The following information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates, and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those factors discussed below and elsewhere in this report, particularly in "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information" included herein and the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 3, 2022.
SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. (collectively with all of its subsidiaries referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as "SiteOne," the "Company," "we," "us," and "our") indirectly owns 100% of the membership interest in SiteOne Landscape Supply Holding, LLC ("Landscape Holding"). Landscape Holding is the parent and sole owner of SiteOne Landscape Supply, LLC ("Landscape").
We are the largest and only national wholesale distributor of landscape supplies in the United States and have a growing presence in Canada. Our customers are primarily residential and commercial landscape professionals who specialize in the design, installation, and maintenance of lawns, gardens, golf courses, and other outdoor spaces. As of July 3, 2022, we had over 620 branch locations in 45 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces. Through our expansive North American network, we offer a comprehensive selection of more than 135,000 SKUs, including irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products (e.g., herbicides), hardscapes (including pavers, natural stone, and blocks), landscape accessories, nursery goods, outdoor lighting, and ice melt products to green industry professionals. We also provide value-added consultative services to complement our product offerings and to help our customers operate and grow their businesses.
Despite rapid product cost inflation, certain supply shortages, ongoing freight and labor constraints, and overall economic uncertainty, we continue to experience solid demand for our products due primarily to the stay-at-home trends associated with the remote work environment and COVID-19. As consumers spend more time at home, they are upgrading their backyards and patios and investing in their outdoor living spaces which has resulted in continued demand for landscaping and agronomic products. For the three and six months ended July 3, 2022, we achieved Net sales growth of 12% and 17%, respectively, while Organic Daily Sales grew 8% and 12%, respectively.
During the three and six months ended July 3, 2022, significant price increases continued to impact the products we purchase and sell to our customers. To date, we have successfully mitigated the effects of product cost inflation by working with our suppliers and customers to pass through the cost increases that have occurred in the market. Based upon year-over-year price increases in our highest selling SKUs, we estimate price inflation contributed approximately 19% and 20% to our Organic Daily Sales growth in the three and six months ended July 3, 2022, respectively. Due to ongoing product constraints, rising manufacturer input costs, and continued solid demand, we expect inflation to remain elevated for most of the 2022 Fiscal Year.
We continued to experience negative impacts from broad-based supply chain disruptions during the three and six months ended July 3, 2022. To date, such impacts have been minimized mainly through our ongoing supply chain initiatives, as discussed further below in "Strategic Initiatives". We have benefited from strategic inventory purchases resulting in increased safety stock which has allowed us to largely satisfy customer demand when products are not immediately available from our suppliers. In addition, rising fuel costs are further challenging the economic environment within our industry. To date, we have executed on our freight and logistical initiatives which have allowed us to better manage disruptions and mitigate challenges in the shipping and trucking markets. These actions and the effective management of price inflation described above helped drive gross margin expansion of 210 basis points to 37.9% during the three months ended July 3, 2022, and 210 basis points to 36.1% during the six months ended July 3, 2022.
As of the start of the 2022 Fiscal Year, we are operational in four distribution center facilities across the United States that have expanded our supply chain capabilities. These distribution centers are located in Hutchins, Texas (338,000 square feet), Palmetto, Georgia (335,000 square feet), Carlisle, Pennsylvania (201,000 square feet), and Colton, California (179,000 square feet). While we expect supply chain disruptions to continue, we believe we can significantly minimize the impact on our customers and our business operations through the execution of our supply initiatives.
Table of Contents In addition, uncertainty remains regarding the full impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, the impact of new strains and variants of the coronavirus and the pandemic's impact on the U.S. and global economies and supply chains. Although we have experienced operational and other challenges to date, and may again in the future, there has been no material adverse impact as a result of the pandemic on our results of operations during the three and six months ended July 3, 2022. Throughout the pandemic, the safety of our associates, customers, and suppliers has remained a top priority while we strive to deliver quality products and exceptional service to our customers and communities. We will continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and may take further actions that alter our business operations if required by federal, state, or local authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our associates, customers, suppliers, and shareholders.
Although our operations are focused in the United States and Canada with no locations in or direct exposure to Russia and Ukraine, we are monitoring the geopolitical situation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We may experience shortages in materials and increased costs for transportation, energy, and raw material due in part to the negative impact of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict on the global economy. To date, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has not had a material negative impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. However, the full impact of the conflict on our business operations and financial performance remains uncertain and will depend largely on the nature and duration of uncertain and unpredictable events, such as the severity and duration of further military action, and its impact on regional and global economic conditions.
