NEW ORLEANS, June 9, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEI) reported today its results for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2009.
The Company reported net earnings for the quarter ended April 30, 2009 of $13.2 million, or $.14 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $13.9 million, or $.15 per diluted share, for the quarter ended April 30, 2008. After adjusting net earnings for several unusual items in the second quarter of 2009, the Company reported adjusted earnings of $10.6 million, or $.11 per diluted share, for the quarter ended April 30, 2009, compared to adjusted earnings of $14.1 million, or $.15 per diluted share, for the quarter ended April 30, 2008. See table under "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for further information on adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted net earnings.
Thomas J. Crawford, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Given the current economic environment and industry conditions, we are pleased with our operating performance for the quarter, which compares favorably to our first quarter 2009 results. Compared to the first quarter of 2009, our funeral and cemetery gross profit dollars and margins increased, as we grew revenue and continued to control our expenses during the second quarter of fiscal 2009. This resulted in net earnings and earnings per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 in excess of 50 percent greater than the first quarter of this fiscal year. Additionally, we took actions to strengthen our balance sheet and liquidity position by replacing our revolving credit facility and repurchasing debt."
Mr. Crawford continued, "We generated $21.8 million in operating cash flow for the quarter and $29.1 million year-to-date producing more cash in the first six months of 2009 than the first six months of 2008. During the second fiscal quarter, we repurchased approximately $23 million aggregate principal amount of our senior convertible notes on the open market for $14 million, realizing a net gain of approximately $9 million. Since quarter end, we have repurchased an additional $17 million of our senior convertible notes, realizing an additional net gain of approximately $4 million. In total, with our debt repurchases we have retired 9 percent, or $40 million, of our outstanding debt during this fiscal year and currently have $64 million of cash on hand. Finally, we successfully replaced our revolving credit facility with a new $95 million facility which will expire in June 2012. We are pleased with our new credit facility with stronger than anticipated response from lenders. With the flexible terms and conditions and borrowing availability in this new agreement, combined with strong cash on hand, we believe we are well positioned to execute our long-term strategic objectives. We believe the repurchase of our debt and the new debt agreement are important actions that will further benefit the Company's financial strength as the economy improves."
Second Quarter Results
FUNERAL
* Funeral revenue decreased $5.6 million, or 7.3 percent, to $71.2 million. * The Company's same-store funeral operations achieved a 2.4 percent increase in the same-store average revenue per funeral service, including trust earnings. * Same-store funeral services performed decreased 9.6 percent, or 1,537 events. The decline is due to several factors. The Company experienced a 640 call decline, or 42 percent of the total decline, in its two West Coast regions, due in part to a decrease in low-end cremation events. In addition, the Company experienced a 222 call decline, or 14 percent of the total decline, in funeral services due to an additional day in the second quarter of 2008 due to leap year. Finally, the remaining decrease in funeral services is primarily due to a decrease in deaths in the Company's markets, when compared with the comparable prior year period. * In the second quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company realized a $2.1 million or $0.01 per diluted share, decrease in earnings related to trust activities, of which $0.8 million related to the funeral segment and $1.3 million related to the cemetery segment. This decrease is consistent with the Company's previously announced expectations. * Funeral gross profit decreased $4.0 million to $18.5 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $22.5 million for the same period of fiscal 2008, primarily due to the decrease in revenue, as noted above, partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in expenses. The decrease in expenses is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and wages due to effective labor management and an improvement in the Company's general liability claims experience. * The cremation rate for the Company's same-store operations was 41.4 percent for the second quarter of 2009 compared to 39.9 percent for the second quarter of 2008. * Net preneed funeral sales decreased 1.3 percent during the second quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter of 2008 due in part to current economic conditions. Preneed funeral sales are deferred until the underlying contracts are performed and have no impact on current revenue.
CEMETERY
* Cemetery revenue decreased $4.6 million to $55.4 million for the second quarter of 2009. This decrease is due primarily to a $2.3 million, or 9.0 percent, decrease in cemetery property sales, net of discounts, due to current economic conditions, a $2.2 million decrease in cemetery merchandise delivered and services performed and a $1.3 million decrease in earnings related to trust activities, as noted above. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.8 million increase in construction during the period on various cemetery projects. * Cemetery gross profit decreased $6.0 million from $13.1 million in the second quarter of 2008 to $7.1 million for the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to the decrease in cemetery revenue, as discussed above, coupled with a $1.4 million increase in expenses. The increase in expenses is primarily due to a $3.1 million charge recorded for the Company's estimated probable obligation to restore the net realized losses in certain of the Company's cemetery perpetual care trusts related to investments in General Motors. This increase is partially offset by a decrease in salaries and wages due to effective labor management and an improvement in the Company's general liability claims experience.
