WEIS MARKETS INC - Quarter Report: 2018 June (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549



FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)



WEIS MARKETS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)









Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes [X]  No [   ]



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes [X]  No [   ]



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,”  “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.



If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  [   ]



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes [   ]  No [X]



As of August 8, 2018, there were issued and outstanding 26,898,443 shares of the registrant’s common stock.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS







 

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM I – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)



See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial  Statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(unaudited)





See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial  Statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(unaudited)





See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial  Statements.



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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)



See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.    There was $3.4 million and $12.4 million in cash paid for income taxes in the first twenty-six weeks of 2018 and 2017, respectively.    Cash paid for interest related to long-term debt was $318 thousand and $540 thousand in the first twenty-six weeks of 2018 and 2017, respectively.  





 



 

(1) Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation:  The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring deferrals and accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  The operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.  The Company has evaluated subsequent events for disclosure through the date of issuance of the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and there were no material subsequent events which require additional disclosure.  For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company changed its accounting policy for cash and cash equivalents and advertising costs.  See Note 7 Cash and Cash Equivalents and Advertising Accounting Policies.    



(2) Current Relevant Accounting Standards 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), as amended by several subsequent ASU’s, which establishes principles for recognizing revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers, in an amount that reflects the expected consideration received in exchange for those goods or services.  In August 2015, the FASB issued a one-year deferral of the effective date of this new guidance resulting in it now being effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2018.  The Company has evaluated the impact of adoption of the ASU.  The Company’s assessment of the new guidance has identified customer loyalty programs and gift cards affected by the new guidance.  The Company adopted the new standard using the modified retrospective method beginning December 31, 2017.  The effects related to these transactions did not materially effect the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.  The Company determined that the adoption of the ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s point of sale product sales. 

   

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.  ASU 2016-01 generally requires that equity investments (excluding equity method investments) be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income.  The adoption of ASU 2016-01 had an impact on the net income reported in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income in the amount of $0.5 million and $1.2 million for the second quarter and the first twenty-six weeks of 2018, respectively.  The ASU was adopted as of December 31, 2017.  The cumulative effect of the adoption was made to the balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 and resulted in a reclassification of $5.5 million of related accumulated unrealized gains, net of applicable deferred income taxes, that were included in accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings, resulting in no impact on the Company’s shareholders’ equity.



In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842).  ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by their leases with lease terms more than 12 months.  ASU 2016-02 will become effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU and expects the adoption to have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.    



In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-04 Liabilities – Extinguishments of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20) Recognition of Breakage for Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products.  ASU 2016-04 requires that an entity must disclose the methodology and specific judgements made in applying the breakage recognized.  ASU 2016-04 will become effective for the financial statements issued for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017.  The Company has evaluated the effect of the adoption of the ASU and determined there was not a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company adopted ASU 2016-04 beginning December 31, 2017.

 

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(3)  Marketable Securities

The Company’s marketable securities are all classified as available-for-sale within “Current Assets” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  FASB has established three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: 

Level 1  Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2  Observable inputs, other than Level 1 inputs in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3  Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The Company’s marketable securities valued using Level 1 inputs include highly liquid equity securities, for which quoted market prices are available.  The Company’s municipal bond portfolio is valued using Level 2 inputs.  The Company’s municipal bonds are valued using a combination of pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions, cash flow models with yield curves and other pricing models utilizing observable inputs, which are considered Level 2 inputs.



For Level 2 investment valuation, the Company utilizes standard pricing procedures of its investment advisory firm which includes various third party pricing services.  These procedures also require specific price monitoring practices as well as pricing review reports, valuation oversight and pricing challenge procedures to maintain the most accurate representation of investment fair market value. 



The Company accrues interest on its bond portfolio throughout the life of each bond held.  Dividends from the equity securities are recognized as received.  Interest, dividends and unrealized gains and losses on equity securities are recognized in “Investment income and interest expense” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.  The Company recognized investment income of $178 thousand in the second quarter of 2018, which included an unrealized loss in equity securities of $459 thousand.   An investment loss of $187 thousand, which included an unrealized loss in equity securities of $1.2 million, was recognized in the first half of 2018.  Investment income was $672 thousand and $1.8 million in the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 1, 2017, respectively.  



