ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD),one of the largest foodservice distributors in the United States, today announced results for the third quarter of fiscal 2018.
Third Quarter 2018 Highlights
Nine Month 2018 Highlights
CEO Perspective
"Adjusted EBITDA growth was solid at 6.0% for the third quarter, and we continued to expand gross profit dollars per case," said Chairman and CEO Pietro Satriano. "We also delivered organic independent restaurant case volume growth of 3.1% for the quarter, an improvement over the first half of the year. Our initiatives to improve customer service levels are showing early positive results, and we expect this momentum to continue to accelerate total case growth as we finish the year."
Third Quarter 2018 Results
Total case volume decreased 0.8% from the prior year, with organic case volume declining 1.0%. Independent restaurant case volume increased 3.3%, of which 3.1% was organic growth. The decrease in total case volume was primarily driven by the previously discussed exits of select chain customers.
Net sales of $6.2 billion for the quarter decreased 0.8% from the prior year, primarily due to the decrease in case volume.
Gross profit of $1.1 billion increased $10 million, or 0.9%, from the prior year, driven by margin expansion initiatives, partially offset by the adverse year-over-year change in the last-in, first-out (LIFO) reserve and a decline in case volume. Gross profit as a percentage of Net sales was 18.0%. Adjusted Gross profit was $1.1 billion, a 2.2% increase from the prior year, driven by margin expansion initiatives, partially offset by a decline in case volume. Adjusted Gross profit as a percentage of Net sales was 17.9%.
Operating expenses were $929 million, an increase of 2.2% from the prior year. The increase was driven by higher fuel and acquisition-related costs, partially offset by the positive impact of expense control initiatives. Adjusted Operating expenses for the quarter were $819 million, a 1.5% increase from the prior year, primarily driven by higher fuel and wage costs.
Income before income taxes was $141 million, a $6 million decrease from the prior year.
Net income for the quarter was $114 million, up $18 million from $96 million in the prior year as a result of the Gross profit and Operating expense factors discussed above and a lower federal income tax rate. Adjusted EBITDA of $283 million increased $16 million, or 6.0%, compared to the prior year. Diluted EPS was $0.52 and Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.55.
Nine Month 2018 Results
Total case volume decreased 1.3% from the prior year, with organic case volume declining 1.9%. Independent restaurant case volume increased 3.7%, of which 2.9% was organic growth. The decrease in total case volume was driven primarily by the previously discussed exits of select chain customers. Sales from acquisitions completed during the last four fiscal quarters increased Net sales by approximately 0.8%.
Gross profit of $3.2 billion increased $70 million, or 2.2%, from the prior year, driven by margin expansion initiatives, acquisitions and a year-over-year gain in the LIFO reserve. Gross profit as a percentage of Net sales was 17.7%. Adjusted Gross profit was $3.2 billion, a 1.7% increase from the prior year, driven by margin expansion initiatives and acquisitions. Adjusted Gross profit as a percentage of Net sales was 17.7%.
Operating expenses were $2.7 billion, a decrease of 0.9% from the prior year. Operating expenses benefited from lower amortization expense resulting from the full amortization of an intangible asset, partially offset by higher fuel and wage costs. Adjusted Operating expenses were $2.4 billion, a 1.0% increase from the prior year, primarily driven by higher fuel and wage costs.
Income before income taxes was $364 million, a $98 million increase from the prior year.
Net income through the first nine months of fiscal 2018 was $307 million, up $119 million from $188 million in the prior year as a result of the Gross profit and Operating expense factors discussed above and a lower federal income tax rate. Adjusted EBITDA of $806 million increased $38 million, or 4.9% compared to the prior year. Diluted EPS was $1.41 and Adjusted Diluted EPS was $1.47.
Cash Flow and Capital Transactions
Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2018 was $444 million, net of a combined $95 million representing an increase in cash income taxes and an incremental pension contribution. In the first nine months of fiscal 2017, the company paid minimal cash income taxes. As a result of the increase in cash income taxes and the incremental pension contribution, Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $62 million from the prior year. Cash capital expenditures for the first nine months of fiscal 2018 totaled $168 million, an increase of $5 million from the prior year, due to an increase in capital spending for buildings and equipment.
Net Debt at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was $3.4 billion, a decrease of $215 million versus the end of fiscal 2017. The ratio of Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 3.1x at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2018, down from 3.4x at the end of fiscal 2017.
Outlook for Fiscal Year 2018
For fiscal year 2018, the company now expects total case volume to be down approximately 1%, Net sales to be approximately flat to down 1%, Adjusted Gross profit dollar growth of approximately 2%, Adjusted EBITDA growth of approximately 5% and Adjusted Diluted EPS of approximately $2.03-$2.08. The company's adjusted effective income tax rate is expected to be approximately 25%, with a cash income tax rate of approximately 16%-18%. All other fiscal year 2018 guidance numbers announced on July 30, 2018 remain unchanged.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
US Foods' third quarter fiscal 2018 earnings call will be broadcast live via the internet on November 6, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. CST. The call can also be accessed live over the phone by dialing (844) 292-0976; the conference ID number is 73191205.
The presentation slides reviewed during the webcast will be available shortly before that time. The webcast, slides, and a copy of this news release can be found in the Investor Relations section of our website at https://ir.usfoods.com.
