Summary
Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) reported solid revenue growth in the third quarter and first nine months of 2013, driven primarily by its flagship Monster Energy® brand. Net sales increased by 8.9% for the quarter and 7.3% for the nine-month period, reaching $590.4 million and $1.71 billion, respectively. While gross profit saw significant increases, net income experienced a slight decline year-over-year for the nine-month period, largely due to increased operating expenses, particularly those related to professional services for litigation and regulatory matters. The company also noted a strategic shift in marketing its energy drinks from "dietary supplements" to "conventional foods." The company's balance sheet shows a healthy increase in current assets, with cash and cash equivalents rising to $287.0 million and short-term investments nearly tripling to $315.6 million. This robust liquidity, combined with strong operating cash flow of $275.8 million for the nine months, positions the company well to manage its operations, capital expenditures, and ongoing share repurchase program. However, investors should monitor the increasing operating expenses and the various legal proceedings and regulatory inquiries that could potentially impact future financial performance.
Financial Highlights
44 data points| Revenue | $590.42M |
| Cost of Revenue | $282.95M |
| Gross Profit | $307.47M |
| Operating Expenses | $156.04M |
| Operating Income | $151.43M |
| Net Income | $92.19M |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 1.00B |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 1.04B |
Key Highlights
- 1Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, increased by 7.3% to $1.71 billion, driven by strong performance in the Monster Energy® brand.
- 2Gross profit margin improved to 52.1% for Q3 2013 and 52.5% for the nine months, up from 50.5% and 51.7% in the prior year periods, respectively.
- 3Operating expenses increased by 17.4% for the quarter and 18.9% for the nine months, primarily due to higher legal and professional service costs related to regulatory matters and litigation.
- 4Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, decreased by 3.5% to $262.6 million, impacted by increased operating expenses and a higher effective tax rate.
- 5Cash provided by operating activities significantly increased by 26.5% to $275.8 million for the nine-month period.
- 6The company ended the period with strong liquidity, holding $287.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and $325.3 million in short-term and long-term investments.
- 7Monster Beverage Corporation is facing multiple legal proceedings and regulatory inquiries concerning product marketing, safety, and ingredients, which are being vigorously defended.