Canadian Tire Corporation Reports Strong Q4 and Full Year Earnings Growth

• Fourth quarter consolidated revenue of $4.1 billion, up 5.5%, up 6.5% excluding Petroleum; 2018 annual revenue of $14.1 billion, up 5.9%, up 5.1% excluding Petroleum
• Consolidated comparable sales up 0.8% in the fourth quarter, and 2.2% for the full year:
• Canadian Tire up 0.2% in Q4 and 2.1% for the full year
• SportChek up 2.5% in Q4 and 2.0% for the full year
• Mark's up 1.8% in Q4 and 2.8% for the full year
• Financial Services GAAR growth up 11.6% in Q4 and 10.7% for 2018
• Fourth quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $4.78, an increase of 16.6%, normalized; full year diluted EPS was $11.95, an increase of 12.0%, normalized

TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2019 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC, TSX:CTC.a) today released fourth quarter and full year results for the period ended December 29, 2018.

"2018 was an exceptional year for Canadian Tire. We maintained our leading brand position in Canadian retail, while investing for our future," said Stephen Wetmore, President and CEO, Canadian Tire Corporation.

"We succeeded in advancing our One Company strategy by creating Canada's fastest growing credit card and loyalty offering with Triangle Rewards. Adding Helly Hansen to our family has strengthened our owned brands offering while providing a platform for international expansion. At CTR, our largest retail banner, eCommerce offerings, including click and collect and home delivery, are receiving exceptional customer satisfaction scores and the strength of our operations allowed us to increase our dividend for the ninth consecutive year," continued Wetmore.

"Today we are also announcing that Dean McCann, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has informed us of his intention to retire from his role as of December 31, 2019. Dean has been with Canadian Tire since 1996, was appointed CFO in 2012 and in 2015, was named CFO of the Year. Over the years, Dean's assistance to me and his many contributions to the Company have been invaluable. He has been instrumental to the growth of Canadian Tire," said Wetmore.

"I am extremely pleased to announce that post-retirement, Dean has agreed to remain on the Boards of Canadian Tire Bank and CT REIT," added Wetmore.

CONSOLIDATED OVERVIEW

FOURTH QUARTER

• Consolidated retail sales increased $38.4 million in the fourth quarter, or 0.8% over the same period in 2017. Excluding Petroleum, consolidated retail sales were up 1% over the same period last year.
• Consolidated revenue increased $216.2 million, or 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Excluding Petroleum, consolidated revenue increased 6.5%.
• Normalizing item in the quarter reflects a $50.0 million increase in the fair value of the redeemable financial instrument arising from the Financial Services transaction with Scotiabank.
• Consolidated normalized EBITDA increased by 5.4% in the quarter.
• Diluted EPS was $3.99 in the quarter, down $0.11 per share, or 2.7%, compared to the prior year. Normalized diluted EPS in the quarter was $4.78, an increase of $0.68 per share or 16.6%.

FULL YEAR

• Consolidated retail sales increased $514.0 million, or 3.4%, over the prior year. Excluding Petroleum, consolidated retail sales increased 2.2%.
• Consolidated revenue increased $782.0 million for the full year, or 5.9%, over the prior year. Excluding Petroleum, consolidated revenue increased 5.1%.
• Diluted EPS was $10.64, a decrease of $0.03 per share, or 0.3%, over the prior year. Normalized diluted EPS of $11.95 increased 12.0%.
• Refer to the MD&A section 7.1.1 for information on the normalizing items.

RETAIL SEGMENT OVERVIEW

FOURTH QUARTER

• Financial results reflect Q4 2018 performance compared to Q4 2017.
• Retail segment revenue increased $192.4 million, or 5.3%. Excluding Petroleum, retail segment revenue increased 6.4%.
• Canadian Tire Retail saw retail sales increase 0.6% and comparable sales were up 0.2%.
• Retail and comparable sales at SportChek were up 1.9% and 2.5% respectively.
• Mark's retail sales increased 1.8% and comparable sales were up 1.8%.
• Helly Hansen revenue in the quarter was $165.9 million.
• Income before income taxes increased $26.4 million, or 8.7%.

