Metro Inc. ($MRU)

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Metro Inc.. 2026 Second Quarter Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Also note that this call is being recorded on April 22, 2026. And I would like to turn the conference over to Sharon Kadoche, Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Finance. Please go ahead.

[Foreign Language] Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. Our comments will focus on the financial results of our second quarter, which ended on March 14. With me today is Mr. Eric La Fleche, President and CEO; Nicolas Amyot, Executive VP and CFO; Marc Giroux, Chief Operating Officer; and Jean-Michel Coutu, President of the Pharmacy division. During the call, we will present our second quarter results and comment on its highlights. We will then be happy to take your questions. Before we begin I would like to remind you that we will use in today's discussion different statements that could be construed as forward-looking information. In general, any statement which does not constitute a historical fact may be deemed a forward-looking statement. Words or expressions such as expect, intend, are confident that, will and other similar words or expressions are generally indicative of forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based upon certain assumptions regarding the Canadian food and pharmaceutical industries, the general economy, our annual budget and our 2026 action plan. These forward-looking statements do not provide any guarantees as to the future performance of the company and are subject to potential risks, known and unknown as well as uncertainties that could cause the outcome to differ materially. Risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from our expectations as expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements are described under the Risk Management section in our 2025 annual report. We believe these forward-looking statements to be reasonable and pertinent at this time and represent our expectations. The company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. I will now turn the call over to Nicolas.

All right. Thank you, Sharon, and good morning, everyone. I will go directly to our Q2 results, as Eric will comment on the status of the current strike in our Quebec operations. Sales reached $5.1 billion, an increase of 4.1% versus the second quarter last year. Sales were positively impacted by new store openings, same-store sales growth as well as the transfer of 1 significant pre-Christmas shopping day to the second quarter this year. Front store sales -- or food same-store sales grew by 1.8% in the quarter up 1.5% when adjusting for the Christmas shift. On the pharmacy side, same-store sales grew by 5.1% supported by a 6.1% growth in prescription sales and a 2.8% growth in front store sales. Similar to food, when adjusting for the Christmas shift, front store sales were up 2.3%. Our gross margin reached $1.03 billion or 20.1% of sales in the quarter. This compares to 20% in Q2 last year. Part of the increase is attributable to productivity gains recorded in our distribution centers. As mentioned on the last call, our operations are back to normal in our Toronto distribution center. Operating expenses were $538.9 million in the quarter up 3.4% year-over-year. As a percentage of sales, operating expenses were 10.5% versus 10.6% in the second quarter last year reflected continued cost discipline. The asset disposals recognized in the second quarter of 2026, generated net gains of $20.4 million, of which $20.1 million was attributable to the disposal of out-of-service warehouses. EBITDA for the quarter amounted to $508.6 million, that's up 10.3% year-over-year and represented 9.9% of sales. Excluding the gain on sale from the disposal of out-of-service warehouses of $20.1 million, adjusted EBITDA stood at $488.5 million, up 6% year-over-year reaching 9.6% of sales, an increase of 16 basis points over the second quarter of 2025. Depreciation and amortization expense for the quarter was $144.3 million up $8.2 million. The increase in depreciation and amortization is mainly due to the increase in retail network investments, including right-of-use assets as well as ongoing investments in technology. Net financial costs for the quarter were $37.3 million compared to $33.4 million last year. The increase is mainly due to higher interest expense on net debt. On February 25, this quarter, the company tapped the bond market and issued a 5-year $350 million note bearing interest at a rate of 3.469. We used the proceeds of the offering to repay debt under our revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes. Including this financing, our debt-to-EBITDA ratio stands at about 2.2x. Our effective tax rate of 24.6%, which continues to benefit from the turbine DC tax holiday is similar to the effective tax rate of 24.5% in the second quarter last year. Adjusted net earnings were $236.5 million in the quarter compared to $226.6 million last year, an increase of 4.4% and while adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share amounted to $1.11 versus $1.02 last year, up 8.8% year-over-year. Our capital expenditures in Q2 totaled $85.3 million, consistent with last year. After 24 weeks on the food retail side, we opened or converted 6 stores and carried out 4 major renovation projects for a net increase of 141,000 square feet or 0.6% of our food retail network square footage. Under our normal course issuer bid program, as of April 2, we have repurchased 2.9 million shares for a total consideration of $279.8 million at an average share price of $96.47. In closing, we delivered solid Q2 results, supported by strong sales growth and good expense control. On this, I will now turn it over to Eric for additional color on our Q2 results. Thank you.