OTHER
* Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased $0.8 million to $7.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 primarily due to a $1.2 million decrease in professional fees, partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in information technology costs primarily due to the implementation of a new business system in the current year. * The Company incurred $0.2 million in hurricane related charges in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 primarily due to litigation costs associated with the Company's Hurricane Katrina insurance claim, compared to $0.2 million in hurricane related charges during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 related to Hurricane Katrina. * Investment and other income, net decreased $0.4 million to less than $0.1 million due primarily to a decrease in the average rate earned on the Company's cash balances from 1.5 percent in the second quarter of 2008 to 0.2 percent in the second quarter of 2009. * The Company incurred separation charges of $0.3 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2009 due primarily to separation pay to a former officer who retired in the second quarter of 2009. * The effective tax rate for the quarter ended April 30, 2009 was 37.7 percent compared to 36.7 percent for the same period in 2008. The increased rate in the current year is primarily due to a $0.6 million increase in the Company's tax valuation allowance on its capital loss carryforward established in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. This increase was partially offset by reduced state income taxes attributable to the gain on early extinguishment of debt in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009. * The Company's weighted average diluted shares outstanding decreased to 91.9 million shares for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 compared to 94.6 million shares for the same period in 2008, yielding a positive impact on earnings per share. * In the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company purchased $4.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.125 percent senior convertible notes due 2014 and $18.6 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.375 percent senior convertible notes due 2016 on the open market. As a result, the Company recorded an $8.7 million net gain on early extinguishment of debt during the quarter ended April 30, 2009.
Year to Date Results
FUNERAL
* Funeral revenue decreased $7.3 million, or 4.9 percent, to $143.0 million. * The Company's same-store funeral operations achieved a 4.2 percent increase in the same-store average revenue per funeral service, including trust earnings. * Same-store funeral services performed decreased 8.0 percent, or 2,516 events. The decline is due to several factors. The Company experienced a 1,071 call decline, or 43 percent of the total decline, in its two West Coast regions, due in part to a decrease in low-end cremation events. In addition, the Company experienced a 222 call decline, or 9 percent of the total decline, in funeral services due to an additional day in the second quarter of 2008 due to leap year. Finally, the remaining decrease in funeral services is primarily due to a decrease in deaths in the Company's markets, when compared with the comparable prior year period. * For the first six months of fiscal 2009, the Company realized a $4.3 million, or $.03 per diluted share, decrease in earnings related to trust activities, of which $1.7 million related to the funeral segment and $2.6 million related to the cemetery segment. This decrease is consistent with the Company's previously announced expectations. * Funeral gross profit decreased $3.8 million to $36.8 million for the first six months of 2009 compared to $40.6 million for the same period of fiscal 2008 primarily due to the decrease in revenue, as noted above, partially offset by a $3.5 million decrease in expenses. The decrease in expenses is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and wages due to effective labor management and an improvement in the Company's general liability claims experience. * The cremation rate for the Company's same-store operations was 40.9 percent for the first six months of fiscal 2009 compared to 40.1 percent for the same period of fiscal 2008. * Net preneed funeral sales decreased 8.0 percent during the first half of fiscal 2009 compared to the first half of fiscal 2008 due in part to current economic conditions. Preneed funeral sales are deferred until the underlying contracts are performed and have no impact on current revenue.
CEMETERY
* Cemetery revenue decreased $13.8 million to $103.0 million for the first six months of fiscal 2009. This decrease is due primarily to a $9.5 million, or 18.5 percent, decrease in cemetery property sales, net of discounts, due to current economic conditions, a $3.0 million decrease in cemetery merchandise delivered and services performed and a $2.6 million decrease in earnings related to trust activities, as noted above. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.4 million increase in construction during the period on various cemetery projects. * Cemetery gross profit decreased $10.2 million from $22.1 million in the first six months of 2008 to $11.9 million for the first six months of 2009 due primarily to the decrease in cemetery revenue, as discussed above, partially offset by a $3.6 million decrease in expenses. The decrease in expenses is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and wages due to effective labor management and an improvement in the Company's general liability claims experience. The decrease is partially offset by a $3.2 million charge recorded for the Company's estimated probable obligation to restore the net realized losses in certain of the Company's cemetery perpetual care trusts primarily related to investments in General Motors.
OTHER
* Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased $1.5 million to $14.5 million for the first six month period of fiscal 2009 primarily due to a $1.4 million decrease in professional fees. * The Company incurred $0.5 million in hurricane related charges in the first six months of fiscal 2009 primarily due to litigation costs associated with the Company's Hurricane Katrina insurance claim, compared to less than $0.1 million in hurricane related charges during the first six months of fiscal 2008 related to Hurricane Katrina. * Investment and other income, net decreased $1.0 million to $0.1 million due primarily to a decrease in the average rate earned on the Company's cash balances from 2.6 percent in the first six months of fiscal year 2008 to 0.2 percent for the first six months of fiscal year 2009. * The Company incurred separation charges of $0.3 million during the first six months of fiscal 2009 due primarily to separation pay to a former officer who retired in the second quarter of 2009. * The effective tax rate for the six months ended April 30, 2009 was 38.6 percent compared to 37.0 percent for the same period in 2008. The increased rate in the current year is primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in the Company's tax valuation allowance on its capital loss carryforward established in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. This increase was partially offset by reduced state income taxes attributable to the gain on early extinguishment of debt in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009. * The Company's weighted average diluted shares outstanding decreased to 91.9 million shares for the six months ended April 30, 2009 compared to 95.8 million shares for the same period in 2008, yielding a positive impact on earnings per share. * In the first six months of fiscal year 2009, the Company purchased $4.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.125 percent senior convertible notes due 2014 and $18.6 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.375 percent senior convertible notes due 2016 on the open market. As a result, the Company recorded an $8.7 million net gain on early extinguishment of debt during the six months ended April 30, 2009. * As of June 9, 2009, the Company has purchased an additional $17.5 million aggregate principal amount of its senior convertible notes, resulting in an additional net gain on early extinguishment of debt of approximately $4.6 million, or a total of $40.1 million aggregate principal amount purchased and approximately $13.3 million net gain for fiscal year 2009.
Depreciation and Amortization
* Depreciation and amortization was $7.4 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $7.0 million for the second quarter of 2008. * Depreciation and amortization was $14.8 million for the first six months of 2009 compared to $14.0 million for the first six months of 2008.
Cash Flow Results and Debt for Total Operations
* Cash flow provided by operating activities for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 was $21.8 million compared to $24.3 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in operating cash flow is primarily due to the timing of vendor payments, partially offset by a decrease in net tax payments in the current quarter. The Company paid $7.4 million in net tax payments in the second quarter of 2008 compared to $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2009. * Cash flow provided by operating activities for the first six months of 2009 was $29.1 million compared to $28.4 million for the same period of last year. The increase in operating cash flow is primarily due to collections of prior period sales exceeding receivables for new sales. In addition, the Company paid $10.7 million in net tax payments in the first half of 2008 compared to $3.4 million in the first half of 2009. These increases were partially offset by $1.3 million of cash outflows related to Hurricane Ike paid in the first six months of 2009, coupled with the timing of payments to vendors and the timing of payroll payments. * Recurring free cash flow was $18.4 million during the second quarter of 2009 compared to $20.3 million for the second quarter of 2008. * Recurring free cash flow was $22.6 million for the first six months of fiscal year 2009 compared to $21.2 million for the same period last year. * During the second quarter of 2009, the Company paid $2.3 million, or $.025 per share, in dividends compared to $2.4 million, or $.025 per share, paid in the second quarter of 2008. * As of April 30, 2009, the Company had outstanding debt of $427.5 million and cash on hand of $71.8 million, or net debt of $355.7 million. * The Company's revolving credit facility, which had no amounts drawn as of April 30, 2009, was set to mature on November 19, 2009. In June 2009, the Company entered into a new $95.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with a maturity date of June 2, 2012.
Trust Performance
The following returns include realized and unrealized gains and losses:
* For the quarter ended April 30, 2009, the Company's preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced a total return of 5.0 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced a total return of 4.8 percent. * For the last three years ended April 30, 2009, the Company's preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced an annual total average decline in value of 7.2 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced an annual total average decline in value of 5.6 percent. * For the last five years ended April 30, 2009, the Company's preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced an annual total average decline in value of 1.8 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced an annual total average decline in value of 1.5 percent.