As we continue to navigate the challenges and uncertainties discussed above, we remain confident in our ability to execute our commercial and operational initiatives to meet our customer's needs and drive further improvements in our business.
Our financial statements included in this report have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"). We use a 52/53 week fiscal year with the fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest to December 31 in each year. The fiscal year ending January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 both include 52 weeks. Additionally, our fiscal quarters end on the Sunday nearest to March 31, June 30, and September 30, respectively. The three months ended July 3, 2022 and July 4, 2021 both included 13 weeks. The six months ended July 3, 2022 and July 4, 2021 both included 26 weeks.
We manage our business as a single reportable segment. Within our organizational framework, the same operational resources support multiple geographic regions and performance is evaluated at a consolidated level. We also evaluate performance based on discrete financial information on a regional basis. Since all of our regions have similar operations and share similar economic characteristics, we aggregate regions into a single operating and reportable segment. These similarities include (i) long-term financial performance, (ii) the nature of products and services, (iii) the types of customers we sell to, and (iv) the distribution methods utilized. Further, all of our product categories have similar supply chain processes and classes of customers.
Key Business and Performance Metrics
We focus on a variety of indicators and key operating and financial metrics to monitor the financial condition and performance of our business. These metrics include:
Net sales. We generate Net sales primarily through the sale of landscape supplies, including irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products, hardscapes, landscape accessories, nursery goods, outdoor lighting, and ice melt products to our customers who are primarily landscape contractors serving the residential and commercial construction sectors. Our Net sales include billings for freight and handling charges, and commissions on the sale of control products that we sell as an agent. Net sales are presented net of any discounts, returns, customer rebates, and sales or other revenue-based taxes.
Non-GAAP Organic Sales. In managing our business, we consider all growth, including the opening of new greenfield branches, to be organic growth unless it results from an acquisition. When we refer to Organic Sales growth, we include increases in growth from newly-opened greenfield branches and decreases in growth from closing existing branches but exclude increases in growth from acquired branches until they have been under our ownership for at least four full fiscal quarters at the start of the fiscal reporting period.
Non-GAAP Selling Days. Selling Days are defined as business days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, that our branches are open during the year. Depending upon the location and the season, our branches may be open on Saturdays and Sundays; however, for consistency, those days have been excluded from the calculation of Selling Days.
Non-GAAP Organic Daily Sales. We define Organic Daily Sales as Organic Sales divided by the number of Selling Days in the relevant reporting period. We believe Organic Sales growth and Organic Daily Sales growth are useful measures for evaluating our performance as we may choose to open or close branches in any given market depending upon the needs of our customers or our strategic growth opportunities. Refer to "Results of Operations - Quarterly Results of Operations Data" for a reconciliation of Organic Daily Sales to Net sales.
Cost of goods sold. Our Cost of goods sold includes all inventory costs, such as the purchase price paid to suppliers, net of any volume-based incentives, as well as inbound freight and handling, and other costs associated with inventory. Our Cost of goods sold excludes the cost to deliver the products to our customers through our branches, which is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. Cost of goods sold is recognized primarily using the first-in, first-out method of accounting for the inventory sold.
Gross profit and gross margin. We believe that Gross profit and gross margin are useful for evaluating our operating performance. We define Gross profit as Net sales less Cost of goods sold. We define gross margin as Gross profit divided by Net sales.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (operating expenses). Our operating expenses are primarily comprised of Selling, general and administrative costs, which include personnel expenses (salaries, wages, employee benefits, payroll taxes, stock-based compensation, and bonuses), rent, fuel, vehicle maintenance costs, insurance, utilities, repairs and maintenance, and professional fees. Operating expenses also include depreciation and amortization.
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA. In addition to the metrics discussed above, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful for evaluating the operating performance and efficiency of our business. EBITDA represents our Net income (loss) plus the sum of income tax (benefit) expense, interest expense, net of interest income, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA as further adjusted for items such as stock-based compensation expense, (gain) loss on sale of assets and termination of finance leases not in the ordinary course of business, other non-cash items, financing fees, other fees and expenses related to acquisitions, and other non-recurring (income) loss. Refer to "Results of Operations - Quarterly Results of Operations Data" for more information regarding how we calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and the limitations of those metrics.
Key Factors Affecting Our Operating Results
In addition to the metrics described above, a number of other important factors may affect our results of operations in any given period.
