Boston Beer Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

The Boston Beer Company (NYSE: SAM) reported a strong fourth quarter for 2020, with net revenue of $460.9 million, a 53.0% increase from Q4 2019, driven by a 54.0% rise in shipments. Net income soared to $32.8 million ($2.64 per diluted share), up 135.7% year-over-year. For the 52-week period, revenue reached $1.74 billion, a 38.9% increase. However, gross margins decreased to 46.9% from 49.1% in the previous year. Advertising and promotional expenses surged, indicating increased investment in brand visibility. Full-year 2021 estimates suggest continued growth in depletions and shipments.

Positive

• Fourth quarter net revenue increased 53.0% to $460.9 million.
• Net income rose 135.7% to $32.8 million, or $2.64 per diluted share.
• 52-week revenue reached $1.74 billion, up 38.9% from 2019.
• Depletions increased by 26% and shipments by 54% year-over-year.
• Estimated full-year 2021 Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share projected at $20.00 to $24.00.

Negative

• Gross margin declined to 46.9% from 49.1% year-over-year.
• Operating expenses increased significantly, with advertising costs rising by 51.6% in Q4.

BOSTON, Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) reported fourth quarter 2020 net revenue of $460.9 million, an increase of $159.6 million or 53.0% from the fourth quarter of 2019, mainly due to an increase in shipments of 54.0%.  Net income for the fourth quarter was $32.8 million, or $2.64 per diluted share, an increase of $19.1 million or $1.52 per diluted share, or 135.7%, from the fourth quarter of 2019.  This increase was primarily due to increased net revenue, partially offset by lower gross margins and increases in operating expenses.

Earnings per diluted share for the 52-week period ended December 26, 2020 were $15.53, an increase of $6.37, or 69.6%, from the comparable 52-week period in 2019.  Net revenue for the 52-week period ended December 26, 2020 was $1.74 billion, an increase of $486.6 million, or 38.9%, from the comparable 52-week period in 2019.

In the fourth quarter and the 52-week period ended December 26, 2020, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $0.08 per diluted share and $0.85 per diluted share, respectively, resulting from the Accounting Standard "Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09").

Highlights of this release include:

• Depletions increased 26% and 37% from the 13- and 52-week comparable periods in the prior year.
• Shipments increased 54.0% and 38.8% from the 13- and 52-week comparable periods in the prior year.
• Gross margin was 46.9% for the fourth quarter, a decrease from 47.4% in the comparable 13-week period in 2019, and 46.9% for the 52-week period ending December 26, 2020, a decrease from 49.1% in the comparable 52-week period in 2019.
• Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased by $48.1 million, or 51.6%, in the fourth quarter over the comparable period in 2019 and increased $92.0 million, or 25.9%, over the comparable 52-week period in 2019.
• Full-year 2021 depletions and shipment growth continues to be estimated at between 35% and 45%.
• Based on current spending and investment plans, full-year 2021 Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share¹, which excludes the impact of ASU 2016-09, are now estimated at between $20.00 and $24.00.

¹ See "Outlook" below for additional information regarding non-GAAP forward-looking measures used in this press release.

Jim Koch, Chairman and Founder of the Company, commented, "As the COVID-19 pandemic slowly winds down, our primary focus continues to be on operating our breweries and our business safely and working hard to meet customer demand.  I am very proud of the passion, creativity and commitment to community that our company has demonstrated during this pandemic.  We are thankful to our outstanding coworkers for their focus and diligence and our distributors, retailers and drinkers, all of whom helped the Company to achieve double digit volume growth for the eleventh consecutive quarter. We achieved depletions growth of 26% in the fourth quarter and 37% for the full year.  We remain positive about the future growth of our diversified brand portfolio and we believe that our depletions growth is attributable to our key innovations, the quality of our products and our strong brands.  We see significant distribution and volume growth opportunities in 2021 for our Truly, Twisted Tea and Dogfish Head brands, which remain our top priorities for 2021.  Early in 2021, we launched Truly Iced Tea Hard Seltzer which combines refreshing hard seltzer with real brewed tea and fruit flavor. The launch has been well received by distributors, retailers and drinkers, but it is too early to tell if it will be successful.  We are working hard to further develop our brand support and messaging for our Samuel Adams and Angry Orchard brands to position them for long-term sustainable growth, in the face of the difficult on-premise environment. We are excited about the response to the introduction in early 2021 of several new beers, Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy, Samuel Adams Wicked Easy and Samuel Adams Just the Haze, our first non-alcoholic beer, as well as the positive reaction to our Samuel Adams 'Your Cousin from Boston' advertising campaign.  We are confident in our ability to innovate and build strong brands that complement our current portfolio and help support our mission of long-term profitable growth."

