Monro has announced financial results for its third quarter ended Dec. 29, 2018.

Third Quarter Results

Sales for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 30, 2019, increased 8.5 percent to $310.1 million, as compared to $285.7 million for the third quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. Monro stated that total sales increase for the third quarter of $24.4 million was driven by sales from new stores of $19.8 million, including sales from recent acquisitions of $14.3 million, and a comparable store sales increase of 2.2 percent on a reported basis. When adjusted for one less selling day in the current year quarter due to a shift in the timing of the Christmas holiday from the fourth quarter in fiscal 2018 to the third quarter in fiscal 2019, comparable store sales increased 3.3 percent.

Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 was $30.7 million, or 9.9 percent of sales, as compared to $29.3 million, or 10.3 percent of sales in the prior year period. Adjusting for the impact of the Christmas holiday shift, operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 was 10.3% of sales. Interest expense was $6.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 as compared to $6.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2018.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 was $20.5 million, as compared to $11.6 million in the same period of the prior year. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 were 61 cents, including 1 cent of one-time costs related to Monro.Forward investments, 1 cent of corporate and field management realignment costs, 4 cents negative impact from the Christmas holiday shift and a 6-cent benefit from a one-time income tax adjustment. This compares to diluted earnings per share of 35 cents in the third quarter of fiscal 201.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 reflected an effective tax rate of 15.3 percent, as compared to 50.1 percent in the prior year period. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily related to a reduction in the federal income tax rate as a result of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the one-time income tax benefit adjustment in the third quarter of fiscal 2019 and the one-time income tax expense adjustment in the prior year period.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2019, the company opened nine company-operated locations and closed one, ending the quarter with 1,186 company-operated stores, 99 franchised locations, eight wholesale locations and three retread facilities.

“We delivered our fourth consecutive quarter of positive comparable store sales growth and achieved a third quarter record earnings per share, reflecting sustained demand in our tire and brake categories and solid execution across our business. Our Monro.Forward initiatives continue to gain traction, and I am pleased to report that we successfully implemented our standardized in-store operating procedures and store refresh program at our 31 pilot locations in Rochester, New York. We are encouraged by the outperformance of these stores and look forward to expanding this initiative across our store base. Additionally, we continue to capitalize on accretive acquisitions and plan to enter a new state in the fourth quarter with a 12 store acquisition in Louisiana, further expanding and diversifying our geographical footprint,” said Brett Ponton, president and CEO.

Ponton continued, “Following strong top-line performance in October and November supported by early winter weather conditions, mild weather in December and early January negatively impacted our top-line. We are encouraged by a recovery in late January that has lifted fourth quarter to date comparable store sales up approximately 2 percent on a reported basis. We remain confident in our ability to achieve the upper-end of our full year comparable store sales guidance range. Looking ahead, we intend to maintain our steadfast commitment to driving operational excellence and delivering a consistent 5-star experience to our customers, while executing our disciplined acquisition strategy to achieve a scalable platform for sustainable, long-term value for our shareholders.”

First Nine Months Results

For the nine-month period ended Dec. 29, 2018, sales increased 8.4 percent to a record $913 million from $842.2 million in the same period of the prior year. Comparable store sales increased 2.4 percent on a reported basis, and 2.8 percent when adjusted for one less selling day due to the Christmas holiday shift, compared to a decrease of .7 percent in the prior year period. Net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2019 was $62.9 million, or $1.87 per diluted share, as compared to $46.5 million, or $1.39 per diluted share in the comparable period of fiscal 2018.

Acquisitions Update 

The company announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 12 retail locations in Louisiana, a new state for Monro, further expanding the company’s geographic footprint into southern markets. These locations are expected to add approximately $15 million in annualized sales, representing a sales mix of 35 percent service and 65 percent tires. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and to be breakeven to diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2019.

In the third quarter, the company also completed the previously announced acquisition of five retail locations in Ohio. These locations are expected to add approximately $5 million in annualized sales, representing a sales mix of 70 percent service and 30 percent tires. Early in the fourth quarter, Monro completed the previously announced acquisition of 13 retail locations in Florida. These locations are expected to add approximately $12 million in annualized sales, representing a sales mix of 65 percent service and 35 percent tires. These acquisitions fill in existing markets and are expected to be breakeven to diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2019.

A previously announced acquisition of seven stores, representing $8 million in annualized sales, is not expected to close as the company has decided to not pursue the acquisition following an extended due diligence period.

On a combined basis, acquisitions completed and announced to date in fiscal 2019 represent an expected total of $87 million in annualized sales.

Company Outlook

Based on current sales, business and economic trends, and recently announced and completed acquisitions, Monro says it continues to expect fiscal 2019 sales to be in the range of $1.185 billion to $1.215 billion, an increase of 5.1 percent to 7.7 percent as compared to fiscal 2018 sales. Fiscal 2019 sales guidance continues to assume a comparable store sales increase of 1 to 3 percent on a 52-week basis.

The company reiterates its fiscal 2019 diluted earnings per share guidance range of $2.30 to $2.40. This guidance compares to diluted earnings per share of $1.92 in fiscal 2018. The diluted earnings per share guidance is based on 33.6 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding.