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Boston Beer Reports First Quarter Financial Results

Bay Street

BOSTON, April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM), today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2024. Key results were:

First Quarter 2024 Summary:

Capital Structure

“We were pleased to see flat depletion trends in the first quarter and to deliver revenue growth,” said Chairman and Founder Jim Koch. “We remain committed to investing across our portfolio of brands to drive long-term revenue growth while also expanding our margins. Our highly cash generative business and strong balance sheet has enabled us to repurchase $65 million in shares year-to-date and will fuel our 2024 investments.”

“I’m thrilled to have recently joined Boston Beer as CEO,” said President and CEO Michael Spillane. “Our first quarter performance reflects a solid start to the year, and we are reiterating our 2024 volume and EPS guidance. We remain focused on executing our strategy to return to growth and expand margins by investing in our iconic brands, launching disciplined innovation and optimizing our supply chain.”

Details of the results were as follows:

First Quarter 2024 (13 weeks ended March 30, 2024) Summary of Results

Depletions for the first quarter were flat from the prior year. Shipment volume for the quarter was approximately 1.6 million barrels, a 0.9% increase from the prior year, primarily due to growth in Twisted Tea offset by declines in Truly Hard Seltzer and the Company’s other brands.

Shipments were higher than depletions as distributors built inventories to support the Company’s peak selling season and the implementation of the Company’s new automated customer ordering and inventory management system. The Company believes distributor inventory as of March 30, 2024 was at an appropriate level for each of its brands and averaged approximately four and a half weeks on hand compared to four weeks on hand at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023 and four and a half weeks at the end of the first quarter of 2023. 

Revenue for the quarter increased 3.9% due to volume increases, pricing, and lower returns.  

Gross margin of 43.7% increased from the 38.0% margin realized in the first quarter of 2023, or an increase of 570 basis points year over year. Gross margin primarily benefited from price increases, the comparison against high returns and inventory obsolescence costs in the prior year related to the Truly Vodka Soda rebrand and a non-recurring payment in the prior year to a third-party contract brewery, procurement savings and lower brewery processing costs per barrel due to higher volumes partially offset by inflationary costs. The first quarter gross margin of 43.7% includes $1.0 million of shortfall fees which negatively impacted gross margin by approximately 20 basis points on an absolute basis and non-cash expense of third-party production pre-payments of $4.2 million that negatively impacted gross margins by approximately 100 basis points on an absolute basis.

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses for the first quarter of 2024 decreased $5.2 million or 4.1% from the first quarter of 2023, due to decreased freight to distributors of $3.6 million from lower rates and improved freight efficiencies, partially offset by higher volumes. Brand investments decreased $1.6 million, with decreases in other promotional activity partially offset by increases in media.

General and administrative expenses increased by $6.7 million or 15.3% from the first quarter of 2023, primarily due to higher salaries and benefits cost, which includes Chief Executive Officer transition costs that were fully expensed in the first quarter, partially offset by decreased consulting costs.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the first quarter of 33.0% compared to 27.8% in the prior year. In the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded tax expense of $0.05 and $0.04 per diluted share, respectively, resulting from the Accounting Standard “Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”).

The Company expects that its March 30, 2024 cash balance of $205.4 million, together with its projected future operating cash flows and the unused balance on its $150.0 million line of credit, will be sufficient to fund future cash requirements.

During the 13-week period ended March 30, 2024 and the period from April 1, 2024 through April 19, 2024, the Company repurchased shares of its Class A Common Stock in the amounts of $50.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively, for a total of $65.0 million year to date. As of April 19, 2024, the Company had approximately $201.5 million remaining on the $1.2 billion share buyback expenditure limit set by the Board of Directors.

Depletions Estimate

Year-to-date depletions through the 16-week period ended April 20, 2024 are estimated by the Company to have decreased approximately 2% from the comparable period in 2023.

Full-Year 2024 Projections

The Company has not changed its full year guidance communicated in its February 27, 2024 Earnings Release, other than the change in its effective tax rate, which is due to an increase in estimated non-deductible compensation expense primarily related to CEO transition costs.

The Company’s actual 2024 results could vary significantly from the current projection and are highly sensitive to changes in volume projections, particularly related to the hard seltzer category, and supply chain performance as well as inflationary impacts.

Full Year 2024 Current Guidance Prior Guidance
Depletions and Shipments Percentage Change Down low single digit to up low single digit Down low single digit to up low single digit
Price Increases 1% to 2% 1% to 2%
Gross Margin 43% to 45% 43% to 45%
Advertising, Promotion, and Selling Expense Year Over Year Change ($ million) ($5) to $15 ($5) to $15
Effective Tax Rate 28.5% 27.5%
GAAP EPS $7.00 to $11.00 $7.00 to $11.00
Capital Spending ($ million) $90 to $110 $90 to $110
     

Underlying the Company’s current 2024 projections are the following full-year estimates and targets:

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that state the Company’s or management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023 and subsequent reports filed by the Company with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Copies of these documents are available from the SEC and may be found on the Company’s website, www.bostonbeer.com. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