Marketable securities, as of June 30, 2018 and December 30, 2017, consisted of:







Maturities of marketable securities classified as available-for-sale at June 30, 2018, were as follows:

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(3)  Marketable Securities (continued)

SERP Investments

The Company also maintains a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan and a non-qualified pharmacist deferred compensation plan for certain of its associates which allows them to defer income to future periods.  Participants in the plans earn a return on their deferrals based on mutual fund investments.  The Company chooses to invest in the underlying mutual fund investments to offset the liability associated with the non-qualified deferred compensation plans.  Such investments are classified as trading securities and are measured at fair value using Level 1 inputs with gains and losses included in “Investment income and interest expense” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.  The changes in the underlying liability to the associates are recorded in “Operating, general and administrative expenses.”



(4)  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

All balances in accumulated other comprehensive income are related to available-for-sale marketable securities.  The following table sets forth the balance of the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. 



The following table sets forth the effects on net income of the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the periods ended June 30, 2018 and July 1, 2017.















(5) Long-Term Debt

On September 1, 2016, Weis Markets entered into a revolving credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the Credit Agreement).  The Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100.0 million with an additional discretionary amount available of $50.0 million.  As of June 30, 2018,  the Company did not have an outstanding amount borrowed from the available $100.0 million from the credit facility.  The loan will bear interest on the outstanding principal amount at the one month LIBOR rate plus the applicable margin rate of 0.65% until its maturity on September 1, 2019.  The loan was used to fund the 2016 acquisitions and the Company’s working capital requirements.  The only financial covenant in the credit facility requires the Company’s trailing twelve month EBITDA to be at least $75.0 million.  The Credit Agreement is also being utilized by the Company for $14.4 million of outstanding letters of credit as of June 30, 2018.  The letters of credit are maintained primarily to support performance, payment, deposit or surety obligations of the Company.  The Company does not anticipate drawing on any of them. 



Interest expense related to long-term debt was $73 thousand and $260 thousand in the second quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively.  In the first half of 2018 and 2017 interest expense related to long-term debt totaled $240 thousand and $533 thousand, respectively.



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(6) Revenue Recognition

The adoption of ASU 2014-9 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.  The Chief Operating Officer, the Company’s chief operating decision maker, analyzes store operational revenues by geographical area but each area offers customers similar product, has similar distribution methods, and supported by centralized management processes.  The Company’s operations are reported as a single reportable segment.



The following table represents net sales by type of product for the thirteen week and  twenty-six week periods ending June 30, 2018 and July 1, 2017:









































(7) Cash and Cash Equivalents and Advertising Accounting Policies

As of December 31, 2017, the Company changed its policy for cash and cash equivalents to include all credit card, debit card and electronic benefits transfer transactions that process in less than seven days in the amount of $25.4 million and $26.6 million as of June 30, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively.  Management deems the classification of the amounts due from third-party financial institutions to be more appropriately reported in cash and cash equivalents due to certainty and timely settlement in less than seven days.  The amounts have been reclassified from accounts receivable to cash and cash equivalents as of December 30, 2017 in the amount of $26.6 million to conform to the presentation of the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2018.



As of December 31, 2017, the Company changed its policy for advertising costs to expense advertising costs as incurred, net of vendor paid cooperative advertising credits, in Cost of sales, in the amount of $2.5 million and $6.1 million for the thirteen weeks and $4.4 million and $6.9 million for the twenty-six weeks ended June 30, 2018 and July 1, 2017, respectively.  Management deems that the policy change to record net advertising costs in Cost of sales instead of Operating, general and administrative expenses better represents Cost of sales inclusive of direct product costs (net of discounts and allowances), distribution center and transportation costs, manufacturing facility operations and advertising costs that are primarily funded by vendor cooperative advertising credits and occur in the same period the product is sold.  Advertising costs net of vendor cooperative advertising credits have been reclassified to Cost of sales out of Operating, General and Administrative costs for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended and July 1, 2017 in the amount of $6.1 million and $6.9 million, respectively, to conform to the presentation of the Consolidated Statement of Income for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 30, 2018.  



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(7) Cash and Cash Equivalents and Advertising Accounting Policies (continued)

The tables below summarize the effect of the reclassifications of previously reported Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 and the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 1, 2017.

























(8) Income Taxes

The Company reflected the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (The Act), in its 2017 financial statements.  This included the effects of the change in the US Corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% on deferred tax assets and liabilities.  The Company’s tax expense for the period ended June 30, 2018 includes the reduction in the U.S. federal tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective for the Company’s 2018 tax year.  The Company’s tax provision also reflects other changes as a result of the Act, including the impact of changes effecting the deductibility of certain executive compensation and immediate expensing of qualified assets placed into service after September 27, 2017.





