Monster Beverage Q4 2022 Earnings Report

Monster Beverage EPS Results

• Actual EPS: $0.14
• Consensus EPS: $0.15
• Beat/Miss: Missed by -$0.01
• One Year Ago EPS: $0.15

Monster Beverage Revenue Results

• Actual Revenue: $1.51 billion
• Expected Revenue: $1.60 billion
• Beat/Miss: Missed by -$87.24 million
• YoY Revenue Growth: +6.20%

Monster Beverage Announcement Details

• Quarter: Q4 2022
• Date: 2/28/2023
• Time: Q4 2022 Earnings Release
• Conference Call Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2023
• Conference Call Time: 5:00PM ET

Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST) is a beverage company headquartered in Corona, California. It develops, markets and distributes energy drinks and other alternative beverages through a portfolio of brands that includes Monster Energy, Reign, NOS, Full Throttle, Burn and Bang Energy.

The company offers energy drinks in a variety of flavors and formulations, including products positioned for performance, fitness and everyday use. Monster also participates in the alcoholic beverage category through products marketed under the Monster Brewing Company name, including flavored malt beverages and beers.

Monster Beverage traces its roots to Hansen’s, a juice and natural beverage business founded in the 1930s. The company introduced the Monster Energy brand in 2002 and adopted the Monster Beverage Corporation name in 2012. Its products are sold through a broad distribution network in the United States and internationally across numerous markets.

Monster Beverage Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways

• Record Q4 net sales of $1.51 billion, up 6.2% year-over-year, despite global supply chain challenges as the company prioritized product availability.
• Gross profit margin fell year-over-year due to higher ingredient, packaging and logistical costs but saw sequential improvement to 51.8%, with management expecting some cost pressures to be transitory.
• Implemented mid-single digit price increases in the U.S. and phased international hikes in H2 2022 and early 2023, targeting further pricing actions to offset inflationary pressures.
• Expanded into the alcohol beverage sector via the February 2022 acquisition of Canopy, launching Beast Unleashed and planning national rollout of new hard seltzers and malt beverages by year-end.
• Board authorized an additional $500 million share repurchase program (with $201.6 million executed in Q4) and declared a 2-for-1 stock split payable March 27, 2023 to enhance shareholder value.

Presentation

[Operator]

Good afternoon, and welcome to the Monster Beverage Corporation Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your telephone keypad. To withdraw your question, please press star then two. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Rodney Sacks and Hilton Schlosberg, Co-CEOs for Monster Beverage. Please go ahead.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Thank you. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for attending this call. I'm Rodney Sacks. Hilton Schlosberg, our Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, is on the call, as is Thomas Kelly, our Chief Financial Officer. Thomas Kelly will now read our cautionary statement.

[Thomas Kelly, Chief Financial Officer at Monster Beverage]

Before we begin, I would like to remind listeners that certain statements made during this call may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended, and are based on currently available information regarding the expectations of management with respect to revenues, profitability, future business, future events, financial performance and trends. Management cautions that these statements are based on our current knowledge and expectations and are subject to certain risk and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company, that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made during this call.

[Thomas Kelly, Chief Financial Officer at Monster Beverage]

Please refer to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2022, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, including the sections contained therein, entitled Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Statements, for a discussion on specific risk and uncertainties that may affect our performance. The company assumes no obligations to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. I would now like to hand the call over to Rodney Sacks.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Thank you, Tom. The company achieved record fourth quarter net sales of $1.51 billion in the 2022 fourth quarter, 6.2% higher than net sales of $1.43 billion in the 2021 comparable period, and 11.9% higher on a foreign currency adjusted basis. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global supply chain challenges and disruptions, the company has prioritized product availability for its consumers and customers, despite adversely impacting gross margins and operating income. The company continues to stand by its strategy to ensure product availability and solidify the continued long-term growth of the company's brands. CANarchy was acquired in February 2022 to facilitate the company's entry into the alcohol beverage sector.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

During 2022, CANarchy sustained margin pressures, cost of acquisition and integration, as well as certain other costs in preparation for the launch of the company's new alcohol product lines. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the 2022 fourth quarter was 51.8%, compared with 53.9% in the comparative 2021 fourth quarter. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the 2022 fourth quarter as compared to the 2021 fourth quarter was primarily the result of, 1, increased ingredient and other input costs, including secondary packaging materials and increased co-packing fees. 2, geographical and product sales mix. 3, increased logistical costs. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the 2022 fourth quarter was partially offset by pricing actions.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased on a sequential quarterly basis to 51.8% in the 2022 fourth quarter from 51.3% in the 2022 third quarter. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales, excluding gross profit for the company's alcohol brand segment, increased on a sequential quarterly basis to 52.5% in the 2022 fourth quarter from 51.9% in the 2022 third quarter. We continue to believe that some of these increased costs we are experiencing are likely to be transitory. The depletion of our remaining higher cost imported can inventories will continue over the next few quarters, but should be fully utilized during 2023. We note that our major promotion in the fourth quarter was executed with lower cost, locally sourced cans in the United States and globally.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

