Exhibit 99.1
Whole Foods Market Announces Record First Quarter Results
Sales Increase 21% to Over $1.1 Billion; Diluted EPS Increase 45% to $0.60;
Company Raises EPS Guidance for Fiscal Year
The Company will host a conference call today to discuss this earnings
announcement at 4:00 p.m. CST. The dial in number is 1-800-362-0571 and the
conference ID is "Whole Foods." A replay will be available for approximately
48 hours at 1-402-220-1157. A simultaneous audio webcast will also be
available at www.wholefoodsmarket.com . The audio webcast will be archived
for thirty days.
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Whole Foods Market, Inc.
(Nasdaq: WFMI) today reported sales and earnings for the first quarter ended
January 18, 2004. Sales for the 16-week quarter increased 21% to $1.1 billion
from $924 million in the prior year. This increase was driven by 8% weighted
average year-over-year square footage growth and comparable store sales growth
of 14.7%. Sales in identical stores (excluding one relocated store and two
major store expansions) increased 14.3% for the quarter. In Southern
California, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers union were on
strike during the last fourteen weeks of the sixteen-week quarter. Nineteen
of the Company's stores experienced an increase in sales due to the strike, 17
of which are in the comparable store base. Excluding the stores positively
impacted by the strike, comparable store sales increased 12.8% for the
quarter.
Net income for the quarter increased 51% to $38.7 million from
$25.6 million in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share increased 45% to
$0.60 from $0.42 in the prior year. The Company attributes the above-average
increase in net income and earnings per share to the stronger-than-expected
sales across the country, a positive contribution from the Harry's stores and
facilities compared to a loss in the prior year, and lower pre-opening
expenses of $1.8 million compared to $3.8 million in the prior year.
Additionally, last year's first quarter results included a pre-tax impairment
charge of $1.4 million related to the Company's investment in Gaiam, Inc.
compared to a loss of approximately $0.5 million relating to the sale of the
Company's investment in Gaiam Inc. during the first quarter this year.
"This was one of the best quarterly performances in our 23-year history.
For the first time, our sales for the quarter surpassed $1 billion. Our 12.8%
comparable stores sales increase, excluding the strike-impacted stores, was
well above our 10-year average of 8.5%, and this was on top of a 10.5%
comparable store sales increase in the prior year," said John Mackey, Whole
Foods Market CEO, President, Chairman and Co-founder. "We translated our 21%
sales growth into a 45% increase in diluted earnings per share, and due to our
strong results this quarter we are raising our guidance for the fiscal year."
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT) increased 49% to $41.0 million
for the quarter. The Company's capital charge for the quarter was
$37.4 million, resulting in Economic Value Added (EVA) of $3.6 million, an
improvement of $7.2 million over the prior year. Calculations reflect a 9%
weighted average cost of capital in both years.
Store returns for the first quarter:
# of
Average Average NOPAT Comp
Size Comps ROIC Stores
Stores over eight years old 27,100 13.1% 55% 58
Stores between five and eight years old 30,500 11.2% 49% 29
Stores between two and five years old 36,000 17.3% 23% 37
Stores less than two years old
(including relocations) 36,400 23.5% 9% 15
All stores in comparable store base 31,200 14.7% 33% 139
All stores open at the end of the
first quarter 31,300 28% 146
Gross profit in the first quarter increased 22% to $385 million, or 34.4%
of sales. The 39 basis point increase was due to lower occupancy expense as a
percentage of sales and improved contribution from non-retail facilities.
Direct store expenses increased 21% to $282 million, or 25.2% of sales. Store
contribution increased 27% to $103 million, or 9.2% of sales, an improvement
of 46 basis points as a percentage of sales. General and administrative (G&A)
expenses increased 15% to $36 million, or 3.2% of sales, an improvement of
17 basis points as a percentage of sales.
In the first quarter, the Company opened a second store in San Francisco,
CA, ending the quarter with 146 stores totaling approximately 4.6 million
square feet. Pre-opening and relocation expense was $1.8 million for the
quarter primarily related to four new store openings planned for the first
half of the fiscal year, as well as to accelerated depreciation for several
planned store relocations. Capital expenditures in the quarter were
$69 million of which $35 million was for new store development. The Company
produced cash flow from operations of $84 million during the quarter.
