UniFirst Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) reported strong first quarter financial results, with a 9.5% increase in consolidated revenues to $593.5 million. Operating income rose by 22.4% to $53.1 million, and net income increased by 24.6% to $42.3 million. Diluted earnings per share also saw a significant increase of 24.9% to $2.26. The company's financial outlook for fiscal 2024 remains positive, with expected revenues between $2.415 billion and $2.435 billion and diluted earnings per share between $6.52 and $7.16.

Insights

Financial Analyst

UniFirst Corporation's first quarter financial results demonstrate a robust performance, with consolidated revenues climbing 9.5% to $593.5 million and a notable 22.4% increase in operating income to $53.1 million. The company's effective tax rate reduction to 23.4% from 25.2% in the prior year, along with net income surging by 24.6% to $42.3 million, are indicative of efficient cost management and potentially favorable tax strategies. The growth in diluted earnings per share (EPS) by 24.9% to $2.26 and a 23.7% increase in EBITDA to $86.2 million further solidify UniFirst's financial health.

Investors should note that the share repurchase program, with $100 million allocated and only a minimal amount utilized this quarter, reflects a strong balance sheet and a shareholder-friendly capital allocation policy. The absence of long-term debt and the presence of $88.8 million in cash and short-term investments as of November 25, 2023, position UniFirst favorably in terms of liquidity and financial flexibility. However, the cautious revenue outlook, with a likelihood of hitting the lower end of the projected range, may suggest potential challenges in the Core Laundry Operations that could affect future performance.

Market Research Analyst

The Core Laundry Operations segment, which accounts for the majority of UniFirst's revenue, saw a 9.8% increase in revenues and an improvement in operating margin to 8.0% from 7.1%. This indicates not only growth but also improved operational efficiency. The mention of organic growth at 5.2% highlights the company's ability to expand without relying solely on acquisitions or favorable currency exchanges.

UniFirst's Specialty Garments segment, although smaller, showed resilience with a 1.3% revenue increase and a significant jump in operating margin to 27.1% from 23.1%. This segment's performance, however, is subject to seasonality and project-based variability, which stakeholders should consider when evaluating its contribution to the company's overall performance.

The impact of Key Initiatives, such as the CRM and ERP systems, on operating income and EBITDA, has been significant in the past but has decreased notably in this quarter. This reduction in costs could signal the completion of these investments and their transition into operational assets, potentially offering long-term efficiency gains.

Economist

The reported financial results from UniFirst may have broader economic implications. The company's performance, particularly in the Core Laundry Operations, which serves numerous industries, can be considered a macroeconomic indicator of business activity and health within those sectors. The positive results could suggest a stable economic environment for UniFirst's diverse client base.

Additionally, the lower energy costs as a percentage of revenues could be reflective of wider energy market trends or company-specific efficiency improvements. The fact that UniFirst has no long-term debt is a prudent financial position that may shield the company from potential interest rate fluctuations, which is particularly relevant in the context of recent monetary policy trends towards rate increases.

UniFirst's ability to maintain strong margins despite higher merchandise costs speaks to their pricing power and cost control measures, which are critical in an inflationary environment. These factors combined suggest that UniFirst is well-positioned to navigate economic uncertainties and may serve as a bellwether for the health of the service sector.

WILMINGTON, Mass., Jan. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) (the “Company,” “UniFirst” or “we”) today reported results for its first quarter ended November 25, 2023 as compared to the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year:

Q1 2024 Financial Highlights

• Consolidated revenues for the first quarter increased 9.5% to $593.5 million.
• Operating income was $53.1 million, an increase of 22.4%.
• The quarterly tax rate decreased to 23.4% compared to 25.2% in the prior year.
• Net income increased to $42.3 million from $34.0 million in the prior year, or 24.6%.
• Diluted earnings per share increased to $2.26 from $1.81 in the prior year, or 24.9%.
• EBITDA increased to $86.2 million compared to $69.7 million in the prior year, or 23.7%.