We estimate that of the increasing costs of sales in the 2022 fourth quarter, approximately $60 million was comprised of, 1, approximately $39.6 million due to increased ingredient and other input costs, including primary and secondary packaging materials and increased co-packing fees. 2, approximately $12.5 million due to geographical and product sales mix. 3, approximately $7.9 million due to increased logistical costs. We continued to experience significant increases in distribution expenses, primarily the result of increased warehousing expenses as well as other logistical expenses which adversely impacted operating expenses. The company continues to address the challenges in its supply chain as it navigates through the uncertainty of the current global supply chain environment. We are starting to see a reduction in freight rates in the United States.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Operating expenses for the 2022 fourth quarter were $390 million, compared with $354.7 million in the 2021 fourth quarter. As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses for the 2022 fourth quarter were 25.8%, compared with 24.9% in the 2021 fourth quarter and 28.9% in the 2019 fourth quarter pre-COVID. Distribution expenses for the 2022 fourth quarter increased to $76.1 million, which is an increase of 9% or 5% of net sales, compared to $69.8 million or 4.9% of net sales in the 2021 fourth quarter and 3.5% of net sales in the 2019 fourth quarter pre-COVID.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

The $6.3 million increase in distribution expenses was primarily due to higher warehouse expenses of $11.2 million as a result of higher raw materials and finished product inventories in the United States and EMEA, partially offset by decreased freight out expenses of $4.4 million. The increase in other operating expenses was primarily due to increased payroll expenses and increased general and administrative expenses. We are now able to purchase aluminum cans from local sources globally. We have seen a reduction in cost of sales through increased use of domestic cans as we continue to cycle through existing inventories of imported cans over the next few quarters. We have rebuilt finished product inventory levels globally to return to our orbit strategy of producing in closer proximity to our customers. The costs of repositioning finished products to distribution centers are included in freight end costs.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Operating income for the 2022 fourth quarter decreased 4.5% to $394.4 million from $412.9 million in the 2021 comparative quarter. Net income decreased 6.1% to $301.7 million as compared to $321.3 million in the 2021 comparable quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the 2022 fourth quarter decreased 4.9% to $0.57 from $0.60 in the fourth quarter of 2021. Diluted earnings per share exclusive of the alcohol segment operating losses and the adverse impacts of foreign currency exchange rates, net of tax was $0.64 in the 2022 fourth quarter. Through pricing actions, the company was able to achieve positive pricing appreciation in the United States and EMEA.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Due to continued cost pressures, the company implemented a net sales price increase in the range of 6% market wide in the United States effective September 1, 2022, and will be implementing a price increase on its 24 ounce line effective April 1, 2023. The company also implemented price increases in the second half of 2022 in certain international markets and will be implementing additional price increases on a phased approach during the first half of 2023 in a number of international markets. The company will continue to review further opportunities for price increases and pricing actions in order to mitigate inflationary pressures.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

According to the Nielsen reports for the 13 weeks through February 11, 2023 for all outlets combined, namely convenience, grocery, drug, mass merchandisers, sales in dollars in the energy drink category, including energy shots, increased by 13.1% versus the same period a year ago. Sales of the company's energy brands, including Reign, were up 12.1% in the 13-week period. Sales of Monster were up 11.3%. Sales of Reign were up 15.6%. Sales of NOS increased 20.6%, and sales of Full Throttle increased 1.3%. Sales of Red Bull increased 11.5%. Sales of Rockstar increased by 3.4%, and sales of 5-Hour decreased 2.4%. VPX Bang's sales decreased 47.1%.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

The company continues to have market share leadership in the energy drink category in the United States for the 13 weeks ended February 11, 2023. According to Nielsen, for the 4 weeks ended February 11, 2023, sales in dollars in the energy drink category in the convenience and gas channel, including energy shots in dollars, increased 15.1% over the same period the previous year. Sales of the company's energy brands, which include Reign, increased 14.8% in the 4-week period in the convenience and gas channel. Sales of Monster increased by 13% over the same period versus the previous year. Reign sales increased 26.7%. NOS was up 23.7%, and Full Throttle was up 14.9%. Sales of Red Bull were up 11.9%.Rockstar was up 7%, and 5-Hour was down 0.3%. VPX Bang sales decreased 48%. According to Nielsen, for the 4 weeks ended February 11, 2023, the company's market share of the energy drink category in the convenience and gas channel, including energy shots in dollars, decreased from 37.1% to 37%. Monster's share decreased from 31.5% a year ago to 30.9%. Reign's share increased 0.2 of a share point to 2.7%. NOS's share increased 0.2 over point to 2.6%, and Full Throttle's share remained at 0.7%. Red Bull's share decreased 1 point from 36.1% a year ago to 35.1%. VPX Bang's share decreased 3.8 points to 3.1%.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