Dave Burwick, the Company's President and CEO, stated, "Our depletions growth in the fourth quarter was the result of increases in our Truly Hard Seltzer and Twisted Tea brands, partly offset by decreases in our Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard and Dogfish Head brands.  The growth of the Truly brand, led by Truly Lemonade Hard Seltzer, continues to be very strong and well ahead of hard seltzer category growth.  Truly Lemonade was the most incremental new product in the entire beer industry in measured off-premise channels in 2020.  The Truly brand overall generated triple-digit volume growth in 2020 and grew its velocity and its market share sequentially despite other national, regional and local hard seltzer brands entering the category.  In 2020, Truly increased its market share in measured off-premise channels from 22 points to 26 points and was the only national hard seltzer, not introduced in 2020, to grow share.  There remain many opportunities to expand package, channel and geographic distribution and we expect the Truly brand to continue to lead the growth of the business as it has come to stand for a great-tasting, refreshing, pure-play hard seltzer brand.  In early 2021, we launched Truly Iced Tea Hard Seltzer and, while it's still in the early stages, we're encouraged by the support our wholesalers have provided, the trial we are generating as a result of the brand's established equity, and the social media response from consumers.  We will continue to invest heavily in the broader Truly brand and work to improve our position in the hard seltzer category, as competition continues to increase.  Our Twisted Tea brand has benefited greatly from increased at-home consumption and continues to generate accelerating double-digit volume growth, even as new entrants have been introduced and competition has increased.  Our Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard and Dogfish Head brands have been most negatively impacted by COVID-19 and the related on-premise closures.  For 2021, we plan to build upon our success and work to drive our brands to their full potential, with a particular focus on our Truly and Twisted Tea brands. We are expecting all of our brands to grow in 2021 and for the growth rate of our operating expenses to be below our top line growth rate, delivering leverage to our operating income."

Mr. Burwick went on to say, "During the fourth quarter, as we increased our brand spend, we also made investments in our supply chain to ensure we are prepared for increased competitive activity in the hard seltzer category. We have invested to increase our can and automated variety pack capacity, but these capacity increases keep on getting eclipsed by our depletions growth, resulting in higher than expected usage of third-party breweries.  We will continue to take advantage of the fast-growing hard seltzer category and deliver against the increased demand through this combination of internal capacity increases and higher usage of third-party breweries, although meeting these higher volumes through increased usage of third-party breweries  has a negative impact on our gross margins.  We have begun a comprehensive program to transform our supply chain with the goal of making our integrated supply chain more efficient, reduce costs, increase our flexibility to better react to mix changes, and allow us to scale up more efficiently.  We expect to complete this transformation over the next two to three years. While we anticipate the program to start delivering margin improvements in 2021, our gross margins and gross margin expectations will continue to be impacted negatively until the volume growth stabilizes. While we are in a very competitive business, we are optimistic for continued growth of our current brand portfolio and innovations and we remain prepared to forsake short-term earnings as we invest to sustain long-term profitable growth, in line with the opportunities that we see."