Thank you, Nicolas, and good morning, everyone. Before turning to the results, I will provide an update on the strike that started on March 30 in our Quebec operations and which is impacting produce distribution to our stores in Quebec. We are obviously disappointed by the strike now in its fourth week. We have been back at the bargaining table since April 8 and remain determined to reach an agreement that takes into account the needs of our employees and those of our customers while ensuring the long-term competitiveness of our company. As in any situation of this kind, the first days of the labor dispute required adjustments, while our contingency plan was being fully implemented. Our contingency plan is now in place, and our stores, although not in perfect condition are generally well stocked. The strike has impacted our sales, especially given that it happened in the week before Easter. We will be able to specify the financial impact once the dispute is settled. Turning to our second quarter results. We delivered solid results, driven by strong revenue growth and good expense control as our teams continue to offer the best value possible to our customers in all of our banners. We are very pleased with our discount store expansion plan that is fueling our food sales growth and with the continued strong momentum in our pharmacy business. In Q2, sales grew by 4.1%, adjusted EBITDA by 6% and adjusted earnings per share by 8.8%. Total food sales were up 3.6% and and Food same-store sales were up 1.8%. In pharmacy, we had another strong quarter with 5.1% total same-store sales growth on top of 7% last year. Our discount banners continue to perform well with same-store sales growth exceeding that of Metro together with the continued contribution of new store openings and conversions. Our internal food basket inflation was in line with the reported food CPI of 4.3%. We continue to see inflationary pressures on certain commodity prices, namely in the meat category, in addition to higher-than-usual CPG vendor cost increases. Our teams remain highly focused on cost mitigation initiatives through supplier negotiations and pricing discipline with the objective of offering the best value possible to our customers. During the quarter, comparable customer traffic was slightly lower, offset by growth in the average basket. Absolute traffic across the network increased supported by new store openings. Promotional activity remains elevated and private label sales continue to outperform national brand contributing to our gross margin performance. Competitive environment remains intense but rational. Online sales grew by 19.8% in the quarter, Growth is being driven by third-party marketplaces, the ramp-up of click and collect services and delivery within our discount banners. We are pleased with the sales performance of our own services and third-party marketplaces, which are recording similar growth rates compared to last year. Turning to pharmacy. Prescription sales were up 6.1%, driven by continued organic growth specialty medications and GLP-1s. Commercial sales grew by 2.8%, led by cosmetics and health and beauty categories, partly offset by a softer performance in OTC. We -- the cough and cold season was compressed this year, it peaked earlier and was shorter in duration. Our retail CapEx plan is on track as we successfully opened 3 new stores in Q2, including 2 discount stores. Halfway through F 26, our food retail network square footage growth increased by 0.6%. And over the last 12 months, it increased by 1.9% as we execute our new store opening plan mostly in discount and mostly in Ontario. On the pharmacy side, after 2 quarters, we have completed 15 out of the 35 renovation projects planned for F 26, including 7 pharmacies with our new concept. So to conclude, we are confident that our effective merchandising programs, strong private label offering, our MO program, consistent execution at store level as well as our ongoing collaboration with our supply chain partners, will allow us to continue to grow and deliver long-term shareholder value. Thank you, and we'll now be happy to take your questions.

[Operator Instructions] And your first question will be from Mark Carden at UBS.

So to start, your food inflation was essentially in line with the 4% plus purchase from store CPI. Just inflationary pressures persist -- have you seen any sequential changes in customer behavior? Are they leading even more heavily into discount? You called out the strength there in your release? Are you seeing any incremental uptick on trade down within your stores? Just any changes on that front?

No real changes, very consistent customer behavior, as we've been reporting over the last several quarters that I tried to outline in my opening remarks. Yes, discount is growing faster people are searching for value in all of our banners, not just discount. Private label is up, penetration remains elevated. So it's very consistent. Food inflation is driven a lot by the meat category. And as I said, CPG cost increases. I would sum it up that way.

Great. That's helpful. And then as a follow-up, just given where fuel prices are today, historically, have you guys seen any demand destruction or consumers taking units out of their baskets when prices at the pump cross a certain threshold or any broader shifts in food shopping behavior at your stores?

We don't have a specific number to report to you, but energy prices pressures, fuel price pressures contribute to affordability crisis and contributes to customers searching for value and everything that they buy, including food. So it's just 1 more element that puts pressure on the customer, and we're well positioned with our multiple store formats and growing discount formats to address those customer needs.