5-hour's share was lower by 0.6 of a point at 3.9%. Rockstar's share was down 0.3 of a point to 3.7%. CELSIUS's share is 4.3%. Alani Nu's share is 0.7%, and GHOST's share is 2.5%. According to Nielsen, for the 4 weeks ended February 11, 2023, sales in dollars of the coffee plus energy drink category, which includes our Java Monster line in the convenience and gas channel, increased 6.2% over the same period the previous year. Sales of Java Monster, including Java Monster 300 and Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew, were 8.1% higher in the same period versus the previous year. Sales of Starbucks Energy were 8% higher.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Java Monster's share, including Java Monster 300, Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew of the coffee plus energy category, which primarily includes Java Monster, Java Monster 300, Java Monster Nitro Cold Brew, Starbucks Doubleshot and Triple Shot, Rockstar Roasted, and Bang Keto Coffee for the 4 weeks ended February 11, 2023 was 54.7%, up 1 point, while Starbucks Energy's share was 44.9%, up 0.8 of a point. According to Nielsen, in all measured channels in Canada for the 12 weeks ended December 31, 2022, the energy drink category increased 13.3% in dollars. Sales of the company's energy drink brands increased 16.3% versus a year ago. The market share of the company's energy drink brands was 41%, up 1.1 points.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Monster's sales increased 18.3%, and its market share increased 1.6 points to 36.8%. Noza's sales decreased 7%, and its market share decreased by 0.3 of a point to 1.4%. Full Throttle's sales increased 8.4%, and its market share remained at 0.5 of a percent. According to Nielsen, for all outlets combined in Mexico, the energy drink category increased 26.6% for the month of January 2023. Monster's sales increased 34.1%. Monster's market share in value increased 1.7 points to 29.4% against the comparable period the previous year. Sales of Predator increased 106.2%, and its market share increased 2 share points to 5.1%.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

The Nielsen statistics for Mexico cover single months, which is a short period that may often be materially influenced positively and/or negatively by sales in the OXXO convenience chain, which dominates the market. Sales in the OXXO convenience chain, in turn, can be materially influenced by promotions that may be undertaken in that chain by one or more energy drink brands during a particular month. Consequently, such activities could have a significant impact on the monthly Nielsen statistics for Mexico. According to Nielsen, for the month of December 2022 compared to December 2021, Monster's retail market share in value increased in Argentina from 43% to 53.5%. In Chile, from 34.5% to 41.7%. In Brazil, for the month end January 2023, our share increased from 39.9% to 41.1%.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Monster is the leading energy brand in value in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. I would like to point out that the Nielsen numbers in EMEA should only be used as a guide because the channels read by Nielsen in EMEA vary from country to country and are reported on varying dates within the month referred to from country to country.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

According to Nielsen, in the 13-week period until the end of January 2023, Monster's retail market share in value as compared to the same period the previous year grew from 14.2% to 15.2% in Belgium, from 30.7% to 31.8% in France, from 29.5% to 31% in Great Britain, from 27.3% to 32.7% in Norway, from 27.7% to 27.8% in the Republic of Ireland, from 38.6% to 40.4% in Spain, and from 15.1% to 16.5% in Sweden.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Monster's retail market share in value as compared to the same period the previous year declined from 8.1% to 4.7% in the Netherlands and from 20% to 19.2% in South Africa. According to Nielsen, in the 13-week period until the end of December 2022, Monster's retail market share in value as compared to the same period the previous year grew from 16.3% to 18.4% in the Czech Republic, from 26.5% to 27.8% in Denmark, and from 27.6% to 30.5% in Italy.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Monster's retail market share in value as compared to the same period the previous year declined from 14.6% to 13.9% in Germany, from 38.1% to 36.8% in Greece, and from 19% to 18.3% in Poland. According to Nielsen, in the 13-week period until the end of December 2022, Predator's retail market share in value as compared to the same period the previous year grew from 20.4% to 31.1% in Kenya and from 14.2% to 19.2% in Nigeria. According to IRI in Australia, Monster's market share in value for the four weeks ending January 29, 2023 increased from 13.1% to 16.1% as compared to the same period the previous year.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Mother's market share in value decreased from 11% to 10.7%. According to IRI in New Zealand, Monster's market share in value for the 4 weeks ended January 22, 2023 remained at 13% as compared to the same period the previous year. Live+'s market share in value decreased from 6.7% to 6.1%, and Mother's market share in value increased from 5.8% to 6%. According to Intage in Japan, in the month ending December 2022, Monster's market share in value in the convenience store channel as compared to the same period the previous year grew from 53.7% to 54.7%.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

