SBH ($10.89) is back in value territory. Earnings reported on Aug 3rd were strong, albeit down from last year.
Sally Beauty Holdings Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results; Maintains Full Year Sales Guidance and Updates Operating Margin Outlook to High End of Previous Range
6:45 AM ET, 08/03/2023 - Business Wire
-Q3 GAAP Operating Margin of 9.7%; Adjusted Operating Margin of 9.6%
-Q3 GAAP Diluted EPS of $0.46; Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.49
-Introduces New Store Concept – Happy Beauty Co.
DENTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 2023--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, 2023. The Company will hold a conference call today at 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss these results and its business.
Fiscal 2023 Third Quarter Summary
Consolidated net sales of $931 million, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the prior year;
Consolidated comparable sales increased 0.6%;
Global e-commerce sales increased 3% to $83 million, representing 8.9% of net sales;
GAAP gross margin at 51.0%; Adjusted Gross Margin at 50.9%;
GAAP operating earnings of $90 million and GAAP operating margin of 9.7%; Adjusted Operating Earnings of $90 million and Adjusted Operating Margin of 9.6%; and
GAAP diluted net earnings per share of $0.46 and Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Share of $0.49.
“We are pleased to report another solid quarter with net sales of $931 million, Adjusted Gross Margin of 51%, Adjusted EBITDA of $119 million and free cash flow of $32 million. Three quarters into our fiscal year, we are on track with our operating initiatives and the financial guidance we originally laid out for fiscal 2023,” said Denise Paulonis, president and chief executive officer.
“Our teams remain focused on fueling growth through our core strategic initiatives – enhancing customer centricity, driving innovation and increasing operating efficiency. Of note, we continue to pilot a number of growth driving initiatives, including Cosmo Prof Direct, Studio by Sally and Happy Beauty Co. When combined with our focus on innovation and owned brands, we are confident that our strategies will continue to build upon our modern and dynamic retail platform, taking us well into the future. Importantly, we remain steadfast in our commitment to enhance value for our customers and shareholders over the long-term.”
Fiscal 2023 Third Quarter Operating Results
Third quarter consolidated net sales were $931.0 million, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the prior year. The Company was operating 352 fewer stores at the end of the quarter compared to the prior year. Foreign currency translation had a favorable impact of 20 basis points on consolidated net sales for the quarter. At constant currency, global e-commerce sales increased 3% compared to the prior year to $83 million or 8.9% of consolidated net sales for the quarter.
Consolidated comparable sales increased 0.6%, driven primarily by Sally Beauty’s strong sales recapture rates from the Company’s recent store optimization efforts, mostly offset by the continuation of stylist demand trends seen over the last several quarters at Beauty Systems Group.
Consolidated gross profit for the third quarter was $474.7 million compared to $490.2 million in the prior year, a decrease of 3.2%. Consolidated GAAP gross margin was 51.0%, flat compared to the prior year. Adjusted Gross Margin, which excludes the true-up of a non-cash inventory write-down in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 related to the Company’s previously announced distribution center consolidation and store optimization plan, was 50.9%, a decrease of 10 basis points compared to 51.0% in the prior year. Higher product margin at Sally Beauty, driven by pricing leverage and higher owned brand penetration, was offset by lower margin at Beauty Systems Group resulting from an unfavorable sales mix shift between the segment’s stores and expanded Regis partnership, as well as a shift in some distribution center costs from selling, general and administrative expenses into gross margin.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses totaled $384.2 million, a decrease of $6.8 million compared to $391.0 million in the prior year. The decrease was driven primarily by the savings from the Company’s previously announced distribution center consolidation and store optimization plan, lower advertising costs and prudent cost control, partially offset by higher labor and accrued bonus expenses. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses were 41.3% compared to 40.7% in the prior year.
GAAP operating earnings and operating margin in the third quarter were $90.1 million and 9.7%, compared to $99.2 million and 10.3%, in the prior year. Adjusted Operating Earnings and Operating Margin, excluding the Company’s restructuring efforts and COVID-19 related net expenses, were $89.8 million and 9.6%, compared to $100.6 million and 10.5%, in the prior year.
