Sally Beauty Holdings Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

Business Wire 8-Aug-2024 6:45 AM

• Q3 Consolidated Comparable Sales Increased 1.5%
• Generated Q3 Cash Flow from Operations of $48 Million
• Executed $10 Million in Share Repurchases
• Maintains Full Year Fiscal 2024 Guidance

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SBH) ("the Company"), the leader in professional hair color, today announced financial results for its third quarter ended June 30, 2024. The Company will hold a conference call today at 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss these results and its business.

Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Summary

• Consolidated net sales of $942 million, an increase of 1.2% compared to the prior year;
• Consolidated comparable sales increase of 1.5%;
• Beauty Systems Group reported third consecutive quarter with positive comparable sales and Sally Beauty returned to positive comparable sales;
• Global e-commerce sales of $92 million, representing 9.7% of net sales;
• GAAP gross margin was 51.0%;
• GAAP operating earnings of $72 million and GAAP operating margin of 7.6%; Adjusted Operating Earnings of $84 million and Adjusted Operating Margin of 8.9%;
• GAAP diluted net earnings per share of $0.36 and Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share of $0.45; and
• Cash flow from operations of $48 million and Operating Free Cash Flow of $29 million.

"We are pleased to report solid third quarter results, including positive comparable sales in both our Sally Beauty and Beauty Systems Group segments," said Denise Paulonis, president and chief executive officer. "At Sally Beauty, we saw positive consumer response to our performance marketing efforts, marketplace expansions, and digital enhancements. These strategic initiatives amongst others have driven improving trends in new and reactivated customers. Turning to BSG, continued focus on innovation and territory expansion drove a third consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales. Adjusted gross margin remained strong at 51% and adjusted operating margin of 8.9% exceeded our guidance."

Paulonis added, "We continued to return capital to shareholders through our share repurchase program in the quarter, made progress on our fuel for growth initiative and remain focused on driving long-term profitable growth and shareholder value."

Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Operating Results

Third quarter consolidated net sales were $942.3 million, an increase of 1.2% compared to the prior year. Foreign currency translation had an unfavorable impact of 10 basis points on consolidated net sales for the quarter. At constant currency, global e-commerce sales were $92 million or 9.7% of consolidated net sales for the quarter.

Consolidated comparable sales increased 1.5%, primarily reflecting continued momentum at Beauty Systems Group from expanded distribution and product innovation amidst stable salon demand trends, and improved new and reactivated customer trends at Sally Beauty as key strategic initiatives continue to mature.

Consolidated gross profit for the third quarter was $480.9 million compared to $474.7 million in the prior year, an increase of 1.3%. Consolidated GAAP gross margin was 51.0%, which was flat to the prior year of 51.0%. Excluding the prior year's true-up of the non-cash inventory write-down as part of the Company's previously announced distribution center consolidation and store optimization plan, Adjusted Gross Margin was 51.0%, an increase of 10 basis points compared to 50.9% in the prior year. The increase was driven primarily by lower distribution and freight costs from supply chain efficiencies, partially offset by unfavorable fixed cost absorption.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses totaled $408.7 million, an increase of $24.5 million compared to the prior year. Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, excluding costs related to the Company's fuel for growth initiative and other expenses, totaled $396.8 million, an increase of $12.6 million compared to the prior year. The increase was driven primarily by higher labor and other compensation-related expenses, depreciation expense, and advertising expense, partially offset by $4.8 million in savings from our fuel for growth initiative. As a percentage of sales, Adjusted SG&A expenses were 42.1% compared to 41.3% in the prior year.

GAAP operating earnings and operating margin in the third quarter were $71.8 million and 7.6%, compared to $90.1 million and 9.7%, in the prior year. Adjusted Operating Earnings and Operating Margin, excluding the costs related to the Company's fuel for growth initiative, restructuring efforts, and other expenses, were $84.1 million and 8.9%, compared to $89.8 million and 9.6%, in the prior year.

GAAP net earnings in the third quarter were $37.7 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net earnings of $50.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted Net Earnings, excluding the costs related to the Company's fuel for growth initiative, loss on debt extinguishment, restructuring efforts, and other expenses, were $48.1 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to Adjusted Net Earnings of $53.3 million, or $0.49 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter was $116.8 million, a decrease of 1.7% compared to the prior year, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 12.4%, a decrease of 40 basis points compared to the prior year.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $97 million and a $45 million balance outstanding under its asset-based revolving line of credit. At the end of the quarter, inventory was $1.02 billion, up 2.6% versus a year ago. The Company ended the quarter with a net debt leverage ratio of 2.2x.

Third quarter cash flow from operations was $47.9 million. Capital expenditures in the quarter totaled $19.1 million. During the quarter, the Company repurchased 0.9 million shares under its share repurchase program at an aggregate cost of $10 million.

On June 14, 2024, the Company repriced its term loan B, reducing the pricing from SOFR (secured overnight financing rate) plus a spread of 225 basis points to SOFR plus a spread of 175 basis points. The 50 basis point reduction in the spread results in approximately $2 million in annual interest expense savings.

Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter Segment Results

Sally Beauty Supply

• Segment net sales were $536.5 million in the quarter, an increase of 0.3% compared to the prior year. The segment had an unfavorable impact of 10 basis points from foreign currency translation on reported sales. At constant currency, segment e-commerce sales were $37 million or 7.0% of segment net sales for the quarter.
• Segment comparable sales increased 0.7% in the third quarter, as the impact of strategic initiatives drove improved traffic and conversion.
• At the end of the quarter, segment store count was 3,128 compared to 3,141 in the prior year.
• GAAP gross margin increased by 100 basis points to 59.8% compared to the prior year. The increase was driven primarily by lower distribution and freight costs from supply chain efficiencies and higher product margin, partially offset by an unfavorable fixed cost absorption.
• GAAP operating earnings were $86.9 million compared to $88.7 million in the prior year. GAAP operating margin decreased to 16.2% compared to 16.6% in the prior year.

Beauty Systems Group

• Segment net sales were $405.8 million in the quarter, an increase of 2.5% compared to the prior year. The segment had an unfavorable impact of 20 basis points from foreign currency translation on reported sales. At constant currency, segment e-commerce sales were $54 million or 13.4% of segment net sales for the quarter.
• Segment comparable sales increased 2.6% in the third quarter, primarily reflecting continued momentum from expanded distribution and product innovation.
• At the end of the quarter, net store count was 1,332 compared to 1,336 in the prior year.
• GAAP gross margin decreased 110 basis points to 39.4% in the quarter compared to the prior year. The decrease was driven primarily by an unfavorable fixed cost absorption and lower product margin due to a higher take rate on promotions and brand mix, partially offset by lower distribution and freight costs from supply chain efficiencies.
• GAAP operating earnings were $46.8 million in the quarter compared to $48.7 million in the prior year. GAAP operating margin in the quarter was 11.5% compared to 12.3% in the prior year.
• At the end of the quarter, there were 659 distributor sales consultants compared to 650 in the prior year.

Fiscal Year 2024 Guidance

The Company is maintaining its full year guidance as follows:

• The Company expects net sales and comparable sales to be approximately flat compared to the prior year;
• Gross Margin is expected to be in the range of 50.5% to 51.0%;
• Adjusted Operating Margin is expected to be approximately 8.5%;
• Operating Cash Flow is expected to be approximately $240 million; and
• Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $100 million.

Conference Call and Where You Can Find Additional Information

The Company will hold a conference call and audio webcast today to discuss its financial results and its business at approximately 7:30 a.m. Central Time today, August 8, 2024. During the conference call, the Company may discuss and answer one or more questions concerning business and financial matters and trends affecting the Company. The Company's responses to these questions, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may contain or constitute material information that has not been previously disclosed. Simultaneous to the conference call, an audio webcast of the call will be available via a link on the Company's website, sallybeautyholdings.com/investor-relations. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 336-4440 (International: (409) 207-6984) and referencing the access code 2198500#. The teleconference will be held in a "listen-only" mode for all participants other than the Company's current sell-side and buy-side investment professionals. A replay of the earnings conference call will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. Central Time, August 8, 2024, through August 22, 2024, by dialing (866) 207-1041 (International: (402) 970-0847) and referencing access code 3305975#. Also, a website replay will be available on sallybeautyholdings.com/investor-relations.

About Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SBH), as the leader in professional hair color, sells and distributes professional beauty supplies globally through its Sally Beauty Supply and Beauty Systems Group businesses. Sally Beauty Supply stores offer up to 7,000 products for hair color, hair care, nails, and skin care through proprietary brands such as Ion®, Bondbar®, Strawberry Leopard®, Generic Value Products®, Inspired by Nature® and Silk Elements® as well as professional lines such as Wella®, Clairol®, OPI®, L'Oreal®, Wahl® and Babyliss Pro®. Beauty Systems Group stores, branded as CosmoProf® or Armstrong McCall® stores, along with its outside sales consultants, sell up to 8,000 professionally branded products including Paul Mitchell®, Wella®, Matrix®, Schwarzkopf®, Kenra®, Goldwell®, Joico®, Amika® and Moroccannoil®, intended for use in salons and for resale by salons to retail consumers. For more information about Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., please visit https://www.sallybeautyholdings.com/.

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release and the schedules hereto which are not purely historical facts or which depend upon future events may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "projects," "expects," "can," "may," "estimates," "should," "plans," "targets," "intends," "could," "will," "would," "anticipates," "potential," "confident," "optimistic," or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, objectives, estimates, guidance, expectations and future plans. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as such statements speak only as of the date they were made. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including, those described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023. Consequently, all forward-looking statements in this release are qualified by the factors, risks and uncertainties contained therein. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release and the schedules hereto include the following financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, and are therefore referred to as non-GAAP financial measures: (1) Adjusted Gross Margin; (2) Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses; (3) Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA Margin; (4) Adjusted Operating Earnings and Operating Margin; (5) Adjusted Net Earnings; (6) Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share; and (7) Operating Free Cash Flow. We have provided definitions below for these non-GAAP financial measures and have provided tables in the schedules hereto to reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted Gross Margin – We define the measure Adjusted Gross Margin as GAAP gross margin excluding the true-up of the inventory write-down related to the Company's distribution center consolidation and store optimization plan for the relevant time periods as indicated in the accompanying non-GAAP reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses – We define the measure Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses as GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses excluding costs related to the Company's fuel for growth initiative and other expenses for the relevant time periods as indicated in the accompanying non-GAAP reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA Margin – We define the measure Adjusted EBITDA as GAAP net earnings before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, income taxes, share-based compensation, costs related to the Company's restructuring plans, costs related to the Company's fuel for growth initiative and other expenses for the relevant time periods as indicated in the accompanying non-GAAP reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales.

Adjusted Operating Earnings and Operating Margin – Adjusted operating earnings are GAAP operating earnings that exclude costs related to the Company's restructuring plans, costs related to the Company's fuel for growth initiative and other expenses for the relevant time periods as indicated in the accompanying non-GAAP reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures. Adjusted Operating Margin is Adjusted Operating Earnings as a percentage of net sales.

Adjusted Net Earnings – Adjusted net earnings is GAAP net earnings that exclude tax-effected costs related to the Company's restructuring plans, tax-effected expenses related to the Company's fuel for growth initiative and other costs, and tax-effected expenses related to loss on debt extinguishment for the relevant time periods as indicated in the accompanying non-GAAP reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share – Adjusted diluted net earnings per share is GAAP diluted earnings per share that exclude tax-effected costs related to the Company's restructuring plans, tax-effected expenses related to the Company's fuel for growth initiative and other costs, and tax-effected expenses related to loss on debt extinguishment for the relevant time periods as indicated in the accompanying non-GAAP reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures.

Operating Free Cash Flow – We define the measure Operating Free Cash Flow as GAAP net cash provided by operating activities less payments for capital expenditures (net). We believe Operating Free Cash Flow is an important liquidity measure that provides useful information to investors about the amount of cash generated from operations after taking into account payments for capital expenditures (net).

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide valuable information regarding our earnings and business trends by excluding specific items that we believe are not indicative of the ongoing operating results of our businesses; providing a useful way for investors to make a comparison of our performance over time and against other companies in our industry.

We have provided these non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental information to our GAAP financial measures and believe these non-GAAP measures provide investors with additional meaningful financial information regarding our operating performance and cash flows. Our management and Board of Directors also use these non-GAAP measures as supplemental measures to evaluate our businesses and the performance of management, including the determination of performance-based compensation, to make operating and strategic decisions, and to allocate financial resources. We believe that these non-GAAP measures also provide meaningful information for investors and securities analysts to evaluate our historical and prospective financial performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. Furthermore, the non-GAAP measures presented by us may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

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