The Company's financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023 included approximately $2.9 million and $10.0 million, respectively, of costs directly attributable to its customer relationship management (“CRM”) computer system, enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system and branding initiatives (the "Key Initiatives"). Investments in the branding initiatives concluded in fiscal 2023. The effect of the Key Initiatives on the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023 combined to decrease:

• Both operating income and EBITDA by $2.9 million and $10.0 million, respectively.
• Net income by $2.4 million and $7.6 million, respectively.
• Diluted earnings per share by $0.12 and $0.40, respectively.

Steven Sintros, UniFirst President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased with the results from our first quarter, which represent a solid start to our new fiscal year. I want to sincerely thank all of our Team Partners who continue to Always Deliver for each other and our customers as we strive towards our vision of being universally recognized as the best service provider in the industry. …all while living our Mission of Serving the People Who do the Hard Work.”

Segment Reporting Highlights

Core Laundry Operations

• Revenues for the quarter increased 9.8% to $524.0 million.
• Organic growth, which excludes the effect of acquisitions and fluctuations in the Canadian dollar, was 5.2%.
• Operating margin increased to 8.0% from 7.1%.
• Core Laundry Operations' EBITDA margin increased to 14.0% from 12.2%.

The costs incurred related to the Key Initiatives, discussed above, were recorded to the Core Laundry Operations' segment, and decreased both the Core Laundry Operations' operating and EBITDA margin for the first quarters of fiscal 2024 and 2023 by 0.6% and 2.1%, respectively.

The segment's operating and EBITDA margin comparisons were also impacted by investments in our corporate capabilities that we have made over the last year and higher merchandise costs, which were partially offset by lower energy costs as a percentage of revenues. The purchase accounting for the Company's March 2023 acquisition of Clean Uniform further impacted the segment’s operating margin, most notably in the form of elevated non-cash acquisition-related intangibles amortization.

Specialty Garments

• Revenues for the quarter were $44.7 million, an increase of 1.3%, which was driven by growth in the segment's cleanroom operations.
• Operating margin increased to 27.1% from 23.1% a year ago, primarily as a result of the strong top line performance.
• Specialty Garments consists of nuclear decontamination and cleanroom operations, and its results can vary significantly due to seasonality and the timing of reactor outages and projects.

Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation

• Cash, cash equivalents and Short-term investments totaled $88.8 million as of November 25, 2023.
• The Company had no long-term debt outstanding as of November 25, 2023.
• On October 24, 2023, our Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program to repurchase from time to time up to $100.0 million of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, inclusive of the amount which remained available under the share repurchase program previously authorized on October 18, 2021. Under the new share repurchase program, the Company repurchased 1,500 shares of Common Stock for $0.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. As of November 25, 2023, the Company had $99.7 million remaining under its new share repurchase program.
• Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted for both the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 were 18.8 million.

Financial Outlook

Mr. Sintros continued, "At this time, we continue to expect our revenues for fiscal 2024 to be between $2.415 billion and $2.435 billion, however, due to recent trends in our Core Laundry Operations in the latter half of the quarter we anticipate that the lower half of the range is more likely. We continue to expect diluted earnings per share to be between $6.52 and $7.16.” As a reminder, our guidance for fiscal 2024 includes one extra week of operations compared to fiscal 2023 due to the timing of our fiscal calendar.

Conference Call Information

UniFirst Corporation will hold a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss its quarterly financial results, business highlights and outlook. A simultaneous live webcast of the call will be available over the Internet and can be accessed at www.unifirst.com.

