Boston Beer Reports 3rd Quarter 2013 Results

From Samuel Adams:

BOSTON, Oct. 30, 2013 - The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) reported third quarter 2013 net revenue of $216.4 million, an increase of $50.0 million or 30% over the same period last year, mainly due to core shipment growth of 29%. Net income for the third quarter was $25.7 million, or $1.89 per diluted share, an increase of $4.9 million or $0.36 per diluted share from the third quarter of 2012.  This increase was primarily due to shipment increases, partially offset by increased investments in advertising, promotional and selling expenses and a write-down of land of $0.10 per diluted share. 

Earnings per diluted share for the 39-week period ended September 28, 2013 were $3.85, an increase of $0.71 from the comparable 39-week period in 2012.  Net revenue for the 39-week period ended September 28, 2013 was $533.7 million, an increase of $106.5 million, or 25%, from the comparable 39-week period in 2012.

Highlights of this release include:

• Depletions grew 26% and 23% from the comparable 13 and 39 week periods in the prior year.
• Third quarter gross margin was 53%; the Company maintains its full-year gross margin target of between 52% and 54%.
• Advertising, promotional and selling expense and customer program and incentive costs increased by a combined $11.8 million or 25% in the quarter, primarily due to planned increased investments behind the Company's brands.
• Full year 2013 depletions growth is now estimated to be between 21% and 24%, an increase from the previously communicated estimate of 17% to 22%.
• Full year 2013 advertising, promotional and selling expense, excluding any increases in freight costs for the shipment of products to the Company's wholesalers, is now estimated to increase between $26 million and $32 million, up from the previously communicated estimate of between $20 million and $26 million, primarily due to planned increased investments behind the Company's brands.
• Full year 2013 estimated earnings per diluted share are now estimated to be between $5.05 to $5.35, a decrease from the previously communicated estimated range of between $5.10 to $5.40 due to the land write-down and increased brand investments that are estimated to be partially offset by increased shipment volumes.
• Full year 2013 capital spending is now estimated to be between $100 million and $120 million, a narrowing of the range from the previously communicated estimate of $100 million to $140 million.
• Full-year 2014 capital spending is now estimated to be between $140 million and $180 million, an increase in the range from the previously communicated estimate of $100 million to $130 million.

Jim Koch, Chairman and Founder of the Company, commented, "I am pleased with our depletions growth which is attributable to strong sales execution and support from our wholesalers and retailers as well as our great quality beers, innovation capability and strong brands. I would like to thank publicly all of our Boston Beer employees for achieving this growth. I am particularly pleased with the growth in the quarter of our flagship Samuel Adams Boston Lager, which will be celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2014, and in our fall seasonal Samuel Adams Octoberfest.  Our fall seasonal program also included the limited release of some excellent beers including Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin and an innovative small batch brew, Samuel Adams Fat Jack, a double pumpkin ale.  We remain confident about the long-term outlook for the craft category and our Samuel Adams brand."

Martin Roper, the Company's President and CEO stated: "In the third quarter, our depletions growth remained strong and benefited from growth in our Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea and Angry Orchard brands.  We believe that the strength of our main brands is reflective of strong sales execution and our increased investments in media, local marketing and point of sale, and the efforts of our increased sales force.  We have raised our expectations for 2013 full-year depletions growth to between 21% and 24% to reflect the current trends.  To take advantage of the opportunities that we currently see and expected competitive activity, we are increasing our planned investment in media, our sales force and other support behind our brands for the remainder of the year."

Mr. Roper went on to say, "I would like to recognize all the employees involved at our breweries and in our operations support groups for their efforts this quarter in supporting our growth. The growth has been challenging operationally and, despite our best efforts, we had product shortages and service issues during most of the quarter.  Our supply chain struggled under the increased volume and we experienced  increased operational and freight costs as we reacted.  We commissioned our new bottling line during the quarter.  This line and our new can line are starting to achieve their design capacities and ease our packaging constraints. We have, however, remained tank constrained in our breweries and this is not expected to be resolved for several more weeks. To address these challenges, we initiated significant capital improvements in our breweries that will help support our growth in 2014, once completed.  We expect a continued high level of brand investment and capital investment as we pursue growth and innovation. We are prepared to forsake the earnings that may be lost as a result of these investments in the short term, as we pursue long term profitable growth." 

Mr. Roper continued, "Alchemy & Science, our craft brew incubator, continues to make progress with its existing brands, which include Angel City Brewery, Traveler Beer Company and the Just Beer Project. During the quarter, Alchemy & Science completed the acquisition of the Coney Island Brewery brand. Alchemy & Science is also currently finalizing plans to build a small brewery and beer hall in Miami, Florida named Concrete Beach Brewery.  To date, sales from Alchemy & Science brands have not been significant.  Our latest 2013 financial projection includes estimated brand investments attributable to existing Alchemy & Science projects of between $4 million and $6 million and capital investments of between $7 million and $10 million, which include the brand acquisition cost of the Coney Island Brewery, but these estimates could change significantly.  It is unlikely that the 2013 volume of Alchemy & Science brands will cover these and other expenditures that could be incurred this year."

