Kroger Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results and Updates Guidance

Third Quarter Highlights 

• Identical Sales without fuel decreased 0.6%; underlying Identical Sales without fuel increased 1.0%⁽¹⁾
• Operating Profit of $912 million; EPS of $0.88
• Adjusted FIFO Operating Profit of $1,022 million; Adjusted EPS of $0.95
• Achieved strong Adjusted Free Cash Flow leading to a net total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.40, compared to a target range of 2.3 to 2.5
• Executed its go-to-market strategy to deliver value for customers
  • Grew digital sales 11%
  • Increased total and loyal customer households

CINCINNATI, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) today reported its third quarter 2023 results and updated investors on how Leading with Fresh and Accelerating with Digital continues to position Kroger for long-term sustainable growth.

Comments from Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen

"Kroger's third quarter results highlight the strength and diversity of our business model in a challenged operating environment, as strong fuel performance and growth in our alternative profit businesses supported continued adjusted net earnings per diluted share growth.

As consumer spending tightens, we are focused on providing customers with exceptional value. By maintaining our long-term commitment to lower prices, personalized promotions and rewards, we are growing households and increasing loyalty, positioning Kroger for sustainable future growth. We appreciate our associates and continue to invest in wages, benefits and training, which is resulting in continued improvements in our customer experience.

Our model's strength allows us to navigate many economic environments. We remain committed to balancing investments in associates and greater value for our customers while continuing to generate attractive and sustainable returns for our shareholders."    

Third Quarter Financial Results

Total company sales were $34.0 billion in the third quarter, compared to $34.2 billion for the same period last year. Excluding fuel, sales decreased 0.5% compared to the same period last year.

Gross margin was 22.0% of sales for the third quarter. The FIFO gross margin rate, excluding fuel, increased 3 basis points compared to the same period last year. The increase in the FIFO gross margin rate, excluding fuel, was primarily attributable to Our Brands performance, sourcing benefits and the effect of our terminated agreement with Express Scripts, partially offset by higher shrink and advertising costs, and increased price investments.

The LIFO charge for the quarter was $29 million, compared to a LIFO charge of $152 million for the same period last year. The decreased charge was due to lower expected year over year inflation.

The Operating, General & Administrative rate increased 32 basis points, excluding fuel and adjustment items, compared to the same period last year. The increase in OG&A rate was driven by planned investments in associates, investments in strategic growth initiatives and the effect of our terminated agreement with Express Scripts, partially offset by continued execution of cost savings initiatives and lower incentive plan costs.

Capital Allocation Strategy

Kroger expects to continue to generate strong free cash flow and remains committed to investing in the business to drive long-term sustainable net earnings growth, as well as maintaining its current investment grade debt rating. The Company expects to continue to pay its quarterly dividend and expects this to increase over time, subject to board approval. Kroger has paused its share repurchase program to prioritize de-leveraging following the proposed merger with Albertsons.

Kroger's net total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio is 1.40, compared to 1.61 a year ago (Table 5). The company's net total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio target range is 2.30 to 2.50. 

Full-Year 2023 Guidance*

Updated

• Identical sales without fuel of 0.6% – 1.0%, with underlying growth of 2.1% – 2.5% after adjusting for the effect of Express Scripts
• Adjusted FIFO Operating Profit of $4.9 – $5.0 billion
• Adjusted net earnings per diluted share of $4.50 – $4.60, including an estimated benefit from the 53rd week of approximately $0.15

Maintained

• Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $2.5 – $2.7 billion**
• Adjusted effective tax rate of 23%***
• Capital expenditures of $3.4 – $3.6 billion

Comments from CFO Gary Millerchip

"Kroger delivered another quarter of consistent adjusted net earnings per diluted share growth, demonstrating the strength of our value creation model.

Looking to the rest of the year, we are updating our full-year guidance to reflect the impact of near-term economic pressures and food-at-home disinflation. We now expect full-year identical sales without fuel to be in the range of 0.6% to 1.0% (with underlying growth of 2.1% to 2.5% after adjusting for the effect of Express Scripts), and adjusted FIFO net operating profit to be in the range of $4.9 to $5.0 billion. At the same time, we are confident in our ability to navigate these near-term headwinds and we are raising the lower end of our full-year adjusted net earnings per diluted share guidance range. We now expect adjusted EPS to be between $4.50 to $4.60.

Kroger remains committed to delivering attractive and sustainable returns for shareholders."  