Next question will be from Michael Van Aelst at TD Cowen.

I just wanted to start by following up on the competitive question. So last quarter, you pointed to competitive the competitive nature of the industry has seemed to spook the stock a little bit. But you suggested that it's intense, but rational. So that doesn't seem like anything different than what you've said in the past. But -- do you feel that the moderating trend of normalized same-store sales growth from Q1 to Q2 reflects an increase in competition or consumer that's under more pressure, and therefore, trending down more cutting back on tonnage?

Tonnage in the whole market is flat to down. So clearly, there's pressure on the consumer side. So I think if it's a general market dynamic of low consumption and people being careful, the competitive environment, as I said, it's intense. We are competing with large players. Everybody is looking for market share, and it's competitive out there, the way it's always been. Last quarter, I was perhaps referring more to the square footage growth in people opening stores. That creates some noise in the market. But nothing abnormal and nothing that we've not seen before. And we're, like I said, well positioned to compete.

Okay. And then just on the fuel cost increases I know you mentioned your comments relative to the consumer impact. But as far as your cost impact, are I know you have a lot of third-party distribution. So are you seeing fuel cost surcharges already? And if so, are you able to pass those on or should we expect that to have some pressure on margins?

Yes. Maybe I'll take this one, Michael. I would say that from a fuel cost increase perspective, 2 sides to the story. On the products that we buy from the supply chain, so far, we have not received that many price increase requests, only a few actually. And we're negotiating the conditions and trying to delay the impact that this might have on food pricing. Obviously, the situation, as everybody knows, is very volatile and we don't know how long it's going to last and how it's going to unfold. So -- but at this point, nothing to say per se on cost of product. In terms on our own distribution side, the cost of fuel is impacting our activity to distribute food and drugs to stores and pharmacies, and that's pretty direct. So we've started feeling it. and that the current elevated pricing of fuel, you could imagine a $5 million-ish per quarter impact if everything was too old as the situation is today. So that's obviously, everything else being equal, more pressure that we need to manage.

So in the past, I think you said you typically pass on these higher fuel costs in your distribution system, is that something you're already working for? Are you looking for other ways of that?

Well, it's part of our cost structure, and we have to manage and keep our prices competitive in the market. Over time, we expect that higher costs like that will be reflected, but it hasn't started to happen yet.

Next question will be from Mark Petrie at CIBC.

I know you're not going to give specific numbers, but obviously, the strike impact is on people's minds. So hoping you can give us some qualitative comments just with regards to how Quebec or Ontario might be tracking differently in Q2 so far? And if you can give us some sense of the incremental costs that are incurred as a result of your mitigation strategies.

Like I said in my opening remarks, we're going to keep the impact for a later date in due course when we have the full tally. Like I said, we lost some sales. When you lose sales, you lose the bottom line. So clearly, it has had an impact. There are direct costs to set up a contingency plan. So we will communicate in full transparency when we're in a position to do so, but I don't want to give at this time any any color. This is a strike that's affecting our Quebec business, not in our Ontario business. So let's be clear on that. But it is having an impact. the contingency plan is better every day. Stores are looking better every day. And we think decent we're not perfect, like I said. There's maybe some small rides missing from 1 store to another from time to time. But generally, our stores are looking okay, looking good, and we can add we can answer most of the customer needs in our Quebec stores. So hopefully, we'll settle the strike. But like I said, we need to be competitive. The demands at the table are not reasonable and can't be accepted. So we will we are patient, and we will preserve our long-term competitiveness.

Maybe, Mark, just a quick comment. I think in your question, you referred to Q2, but it's really Q3 for us, right? The strike started on March 30. So it's going to be no impact in Q2. It's going to be impacting us in Q2.

In Q3.

Yes. Okay. Yes. Understood. Okay. total understand. I guess 1 other question. I'm just curious if you can share any trends or data with regards to the impact by Canadian and how some of the most affected products and categories last year have been performing as you lap sort of the biggest impact last year?

Mark, it's Marc here. We said in the last few quarters that buying Canadian, there was still elevated sales on Canadian product, but it has softened softened over the last few quarters. So buying Canadian continues to be of interest for consumers, but we have not seen a significant increase of sales year-over-year on Canadian product right now.

Yes. Okay. But as you're lapping the big sort of initial surge last year, are you seeing outright declines in any of those sort of most affected categories?