Commenting on the Company's Freshest Beer Program, Mr. Roper said, "We currently have 120 wholesalers, representing over 65% of our volume in our Freshest Beer Program and believe this could reach 70% by the end of 2013. The systems and processes supporting Freshest Beer helped us significantly with product allocations during the quarter. We continue to invest in our breweries to improve their support of the Program, particularly during peak selling periods."

3rd Quarter 2013 Summary of Results

Depletions grew 26% from the comparable 13-week period in the prior year, primarily due to increases in the Angry Orchard^®, Samuel Adams^® and Twisted Tea^® brands.

Core shipment volume was approximately 993,000 barrels, a 29% increase over the third quarter of 2012.

Inventory at wholesalers participating in the Freshest Beer Program was lower by an estimated 208,000 cases at September 28, 2013 compared to September 29, 2012.  

Gross margin at 53% was lower than the 56% realized in the third quarter of 2012.  Increased brewery processing costs, increased ingredient costs and product mix effects, and the $3.3 million of customer program and incentive costs that are now recorded as reductions in revenue, were partially offset by pricing increases. In the third quarter of 2012, customer programs and incentive costs were recorded as advertising, promotional and selling expenses.

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses, excluding the 2013 customer program and incentive costs now reported as a reduction in revenue, were $8.5 million higher than costs incurred in the third quarter of the prior year. The combined increase of $11.8 million was primarily a result of increased costs for additional sales personnel and commissions, increased investments in local marketing and media advertising, and increased freight to wholesalers due to higher volumes.

General and administrative expenses increased $3.5 million compared to the third quarter of 2012, primarily due to increases in salary and benefit costs and consulting costs.

Impairment of long lived assets increased $1.3 million compared to the third quarter of 2012 due to the write-down of land owned by the Company in Freetown, Massachusetts.

Year to Date 2013 Summary of Results

Depletions grew by 23% from the comparable 39-week period in 2012, primarily due to increases in the Angry Orchard, Samuel Adams, and Twisted Tea brands.

Core shipment volume was approximately 2.5 million barrels, a 23% increase from the comparable 39-week period in 2012.

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses, excluding the 2013 customer program and incentive costs of $8.5 million that were reported as a reduction in revenue, were $19.5 million higher than costs incurred in the comparable 39-week period in 2012. The combined increase of $28.0 million was primarily a result of increased costs for additional sales personnel and commissions, increased local marketing and media advertising and increased freight to wholesalers due to higher volumes.

General and administrative expenses increased by $8.7 million from the comparable 39-week period in 2012, due to increases in salary and benefit costs and consulting costs.

The Company expects that its cash balance of $43.7 million as of September 28, 2013, along with future operating cash flow and the Company's unused line of credit of $50.0 million, will be sufficient to fund future cash requirements.

During the third quarter and the period from September 29, 2013 through October 25, 2013, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Class A Common Stock.  As of October 25, 2013 the Company had approximately $25.5 million remaining on the $325.0 million share buyback expenditure limit set by the Board of Directors.

Depletion estimates

Year-to-date depletions through the 42 weeks ended October 19, 2013 are estimated by the Company to be up approximately 23% from the comparable period in 2012.

2013

Outlook

The Company estimates 2013 earnings per diluted
share of between $5.05 and $5.35.  The Company's actual 2013 earnings per share could vary significantly from the current projection.  Underlying the Company's current projection are the following estimates and targets:

• Depletions and shipments growth of between 21% and 24%. 
• Price increases of approximately 1% to partially offset ingredients, packaging, freight and processing cost pressures.
• Full-year 2013 gross margins of between 52% and 54%.  
• Increased advertising, promotional and selling expenses for the full year 2013, excluding any increases in freight costs for the shipment of products to the Company's wholesalers, of between $26 million and $32 million, primarily due to an increase in our investments behind the Company's brands.
• Full-year effective tax rate of approximately 38%.
• Full-year 2013 spending on capital investments is now estimated to be between $100 million and $120 million, consisting mostly of continued investments in the Company's breweries and additional keg purchases in support of growth.

2014 Outlook

The Company is completing its 2014 planning process and will provide further detailed guidance when the Company presents its full-year 2013 results.  The Company is currently using the following preliminary assumptions and targets for 2014:

• Depletions and shipments percentage growth in the mid-teens. 
• National price increases of between 2% and 3% to offset anticipated upward pressures on ingredients, packaging and freight costs, as well as increased investments behind the Company's brands.
• Full-year 2014 gross margins of between 52% and 54%.
• Increased investment in advertising, promotional and selling expenses of between $34 million and $42 million for the full year 2014.  This does not include any increases in freight costs for the shipment of products to the Company's wholesalers.
• Increased expenditures of between $3 million to $5 million for continued investment in Alchemy & Science brands, which are included in our full-year estimated increases in advertising, promotional and selling expenses. Brand investments in the Alchemy & Science brands could vary significantly from current estimates.
• Full-year effective tax rate of approximately 38%.
• Estimated full-year 2014 capital spending of between $140 million and $180 million.

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