About UniFirst Corporation

Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, facility service products, as well as first aid and safety supplies and services. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company also manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. In addition to partnering with leading brands, UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products at its five company-owned ISO-9001-certified manufacturing facilities. With more than 270 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 16,000-plus employee Team Partners, the Company outfits more than 2 million workers every day. For more information, contact UniFirst at 888.296.2740 or visit UniFirst.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

This public announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance, including projected revenues, operating margin and earnings per share. Forward-looking statements contained in this public announcement are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may be identified by words such as “guidance,” “outlook,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “strategy,” “objective,” “assume,” “strive,” “design,” “assumption,” “vision” or the negative versions thereof, and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date made. Such statements are highly dependent upon a variety of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainties caused by an economic recession or other adverse economic conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of continued high inflation rates or further increases in inflation or interest rates or extraordinary events or circumstances such as geopolitical conflicts like the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, disruption in the Middle East or the COVID-19 pandemic, and their impact on our customers' businesses and workforce levels, disruptions of our business and operations, including limitations on, or closures of, our facilities, or the business and operations of our customers or suppliers in connection with extraordinary events or circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainties regarding our ability to consummate acquisitions and successfully integrate acquired businesses, including Clean Uniform, and the performance of such businesses, uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation, any adverse outcome of pending or future contingencies or claims, our ability to compete successfully without any significant degradation in our margin rates, seasonal and quarterly fluctuations in business levels, our ability to preserve positive labor relationships and avoid becoming the target of corporate labor unionization campaigns that could disrupt our business, the effect of currency fluctuations on our results of operations and financial condition, our dependence on third parties to supply us with raw materials, which such supply could be severely disrupted as a result of extraordinary events or circumstances such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, any loss of key management or other personnel, increased costs as a result of any changes in federal, state, international or other laws, rules and regulations or governmental interpretation of such laws, rules and regulations, uncertainties regarding, or adverse impacts from continued high price levels of natural gas, electricity, fuel and labor or increases in such costs, the negative effect on our business from sharply depressed oil and natural gas prices, the continuing increase in domestic healthcare costs, increased workers' compensation claim costs, increased healthcare claim costs, our ability to retain and grow our customer base, demand and prices for our products and services, fluctuations in our Specialty Garments business, political or other instability, supply chain disruption or infection among our employees in Mexico and Nicaragua where our principal garment manufacturing plants are located, our ability to properly and efficiently design, construct, implement and operate a new customer relationship management computer system, interruptions or failures of our information technology systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks, additional professional and internal costs necessary for compliance with any changes in or additional Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), New York Stock Exchange and accounting or other rules, including, without limitation, recent rules proposed by the SEC regarding climate-related and cybersecurity-related disclosures, strikes and unemployment levels, our efforts to evaluate and potentially reduce internal costs, economic and other developments associated with the war on terrorism and its impact on the economy, the impact of foreign trade policies and tariffs or other impositions on imported goods on our business, results of operations and financial condition, general economic conditions, our ability to successfully implement our business strategies and processes, including our capital allocation strategies, our ability to successfully remediate the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 26, 2023 and the other factors described under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 26, 2023, Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they are made.

Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

		Thirteen Weeks Ended
(In thousands, except per share data)		November 25, 2023				November 26, 2022
Revenues		$	593,525			$	541,798
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (1)			383,796				353,972
Selling and administrative expenses (1)			122,859				117,363
Depreciation and amortization			33,733				27,045
Total operating expenses			540,388				498,380
Operating income			53,137				43,418
Other (income) expense:
Interest income, net			(2,834	)			(2,769	)
Other expense, net			716				791
Total other income, net			(2,118	)			(1,978	)
Income before income taxes			55,255				45,396
Provision for income taxes			12,930				11,439
Net income		$	42,325			$	33,957
Income per share – Basic:
Common Stock		$	2.35			$	1.89
Class B Common Stock		$	1.88			$	1.51
Income per share – Diluted:
Common Stock		$	2.26			$	1.81
Income allocated to – Basic:
Common Stock		$	35,566			$	28,525
Class B Common Stock		$	6,759			$	5,432
Income allocated to – Diluted:
Common Stock		$	42,325			$	33,957
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic:
Common Stock			15,111				15,082
Class B Common Stock			3,590				3,590
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted:
Common Stock			18,769				18,754

(1)     Exclusive of depreciation on the Company's property, plant and equipment and amortization on its intangible assets.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