COVID-19
The Company began seeing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business in early March 2020.  The direct financial impact of the pandemic has primarily shown in significantly reduced keg demand from the on-premise channel and higher labor and safety-related costs at the Company's breweries. In the 52-week period ended December 26, 2020, the Company recorded COVID-19 related pre-tax reductions in net revenue and increases in other costs that total $16.0 million, of which $1.8 million was recorded in the fourth quarter.  The total amount consists of a $3.3 million reduction in net revenue for estimated keg returns from distributors and retailers and $12.7 million of other COVID-19 related direct costs.  In addition to these direct financial impacts, COVID-19 related safety measures resulted in a reduction of brewery productivity. This has shifted more volume to third-party breweries, which increased production costs and negatively impacted gross margins.  The Company will continue to assess and manage this situation and will provide a further update in each quarterly earnings release, to the extent that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are then known more clearly.

4th Quarter 2020 Summary of Results
Depletions increased 26% from the comparable 13-week period in 2019. 

Shipment volume was approximately 1.94 million barrels, a 54.0% increase from the comparable 13-week period in 2019.

Shipments for the quarter increased at a higher rate than depletions and resulted in higher distributor inventory as of December 26, 2020, when compared to December 28, 2019. The Company believes distributor inventory as of December 26, 2020 averaged approximately 5 weeks on hand and was at an appropriate level, based on supply chain capacity constraints and wholesaler inventory requirements to support the forecasted growth.  

Gross margin of 46.9% decreased from the 47.4% margin realized in the comparable 13-week period in 2019, primarily as a result of higher processing costs due to increased production at third party breweries, partially offset by cost saving initiatives at Company-owned breweries and price increases.

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased $48.1 million from the comparable 13-week period in 2019, primarily due to increased investments in media and production, increased salaries and benefits costs and increased freight to distributors because of higher volumes.

General and administrative expenses were flat from the comparable 13-week period in 2019, primarily due to non-recurring Dogfish Head transaction-related expenses of $2.1 million incurred in the comparable 13-week period in 2019, partially offset by increases in salaries and benefits costs.

Impairment of long-lived assets increased $1.0 million from the comparable 13-week period in 2019, primarily due to write-downs of brewery equipment at the Company's breweries.

The Company's effective tax rate for the 13-week period ended December 26, 2020 increased to 22.9% from 21.4% in the comparable 13-week period in 2019.

Full Year 2020 Summary of Results
Depletions increased 37% from the comparable 52-week period in 2019, reflecting increases in the Company's Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea brands and the addition of the Dogfish Head brands that were only partially offset by decreases in the Samuel Adams and Angry Orchard brands.  Excluding the addition of the Dogfish Head brands beginning July 3, 2019, depletions increased 35%, from the 52-week comparable period.

Shipment volume was approximately 7.37 million barrels, a 38.8% increase from the comparable 52-week period in 2019.

Gross margin of 46.9% decreased from the 49.1% margin realized in the comparable 52-week period in 2019, primarily as a result of higher processing costs due to increased production at third party breweries and higher processing costs and finished goods keg inventory write-offs at Company-owned breweries, partially offset by cost saving initiatives at Company-owned breweries and price increases.

Advertising, promotional and selling expenses increased $92.0 million from the comparable 52-week period in 2019, primarily due to increased investments in media and production, higher salaries and benefits costs, the addition of Dogfish Head brand-related expenses beginning July 3, 2019, and increased freight to distributors due to higher volumes.

General and administrative expenses increased  $5.5 million from the comparable 52-week period in 2019, primarily due to increases in salaries and benefits costs and the addition of Dogfish Head general and administrative expenses beginning July 3, 2019, partially offset by the Dogfish Head transaction-related fees of $7.8 million incurred in the comparable 52-week period in 2019.

Impairment of long-lived assets increased $3.5 million from the comparable 52-week period in 2019, primarily due to write-downs of brewery equipment at the Company's Breweries.

The Company's effective tax rate for the 52-week period ended December 26, 2020 decreased to 21.4% from 23.8% in the comparable 52-week period in 2019.  This decrease was primarily due to a higher tax benefit from stock option activity recorded in accordance with ASU 2016-09.

The Company expects that its December 26, 2020 cash balance of $163.3 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 the 52-week period ended December 26, 2020 and the period from December 26, 2020 through February 12, 2021, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Class A Common Stock.  As of February 12, 2021, the Company had approximately $90.3 million remaining on the $931.0 million share buyback expenditure limit set by the Board of Directors.

