Medifast, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

BALTIMORE, May 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED), a leading manufacturer and distributor of healthy living products and programs, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.

First Quarter 2019 Highlights:

    --  Revenue of $165.9 million, an increase of 68.2% year-over-year
    --  Active earning OPTAVIA Coaches of 27,200, an increase of 62.9%
        year-over-year
    --  Net income of $20.8 million, an increase of 69.8% year-over-year
    --  Earnings per diluted share ("EPS") of $1.70, an increase of 68.3%
        year-over-year
    --  Cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities of $120.4 million and
        debt-free
    --  Quarterly cash dividend of $9.1 million, or $0.75 per share, declared
        March 13, 2019 and payable in the second quarter of 2019

"Our strong start to the year was fueled by a record number of active earning OPTAVIA Coaches and increased coach productivity," commented Dan Chard, Medifast's Chief Executive Officer. "These achievements helped generate first quarter revenue and earnings above our expectations and gives us confidence to raise our outlook for the full year 2019. Going forward, we believe Medifast remains well positioned to deliver long-term sustainable growth and value for our stockholders as well as meaningful improvements to the lives of OPTAVIA clients through our growing community of OPTAVIA Coaches who join us in helping clients achieve optimal health and wellbeing."

First Quarter 2019 Results

For the first quarter of 2019, revenue increased 68.2% to $165.9 million from revenue of $98.6 million for the first quarter of 2018. OPTAVIA-branded products represented 73% of consumable units sold for the first quarter of 2019 compared to 58% for the first quarter of last year. The total number of active earning OPTAVIA Coaches for the first quarter of 2019 increased to 27,200, compared to 16,700 for the first quarter of 2018. The average revenue per active earning OPTAVIA Coach for the first quarter of 2019 increased 10.2% to $5,817 compared to $5,278 for the first quarter last year.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2019 increased to $125.1 million from $74.8 million for the first quarter of 2018. The Company's gross profit as a percentage of revenue decreased 50 basis points to 75.4% from 75.9% for the first quarter last year. The decrease in gross margin percentage was a result of higher obsolescence and shipping costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") for the first quarter of 2019 increased $40.3 million to $100.4 million compared to $60.1 million for the first quarter of 2018, primarily as a result of higher OPTAVIA commissions expense, increased salaries and benefits, increased consulting costs related to information technology projects, and increased credit card fees resulting from higher sales. SG&A as a percentage of sales decreased 50 basis points to 60.5% of revenue compared to 61.0% in the first quarter of 2018.

Operating income increased $10.0 million to $24.7 million from $14.7 million for the first quarter of 2018 primarily as a result of increased gross profit, partially offset by increased SG&A expenses. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 14.9% for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The first quarter 2019 effective tax rate was 17.1%, compared to 18.1% for the first quarter of 2018. This decrease was primarily a result of a 2.4% decrease relating to the discrete accounting for taxes associated with share-based compensation offset by a 3.5% benefit from the net operating loss due to state apportionment.

Net income for the first quarter of 2019 was $20.8 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, based on approximately 12.2 million shares outstanding. First quarter 2018 net income was $12.2 million, or $1.01 per diluted share based on approximately 12.1 million shares outstanding.

Balance Sheet

The Company's balance sheet remains strong with stockholders' equity of $122.1 million and working capital of $92.4 million as of March 31, 2019. Cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities increased $19.4 million to $120.4 million as of March 31, 2019 compared to $101.0 million at December 31, 2018. The Company remains free of interest bearing debt. Inventory increased $4.4 million to $43.3 million at March 31, 2019 compared to $38.9 million at December 31, 2018 as the Company increased inventory levels to meet current and anticipated customer demand. The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $9.1 million, or $0.75 per share, during the first quarter of 2019.

Outlook

The Company expects second quarter revenue to be in the range of $180 million to $185 million and EPS to be in the range of $1.67 to $1.72. For the full year 2019, the Company now expects revenue of $720 million to $740 million and EPS of $6.70 to $6.90, compared to the Company's previous guidance for revenue of $700 million to $720 million and EPS of $6.45 to $6.65. The full year 2019 earnings guidance assumes a 21.5% to 22.5% effective tax rate. The Company expects the 2019 cadence of spending to be similar to 2018 with its annual convention spend occurring in the third quarter of the year and the cost of a 2020 Leadership Advancement event to be incurred in the third and fourth quarters of the year.

Conference Call Information

The conference call is scheduled for today, Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the Investor Relations section of Medifast's website at www.MedifastInc.com, and will be archived online through May 15, 2019. In addition, listeners may dial (855) 560-2579.

A telephonic playback will be available from 6:30 p.m. ET, May 1, 2019, through May 8, 2019. Participants can dial (877) 344-7529 to hear the playback and enter passcode 10130924.

About Medifast(®):

Medifast (NYSE: MED) is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically proven, healthy living products and programs. The brand has been recommended by more than 20,000 doctors since its founding. Its integrated coach model leverages nearly 40 years of experience from medical, franchise, e-commerce, and direct selling channels. Medifast and its community of independent OPTAVIA Coaches embrace the future of wellness with a shared vision to offer the world lifelong transformation, one healthy habit at a time(TM). OPTAVIA® is represented by a community of OPTAVIA Coaches who teach Clients healthy habits, while offering support and guidance on their transformation journey. In 2018, Medifast announced it will expand into the Asia-Pacific markets of Hong Kong and Singapore in 2019 with its integrated coach model. Medifast is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and was named to Forbes' 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America List in 2016 and 2017. For more information, visit www.MedifastInc.com or www.OPTAVIA.com.

MED-F

Forward Looking Statements

Please Note: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of phrases or terminology such as "intend," "anticipate," "expects" or other similar words or the negative of such terminology. Similarly, descriptions of Medifast's objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets contained herein are also considered forward-looking statements. Medifast believes this release should be read in conjunction with all of its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and cautions its readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to certain events, risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Some of these factors include, among others, Medifast's inability to attract and retain independent OPTAVIA Coaches and clients, increases in competition, litigation, regulatory changes, and its planned growth into new domestic and international markets and new channels of distribution. Although Medifast believes that the expectations, statements, and assumptions reflected in these forward- looking statements are reasonable, it cautions readers to always consider all of the risk factors and any other cautionary statements carefully in evaluating each forward-looking statement in this release, as well as those set forth in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its current reports on Form 8-K. All of the forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release.


                                                                  
       
              MEDIFAST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                                                             
      
        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)


                                                            
      
        (in thousands, except per share amounts & dividend data)




                                                                                                       Three months ended March 31,



                                                                                                                               2019                  2018






     Revenue                                                                                                                          $
        165,876          $
       98,596



     Cost of sales                                                                                                                           40,729               23,788




     
              Gross profit                                                                                                                125,147               74,808





     Selling, general, and administrative                                                                                                   100,432               60,125






     
              Income from operations                                                                                                       24,715               14,683





     Other income (expense)



     Interest income, net                                                                                                                       312                  249



     Other income (expense)                                                                                                                     (6)                 (1)



                                                                                                                                                 306                  248






     
              Income from operations before income taxes                                                                                   25,021               14,931





     Provision for income taxes                                                                                                               4,271                2,709





     
              Net income                                                                                                         $
     
          20,750      $
     
         12,222






     Earnings per share - basic                                                                                                          $
        1.75            $
       1.02






     Earnings per share - diluted                                                                                                        $
        1.70            $
       1.01






     
              Weighted average shares outstanding -



     Basic                                                                                                                                   11,880               12,030




     Diluted                                                                                                                                 12,240               12,139






     Cash dividends declared per share                                                                                                   $
        0.75            $
       0.48


                                                                                     
        
              MEDIFAST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


                                                                                  
        
        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)


                                                                                    
        
              (in thousands, except par value)




                                                                                                                                                        March 31,         December 31,


                                                                                                                                                             2019                  2018






              
                ASSETS



              
                Current Assets



              Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                          $
          101,842      $
            81,364



              Accounts receivable-net of doubtful accounts of $270 and $394 at



              March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively                                                                                             631                 1,011



              Inventory                                                                                                                                   43,257                38,888



              Investment securities                                                                                                                       18,585                19,670



              Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                                                    4,995                 4,586



              
                Total current assets                                                                                                          169,310               145,519





              Property, plant and equipment - net                                                                                                         23,343                19,747



              Right-of-use asset                                                                                                                          12,864



              Other assets                                                                                                                                   941                 1,183



              Deferred tax assets                                                                                                                          3,612                 2,980








              
                TOTAL ASSETS                                                                                                      $
     
            210,070 $
     
              169,429






              
                LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY



              
                Current Liabilities



              Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                                                                               $
          74,452      $
            60,323



              Current lease obligation                                                                                                                     2,443




              
                Total current liabilities                                                                                                      76,895                60,323





              Lease obligation, less current lease obligation                                                                                             11,107




              
                Total liabilities                                                                                                              88,002                60,323





              
                Stockholders' Equity



              Common stock, par value $.001 per share: 20,000 shares authorized;



              12,126 and 12,117 issued and 11,898 and 11,868 outstanding



              at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively                                                                                        12                    12



              Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                   9,805                 8,802



              Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                                          (46)                (173)



              Retained earnings                                                                                                                          143,176               131,344



              Less: Treasury stock at cost, 193 shares at March 31, 2019 and                                                                         (30,879)             (30,879)
    December 31, 2018, respectively



              
                Total stockholders' equity                                                                                                    122,068               109,106






              
                TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                                        $
     
            210,070 $
     
              169,429

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SOURCE Medifast, Inc.