USA: Boston Beer’s Q3 net revenue increases by 30.2% versus last year

The Boston Beer Company, Inc. reported on October 22 third quarter 2020 net revenue of $492.8 million, an increase of $114.3 million or 30.2%, from the same period last year.

Net income for the third quarter was $80.8 million, an increase of $36.0 million or 80.6% from the same period last year.

Earnings per diluted share were $6.51, an increase of $2.86 per diluted share, or 78.4% from the third quarter of 2019. This increase was primarily due to increased revenue that was driven by shipment growth of 30.5%, partially offset by lower gross margins and increases in operating expenses.

Earnings per diluted share for the 39-week period ended September 26, 2020 were $12.90, an increase of $4.83 or 59.9% from the comparable 39-week period in 2019. Net revenue for the 39-week period ended September 26, 2020 was $1.275 billion, an increase of $327.0 million or 34.5% from the comparable 39-week period in 2019.

The company began seeing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business in early March. The direct financial impact of the pandemic has primarily shown in significantly reduced keg demand from the on-premise channel and higher labor and safety-related costs at the company's breweries. In the 39-week period ended September 26, 2020, the company recorded COVID-19 related pre-tax reductions in net revenue and increases in other costs that total $14.2 million, of which $10.0 million was recorded in the first quarter and $4.1 million was recorded in the second quarter and $0.1 million was recorded in the third quarter. The total amount consists of a $3.4 million reduction in net revenue for estimated keg returns from distributors and retailers and $10.8 million of other COVID-19 related direct costs, of which $7.4 million are recorded in cost of goods sold and $3.4 million are recorded in operating expenses. In addition to these direct financial impacts, COVID-19 related safety measures resulted in a reduction of brewery productivity. This has shifted more volume to third-party breweries, which increased production costs and negatively impacted gross margins. The company will continue to assess and manage this situation and will provide a further update in its fourth quarter earnings release, to the extent that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are then known more clearly.

In the third quarter and the 39-week period ended September 26, 2020, the company recorded a tax benefit of $0.41 per diluted share and $0.78 per diluted share, respectively, resulting from the Accounting Standard "Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-0").

23 October, 2020