Ace Reports Record Third Quarter Revenues

Ace Hardware Corp. reported record third quarter 2022 revenues of $2.2 billion, an increase of $203.2 million, or 10.0 percent, from the third quarter of 2021. Net income was $100.6 million for the third quarter of 2022, an increase of $1.3 million from the third quarter of 2021.

“My sincere thanks to the entire Ace team for their determined and relentless pursuit of our three strategic imperatives—service, convenience and quality—which delivered yet another quarter of record sales and profit,” said John Venhuizen, president and CEO. “Revenue and income were up 10 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively, for the quarter. They now stand 44 percent and 66 percent higher than just three years ago.  Despite, and in some cases because of rampant inflation, the Ace team continues to deliver superior financial results and exceptional customer service to and for our neighbors.” 

The approximately 3,600 Ace retailers who share daily sales data reported a 5.8 percent increase in U.S. retail same-store-sales during the third quarter of 2022.  Estimated retail inflation of 11.2 percent helped drive the 9.5 percent increase in average ticket. Same-store transactions were down 3.4 percent. 

Revenues

Consolidated revenues for the quarter ended October 1, 2022 totaled $2.2 billion. Total wholesale revenues were $2.0 billion, an increase of $198.9 million, or 10.8 percent, as compared to the prior year third quarter. Increases were seen across several departments with holiday, paint and outdoor power equipment showing the largest gains. Wholesale merchandise revenues to new domestic stores activated from January 2021 through September 2022 contributed $51.0 million of incremental revenues during the third quarter of 2022, while wholesale merchandise revenues decreased $11.6 million during the third quarter due to domestic stores whose memberships were cancelled.  Wholesale merchandise revenues to comparable domestic stores increased $122.0 million for the quarter.  

All of this increase was the result of estimated wholesale price inflation of 12.7 percent.  The company’s Ace International Holdings, Ltd. (AIH) subsidiary experienced a $7.5 million decrease in wholesale revenue versus the third quarter of 2021, while Ace Wholesale Holdings LLC reported a $17.9 million increase in wholesale revenues from the third quarter of 2021. 

Total retail revenues for the quarter were $193.4 million, an increase of $4.3 million, or 2.3 percent, as compared to the prior year third quarter.  Retail revenues from Ace Retail Holdings LLC (ARH) were $192.1 million in the third quarter of 2022, an increase of $7.1 million, or 3.8 percent, from the third quarter of 2021.  This increase was primarily the result of the inflation driven same-store-sales increase of 3.7 percent at Westlake Ace Hardware and the new stores added by Westlake and Great Lakes Ace Hardware, Inc. (GLA) since the third quarter of 2021. Westlake and GLA together operated 216 stores at the end of the third quarter of 2022 compared to 209 stores at the end of the third quarter of 2021. 

Ace added 35 new domestic stores in the third quarter of 2022 and canceled 10 stores.  The company’s total domestic store count was 4,841 at the end of the third quarter of 2022 which was an increase of 82 stores from the third quarter of 2021. On a worldwide basis, Ace added 37 stores in the third quarter of 2022 and canceled 15, bringing the worldwide store count to 5,682 at the end of the third quarter of 2022.

Gross Profit

Wholesale gross profit for the three months ended October 1, 2022 was $272.5 million, an increase of $34.4 million from the third quarter of 2021. The wholesale gross margin percentage was 13.4 percent of wholesale revenues in the third quarter of 2022, up from 12.9 percent in the third quarter of 2021. The increase in wholesale gross margin percentage was primarily due to increased delivery revenue and lower third-party delivery costs. These improvements were partially offset by an increase in LIFO expense, which was driven by vendor price inflation. 

Retail gross profit for the three months ended October 1, 2022 was $88.1 million, a decrease of $0.6 million from the third quarter of 2021.  The retail gross margin percentage was 45.6 percent of retail revenues in the third quarter of 2022, down from 46.9 percent in the third quarter of 2021. The decrease in retail gross margin percentage was primarily due to vendor funds earned related to new store openings in the prior year which did not recur in 2022. 

Expenses

Wholesale operating expenses increased $24.9 million, or 15.8 percent, from the third quarter of 2021. The increase is due to higher compensation and benefit expenses, greater lease expense driven by the expansion of our warehouse space and increased advertising expenses. Wholesale operating expenses as a percent of wholesale revenues increased to 9.0 percent in the third quarter of 2022 from 8.6 percent in the third quarter of 2021. 

Retail operating expenses increased $4.6 million, or 7.1 percent, from the third quarter of 2021. This increase was primarily driven by an increase in store payroll along with expenses incurred related to the new stores opened since the third quarter of 2021.  Retail operating expenses as a percent of retail revenue increased to 36.0 percent in the third quarter of 2022 from 34.4 percent in the third quarter of 2021. 

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Receivables increased $100.3 million from the third quarter of 2021 due to higher sales volumes and datings for seasonal programs. Inventories increased $228.4 million from the third quarter of 2021. Approximately half of this increase is due to vendor cost inflation while the remainder is due to the intentional build-up of inventory as a hedge against supplier shortages and to increase fill rates to Ace members. The late arrival of spring weather in 2022 resulted in an overstock of patio and lawn and garden inventory that will be carried over into the 2023 spring selling season. Long-term debt, including current maturities, increased $110.9 million versus the third quarter of 2021. At the end of the third quarter of 2022, long-term debt consisted of $196.1 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility, $13.7 million outstanding on the Westlake credit facility and $39.1 million owed to former retailers.