SAN DIEGO, July 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT), operator of 43 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and one U.S. territory, today announced its results of operations for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 which ended on May 31, 2019.
Total revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 increased 0.8% to $788.6 million compared to $782.2 million in the third quarter of the prior year. For the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, net merchandise sales increased 0.6% to $755.0 million from $750.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacted net merchandise sales negatively by $27.9 million or 3.7% versus the same period in the prior year.
The Company had 42 clubs in operation as of May 31, 2019, compared to 41 warehouse clubs in operation as of May 31, 2018.
Comparable net merchandise sales, for the 40 warehouse clubs that have been open for greater than 13 ½ calendar months, decreased 0.8% for the 13-week period ended June 2, 2019 compared to the same period in the prior year. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacted comparable net merchandise sales negatively by $27.5 million or 3.8% versus the same period in the prior year.
The Company recorded operating income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 of $22.0 million, as compared to operating income of $28.4 million in the prior year period. Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. (which excludes results from minority interests in joint ventures), was $14.1 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 compared to $18.7 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, in the same period last year. The third quarter fiscal 2019 earnings were negatively impacted by $2.9 million or $0.09 per share from costs related to investments to expand our omni-channel capabilities, combined with net operating results of the Aeropost legacy business.
The Company reports comparable net merchandise sales on a "same week" basis with 13 weeks in each quarter beginning on a Monday and ending on a Sunday. The periods are established at the beginning of the fiscal year to provide as close a match as possible to the calendar month and quarter that is used for financial reporting purposes. This approach equalizes the number of weekend days and weekdays in each period for improved sales comparison, as we experience higher merchandise club sales on the weekends. Each of the warehouse clubs used in the calculations was open for at least 13 ½ calendar months before its results for the current period were compared with its results for the prior period.
The term "currency exchange rates" refers to the currency exchange rates we use to convert net merchandise and comparable net merchandise sales for all countries where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar into U.S. dollars. We calculate the effect of changes in currency exchange rates as the difference between current period activities translated using the current period's currency exchange rates, and current period activities translated using the comparable prior year period's currency exchange rates. The disclosure of the effects of currency exchange rate fluctuations on the Company's results permits investors to understand better our underlying performance.
PriceSmart management will host a conference call at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (9:00 a.m. Pacific time) on Thursday, July 11, 2019, to discuss the financial results. Individuals interested in participating in the conference call may do so by dialing (855) 209-8211 for domestic callers or (412) 317-5214 for international callers, and asking to join the PriceSmart, Inc. call. A digital replay will be available through July 18, 2019, following the conclusion of the call by dialing (877) 344-7529 for domestic callers, or (412) 317-0088 for international callers, and entering replay access code 10131782.
About PriceSmart
PriceSmart, headquartered in San Diego, owns and operates U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs in Latin America and the Caribbean, selling high quality merchandise at low prices to PriceSmart members. PriceSmart operates 43 warehouse clubs in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (seven each in Colombia and Costa Rica; six in Panama; five in the Dominican Republic, four in Trinidad; three each in Guatemala and Honduras; two each in El Salvador and Nicaragua; and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica and the United States Virgin Islands). The Company is currently constructing and plans to open warehouse clubs in San Cristobal, Guatemala and an additional club in Panama City, Panama, in the fall of 2019. Once these two new clubs are open, the Company will operate 45 warehouse clubs. PriceSmart is developing an expansion of its omni-channel capabilities, including through its e-commerce platform, by investing in and integrating the technology, talent and cross-border logistics infrastructure obtained as part of the acquisition of a company in March 2018. PriceSmart expects these investments and this integration to enhance the membership shopping experience, drive efficiencies and fuel sales growth. The Company acquired by PriceSmart also operates a legacy (i.e., marketplace and casillero) business through the Aeropost brand in 38 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, many of which overlap with markets where PriceSmart operates its warehouse clubs.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements concerning the Company's future performance. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements containing the words "expect," "believe," "will," "may," "should," "project," "estimate," "anticipated," "scheduled," and like expressions, and the negative thereof. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, the following risks:
The risks described above as well as the other risks detailed in the Company's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") reports, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018 filed on October 25, 2018, pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, see "Part I - Item 1A - Risk Factors," could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These risks are not the only risks that the Company faces. The Company could also be affected by additional factors that apply to all companies operating globally and in the U.S., as well as other risks that are not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently considers to be immaterial.
For further information, please contact Maarten O. Jager, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (858) 404-8826.
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SOURCE PriceSmart, Inc.