 805 stores across the network.
• Officially opened the new Metro Vancouver Region ("MVR") distribution centre.
• The Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend of $0.11 per common share.

2024 Outlook

• The Company expects revenue between $1.08 and $1.10 billion, supported by approximately 40 new store openings and flat same-store sales growth, Adjusted EBITDA between $243 and $246 million, and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share⁽³⁾ between $1.50 and $1.53.

"Third quarter performance tells a story of continued resilience and responsible execution as we delivered 5% revenue growth and 13% Adjusted EBITDA growth in a constrained demand environment," said Richard Maltsbarger, Chief Executive Officer of Pet Valu."We also reached an important milestone in our supply chain transformation with the successful transition and start-up of our new Surrey DC, unlocking incremental capacity and productivity in Western Canada.

"As we ramp up for the holidays, our merchandising and marketing teams have crafted an exciting slate of events delivering value and expertise to devoted pet lovers when they need it most," continued Mr. Maltsbarger. "Supported by hundreds of local stores, a sharpened digital platform and an enhanced supply chain network, our curated offering of competitively priced premium products will help inspire magical holiday moments with pets."

Financial Results for the Third Quarter Fiscal 2024

All comparative figures below are for the 13-week period ended September 28, 2024, compared to the 13-week period ended September 30, 2023.

Revenue was $276.0 million in Q3 2024, an increase of $13.7 million, or 5.2%, compared to $262.3 million in Q3 2023. The increase in revenue was mostly driven by growth in franchise and other revenues and partially offset by a decline in retail sales.

Same-store sales growth was -2.5% in Q3 2024 primarily driven by a 4.1% decrease in same-store transaction growth⁽²⁾ partially offset by a 1.7% increase in same-store average spend per transaction growth⁽²⁾. This is compared to same-store sales growth of 4.2% in Q3 2023, which primarily consisted of 4.0% increase in same-store average spend per transaction growth and a 0.2% increase in same-store transaction growth. 

Gross profit increased by $2.1 million, or 2.4%, to $89.4 million in Q3 2024, compared to $87.3 million in Q3 2023. Gross profit margin was 32.4% in Q3 2024, compared to 33.3% in Q3 2023. Excluding costs related to the supply chain transformation of 1.1% in Q3 2024 and 1.8% in Q3 2023, the gross profit margin was 33.5% and 35.1% in Q3 2024 and Q3 2023, respectively, and decreased by 1.6%. The decrease was primarily driven by: (i) higher distribution and occupancy costs from the new Greater Toronto Area ("GTA") and MVR distribution centres; (ii) higher wholesale merchandise sales; and (iii) the unfavourable impact of the weaker Canadian dollar on non-domestic sourced products primarily denominated in U.S. dollars; partially offset by (iv) the allocation of promotional funding.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $49.0 million in Q3 2024, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 1.8%, compared to $49.9 million in Q3 2023. SG&A expenses represented 17.8% and 19.0% of total revenue for Q3 2024 and Q3 2023, respectively. The decrease of $0.9 million in SG&A expenses was primarily due to: (i) higher gain on sale of assets for re-franchised stores; (ii) lower real estate related expenses; and (iii) lower technology expenditures on project-based implementation costs associated with new information technology systems; partially offset by (iv) increased compensation costs as a result of share-based compensation.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $7.4 million, or 13.0%, to $64.6 million in Q3 2024, compared to $57.2 million in Q3 2023. The increase is explained by higher EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $8.8 million partially offset by $1.4 million of net lower adjustments from EBITDA for Q3 2024 compared to Q3 2023 including the share of loss from an investment in associate in Q3 2023, lower information technology transformation costs, gain on foreign exchange; and higher business transformation, share-based compensation, and other professional fees. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue⁽³⁾ was 23.4% and 21.8% in Q3 2024 and Q3 2023, respectively.

Net interest expense was $8.3 million in Q3 2024, an increase of $0.2 million, or 2.4%, compared to $8.1 million in Q3 2023. The increase was primarily driven by higher interest expense on lease liabilities resulting primarily from the new MVR distribution centre; partially offset by lower interest expense on the 2021 Term Facility (as herein defined) resulting from lower debt outstanding and lower interest rates compared to Q3 2023.

Income taxes were $9.0 million in Q3 2024 compared to $7.9 million in Q3 2023, an increase of $1.1 million year over year. The increase in income taxes was primarily the result of higher taxable earnings in Q3 2024. The effective income tax rate was 27.9% in Q3 2024 compared to 30.4% in Q3 2023. The Q3 2024 and Q3 2023 effective tax rate was higher than the blended statutory rate of 26.5% due to non-deductible expenses and, in addition for Q3 2023, due to the impairment of an investment in associate.

Net income increased by $5.2 million to $23.2 million in Q3 2024, compared to $18.0 million in Q3 2023. The increase in net income is primarily explained by the higher operating income partially offset by higher income taxes and net interest expense, as described above, and by the impairment related to an investment in associate included in Q3 2023.

Adjusted Net Income increased by $1.7 million to $29.9 million in Q3 2024, compared to $28.2 million in Q3 2023. Adjusted Net Income as a percentage of revenue⁽³⁾ was 10.8% in Q3 2024 and in Q3 2023, respectively. The year over year change results from the factors described above and the adjustment for the duplicative depreciation expense on property and equipment and right-of-use assets, and interest expense on lease liabilities related to the supply chain transformation initiatives in Q3 2024.

Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share  increased by $0.02 to $0.41 in Q3 2024, compared to $0.39 in Q3 2023. The 5.1% year over year increase results primarily from the changes in Adjusted Net Income and the factors described above.

Cash at the end of the third quarter totaled $35.4 million.

Free Cash Flow⁽¹⁾ amounted to $30.8 million in Q3 2024 compared to $18.1 million in Q3 2023, an increase of $12.7 million primarily driven by an increase in cash from operating activities and a decrease in cash used for investing activities; partially offset by an increase in payments of principal and interest on lease liabilities due to the timing of quarter end in Q3 2023, the new GTA and MVR distribution centres and store network expansion.

Inventory at the end of Q3 2024 was $134.8 million compared to $122.1 million at the end of Q4 2023, an increase of $12.7 million primarily to support the growth of our store network, and due to timing of purchases.

Dividends

On November 4, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend of $0.11 per common share payable on December 16, 2024 to holders of common shares of record as at the close of business on November 29, 2024.

Outlook

Factoring in YTD 2024 performance, together with market conditions and actions planned in the fourth quarter, the Company expects to achieve the following for full year 2024:

• Revenue between $1.08 and $1.10 billion, supported by approximately 40 new store openings, higher wholesale merchandise sales penetration with Chico franchisees, and approximately flat same-store sales growth;
• Adjusted EBITDA between $243 and $246 million, supported by operating expense leverage, partially offset by pricing investment;
• Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share between $1.50 and $1.53, which incorporates approximately $20 million pre-tax, or $0.20 per diluted share, of incremental depreciation and lease liability interest expense associated with the new GTA and MVR distribution centres;
• Business transformation costs of approximately $17 million pre-tax, information technology costs of approximately $7 million pre-tax, and share-based compensation of approximately $10 million pre-tax, all of which are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share; and
• Net Capital Expenditures⁽¹⁾ of approximately $50 million, roughly half of which is attributable to investments in the Company's supply chain transformation.

Conference Call Details

A conference call to discuss the Company's third quarter results is scheduled for November 5, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET. To access Pet Valu's conference call, please dial 1-833-950-0062 (ID: 638652). A live webcast of the call will also be available through the Events & Presentations section of the Company's website at https://investors.petvalu.com/.

For those unable to participate, a playback will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call by dialing 1-866-813-9403 (ID: 921635) and will be accessible until November 12, 2024. The webcast will also be archived and available through the Events & Presentations section of the Company's website at https://investors.petvalu.com/.

About Pet Valu

Pet Valu is Canada's leading retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies with over 800 corporate-owned or franchised locations across the country. For more than 45 years, Pet Valu has earned the trust and loyalty of pet parents by offering knowledgeable customer service, a premium product offering and engaging in-store services. Through its neighbourhood stores and digital platform, Pet Valu offers more than 10,000 competitively-priced products, including a broad assortment of premium, super premium, holistic and award-winning proprietary brands. The Company is headquartered in Markham, Ontario and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: PET). To learn more, please visit: www.petvalu.ca.

Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures

This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures and non-IFRS ratios. These measures and ratios are not recognized measures under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. They are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the Company's results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, they should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Company's financial information reported under IFRS. Pet Valu uses non-IFRS measures, including "EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted Net Income", "Free Cash Flow" and "Net Capital Expenditures", and non-IFRS ratios, including "Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue", "Adjusted Net Income as a percentage of revenue", and "Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share". This press release also makes reference to certain supplementary financial measures that are commonly used in the retail industry, including "System-wide sales", "Same-store sales", "Same-store sales growth", and "Same-store average spend per transaction growth". These non-IFRS measures, non-IFRS ratios and supplementary financial measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of Pet Valu's operating performance and thus highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. The Company also believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures, non-IFRS ratios and these supplementary financial measures in the evaluation of issuers. Management uses non-IFRS measures, non-IFRS ratios and supplementary financial measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and to determine components of management compensation. Refer to the MD&A for the third quarter ended September 28, 2024 for further information on non-IFRS measures, non-IFRS ratios (including each non-IFRS measure that is used as a component of such non-IFRS ratios) and supplementary measures, including for their definition and, for non-IFRS measures, a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS measure.

Forward-Looking Information

Some of the information contained in this press release is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is provided as at the date of this press release and is based on management's opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management believes appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Such forward-looking information is intended to provide information about management's current expectations and plans, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Pet Valu does not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable Canadian securities laws. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, targets, performance achievements, prospects or opportunities, including the information under the headings "2024 Outlook" and "Outlook" in this press release, is "future-oriented financial information" or a "financial outlook" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which is based on the factors and assumptions, and subject to the risks, as set out herein and in the Company's annual information form dated March 4, 2024 ("AIF"). In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "forecasts", "projection", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "continue", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might", "will", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information.

Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements, future events or developments, or outlook to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the AIF. A copy of the AIF and the Company's other publicly filed documents can be accessed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company cautions that the list of risk factors and uncertainties described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information.

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

SOURCE Pet Valu Canada Inc.