Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2017 Results

SECAUCUS, N.J., Aug. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Second Quarter 2017 Highlights:

• Total Comparable Sales Down 8.3%
• Sports-related categories primary drivers of decline

• GAAP loss per share of $6.73
• Records impairment charges of $168.1 million

• Company Launches Sales Driving Initiatives to Improve Competitiveness
• New pricing strategy
• SPARK™ Auto-Delivery subscriptions

• Supply Chain and Manufacturing Restructuring to Further Reduce Costs
• Rationalization of supply chain network – to close New Jersey distribution center in addition to continued restructuring at Nutri-Force

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (NYSE: VSI), an omni-channel, specialty retailer and manufacturer of nutritional products, today announced preliminary results for the three months ended July 1, 2017.  Total net sales in the second quarter were $304.8 million compared to $332.7 million in the same period of the prior year.  Reported basic and fully diluted loss per share in second quarter 2017 was $6.73, compared to fully diluted earnings per share of $0.44 in second quarter 2016.  Results in second quarter 2017 include the following pre-tax expenses; $168.1 million for impairments and $13.7 million charge associated with the Nutri-Force turnaround, while second quarter 2016 results include approximately $3.4 million of costs related to strategic initiatives.  Excluding these items in both periods, adjusted EPS was $0.23 and $0.55, in second quarter 2017 and second quarter 2016, respectively.  Second quarter 2017 was also negatively impacted by $1.2 million from discrete tax charges related to changes in accounting for stock compensation and other permanent tax differences.  (Refer to Table 4 at the end of this press release.) 

Commenting on the quarter's results, Colin Watts, Chief Executive Officer of the Vitamin Shoppe stated, "The results during the quarter were disappointing and the challenges are clear.  The market environment evolved more quickly than we anticipated particularly in the Sports categories.  We have taken decisive actions to improve our performance directly focused on customer acquisition, price/value and customer retention with programs rolled out across the chain.  Additionally, we continue to make progress on our reinvention initiatives and further cost restructuring programs that will help improve results well into 2018."

Second Quarter 2017 Results 
Total sales of $304.8 million in the quarter were 8.4% lower than the same period of the prior year.  Total comparable sales were down 8.3% in the quarter reflecting a 7.6% decline in retail store comparable sales and a 20.2% decrease in vitaminshoppe.com comparable sales.  The decrease in comparable sales was partially impacted by a sales promotion last year that was not repeated, as well as ongoing challenges with the sports customer.  The Company opened three stores in the quarter, and transformed seven into the new brand defining store [BDS] format.  Manufacturing sales to Vitamin Shoppe increased 63.6%, while third party sales decreased 27.8% from the same period of the prior year as the Company continues to right-size this business.

Cost of goods sold, which includes product, distribution, manufacturing and store occupancy costs, decreased $6.7 million, or 3.0%, to $218.2 million for the three months ended July 1, 2017, compared with $224.9 million for the three months ended June 25, 2016.  During the quarter, the Company reported a $10.7 million restructuring expense for Nutri-Force related to inventory obsolescence and equipment impairment charges.

Gross profit of $86.6 million was 19.7% lower than $107.8 million in second quarter 2016.  Reported gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 28.4% in second quarter 2017, compared to 32.4% in the same period of 2016.  Excluding the inventory charge mentioned above, gross profit was $97.3 million in the quarter and the adjusted gross profit as a percentage of sales was 31.9%.  The second quarter 2017 year over year decrease was primarily due to deleverage in occupancy and supply chain from lower sales.  This was partially offset by improvements in margin from favorable category and private brands mix shifts and lower costs through new vendor partnerships.

Reported selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A), including operating payroll and related benefits and advertising expense, was $86.8 million for the quarter ended July 1, 2017, compared with $87.1 million for the quarter ended June 25, 2016.  SG&A in second quarter 2017 included $3.0 million in turnaround expenses for Nutri-Force.  SG&A in second quarter 2016 included $3.4 million related to strategic initiatives.  Excluding these items for both periods, SG&A as a percent of revenue was 27.5% in second quarter 2017 and 25.2% in second quarter 2016. (For further information on adjustments see Table 4 at the end of this release.)  The increase in the SG&A rate in second quarter 2017 was primarily driven by deleverage due to lower sales.

During the second quarter, impairment indicators were identified, including a significant decline in both the quarter's performance and the Company's market capitalization.  An interim test on the valuation of intangible assets was performed, including revised expectations on future performance which resulted in a goodwill impairment charge of $164.3 million for the retail reporting unit.  In addition, a $3.8 million impairment charge for the fixed asset balances for 24 retail store locations was recorded.

Reported operating loss in second quarter 2017 of $168.3 million compared to operating income of $20.7 million in the same period of the prior year.  Adjusted for the items noted in the preceding paragraphs, income from operations as a percentage of sales was 4.4% in second quarter 2017 and 7.2% in second quarter 2016.  (See Table 4.)

The overall effective income tax rate for the quarter was impacted by partial non-deductibility of the goodwill impairment charge and other permanent tax differences.  Of the $164.3 million goodwill impairment charge, $130.9 million was not deductible for tax purposes.  Additionally, during the second quarter, $1.2 million of discrete tax charges were recorded in income tax expense.  These adjustments relate primarily to the effect of the new accounting guidance. The Company adopted in fiscal 2017, ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, requiring excess tax benefits and deficiencies from stock-based compensation to be recorded in tax expense in the period in which they occur.