On January 16, 2004, the Company paid approximately $9 million to
shareholders in its first quarterly dividend. The $0.15 per share dividend
was paid to shareholders of record as of January 6, 2004. Subject to capital
availability and a determination that cash dividends continue to be in the
best interest of the Company's shareholders, it is the intention of the Board
of Directors to pay a quarterly dividend on an ongoing basis. Cash and
equivalents, including restricted cash, totaled approximately $182 million at
the end of the first quarter, and long-term debt, which includes $154 million
in Zero Coupon Convertible Debentures, was approximately $171 million.
On January 30, 2004, subsequent to the end of the first quarter, the
Company issued approximately $20 million of cash and $16 million of stock (or
approximately 239,000 shares) for the previously announced acquisition of
Fresh & Wild Holdings Limited. Fresh & Wild operates seven natural and
organic food stores in London and Bristol and has one store in development
scheduled to open later this year. For the twelve months ended
December 31, 2003, total sales were approximately 17.6 million British Pounds
($28.9 million(1)), and identical store sales increased 10%.
The Company opened its second New York City store located at Columbus
Circle on February 5, 2004 and will open its first store in Louisville, KY on
February 12, 2004. The Company expects to open one additional store during
the second quarter in Colorado Springs, CO.
"Our 59,000 square foot Columbus Circle store is the largest supermarket
in Manhattan and is receiving an incredibly positive reaction," said John
Mackey. "Interest has been so high that over the past weekend customers had
to wait for people to leave the store before more were allowed to enter.
While we certainly expect some of the curiosity to level off, we expect this
store to set a company record for first-week sales, and we believe it will
quickly become our top-volume store."
The Company is pleased to announce the recent signing of seven new store
sites in Birmingham, AL; Hollywood and Thousand Oaks, CA; Coral Gables, FL;
Omaha, NE; Swampscott, MA; and Toronto, Canada. The following table provides
additional information about the Company's stores in development.
Stores in development: 2/11/04 2/12/03 % Change
Number 41 23 78%
Average size (gross square feet) 45,000 42,000 6%
As a percentage of existing store
average size 147% 137% ---
Total square footage under development 1,872,000 1,033,000 81%
As a percentage of existing
square footage 40% 24% ---
Following are certain historical results as a percentage of sales for all
stores for the last four fiscal years and year to date for the current fiscal
year, as well as the four-year average through fiscal year 2003. This
information is included in order to emphasize the general consistency in the
Company's results as a percentage of sales over this period of time. Total
sales growth, percent of sales from comparable stores, one-year comparable
store sales increases and the sum of two years of comparable store sales
increases (two-year comps) are also included.
2004 4-Year
2000 2001 2002 2003 YTD Average
Gross profit 34.5% 34.8% 34.7% 34.3% 34.4% 34.5%
Direct store expenses 25.0% 25.3% 25.1% 25.2% 25.2% 25.2%
Store contribution 9.4% 9.5% 9.6% 9.2% 9.2% 9.4%
G&A (excl. goodwill amort.) 3.3% 3.6% 3.6% 3.2% 3.2% 3.4%
Sales growth 23.2% 23.6% 18.4% 17.0% 21.0% 20.5%
% of sales from comp stores 86.3% 89.0% 90.1% 91.8% 94.0% 89.7%
Comps 8.6% 9.2% 10.0% 8.6% 14.7% 9.1%
Two-year comps 16.3% 17.8% 19.2% 18.6% 25.2% 18.0%
Goals for Fiscal Year 2004:
The Company continues to expect total sales growth for fiscal year 2004 in
the range of 15% to 20%. The Company expects weighted average year-over-year
square footage growth for the year of 10%, including 41,000 square feet
related to the expansion of six existing stores. Square footage growth is
expected to be higher in the second half of the fiscal year as the Company
plans to open four new stores in the first half of the year and nine to ten
new stores, including one Fresh & Wild store and a relocation of an existing
store, in the second half of the fiscal year. The Company now expects its
Union Square store in New York City to open late in the first quarter of
fiscal year 2005, rather than in fiscal year 2004, due to delays in the
developer delivering the site to the Company.