(In thousands)		November 25, 2023				August 26, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	77,380			$	79,443
Short-term investments			11,394				10,157
Receivables, net			299,494				279,078
Inventories			148,513				148,334
Rental merchandise in service			249,611				248,323
Prepaid taxes			10,284				20,907
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			62,262				53,876
Total current assets			858,938				840,118
Property, plant and equipment, net			766,532				756,540
Goodwill			648,797				647,900
Customer contracts and other intangible assets, net			138,468				145,618
Deferred income taxes			615				567
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net			65,389				62,565
Other assets			123,313				116,667
Total assets		$	2,602,052			$	2,569,975
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	86,315			$	92,730
Accrued liabilities			155,419				156,408
Accrued taxes			—				352
Operating lease liabilities, current			17,051				17,739
Total current liabilities			258,785				267,229
Long-term liabilities:
Accrued liabilities			121,720				121,682
Accrued and deferred income taxes			131,040				130,084
Operating lease liabilities			50,334				47,020
Total liabilities			561,879				566,015
Shareholders’ equity:
Common Stock			1,513				1,510
Class B Common Stock			359				359
Capital surplus			99,537				99,303
Retained earnings			1,962,688				1,926,549
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(23,924	)			(23,761	)
Total shareholders’ equity			2,040,173				2,003,960
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	2,602,052			$	2,569,975

Detail of Operating Results
(Unaudited)

		Thirteen Weeks Ended November 25, 2023													Thirteen Weeks Ended November 26, 2022
		Core Laundry			Specialty			First							Core Laundry			Specialty			First
		Operations			Garments			Aid			Total				Operations			Garments			Aid			Total
Revenues		$	523,989		$	44,669		$	24,867		$	593,525			$	477,398		$	44,079		$	20,321		$	541,798
Revenue Growth %			9.8	%		1.3	%		22.4	%		9.5	%
Operating Income (Loss) (1), (2)		$	42,091		$	12,117		$	(1,071	)	$	53,137			$	33,831		$	10,183		$	(596	)	$	43,418
Operating Margin			8.0	%		27.1	%		-4.3	%		9.0	%			7.1	%		23.1	%		-2.9	%		8.0	%
EBITDA (1), (2)		$	73,320		$	13,148		$	(314	)	$	86,154			$	58,435		$	11,171		$	66		$	69,672
EBITDA Margin			14.0	%		29.4	%		-1.3	%		14.5	%			12.2	%		25.3	%		0.3	%		12.9	%

(1)     The Company's financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023 included approximately $2.9 million and $10.0 million, respectively, of costs directly attributable to its Key Initiatives.
(2)     The Key Initiatives' costs resulted in a decrease in both Core Laundry Operations' operating margin and EBITDA margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023 of 0.6% and 2.1%, respectively.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

(In thousands)		November 25, 2023				November 26, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	42,325			$	33,957
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (1)			33,733				27,045
Share-based compensation			2,534				1,461
Accretion on environmental contingencies			316				259
Accretion on asset retirement obligations			233				227
Deferred income taxes			640				765
Other			79				(42	)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Receivables, less reserves			(20,413	)			(23,675	)
Inventories			(138	)			8,154
Rental merchandise in service			(1,330	)			(12,961	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Other assets			(9,692	)			(9,076	)
Accounts payable			(6,663	)			399
Accrued liabilities			(6,172	)			(6,655	)
Prepaid and accrued income taxes			10,218				7,840
Net cash provided by operating activities			45,670				27,698
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired			—				(6,556	)
Capital expenditures, including capitalization of software costs			(39,050	)			(39,044	)
Purchases of investments			(11,394	)			(107,000	)
Maturities of investments			10,217				—
Proceeds from sale of assets			606				240
Net cash used in investing activities			(39,621	)			(152,360	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of share-based awards			2				2
Taxes withheld and paid related to net share settlement of equity awards			(2,290	)			(2,028	)
Repurchase of Common Stock			(255	)			—
Payment of cash dividends			(5,573	)			(5,570	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(8,116	)			(7,596	)
Effect of exchange rate changes			4				33
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(2,063	)			(132,225	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			79,443				376,399
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	77,380			$	244,174

(1)     Depreciation and amortization for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023 included approximately $4.6 million and $2.6 million, respectively, of non-cash amortization expense recognized on acquisition-related intangible assets.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports its consolidated financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). To supplement the Company's consolidated financial results in this press release, the Company also presents EBITDA and EBITDA margin, which are non-GAAP financial measures. The Company defines EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA for a period divided by revenue for the same period.

