PriceSmart Continues Growth In Fiscal Q1 2023

San Diego based PriceSmart (NASDAQ: PSMT), an operator of 50 warehouse clubs in Latin America and The Caribbean, announced results today for its first quarter of fiscal 2023, ending November 30, 2022.

Total revenues for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 increased 8.1% to $1.05 billion compared to $975.4 million in the comparable period of the prior year. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, net merchandise sales increased 8.6% to $1.03 billion from $944.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. The company reports that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacted net merchandise sales negatively by $21.2 million, or 2.3%, versus the same period in the prior year.

Net merchandise sales grew 8.6%. Membership renewals were 87.9% and EPS grew 7.1% to $1.05 per share. Comparable net merchandise sales were up 5%.

PriceSmart recorded operating income during the fiscal first quarter of $55.5 million compared to operating income of $46.0 million in the prior year period. Net income attributable to PriceSmart grew 7.9% to $32.9 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 as compared to $30.5 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.

“We had another solid first quarter with total revenues and net merchandise sales exceeding $1.0 billion. Net merchandise sales increased by 8.6% after a negative 2.3% currency impact and comparable net merchandise sales increased by 5.0% after taking into account a negative 2.1% currency impact,” said Robert E. Price, chairman of the board.

Comparable net merchandise sales (that is, sales in the 47 warehouse clubs that have been open for greater than 13 ½ calendar months) for the 13 weeks ended December 4, 2022, increased 5.0% compared to the prior year. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacted comparable net merchandise sales negatively by $19.5 million, or 2.1%, versus the same period in the prior year.

“Membership accounts grew 3.9% versus the prior year and ended the quarter at 1.76 million.  We continued with strong 12-month renewal rates of 87.9% and our membership income was a record $15.9 million, an increase of 7.5% over the same period last year. We believe that these renewal rates demonstrate that our Members remain pleased with the value they are receiving and appreciate the PriceSmart shopping experience…The team did a great job of being proactive about selling through overstocked categories and getting back to our core business that has a more standard inventory balance and customary margin structures,” added Price.