Founded in 1910, Stewart Enterprises is the second largest provider of products and services in the death care industry in the United States. The Company currently owns and operates 219 funeral homes and 140 cemeteries in the United States and Puerto Rico. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides a complete range of funeral merchandise and services, along with cemetery property, merchandise and services, both at the time of need and on a preneed basis.
The Stewart Enterprises, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4456
Stewart Enterprises, Inc. will host its quarterly conference call for investors to discuss second quarter results on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 10 a.m. Central Daylight Time. The teleconference dial-in number is 888-213-3710. To participate, please call the number at least 15 minutes prior to the call. If you are calling from outside the United States, the dial-in number is 913-312-0646. A replay of the call will be available by dialing 888-203-1112 (from within the continental United States) or 719-457-0820 (from outside the continental United States), and using pass code 5487029 until June 17, 2009, at 10:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Interested parties will also have the opportunity to listen to the live conference call via the Internet through Stewart Enterprises' website http://www.stewartenterprises.com. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay will be available at this website shortly following the conference call and will be available at the website until July 10, 2009.
STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended April 30, -------------------------- 2009 2008 ------------ ------------ Revenues: Funeral $ 71,240 $ 76,855 Cemetery 55,378 59,964 ------------ ------------ 126,618 136,819 ------------ ------------ Costs and expenses: Funeral 52,715 54,289 Cemetery 48,308 46,896 ------------ ------------ 101,023 101,185 ------------ ------------ Gross profit 25,595 35,634 Corporate general and administrative expenses (7,006) (7,803) Hurricane related charges, net (205) (169) Separation charges (275) -- Gain on dispositions and impairment (losses), net (35) (19) Other operating income, net 304 104 ------------ ------------ Operating earnings 18,378 27,747 Interest expense (5,879) (6,093) Gain on early extinguishment of debt 8,671 -- Investment and other income, net 32 357 ------------ ------------ Earnings before income taxes 21,202 22,011 Income taxes 8,000 8,071 ------------ ------------ Net earnings $ 13,202 $ 13,940 ============ ============ Net earnings per common share: Basic $ .14 $ .15 ============ ============ Diluted $ .14 $ .15 ============ ============ Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands): Basic 91,888 94,525 ============ ============ Diluted 91,921 94,635 ============ ============ Dividends declared per common share $ .025 $ .025 ============ ============ STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) Six Months Ended April 30, -------------------------- 2009 2008 ------------ ------------ Revenues: Funeral $ 142,990 $ 150,304 Cemetery 102,958 116,788 ------------ ------------ 245,948 267,092 ------------ ------------ Costs and expenses: Funeral 106,210 109,736 Cemetery 91,060 94,652 ------------ ------------ 197,270 204,388 ------------ ------------ Gross profit 48,678 62,704 Corporate general and administrative expenses (14,512) (16,038) Hurricane related charges, net (520) (10) Separation charges (275) -- Gain on dispositions and impairment (losses), net (98) 128 Other operating income, net 563 346 ------------ ------------ Operating earnings 33,836 47,130 Interest expense (11,789) (11,981) Gain on early extinguishment of debt 8,671 -- Investment and other income, net 73 1,077 ------------ ------------ Earnings before income taxes 30,791 36,226 Income taxes 11,873 13,401 ------------ ------------ Net earnings $ 18,918 $ 22,825 ============ ============ Net earnings per common share: Basic $ .21 $ .24 ============ ============ Diluted $ .21 $ .24 ============ ============ Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands): Basic 91,856 95,667 ============ ============ Diluted 91,871 95,838 ============ ============ Dividends declared per common share $ .05 $ .05 ============ ============ STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) April 30, October 31, ASSETS 2009 2008 ------ ------------ ------------ Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 71,783 $ 72,574 Marketable securities 150 55 Receivables, net of allowances 54,956 59,129 Inventories 36,517 35,870 Prepaid expenses 10,232 7,317 Deferred income taxes, net 8,942 8,798 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 182,580 183,743 Receivables due beyond one year, net of allowances 65,787 70,671 Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments 344,005 368,412 Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments 174,322 182,141 Goodwill 247,236 247,236 Cemetery property, at cost 384,121 375,832 Property and equipment, at cost: Land 42,343 42,343 Buildings 324,202 319,839 Equipment and other 183,140 178,589 ------------ ------------ 549,685 540,771 Less accumulated depreciation 248,567 236,243 ------------ ------------ Net property and equipment 301,118 304,528 Deferred income taxes, net 174,107 179,515 Cemetery perpetual care trust investments 172,544 173,090 Non-current assets held for sale 2,873 2,873 Other assets 14,653 16,474 ------------ ------------ Total assets $ 2,063,346 $ 2,104,515 ============ ============ LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY ------------------------------------ Current liabilities: Current maturities of long-term debt $ 4 $ 20 Accounts payable 23,705 27,652 Accrued payroll and other benefits 12,078 14,133 Accrued insurance 20,410 21,287 Accrued interest 5,032 5,864 Estimated obligation to fund cemetery perpetual care trust 14,725 13,281 Other current liabilities 12,179 16,198 Income taxes payable 5,044 2,061 ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 93,177 100,496 Long-term debt, less current maturities 427,447 450,095 Deferred preneed funeral revenue 244,440 245,182 Deferred preneed cemetery revenue 275,711 275,835 Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust 448,222 475,420 Perpetual care trusts' corpus 171,129 171,371 Other long-term liabilities 22,397 20,479 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities 1,682,523 1,738,878 ------------ ------------ Commitments and contingencies ------------ ------------ Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued -- -- Common stock, $1.00 stated value: Class A authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 89,121,557 and 88,693,127 shares at April 30, 2009 and October 31, 2008, respectively 89,122 88,693 Class B authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 3,555,020 shares at April 30, 2009 and October 31, 2008; 10 votes per share convertible into an equal number of Class A shares 3,555 3,555 Additional paid-in capital 532,744 536,902 Accumulated deficit (244,632) (263,550) Accumulated other comprehensive income: Unrealized appreciation of investments 34 37 ------------ ------------ Total accumulated other comprehensive income 34 37 ------------ ------------ Total shareholders' equity 380,823 365,637 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 2,063,346 $ 2,104,515 ============ ============ STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) Six Months Ended April 30, -------------------------- 2009 2008 ------------ ------------ Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 18,918 $ 22,825 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: (Gains) on dispositions and impairment losses, net 98 (128) Gain on early extinguishment of debt (8,671) -- Depreciation and amortization 14,806 13,985 Provision for doubtful accounts 4,344 3,638 Share-based compensation 1,259 1,851 Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements -- (165) Provision for deferred income taxes 4,764 2,594 Estimated obligation to fund cemetery perpetual care trust 3,200 -- Other 157 217 Changes in assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in receivables 5,175 (5,706) Increase in prepaid expenses (2,915) (3,933) Decrease in inventories and cemetery property (515) (4,368) Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses (10,382) (1,644) Net effect of preneed funeral production and maturities: Decrease in preneed funeral receivables and trust investments 15,895 6,654 Decrease in deferred preneed funeral revenue (743) (5,070) Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust (14,018) (4,814) Net effect of preneed cemetery production and deliveries: Decrease in preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments 7,584 3,101 Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery revenue (7,595) (244) Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust (4,433) 453 Increase (decrease) in other 2,156 (849) ------------ ------------ Net cash provided by operating activities 29,084 28,397 ------------ ------------ Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sales of marketable securities -- 10,219 Purchases of marketable securities (99) (19,897) Proceeds from sale of assets 494 338 Purchase of subsidiaries and other investments, net of cash acquired (1,623) (1,378) Additions to property and equipment (10,729) (13,385) Other 28 21 ------------ ------------ Net cash used in investing activities (11,929) (24,082) ------------ ------------ Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments of long-term debt (13,538) (150) Issuance of common stock 149 1,458 Retirement of call options 1,261 -- Purchase and retirement of common stock -- (37,320) Retirement of common stock warrants (1,182) -- Dividends (4,636) (4,761) Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements -- 165 ------------ ------------ Net cash used in financing activities (17,946) (40,608) ------------ ------------ Net decrease in cash (791) (36,293) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 72,574 71,545 ------------ ------------ Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 71,783 $ 35,252 ============ ============ Supplemental cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for: Income taxes, net $ 3,374 $ 10,697 Interest $ 11,798 $ 11,437 Non-cash investing and financing activities: Issuance of common stock to executive officers and directors $ 305 $ 922 Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures $ 52 $ 236
STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES FOR THE PERIODS ENDED APRIL 30, 2009 AND 2008 (Unaudited)
The Company recorded several items during the three and six months ended April 30, 2009 and 2008 that impacted earnings including unusual items such as perpetual care funding obligations and tax valuation charges and non-recurring items such as gains on the early extinguishment of debt, hurricane related charges and separation pay. The Company is presenting adjusted earnings in the table below to eliminate the effects of the specified items, which are not comparable from one period to the next.