Depletion estimates
Year-to-date depletions through the 6-week period ended February 6, 2021 are estimated by the Company to have increased approximately 53% from the comparable weeks in 2020.

2021 Outlook
The Company currently projects full year 2021 Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of between $20.00 and $24.00.  This Non-GAAP projection excludes the impact of ASU 2016-09.  The Company's actual 2021 earnings per share could vary significantly from the current projection.  Underlying the Company's current 2021 projection are the following full-year estimates and targets:

• Depletions and shipments percentage increase between 35% and 45%.
• National price increases of between 1% and 2%.
• Gross margin of between 45% and 47%, a decrease from the previously communicated estimate of between 46% and 48%.
• Increased investments in advertising, promotional and selling expenses of between $120 million and $140 million, a decrease from the previously communicated estimate of between $130 million and $150 million.  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 26.5%, excluding the impact of ASU 2016-09. This effective tax rate also excludes any potential future changes to current federal income tax rates and regulations.  
• Estimated capital spending of between $300 million and $400 million, which could be significantly higher, if deemed necessary to meet future growth.

Non-GAAP effective tax rate and Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share are not defined terms under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). These Non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for diluted earnings per share and effective tax rate data prepared in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to calculations of similarly titled measures by other companies. The Company's projection for its Non-GAAP effective tax rate and Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share exclude the impact of ASU 2016-09, which could be significant and will depend largely upon unpredictable future events outside the Company's control, including the timing and value realized upon exercise of stock options versus the fair value of those options when granted. Therefore, because of the uncertainty and variability of the impact of ASU 2016-09, the Company is unable to provide, without unreasonable effort, a reconciliation of these Non-GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis.

About the Company
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) began in 1984 brewing Samuel Adams beer and the Samuel Adams brand is currently recognized as one of the largest and most respected craft beer brands.  Our portfolio of brands also includes Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard Hard Cider and Dogfish Head Brewery as well as other craft beer brands such as Angel City Brewery and Coney Island Brewing. For more information, please visit our investor relations website at www.bostonbeer.com, which includes links to all of our respective brand websites.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this press release that state the Company's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements.  It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.  Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the Company's report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 28, 2019 and December 26, 2020 and subsequent filings made prior to or after the date hereof.  Copies of these documents may be found on the Company's website, www.bostonbeer.com, or obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC.

 

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
	(unaudited)
	December 26,				December 28,				December 26,				December 28,
	2020 (13 weeks)				2019 (13 weeks)				2020 (52 weeks)				2019 (52 weeks)
Barrels sold		1,943				1,262				7,368				5,307
Revenue	$	493,250			$	320,215			$	1,851,813			$	1,329,108
Less excise taxes		32,313				18,915				115,381				79,284
Net revenue		460,937				301,300				1,736,432				1,249,824
Cost of goods sold		244,667				158,511				921,980				635,658
Gross profit		216,270				142,789				814,452				614,166
Operating expenses:
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses		141,318				93,241				447,568				355,613
General and administrative expenses		31,157				31,178				118,211				112,730
Impairment of assets		1,670				668				4,466				911
Total operating expenses		174,145				125,087				570,245				469,254
Operating income		42,125				17,702				244,207				144,912
Other income (expense), net:
Interest (expense) income, net		(30)				175				(199)				647
Other income (expense), net		444				(371)				222				(1,189)
Total other income (expense), net		414				(196)				23				(542)
Income before income tax provision		42,539				17,506				244,230				144,370
Income tax provision		9,722				3,744				52,270				34,329
Net income	$	32,817			$	13,762			$	191,960			$	110,041
Net income per common share - basic	$	2.68			$	1.13			$	15.73			$	9.26
Net income per common share - diluted	$	2.64			$	1.12			$	15.53			$	9.16
Weighted-average number of common shares - Class A basic		9,947				9,242				9,734				8,908
Weighted-average number of common shares - Class B basic		2,232				2,794				2,396				2,873
Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted		12,355				12,170				12,283				11,908
Net income	$	32,817			$	13,762			$	191,960			$	110,041
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Currency translation adjustment		35				4				25				47
Defined benefit plans liability adjustment		275				(519)				1,392				(519)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:		310				(515)				1,417				(472)
Comprehensive income	$	33,127			$	13,247			$	193,377			$	109,569