GAAP net earnings in the third quarter were $50.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net earnings of $46.6 million, or $0.43 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted Net Earnings, excluding the Company’s restructuring efforts, COVID-19 related net expenses, the loss on extinguishment of debt, and other adjustments, were $53.3 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared to Adjusted Net Earnings of $59.8 million, or $0.55 per diluted share in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter was $118.8 million, a decrease of 7.5% compared to the prior year, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 12.8%, a decrease of 50 basis points compared to the prior year.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
As of June 30, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $74 million and an outstanding balance of $16 million under its asset-based revolving line of credit. At the end of the quarter, inventory was $996 million, down 2% versus a year ago. Third quarter cash flow from operations was $53.1 million. Capital expenditures in the quarter totaled $21.6 million.
The Company ended the quarter with a net debt leverage ratio of 2.2x.
On April 28, 2023, the Company entered into a 3-year interest rate swap agreement, which swaps a notional amount of $200 million of the new term loan, which was refinanced in February of 2023, from a floating term SOFR rate to a fixed rate of 3.705%.
Fiscal 2023 Third Quarter Segment Results
Sally Beauty Supply
Segment net sales were $534.9 million in the quarter, a decrease of 3.0% compared to the prior year. The segment operated 327 fewer stores at the end of the quarter compared to the prior year and had a favorable impact of 70 basis points from foreign currency translation on reported sales. At constant currency, segment e-commerce sales decreased 5% to $32 million or 5.9% of segment net sales for the quarter.
Segment comparable sales increased 3.0% in the third quarter, driven primarily by strong sales recapture rates from the Company’s recent store optimization efforts. The Sally Beauty businesses in the U.S. and Canada represented 77% of segment net sales for the quarter and had a comparable sales increase of 3.1%.
At the end of the quarter, net store count was 3,141.
GAAP gross margin increased by 30 basis points to 58.8% compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by higher product margin from pricing leverage and higher owned brand penetration.
GAAP operating earnings were $88.7 million compared to $88.8 million in the prior year, essentially flat. GAAP operating margin increased to 16.6% compared to 16.1% in the prior year.
Beauty Systems Group
Segment net sales were $396.1 million in the quarter, a decrease of 3.3% compared to the prior year. The segment operated 25 fewer stores at the end of the quarter compared to the prior year and had an unfavorable impact of 40 basis points on reported sales from foreign currency translation. At constant currency, segment e-commerce sales increased 8% to $51 million or 13.0% of segment net sales for the quarter.
Segment comparable sales decreased 2.4% in the third quarter, primarily reflecting the continuation of stylist demand trends seen over the last several quarters.
At the end of the quarter, net store count was 1,336.
GAAP gross margin decreased 40 basis points to 40.5% in the quarter compared to the prior year, driven primarily by an unfavorable sales mix shift between the segment’s stores and expanded Regis partnership, as well as a shift in some distribution center costs from selling, general and administrative expenses into gross margin.
GAAP operating earnings were $48.7 million in the quarter, a decrease of 13.1% compared to $56.1 million in the prior year. GAAP operating margin in the quarter was 12.3% compared to 13.7% in the prior year.
At the end of the quarter, there were 650 distributor sales consultants compared to 700 in the prior year.
Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance
The Company is updating its full fiscal year 2023 guidance by revising its Adjusted Operating Margin to the higher end of the original guidance. All other components of the Company’s full fiscal year 2023 original guidance are being maintained:
Comparable sales are expected to increase by low single digits compared to the prior year, driven by growth in key categories, sales transfer from store closures related to the Company’s store optimization efforts, the expanded Regis distribution and new strategic initiatives;
Net sales are expected to decline by low-single digits compared to the prior year, reflecting the unfavorable impact due to store closures from the Company’s store optimization efforts, net of expected sales recapture rates;
Gross margin is expected to remain above 50%; and
Adjusted Operating Margin is now expected to be in the range of 9.0% and 9.4% (previously 8.5% to 9.5%).
The Company does not provide a reconciliation for forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the occurrence and the financial impact of various items that have not yet occurred, are out of the Company’s control or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.
Sally Beauty Holdings Launches New Store Concept – Happy Beauty Co.
The Company announced the launch of Happy Beauty Co., a unique new retail store concept that brings to market an engaging beauty experience with a value price point offering. Happy Beauty Co. offers quality beauty at great prices in an accessible, fun and expressive environment. All of the merchandise is priced under $10 with product offerings encompassing four key categories: Cosmetics & Facial Care, Bath & Body, Nails and Hair, featuring both third-party brands and the Company’s owned brands. The initial pilot store was opened in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market in late June.