Third Quarter 2023 Highlights 

Leading with Fresh  

• Accelerated Fresh Produce Initiative with a total of 2,053 stores now certified, adding more days of freshness for customers
• Added Kroger® Mercado, a Hispanic-inspired brand to the Our Brands' portfolio
• Celebrated six awards earned by Murray's Cheese varieties at the World Cheese Awards
• Committed to increasing local products in stores by 10% following proposed merger with Albertsons Companies

Accelerating with Digital

• Increased delivery sales by 20% over last year, led by Kroger Boost and Customer Fulfillment Centers
• Celebrated 6^th anniversary of one of the Company's alternative profit businesses, Kroger Precision Marketing
• Increased digitally engaged households by 13% compared to last year

Associate Experience 

• Celebrated 38 company leaders named 2023 Progressive Grocer GenNext Honorees
• Hosted career expo event in support of commitment to hiring veterans and their families
• Named by Axonify as a 2023 Frontline Champion in recognition of Kroger's support for frontline associates

Live Our Purpose

• Published 2023 ESG Report sharing progress on Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste impact plan
• Awarded $1 million in grants to Hispanic organizations in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
• Hosted the Kroger Wellness Festival, a two day event celebrating physical, mental and emotional health for the whole family

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are, across our family of companies nearly half a million associates who serve over eleven million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

Kroger's third quarter 2023 ended on November 4, 2023. 

Note: Fuel sales have historically had a low gross margin rate and operating expense rate as compared to corresponding rates on non-fuel sales. As a result, Kroger discusses the changes in these rates excluding the effect of fuel.

Please refer to the supplemental information presented in the tables for reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release to the most comparable GAAP financial measure and related disclosure. As noted above, Kroger is unable to provide a full reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP measures used in its guidance without unreasonable effort because it is not possible to predict certain of our adjustment items with a reasonable degree of certainty. This information is dependent upon future events and may be outside of our control and its unavailability could have a significant impact on GAAP financial results.

This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" about the future performance of the company. These statements are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "achieve," "committed," "continue," "deliver," "expect," "future," "guidance," "model," "positions," "strategy," "target," and variations of such words and similar phrases. Various uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include the specific risk factors identified in "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for our last fiscal year and any subsequent filings, as well as the following:

Kroger's ability to achieve sales, earnings, incremental FIFO operating profit, and adjusted free cash flow goals may be affected by: the risks relating to or arising from our proposed nationwide opioid litigation settlement, including our ability to finalize and effectuate the settlement, the scope and coverage of the ultimate settlement and the expected financial or other impacts that could result from the settlement; our proposed transaction with Albertsons announced in October 2022, including, among others, our ability to consummate the proposed transaction and related divestiture plan, including on the terms of the merger agreement and divestiture plan, on the anticipated timeline, and/or with the required regulatory approvals; COVID-19 pandemic related factors, risks and challenges; labor negotiations; potential work stoppages; changes in the unemployment rate; pressures in the labor market; changes in government-funded benefit programs; changes in the types and numbers of businesses that compete with Kroger; pricing and promotional activities of existing and new competitors, and the aggressiveness of that competition; Kroger's response to these actions; the state of the economy, including interest rates, the current inflationary environment and future potential inflationary, disinflationary and/or deflationary trends and such trends in certain commodities, products and/or operating costs; the geopolitical environment including wars and conflicts; unstable political situations and social unrest; changes in tariffs; the effect that fuel costs have on consumer spending; volatility of fuel margins; manufacturing commodity costs; supply constraints; diesel fuel costs related to Kroger's logistics operations; trends in consumer spending; the extent to which Kroger's customers exercise caution in their purchasing in response to economic conditions; the uncertainty of economic growth or recession; stock repurchases; changes in the regulatory environment in which Kroger operates; Kroger's ability to retain pharmacy sales from third party payors; consolidation in the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefit managers; Kroger's ability to negotiate modifications to multi-employer pension plans; natural disasters or adverse weather conditions; the effect of public health crises or other significant catastrophic events; the potential costs and risks associated with potential cyber-attacks or data security breaches; the success of Kroger's future growth plans; the ability to execute our growth strategy and value creation model, including continued cost savings, growth of our alternative profit businesses, and our ability to better serve our customers and to generate customer loyalty and sustainable growth through our strategic pillars of fresh, our brands, personalization, and seamless; and the successful integration of merged companies and new partnerships. Our ability to achieve these goals may also be affected by our ability to manage the factors identified above. Our ability to execute our financial strategy may be affected by our ability to generate cash flow.

Kroger's adjusted effective tax rate may differ from the expected rate due to changes in tax laws, the status of pending items with various taxing authorities, and the deductibility of certain expenses.

Kroger assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable law. Please refer to Kroger's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties.

Note: Kroger's quarterly conference call with investors will broadcast live at 10 a.m. (ET) on November 30, 2023 at ir.kroger.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available at approximately 1 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, November 30, 2023.

3^rd Quarter 2023 Tables Include:

1. Consolidated Statements of Operations
2. Consolidated Balance Sheets
3. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
4. Supplemental Sales Information
5. Reconciliation of Net Total Debt and Net Earnings Attributable to The Kroger Co. to Adjusted EBITDA
6. Net Earnings Per Diluted Share Excluding the Adjustment Items
7. Operating Profit Excluding the Adjustment Items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.