About US Foods
US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With 25,000 employees and more than 60 locations, US Foods provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., and generates more than $24 billion in annual revenue. Visit www.usfoods.com to learn more.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release which are not historical in nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “target,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “forecast,” “mission,” “strive,” “goal,” or similar expressions and are based upon various assumptions and our experience in the industry, as well as historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments. However, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and there are a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: cost inflation/deflation and commodity volatility; competition; reliance on third-party suppliers; interruption of product supply or increases in product costs; our substantial indebtedness and restrictions placed upon us under our debt agreements; potential interest rate increases; customer retention and changes in our relationships with group purchasing organizations; our ability to achieve increased sales to independent restaurants; successful consummation and integration of acquisitions; realization of the expected benefits from our cost savings initiatives; fuel shortages or volatility in fuel costs; industry and general economic factors affecting consumer confidence and buying habits; changes in consumer eating habits and preferences; product liability claims; our reputation in the industry; labor relations and continued access to qualified labor; pricing and cost structures; environmental, occupational health and safety, and food safety compliance; government laws and regulations, and potential changes in existing laws or regulations; technology disruptions and our ability to implement new technologies; cybersecurity incidents; management of retirement benefits and pension liabilities; business disruptions caused by extreme weather conditions; litigation risk; adequate protection of our brand/trade names; and risks associated with intellectual property including potential infringement.
For a detailed discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2018. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, Adjusted Gross profit, Adjusted Operating expenses, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Debt, Adjusted Net income and Adjusted Diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures regarding our operational performance. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude the impact of certain items and, therefore, have not been calculated in accordance with GAAP.
We use Adjusted Gross profit and Adjusted Operating expenses to focus on period-over-period changes in our business and believe this information is helpful to investors. Adjusted Gross profit is Gross profit adjusted to remove the impact of the LIFO inventory reserve changes. Adjusted Operating expenses are Operating expenses adjusted to exclude amounts that we do not consider part of our core operating results when assessing our performance, as well other items noted in our debt agreements.
We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide meaningful supplemental information about our operating performance because they exclude amounts that we do not consider part of our core operating results when assessing our performance. EBITDA is Net income, plus Interest expense-net, Income tax (benefit)/provision, and Depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted for 1) Restructuring charges and Tangible asset impairments; 2) Share-based compensation expense; 3) the non-cash impact of LIFO reserve adjustments; 4) Business transformation costs; and 5) other gains, losses, and charges as specified in our debt agreements.
We use Net Debt to review the liquidity of our operations. Net Debt is defined as total debt net of total Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash remaining on the balance sheet as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter. We believe that Net Debt is a useful financial metric to assess our ability to pursue business opportunities and investments. Net Debt is not a measure of our liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to Cash Flows Provided by Operations or Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities.
We believe that Adjusted Net income is a useful measure of operating performance for both management and investors because it excludes items that are not reflective of our core operating performance and provides an additional view of our operating performance including depreciation, amortization, interest expense, and Income taxes on a consistent basis from period to period. Adjusted Net income is Net income excluding such items as Restructuring benefits and charges, tangible asset impairments, Share-based compensation expense, the non-cash impacts of LIFO reserve adjustments, Business transformation costs (costs associated with the redesign of systems and processes), and other items, and adjusted for the tax effect of the exclusions and discrete tax items. We believe that Adjusted Net income may be used by investors, analysts, and other interested parties to facilitate period-over-period comparisons and provides additional clarity as to how factors and trends impact our operating performance.
We use Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share, which is calculated by adjusting the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, Diluted Earnings per Share, by excluding the same items excluded in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA to the extent that each such item was included in the applicable GAAP financial measure. We believe the presentation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share is useful to investors because the measurement excludes amounts that we do not consider part of our core operating results when assessing our performance. We also believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share is useful to investors because these metrics are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of the operating performance of companies in our industry.
Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures (a) to evaluate our historical and prospective financial performance as well as our performance relative to our competitors as they assist in highlighting trends, (b) to set internal sales targets and spending budgets, (c) to measure operational profitability and the accuracy of forecasting, (d) to assess financial discipline over operational expenditures, and (e) as an important factor in determining variable compensation for management and employees. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are also used in connection with certain covenants and restricted activities under our debt agreements. We also believe these and similar non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry.
We caution readers that our definitions of Adjusted Gross profit, Adjusted Operating expenses, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Debt, Adjusted Net income and Adjusted Diluted EPS may not be calculated in the same manner as similar measures used by other companies. Definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the schedules attached to this press release. We have not, however, provided a reconciliation of our full fiscal year 2018 Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted Diluted EPS outlook because we are not able to accurately estimate all the adjustments on a forward-looking basis and such items could have a significant impact on our GAAP financial results as a result of their variability.
September 29, 2018
December 30, 2017
September 30, 2017
Includes restricted cash due to retrospective adoption of a new accounting standard at the beginning of fiscal year 2018.
Restricted cash was immaterial in all periods presented.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181106005440/en/
US FoodsINVESTOR CONTACT:Melissa Napier847-720-2767Melissa.Napier@usfoods.comorMEDIA CONTACT:Sara Matheu847-720-2392Sara.Matheu@usfoods.com
Source: US Foods