FULL YEAR

• Financial results reflect 2018 performance compared to 2017.
• Retail segment revenue increased $692.1 million, or 5.7%. Excluding Petroleum, retail segment revenue was up 4.8%.
• Canadian Tire Retail sales increased 2.4% and comparable sales increased 2.1%.
• SportChek's retail sales increased 1.1% and comparable sales increased 2.0%.
• Mark's retail sales increased 3.0% and comparable sales were up 2.8%.
• Helly Hansen revenue for 2018 was $347.6 million.
• Income before income taxes decreased $22.3 million or 3.2%. Normalized income before income taxes increased by $9.2 million or 1.3%.

CT REIT OVERVIEW 

• As disclosed in the Q4 and year-end 2018 CT REIT earnings release on February 11, 2019, CT REIT invested $142 million and added over 680,000 square feet of gross leasable area (GLA) in 2018, including approximately 110,000 square feet of GLA in the fourth quarter.

FINANCIAL SERVICES OVERVIEW 

• Income before income taxes increased $2.6 million, or 2.8% in the fourth quarter, and increased $4.0 million, and 1.0%, for the full year over 2017. Normalized income before income taxes increased 4.5% for the full year.
• Revenue grew 10.2% in the quarter, and 8.9% full year over the prior year.
• Gross average credit card receivables (GAAR) was up 11.6% in Q4 and for the full year GAAR was up 10.7% over 2017.

CAPITAL ALLOCATION 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

• Total operating capital expenditures were $448.4 million for the year, up from $384.2 million in 2017, and slightly below the previously disclosed range of $450 million to $500 million.
• For fiscal 2019, the Company expects annual operating capital expenditures to be within the range of $475 million to $550 million.

QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

On February 13, 2019, the Company declared dividends payable to holders of Class A Non-Voting Shares and Common Shares at a rate of $1.0375 per share payable on June 1, 2019 to shareholders of record as of April 30, 2019.  The dividend is considered an "eligible dividend" for tax purposes.

SHARE REPURCHASE

On November 8, 2018, the Company announced its intention to purchase $300-400 million of its Class A Non-Voting Shares (the "2019 Share Purchase Intention"), in excess of the amount required for anti-dilutive purposes, by the end of 2019. To date, the Company has purchased $231.2 million of Class A Non-Voting Shares in partial fulfilment of its 2019 Share Purchase Intention, leaving $68.8-$168.8 million that is expected to be purchased during the remainder of fiscal 2019.

NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID

The Company announced its intention to make a normal course issuer bid (the "2019 NCIB") to purchase from March 2, 2019 to March 1, 2020 up to 5.5 million Class A Non-Voting Shares, which represents 9.8% of the 55.9 million approximate public float of Class A Non-Voting Shares issued and outstanding as at February 13, 2019. There were 58,771,660 Class A Non-Voting Shares issued and outstanding as at February 13, 2019.

The Company intends to purchase Class A Non-Voting Shares under the 2019 NCIB for two purposes: (i) to fulfill the 2019 Share Purchase Intention as part of its capital management plan; and (ii) to offset the dilutive effect of the issuance of Class A Non-Voting Shares pursuant to its dividend reinvestment and stock option plans, consistent with the Company's policy.

Purchases of Class A Non-Voting Shares pursuant to the 2019 NCIB will be made by means of open market transactions through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative Canadian trading systems, if eligible, at the market price of the Class A Non-Voting Shares at the time of purchase or as otherwise permitted under the rules of the TSX and applicable securities laws. Purchases may also be made by way of private agreements or share repurchase programs under issuer bid exemption orders issued by securities regulatory authorities. Any private purchase made under an exemption order issued by a securities regulatory authority will generally be at a discount to the prevailing market price.

For open market transactions, the Company will be subject to a daily purchase limit of 59,470 Class A Non-Voting Shares, which represents 25% of 237,880, the average daily trading volume of the Class A Non-Voting Shares on the TSX, net of purchases made by the Company through the TSX, for the six months ended January 31, 2019. The Class A Non-Voting Shares purchased by the Company pursuant to the 2019 NCIB will be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares.

The Company also announced that it will enter into an automatic share purchase plan (the "ASPP") with its designated broker to facilitate purchases of Class A Non-Voting Shares under the 2019 NCIB at times when the Company would not ordinarily be permitted to make such purchases due to its internal trading black-out periods or applicable regulatory restrictions.  Purchases made pursuant to the ASPP will be made by the Company's designated broker based upon the parameters prescribed by the TSX, applicable Canadian securities laws and the terms of the written agreement between the Company and its designated broker. The ASPP will commence on March 2, 2019 and terminate on the earliest of the date on which: (i) the purchase limit under the 2019 NCIB has been reached; (ii) the 2019 NCIB expires; and (iii) the Company terminates the ASPP in accordance with its terms. The ASPP constitutes an "automatic securities purchase plan" under applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Company's proposed 2019 NCIB and ASPP are subject to regulatory approval.

Under the Company's normal course issuer bid which began on March 2, 2018 and expires on March 2, 2019 (the "2018 NCIB"), the Company received approval to purchase up to 5.9 million Class A Non-Voting Shares. To date, the Company has purchased a total of 3,878,411 Class A Non-Voting Shares by means of open market transactions through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative Canadian trading systems under the Company's 2018 NCIB, at the volume weighted average price of $157.40.

To watch CTC's 2018 Year in Review video, please click here.

To view a PDF version of Canadian Tire Corporation's full quarterly earnings report please see:
http://files.newswire.ca/116/CTCCombinedQ42018.pdf

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking information that reflects management's current expectations related to matters such as future financial performance and operating results of the Company. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our anticipated financial position, results of operations and operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Certain statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to, statements concerning the Company's expectations with respect to its capital expenditures for fiscal 2019 under the heading "Capital Expenditures", the Company's intention to repurchase certain of its Class A Non-Voting Shares, in excess of the amount required for anti-dilutive purposes, by the end of 2019 under the heading "Share Repurchase" and statements concerning the Company's intention to make a normal course issuer bid with respect to the purchase of its Class A Non-Voting Shares and to enter into an automatic securities purchase plan pursuant to which the Company's designated broker may purchase Class A Non-Voting Shares under the Company's normal course issuer bid, under the heading "Normal Course Issuer Bid".

By its very nature, forward-looking information requires us to make assumptions and is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, which give rise to the possibility that the Company's assumptions, estimates, analyses, beliefs and opinions may not be correct and that the Company's expectations and plans will not be achieved. Although the Company believes that the forward-looking information in this press release is based on information, assumptions and beliefs which are current, reasonable and complete, this information is necessarily subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations and plans as set forth in such forward-looking information.

For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from current expectations, refer to section 2.8 (Risk Factors) of our Annual Information Form for fiscal 2018 and to sections 7.2.4 (Retail Segment Business Risks), 7.3.2 (CT REIT Segment Business Risks), 7.4.3 (Financial Services Segment Business Risks) and 12 (Risks and Risk Management) and all subsections thereunder of our  Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 29, 2018, as well as the Company's other public filings, available at www.sedar.com and at www.corp.canadiantire.ca.

The forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions as of the date hereof and do not take into account the effect that transactions or non-recurring or other special items announced or occurring after the statements are made have on the Company's business. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf, to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as is required by applicable securities laws.

CONFERENCE CALL

Canadian Tire will conduct a conference call to discuss information included in this news release and related matters at 8:00 a.m. ET on February 14, 2019. The conference call will be available simultaneously and in its entirety to all interested investors and the news media through a webcast at http://corp.canadiantire.ca/EN/investors and will be available through replay at this website for 12 months.

ABOUT CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, (TSX: CTC.A) (TSX: CTC) or "CTC", is a family of businesses that includes a Retail segment, a Financial Services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians with products for life in Canada across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal & Gardening divisions. PartSource and Gas+ are key parts of the Canadian Tire network. The Retail segment also includes Mark's, a leading source for casual and industrial wear; Pro Hockey Life, a hockey specialty store catering to elite players; and SportChek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports, Intersport and Atmosphere, which offer the best active wear brands. The 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division and the tens of thousands of people employed across Canada and around the world by the Company and its local dealers, franchisees and petroleum retailers. In addition, Canadian Tire Corporation owns and operates Helly Hansen, a leading global brand in sportswear and workwear based in Oslo, Norway. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Media: Jane Shaw, 416-480-8581, [email protected]
Investors: Lisa Greatrix, 416-480-8725, [email protected]

CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED

CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Q4 2018

Consolidated Balance Sheets
As at
(C$ in millions)	December 29, 2018		December 30, 2017^1
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	470.4	$	437.0
Short-term investments	183.7		132.5
Trade and other receivables	933.3		681.1
Loans receivable	5,511.3		5,613.2
Merchandise inventories	1,997.5		1,769.8
Income taxes recoverable	15.3		48.3
Prepaid expenses and deposits	138.8		113.1
Assets classified as held for sale	5.5		1.1
Total current assets	9,255.8		8,796.1
Long-term receivables and other assets	742.6		717.8
Long-term investments	152.7		165.0
Goodwill and intangible assets	2,272.0		1,292.9
Investment property	364.7		344.7
Property and equipment	4,283.2		4,193.3
Deferred income taxes	215.8		117.2
Total assets	$	17,286.8	$	15,627.0
LIABILITIES
Deposits	964.5		973.9
Trade and other payables	2,425.0		2,230.8
Provisions	171.8		158.9
Short-term borrowings	378.1		144.6
Loans payable	654.6		667.1
Income taxes payable	110.6		72.1
Current portion of long-term debt	553.6		282.3
Total current liabilities	5,258.2		4,529.7
Long-term provisions	49.8		45.7
Long-term debt	4,000.3		3,122.1
Long-term deposits	1,506.7		1,412.9
Deferred income taxes	184.5		102.3
Other long-term liabilities	872.3		848.2
Total liabilities	11,871.8		10,060.9
EQUITY
Share capital	591.5		615.7
Contributed surplus	2.9		2.9
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	51.1		(37.5)
Retained earnings	3,720.7		4,161.7
Equity attributable to shareholders of Canadian Tire Corporation	4,366.2		4,742.8
Non-controlling interests	1,048.8		823.3
Total equity	5,415.0		5,566.1
Total liabilities and equity	$	17,286.8	$	15,627.0

^1	Certain prior period figures have been restated due to the adoption of new accounting standards (refer to Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for details)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
For the	13 weeks ended				52 weeks ended
(C$ in millions, except per share amounts)	December 29, 2018		December 30 2017^1		December 29, 2018		December 30 2017^1
Revenue	$	4,131.7	$	3,915.5	$	14,058.7	$	13,276.7
Cost of producing revenue	2,713.7		2,570.1		9,347.4		8,796.5
Gross margin	1,418.0		1,345.4		4,711.3		4,480.2
Other (income) expense	(2.5)		(0.3)		(26.0)		0.2
Selling, general and administrative expenses	938.9		911.3		3,467.6		3,254.9
Net finance costs	44.7		30.1		151.5		112.6
Change in fair value of redeemable financial instrument	50.0		—		50.0		—
Income before income taxes	386.9		404.3		1,068.2		1,112.5
Income taxes	108.7		108.9		285.2		293.7
Net income	$	278.2	$	295.4	$	783.0	$	818.8
Net income attributable to:
Shareholders of Canadian Tire Corporation	$	254.3	$	275.7	$	692.1	$	735.0
Non-controlling interests	23.9		19.7		90.9		83.8
	$	278.2	$	295.4	$	783.0	$	818.8
Basic earnings per share	$	4.00	$	4.12	$	10.67	$	10.70
Diluted earnings per share	$	3.99	$	4.10	$	10.64	$	10.67
Weighted average number of Common and Class A Non-Voting Shares outstanding:
Basic	63,611,964		66,985,467		64,887,724		68,678,840
Diluted	63,707,558		67,188,141		65,062,581		68,871,847