The Company is initiating a guidance range for second quarter comparable
store sales growth of 11% to 14%. This is higher than the Company's
historical performance, reflecting continued strong sales momentum across the
country, some positive sales benefit from the ongoing strike, Easter shifting
from the third quarter last year to the second quarter this year, and a below-
average 7% comparable store sales increase in the prior year. The Company
expects comparable store sales growth for the second half of the year to be in
range of 8% to 10% assuming the strike in Southern California has ended and
noting the increasingly tougher year-over-year comparisons.
The Company continues to expect operating margin improvement in fiscal
year 2004 primarily due to slight improvements in gross profit, direct store
expenses and G&A as a percentage of sales. Pre-opening and relocation expense
is expected to be in the range of $10 million to $12 million.
Capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $210 million to
$240 million for the year. The Company does not anticipate any borrowings on
its $100 million credit line for the year. The Company expects interest
expense, net of investment and other income, to be in the range of $3 million
to $4 million, excluding the impact of potential future quarterly dividends.
Based on the Company's comparable store sales guidance of 11% to 14%, the
Company is initiating diluted earnings per share guidance for the second
quarter of $0.47 to $0.50, an expected year-over-year increase of 15% to 22%.
The Company expects pre-opening and relocation expense of approximately
$2.5 million to $3 million in the second quarter due to three new store
openings planned for the second quarter and nine to ten new store openings
planned for the second half of the fiscal year, as well as accelerated
depreciation for several planned store relocations. Due to the higher-than-
expected first quarter earnings and some expected continued positive benefit
from the ongoing strike in the second quarter, the Company is raising its
previously stated guidance for fiscal year 2004 diluted earnings per share to
$1.93 to $2.02 from $1.88 to $1.96.
The Company is not prepared to issue fiscal year 2005 guidance at this
time but emphasizes that year-over-year sales and earnings comparisons in the
first quarter of the year will be difficult due to the above-average results
the Company produced this year primarily due to the strike.
Supplemental Information: The following pie chart depicts net income and
certain expense categories, including salaries and benefits, as a percentage
of sales for the sixteen weeks ended January 18, 2004.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/investor/Q104chart.html
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company provides information
regarding EVA in the press release as additional information about its
operating results. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative
to, GAAP. The Company's management believes that this presentation provides
useful information to management, analysts and investors regarding certain
additional financial and business trends relating to the Company's results of
operations and financial condition. In addition, management uses this measure
for reviewing the financial results of the Company and for bonus and capital
planning purposes. The following table reflects reconciliations of GAAP
information to non-GAAP measures.
Sixteen weeks ended
January 18, January 19,
2004 2003
GAAP net income $ 38,742 $ 25,637
Provision for income taxes 25,828 17,092
Interest expense and other 3,737 2,995
NOPBT 68,307 45,724
Taxes (40%) (27,323) (18,290)
NOPAT 40,984 27,434
Capital charge (37,351) (30,982)
EVA $ 3,633 $ (3,548)
About Whole Foods Market:
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market(R)
(www.wholefoodsmarket.com ) is the largest natural and organic foods retailer.
The Company had sales of $3.1 billion in fiscal year 2003 and currently has
154 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for the historical
information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which could
cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward looking statements. These risks include but are not limited to
general business conditions, the timely development and opening of new stores,
the integration of acquired stores, the impact of competition, and other risks
detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report
on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2003. The Company does
not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.