 



The following discussion and analysis of Weis Markets, Inc.’s (the “Company”) financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2017, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the cautionary statement captioned "Forward-Looking Statements" immediately following this analysis.



Company Summary



Weis Markets is a conventional supermarket chain that operates 206 retail stores with over 23,000 associates located in Pennsylvania and six surrounding states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.  The Company's retail food stores sell groceries, dairy products, frozen foods, meats, seafood, fresh produce, floral, pharmacy services, deli products, prepared foods, bakery products, beer and wine, fuel and general merchandise items, such as health and beauty care and household products.  The store product selection includes national, local and private brands including natural, gluten-free and organic varieties.     



The Company advertises its products and promotes its brand through weekly newspaper circulars; radio ads; e-mail blasts; and on-line via its web site, social media and mobile applications.  Printed circulars are used extensively on a weekly basis to advertise featured items.  The Company promotes by using Everyday Lower Price, Low Price Guarantee and utilizes a loyalty marketing program, “Weis Club Preferred Shopper,” which enables customers to receive discounts, promotions and in-store and fuel rewards.  

   

Utilizing its own centrally located distribution center and transportation fleet, Weis Markets self distributes approximately 66% of product with the remaining being supplied by direct store vendors.  In addition, the Company has three manufacturing facilities which process milk, ice cream and fresh meat products primarily for the Company’s stores but serve other companies as well.  The corporate offices are located in Sunbury, PA where the Company was founded in 1912. 



In 2016, Weis Markets acquired five Mars Super Market locations in Baltimore County, MD, 38 Food Lion stores throughout Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, and a Nell's Family Market in East Berlin, PA.  The completion of these individual acquisitions expanded the Company's footprint into Virginia and Delaware, and increased its store count by 25 percent.  To date and during the second quarter of 2018, the acquired store group is providing a positive cash flow for the Company as management continues to develop the stores using its business model.  As the acquired stores assimilate, management anticipates the adverse impact of those stores on costs to lessen.  Although there are no pending acquisitions, the Company continues to actively investigate acquisition opportunities as well as grow its existing store base organically.



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(continued)

Results of Operations





Net Sales

Analysis of Sales





When calculating the percentage change in comparable store sales, the Company defines a new store to be comparable after it has been in operation for five full quarters.  Relocated stores and stores with expanded square footage are included in comparable store sales since these units are located in existing markets and are open during construction.  Planned store dispositions are excluded from the calculation.  The Company only includes retail food stores in the calculation.



The Company’s second quarter sales were adversely affected by holiday shifts on Easter and Fourth of July.  The 2018 Easter sales week fell on the last week of the first quarter and the slow selling week afterwards fell in the second quarter this year.  While comparatively last year, both holiday selling weeks fell in the second quarter.  Additionally, the Fourth of July fell later in the week after the second quarter ended.    Management estimates the incremental holiday sales impact was approximately $12.5 million and included it in the second quarter 2018 comparable store sales.  

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(continued)

Results of Operations (continued)



Net Sales (continued)

Analysis of Sales (continued)



According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report, the annual Seasonally Adjusted Food-at-Home Consumer Price Index increased 0.5% compared to a decrease of 1.5% for the same period last year.  Even though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ index rates may be reflective of a trend, it will not necessarily be indicative of the Company’s actual results.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the thirteen week average price of gasoline in the Central Atlantic States increased 15.4% or $0.40 per gallon in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the same quarter in 2017.  The 2018 twenty-six week average price of gasoline for the Central Atlantic States increased 12.4% or $0.32  per gallon.



Comparable store sales for the first twenty-six weeks of 2018 remained positive compared to the same period a year ago.  This was achieved over increases of 1.9% and 1.4% for comparable store sales in 2017 versus 2016 with and without fuel, respectively.  In conjunction with its marketing initiatives the Company continues to add additional product offerings and customer conveniences such as “Weis 2 Go Online” currently offered in 81 store locations.  “Weis 2 Go Online” allows the customer to order on-line and then pick their order up at a drive-thru location at the store.  The Company continues to expand this offering.  Along with product offerings and programs, the Company experienced inflation in some of its fresh categories most notably eggs, fruits and vegetables.  Fuel sales benefited from inflation as comparable fuel sales rose 11.2% and 11.3% during the second quarter and the first half of 2018, respectively.



