Leslie’s, Inc. Announces Strong Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2020; Record Sales of $1.1 Billion in Fiscal 2020

• Fiscal 2020 sales increase of 19.8% to $1,112 million; Comparable sales growth of 18.0%
• Fiscal 2020 GAAP net income increase to $58.6 million from $0.7 million in Fiscal 2019; Adjusted net income increase to $65.0 million from $12.8 million in Fiscal 2019
• Fiscal 2020 adjusted EBITDA increase of 14.2% to $182.8 million
• Fourth quarter Fiscal 2020 comparable sales growth of 23.3%

PHOENIX, Dec. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leslie's, Inc. ("Leslie's" or “Company”; NASDAQ:LESL), the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of Fiscal 2020 ended October 3, 2020.

Mike Egeck, Chief Executive Officer, commented “Our fourth quarter performance capped off a record year for Leslie’s. Fiscal 2020 marked our 57th consecutive year of sales growth with sales surpassing $1 billion for the first time in our history. In addition to our topline performance, we also delivered Adjusted EBITDA growth of over 14% for the year as we continued to benefit from the key attributes that differentiate Leslie’s in the advantaged pool industry. The recurring, non-discretionary nature of demand for our products, our unique and expanding capabilities, and well-developed strategies to drive market share gains, all combined to further solidify our position as the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the pool and spa industry.”

Mr. Egeck added, “Fiscal 2021 is off to a good start and was also marked by an important milestone for Leslie’s as the dedication and contributions of our team members enabled us to complete our initial public offering. We enter this next chapter with energy, excitement and a focus on driving stakeholder value. As we look ahead, we see a continuation of strong after-market industry tailwinds as we execute against our plans to increase our share of the $11 billion pool and spa market.”

Fiscal Year 2020 Highlights

• Sales increased 19.8% to a record $1,112.2 million from $928.2 million in Fiscal 2019. Excluding the impact of the 53^rd week in Fiscal 2020, sales increased 17.9%; comparable sales increased 18.0% on a fifty-two week basis
• Fiscal 2020 included a 53^rd week, which we estimate added approximately $18.0 million in sales, $3.0 million in Adjusted EBITDA, and $1.5 million in net income
• Gross profit increased 21.3% to $460.7 million from $379.7 million in Fiscal 2019 and gross margin increased by 51 bps to 41.4% from 40.9% in Fiscal 2019
• Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased to $314.3 million from $258.2 million in Fiscal 2019. During the year, we recorded increased costs related to higher sales volume, COVID-19, strategic consolidation of certain locations, and performance compensation
• Operating income increased 20.4% to $146.4 million from $121.6 million in Fiscal 2019
• Net income increased to $58.6 million from $0.7 million in Fiscal 2019. Adjusted net income increased to $65.0 million from $12.8 million in Fiscal 2019
• Diluted income per common share increased to $0.37 from $0.00 in Fiscal 2019. Adjusted diluted income per common share increased to $0.42 from $0.08 in Fiscal 2019
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.2% to a record $182.8 million from $160.0 million in Fiscal 2019

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Sales increased 27.9% to $381.3 million from $298.2 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week in fourth quarter of Fiscal 2020, sales increased 21.8%; comparable sales increased 23.3% on a thirteen week basis
• Gross profit increased 26.9% to $166.6 million from $131.3 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019 and gross margin was 43.7% as compared to 44.0% in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019
• SG&A increased to $98.6 million from $72.4 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019. During the quarter, we recorded increased costs related to higher sales volume, COVID-19, and performance compensation
• Operating income increased 15.5% to $68.0 million from $58.9 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019
• Net income increased to $42.1 million from $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019. Adjusted net income increased to $43.7 million from $5.8 million in the prior year
• Diluted income per common share increased to $0.27 from $0.00 in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019. Adjusted income per common share increased to $0.28 from $0.04 in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 12.2% to $78.4 million from $69.9 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2019
  

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

• Cash and cash equivalents totaled $157.1 million at the end of Fiscal 2020 compared to $90.9 million at the end of Fiscal 2019
• Inventory totaled $149.0 million at the end of Fiscal 2020 compared to $149.7 million at the end of Fiscal 2019
• Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $103.4 million in Fiscal 2020 compared to $57.8 million in Fiscal 2019
• Capital expenditures totaled $20.6 million in Fiscal 2020 compared to $27.4 million in Fiscal 2019

Recent Developments

• On November 2, 2020, the Company closed its initial public offering (“IPO”) at an offering price of $17.00 per share. The Company sold 30 million primary shares of its common stock in the IPO, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of $459 million after deducting underwriters' discounts and commissions and other offering expenses
• The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of primary shares in the IPO to repay the entire outstanding amount of its senior unsecured floating rate notes due 2024, which was $390 million as of October 3, 2020, and remaining proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes

Fiscal 2021 Outlook
The Company expects the following for full year Fiscal 2021:

Conference Call Details
A conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and full fiscal 2020 financial results is scheduled for today, December 21, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 877-407-0784 (international callers please dial 1-201-689-8560) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at https://ir.lesliespool.com/.

A recorded replay of the conference call will be available within approximately three hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed online at https://ir.lesliespool.com/ for 90 days.

About Leslie's
Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the largest direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, serving residential, professional, and commercial consumers. Leslie's markets its products through more than 900 physical locations and multiple digital platforms. The company employs more than 5,000 associates, pool and spa care experts, and certified technicians who are passionate about empowering consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Comparable Sales Growth and Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted net income per share, to evaluate the effectiveness of its business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare its performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for the Company’s results as reported under GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in the same manner by all companies, and accordingly, are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may not be appropriate measures for performance relative to other companies.

Comparable Sales Growth
We measure Comparable Sales Growth as the increase or decrease in sales recorded by the comparable base in any reporting period, compared to sales recorded by the comparable base in the prior reporting period. The comparable base includes sales through our locations and through our e-commerce websites and third-party marketplaces. Comparable Sales is a key measure used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance.

Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, when considered alongside other GAAP measures.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest (including amortization of debt costs), taxes, depreciation, amortization, loss (gain) on disposition of assets, management fees, equity-based compensation expense, mark-to-market on interest rate cap, and special items. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP but is used by some investors to determine a company’s ability to service or incur indebtedness. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an indicator of a company’s operating performance in isolation from, or as a substitute for, net income (loss), cash flows from operations or cash flow data, all of which are prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA solely as supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent, and should not be considered more meaningful than, or as an alternative to, measures of operating performance as determined in accordance with GAAP. In the future, we may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these items.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per Share
Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share are additional key measures used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income per share are also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, when considered alongside other GAAP measures.

Adjusted net income is defined as net income adjusted to exclude loss (gain) on disposition of assets, management fees, equity-based compensation expense, mark-to-market on interest rate cap, and special items. Adjusted net income per share is defined as Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Our actual results could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, among others:

• our ability to execute on our growth strategies;
• our ability to maintain favorable relationships with suppliers and manufacturers;
• competition from mass merchants and specialty retailers;
• regulatory changes and development affecting our current and future products;
• our ability to obtain additional capital to finance operations;
• impacts on our business from the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• other risks and uncertainties, including those listed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the prospectus for our IPO, filed on October 30, 2020, and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this press release primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the prospectus for our IPO, filed on October 30, 2020, and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The results, events, and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events, or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject based on information available to us as of the date of this press release. And while we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete.

The forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on events or circumstances as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Contact

Investors
Farah Soi/Caitlin Churchill
ICR
investorrelations@lesl.com