About the Company

The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) began in 1984 brewing Samuel Adams beer and has since grown to become one of the largest and most respected craft brewers in the United States. We consistently offer the highest-quality products to our drinkers, and we apply what we’ve learned from making great-tasting craft beer to making great-tasting and innovative “beyond beer” products. Boston Beer Company has pioneered not only craft beer but also hard cider, hard seltzer and hard tea. Our core brands include household names like Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Dogfish Head, Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea, and Samuel Adams. We have taprooms and hospitality locations in California, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. For more information, please visit our website at www.bostonbeer.com, which includes links to our respective brand websites.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  
(in thousands, except per share data)  
  (unaudited)  
  Thirteen weeks ended  
  March 30,
2024		     April 1,
2023		  
Revenue $ 452,208     $ 435,156  
Less excise taxes   26,156       25,156  
Net revenue   426,052       410,000  
Cost of goods sold   239,704       254,338  
Gross profit   186,348       155,662  
Operating expenses:          
Advertising, promotional, and selling expenses   120,275       125,428  
General and administrative expenses   50,384       43,694  
Impairment of brewery assets   335       484  
Total operating expenses   170,994       169,606  
Operating income (loss)   15,354       (13,944 )
Other income:          
Interest income   3,493       1,644  
Other expense   (38 )     (102 )
Total other income   3,455       1,542  
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)   18,809       (12,402 )
Income tax provision (benefit)   6,212       (3,446 )
Net income (loss) $ 12,597     $ (8,956 )
Net income (loss) per common share – basic $ 1.05     $ (0.73 )
Net income (loss) per common share – diluted $ 1.04     $ (0.73 )
Weighted-average number of common shares – basic   12,054       12,309  
Weighted-average number of common shares – diluted   12,055       12,309  
Net income (loss) $ 12,597     $ (8,956 )
Other comprehensive (loss) income:          
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (162 )     18  
Total other comprehensive (loss) income   (162 )     18  
Comprehensive income (loss) $ 12,435     $ (8,938 )
THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
(in thousands, except share data)  
  (unaudited)        
  March 30,
2024		     December 30,
2023		  
Assets          
Current Assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents $ 205,444     $ 298,491  
Accounts receivable   72,962       66,997  
Inventories   146,783       115,773  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   27,489       20,538  
Income tax receivable   244       1,711  
Total current assets   452,922       503,510  
Property, plant, and equipment, net   635,131       642,509  
Operating right-of-use assets   33,644       35,559  
Goodwill   112,529       112,529  
Intangible assets, net   59,581       59,644  
Third-party production prepayments   30,662       33,581  
Note receivable   18,739       —  
Other assets   40,980       42,661  
Total assets $ 1,384,188     $ 1,429,993  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity          
Current Liabilities:          
Accounts payable $ 98,107     $ 87,245  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   104,960       126,930  
Current operating lease liabilities   8,351       9,113  
Total current liabilities   211,418       223,288  
Deferred income taxes, net   85,710       85,721  
Non-current operating lease liabilities   34,297       36,161  
Other liabilities   6,035       6,894  
Total liabilities   337,460       352,064  
Stockholders’ Equity:          
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value; 22,700,000 shares authorized; 9,908,668 and 10,033,303 issued and outstanding as of March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023 respectively   99       100  
Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value; 4,200,000 shares authorized; 2,068,000
issued and outstanding at March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023		   21       21  
Additional paid-in capital   662,942       656,297  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (219 )     (57 )
Retained earnings   383,885       421,568  
Total stockholders’ equity   1,046,728       1,077,929  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,384,188     $ 1,429,993  
THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  
(in thousands)  
  (unaudited)  
  Thirteen weeks ended  
  March 30,
2024		     April 1,
2023		  
Cash flows used in operating activities:          
Net income (loss) $ 12,597     $ (8,956 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   23,404       21,915  
Impairment of brewery assets   335       484  
Gain on sale of property, plant, and equipment   (23 )     (195 )
Change in right-of-use assets   1,915       1,921  
Stock-based compensation expense   7,127       4,073  
Deferred income taxes   (11 )     (430 )
Other non-cash expense (income)   99       (55 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (6,304 )     (23,372 )
Inventories   (29,342 )     (3,002 )
Prepaid expenses, income tax receivable, and other assets   (4,241 )     (16,972 )
Third-party production prepayments   2,919       6,362  
Accounts payable   11,352       15,258  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   (22,356 )     (12,758 )
Operating lease liabilities   (2,355 )     (2,095 )
Net cash used in operating activities   (4,884 )     (17,822 )
Cash flows used in investing activities:          
Cash paid for note receivable   (20,000 )     —  
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment   (15,737 )     (17,312 )
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant, and equipment   23       195  
Net cash used in investing activities   (35,714 )     (17,117 )
Cash flows used in financing activities:          
Repurchases and retirement of Class A common stock   (49,967 )     (21,096 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and sale of investment shares   479       442  
Cash paid on finance leases   (557 )     (414 )
Payment of tax withholding on stock-based payment awards and investment shares   (2,404 )     (1,993 )
Net cash used in financing activities   (52,449 )     (23,061 )
Change in cash and cash equivalents   (93,047 )     (58,000 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   298,491       180,560  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 205,444     $ 122,560  
           
Copies of The Boston Beer Company’s press releases, including quarterly financial results,  
are available on the Internet at www.bostonbeer.com  

 

   
Investor Relations Contact: Media Contact:
Jennifer Larson Dave DeCecco
(617) 368-5152 (914) 261-6572
jennifer.larson@bostonbeer.com dave.dececco@bostonbeer.com

 


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