Valvoline(US:VVV)2025-05-08 14:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - System wide sales increased by 11% to $826 million, with same store sales growth of 5.8% for the quarter [6][20] - Total net sales rose by 11% to $403 million when adjusted for refranchising impacts [6][20] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 6% to $104 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 25.9%, a decrease of 110 basis points year over year [6][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The system wide store count reached 2,078, an 8% increase year over year [6] - Approximately one third of same store sales growth came from transactions, with the remainder driven by ticket growth [31][32] - Non-oil change revenue continues to grow, contributing positively to overall sales [90][93] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has not observed significant changes in consumer behavior despite macroeconomic uncertainties, with continued demand for services [12][44] - The company maintains a market share of about 5% in the overall market for oil changes, indicating substantial growth potential [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on network growth, with plans to add approximately 200 stores through the acquisition of Breeze Auto Care [16][111] - Strategic priorities include enhancing marketing capabilities and improving customer engagement through technology investments [13][14] - The company aims to leverage its strong brand and customer data to differentiate itself from competitors [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects minimal impact from tariffs and is confident in navigating cost changes through various strategies [10][26] - The company reaffirms its guidance for same store sales growth in the range of 5% to 7% for the full year [53][118] - Management remains optimistic about the resilience of the business, citing strong fundamentals and demand drivers in the industry [12][44] Other Important Information - The company is transitioning to a new CFO, Kevin Willis, effective May 19 [6] - Share repurchases for Q2 totaled $21 million, with a year-to-date total of $60 million, paused in anticipation of the Breeze acquisition [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break out the 5.8% same store sales between ticket and car count? - Transactions drove about a third of the overall comp, with two thirds driven by ticket growth, impacted by weekday mix and Easter shifts [31][32] Question: Is there a plan to take cost actions regarding SG&A? - Management expects SG&A growth to moderate and leverage to improve as refranchising impacts lessen [34][36] Question: Can you provide perspective on the cadence of comps throughout the quarter? - February was weaker due to challenging weather, but January and March showed consistent performance [42] Question: Are you seeing any impact from base oil deflation? - Modest deleverage in product costs was noted, with expectations for potential benefits from declining crude prices in the future [45][84] Question: What is the current penetration rate for non-oil change services? - The penetration rate for non-oil change services has been growing, with significant contributions from visual elements like wipers and filters [90][92] Question: How do lower oil prices impact gross margins? - Lower oil prices generally lead to delayed adjustments in lubricant pricing, with potential tailwinds expected if crude prices remain low [82][84]