HORSHAM, Pa.-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Nutrisystem, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRI), a leading provider of weight management products and services, today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2009. Details include:
“Third quarter revenues resulted in operating income from continuing operations and adjusted EBITDA that were an improvement from second quarter 2009, as we experienced continued growth in our diabetic product as well as stabilization in the core business,” stated Chairman and CEO Joe Redling.
“Despite continued macroeconomic pressures, we have continued to expand our footprint from a geographic, product and channel standpoint,” added Mr. Redling. Earlier this month, the Company announced further expansion of its retail card program with the 14-day Nutrisystem Starter Program at an expected 3200 Walmart locations in the continental United States beginning in October. The Company also announced an international licensing agreement with House Foods in Japan. House Foods will exclusively manufacture and sell the Nutrisystem J-diet, tailored specifically for Japanese consumers.
“The Company continues to generate positive free cash flow, and our cost reduction initiatives announced in the first quarter resulted in improvements in gross margin and reductions in general and administrative expenses,” said David Clark, Chief Financial Officer. “These improvements position us well for consumer recovery. For the full year 2009 we are projecting an EPS range of $0.99 to $1.01 per share.”
The Board of Directors declared a Company’s quarterly dividend of $0.175 per share, payable November 16, 2009, to shareholders of record as of November 6, 2009. While the Company intends to continue to pay regular quarterly dividends, the declaration and payment of future dividends are discretionary and will be subject to determination by the Board of Directors each quarter following its review of the Company’s financial performance.
Conference Call and Webcast
Management will host a webcast to discuss third quarter 2009 financial results today at 4:30 PM Eastern time. The webcast will include remarks from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joe Redling and Chief Financial Officer David Clark.
The webcast will be available live under the Investor Relations section of Nutrisystem's website, www.nutrisystem.com. Please click on Investor Relations at the bottom of the home page and then click on the microphone icon on the Investor Relations home page. Interested parties unable to access the conference call via the webcast may dial 1-866-831-9862 (outside US/Canada 706-758-5226); the conference ID is 36165334. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company website following the event.
About Nutrisystem, Inc.
Nutrisystem, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRI) is a leading provider of weight management products and services. Nutrisystem is sold direct to the consumer through nutrisystem.com, by phone, and at select retailers, for convenient home delivery. The company offers proven nutritionally balanced weight-loss programs designed for women, men, and seniors, as well as the new clinically tested Nutrisystem D plan, formulated specifically to help people with type 2 diabetes who want to lose weight. The Nutrisystem program is based on 35 years of nutrition research and offers a variety of great tasting, satisfying high-fiber, heart healthy, good carbohydrate meals that are low on the Glycemic Index and contain zero trans fats. Nutrisystem is hundreds of dollars cheaper than other weight loss programs, based on an independent survey by National Business Research Institute (October 2008). The program has no membership fees and provides 24/7 weight management support by trained weight loss coaches and online weight management tools free of charge. In 2009 Nutrisystem was selected as the #1 overall online retailer in the Food and Drug category and #46 out of the top 500 online retailers overall by Internet Retailer Magazine. Nutrisystem is proud to support the American Diabetes Association and its fight to stop diabetes. For more information or to become a customer visit http://www.nutrisystem.com or call 1-877-681-THIN (8446).
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements regarding Nutrisystem’s plans and expectations for the fourth quarter of 2009 and the full year 2009, continuing to pay regular quarterly dividends, investments for 2010 and other statements that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which are described in Nutrisystem, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. Nutrisystem, Inc. undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.
NUTRISYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2009
2008
2009
2008
INCOME TAXES
4,994 8,043 9,549 29,234ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Nine Months Ended September 30,
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period
38,631 41,190CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period
67,753 58,421LESS CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATION, end of period
255 372CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS, end of period
$ 67,498 $ 58,049Non-cash employee compensation expense
(2,392 ) (2,130 ) (6,644 ) (5,430 )Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income from continuing operations excluding non-cash employee compensation, other income (expense), equity and impairment loss, interest, income taxes and depreciation and amortization. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a useful performance metric for management and investors because it is more indicative of the ongoing operations of the Company. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain non-cash and non-operating items to facilitate comparisons and provide a meaningful measurement that is focused on the performance of the ongoing operations of the Company.
Nutrisystem, Inc.
Cindy Warner
Investor Relations
215-346-8136
IR@nutrisystem.com