In a typical year, our operating results are impacted by seasonality. Our Net sales and Net income have been higher in the second and third quarters of each fiscal year due to favorable weather and longer daylight conditions during these quarters. Our Net sales have been significantly lower in the first and fourth quarters due to lower landscaping, irrigation, and turf maintenance activities in these quarters, and historically, we have incurred net losses in these quarters. Seasonal variations in operating results may also be significantly impacted by inclement weather conditions, such as snow storms, wet weather, and hurricanes, which not only impact the demand for certain products like fertilizer and ice melt, but also may delay construction projects where our products are used.
Industry and Key Economic Conditions
Our business depends on demand from customers for landscape products and services. The landscape supply industry includes a significant amount of landscape products, such as irrigation systems, outdoor lighting, lawn care supplies, nursery goods, and landscape accessories, for use in the construction of newly built homes, commercial buildings, and recreational spaces. The landscape supply industry has historically grown in line with rates of growth in residential housing and commercial building. The industry is also affected by trends in home prices, home sales, and consumer spending. As general economic conditions improve or deteriorate, consumption of these products and services also tends to fluctuate. The landscape supply industry also includes a significant amount of agronomic products such as fertilizer, herbicides, and ice melt for use in maintaining existing landscapes or facilities. The use of these products is also tied to general economic activity, but levels of sales are not as closely correlated to construction markets.
Preferences in housing, lifestyle, and environmental awareness can also impact the overall level of demand and mix for the products we offer. Examples of current trends we believe are important to our business include a heightened interest in professional landscape services inspired by the popularity of home and garden television shows and magazines, the increasingly popular concept of "outdoor living," which has been a key driver of sales growth for our hardscapes and outdoor lighting products, and the social focus on eco-friendly products that promote water conservation, energy efficiency, and the adoption of "green" standards.
In addition to our organic growth, we continue to grow our business through acquisitions in an effort to better service our existing customers and to attract new customers. These acquisitions have allowed us to further broaden our product lines and extend our geographic reach and leadership positions in local markets. In accordance with GAAP, the results of the acquisitions are reflected in our financial statements from the date of acquisition forward. Additionally, we incur transaction costs in connection with identifying and completing acquisitions as well as ongoing integration costs as we integrate acquired companies and seek to achieve synergies. As of July 3, 2022, we completed the following acquisitions since the start of the 2021 fiscal year:
•In July 2022, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of A&A Stepping Stone Manufacturing, Inc. ("A&A Stepping Stone"). With four locations in Sacramento, California, A&A Stepping Stone is a wholesale distributor of hardscapes and landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In June 2022, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Prescott Dirt, LLC ("Prescott Dirt"). With two locations in Prescott and Prescott Valley, Arizona, Prescott Dirt is a wholesale distributor of landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In June 2022, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Yard Works, LLC ("Yard Works"). With 13 locations in Central Virginia, Yard Works is a wholesale distributor of bulk landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In June 2022, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Across the Pond, Inc. ("Across the Pond"). With one location in Huntsville, Alabama, Across the Pond is a wholesale distributor of hardscapes and bulk landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In April 2022, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Preferred Seed Company, Inc. ("Preferred Seed"). With one location in Buffalo, New York, Preferred Seed is a wholesale distributor of seed and agronomic products to landscape professionals.
•In April 2022, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of RTSB Enterprises, Inc., doing business as Bellstone Masonry Supply ("Bellstone"). With one location in Fort Worth, Texas, Bellstone is a wholesale distributor of hardscapes and landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In March 2022, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of J K Enterprise, Inc., Culpeper Recycling Hauling LLC, Culpeper Recycling Transport LLC, Gateway Home & Garden Center, LLC, JK Enterprise Landscape Supply, Limited Liability Company, Madera Farm Transport, LLC, Saunders LS, LLC, and Tilden Farm Nursery, LLC, and also acquired the assets of Metro Landscape Supply, Limited and Culpeper Recycling, LLC (collectively, "JK Enterprise"). With six locations in Northern Virginia and one location in Maryland, JK Enterprise is a wholesale distributor of bulk and bagged mulches and soil, hardscapes, and nursery products to landscape professionals.
•In December 2021, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Bothe Trucking, Inc., doing business as Seffner Rock and Gravel ("Seffner"). With one location in Tampa, Florida, Seffner is a wholesale distributor of natural stone, bulk aggregates, mulch, soil, and other landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In November 2021, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Semco Distributing, Inc. ("Semco"). With four locations in Ohio and Missouri, Semco is a wholesale distributor of natural stone and landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In August 2021, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Green Brothers Earth Works and Southern Landscape Supply ("Green Brothers"). With four locations in the greater Atlanta, Georgia market, Green Brothers is a distributor of landscape supplies and hardscapes to landscape professionals.