According to Nielsen in South Korea, in the month ending December 2022, Monster's market share in value in all outlets combined, as compared to the same period the previous year, increased from 60.2% to 64.2%. We again point out that certain market statistics that cover single months or 4-week periods may often be materially influenced positively and/or negatively by promotions or other trading factors during those periods. Net sales to customers outside the U.S. were $542.5 million, 35.9% of total net sales in the 2022 fourth quarter, compared to $508.1 million or 35.7% of total net sales in the corresponding quarter in 2021.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Foreign currency exchange rates had a negative impact on net sales in U.S. dollars by approximately $81.9 million in the 2022 fourth quarter. Included in reported geographic sales are our sales to the company's military customers, which are delivered in the U.S., transshipped to the military and their customers overseas. In EMEA, net sales in the 2022 fourth quarter decreased 2.3% in dollars but increased 14.7% in local currencies over the same period in 2021. Gross profit in this region as a percentage of net sales in the fourth quarter was 33.9%, compared with 32.6% in the same quarter in 2021 and compared to 34.7% in the third quarter of 2022. The company is continuing to address the controllable challenges in its supply chain in EMEA.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

We are also pleased that in the 2022 fourth quarter, Monster gained market share in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, and Sweden. In Asia Pacific, net sales in the 2022 fourth quarter increased half a point in USD and increased 20.6% in local currencies over the same period in 2021. Gross profit in this region as a percentage of net sales was 42.6% versus 41.4% over the same period in 2021. Due in part to a product supply issue with an ingredient that impacted a number of our products in Japan but has now been resolved, net sales in the 2022 fourth quarter decreased 14.4% in USD, but increased 10% in local currency.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Sales in the 2022 fourth quarter continued to be impacted by COVID in certain channels. In South Korea, net sales increased 13.9% in dollars and increased 34.4% in local currency as compared to the same quarter in 2021. Monster remains in China. Sales volume in the fourth quarter increased 5.4% as compared to the same quarter in 2021, largely impacted by COVID-related lockdowns. We remain optimistic about the prospects for the Monster brand in China. In Oceania, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and Guam, net sales increased 2.9% in dollars and 16.7% in local currencies.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

In Latin America, including Mexico and the Caribbean, net sales in the 2022 fourth quarter increased 45.2% in $ and increased 57.7% in local currencies over the same period in 2021. Gross profit in this region as a percentage of net sales was 28.4% for the 2022 fourth quarter versus 38.6% in the 2021 fourth quarter. In Brazil, net sales in the 2022 fourth quarter increased by 19.9% in $ and 16.6% in local currency. Net sales in Mexico increased 64.8% in $ and 60.6% in local currency in the 2022 fourth quarter. Net sales in Chile increased 1% in $, but increased 16% in local currencies in the 2022 fourth quarter.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Net sales in Argentina increased 92% in dollars and increased 196.6% in local currency in the 2022 fourth quarter. We will now provide an update on our litigation with Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which will be referred to as VPX, the maker of Bang energy drinks. We previously discussed the trademark infringement arbitration in which an arbitrator found against VPX and awarded Monster Energy Company, or MEC, and Orange Bang $175 million in damages, attorney's fees, and costs. An ongoing 5% royalty on future sales of certain Bang Energy products. VPX has appealed the judgment.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Additionally, on September 29, 2022, a jury in the United States District Court for the Central District of California returned a verdict awarding MEC approximately $293 million in damages on its claims against VPX for false advertising, misappropriation of trade secrets, and interference with Monster's contracts over shelf space with certain key retailers. The parties are briefing post-trial issues. On October 10, 2022, VPX, along with certain of its domestic subsidiaries and affiliates, filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Southern District of Florida. While those proceedings are moving forward, VPX has undertaken to make interim royalty payments subject to potential clawbacks in certain circumstances. On February 14, 2023, VPX made its first royalty payment in the amount of approximately $3.6 million.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

The company will not recognize either award or the royalty payments until such time as they are realized or realizable. As the litigation and bankruptcy proceedings are sub judice, we will not be answering further questions on those matters on today's call. In the first quarter of 2023, we launched The Beast Unleashed in six states through a network of beer distributors. The Beast Unleashed is a flavored malt beverage with 6% alcohol by volume based on Monster's well-known and popular flavor profiles. We are pleased with early results and plan to expand into additional markets in the second quarter of 2023, with the goal of being national by the end of the year. We recently launched Wild Basin and hard seltzer with new packaging and great new flavors and taste profiles.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