Reported net loss was $156.4 million for second quarter 2017 compared to net income of $10.4 million in the same period of the prior year.  Reported loss per share was $6.73 in second quarter 2017, compared to earnings per share of $0.44 in second quarter 2016.  Earnings per share, on an adjusted basis (for the items described in Table 4), was $0.23 and $0.55 for the second quarters of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow 
Cash and equivalents at July 1, 2017 were $2.0 million.  At quarter end, the Company had $3.0 million borrowed on its revolving line of credit and a convertible notes liability of $123.6 million.

Capital expenditures were $18.2 million in the quarter.  Funds were primarily expended on the new distribution center, new and remodeled stores, supply chain, digital and other IT investments.

Additional Information
The Company plans to close the North Bergen, New Jersey distribution center prior to, or by, the August 31, 2018 lease expiration.  Distribution operations will be transitioned to the Company's other distribution centers and will be substantially completed by the end of fiscal year 2017.  Costs related to this closure such as severance, inventory-related costs and other charges are estimated to be approximately $4.0 million.  As a result of this closure the Company anticipates annualized savings between $4.0 million to $5.0 million upon lease expiration.

2017 Outlook
Given the unprecedented level of volatility in the market and the potential increase in variability of the Company's results due to the number of initiatives being launched in the back half of the year, the Company has reset its 2017 outlook and is modifying its approach to guidance.  The Company is providing guidance around the key levers that drive the business instead of providing specific EPS guidance.

• The Company expects full year comparable sales decline rate of negative mid-single digits.
• Reported full year gross margin rate of 30.2% to 30.7%.  This includes charges associated with the Nutri-Force restructuring and North Bergen closure this year.  Excluding these charges, full year gross margins of 31.3% to 31.8% (Refer to Table 5 at the end of this press release.).
• Full year SG&A expense of $342 million to $347 million including charges associated with the Nutri-Force restructuring.  Excluding these charges, full year SG&A expense of $335 million to $340 million (Refer to Table 5 at the end of this press release.).
• Full year capital expenditures of $45 million, including build out of distribution center in Arizona, IT investments, approximately 15 new stores and 10-15 brand defining store transformations.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures 
Adjusted information is non-GAAP financial information. These supplemental non-GAAP measures should not be considered superior to, or a substitute for, and should be considered in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures presented.  The Company believes such non-GAAP financial information facilitates analysis and comparisons of our ongoing business operations because it excludes items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to the Company's and our business segments' core operating performance, and may assist investors with comparisons to prior periods and assessing trends in our underlying businesses. These adjustments are consistent with how management views our businesses. Management uses such non-GAAP financial information in making financial, operating and planning decisions and evaluating the Company's and each business segment's ongoing performance. A reconciliation of adjusted financial information to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is shown in Tables 4 and 5.

Webcast
Management will host a conference call to discuss the second quarter 2017 results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) today.  Interested investors and other parties may listen to the simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.vitaminshoppe.com.  A telephonic replay will be available beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET on August 9, 2017 and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 or 1-412-317-6671 for international callers. The passcode for the replay is 2717553.  The telephonic replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. ET on August 16, 2017.The webcast will also be archived on the company's website at www.vitaminshoppe.com in the investor relations section.

About the Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (NYSE:VSI)  
Vitamin Shoppe is an omni-channel, specialty retailer and contract manufacturer of nutritional products based in Secaucus, New Jersey.  In its stores and on its website, the Company carries a comprehensive retail assortment including: vitamins, minerals, specialty supplements, herbs, sports nutrition, homeopathic remedies, green living products, and beauty aids.  In addition to offering products from approximately 900 national brands, the Vitamin Shoppe also carries products under The Vitamin Shoppe^®, BodyTech^®, True Athlete^®, MyTrition^®, plnt^®, ProBioCare^®, Next Step^® and Betancourt Nutrition^® brands.  The Vitamin Shoppe conducts business through more than 775 company-operated retail stores under The Vitamin Shoppe and Super Supplements retail banners, and through its website, www.vitaminshoppe.com.  Follow the Vitamin Shoppe on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/THEVITAMINSHOPPE and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VitaminShoppe.

Forward Looking Statements 
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including without limitation, statements under the caption "2017 Outlook", statements regarding future financial results and performance, share repurchases, future business prospects, revenue, new stores, product offerings, store growth, working capital, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital needs and interest costs, industry based factors, including the level of competition in the vitamin, mineral and supplement industry, continued demand from the primary markets the Company serves, consumer perception of the Company's products, the availability of raw materials as well as economic conditions generally and factors more specific to the Company such as compliance with manufacturing regulations, certifications and practices and restrictions imposed by the Company's revolving credit facility, including financial covenants and limitations on the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness and the Company's future capital requirements, and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth under Item 1A., entitled "Risk Factors", in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and in the Company's other reports and documents filed with the SEC.  These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "outlook", "believes", "expects", "potential", "continues", "may", "will", "should", "seeks", "predicts", "intends", "plans", "estimates", "anticipates", "target", "could" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words.  These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company's control, including, among others the strength of the economy, changes in the overall level of consumer spending, the performance of the Company's products within the prevailing retail environment, trade restrictions, availability of suitable store locations at appropriate terms, the availability of raw material and other specific factors discussed herein and in other Company SEC filings (including reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the SEC).  The Company believes that all forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions when made; however,  it is impossible to predict actual results or outcomes or the effects of risks, uncertainties or other factors on anticipated results or outcomes with certainty and that, accordingly, one should not place undue reliance on these statements.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements in light of subsequent events or developments. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results or outcomes discussed in any forward-looking statement.

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SOURCE Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.