panhia Brasileira de Distribuicao(CBD) - 2023 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a gross revenue growth of 14.7%, with same-store sales increasing by 6.4% in consolidated figures [2][13] - Gross profit reached BRL1.2 billion, with a margin of 24.8%, showing an improvement compared to the last three quarters [16] - Ongoing net income decreased to a net loss of BRL322 million, impacted by financial results related to the sale of hypermarket operations [17][39] - Adjusted EBITDA totaled BRL299 million with an adjusted margin of 6.3%, reflecting a sequential increase [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Pão de Açúcar saw a same-store sales growth of 8.6%, marking five consecutive quarters of growth [2][64] - Compre Bem experienced an 11.5% decline in same-store sales due to a commercial repositioning strategy [15] - The Proximity format reported a significant increase in same-store sales of 50.5%, driven by new store openings [35] - E-commerce GMV reached $453 million, growing by 9.8% with an online penetration of 11.1% of total sales [37] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company gained 2.3% in market share for the supermarket format compared to small-sized supermarkets [14] - The premium format achieved a market share growth of 0.5 percentage points, while mainstream formats grew by 0.3 percentage points [3] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a turnaround strategy based on six pillars and 12 strategic projects aimed at long-lasting results [24][72] - A significant project involved reducing the total number of SKUs by 10%, focusing on mainstream and proximity formats [4] - The company aims to enhance profitability through improved commercial negotiations and a focus on perishables [44][101] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the recovery of the business, highlighting improvements in customer experience and market share [24][120] - The company is committed to reducing breakage indicators and improving trade margins as part of its strategic plan [120] - Management noted the importance of maintaining a long-term focus on profitability rather than short-term peaks and valleys [72] Other Important Information - The company completed the registration process with the SEC for Exito Group, making it a publicly traded company in the U.S. [18] - The company has a high cash position of BRL3.2 billion, which is twice its short-term gross debt [39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the profitability dynamics and margin pressures? - Management highlighted three key aspects: improving commercial negotiations, enhancing rupture performance, and maintaining expense control [20][44] Question: What is the impact of food inflation on margins? - Management noted that GPA has faced deflation in basic grocery items, which has affected margins but also allowed for market share growth [49][50] Question: Can you provide updates on the Exito Group proposals? - Management clarified that the board rejected a recent proposal due to insufficient terms and the ongoing spin-off process [56][99] Question: What are the expectations for the Proximity format and its contribution to margins? - Management indicated that the Proximity format is expected to contribute positively to gross margins, with significant improvements already observed [105] Question: How do you expect occupation costs to unfold in the second half of the year? - Management explained that over 90% of stores have lease contracts that are renegotiated annually to mitigate inflation effects [108] Question: What initiatives are in place to improve working capital? - Management emphasized the reduction of inventory days and improved assortment management as key strategies to free up working capital [112][114]