Adjusted Three Months Ended April 30, Six Months Ended April 30, Balances are --------------------------- --------------------------- Net of Tax 2009 2008 2009 2008 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- millions per millions per millions per millions per share share share share Consolidated net earnings $13.2 $ .14 $13.9 $ .15 $18.9 $ .21 $22.8 $ .24 Subtract: Gain on early extinguish- ment of debt (5.4) (.06) -- -- (5.3) (.06) -- -- Add: Hurricane related charges, net 0.1 -- 0.2 -- 0.3 -- -- -- Add: Perpetual care funding obligation 1.9 .02 -- -- 2.0 .02 -- -- Add: Separation charges 0.2 -- -- -- 0.2 -- -- -- Add: Tax valuation charge 0.6 .01 -- -- 0.9 .01 -- -- ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Adjusted earnings $10.6 $ .11 $14.1 $ .15 $17.0 $ .18 $22.8 $ .24 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES FOR THE PERIODS ENDED APRIL 30, 2009 AND 2008 (Unaudited)
Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less maintenance capital expenditures. Management believes that free cash flow is a useful measure of the Company's ability to repay debt, make strategic investments, repurchase stock or pay dividends (subject to the restrictions in its debt agreements). The following table provides a reconciliation between net cash provided by operating activities (the GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is most directly comparable to free cash flow) and free cash flow for the three and six months ended April 30, 2009 and 2008:
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Free Cash Flow April 30, April 30, (Dollars in millions) ------------------- ------------------- 2009 2008 2009 2008 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net cash provided by operating activities(1) $ 21.8 $ 24.3 $ 29.1 $ 28.4 Less: Maintenance capital expenditures (3.4) (4.0) (6.5) (7.2) --------- --------- --------- --------- Free cash flow $ 18.4 $ 20.3 $ 22.6 $ 21.2 ========= ========= ========= ========= (1) Cash flow provided by operating activities for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 was $21.8 million compared to $24.3 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in operating cash flow is primarily due to the timing of vendor payments, partially offset by a decrease in net tax payments. Cash flow provided by operating activities for the first six months of 2009 was $29.1 million compared to $28.4 million for the same period of last year. The increase in operating cash flow is primarily due to collections of prior period sales exceeding receivables for new sales and a decrease in net tax payments, partially offset by cash outflows related to Hurricane Ike paid in the first six months of 2009, coupled with the timing of payments to vendors and the timing of payroll payments. STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements that are generally identifiable through the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements rely on assumptions, estimates and predictions that could be inaccurate and that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our goals or forecasts. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
* effects on our trusts and escrow accounts of changes in stock and bond prices and interest and dividend rates; * effects of the recent substantial decline in market value of our trust assets, including: -- decreased future cash flow and earnings as a result of reduced earnings from our trusts and trust fund management; -- the potential to realize additional losses and additional cemetery perpetual care funding obligations and tax valuation allowances; * effects on at-need and preneed sales of a weakening economy; * effects on revenue due to the changes in the number of deaths in our markets and decline in funeral call volume; * effects on cash flow and earnings as a result of increased costs, particularly supply costs related to increases in commodity prices; * effects on our market share, prices, revenues and margins of intensified price competition or improved advertising and marketing by competitors, including low-cost casket providers and increased offerings of products or services over the Internet; * effects on our revenue and earnings of the continuing national trend toward increased cremation and the increases in the percentage of cremations performed by us that are inexpensive direct cremations; * risk of loss due to hurricanes and other natural disasters; * effects of the call options the Company purchased and the warrants the Company sold on our Class A common stock and the effects of the outstanding warrants on the ownership interest of our current stockholders; * our ability to pay future dividends on and repurchase our common stock; * possible adverse outcomes of pending class action lawsuits and the continuing cost of defending against them; * our ability to consummate significant acquisitions of or investments in death care or related businesses successfully; * the effects on us as a result of our industry's complex accounting model; * the effect of the change in accounting method for our senior convertible notes;
and other risks and uncertainties described in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2008, filed with the SEC. We disclaim any obligation or intent to update or revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.