Although the Company experienced retail inflation and deflation in various commodities for the years presented, management cannot accurately measure the full impact of inflation or deflation on retail pricing due to changes in the types of merchandise sold between periods, shifts in customer buying patterns and the fluctuation of competitive factors.  Management remains confident in its ability to generate sales growth in a highly competitive environment, but also understands some competitors have greater financial resources and could use these resources to take measures which could adversely affect the Company's competitive position.



Cost of Sales and Gross Profit

Cost of sales consists of direct product costs (net of discounts and allowances), net advertising costs, distribution center and transportation costs, as well as manufacturing facility operations.  Almost all of the increase in cost of sales in 2018 as compared to 2017 is due to the increased sales volume in 2018.  Both direct product cost and distribution cost increase when sales volume increases.



Gross profit margin increased 0.9% and 0.4% in the second quarter and the first half of 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017.  Improved price optimization and inventory management, as well as fresh department sell-through during winter weather events in the first quarter of 2018, offset increased fuel costs in transportation and LIFO charges.  In addition, the Company’s current private brand initiative to increase its brand penetration is adding to the gross profit rate.    



Non-cash LIFO inventory valuation adjustments changed from income of $622 thousand in the first half of 2017, to expense of $1.4 million in the same period of 2018.  Although costs are currently stagnant, management is anticipating some annualized product cost inflation, most notably in its pharmacy department.



Although the Company experienced product cost inflation and deflation in various commodities for the quarters presented, management cannot accurately measure the full impact of inflation or deflation on costs due to changes in the types of merchandise sold between periods, shifts in customer buying patterns and the fluctuation of competitive factors.



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(continued)

Results of Operations (continued)



Operating, General and Administrative Expenses 
The majority of the increase in operating, general and administrative expenses was driven by increased sales volume.



Employee-related costs such as wages, employer paid taxes, health care benefits and retirement plans, comprise approximately 60% of the total “Operating, general and administrative expenses.”  As a percent of sales, direct store labor increased 0.1% in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the second quarter of 2017 but decreased 0.1% in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.  The Company continues to monitor store labor efficiencies and develop labor standards to reduce cost while maintaining the Company’s customer service expectations.  Self-insured for its associate health care benefits, the Company has experienced an increase in the volume of claims and size of claims amounting to a 0.1% increase as a percent of sales comparing both the second quarter 2018 and first half of 2018 to their respective periods in 2017.  This increase is not in trend with the past several years and the Company cannot forecast whether the increase will continue.  In addition, the Company has accrued significantly more for its annual incentive programs compared to the prior year, accounting for 0.3% between the quarters and 0.2% for the first twenty-six weeks of 2018 and 2017.



Depreciation and amortization expense charged to “Operating, general and administrative expenses” was $22.7 million, or 2.6% of net sales during the second quarter of 2018 compared to $20.9 million or 2.4% of net sales during the second quarter of 2017.  During the first half of 2018 and 2017, depreciation and amortization expense charged to “Operating, general and administrative expenses” was $46.1 million, or 2.6% of net sales and $42.1 million or 2.4% of net sales, respectively.  The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was the result of additional capital expenditures as the Company implements its capital expansion program.  See the Liquidity and Capital Resources section for further information regarding the Company’s capital expansion program.















Provision for Income Taxes 

The effective income tax rate was 27.0% and 34.3% for the second quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively.  The effective income tax rate was 27.2% and 38.4% for the first half of 2018 and 2017, respectively.  The decrease in the effective income tax rate is primarily due to the Federal statutory rate reduced from 35% to 21%.  Historically, the effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory rate, primarily due to the effect of state taxes, net of permanent differences.  On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Government enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the ”Tax Reform”).  The Tax Reform significantly impacted the Company’s effective income tax rate by reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018 and allowing immediate expensing of qualified assets placed into service after September 27, 2017.  Other elements of the Tax Reform have minor impacts, however the above mentioned decreased deferred income tax by $49.3 million in 2017.  The states in which the Company does business have also passed new tax laws in response to the federal Tax Reform.  The Company expects the effective income tax rate to continue to have slight variances until all state laws have been passed.    

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(continued)

Liquidity and Capital Resources



The primary source of cash is cash flows generated from operations.    If needed, the Company is able to borrow under the 2016 revolving credit agreement from Wells Fargo Bank, NA.  The Company’s revolving credit agreement has a principal amount of $100.0 million with an additional discretionary availability of $50.0 million.  As of June 30, 2018 the Company’s unused availability under the revolving credit agreement was $85.6 million with $14.4 million of letters of credit outstanding.  The revolving credit agreement matures on September 1, 2019.  The letters of credit are maintained primarily to support performance, payment, deposit or surety obligations of the Company.  The Company does not anticipate drawing on any of them.  



