PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except share data)

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

National Beverage Corp. develops, produces, markets and sells a diverse portfolio of flavored beverage products primarily in North America. Incorporated in Delaware in 1985, National Beverage Corp. is a holding company for various operating subsidiaries. When used in this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” and “National Beverage” mean National Beverage Corp. and its subsidiaries.

 

 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

National Beverage Corp. innovatively refreshes America with a distinctive portfolio of sparkling waters, juices and, to a lesser degree, energy drinks. Over the past few years, our carbonated soft drink brands continue to be modified as we endeavor to make them more adaptable to our consumers. We believe our ingenious product designs, innovative packaging and imaginative flavors, along with our corporate culture and philosophy, make National Beverage unique as a stand-alone entity in the beverage industry. 

 

Our strategy seeks the profitable growth of our products by (i) developing healthier beverages in response to the global shift in consumer buying habits and tailoring our beverage portfolio to the preferences of a diverse mix of ‘crossover consumers’ – a growing group desiring a healthier alternative to artificially sweetened and high-caloric beverages; (ii) emphasizing unique flavor development and variety throughout our brands that appeal to multiple demographic groups; (iii) maintaining points of difference through innovative marketing, packaging and consumer engagement and (iv) responding faster and more creatively to changing consumer trends that larger competitors who are burdened by legacy production, distribution complexity and costs cannot quickly comply with.

 

Our brands consist of beverages geared to the active and health-conscious consumer (“Power+ Brands”) including sparkling waters, energy drinks, and juices. Our portfolio of Power+ Brands includes LaCroix®, LaCroix Cúrate®, LaCroix NiCola® and Shasta® Sparkling Water products; Rip It® energy drinks and shots; and Everfresh®, Everfresh Premier Varietals™ and Mr. Pure® 100% juice and juice-based products. Additionally, we produce and distribute carbonated soft drinks including Shasta® and Faygo®, iconic brands whose consumer loyalty spans more than 125 years.

 

Presently, our primary market focus is the United States and Canada. Certain of our products are also distributed on a limited basis in other countries and expanding distribution to other regions is being considered. To service a diverse customer base that includes numerous national retailers, as well as thousands of smaller “up-and-down-the-street” accounts, we utilize a hybrid distribution system to deliver our products primarily through the warehouse delivery system and distributors.

 

National Beverage Corp. is incorporated in Delaware and began trading as a public company on the NASDAQ Stock Market in 1991. In this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” and “National Beverage” mean National Beverage Corp. and its subsidiaries unless indicated otherwise.

 

Our operating results are affected by numerous factors, including fluctuations in the costs of raw materials, holiday and seasonal programming and weather conditions. While yesteryear we witnessed more seasonality, we continue to see higher sales during the summer when outdoor activities are more prevalent.

 

 

Our highly innovative business, where new beverages are developed and produced for selective holidays and ceremonial dates, should not be analyzed on the common three-month (quarterly) periods, traditionally found acceptable. Today, costly development projects and seasonal weather periods plus promotional packaging, make quarter-to-quarter comparisons unworthy statistics and forcing companies into decision making for that purpose is not truly beneficial for investors and shareholders alike.

 

Traditional and typical are not a part of an innovator’s vocabulary.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three Months Ended July 28, 2018 (first quarter of fiscal 2019) compared to Three Months Ended July 29, 2017 (first quarter of fiscal 2018)

 

Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 increased 12.6% to $292.6 million compared to $259.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The increase in sales resulted primarily from a 10.4% increase in case volume and, to a lesser extent, a higher average selling price. The volume increase includes 29.1% growth of our Power+ Brands, partially offset by a decline in Carbonated Soft Drinks. The Company discontinued its lower-margin, private-label carbonated soft drink business in the third quarter of Fiscal 2018, allowing future performance to be more focused on brand equity appreciation. Average selling price per case increased 3.8% due to changes in product mix.

 

Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 increased 10.7% to $115.7 million compared to $104.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The increase in gross profit is due to increased volume and growth in higher margin Power+ Brands. The cost of sales per case increased 2.1% primarily due to higher aluminum and freight costs. As a result, the gross margin was 39.5% compared to 40.2% for the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 increased $6.0 million to $52.7 million from $46.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The increase was primarily due to higher distribution costs and marketing spending.  As a percent of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses remained at 18.0%. 

