Sally Beauty posts solid Q4 earnings gain, meets full-year guidance

By

Robin Driver

Published
Nov 8, 2019

Denton, Texas-based professional beauty supplies retailer Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. announced a 25.0% increase in fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, ending fiscal 2019 on a high note and hitting its full-year financial targets.

 
In the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2019, total net earnings at the company came to $69.0 million, an increase of $13.8 million from the $55.2 million reported by the group in the same period in the previous year. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.58, up from $0.46.
 
The company’s net sales for the quarter totaled $965.9 million, essentially flat compared to the prior-year period, while same-store sales rose 1.1%. During the period, the group operated 95 fewer stores compared to the same period in the previous year.

Sales in the company’s Sally Beauty Supply business dropped 0.8% to $571.9 million, due in large part to a reduction of 66 stores. However, the business did see a 1.3% increase in same-store sales in its global segment thanks to a 2.0% rise in the U.S. and Canada, markets that accounted for 78% of the segment’s sales in the quarter.
 
As for the Beauty Systems Group business, net sales rose 1.2% to $394.1 million, despite operating 29 fewer retail locations. Same-store sales rose 0.8%.
 
“Our financial results in the fourth quarter demonstrate that our transformation plan is on track with our expectations,” said Chris Brickman, Sally Beauty Holdings' president and CEO, in a release.

“We delivered solid results on both the top and bottom lines as we gained momentum on our assortment, guest experience, technology and supply chain efforts. We also generated strong cash flow that was used to invest in the business, reduce our debt levels and fund share repurchases, as promised,” he added.
 
For the full fiscal year, Sally Beauty Holdings posted net sales of $3.88 billion, down 1.4% from $3.93 billion in fiscal 2018, while same-store sales crept up 0.3%.
 
At Sally Beauty Group annual net sales slipped 1.7% to $2.29 billion, while Beauty Systems Group managed a 0.2% increase with sales of $1.58 billion.
 
Total company annual net earnings came to $271.6 million, an increase of $13.6 million, or 5.3%, from the previous year. Diluted EPS were $2.26, up 8.7% from $2.07.
 
Sally Beauty also outlined its fiscal 2020 guidance on Thursday. Next year the company expects its consolidated revenue to increase in the range of 1.0% to 2.0% and is planning to open between 30 and 50 stores, mainly in the U.S. and Canada.
 
Same-store sales are predicted to rise between 0.5% and 1.5%, while diluted EPS is expected to see growth in the low to mid-single digits.
 
As the group pushes forward with its transformation plan in 2020, Sally Beauty will focus on a range of new initiatives, including adding new third-party brands to its pipeline and launching concept stores in new markets, as well as completing the national rollout of a new point-of-sale system and optimizing the company supply chain.