The Company’s investment portfolio consists of marketable securities, which currently includes municipal bonds and equity securities.  As of June 30, 2018, the portfolio totaled $58.7 million.  Management anticipates maintaining or increasing the investment portfolio, but has the ability to liquidate if needed.



The Company’s capital expansion program includes the construction of new superstores, the expansion and remodeling of existing units, the acquisition of sites for future expansion, new technology purchases and the continued upgrade of the Company’s distribution facilities and transportation fleet.  Management currently plans to invest approximately $85.5 million in its capital expansion program in 2018. 



The Company expects that cash generated from operations and cash available under the 2016 revolving credit agreement will fund its working capital requirements, debt requirements, capital expansion program, acquisitions and dividends.  The Company has no other commitment of capital resources as of June 30, 2018, other than the lease commitments on its store facilities and transportation equipment under operating leases that expire at various dates through 2033.



The Board of Directors’ 2004 resolution authorizing the repurchase of up to one million shares of the Company’s common stock has a remaining balance of 752,468 shares.



Quarterly Cash Dividends 

At its regular meeting held in July, the Board of Directors unanimously approved a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, payable on August 13, 2018  to shareholders of record on July 30, 2018.  The  Company expects to continue paying regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, the Board of Directors reconsiders the declaration of dividends quarterly. The Company pays these dividends at the discretion of the Board of Directors and the continuation of these payments and the amount of the dividends depends upon the results of operations, the financial condition of the Company and other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant.



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(continued)

Liquidity and Capital Resources (continued)



Cash Flow Information







Operating

Cash flows from operating activities increased $21.0 million in the first twenty-six weeks of 2018 compared to the first twenty-six weeks of 2017.  Higher profits including Tax Reform savings, lower inventories and lower management incentive payouts accounted for the increase in cash provided.



Investing

Property and equipment purchases during the first twenty-six weeks of 2018 totaled $46.4 million compared to $40.3 million in the first twenty-six weeks of 2017.  The current increase in capital expenditures is primarily due to two new stores, one of which has opened in Nottingham, MD early in the second quarter of 2018 and one opened in Randolph, NJ in the third quarter of 2018.  As a percentage of sales, capital expenditures including the acquisitions were 2.7% and 2.3% in the first twenty-six weeks of 2018 and 2017,  respectively.  In 2018, the Company plans to maintain or increase its marketable securities portfolio.



Financing

The Company paid dividends of $16.1 million in the first twenty-six weeks of both 2018 and 2017.  In the first twenty-six weeks of 2018 payments on the revolving credit agreement increased net cash used in financing activities by $35.0 million, effectively eliminating the outstanding balance on the revolver.  The Company continues to maintain a zero balance on the revolver.  In the first half of 2017, payments on the revolving credit agreement increased net cash used in financing activities by $12.5 million.     



Accounting Policies and Estimates



The Company has chosen accounting policies that it believes are appropriate to accurately and fairly report its operating results and financial position, and the Company applies those accounting policies in a consistent manner. The Significant Accounting Policies are summarized in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2017 Annual Report on  Form 10-K.  There have been two changes to the Significant Accounting Policies and three new accounting standards adopted since the Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, which are summarized in Notes 2 and 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  





Forward-Looking Statements



In addition to historical information, this 10-Q Report may contain forward-looking statements, which are included pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Any forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  For example, risks and uncertainties can arise with changes in: general economic conditions, including their impact on capital expenditures; business conditions in the retail industry; the regulatory environment; rapidly changing technology and competitive factors, including increased competition with regional and national retailers; and price pressures.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of the date hereof.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.  Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents the Company files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



 



ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK



Quantitative Disclosure - There have been no material changes in the Company's market risk during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2018.  Quantitative information is set forth in Item 7a on the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” which was filed for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 and is incorporated herein by reference.



Qualitative Disclosure - This information is set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources,” within “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which was filed for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 and is incorporated herein by reference.



ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES



The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, together with the Company’s Disclosure Committee, evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2018.  Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports was accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.



In connection with the evaluation described above, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2018, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 



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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS



Exhibits
        Exhibit 31.1 Rule a-14(a) Certification - CEO
        Exhibit 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a) Certification - CFO
        Exhibit 32 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350



SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



 







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