(1) Based on an average exchange rate of approximately $1.64 per British
Pound for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Sixteen weeks ended
January 18, January 19,
2004 2003
Sales $ 1,118,148 $ 923,760
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs 733,003 609,190
Gross profit 385,145 314,570
Direct store expenses 281,896 233,544
Store contribution 103,249 81,026
General and administrative expenses 35,869 31,176
Pre-opening and relocation costs 1,796 3,836
Operating income 65,584 46,014
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (2,478) (2,565)
Investment and other income (expense) 1,464 (720)
Income before income taxes 64,570 42,729
Provision for income taxes 25,828 17,092
Net income $ 38,742 $ 25,637
Basic earnings per share $ 0.64 $ 0.44
Weighted average shares outstanding 60,309 58,036
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.60 $ 0.42
Weighted average shares outstanding,
diluted basis 66,634 64,738
Dividends per share $ 0.15 $ ---
A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and
diluted earnings per share calculations follows (in thousands):
Sixteen weeks ended
January 18, January 19,
2004 2003
Net income (numerator for basic
earnings per share) $ 38,742 $ 25,637
Interest on 5% zero coupon convertible
subordinated debentures, net of income taxes 1,422 1,356
Adjusted net income (numerator for diluted
earnings per share) $ 40,164 $ 26,993
Weighted average common shares outstanding
(denominator for basic earnings per share) 60,309 58,036
Potential common shares outstanding:
Assumed conversion of 5% zero coupon
convertible subordinated debentures 3,283 3,285
Assumed exercise of stock options 3,042 3,417
Weighted average common shares outstanding and
potential additional common shares outstanding
(denominator for diluted earnings per share) 66,634 64,738
Basic earnings per share $ 0.64 $ 0.44
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.60 $ 0.42
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
January 18, 2004 (unaudited) and September 28, 2003
(In thousands)
Assets
2004 2003
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 164,630 $ 165,779
Restricted cash 17,859 ---
Trade accounts receivable 55,560 45,947
Merchandise inventories 139,026 123,904
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 30,371 28,054
Total current assets 407,446 363,684
Property and equipment, net of accumulated
depreciation and amortization 755,896 718,240
Long-term investments --- 2,206
Goodwill 81,599 80,548
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization 25,945 26,569
Other assets 5,398 5,573
Total assets $ 1,276,284 $ 1,196,820
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
2004 2003
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt
and capital lease obligations $ 5,805 $ 5,806
Trade accounts payable 76,915 72,715
Accrued payroll, bonus and employee benefits 84,752 70,875
Other accrued expenses 106,143 90,188
Total current liabilities 273,615 239,584
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations,
less current installments 165,062 162,909
Other long-term liabilities 19,024 18,151
Total liabilities 457,701 420,644
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value, 150,000 shares
authorized, 60,907 and 60,299 shares issued,
60,585 and 60,070 shares outstanding in 2004
and 2003, respectively 435,393 423,297
Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,272 1,624
Retained earnings 380,918 351,255
Total shareholders' equity 818,583 776,176
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 1,276,284 $ 1,196,820
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
(In thousands)
Sixteen weeks ended
January 18, January 19,
2004 2003
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 38,742 $ 25,637
Adjustment to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 32,182 28,768
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 529 144
Rent differential 36 94
Change in LIFO reserve 1,000 1,000
Interest accretion on long-term debt 2,314 2,265
Tax benefit related to exercise
of employee stock options 6,666 5,435
Loss on long-term investments 479 1,412
Issuance of common stock to 401(k) plan 6 3,119
Net change in current assets (25,189) (17,843)
Net change in current liabilities 27,576 20,878
Net cash provided by operating activities 84,408 70,909
Cash flows from investing activities:
Development costs of new store locations (35,211) (31,700)
Other property, plant and equipment expenditures (33,929) (26,986)
Acquisition of intangible assets (49) ---
Payments for purchase of acquired entities,
net of cash acquired (3,172) ---
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment --- 2,614
Proceeds from conversion of long-term investments --- 1,000
Proceeds from the sale of long-term investments 1,815 ---
Increase in restricted cash (17,859) ---
Other investing activities --- ---
Net cash used in investing activities (88,405) (55,072)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on long-term debt and capital
lease obligations (5) (535)
Issuance of common stock 11,932 12,999
Dividends paid (9,079) ---
Net cash provided by financing activities 2,848 12,464
Cash flows from discontinued operations:
Net cash provided by discontinued operations --- 3,589
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents (1,149) 31,890
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 165,779 12,646
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 164,630 $ 44,536
Supplemental disclosures
of cash flow information:
Interest paid $ 503 $ 816
Federal and state income taxes paid $ 19,403 $ 1,112
Contact: Cindy McCann
VP of Investor Relations
512.477.4455
SOURCE Whole Foods Market, Inc.
-0- 02/11/2004
/CONTACT: Cindy McCann, VP of Investor Relations of Whole Foods Market,
Inc., +1-512-477-4455/
/Web site: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com /
(WFMI)
CO: Whole Foods Market, Inc.
ST: Texas
IN: FOD REA SUP
SU: ERN ERP CCA MAV