No, I would say it's pretty stable, Marc.

Next question will be from John Zamparo at Scotiabank.

I wanted to ask about the pharmacy side of the business and prescriptions in particular, that saw same-store sales accelerate this quarter. I wonder if you could add more color on what you're seeing from your GLP-1 sales. I think you listed that 1/3 among the drivers of growth. Is that to say it was less of a driver this quarter against prior quarters? And does it capture a similar level of market share on GLP-1s as it does on the rest of its pharmacy business.

I'm sorry, I missed the last part around market share.

Yes. The second part of it is the market share on GLP-1 similar to the rest of the pharmacy business.

Yes, perfect. You are correct in saying when we listed it as organic specialty and GLP-1. GLP-1 is a slightly less strong contributor to same-store sales growth as the other 2. Despite that, it is considerable, and it's continuing to grow at a very strong pace, especially as new generations of GLP-1s are coming to market, and that's driving a lot of the growth right now in the GLP-1 sector. In terms of share, we are definitely holding our normal share and even for some molecules outperforming, I'd say.

Okay. Understood. And then back to the grocery business, the growth from e-commerce continues to be robust. I wonder if this sustains at or around these levels and if the e-commerce business continues to grow, does that eventually create a drag on gross margins? Or is profitability from these sales roughly in line with the overall consolidated number?

That's a good question. We believe that e-comm growth will normalize at some point as the market matures. But as you're pointing out, we continue to see strong growth on both food and pharma. E-comm has a lower contribute e-comm sales has a lower contribution as brick-and-mortar sales. However, we've been able with our eco model to mitigate those -- that profitability gap with efficiency and multiple efficiency strategies, and we will continue to do so. That's what allowed us to continue to deliver the type of EBIT growth as a business as a total. So we'll continue to leverage our flexible model to meet customers where they are. More and more customers are moving the same-day delivery and our model and fulfillment model allows us to meet that demand from customers and we'll continue to be focused on, as I say, efficiency, not only in e-comm, but in our overall business. Hopefully, I've answered your question.

[Operator Instructions] Next is Chris Li at Desjardins.

I was wondering if you can provide some sort of very high-level colors on how the food gross margin performed during the quarter. I know in your opening remarks, you referenced private label and some DC efficiency has been positive. But just at the overall level, like did the gross margin in full, was it largely stable? Or did it improve slightly?

We don't segregate between [indiscernible] farm on the gross margin, but like I said, private label contributes, lower shrink contributes better forecasting contributed. So I think the teams did a good job to protect and slightly grow gross margin, and we're pleased with that performance.

Okay. That's helpful, Eric. And then maybe a follow-up just on the loyalty program in Ontario. It's been, I think, in the market for 1.5 years now. Just where are you on your journey to leverage the ENHANZE data analytics to deliver more personalization and effective promotions in Ontario through the new program?

Thanks for your question, Chris. It's Marc here. Mila continues to to perform well, and sales penetration continues to increase. And digital customer engagement continues to increase as well. So we're satisfied with the progress we're making on in Ontario and in Quebec, in food and pharma in Quebec. We've been leveraging data for a number of years, even before the launch of Moa in Ontario with our partner, Danube. We use that data in our merchandising team to optimize promotion, to optimize assortments and make sure that we have the right commercial strategy to meet the customers. We've been doing that before [indiscernible] and now are continuing to do it with [indiscernible]. On personalization, since our launch, as more and more customers engage digitally, we can have direct digital contact with them and deliver personalization directly to different channels. So as more progresses, our reach in terms of personalization increases -- as for Quebec, the program has been in market now for a few years in both food and pharma. And with our multiple banners and high penetration of Quebec household, the extent of our reach and personalization is greater in Quebec and the cross-shopping and the impact of cross-shopping in Quebec is greater as well. while we see cross shopping and the benefit of cross shopping in Ontario as well. To give you an example, in Quebec, as consumers shop food and pharma, they spend 100% more with our business as a whole through all of our stores and different channels. So we'll continue to focus on increasing reach, increasing digital reach so we can continue to drive personalization. There's still opportunity for us in both markets, more in Ontario as the program continues to grow.

And at this time, gentlemen, it appears we have no other questions registered. Please proceed.

Thank you all your interest in Metro, and please mark your calendars for our third quarter results on August 12. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, this does indeed conclude your conference call for today. Once again, thank you for attending. And at this time, we ask that you please disconnect your lines.