COMMERCE, Calif., May 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SFS), the value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, today reported financial results for the twelve-week period ended March 27, 2016.

First Quarter Highlights:

• Net sales increased 10.5% to $908.5 million
• Comparable store sales growth of 2.0%
• Net loss of $2.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share
• Adjusted net income of $6.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $35.0 million
• 290 stores at quarter-end, including 143 Smart & Final Extra! stores

"Smart & Final Stores' positive momentum has continued with a solid start to 2016. Strong traffic growth contributed to a 2.0% comparable store sales increase in the first quarter despite persistent deflationary headwinds," said David Hirz, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to drive engagement and attract new customers with our successful merchandising and marketing initiatives."

Mr. Hirz added, "Our exciting store development plans are ahead of schedule. Next week we plan to open the last of the 33 acquired former Albertsons and Safeway locations, which were briefly operated under the Haggen banner. With these locations, we're increasing Smart & Final's presence in our important Los Angeles and Orange County markets, as well as doubling our penetration in the California Central Coast and San Diego markets. In all of our markets, we look forward to building deeper community ties and meeting the shopping needs of each unique area."

In order to aid understanding of the Company's business performance, it has presented results in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") and has also presented adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, adjusted net income per diluted share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures that are explained and reconciled to the comparable GAAP measures in the tables included in this release. Where applicable, the numbers below are first presented on a GAAP basis and then on an adjusted basis.

First Quarter Fiscal 2016 Financial Results

Net sales were $908.5 million, representing a 10.5% increase as compared to $822.2 million in the same period of 2015. Net sales growth was driven by a 2.0% increase in comparable store sales and from the net sales contribution of new stores. The growth in comparable store sales was comprised of a 2.4% increase in comparable transaction count and a 0.4% decrease in comparable average transaction size, including the impact of deflation in key product categories in both store banners.

Net sales for Smart & Final banner stores were $709.3 million, a 12.8% increase as compared to $628.8 million in the same period of 2015. Comparable store sales growth for the Smart & Final banner was 2.5% in the first quarter.

Net sales for Cash & Carry banner stores were $199.1 million, a 3.0% increase as compared to $193.3 million in the same period of 2015. Comparable store sales growth for the Cash & Carry banner was 0.3% in the first quarter.

Gross margin from operations was $128.4 million, a 5.1% increase as compared to $122.2 million in the same period of 2015. Gross margin rate in the first quarter was 14.1% as compared to 14.9% in the same period of 2015, and was impacted by the carrying costs associated with the acquired former Haggen banner stores.

Operating and administrative expenses were $125.1 million, a 17.0% increase as compared to $107.0 million in the same period of 2015. This increase was primarily related to expenses associated with 32 new stores developed over the prior 12 months and related support costs.

Net loss was $2.0 million, including the effect of higher store development costs, as compared to net income of $4.9 million in the same period of 2015. Net loss per diluted share was $0.03 as compared to net income per diluted share of $0.06 in the same period of 2015.

Adjusted net income was $6.3 million, a decrease of 19.1% as compared to $7.7 million for the same period of 2015. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.08 as compared to $0.10 in the same period of 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA remained unchanged at $35.0 million, as compared to the same period of 2015.

Growth and Development

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company opened 14 new Smart & Final Extra! stores and completed two relocations of legacy Smart & Final stores to the Smart & Final Extra! format stores. As of March 27, 2016, the Company operated a total of 143 Smart & Final Extra! and 92 legacy Smart & Final stores, and 55 Cash & Carry stores.

Leverage and Liquidity

At March 27, 2016, the Company's debt, net of debt issuance costs, was $616.5 million and cash and cash equivalents were $63.1 million.

In the twelve-week period ended March 27, 2016, the Company generated cash from operations of $11.9 million and invested $30.3 million in capital expenditures, primarily related to the development of Extra! format stores and to improvements of existing assets.

Outlook

The Company is maintaining the previously issued guidance for the 2016 fiscal year ending January 1, 2017:

The above guidance includes certain non-GAAP financial measures (namely adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share and Adjusted EBITDA), which exclude certain costs and non-cash costs and provide investors with additional financial measures of the expected operating performance of the Company's business. The primary factors in reconciling these non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures include the following: costs associated with the acquired Haggen store locations of approximately $19 million, non-cash rent related to other stores of approximately $6 million and share-based compensation expense of approximately $9 million. The other amounts needed to reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures cannot be quantified and are not available without an unreasonable effort.

In the second quarter of 2016, the Company expects to open 16 new Smart & Final Extra! stores and complete two relocations of legacy Smart & Final stores to the Extra! format. At the end of the second quarter, the Company expects to have opened 30 of the 33 new Smart & Final Extra! stores planned for fiscal year 2016.

First Quarter 2016 Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2016 financial results. To participate in the call, please dial (877) 407-0784 (U.S.) or (201) 689-8560 (International) ten minutes prior to the start time. The conference call can also be accessed on the "Investors" section of the Company's web site at http://www.smartandfinal-investor.com/.

For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a telephonic replay of the call will also be available beginning today at approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, by dialing (877) 870-5176 (U.S.) or (858) 384-5517 (International) and entering the replay pin number: 13634612. The telephonic replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on Tuesday, May 17, 2016.

About Smart & Final

Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SFS), is a value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer, headquartered in Commerce (near Los Angeles), California. The Company offers quality products in a variety of sizes, saving household, nonprofit and business customers time and money. As of March 27, 2016, the Company operated 290 grocery and foodservice stores under the "Smart & Final," "Smart & Final Extra!" and "Cash & Carry Smart Foodservice" banners in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho, with an additional 15 stores in Northwestern Mexico operated through a joint venture. In business for 145 years, the Company remains committed to giving back to local communities through employee volunteer opportunities and Company donations to local nonprofits.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release that are not historical information contain forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions of future events which may not prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. The Company derives many of its forward-looking statements from its operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While the Company believes that its assumptions are reasonable, it is difficult to predict the impact of known factors and, of course, it is impossible to anticipate all factors that could affect actual results. These factors are discussed in the special note concerning "Forward-Looking Statements," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and "Business" sections and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by the Company herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these events or how they may affect it. The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company's financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures (namely adjusted net income, adjusted net income per share, adjusted net income per diluted share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA) to evaluate our operating and financial performance and to compare such performance to that of prior periods. We also use these non-GAAP financial measures in making operational and financial decisions and in establishing operational goals. We believe that providing these non-GAAP financial measures to investors, as a supplement to GAAP financial measures, helps investors to (i) evaluate our operating and financial performance and future prospects, (ii) compare financial results across accounting periods, (iii) better understand the long-term performance of our core business and (iv) evaluate trends in our business, all consistent with how management evaluates such performance and movements. The Company defines adjusted net income as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the table below. The Company defines adjusted net income per share as adjusted net income divided by the weighted average basic shares outstanding. The Company defines adjusted net income per diluted share as adjusted net income divided by the weighted average diluted shares outstanding. The Company defines EBITDA as net income before depreciation and amortization, interest expense and provision for income tax, and adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for the items set forth in the table below.

Use of these non-GAAP measures may differ from similar measures reported by other companies. Each of these non-GAAP measures has its limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP.

The following tables present reconciliations of adjusted net income, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income, and adjusted net income per share and adjusted net income per diluted share to net income per share, for the twelve-week period ended March 27, 2016.

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SOURCE Smart & Final Stores, Inc.