Exito Posts Net Loss in 3Q 2018, but Nine-Months 2018 Profits Soar

Medellin-based multinational retail giant Exito on November 14 posted a third quarter (3Q) 2018 net loss of COP$9.6 billion (US$3 million), but nine-months 2018 profits soared by 293%, to COP$119 billion (US$37 million).

Gross revenues as measured in Colombia pesos dipped 8.4% year-on-year in 3Q 2018, to COP$12.7 trillion (US$3.98 billion), but actually improved 9.5% if excluding Colombian peso weakening.

For nine-months 2018, gross sales are off 3.3% measured in Colombian pesos but up 8.2% if excluding the peso-weakness effect.

Sales in the four South American countries where Exito operates showed increases in local currencies: Colombia up 0.6%; Brazil 12.9%; Uruguay 4.7% and Argentina 23.5%, according to Exito.

Recurring earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were COP$661 billion (US$207 million) with an EBITDA margin of 5.2%.

In Colombia, nine-months sales hit COP$8.1 trillion (US$2.5 billion), spurred by new retail formats (“Exito Wow” and “Carulla FreshMarket,”) new strategies, growing credit-card sales, income from the “Viva” real-estate venture and growing “e-commerce” sales, the latter of which now account for 3.6% of all Colombian sales, according to Exito.

The gradual improvement in sales here during the latest quarter came despite a 0.7% decline in the Colombian consumer confidence index, which has been weak in seven of the last 12 months, Éxito noted.

In Brazil, 3Q 2018 food sales rose 12.9% year-on-year, thanks to strong growth at “Assaí” stores as well as improvements at the “Extra” and “Pão de Açúcar” outlets, according to Exito.

In Uruguay, sales so-far this year have grown 6.4% in local currency “amid a challenging economic situation in the neighboring countries,” Exito noted.

Operating profit margin in nine-months 2018 in Uruguay was 6.9% compared to 6.7% in the same period of 2017, while recurring EBITDA margin was 8% compared to 7.7% in the same period of 2017.

As for Argentina, the “Libertad” store chain in 3Q 2018 showed a “growth in its sales of 23.5%. Libertad had the best market performance, and according to Nielsen, to August of this year registered 18% of the market share in the territory where it operates. The recurring EBITDA margin in the third quarter was 4.7%, mainly leveraged by the real estate operation in its 15 galleries commercials that maintain an occupation close to 95%,” according to Exito.

At the end of 3Q 2018, Exito had 1,536 stores, of which 549 are in Colombia, 870 in Brazil, 88 in Uruguay and 29 in Argentina.