The Dale's beer family will get a refresh in the second quarter of 2023, including the introduction of Dale's American Light Lager, an easy drinking lager with 4.2% alcohol by volume, 95 calories, and 2.5 carbohydrates per 12-ounce serving. Our alcohol beverage innovation pipeline is robust. We look forward to sharing news of additional new products in the future. In the 2022 fourth quarter in the United States, Monster Reserve Orange Dreamsicle was launched at retail to expand our Monster Reserve line. Monster Energy Zero Sugar was launched at retail in the United States in January 2023. Monster Energy Zero Sugar was specifically developed as an indistinguishable zero sugar analog of our original unique Monster Energy Green flavor.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

We are excited about the opportunities that this product will provide to our Monster consumers who have come to enjoy the unique taste profile of our original Monster Green flavor, which remains our leading flavor. Earlier this month, we also launched Monster Energy Ultra Strawberry Dreams, Monster Reserve Kiwi Strawberry, Monster Nitro Cosmic Peach, and Java Monster Café Latte. Initial response from consumers has been positive. In February 2023, we launched a flavor of Reign called Tropical Storm in the United States and also commenced with the launch of Monster Tour Water, a pure, unflavored water line in still and sparkling variants in 19.2-ounce cans. We are planning to launch Reign Storm, which is positioned as a total wellness energy drink, in 12-ounce sleek cans at retail in March 2023 in four flavors to address a compelling opportunity in the energy drink category.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

We launched several new SKUs in October in Latin America. In Chile, we expanded our Ultra line by launching Ultra Gold and Ultra Watermelon. In Mexico, we introduced Monster Energy Reserve Watermelon. In Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, Curacao and Bermuda, we expanded our Reign portfolio and launched Reign White Gummy Bear and Reignbow Sherbet. In Trinidad and Tobago, we launched Monster Pipeline Punch. In Australia, we expanded our core portfolio and launched Monster Super Dry. In New Zealand, we expanded our juice portfolio and launched Monster Juice Papillon, which is currently exceeding our expectations. In EMEA, in the fourth quarter of 2022, we launched Monster Nitro, Monster Reserve Watermelon, and White Pineapple in a number of countries. In certain countries, we also launched Juiced Aussie Lemonade, Ultra Gold, Ultra Rosá, and Ultra Watermelon during the 2022 fourth quarter.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

During the 22 fourth quarter, we also launched additional SKUs of Burn and Reign in certain countries. In EMEA, as part of an ongoing pan-EMEA launch, we commenced distribution of our Monster Energy Lewis Hamilton 44 Zero Sugar energy drink in select EMEA markets late in the fourth quarter of 2022, to be followed by an additional 25 EMEA markets in the first quarter of 2023. During the fourth quarter of 2022, we launched Monster Rehab Lemonade Tea in Japan, Monster Ultra Watermelon in Turkey, Monster Ultra Paradise in Vietnam, Predator in Malaysia, and we continued the national rollout of Predator in India. We are planning to introduce the Predator brand in additional countries in APAC during the course of 2023.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

We estimate that on a foreign currency adjusted basis, including CANarchy, January 2023 sales were approximately 16.1% higher than the comparable January 2022 sales and 13.8% higher than January 2022, excluding CANarchy. We estimate January 2023 sales, including CANarchy, to be approximately 12.9% higher than in January 2022 and 10.6% higher than in January 2022, excluding CANarchy. January 2023 had the same number of selling days as January 2022. In this regard, we caution again that sales over a short period are often disproportionately impacted by various factors such as, for example, selling days of the week in which holidays fall, timing of new product launches, and the timing of price increases and promotions in retail stores, distributor incentives, as well as shifts in the timing of production.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

In some instances, our bottlers are responsible for production and determine their own production schedules. This affects the dates on which we invoice such bottlers. Furthermore, our bottling and distribution partners maintain inventory levels according to their own internal requirements, which they may alter from time to time for their own business reasons. We reiterate that sales over a short period, such as a single month, should not necessarily be imputed to or regarded as indicative of the results for a full quarter or any future period. If the COVID-19 pandemic and related unfavorable economic conditions continue in certain regions, our new product innovation launches in those regions could be delayed. On November 2, 2022, the board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program for the repurchase of up to an additional $500 million of the company's outstanding common stock.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

During the 2022 fourth quarter, the company purchased approximately 2.3 million shares of its common stock for a total amount of $201.6 million, excluding broker commissions, under the June 2022 repurchase plan, leaving approximately $682.8 million remaining available for repurchase under the previously authorized repurchase programs. The company today announced that its board of directors has approved and declared a 2-for-1 split of its common stock that will be effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend. Each stockholder of record on March 13, 2023, will receive a dividend of one additional share of common stock for each then held share to be distributed after the close of trading on March 27, 2023.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

The company anticipates its common stock to begin trading at the split adjusted price on March 28, 2023. In conclusion, I'd like to summarize some recent positive points. One, the energy category continues to grow globally. Two, the company has increased its raw material and finished product inventories to better service its customers and ensure availability of its products. Three, we are seeing improvement in our gross profit margins on a quarterly sequential basis due to supply chain normalization. Four, our AFF flavor facility in Ireland is now providing a large number of flavors to our EMEA region, enabling better service levels and lower landed costs to our EMEA region. Five, we are enthusiastic for our 2023 new product innovations, notably Monster Energy Zero Sugar, which launched in January 2023 in the United States, and Monster Energy Lewis Hamilton 44 Zero Sugar energy drink in EMEA.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

We are also particularly enthusiastic for the planned launches of Reign Storm in March 2023, as well as Tour Water in the United States. We are pleased with the early results from the launch of The Beast Unleashed, our first flavored malt beverage alcohol product in 6 states, and the planned rollout to additional states, as well as the additional alcohol opportunities that the CANarchy acquisition presents. 7, we are planning to launch Reign Total Body Fuel high-performance energy drinks in additional international countries. Finally, 8, we are pleased with the rollout of Predator and Fury, our affordable energy drink portfolio internationally. We are proceeding with plans to launch our affordable energy brands in an additional number of international countries. I would now like to open the floor to questions about the year. Thank you.

[Operator]

We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press star then 1 on your telephone keypad. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the key. To withdraw your question, please press star then 2. In the interest of time, please limit yourself to 1 question to allow everyone a chance to ask questions. Again, that was star then 1 to ask a question. At this time, we will pause momentarily to assemble the roster. Our first question will come from Peter Grom of UBS. Please go ahead.

[Peter Grom, Equity Research Analyst at UBS]

Thanks, operator, good evening or good afternoon, everyone. You know, Hilton, I guess I wanted to ask about gross margin. You mentioned in the release that you expect some of these cost pressures you've experienced to be transitory, whereas others remain challenging. I guess maybe just to start, is there any way to frame how much of the drag on gross margin, you know, is still a result of these imported cans? You know, just looking ahead in the context of more pricing, the cost backdrop you outlined and kind of the modest sequential improvement we saw, you know, sequentially. You know, how would you frame the margin recapture opportunity looking out to next year? Thanks.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Well, if you look back at what happened in the fourth quarter, we had a price increase in September 1 in the U.S. We had some price increases internationally during 2022 and into the fourth quarter of 2022. We are increasing pricing in many international markets on a phased basis starting in the early part of 2023.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

A lot of the increased costs that we have been absorbing should be accommodated by increased pricing. You know, looking forward, we all know what's happening with aluminum. It's coming down. Certain other commodities are coming down. In Europe, we see energy coming down. You know, overall, I think, with regard to margin, we are actually in a good place. As you saw in this quarter, you know, we were able to move margin on a sequential basis. We do, however, have certain costs that are not going away. For example, co-packing fees have gone up. The, you know, sugar is in tight supply because of weather situations. You know, there are positives as well as negatives in the system.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

As regards to the international cans, you know, we don't have that significant quantity left in terms of what the impact will be on gross margin. You know, I think we've just got to work through those cans. They have green and ultra white. We'll work through them and you know, we'll be good. The only issue is that we do have promotional cans from time to time. As I've spoken on this call on a number of occasions, these cans are not promotional cans. They're just straight, you know, they're just straight cans that we use in non-promotional periods. Also depends, you know, we have other obligations with our can companies. It's a question of sourcing cans from the most optimal place to be able to co-pack.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

You know, that may be too long an explanation, but I hope it gave you a sense of what we're seeing from this end.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Chris Carey of Wells Fargo Securities. Please go ahead.

[Chris Carey, Equity Analyst at Wells Fargo Securities]

Hi, everyone. I just wanted to follow up on that, but then ask a question. You know, Hilton, would you expect sequential gross margin improvement from here, you know, on a steady clip, just given, you know, pricing and some improvement in commodities or, you know, overall cost inflation? I appreciate there are other inflationary factors, but would you expect to continue to sequentially improve from here? That's just a follow-up. You know, from a U.S. perspective, I think one of the things that's coming up tonight is, you know, you had, you know, mid-single digit pricing to high single digit pricing in the U.S. in September, and yet, you know, U.S. sales were 6%.