The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information regarding the performance of the Company and its segments to both management and investors. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items that may impact the comparability of the Company's results. In addition, by excluding certain items, these non-GAAP financial measures enable management and investors to further evaluate the underlying operating performance of the Company.

Supplemental reconciliations of the Company's consolidated net income on a GAAP basis to EBITDA and EBITDA margin, which are non-GAAP financial measures, are presented in the following tables. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, which are provided below. EBITDA and EBITDA margin should be considered in addition to, and not as substitutes for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The Company does not allocate its provision for income taxes to its business segments and as a result, presents it in a separate column in the following tables.

	Thirteen Weeks Ended November 25, 2023
		Core Laundry				Specialty				First
(In thousands, except percentages)		Operations				Garments				Aid				Other				Total
Revenue		$	523,989			$	44,669			$	24,867			$	—			$	593,525
Net income		$	44,209			$	12,117			$	(1,071	)		$	(12,930	)		$	42,325
Provision for income taxes			—				—				—				12,930				12,930
Interest income, net			(2,834	)			—				—				—				(2,834	)
Depreciation and amortization			31,945				1,031				757				—				33,733
EBITDA		$	73,320			$	13,148			$	(314	)		$	—			$	86,154
EBITDA Margin			14.0	%			29.4	%			-1.3	%							14.5	%

	Thirteen Weeks Ended November 26, 2022
		Core Laundry				Specialty				First
(In thousands, except percentages)		Operations				Garments				Aid				Other				Total
Revenue		$	477,398			$	44,079			$	20,321			$	—			$	541,798
Net income		$	35,809			$	10,183			$	(596	)		$	(11,439	)		$	33,957
Provision for income taxes			—				—				—				11,439				11,439
Interest income, net			(2,769	)			—				—				—				(2,769	)
Depreciation and amortization			25,395				988				662				—				27,045
EBITDA		$	58,435			$	11,171			$	66			$	—			$	69,672
EBITDA Margin			12.2	%			25.3	%			0.3	%							12.9	%

Investor Relations Contact
Shane O'Connor, Executive Vice President & CFO
UniFirst Corporation          
978-658-8888
shane_oconnor@unifirst.com 

FAQ

What are UniFirst Corporation's (NYSE: UNF) first quarter financial highlights?

UniFirst Corporation reported a 9.5% increase in consolidated revenues to $593.5 million. Operating income rose by 22.4% to $53.1 million, and net income increased by 24.6% to $42.3 million. Diluted earnings per share also saw a significant increase of 24.9% to $2.26.

What is UniFirst Corporation's financial outlook for fiscal 2024?

UniFirst Corporation expects revenues for fiscal 2024 to be between $2.415 billion and $2.435 billion, with diluted earnings per share expected to be between $6.52 and $7.16.

What is the impact of the Key Initiatives on UniFirst Corporation's first quarter financial results?

The Key Initiatives decreased operating income, EBITDA, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023.

What is the segment reporting highlights for UniFirst Corporation's Core Laundry Operations?

UniFirst Corporation's Core Laundry Operations saw a 9.8% increase in revenues for the quarter, with organic growth at 5.2%. Operating margin increased to 8.0%, and EBITDA margin increased to 14.0%.

What is the balance sheet and capital allocation of UniFirst Corporation as of November 25, 2023?

UniFirst Corporation had $88.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments with no long-term debt outstanding. The company also authorized a new share repurchase program to repurchase up to $100.0 million of its outstanding shares of Common Stock.