John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. announced operating results for its fiscal 2013 third quarter. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 was $0.3 million, or $0.03 per share diluted, compared to net income of $1.4 million, or $0.13 per share diluted, for the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Net income for the first three quarters of fiscal 2013 was $16.2 million, or $1.47 per share diluted, compared to net income of $13.2 million, or $1.23 per share diluted, for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012.
Net sales increased to $163.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 from $153.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012. The increase in net sales was attributable to a 15.6 percent increase in sales volume, which is measured in pounds sold to customers. Sales volume increased by double digits in percentage terms in all distribution channels in the quarterly comparison. Approximately 50 percent of the total sales volume increase occurred in the consumer distribution channel led by gains in volume of 12 percent for private brand products, 55 percent for Fisher snack nuts and 33 percent for Fisher recipe nuts (formerly referred to as Fisher baking nuts). The increase in sales volume for private brand products was driven mainly by lower peanut and cashew prices and new distribution gained at existing private brand customers. The increase in sales volume for Fisher snack and recipe nuts was driven mainly by distribution gains with new customers and increased advertising and promotional activity. The sales volume increase in the commercial ingredients channel came from increased almond volume to an existing customer and increased peanut volume generated by lower selling prices. The sales volume increase in the contract packaging channel was generated by increased peanut volume from lower selling prices and increased snack mix volume from a new product line launched by a major contract packaging customer. Sales volume increased in the export channel from increased sales of inshell walnuts because most of the inshell walnut export shipments in the current fiscal year were delayed into the current third quarter due to a late harvest whereas most export shipments of inshell walnuts last fiscal year occurred in the second quarter.
Net sales increased to $556.9 million for the first three quarters of fiscal 2013 from $533.9 million for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012. The increase in net sales was primarily attributable to higher selling prices that existed in the first two quarters of fiscal 2013. Sales volume for the first three quarters of fiscal 2013 increased slightly in comparison to sales volume for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 as the significant increase in sales volume in the current third quarter more than offset the decline in sales volume for the first two quarters of fiscal 2013.
Gross profit margin, as a percentage of net sales, declined to 14.0 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 from 14.4 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 while gross profit increased by $0.8 million in the quarterly comparison. The decline in gross profit margin occurred primarily because of higher commodity acquisition costs for almonds and trail mixes and a shift in walnuts sales to lower margin sales of inshell walnuts for export. The declines in gross profit margins on sales of these products were offset in large part by lower commodity acquisition costs for pecans and cashews.
Gross profit margin for the first three quarters of fiscal 2013, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 16.2 percent from 14.9 percent for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012. This increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to a shift in sales volume to our higher-margin Fisher branded products and improved alignment of selling prices and commodity acquisition costs during the first half of fiscal 2013 compared to the first half of fiscal 2012.
Total operating expenses for the current quarter increased to 11.9 percent of net sales from 11.7 percent of net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2012. The increase in total operating expenses, as a percentage of net sales, in the quarterly comparison was due mainly to increases in compensation expense, shipping costs from increased volume and advertising and marketing spending to support the Fisher brand. Total operating expenses for the first three quarters of fiscal 2013 increased to 10.5 percent of net sales from 10.1 percent of net sales for the same year to date period in fiscal 2012. The increase in total operating expenses, as a percentage of net sales in the year to date comparison was primarily attributable to increased advertising and marketing spending to support the Fisher brand.
Interest expense for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 declined to $1.2 million from $1.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Interest expense for the current year to date period was $3.5 million compared to $4.0 million for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012. The declines in interest expense in the quarterly and year to date comparisons primarily resulted from lower average short-term borrowings.
During the current third quarter, the company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with a newly-formed entity named ARMA Energy, Inc. (AEI) whereby the company received approximately 71 percent of the preferred stock of AEI in exchange for past expenses incurred to support the ARMA brand. In addition, the company sold all of its proprietary and intellectual property rights to the ARMA brand to AEI in exchange for a secured promissory note in the principal amount of $0.5 million payable over five years. The investment in AEI and the sale of the ARMA brand did not result in a gain in the current third quarter for accounting purposes. For tax purposes, the company has recognized a capital contribution on the investment and a taxable gain on the sale of the ARMA brand. As a result of the investment in AEI and the sale of the ARMA brand, income tax expense increased by $0.8 million in the quarterly comparison.
The value of total inventories on hand at the end of the current third quarter decreased by $10.1 million or 5.7 percent when compared to the value of total inventories on hand at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 primarily due to lower commodity acquisition costs for pecans, peanuts and cashews. As a result of lower acquisition costs for these nuts, the weighted average cost per pound of raw nut input stocks on hand at the end of the current third quarter decreased by 20.9 percent compared to the weighted average cost per pound of raw nut input stocks on hand at the end of last year’s third quarter. Similarly, the weighted average cost per pound of finished goods on hand decreased by 12.9 percent compared to the weighted average cost per pound at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012.
“We are extremely pleased with our sales growth during the third quarter, particularly for our Fisher brand,” stated Jeffrey T. Sanfilippo, chief executive officer in a prepared statement. “Sales volume grew significantly in all of our distribution channels, which generally suggests that our direct customers and the end-user consumers are reacting positively to lower prices for many of the key products that we sell. The lower prices for peanuts, cashews and pecans are anticipated to continue during our fourth quarter. We will continue our strategic focus on our branded products, including increasing our presence internationally, especially in China,” Sanfilippo concluded.
