HOUSTON, May 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) today announced financial results for its 13-week third quarter ended April 2, 2011.
Third Quarter Fiscal 2011 Highlights
- Sales were $9.8 billion, an increase of 9.1% from $8.9 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.
- Operating income was $427 million, including a $36 million charge related to the withdrawal of an operating company from a multi-employer pension plan (MEPP). This result was $5 million, or 1.1%, lower than last year's third quarter.
- Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.44, including a $0.04 negative impact related to the MEPP withdrawal discussed above, and a $0.02 tax benefit related to the recognition of deferred tax assets. This result was 4.8% higher compared to $0.42 in last year's third quarter.
Year-To-Date Fiscal 2011 Highlights
- Sales were $28.9 billion, an increase of 7.4%, from $26.9 billion in the prior year period.
- Operating income was $1.4 billion, a decrease of $21 million, or 1.5%, compared to the prior year period.
- Diluted EPS was $1.39, including a $0.05 benefit from Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI), and a net $0.02 negative impact from the MEPP charge and tax benefit discussed above. This result was 2.1% lower than diluted EPS of $1.42 in the prior year period, which included a $0.05 tax benefit related to the company's IRS settlement and a $0.05 benefit from COLI.
"We are pleased with our improved performance in the third quarter as both sales and earnings grew over the prior year. Particularly encouraging is our case volume growth in the midst of ongoing product inflation and a sluggish economic recovery," said Bill DeLaney, Sysco's president and chief executive officer. "Our leadership team remains highly focused on supporting our customers and improving productivity in all aspects of our business."
Third Quarter Fiscal 2011 Summary
Sales for the third quarter were $9.8 billion, an increase of $817 million, or 9.1% compared to the same period last year due primarily to higher prices and case volume growth. Food cost inflation, as measured by the estimated change in Sysco's product costs, was 5.1% driven mainly by high levels of inflation in the meat, seafood and canned/dry categories. This compares to deflation of 0.8% in the prior year period. In addition, sales from acquisitions (within the last 12 months) increased sales by 0.6%, and the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates for the third quarter increased sales by 0.6%.
Gross margin for the third quarter was $1.8 billion, an increase of $127 million, or 7.6%, compared to the prior year. Gross margin as a percentage of sales declined 27 basis points year over year to 18.6%. While high inflation and strategic pricing initiatives continued to be the main factors impacting gross margin as a percent of sales, the impact was less than in previous periods.
Operating expense increased 10.6%, or $132 million, for the third quarter mainly from (1) a $36 million one-time charge related to the withdrawal of an operating company from an MEPP; (2) a $36 million increase in salaries and related expense due to increases in sales compensation, other payroll costs and incentive compensation; (3) a $15 million increase in costs related to the Company's corporate-sponsored pension plan; and (4) a $14 million increase in fuel costs. As a result, operating income decreased $5 million, or 1.1%, to $427 million during the third quarter.
Income tax expense during the quarter decreased $9 million, or 5.6%. This equated to a tax rate of 36.3%, which was 2.4 percentage points lower than last year's rate due mainly to a $10 million tax benefit related to the recognition of deferred tax assets.
Net earnings for the third quarter were $258 million, an increase of $11 million, or 4.4% compared to the prior year. Diluted EPS was $0.44, including a $0.04 negative impact related to the withdrawal from the MEPP mentioned above and a $0.02 tax benefit also discussed above. Diluted EPS in the prior year period was $0.42.
Year-To-Date Fiscal 2011 Summary
Sales for the first 39 weeks of fiscal 2011 were $28.9 billion, an increase of 7.4% compared to the same period last year driven mainly by higher prices and case volume growth. Food cost inflation, as measured by the estimated change in Sysco's product costs, was 4.2% driven mainly by high levels of inflation in the meat, seafood, and dairy categories. Sales from acquisitions (within the last 12 months) increased sales by 0.6%. The impact of changes in foreign exchange rates for the first three quarters of the year increased sales by 0.5%.
Gross margin for the first 39 weeks was $5.4 billion, an increase of $259 million, or 5.0%, compared to the prior year. Gross margin as a percentage of sales declined 43 basis points year over year to 18.6%. Pressure from high inflation and strategic pricing initiatives were the main factors impacting gross margin as a percent of sales.