 

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
			December 26,				December 28,
			2020				2019
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			$	163,282			$	36,670
Accounts receivable				78,358				54,404
Inventories				130,910				106,038
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				30,230				12,077
Income tax receivable				10,393				9,459
Total current assets				413,173				218,648
Property, plant and equipment, net				623,083				541,068
Operating right-of-use assets				58,483				53,758
Goodwill				112,529				112,529
Intangible assets				103,930				104,272
Other assets				67,627				23,782
Total assets			$	1,378,825			$	1,054,057
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable			$	121,647			$	76,374
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities				129,544				99,107
Current operating lease liabilities				8,232				5,168
Total current liabilities				259,423				180,649
Deferred income taxes				92,665				75,010
Non-current operating lease liabilities				59,171				53,940
Other liabilities				10,599				8,822
Total liabilities				421,858				318,421
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity:
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value; 22,700,000    shares authorized; 10,004,681 and 9,370,526 shares    issued and outstanding as of December 26, 2020    and December 28, 2019, respectively				100				94
Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value; 4,200,000 shares    authorized;  2,177,983 and 2,672,983 shares issued and    outstanding as of December 26, 2020 and December    28, 2019, respectively				22				27
Additional paid-in capital				599,737				571,784
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax				(252)				(1,669)
Retained earnings				357,360				165,400
Total stockholders' equity				956,967				735,636
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$	1,378,825			$	1,054,057

 

THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
			Year Ended
			December 26,				December 28,
			2020				2019
Cash flows provided by operating activities:
Net income			$	191,960			$	110,041
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization				65,657				56,271
Impairment of assets				4,466				911
(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment				(639)				871
Change in ROU assets				7,355				4,207
Bad debt expense				488				45
Stock-based compensation expense				15,282				12,337
Deferred income taxes				17,655				7,404
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable				(24,014)				(12,260)
Inventories				(24,463)				(24,932)
Prepaid expenses, income tax receivable and other current assets				(19,411)				(1,530)
Other assets				(44,322)				(12,332)
Accounts payable				40,771				21,417
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities				24,469				18,618
Change in operating lease liability				(3,786)				(3,277)
Other liabilities				1,939				451
Net cash provided by operating activities				253,407				178,242
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment				(139,996)				(93,233)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment				487				165
Investment in Dogfish Head, net of cash acquired				—				(165,517)
Other investing activities				392				(244)
Net cash used in investing activities				(139,117)				(258,829)
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and sale of investment shares				15,274				9,236
Net cash paid on note payable and finance leases				(1,260)				(378)
Cash borrowed on line of credit				100,000				97,000
Cash paid on line of credit				(100,000)				(97,000)
Payment of tax withholdings on stock-based payment awards and investment shares				(1,692)				—
Net cash provided by financing activities				12,322				8,858
Change in cash and cash equivalents				126,612				(71,729)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				36,670				108,399
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period			$	163,282			$	36,670

 

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SOURCE The Boston Beer Company, Inc.

FAQ

What were Boston Beer Company's fourth quarter 2020 earnings per share?

Boston Beer Company reported earnings of $2.64 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2020.

How much did Boston Beer Company's net revenue increase in 2020?

Net revenue for Boston Beer Company increased by $486.6 million or 38.9%, reaching $1.74 billion for the 52-week period.

What are the projected Non-GAAP earnings for Boston Beer Company in 2021?

The estimated Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share for Boston Beer Company in 2021 are between $20.00 and $24.00.

What percentage did shipments increase for Boston Beer Company in Q4 2020?

Shipments for Boston Beer Company increased by 54.0% in the fourth quarter of 2020.

How did Boston Beer Company's gross margin change in 2020?

Boston Beer Company's gross margin decreased to 46.9% for both the fourth quarter and the 52-week period ending December 26, 2020.