[Chris Carey, Equity Analyst at Wells Fargo Securities]

Can you talk to any, you know, was there any pull forward of demand because of the pricing actions? Were there any promotions in the quarter behind the pricing? You know, maybe can you just help reconcile the revenue growth in the quarter in the U.S., you know, which is basically in line with the pricing that you're taking. You know, thanks for that, you know, follow-up on gross margins in the U.S. comment.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Okay, Chris, to answer your first question, you know, we don't give guidance, and I actually gave quite a robust explanation of, you know, what we see the runway for margin. I just really don't want to estimate it because, you know, we really don't give guidance. I think I gave you a good sense of where we are, probably too much. That is where it is. In respect of the price increase in the U.S. in September, we actually limited the bottlers to the extent of how much they could buy in. You know, I don't think that there was, in fact, you know, we don't think there was any, if much, pull forward from Q3. I think it was just a question of the market stabilizing.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

As you know, with when price increases are put into effect, there's always a little bit of, you know, a little bit of a bump as you go into more steady waters. Everything we know and that we've heard is the price really, the price increase is actually sticking. We had a little bit more promotional allowances in the fourth quarter, and you'll see that when the 10-K result is released. That's, you know, that's really consistent with bringing in a price increase to a market in the consumer goods industry.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Andrea Teixeira of J.P. Morgan. Please go ahead.

[Drew Levin, Analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co.]

Hi. Thank you. This is Drew Levin on for Andrea. Thank you for taking our question. Rodney, I want to continue on that point on the sort of rebound in January. It also seemed like there was an acceleration for both Monster and the category on a three-year stack or three-year CAGR basis. Just wondering, you know, what you're sort of attributing that underlying strength and consumption to. Do you think it's the new product launches, increased interest in the category, gas prices coming down? Any thoughts around that would be helpful. Thank you.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

I think it's a combination of those things. I think we have got gas prices coming down. I think we have seen a nice sort of increase in convenience. Remember last year, convenience was always ahead of the grocery and mass channels, and, you know, last year it sort of reversed and convenience was a little slow. That seems to be coming back a little bit. you know, we just think that again, pricing has sort of settled down a bit. You can see across the whole, the whole category, there has been an increase in the Nielsen numbers across the category for most people and competitors. We just are seeing just a little bit of resurgence of confidence again. Yeah.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

The other thing I think you should do is have a look at the, you know, When we announced 3rd quarter results, we spoke about the October sales. If you look at the October sales, it's not inconsistent with the quarter. I'm talking about the 4th quarter of 2022. Sorry.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Mark Astrachan of Stifel. Please go ahead.

[Mark Astrachan, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Stifel]

Yeah, thanks, and afternoon. Hey, guys.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Hi. Hi, Mark.

[Mark Astrachan, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Stifel]

Hopefully you're doing all right there, Rodney.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Yeah, I'm fine. Just got a remnant of a cough for the last couple of weeks.

[Mark Astrachan, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Stifel]

All right. That's good. Two questions for you. One sort of related to the recent line of questioning. Inventories were up again, you know, sequentially. How do we think about the improvement there, and does that kinda lead into flow through of improvement in gross margin through 2023? Maybe more bigger picture, how do you think about the relative affordability of Monster and energy drinks broadly in the U.S. after the price increase? It seems like you take a look at other beverage categories, pricing has been a steady riser over the last decade plus, so the gap is sort of narrow. You took a little bit of pricing, but not nearly as much on a cumulative basis.

[Mark Astrachan, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Stifel]

You know, is there opportunity here to become more price rational from an energy category standpoint, as you're kinda moving forward?

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Well, let's, you know, let's talk about the first question, Mark, about inventories. As you know, when we went out of 2021, our inventories were just too low. You know, we were unable to service our customers without major upheavals and without major costs. We, you know, there was no question that the inventories had to move, and move, you know, significantly up because bearing in mind where our sales are. As we are, you know, we believe that we have sufficient inventories, which is important for us to be able to service our customers. Are we working on getting those inventories down? Yes. The inventories will optimize themselves in due course. You know, I wouldn't be, you know, I wouldn't be concerned.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Our products have a 2-year shelf life, it's important that we maintain sufficient inventories to, you know, to service our customers. Then on that second question you asked about pricing. You know, if you go and look, for example, at a Mountain Dew at Walmart, a 20-ounce Mountain Dew at Walmart, their price is $2.18, and Monster is $2.28. You know, I think as you look at the energy category and you kind of balance the pricing of 20-ounce sodas and energy drinks, remember that we now, and just twisting over to convenience, we sell more, energy drinks sell more at convenience than carbonated soft drinks.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

There is a balance, and I think we have struck a very good balance. With regard to going forward, we have a price increase planned for 24 ounce, which we believe has got opportunity, and we're taking price in 24 ounce up, beginning of April. That'll happen, and we'll continue to monitor the opportunities for price increases in the U.S., as we see, you know, margins and as we see, you know, the carbonated soft drink category. It's, you know, it's a whole bundle of issues that lead us to, you know, move in a direction of whether to take price.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Filippo Falorni of Citi. Please go ahead.