Operating expense increased 7.5%, or $280 million, for the first 39 weeks mainly from (1) a $95 million increase in salaries and related expense due to increases in sales compensation and other payroll costs; (2) a $45 million increase in costs related to the Company's corporate-sponsored pension plan; (3) a $36 million charge related to the withdrawal of an operating company from an MEPP; and (4) a $20 million increase in fuel expense. As a result, operating income was $1.4 billion, a decrease of $21 million, or 1.5%, during the first 39 weeks of fiscal 2011.
Net earnings for the first 39 weeks of fiscal 2011 were $816 million, a decrease of $26 million, or 3.1%. Diluted EPS was $1.39, including a $0.05 favorable impact from COLI, and a net $0.02 negative impact from the MEPP charge and tax benefit discussed above. Diluted EPS in the prior year period was $1.42, including a $0.05 tax benefit related to the company's IRS settlement and a $0.05 favorable impact from COLI.
Cash Flow and Capital Spending
Cash flow from operations was $666 million for the first 39 weeks of fiscal 2011. This compares to $477 million in the prior year period. Capital expenditures totaled $137 million for the third quarter, and $454 million for the first 39 weeks of the fiscal year. The primary areas for investment included facility replacements and expansions, replacements to Sysco's fleet, and technology.
Conference Call & Webcast
Sysco's third quarter 2011 earnings conference call will be held on Monday, May 9, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. A live webcast of the call, as well as a copy of this press release, will be available online at www.sysco.com in the Investor Relations section.
About Sysco
Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 180 distribution facilities serving approximately 400,000 customers. For the fiscal year 2010 that ended July 3, 2010 the company generated more than $37 billion in sales. For more information about Sysco, visit the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com and for investor relations news follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock.
The Sysco Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=747
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made herein are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include statements regarding our focus on supporting our customers and improving productivity in all aspects of our business. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on management's current expectations and estimates; actual results may differ materially. Factors impacting these forward-looking statements include the general risks associated with our business, including the risk of interruption of supplies due to lack of long-term contracts, severe weather, work stoppages or otherwise, inflation risks, the impact of fuel prices, which have increased dramatically over the last few months, and labor issues. In the past, increased fuel prices have significantly increased our costs and reduced consumers' demand for meals served away from home. Risks and uncertainties also include risks impacting the economy generally, including the risk that the current economic downturn will continue, that initial signs of economic recovery may not prove long lasting, or that consumer confidence in the economy may not increase and decreases in consumer spending, particularly on food prepared outside the home, may not reverse. Also, there are risks related to our Business Transformation Project, including that the expected costs of our Business Transformation Project in fiscal 2011 may be greater or less than currently expected because we may encounter the need for changes in design or revisions of the project calendar and budget, including the incurrence of expenses at an earlier or later time than currently anticipated; the risk that our business and results of operations may be adversely affected if we experience operating problems, scheduling delays, cost overages or limitations on the extent of the business transformation during the ERP implementation process; and the risk of adverse effects if the ERP system, and the associated process changes, do not prove to be cost effective or result in the cost savings and other benefits that we anticipate. Capital expenditures may vary from those projected based on changes in business plans and other factors, including risks related to the implementation of our Business Transformation Project, the timing and successful completions of acquisitions, construction schedules and the possibility that other cash requirements could result in delays or cancellations of capital spending. For a discussion of additional factors impacting Sysco's business, see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 3, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
