The Company’s effective tax rate for the13-week period ended September 28, 2019 increased to 24.1% from 19.2% in the comparable13-week period in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the favorable impact of tax accounting method changes reported in the prior year period.
Year to Date 2019 Summary of Results
Depletions increased 21% from the comparable39-week period in 2018, reflecting increases in the Company’s Truly Hard Seltzer and Twisted Tea brands and the addition of the Dogfish Head brands partially offset by decreases in its Samuel Adams and Angry Orchard brands.
Shipment volume was approximately 4.0 million barrels, a 21.5% increase from the comparable39-week period in 2018.
Gross margin at 49.7% decreased from the 51.3% margin realized in the comparable39-week period in 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 to support increased variety pack volumes, partially offset by price increases and cost saving initiatives at Company-owned breweries.
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased $20.6 million from the comparable39-week period in 2018, primarily due to increased investments in local marketing, media and production, higher salaries and benefits costs, increased freight to distributors due to higher volumes and the addition of Dogfish Head brand related expenses beginning July 3, 2019.
General and administrative expenses increased by $15.6 million from the comparable39-week period in 2018, primarily due tonon-recurring Dogfish Head Transaction-related expenses of $5.6 million, increases in salaries and benefits costs, and the addition of Dogfish Head general and administrative expenses beginning July 3, 2019.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the39-week period ended September 28, 2019 increased to 24.1% from 18.9% in the comparable39-week period in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the favorable impact of tax accounting method changes reported in the prior year period.
The Company expects that its September 28, 2019 cash balance of $27.1 million, together with its future operating cash flows and its $150.0 million line of credit, will be sufficient to fund future cash requirements. The company currently has no amounts outstanding on its line of credit.
During the39-week period ended September 28, 2019 and the period from September 29, 2019 through October 26, 2019, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Class A Common Stock. As of October 26, 2019, the Company had approximately $90.3 million remaining on the $931.0 million share buyback expenditure limit set by the Board of Directors.