[Filippo Falorni, Director and Lead Analyst at Citi]

Hey, good afternoon, guys.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Hi.

[Filippo Falorni, Director and Lead Analyst at Citi]

Can you talk about your expectations for your innovation pipeline in 2023, particularly on a relative basis over the last couple of years? Given it seems like you have a pretty substantial pipeline this year, both in alcoholic beverage and your core energy drinks. Thank you.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

You know, I. You know, the fact is that I think that we've actually got a really broad base of innovation. I think that it has sort of improved over the last few years, and I think we're sort of getting it right. I think that will be positive for the brand. We also are being able to secure a little more shelf space across the different channels, which is helping us with innovation because, you know, in some cases, we didn't get shelf space in some of the years past, and it was sort of difficult to actually get the innovation to achieve the, you know, it's the benefits that we had hoped for.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

We think that this year we will be able to achieve those benefits. We have rationalized some of the SKUs. We think that we'll be able to get a good selection of our innovation on shelf, particularly the new Energy Zero Sugar and also the new Reign sub-line, which will, you know, go up against, you know, other competitors in the 12-ounce category. There has been some additional shelf space, not only in the Energy category but also in the sort of wellness category. I think, you know, in some places we'll also be able to place the Reign Storm sort of line in that area as well. Overall, we think there will be a good contribution going forward from innovation, which is exciting.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

So far, you know, initial response to things like our Ultra Strawberry Dreams has been really positive from consumers and bottlers to the Zero Sugar and others. We are pretty optimistic and upbeat about innovation this year. We've been introducing a lot of multipacks to try and increase the take-home, particularly in places like grocery. Again, we haven't, you know, described them that much on this call, but there's a whole SKU of multipack and variety packs that we're actually doing in a multipack, which we think will be positive for the brand this year for sales.

[Operator]

The next question comes from Steve Powers of Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead.

[Steve Powers, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Deutsche Bank]

Thanks, and good evening. just I guess like a couple of cleanups on the gross margin topic. The first one is Rodney, I think you at the start of the call, you bridged to a $60 million increase in COGS. I just wanted to, you know, clarify what that was. I think if I'm not mistaken, COGS was up like 70+. Just exactly what those numbers were and what they weren't, number one. Number two, I don't know if you can comment on the mix of cans in the fourth quarter, you know, old, higher cost cans versus, you know, current cost cans, and if that was materially different than what you had seen in the third quarter.

[Steve Powers, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Deutsche Bank]

Three, the Latin America gross margin you called out, sales growth there was fantastic, but the gross margins been progressively under pressure and was down, I think, you know, 10+ points in the fourth quarter. Just the drivers there and if you, if you think you've got the ability to turn that gross margin progress around in Latin America. Thank you.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

I think, Steve, we spoke about that about margins earlier on the call. Margins on a sequential basis were actually up. You know, I'm really not sure what you're referring to. The first question that we answered, I spoke quite heavily about, you know, the progression of gross margins and the pluses and the minuses. Maybe I'm missing something. You know, I think we did discuss margin earlier on the call.

[Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman at Monster Beverage]

With regard to the $60 million that we spoke about in the release, that was only, the $60 million was comprised of $39.6 million due to increased ingredients and other input costs, and $12.5 million due to geographical product sales mix, and $7 million due to increased logistical costs. The rest of the increase in cost of sales was normal increases as you would expect to, you know, in a normal business environment. Those are the kind of the exceptional ones that we called out.

[Operator]

This concludes our question-.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Yeah, I

[Operator]

This concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Mr. Rodney Sacks for any closing remarks.

[Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman at Monster Beverage]

Thanks. On behalf of the company, I'd like to thank everyone for their continued interest. We continue to believe in the company and our growth strategy and remain committed to continuing to innovate, develop and differentiate our brands, and to expand the company both at home and abroad, and in particular, capitalizing on our relationship with the Coca-Cola bottling system. We believe that we are well positioned in the beverage industry and continue to be optimistic about the future of our company. We hope that you remain safe and healthy. Thank you very much for your attendance.

[Operator]

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation, and you may now disconnect.

Participants

Executives

• Rodney Sacks, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
• Hilton Schlosberg, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman

Analysts

• Thomas Kelly, Chief Financial Officer at Monster Beverage
• Peter Grom, Equity Research Analyst at UBS
• Chris Carey, Equity Analyst at Wells Fargo Securities
• Drew Levin, Analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Mark Astrachan, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Stifel
• Filippo Falorni, Director and Lead Analyst at Citi
• Steve Powers, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Deutsche Bank