 

Other income includes interest income of $871,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and $281,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The increase in interest income is due to changes in average invested balances and increased return on investments.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“the Tax Act”) was signed into law on December 22, 2017 which reduced the applicable federal statutory rate from 35% to 21% for fiscal 2019. The federal statutory rate for fiscal 2018 was 30.4%. The Company’s effective income tax rate, based upon estimated annual income tax rates, was 23.5% for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and 34.1% for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The difference between the effective rate and the federal statutory rate of 21% was primarily due to the effects of state income taxes.

 

 

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal source of funds is cash generated from operations. At July 28, 2018, we maintained $100 million unsecured revolving credit facilities, under which no borrowings were outstanding and $2.1 million was reserved for standby letters of credit. We believe existing capital resources will be sufficient to meet our liquidity and capital requirements for the next twelve months.

 

Cash Flows

The Company’s cash position increased $53.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2019, which compares to an increase of $39.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 amounted to $59.3 million compared to $43.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. For the first quarter of fiscal 2019, cash flow was principally provided by net income of $48.8 million, an increase in accrued and other liabilities of $13.3 million and depreciation and amortization aggregating $4.0 million, offset in part by seasonal and sales volume related increases in trade receivables and inventory.

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 reflects capital expenditures of $6.2 million, compared to capital expenditures of $4.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  The Company expects capital expenditures to increase in Fiscal 2019 primarily to expand production capacity to support volume growth.

 

Financial Position

During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, our working capital increased to $293.7 million from $248.3 million at April 28, 2018. The increase in working capital was due to higher cash, trade receivables and inventory, partially offset by higher accounts payable and income taxes payable. Trade receivables increased $10.3 million due to increased sales, while days sales outstanding improved to 29.4 days from 31.4 days. Inventories increased $6.9 million as a result of the Company maintaining higher inventory levels to support sales increases. Inventory turns improved to 10.4 from 9.5 times. At July 28, 2018, the current ratio of 3.4 was unchanged from April 29, 2018.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

There have been no material changes in market risks from those reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 28, 2018.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Form 10-Q”) constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of our Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic and business conditions, pricing of competitive products, success of new product and flavor introductions, fluctuations in the costs of raw materials and packaging supplies, ability to pass along cost increases to our customers, labor strikes or work stoppages or other interruptions in the employment of labor, continued retailer support for our products, changes in brand image, consumer preferences and our success in creating products geared toward consumers’ tastes, success in implementing business strategies, changes in business strategy or development plans, government regulations, taxes or fees imposed on the sale of our products, unfavorable weather conditions and other factors referenced in this Form 10-Q. For a further list and description of various risks, relevant factors and uncertainties that could cause future results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements, see the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 28, 2018 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim an obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

  

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

There have been no material changes in risk factors from those reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 28, 2018.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.		Description
31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2		Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2		Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101		The following financial information from National Beverage Corp. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 28, 2018, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: September 6, 2018

 

	National Beverage Corp. (Registrant)
	By: /s/ George R. Bracken
	George R. Bracken Executive Vice President – Finance (Principal Financial Officer)

 

16

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Nick A. Caporella, certify that:

 

1.	I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of National Beverage Corp.;

 

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: September 6, 2018

 

/s/ Nick A. Caporella

Nick A. Caporella

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

 

EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, George R. Bracken, certify that:

 

1.	I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of National Beverage Corp.;

 

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.	The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: September 6, 2018

 

/s/ George R. Bracken

George R. Bracken

Executive Vice President – Finance

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

EXHIBIT 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of National Beverage Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 28, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Nick A. Caporella, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

(1)	The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2)	The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: September 6, 2018

 

/s/ Nick A. Caporella

Nick A. Caporella

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

 

EXHIBIT 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of National Beverage Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 28, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, George R. Bracken, Executive Vice President - Finance of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

(1)	The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2)	The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

 

Date: September 6, 2018

 

/s/ George R. Bracken

George R. Bracken

Executive Vice President – Finance

(Principal Financial Officer)