ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monro, Inc. (Nasdaq: MNRO), a leading provider of automotive undercar repair and tire services, today announced financial results for its third quarter ended December 26, 2020.

Third Quarter Results

Sales for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 27, 2021 (“fiscal 2021”) decreased 13.6% to $284.6 million, as compared to $329.3 million for the third quarter of the fiscal year ended March 28, 2020 (“fiscal 2020”). The total sales decrease for the third quarter of $44.7 million was driven by a comparable store sales decline of 13.0% for the period and a decrease in sales of $7.2 million from closed stores, partially offset by an increase in sales from new stores of $2.2 million, including sales from recent acquisitions of $1.5 million. Comparable store sales were down approximately 8% for tires, 16% for alignments, 17% for front end/shocks, 19% for maintenance services and 21% for brakes compared to the prior year period.

Gross margin decreased 400 basis points to 33.8% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 from 37.8% in the prior year period. The decrease partially resulted from lower comparable store sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, which resulted in higher fixed distribution and occupancy costs as a percentage of sales compared to the prior year period. Variable gross margin benefitted from improved tire margins, driven by the completed rollout of the Company’s tire category management and pricing tool. This was more than offset by a higher sales mix of tires compared to the prior year period, which resulted in higher material costs as a percentage of sales. Variable gross margin was also negatively impacted by higher technician labor costs as a percentage of sales compared to the prior year period, particularly in the first two months of the quarter. The Company’s efforts to optimize store staffing and increase teammate productivity led to lower technician labor costs as a percentage of sales in December compared to the prior year period. Total operating expenses decreased $12.3 million to $80.5 million, or 28.3% of sales, as compared to $92.8 million, or 28.2% of sales in the prior year period. The year-over-year dollar decrease primarily resulted from targeted cost reductions and lower expenses from 29 fewer stores compared to the prior year period. The slight increase in operating expenses as a percentage of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the previous year period was driven by a decrease in comparable store sales.

Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $15.7 million, or 5.5% of sales, as compared to $31.6 million, or 9.6% of sales in the prior year period. Interest expense was $6.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2021, as compared to $7.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2020.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $6.7 million, as compared to $18.9 million in the same period of the prior year. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $.20, compared to $.56 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $.22, which excluded $.02 per share related to Monro.Forward initiatives and $0.01 per share of benefit related to a reserve for potential litigation that was no longer necessary. This compares to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $.60 in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, which excluded $.03 per share of costs related to Monro.Forward initiatives and $0.01 per share of acquisition due diligence and integration costs. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below for a discussion of this non-GAAP measure.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 reflects an effective tax rate of 25.2%, as compared to 24.1% in the prior year period.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company opened 19 company-operated stores, while temporarily closing one store as a result of storm damage and permanently closing one franchise location. Additionally, four company-operated stores remain temporarily closed as a result of damage sustained during Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and Tropical Storm Isaias in the Northeast. Monro ended the quarter with 1,260 company-operated stores and 96 franchised locations.

“Our results for the third quarter were impacted by general market conditions and lower labor productivity levels, particularly in the first two months of the quarter. After proactively decreasing staffing at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we quickly ramped up staffing in our stores over the past two quarters as demand returned. As a result, we added approximately 700 new teammates since July that required time to fully ramp. Improving market conditions, as well as the successful onboarding and training of our new teammates led to improved top-line performance in December, which posted the best comparable store sales since the beginning of the pandemic. This has continued into January with a comparable store sales increase of 3%,” said Robert Mellor, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Interim Chief Executive Officer.

Mellor continued, “We remain financially strong and well positioned to execute against all of our growth initiatives and made significant progress during the third quarter. Importantly, we substantially completed the transformation of 104 stores and our rebranded and reimaged stores continue to outperform our chain average. Additionally, we completed the rollout of our store staffing and scheduling optimization tool and tire category management and pricing system, both of which are instrumental in driving profitable growth. Our initiatives are working and we look forward with confidence in our business.”

First Nine Months Results

For the current nine-month period, sales decreased 15.5% to $820.2 million from $970.5 million in the prior year period. Comparable store sales decreased 16.8% compared to a decrease of 0.1% in the prior year period. Gross margin for the nine-month period was 35.1% of sales, compared to 38.6% in the prior year period. Operating income was 6.3% of sales, compared to 10.4% in the prior year period. Net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2021 was $22.5 million, or $.67 per diluted share, as compared to $61.8 million, or $1.82 per diluted share in the comparable period of fiscal 2020. Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, in the first nine months of fiscal 2021 was $.77, which excluded $.06 per share related to store closing costs, $.04 per share related to Monro.Forward initiatives and management transition costs and $0.01 per share of benefit related to a reserve for potential litigation that was no longer necessary. This compares to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.91 in the first nine months of fiscal 2020, which excluded $.06 per share of costs related to Monro.Forward initiatives and $.03 per share of costs related to acquisition due diligence and integration. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below for a discussion of this non-GAAP measure.

Strong Financial Position

During the first nine months of fiscal 2021, the Company generated approximately $159 million in operating cash flow compared to $126 million for the same period last year. Monro’s strong cash flow allows the Company to support its business operations and Monro.Forward initiatives as well as invest in attractive acquisition opportunities intended to drive long-term growth, while paying down debt and returning cash to shareholders through its dividend program.

As of January 23, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $25 million and availability on its revolving credit facility of approximately $376 million.

Acquisition Update

The Company completed the previously announced acquisition of 17 stores in Southern California, further expanding the Company’s geographic footprint in the West Coast region. These locations are expected to add approximately $20 million in annualized sales.

Company Outlook

Due to the ongoing uncertainty caused by COVID-19, it remains difficult to accurately predict the full impact of the pandemic on overall demand and Monro’s operations for the remainder of the year. Therefore, the Company is not providing fiscal 2021 guidance.

About Monro, Inc.

Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Monro is a chain of 1,260 company-operated stores, 96 franchised locations, seven wholesale locations and three retread facilities providing automotive undercar repair and tire sales and services. The Company operates in 32 states, serving the MidAtlantic and New England regions and portions of the Great Lakes, Midwest, Southeast and Western United States. The predecessor to the Company was founded by Charles J. August in 1957 as a Midas Muffler franchise. In 1966, Monro began to diversify into a full line of undercar repair services. The Company has experienced significant growth in recent years through acquisitions and, to a lesser extent, the opening of newly constructed stores. The Company went public in 1991 and trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol MNRO.