| Sysco Corporation and its Consolidated Subsidiaries | ||||
| CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) | ||||
| (In Thousands, Except for Share and Per Share Data) | ||||
| 39-Week Period Ended | 13-Week Period Ended | |||
| April 2, 2011 | Mar. 27, 2010 | April 2, 2011 | Mar. 27, 2010 | |
| Sales | $ 28,897,786 | $ 26,895,018 | $ 9,761,660 | $ 8,945,093 |
| Cost of sales | 23,513,565 | 21,769,400 | 7,950,800 | 7,261,721 |
| Gross margin | 5,384,221 | 5,125,618 | 1,810,860 | 1,683,372 |
| Operating expenses | 4,013,469 | 3,733,836 | 1,383,373 | 1,251,269 |
| Operating income | 1,370,752 | 1,391,782 | 427,487 | 432,103 |
| Interest expense | 88,133 | 92,976 | 28,972 | 27,654 |
| Other expense (income), net | (9,941) | (2,122) | (6,957) | 1,028 |
| Earnings before income taxes | 1,292,560 | 1,300,928 | 405,472 | 403,421 |
| Income taxes | 476,840 | 458,726 | 146,994 | 155,773 |
| Net earnings | $ 815,720 | $ 842,202 | $ 258,478 | $ 247,648 |
| Net earnings: | ||||
| Basic earnings per share | $ 1.39 | $ 1.42 | $ 0.44 | $ 0.42 |
| Diluted earnings per share | 1.39 | 1.42 | 0.44 | 0.42 |
| Average shares outstanding | 585,792,383 | 592,450,575 | 583,722,009 | 593,129,783 |
| Diluted shares outstanding | 587,878,509 | 593,397,235 | 585,421,864 | 594,833,736 |
| Dividends declared per common share | $ 0.77 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.26 | $ 0.25 |
| Sysco Corporation and its Consolidated Subsidiaries | |||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) | |||
| (In Thousands, Except for Share Data) | |||
| April 2, 2011 | July 3, 2010 | Mar. 27, 2010 | |
| ASSETS | |||
| Current assets | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 385,668 | $ 585,443 | $ 586,854 |
| Short-term investments | -- | 23,511 | -- |
| Accounts and notes receivable, less allowances of $86,668, $36,573 and $83,069 | 2,926,033 | 2,617,352 | 2,633,995 |
| Inventories | 2,047,371 | 1,771,539 | 1,751,239 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 79,485 | 70,992 | 71,761 |
| Prepaid income taxes | -- | 7,421 | 22,008 |
| Total current assets | 5,438,557 | 5,076,258 | 5,065,857 |
| Plant and equipment at cost, less depreciation | 3,419,862 | 3,203,823 | 3,176,220 |
| Other assets | |||
| Goodwill | 1,596,727 | 1,549,815 | 1,559,291 |
| Intangibles, less amortization | 101,518 | 106,398 | 114,254 |
| Restricted cash | 110,488 | 124,488 | 135,590 |
| Prepaid pension cost | -- | -- | 92,757 |
| Other assets | 282,782 | 252,919 | 258,320 |
| Total other assets | 2,091,515 | 2,033,620 | 2,160,212 |
| Total assets | $ 10,949,934 | $ 10,313,701 | $ 10,402,289 |
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||
| Current liabilities | |||
| Notes payable | $ 2,250 | $ -- | $ -- |
| Accounts payable | 2,143,219 | 1,953,092 | 1,972,984 |
| Accrued expenses | 800,155 | 870,114 | 794,235 |
| Accrued income taxes | 84,838 | -- | -- |
| Deferred income taxes | 98,946 | 178,022 | 76,258 |
| Current maturities of long-term debt | 7,042 | 7,970 | 7,817 |
| Total current liabilities | 3,136,450 | 3,009,198 | 2,851,294 |
| Other liabilities | |||
| Long-term debt | 2,663,470 | 2,472,662 | 2,468,517 |
| Deferred income taxes | 130,453 | 271,512 | 513,211 |
| Other long-term liabilities | 812,356 | 732,803 | 541,229 |
| Total other liabilities | 3,606,279 | 3,476,977 | 3,522,957 |
| Commitments and contingencies | |||
| Shareholders' equity | |||
| Preferred stock, par value $1 per share, Authorized 1,500,000 shares, issued none | -- | -- | -- |
| Common stock, par value $1 per share, Authorized 2,000,000,000 shares, issued 765,174,900 shares | 765,175 | 765,175 | 765,175 |
| Paid-in capital | 861,835 | 816,833 | 799,278 |
| Retained earnings | 7,499,532 | 7,134,139 | 6,943,640 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (330,060) | (480,251) | (167,827) |
| Treasury stock at cost, 182,347,524, 176,768,795 and 173,872,949 shares | (4,589,277) | (4,408,370) | (4,312,228) |