•In May 2021, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of Rodvold Enterprises, Inc., doing business as Rock & Block Hardscape Supply ("Rock & Block"). With two locations in the San Diego, Southern Orange County and Inland Empire markets in California, Rock & Block is a distributor of hardscapes, masonry, and landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In April 2021, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Melrose Supply & Sales Corp ("Melrose"). With six locations throughout Florida, Melrose is a distributor of irrigation, lighting, and drainage products to landscape professionals.
•In April 2021, we acquired all of the outstanding stock of Timberwall Landscape & Masonry Products, Inc. ("Timberwall"). With one location in Victoria, Minnesota, Timberwall is a distributor of hardscapes and landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In April 2021, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Arizona Stone & Architectural Products and Solstice Stone ("Arizona Stone and Solstice"). With seven locations throughout Arizona and two locations in the Las Vegas, Nevada market, Arizona Stone and Solstice is a distributor of hardscapes, natural stone, and landscape supplies to landscape professionals.
•In February 2021, we acquired the assets and assumed the liabilities of Lucky Landscape Supply, LLC ("Lucky Landscape Supply"). With one location in the greater Houston, Texas market, Lucky Landscape Supply is a distributor of nursery products to landscape professionals.
We generally procure our products through purchase orders rather than under long-term contracts with firm commitments. We work to develop strong relationships with select suppliers that we target based on a number of factors, including brand and market recognition, price, quality, product support, service levels, delivery terms, and strategic positioning. We typically have annual supplier agreements, and while they generally do not provide for specific product pricing, many include volume-based financial incentives that we earn by meeting or exceeding purchase volume targets. Our ability to earn these volume-based incentives is an important factor in our financial results. In certain cases, we have entered into supply contracts with terms that exceed one year for the manufacture of our LESCO® branded fertilizer, some nursery goods, and grass seed, which may require us to purchase products in the future.
We continue to undertake operational initiatives, utilizing our scale to improve our profitability, enhance supply chain efficiency, strengthen our pricing and category management capabilities, streamline and refine our marketing process, and invest in more sophisticated information technology systems and data analytics. We are focusing on our procurement and supply chain management initiatives to better serve our customers and reduce sourcing costs. We are also implementing new inventory planning and stocking system functionalities and new transportation management systems in an effort to reduce costs as well as improve our reliability and level of service. In addition, we continue to enhance our website and B2B e-Commerce platform. We also work closely with our local branches to improve sales, delivery, and branch productivity. We believe we will continue to benefit from the following initiatives, among others:
•Category management initiatives, including the implementation of organic growth strategies, the development of our private label product strategy, the expansion of product lines, and the reorganization of brands and products by preferred suppliers.
•Supply chain initiatives, including the implementation of new inventory planning and stocking systems and functionalities, the installation of new distribution centers, local hubs in large markets, and local fleet utilization and cost improvements.
•Sales force performance initiatives, including the implementation of new compensation plans, the restructuring of our sales force, formal sales and product training for our sales force and sales force management, and the implementation of a comprehensive CRM.
•Marketing initiatives, including product marketing, customer strategy and analytics, Hispanic customer engagement, implementation of our digital marketing strategy, and the relaunch of our Partners Program.
•Digital initiatives, including increasing customer demand and adoption of our website and B2B e-Commerce platform SiteOne.com, which provides the convenience of an online sales channel, enhanced account management functionality, and industry specific productivity tools for our customers.
•Operational excellence initiatives, including the implementation of best practices in branch operations which encompasses safety, merchandising, stocking and assortment, customer engagement, delivery, labor management, as well as the additional automation and enhancement of branch systems, including the rollout of barcoding.
Our business is characterized by a relatively high level of reported working capital, the effects of which can be compounded by changes in prices. In addition to affecting our Net sales, fluctuations in prices of supplies tend to result in changes in our reported inventories, trade receivables, and trade payables, even when our sales volumes and our rate of turnover of these working capital items remain relatively constant. Our working capital needs are exposed to these price fluctuations, as well as to fluctuations in our cost for transportation and distribution. We might not always be able to reflect these increases in our pricing. The strategic initiatives described above are designed to reduce our exposure to these fluctuations and maintain and improve our efficiency.
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