^1	Certain prior period figures have been restated due to the adoption of new accounting standards (refer to Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for details)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
For the	13 weeks ended						52 weeks ended
(C$ in millions)	December 29, 2018			December 30, 2017			December 29, 2018			December 30, 2017
Net income	$	278.2		$	295.4		$	783.0		$	818.8
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to net income:
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges an available-for-sale financial assets	—			6.9			—			(85.7)
Net fair value (losses) on hedging instruments entered into for cash flow hedges not subject to basis adjustment	(14.7)			—			(6.4)			—
Deferred cost of hedging not subject to basis adjustment - Changes in fair value of the time value of an option in relation to time-period related hedged items	(5.6)			—			(7.5)			—
Reclassification of losses to non-financial assets	—			11.6			—			19.1
Reclassification of (gains) losses to income	(0.1)			0.5			3.7			(5.7)
Currency translation adjustment	(13.8)			—			(40.9)			—
Item that will not be reclassified subsequently to net income:
Actuarial gains (losses)	10.8			(6.2)			10.8			(6.2)
Net fair vale gains on hedging instruments entered into for cash flow hedges subject to basis adjustment	91.3			—			141.8			—
Other comprehensive income (loss)	67.9			12.8			101.5			(78.5)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to:
Shareholders of Canadian Tire Corporation	$	71.3		$	12.4		$	103.0		$	(80.3)
Non-controlling interests	(3.4)			0.4			(1.5)			1.8
	$	67.9		$	12.8		$	101.5		$	(78.5)
Comprehensive income	$	346.1		$	308.2		$	884.5		$	740.3
Comprehensive income attributable to:
Shareholders of Canadian Tire Corporation	$	325.6		$	288.1		$	795.1		$	654.7
Non-controlling interests	20.5			20.1			89.4			85.6
	$	346.1		$	308.2		$	884.5		$	740.3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For the	13 weeks ended				52 weeks ended
(C$ in millions)	December 29, 2018		December 30, 2017		December 29, 2018		December 30, 2017
Cash generated from (used for):
Operating activities
Net income	$	278.2	$	295.4	$	783.0	$	818.8
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property and equipment and investment property	75.5		91.2		301.4		335.0
Income tax expense	108.7		108.9		285.2		293.7
Net finance costs	44.7		30.1		151.5		112.6
Amortization of intangible assets	31.0		32.9		126.6		133.7
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment, investment property, assets held for sale, intangible assets and lease terminations	(7.3)		0.4		(23.4)		0.4
Change in fair value of redeemable financial instrument	50.0		—		50.0		—
Interest paid	(39.4)		(33.0)		(148.5)		(125.9)
Interest received	3.3		2.2		10.1		8.7
Income taxes paid	(10.4)		(48.6)		(204.4)		(294.3)
Other	3.2		5.9		12.0		13.5
Total except as noted below	537.5		485.4		1,343.5		1,296.2
Change in operating working capital and other	516.2		622.2		(44.6)		107.0
Change in loans receivable	(246.7)		(270.5)		(491.5)		(430.4)
Cash generated from operating activities	807.0		837.1		807.4		972.8
Investing activities
Additions to property and equipment and investment property	(117.8)		(246.9)		(416.8)		(471.0)
Additions to intangible assets	(56.9)		(46.8)		(129.5)		(161.6)
Total additions	(174.7)		(293.7)		(546.3)		(632.6)
Acquisition of short-term investments	(76.1)		(45.6)		(203.8)		(421.9)
Proceeds from the maturity and disposition of short-term investments	66.3		70.4		208.3		452.6
Acquisition of long-term investments	—		—		(44.0)		(35.0)
Proceeds on disposition of property and equipment, investment property and assets held for sale	11.0		11.5		28.9		13.6
Business combinations, net of cash acquired	—		—		(762.9)		(19.3)
Other	6.8		0.2		11.2		2.7
Cash (used for) investing activities	(166.7)		(257.2)		(1,308.6)		(639.9)
Financing activities
Dividends paid	(54.5)		(41.3)		(222.3)		(169.7)
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests	(19.0)		(5.9)		(36.1)		(61.1)
Total dividends and distributions paid	(73.5)		(47.2)		(258.4)		(230.8)
Net repayment of short-term borrowings	(448.1)		(83.5)		(71.3)		(54.8)
Issuance of loans payable	52.1		19.9		225.9		140.9
Repayment of loans payable	(45.4)		(66.1)		(238.5)		(173.9)
Issuance of long-term debt	(0.2)		(0.4)		1,434.0		741.0
Repayment of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities	(274.6)		(445.6)		(287.5)		(671.2)
Payment of transaction costs related to long-term debt	0.9		—		(5.5)		(4.2)
Repurchase of share capital	(184.0)		(181.3)		(582.4)		(659.3)
Proceeds on disposal of partial interest in CT REIT	191.8		—		191.8		—
Net proceeds from issue of trust units to non-controlling interests	62.3		—		62.3		—
Payments on financial instruments	(5.6)		(8.9)		(16.4)		(8.9)
Change in deposits	131.0		16.8		80.6		201.5
Cash (used for) financing activities	(593.3)		(796.3)		534.6		(719.7)
Cash generated (used) in the period	47.0		(216.4)		33.4		(386.8)
Cash and cash equivalents, net of bank indebtedness, beginning of period	423.4		653.4		437.0		823.8
Cash and cash equivalents, net of bank indebtedness, end of period	$	470.4	$	437.0	$	470.4	$	437.0

SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED

Related Links

http://www.canadiantire.ca