| Total shareholders' equity | 4,207,205 | 3,827,526 | 4,028,038 |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ 10,949,934 | $ 10,313,701 | $ 10,402,289 |
| Sysco Corporation and its Consolidated Subsidiaries | ||
| CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) | ||
| (In Thousands) | ||
| 39-Week Period Ended | ||
| April 2, 2011 | Mar. 27, 2010 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||
| Net earnings | $ 815,720 | $ 842,202 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operating activities: |
||
| Share-based compensation expense | 48,518 | 51,981 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 298,307 | 284,213 |
| Deferred income taxes | (244,658) | (152,236) |
| Provision for losses on receivables | 35,624 | 32,030 |
| Other non-cash items | (7,286) | (1,112) |
| Additional investment in certain assets and liabilities, net of effect of businesses acquired: | ||
| (Increase) in receivables | (301,932) | (169,520) |
| (Increase) in inventories | (244,636) | (79,010) |
| (Increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets | (7,486) | (6,569) |
| Increase in accounts payable | 158,488 | 167,438 |
| (Decrease) in accrued expenses | (83,826) | (21,468) |
| Increase (decrease) in accrued income taxes | 83,580 | (316,074) |
| (Increase) in other assets | (26,622) | (39,618) |
|
Increase (decrease) in other long-term liabilities and prepaid pension cost, net |
142,253 | (115,210) |
|
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements |
(285) | (518) |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 665,759 | 476,529 |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||
| Additions to plant and equipment | (454,054) | (438,071) |
| Proceeds from sales of plant and equipment | 15,286 | 4,106 |
| Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired | (35,486) | (20,880) |
| Purchases of short-term investments | -- | (60,876) |
| Maturities of short-term investments | 24,713 | 60,990 |
| Decrease (increase) in restricted cash | 14,000 | (41,732) |
| Net cash used for investing activities | (435,541) | (496,463) |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||
| Bank and commercial paper borrowings (repayments) net | 188,249 | -- |
| Other debt borrowings | 2,592 | 5,419 |
| Other debt repayments | (6,516) | (8,196) |
| Debt issuance costs | (7) | (7) |
| Common stock reissued from treasury for share-based compensation awards | 103,328 | 54,068 |
| Treasury stock purchases | (291,600) | (41,020) |
| Dividends paid | (445,406) | (431,916) |
|
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements |
285 | 518 |
| Net cash used for financing activities | (449,075) | (421,134) |
| Effect of exchange rates on cash | 19,082 | 9,271 |
| Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (199,775) | (431,797) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 585,443 | 1,018,651 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ 385,668 | $ 586,854 |
| Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | ||
| Cash paid during the period for: | ||
| Interest | $ 111,924 | $ 119,720 |
| Income taxes | 657,961 | 973,354 |
| Sysco Corporation and its Consolidated Subsidiaries | ||||
| COMPARATIVE SEGMENT DATA (Unaudited) | ||||
| (In Thousands) | ||||
| 39-Week Period Ended | 13-Week Period Ended | |||
| April 2, 2011 | Mar. 27, 2010 | April 2, 2011 | Mar. 27, 2010 | |
| Sales: | ||||
| Broadline | $ 23,468,341 | $ 21,984,082 | $ 7,915,829 | $ 7,268,364 |
| SYGMA | 3,947,705 | 3,505,710 | 1,315,439 | 1,197,536 |
| Other | 1,597,680 | 1,504,384 | 575,716 | 515,432 |
| Intersegment | (115,940) | (99,158) | (45,324) | (36,239) |
| Total | $ 28,897,786 | $ 26,895,018 | $ 9,761,660 | $ 8,945,093 |
| Beginning with the third quarter of fiscal 2011, U.S. Meat operations are included in the Broadline segment. All prior periods have been restated for comparability. | ||||
| Comparative Supplemental Statistical Information Related to Sales (Unaudited) | ||||
| Comparative Sysco Brand Sales and Marketing Associate-Served Sales data are summarized below. | ||||
| 39-Week Period Ended | 13-Week Period Ended | |||
| April 2, 2011 | Mar. 27, 2010 | April 2, 2011 | Mar. 27, 2010 | |
| Sysco Brand Sales as a % | ||||
| of MA-Served Sales | 45.62% | 46.98% | 45.28% | 46.02% |
| Sysco Brand Sales as a % | ||||
| of Broadline Sales | 36.87% | 38.50% | 35.69% | 36.72% |
| MA-Served Sales as a % | ||||
| of Broadline Sales | 44.68% | 44.70% | 43.21% | 43.18% |
| Data excludes U.S. Meat operations | ||||