Boston Beer Q4 2019 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
The Boston Beer Company reported a 33.8% increase in fourth-quarter net revenue to $301.3 million, driven by a 31.7% increase in shipments. However, net income decreased to $13.8 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, due to higher advertising, promotional, and selling expenses, and lower gross margins.
Depletions increased 25% from the comparable 13-week period in 2018.
Excluding the addition of the Dogfish Head brands, depletions increased 19% from the comparable 13-week period in the prior year.
Shipment volume was approximately 1.26 million barrels, a 31.7% increase from the comparable 13-week period in 2018.
Gross margin at 47.4% represented a decrease from the 51.9% margin realized in the fourth quarter of 2018, primarily as a result of higher processing costs due to increased production at third-party breweries and higher temporary labor requirements at Company-owned breweries, partially offset by price increases and cost saving initiatives at Company-owned breweries.
Boston Beer
Boston Beer
Forward Guidance
The Company currently projects full year 2020 Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of between $10.70 and $11.70.
Positive Outlook
- Depletions and shipments percentage increase of between 15% and 25%.
- National price increases of between 1% and 3%.
- Gross margin of between 49% and 51%.
- Increased investment in advertising, promotional and selling expenses of between $80 million and $90 million.
- Estimated capital spending of between $135 million and $155 million, which could be significantly higher, if deemed necessary to meet future growth.
Challenges Ahead
- Company’s actual 2020 earnings per share could vary significantly from the current projection.
- This does not include any changes in freight costs for the shipment of products to the Company’s distributors.
- Non-GAAP effective tax rate of approximately 27%, excluding the impact of ASU 2016-09.
- There is uncertainty and variability of the impact of ASU 2016-09
- The company is unable to provide a reconciliation of these Non-GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis.