ThZeal - The Zeal

sfm-10q_20200927.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 27, 2020

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-36029

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

32-0331600

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

5455 East High Street, Suite 111

Phoenix, Arizona 85054

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(480) 814-8016

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

SFM

NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐

Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐

		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of October 26, 2020, the registrant had 117,950,276 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.		4

	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2020 (unaudited) and December 29, 2019	4

	Consolidated Statements of Income for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 (unaudited)	5

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 (unaudited)	6

	Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 (unaudited)	7

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019 (unaudited)	9

	Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements	10

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		23

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.		37

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.		38

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.		39

Item 1A. Risk Factors.		39

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.		40

Item 6. Exhibits.		41

Signatures		42

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (referred to as the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (referred to as the “Exchange Act”), including, but not limited to, statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, strategies, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses, and plans and objectives of management. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “objective,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and involve known risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievement to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Company,” “Sprouts,” “Sprouts Farmers Market,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. and, where appropriate, its subsidiaries.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

	September 27, 2020			December 29, 2019
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	137,518		$	85,314
Accounts receivable, net		24,258			15,713
Inventories		257,255			275,979
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		18,948			10,833
Total current assets		437,979			387,839
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation		735,670			741,508
Operating lease assets, net		1,040,329			1,028,436
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization		184,960			185,395
Goodwill		368,878			368,078
Other assets		14,407			11,727
Total assets	$	2,782,223		$	2,722,983
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	163,259		$	122,839
Accrued liabilities		138,996			136,482
Accrued salaries and benefits		72,155			48,579
Accrued income tax		4,089			2,005
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		130,088			106,153
Current portion of finance lease liabilities		994			754
Total current liabilities		509,581			416,812
Long-term operating lease liabilities		1,074,267			1,078,927
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities		285,704			549,419
Other long-term liabilities		50,140			41,517
Deferred income tax liability		54,585			54,356
Total liabilities		1,974,277			2,141,031
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
Stockholders’ equity:
Undesignated preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding		—			—
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 117,950,276 shares issued and outstanding, September 27, 2020; 117,543,668 shares issued and outstanding, December 29, 2019		117			117
Additional paid-in capital		682,709			670,966
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(9,484	)		(4,682	)
Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit)		134,604			(84,449	)
Total stockholders’ equity		807,946			581,952
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,782,223		$	2,722,983

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

	Thirteen weeks ended				Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019		September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Net sales	$	1,577,598	$	1,440,222	$	4,866,925		$	4,269,844
Cost of sales		992,829		963,497		3,075,665			2,843,989
Gross profit		584,769		476,725		1,791,260			1,425,855
Selling, general and administrative expenses		475,053		404,285		1,400,234			1,162,226
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales)		31,067		30,764		92,637			89,788
Store closure and other costs, net		268		2,119		(344	)		3,396
Income from operations		78,381		39,557		298,733			170,445
Interest expense, net		3,117		5,557		11,681			15,997
Income before income taxes		75,264		34,000		287,052			154,448
Income tax provision		15,023		7,740		67,999			36,453
Net income	$	60,241	$	26,260	$	219,053		$	117,995
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.51	$	0.22	$	1.86		$	0.98
Diluted	$	0.51	$	0.22	$	1.85		$	0.98
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		117,947		118,029		117,775			119,846
Diluted		118,450		118,174		118,157			120,227

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS)

	Thirteen weeks ended					Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019			September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Net income	$	60,241	$	26,260		$	219,053		$	117,995

Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain/(loss) on cash flow hedging activities, net of income tax of $261, ($365), ($1,661), and (2,341)		755		(1,056	)		(4,802	)		(6,769	)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)		755		(1,056	)		(4,802	)		(6,769	)

Comprehensive income	$	60,996	$	25,204		$	214,251		$	111,226

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)

For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020

	Shares		Common Stock		Additional Paid In Capital		(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balances at June 28, 2020		117,944,450	$	117	$	679,036	$	74,363		$	(10,239	)	$	743,277
Net income		—		—		—		60,241			—			60,241
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		—		—		—		—			755			755
Issuance of shares under stock plans		5,826		—		—		—			—			—
Share-based compensation		—		—		3,673		—			—			3,673
Balances at September 27, 2020		117,950,276	$	117	$	682,709	$	134,604		$	(9,484	)	$	807,946

	Shares		Common Stock		Additional Paid In Capital		(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balances at December 29, 2019		117,452,918	$	117	$	670,966	$	(84,449	)	$	(4,682	)	$	581,952
Net income								219,053						219,053
Other comprehensive loss		—		—		—		—			(4,802	)		(4,802	)
Issuance of shares under stock plans		497,358		—		1,343		—			—			1,343
Share-based compensation		—		—		10,400		—			—			10,400
Balances at September 27, 2020		117,950,276	$	117	$	682,709	$	134,604		$	(9,484	)	$	807,946

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)

For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019

	Shares			Common Stock			Additional Paid In Capital		(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balances at June 30, 2019		118,022,271		$	118		$	665,454	$	(129,344	)	$	(4,579	)	$	531,649
Net income		—			—			—		26,260			—			26,260
Other comprehensive loss		—			—			—		—			(1,056	)		(1,056	)
Issuance of shares under stock plans		25,849			—			358		—			—			358
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		—			—			—		—			—			—
Share-based compensation		—			—			2,710		—			—			2,710
Balances at September 29, 2019		118,048,120		$	118		$	668,522	$	(103,084	)	$	(5,635	)	$	559,921

	Shares			Common Stock			Additional Paid In Capital		(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balances at December 30, 2018		124,581,190		$	124		$	657,140	$	(69,202	)	$	1,134		$	589,196
Net income		—			—			—		117,995			—			117,995
Other comprehensive loss		—			—			—		—			(6,769	)		(6,769	)
Issuance of shares under stock plans		769,808			1			4,481		—			—			4,482
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		(7,302,878	)		(7	)		—		(163,303	)		—			(163,310	)
Share-based compensation		—			—			6,901		—			—			6,901
Impact of adoption of ASC 842 related to leases		—			—			—		11,426			—			11,426
Balances at September 29, 2019		118,048,120		$	118		$	668,522	$	(103,084	)	$	(5,635	)	$	559,921

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS)

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	219,053		$	117,995
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense		94,748			91,546
Operating lease asset amortization		71,765			62,251
Store closure and other costs, net		(321	)		850
Share-based compensation		10,400			6,901
Deferred income taxes		228			(245	)
Other non-cash items		1,996			(2,873	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		7,372			28,978
Inventories		18,724			(21,348	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(8,937	)		(2,379	)
Other assets		(2,575	)		(762	)
Accounts payable		45,806			63,947
Accrued liabilities		(7	)		32,963
Accrued salaries and benefits		23,577			(4,054	)
Accrued income tax		2,083			3,764
Operating lease liabilities		(79,602	)		(52,209	)
Other long-term liabilities		5,954			(2,013	)
Cash flows from operating activities		410,264			323,312
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment		(95,874	)		(146,480	)
Cash flows used in investing activities		(95,874	)		(146,480	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities		—			187,405
Payments on revolving credit facilities		(263,000	)		(125,405	)
Payments on finance lease liabilities		(474	)		(536	)
Repurchase of common stock		—			(163,310	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		1,343			4,483
Other		—			(320	)
Cash flows used in financing activities		(262,131	)		(97,683	)
Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		52,259			79,149
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of the period		86,785			2,248
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period	$	139,044		$	81,397

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest	$	11,513		$	15,212
Cash paid for income taxes		63,393			32,115
Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities		90,751			157,134

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
Property and equipment in accounts payable	$	13,016		$	18,396

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

1. Basis of Presentation

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., a Delaware corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as a healthy grocery store that offers a unique grocery experience featuring fresh, natural, and organic food through an open layout with fresh produce at the heart of the store, as well as bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, deli, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, beer and wine, natural body care and household items catering to consumers’ growing interest in health and wellness. The “Company” is used to refer collectively to Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. and unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and are in the form prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair statement of the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for any other interim period or for a full fiscal year. The information included in these consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included herein and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019 (“fiscal year 2019”) included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 20, 2020.

The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

The Company reports its results of operations on a 52- or 53-week fiscal calendar ending on the Sunday closest to December 31. The fiscal year ending January 3, 2021 (“fiscal year 2020”) is a 53-week year and fiscal year 2019 was a 52-week year. The Company reports its results of operations on a 13-week quarter, except for 53-week fiscal years.

All dollar amounts are in thousands, unless otherwise noted.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied upon the transfer of goods to the customer, which occurs at the point of sale, and payment from customers is also due at the time of sale. Proceeds from the sale of gift cards are recorded as a liability at the time of sale and recognized as sales when they are redeemed by the customer and the performance obligation is satisfied by the Company. The Company’s gift cards do not expire. Based on historical redemption rates, a small and relatively stable percentage of gift cards will never be redeemed, referred to as "breakage." Estimated breakage revenue is recognized over time in proportion to actual gift card redemptions and was not material in any period presented.

Balance at

December 29, 2019

Gift Cards Issued During

Current Period but Not

Redeemed^(a)

Revenue Recognized from

Beginning Liability

Balance at

September 27, 2020

Gift card liability, net

15,902

2,134

(9,031

)

9,005

(a)

net of estimated breakage

The Company does not have any material contract assets or receivables from contracts with customers, any revenue recognized in the current period from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods, or any remaining performance obligations as of September 27, 2020.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash relates to defined benefit plan forfeitures as well as health and welfare restricted funds of approximately $1.5 million and $1.5 million as of September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019, respectively. These balances are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Financial Instruments – Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU no. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The amendments in this update introduce a new standard to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology under current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. Subsequent to the initial standards, the FASB has also issued several ASUs to clarify specific topics. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 effective December 30, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach. There was no impact to opening retained earnings as of December 30, 2019, or the consolidated financial statements dated September 27, 2020.

Compensation – Fair Value Disclosures

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair value measurement (Topic 820) – Disclosure framework – Changes to the disclosure requirements for fair value measurement.” The amendments in this update improve the effectiveness of fair value measurement disclosures. The Company adopted this standard effective December 30, 2019. There was no impact on the Company’s disclosure in its consolidated financial statements.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Income Taxes – Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU no. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” Among other things, the amendment removes certain exceptions for periods with operating losses, and reduces the complexity surrounding franchise tax, step up in tax basis of goodwill in conjunction with a business combination, and timing of enacting changes in tax laws during interim periods. The amendments in this update are effective for the Company for its fiscal year 2021 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect this update to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU no. 2020-04, “Reference rate reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting”. The amendments in this update provide optional expedients and exceptions for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform. Generally, the guidance allows contract modifications related to reference rate reform to be considered events that do not require remeasurements or reassessments of previous accounting determinations at the modification date. This update only applies to modifications made prior to December 31, 2022. No such modifications occurred in the period ending September 27, 2020. The Company expects to utilize this optional guidance but does not expect it to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

No other new accounting pronouncements issued or effective during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020 had, or are expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Fair Value Measurements

The Company records its financial assets and liabilities in accordance with the framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP. This framework establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value:

Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

Fair value measurements of nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities are primarily used in the valuation of derivative instruments, impairment analysis of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for the Company’s financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019:

September 27, 2020	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Long-term debt	$	—	$	275,000	$	—	$	275,000
Interest rate swap liability		—		13,209		—		13,209
Total financial liabilities	$	—	$	288,209	$	—	$	288,209

December 29, 2019	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Long-term debt	$	—	$	538,000	$	—	$	538,000
Interest rate swap liability		—		6,305		—		6,305
Total financial liabilities	$	—	$	544,305	$	—	$	544,305

The Company’s interest rate swaps are considered Level 2 in the hierarchy and are valued using an income approach. Expected future cash flows are converted to a present value amount based on market expectations of the yield curve on floating interest rates, which is readily available on public markets.

The determination of fair values of certain tangible and intangible assets for purposes of the Company’s goodwill impairment evaluation as described above is based upon Level 3 inputs. The weighted average cost of capital is estimated using information from comparable companies and management’s judgment related to the risk associated with the operations of the stores.

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and accrued salaries and benefits approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. Based on comparable open market transactions, the fair value of the long-term debt approximated carrying value as of September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019.

4. Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Liabilities

A summary of long-term debt and finance lease liabilities is as follows:

			As of
Facility	Maturity	Interest Rate	September 27, 2020		December 29, 2019
Senior secured debt
$700.0 million Credit Agreement	March 27, 2023	Variable	$	275,000	$	538,000
Finance lease liabilities	Various	n/a		10,704		11,419
Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities			$	285,704	$	549,419

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility

The Company’s subsidiary, Sprouts Farmers Markets Holdings, LLC (“Intermediate Holdings”), is the borrower under an amended and restated credit agreement entered into on March 27, 2018 (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) to amend and restate the Company’s former’s senior secured credit facility, dated April 17, 2015 (the “Former Credit Facility”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility with an initial aggregate commitment of $700.0 million, an increase from $450.0 million from the Former Credit Facility, which may be increased from time to time pursuant to an expansion feature set forth in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

The Company capitalized debt issuance costs of $2.1 million related to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which combined with the remaining $0.7 million debt issuance costs for the Former Credit Facility, are being amortized on a straight-line basis to interest expense over the five-year term of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also provides for a letter of credit sub-facility and a $15.0 million swingline facility. Letters of credit issued under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement reduce its borrowing capacity. Letters of credit totaling $34.4 million have been issued as of September 27, 2020, primarily to support the Company’s insurance programs.

On March 6, 2019, Intermediate Holdings entered into an amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement intended to align the treatment of certain lease accounting terms with the Company’s adoption of ASC 842. This amendment had no impact on borrowing capacity, interest rate, or maturity.

Guarantees

Obligations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Company and all of its current and future wholly-owned material domestic subsidiaries (other than the borrower), and are secured by first-priority security interests in substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiary guarantors, including, without limitation, a pledge by the Company of its equity interest in Intermediate Holdings.

Interest and Fees

Loans under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement initially bore interest at LIBOR plus 1.50% per annum or prime plus 0.50%. The interest rate margins are subject to adjustment pursuant to a pricing grid based on the Company’s total net leverage ratio, as set forth in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the Company is obligated to pay a commitment fee on the available unused amount of the commitments between 0.15% to 0.30% per annum, also pursuant to a pricing grid based on the Company’s total net leverage ratio. As of September 27, 2020, loans under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement bore interest at LIBOR plus 1.25% per annum or prime plus 0.25%.

The interest rate on approximately 91% of outstanding debt under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is fixed, reflecting the effects of floating to fixed interest rate swaps (see Note 9, “Derivative Financial Instruments”).

As of September 27, 2020, outstanding letters of credit under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement were subject to a participation fee of 1.25% per annum and an issuance fee of 0.125% per annum.

Payments and Borrowings

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is scheduled to mature, and the commitments thereunder will terminate on March 27, 2023, subject to extensions as set forth therein.

The Company may prepay loans and permanently reduce commitments under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement at any time in agreed-upon minimum principal amounts, without premium or penalty (except LIBOR breakage costs, if applicable).

During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, the Company made no additional borrowings and made principal payments totaling $176.0 million and $263.0 million, respectively; resulting in total outstanding debt under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of $275.0 million as of September 27, 2020. During fiscal year 2019, the Company borrowed an additional $265.4 million to be used in connection with the Company’s share repurchase programs (see Note 7, “Stockholders’ Equity”) and made a total of $180.4 million of principal payments; resulting in total outstanding debt under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of $538.0 million at December 29, 2019.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Covenants

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement contains financial, affirmative and negative covenants. The negative covenants include, among other things, limitations on the Company’s ability to:

•

incur additional indebtedness;

•

grant additional liens;

•

enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

•

make loans or investments;

•

merge, consolidate or enter into acquisitions;

•

pay dividends or distributions;

•

enter into transactions with affiliates;

•

enter into new lines of business;

•

modify the terms of debt or other material agreements; and

•

change its fiscal year.

Each of these covenants is subject to customary and other agreed-upon exceptions.

In addition, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement requires that the Company and its subsidiaries maintain a maximum total net leverage ratio not to exceed 3.25 to 1.00 and minimum interest coverage ratio not to be less than 1.75 to 1.00. Each of these covenants is tested on the last day of each fiscal quarter.

The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as of September 27, 2020.

5. Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate decreased to 20.0% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020, compared to 22.8% for the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2019. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a benefit for return to provision adjustments in the current year period, partially offset by a decrease in federal tax credits. The income tax benefits resulting from discrete adjustments and return to provision adjustments were $5.4 million and $1.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rate increased to 23.7% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, compared to 23.6% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a decrease in federal tax credits along with tax detriments for share-based payment awards in the current year period compared to prior year period benefits, partially offset by a benefit for discrete adjustments and return to provision adjustments in the current year period. The income tax benefits resulting from return to provision adjustments were $5.4 million and $1.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, respectively.

The Company files income tax returns for federal purposes and in many states. The Company’s tax filings remain subject to examination by applicable tax authorities for a certain length of time, generally three years, following the tax year to which those filings relate. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

6. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is exposed to claims and litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business and uses various methods to resolve these matters that are believed to best serve the interests of the Company’s stakeholders. The Company’s primary contingencies are associated with self-insurance obligations and litigation matters. Self-insurance liabilities require significant judgment and actual claim settlements and associated expenses may differ from the Company’s current provisions for loss.

Securities Action

On March 4, 2016, a complaint was filed in the Superior Court for the State of Arizona against the Company and certain of its directors and officers on behalf of a purported class of purchasers of shares of the Company’s common stock in its underwritten secondary public offering which closed on March 10, 2015 (the “March 2015 Offering”). The complaint purported to state claims under Sections 11, 12 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on an alleged failure by the Company to disclose adequate information about produce price deflation in the March 2015 Offering documents. The complaint sought damages on behalf of the purported class in an unspecified amount, rescission, and an award of reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees. On August 4, 2018, the Company reached an agreement in principle to settle these claims. The parties’ settlement agreement was approved by the court on May 31, 2019 and the complaint was subsequently dismissed. The settlement was funded from the Company’s directors and officers liability insurance policy and did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

“Phishing” Scam Actions

In April 2016, four complaints were filed, two in the federal courts of California, one in the Superior Court of California and one in the federal court in the District of Colorado, each on behalf of a purported class of the Company’s current and former team members whose personally identifiable information (“PII”) was inadvertently disclosed to an unauthorized third party that perpetrated an email “phishing” scam against one of the Company’s team members. The complaints alleged the Company failed to properly safeguard the PII in accordance with applicable law. The complaints sought damages on behalf of the purported class in unspecified amounts, attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses. On March 1, 2019, a number of individual plaintiffs filed arbitration demands. On May 15, 2019, certain other plaintiffs filed a second amended class action complaint in the District of Arizona, alleging that certain subclasses of team members are not subject to the Company’s arbitration agreement and attempted to pursue those team members’ claims in federal court. In late August 2019, the Company reached an agreement in principle to settle the majority of these claims, which were funded in the fourth quarter of 2019. Primary funding for the settlement came from the Company’s cyber insurance policy, and the settlement did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. Following the group settlement, three (3) individual claimants planned to proceed with arbitration of their claims. The three individual arbitrations were settled in late June and early July 2020, with immaterial settlement amounts fully funded by the Company’s cyber insurance policy.

Proposition 65 Coffee Action

On April 13, 2010, an organization named Council for Education and Research on Toxics (“CERT”) filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, against nearly 80 defendants who manufacture, package, distribute or sell brewed coffee, including the Company. CERT alleged that the defendants failed to provide warnings for their coffee products of exposure to the chemical acrylamide as required under California Health and Safety Code section 25249.5, the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, better known as Proposition 65. CERT seeks equitable relief, including providing warnings to consumers of coffee products, as well as civil penalties.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The Company, as part of a joint defense group, asserted multiple defenses against the lawsuit. On May 7, 2018, the trial court issued a ruling adverse to defendants on these defenses to liability. On June 15, 2018, before the court tried damages, remedies and attorneys' fees, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”) published a proposal to amend Proposition 65’s implementing regulations by adding a stand-alone sentence that reads as follows: “Exposures to listed chemicals in coffee created by and inherent in the processes of roasting coffee beans or brewing coffee do not pose a significant risk of cancer.” The proposed regulation has been finalized with an effective date of October 1, 2019. The defendants amended their answers to assert the regulation as an affirmative defense. On August 25, 2020, the court granted the defense motion for summary judgment on the affirmative defense, and the case was dismissed.

Although the Company expects CERT to appeal the ruling on the defense motion for summary judgment, the Company is unable to predict or reasonably estimate any potential loss or effect on the Company or its operations. Accordingly, no loss contingency was recorded for this matter.

7. Stockholders’ Equity

Share Repurchases

The following table outlines the common stock share repurchase programs authorized by the Company’s board of directors and the related repurchase activity and available authorization as of September 27, 2020.

Effective date

Expiration date

Amount

authorized

Cost of

repurchases

Authorization

available

February 20, 2017

December 31, 2018

250,000

—

February 20, 2018

December 31, 2019

350,000

308,017

—

The Company’s board of directors has not authorized additional share repurchases subsequent to the expiration of the prior authorization on December 31, 2019, and there was no share repurchase authorization available as of September 27, 2020.

Share repurchase activity under the Company’s repurchase programs for the periods indicated was as follows (total cost in thousands):

	Thirteen weeks ended				Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019		September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019
Number of common shares acquired		—		—		—		7,302,878
Average price per common share acquired	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	22.36
Total cost of common shares acquired	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	163,310

Shares purchased under the Company’s repurchase programs were subsequently retired.

8. Net Income Per Share

The computation of net income per share is based on the number of weighted average shares outstanding during the period. The computation of diluted net income per share includes the dilutive effect of share equivalents consisting of incremental shares deemed outstanding from the assumed exercise of options, assumed vesting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”), assumed vesting of performance stock awards (“PSAs”), and assumed vesting of restricted stock awards (“RSAs”).

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted net income per share calculations is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Thirteen weeks ended				Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019		September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019
Basic net income per share:
Net income	$	60,241	$	26,260	$	219,053	$	117,995
Weighted average shares outstanding		117,947		118,029		117,775		119,846
Basic net income per share	$	0.51	$	0.22	$	1.86	$	0.98
Diluted net income per share:
Net income	$	60,241	$	26,260	$	219,053	$	117,995
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		117,947		118,029		117,775		119,846
Dilutive effect of share-based awards:
Assumed exercise of options to purchase shares		160		32		14		62
RSUs		318		42		315		167
RSAs		—		25		12		58
PSAs		25		46		41		94
Weighted average shares and equivalent shares outstanding		118,450		118,174		118,157		120,227
Diluted net income per share	$	0.51	$	0.22	$	1.85	$	0.98

For the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020, the Company had 0.2 million options and 0.3 million PSAs outstanding which were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share as those awards would have been antidilutive or were performance awards with performance conditions not yet deemed met. For the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2019, the Company had 0.6 million options, 0.4 million RSUs and 0.1 million PSAs outstanding which were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share as those awards would have been antidilutive or were performance awards with performance conditions not yet deemed met.

For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, the Company had 0.2 million options, 0.1 million RSUs, and 0.3 million PSAs outstanding which were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share as those awards would have been antidilutive or were performance awards with performance conditions not yet deemed met. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019, the Company had 0.6 million options, 0.3 million RSUs and 0.4 million PSAs outstanding which were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share as those awards would have been antidilutive or were performance awards with performance conditions not yet deemed met.

9. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement in December 2017 to manage its cash flow associated with variable interest rates. This forward contract has been designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, and its change in fair value is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods in which the forecasted transaction occurs. The forward contract consists of three cash flow hedges. To qualify as a hedge, the Company needs to formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of the transactions that receive hedge accounting.

The notional dollar amount of the three outstanding swaps was $250.0 million at September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019, under which the Company pays a fixed rate and receives a variable rate of interest (cash flow swap). The cash flow swaps hedge the change in interest rates on debt related to fluctuations in interest rates and each have a length of one year and mature annually from 2020 to 2022.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

These interest rate swaps have been designated and qualify as cash flow hedges and have met the requirements to assume zero ineffectiveness. The Company reviews the effectiveness of its hedging instruments on a quarterly basis.

The counterparties to these derivative financial instruments are major financial institutions. The Company evaluates the credit ratings of the financial institutions and believes that credit risk is at an acceptable level. The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments:

As of

September 27, 2020

As of

December 29, 2019

Balance Sheet Location

Fair Value

Balance Sheet Location

Fair Value

Interest rate swaps

Accrued liabilities

1,848

Accrued liabilities

1,736

Interest rate swaps

Other long-term liabilities

11,361

Other long-term liabilities

4,569

The gain or loss on these derivative instruments is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax, with the portion related to current period interest payments reclassified to interest expense on the consolidated statements of income. The following table summarizes these losses (gains) classified on the consolidated statements of income:

	Thirteen weeks ended					Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019			September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Income Classification
Interest expense (income), net	$	1,345	$	(54	)	$	2,855	$	(458	)

10. Comprehensive Income

The following table presents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019 and September 27, 2020.

	Cash Flow Hedges
Balance at December 30, 2018	$	1,134
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging activities, net of income tax of ($2,341)		(6,769	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		(6,769	)
Balance at September 29, 2019	$	(5,635	)

Balance at December 29, 2019	$	(4,682	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging activities, net of income tax of ($1,661)		(4,802	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		(4,802	)
Balance at September 27, 2020	$	(9,484	)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are included within interest expense on the consolidated statements of income.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

11. Segments

The Company has one reportable and one operating segment, healthy grocery stores.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” the following table represents a disaggregation of revenue for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019.

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020				September 29, 2019
Perishables	$	918,860	58.2	%	$	844,553	58.6	%
Non-Perishables		658,738	41.8	%		595,669	41.4	%
Net Sales	$	1,577,598	100.0	%	$	1,440,222	100.0	%

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020				September 29, 2019
Perishables	$	2,782,084	57.2	%	$	2,479,091	58.1	%
Non-Perishables		2,084,841	42.8	%		1,790,753	41.9	%
Net Sales	$	4,866,925	100.0	%	$	4,269,844	100.0	%

The Company categorizes the varieties of products it sells as perishable and non-perishable. Perishable product categories include produce, meat, seafood, deli, bakery, floral and dairy and dairy alternatives. Non-perishable product categories include grocery, vitamins and supplements, bulk items, frozen foods, beer and wine, and natural health and body care.

12. Share-Based Compensation

2013 Incentive Plan

The Company’s board of directors adopted, and its equity holders approved, the Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan (the “2013 Incentive Plan”). The 2013 Incentive Plan became effective July 31, 2013 in connection with the Company’s initial public offering. The 2013 Incentive Plan serves as the umbrella plan for the Company’s share-based and cash-based incentive compensation programs for its directors, officers and other team members. Awards granted under these plans include RSUs, PSAs, and RSAs. On May 1, 2015, the Company’s stockholders approved the material terms of the performance goals under the 2013 Incentive Plan for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code as then in effect.

Awards Granted

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, the Company granted the following share-based compensation awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan:

Grant Date	RSUs		PSAs		Options
March 9, 2020		485,367		174,902		1,055,907
May 12, 2020		66,550		11,389		15,569
August 10, 2020		35,655		5,762		14,052
Total		587,572		192,053		1,085,528
Weighted-average grant date fair value	$	18.01	$	17.26	$	4.94
Weighted-average exercise price		—		—	$	16.71

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

The aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued to team members and directors under the 2013 Incentive Plan may not exceed 10,089,072. Shares subject to awards granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan which are subsequently forfeited, expire unexercised or are otherwise not issued will not be treated as having been issued for purposes of the share limitation. As of September 27, 2020, there were 2,559,249 stock awards outstanding and 4,522,005 shares remaining available for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan.

Stock Options

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of options at grant date. Options vest in accordance with the terms set forth in the grant letter.

Time-based options granted prior to fiscal year 2016 generally vested ratably over a period of 12 quarters (three years), and time-based options granted after 2016 vest annually over a period of three years.

RSUs

The fair value of RSUs is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. RSUs generally vest annually over a period of two or three years from the grant date.

PSAs

PSAs granted in March 2017 were subject to the Company achieving certain earnings per share performance targets during fiscal year 2017. The criteria was based on a range of performance targets in which grantees could earn between 10% and 150% of the base number of awards granted. The performance conditions with respect to fiscal year 2017 earnings per share were deemed to have been met, and the PSAs vested 50% on the second anniversary of the grant date (March 2019) and vested 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date (March 2020). During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, 35,697 of the 2017 PSAs vested. There were no outstanding 2017 PSAs as of September 27, 2020.

PSAs granted in March 2018 are subject to the Company achieving certain EBIT performance targets for the 2020 fiscal year. The criteria is based on a range of performance targets in which grantees may earn 0% to 200% of the base number of awards granted. If performance conditions are met, the applicable number of performance shares will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date (March 2021).

PSAs granted in 2019 are subject to the Company achieving certain EBIT performance targets for the 2021 fiscal year. The criteria is based on a range of performance targets in which grantees may earn 0% to 200% of the base number of awards granted. If performance conditions are met, the applicable number of performance shares will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date (March 2022).

PSAs granted in 2020 are subject to the Company achieving certain earnings before taxes (“EBT”) performance targets for the 2022 fiscal year. The criteria is based on a range of performance targets in which grantees may earn 0% to 200% of the base number of awards granted. If performance conditions are met, the applicable number of performance shares will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date (March 2023).

RSAs

The fair value of RSAs is based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Outstanding RSA grants vest annually over three years. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, 55,053 RSAs vested and there were no outstanding RSAs as of September 27, 2020.

SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Share-based Compensation Expense

The Company presents share-based compensation expense in selling, general and administrative expenses on the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The amount recognized was as follows:

	Thirteen weeks ended						Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Share-based compensation expense before income taxes	$	3,673		$	2,710		$	10,400		$	6,901
Income tax benefit		(663	)		(697	)		(2,011	)		(1,647	)
Net share-based compensation expense	$	3,010		$	2,013		$	8,389		$	5,254

The following share-based awards were outstanding as of September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019:

	As of
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019
	(in thousands)
Options
Vested		235		578
Unvested		1,095		64
RSUs		914		774
PSAs		315		225
RSAs		—		55

As of September 27, 2020, total unrecognized compensation expense and remaining weighted average recognition period related to outstanding share-based awards was as follows:

	Unrecognized compensation expense		Remaining weighted average recognition period
Options	$	4,469		2.4
RSUs		13,410		1.9
PSAs		7,793		2.0
RSAs		—		—
Total unrecognized compensation expense at September 27, 2020	$	25,672

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, the Company received $1.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively, in cash proceeds from the exercise of options.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations together with the consolidated financial statements and related notes that are included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2019 fiscal year, filed on February 20, 2020 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All dollar amounts included below are in thousands, unless otherwise noted.

Business Overview

Sprouts Farmers Market offers a unique grocery experience featuring an open layout with fresh produce at the heart of the store. Sprouts inspires wellness naturally with a carefully curated assortment of better-for-you products paired with purpose-driven people. We continue to bring the latest in wholesome, innovative products made with lifestyle-friendly ingredients such as organic, plant-based and gluten-free. Since our founding in 2002, we have grown rapidly, significantly increasing our sales, store count and profitability. Headquartered in Phoenix with 356 stores in 23 states as of September 27, 2020, we are one of the largest specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States. As of October 28, 2020, we have grown to 360 stores in 23 states.

Our Heritage

In 2002, we opened the first Sprouts Farmers Market store in Chandler, Arizona. From our founding in 2002, we have grown rapidly, significantly increasing our sales, store count and profitability, including successfully rebranding 43 Henry’s Farmers Market and 39 Sunflower Farmers Market stores added in 2011 and 2012, respectively, through acquisitions to the Sprouts banner. These three businesses all trace their lineage back to Henry’s Farmers Market and were built with similar store formats and operations including a strong emphasis on value, produce and service in smaller, convenient locations. The consistency of these formats and operations was an important factor that allowed us to rapidly and successfully rebrand and integrate each of these businesses under the Sprouts banner and on a common platform.

Outlook

We are pursuing a long-term growth strategy that we believe will transform our company and drive profitable growth that includes refocusing attention on our target customers, updating our new store format with smaller stores and expanding in select markets, creating an advantaged fresh supply chain, refining our brand and marketing approach and delivering on our financial targets and new store box economics. We intend to continue expanding our store base by pursuing new store openings in our existing markets, expanding into adjacent markets and penetrating new markets. We plan to expand our store base primarily through new store openings; however, we may grow through strategic acquisitions if we identify suitable targets and are able to negotiate acceptable terms and conditions for acquisition. We currently expect to open approximately 20 new stores in 2020, of which 20 new stores have opened through October 28, 2020 with an intent to open two more later this year. Although we have not yet experienced significant delays in our new store openings, our expected store growth in and subsequent to 2020 may be impacted by delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond 2021, subject to the continued impact of COVID-19, we are targeting annual new store growth of at least 10%, in markets with growth potential and supply chain support.

We also believe we can continue to deliver positive comparable store sales growth by enhancing our core value proposition and distinctive customer-oriented shopping experience, as well as through expanding and refining our fresh, natural and organic product offerings, our targeted and personalized marketing efforts and our in-store and digital customer engagement. We are committed to growing the Sprouts brand by supporting our stores, product offerings and corporate partnerships, including the expansion of innovative marketing and promotional strategies through digital and social media platforms.

Recent Developments – COVID-19

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared the pandemic to be a national emergency. As COVID-19 has continued to spread, the situation has continued to evolve, including, in particular, the fluctuations of positive COVID-19 cases in various states around the country in and subsequent to the third quarter of 2020 as state economies have begun to reopen. Our results of operations for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 have benefited from increased demand from our customers initially stockpiling groceries and wellness products at the onset of the pandemic and continuing to consume more food at home as restaurants have not fully reopened to pre-pandemic levels, and we in turn have made significant investments in compensation, benefits and personal protective equipment for our front-line store team members, as well as enhanced store sanitation procedures. We have also incurred increased ecommerce fees as consumers have increasingly used online shopping alternatives to purchase our products during the pandemic. However, the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations for future periods will ultimately depend on the length and severity of the pandemic and governmental and consumer actions taken in response, which we cannot predict. These uncertainties make it challenging for our management to estimate our future business performance. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors— The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted our business and could negatively impact our financial condition.” for additional information.

Results of Operations for Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019

The following tables set forth our unaudited results of operations and other operating data for the periods presented. The period-to-period comparison of financial results is not necessarily indicative of financial results to be achieved in future periods. All dollar amounts are in thousands, unless otherwise noted.

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019
Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Statement of Income Data:
Net sales	$	1,577,598	$	1,440,222
Cost of sales		992,829		963,497
Gross profit		584,769		476,725
Selling, general and administrative expenses		475,053		404,285
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales)		31,067		30,764
Store closure and other costs, net		268		2,119
Income from operations		78,381		39,557
Interest expense, net		3,117		5,557
Income before income taxes		75,264		34,000
Income tax provision		15,023		7,740
Net income	$	60,241	$	26,260

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		117,947		118,029
Diluted effect of equity-based awards		503		145
Weighted average shares and equivalent shares outstanding		118,450		118,174
Diluted net income per share	$	0.51	$	0.22

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Other Operating Data:
Comparable store sales growth		4.2	%		1.5	%
Stores at beginning of period		350			326
Closed		—			—
Opened		6			9
Stores at end of period		356			335

Comparison of Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2020 to Thirteen Weeks Ended

September 29, 2019

Net sales

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change		% Change
Net sales	$	1,577,598		$	1,440,222		$	137,376		10	%
Comparable store sales growth		4.2	%		1.5	%

Net sales during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020 totaled $1.6 billion, an increase of $137.4 million, or 10%, compared to the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2019. Sales growth was primarily due to a 4.2% increase in comparable store sales and strong performance in new stores opened in the last twelve months, each of which was largely driven by sustained demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparable stores contributed approximately 93% of total sales for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020 and approximately 91% for the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2019.

Cost of sales and gross profit

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Net sales	$	1,577,598		$	1,440,222		$	137,376			10	%
Cost of sales		992,829			963,497			29,332			3	%
Gross profit		584,769			476,725			108,044			23	%
Gross margin		37.1	%		33.1	%		4.0	%

Gross profit totaled $584.8 million during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020, an increase of $108.0 million, or 23%, compared to the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2019, primarily driven by increased sales volume. Gross margin increased by 4.0% to 37.1%, compared to 33.1% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020 due to strategic changes in promotional activities, initiatives to decrease shrink, and positive leverage from the increase in sales driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	475,053		$	404,285		$	70,768			18	%
Percentage of net sales		30.1	%		28.1	%		2.0	%

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $70.8 million, or 18%, compared to the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2019. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 30.1% from 28.1%. The increases were primarily driven by higher payroll expense from the continuation of team member incentives and bonuses due to COVID-19. In addition, we incurred higher ecommerce fees in the current year period as more customers have relied on home delivery and curbside pickup during the pandemic.

Depreciation and amortization

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Depreciation and amortization	$	31,067		$	30,764		$	303			1	%
Percentage of net sales		2.0	%		2.1	%		(0.1	)%

Depreciation and amortization expenses (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) increased $0.3 million and primarily related to new store growth as well as remodel initiatives in older stores.

Store closure and other costs, net

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Store closure and other costs, net	$	268		$	2,119		$	(1,851	)		(87	)%
Percentage of net sales		0.0	%		0.1	%		(0.1	)%

Store closure and other costs, net in the current year period primarily related to ongoing activity associated with our closed store locations. Store closure and other costs, net during the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2019 primarily represented charges associated with executive severance and hurricane preparedness.

Interest expense

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019		Change			% Change
Long-term debt	$	1,358	$	5,136	$	(3,778	)		(74	)%
Capital and financing leases		235		246		(11	)		(4	)%
Deferred financing costs		141		141		—			0	%
Interest rate hedge and other		1,383		34		1,349		n/m
Total interest expense, net	$	3,117	$	5,557	$	(2,440	)		(44	)%

The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to the decrease in the average balance outstanding under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. This was partially offset by the interest expense paid as a result of an unfavorable interest rate swap.

Income tax provision

Income tax provision differed from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following:

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Federal statutory rate		21.0	%		21.0	%
Change in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		6.0	%		4.8	%
Enhanced charitable contributions		(0.7	)%		(3.5	)%
Federal credits		(0.1	)%		(7.7	)%
Share-based payment awards		0.1	%		0.7	%
Return to Provision		(7.3	)%		(3.0	)%
Other, net		1.0	%		10.5	%
Effective tax rate		20.0	%		22.8	%

The effective tax rate decreased to 20.0% in the third quarter of 2020 from 22.8% in the same period last year. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a benefit for discrete adjustments and return to provision adjustments in the current year period, partially offset by a decrease in federal tax credits.

Net income

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Net income	$	60,241		$	26,260		$	33,981			129	%
Percentage of net sales		3.8	%		1.8	%		2.0	%

Net income increased $34.0 million primarily due to increased net sales and favorable margin impact related to COVID-19, partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative expenses.

Diluted earnings per share

	Thirteen weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019		Change		% Change
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.51	$	0.22	$	0.29		132	%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		118,450		118,174		276

The increase in diluted earnings per share of $0.29 was driven by higher net income.

Results of Operations for Thirty-nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019

Comparison of Thirty-nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2020 to Thirty-nine Weeks Ended

September 29, 2019

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Statement of Income Data:
Net sales	$	4,866,925		$	4,269,844
Cost of sales		3,075,665			2,843,989
Gross profit		1,791,260			1,425,855
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,400,234			1,162,226
Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales)		92,637			89,788
Store closure and other costs, net		(344	)		3,396
Income from operations		298,733			170,445
Interest expense, net		11,681			15,997
Income before income taxes		287,052			154,448
Income tax provision		67,999			36,453
Net income	$	219,053		$	117,995

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		117,775			119,846
Diluted effect of equity-based awards		382			381
Weighted average shares and equivalent shares outstanding		118,157			120,227
Diluted net income per share	$	1.85		$	0.98

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Other Operating Data:
Comparable store sales growth		8.0	%		1.0	%
Stores at beginning of period		340			313
Closed		—			(1	)
Opened		16			23
Stores at end of period		356		335

Net Sales

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change		% Change
Net sales	$	4,866,925		$	4,269,844		$	597,081		14	%
Comparable store sales growth		8.0	%		1.0	%

Net sales during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 totaled $4.9 billion, an increase of $597.1 million, or 14%, over the same period of the prior fiscal year. Sales growth was primarily driven by strong performance in new stores opened in the last twelve months and an 8.0% increase in comparable store sales, each of which was largely driven by increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparable stores contributed approximately 93% of total sales for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and approximately 91% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019.

Cost of sales and gross profit

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Net sales	$	4,866,925		$	4,269,844		$	597,081			14	%
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy		3,075,665			2,843,989			231,676			8	%
Gross profit		1,791,260			1,425,855			365,405			26	%
Gross margin		36.8	%		33.4	%		3.5	%

Gross profit totaled $1.8 billion during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, an increase of $365.4 million, or 26%, compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019, primarily driven by increased sales volume. Gross margin increased by 3.5% to 36.8% compared to 33.4% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, driven by more efficient promotions in addition to shrink favorability and positive leverage from the increase in sales driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	1,400,234		$	1,162,226		$	238,008			20	%
Percentage of net sales		28.8	%		27.2	%		1.6	%

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $238.0 million, or 20%, compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 28.8% from 27.2%. The increases primarily were due to higher bonus expense, store operational expenses and ecommerce fees associated with COVID-19 as well as professional fees related to strategic initiatives. These increases were partially offset by lower marketing costs due to our strategic shift from print ads to more digital spend in the current year.

Depreciation and amortization

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Depreciation and amortization	$	92,637		$	89,788		$	2,849			3	%
Percentage of net sales		1.9	%		2.1	%		(0.2	)%

Depreciation and amortization expenses (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) increased $2.8 million and primarily related to new store growth as well as remodel initiatives in older stores.

Store closure and other costs, net

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Store closure and other costs, net	$	(344	)	$	3,396		$	(3,740	)		(110	)%
Percentage of net sales		0.0	%		0.1	%		(0.1	)%

Store closure and other costs, net during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 primarily represented a recognized gain on the assignment of the lease for one of our closed locations in the first quarter of 2020, partially offset by ongoing activity associated with our closed store locations. Store closure and other costs, net during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019 represented charges associated with a planned store closure, relocation of another store upon expiration of the lease, and executive severance costs.

Interest expense

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019		Change			% Change
Long-term debt	$	7,661	$	8,946	$	(1,285	)		(14	)%
Capital and financing leases		719		753		(34	)		(5	)%
Deferred financing costs		423		423		—			0	%
Interest rate hedge and other		2,878		5,875		(2,997	)		(51	)%
Total Interest Expense	$	11,681	$	15,997	$	(4,316	)		(27	)%

Income tax provision

Income tax provision differed from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following:

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Federal statutory rate		21.0	%		21.0	%
Decrease in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		5.0	%		4.9	%
Enhanced charitable contributions		(0.8	)%		(0.8	)%
Federal Credits		(0.4	)%		(1.7	)%
Share-based payment awards		0.2	%		(0.1	)%
Return to Provision		(1.9	)%		(0.7	)%
Other, net		0.6	%		1.0	%
Effective tax rate		23.7	%		23.6	%

The effective tax rate increased to 23.7% for the thirty-nine weeks ended 2020 from 23.6% in the same period last year. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a decrease in federal tax credits along with tax detriments for share-based payment awards in the current year period compared to prior year period benefits, partially offset by a benefit for discrete adjustments and return to provision adjustments in the current year period.

Net income

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019			Change			% Change
Net income	$	219,053		$	117,995		$	101,058			86	%
Percentage of net sales		4.5	%		2.8	%		1.7	%

Net income increased $101.1 million primarily due to increased net sales and favorable margin impact related to COVID-19 and more balanced promotions, partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative expenses.

Diluted earnings per share

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019		Change			% Change
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.85	$	0.98	$	0.87			89	%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		118,157		120,227		(2,070	)

The increase in diluted earnings per share of $0.87 was driven by higher net income and reduced shares outstanding.

Return on Invested Capital

In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, we provide information regarding Return on Invested Capital (referred to as “ROIC”) as additional information about our operating results. ROIC is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be reviewed in isolation or considered as a substitute for our financial results as reported in accordance with GAAP. ROIC is an important measure used by management to evaluate our investment returns on capital and provides a meaningful measure of the effectiveness of our capital allocation over time.

We define ROIC as net operating profit after tax (referred to as “NOPAT”), including the effect of capitalized operating leases, divided by average invested capital. Operating lease interest represents the add-back to operating income driven by the hypothetical interest expense we would incur if the property under our operating leases were owned or accounted for as a finance lease (capital lease prior to adoption of ASC 842). The assumed ownership and associated interest expense are calculated using the discount rate for each lease as recorded as a component of rent expense within selling, general and administrative expenses. Invested capital reflects a trailing twelve-month average.

As numerous methods exist for calculating ROIC, our method may differ from methods used by other companies to calculate their ROIC. It is important to understand the methods and the differences in those methods used by other companies to calculate their ROIC before comparing our ROIC to that of other companies.

Our calculation of ROIC for the fiscal periods indicated was as follows:

	Rolling Four Quarters Ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Net Income ⁽¹⁾	$	250,687		$	130,698
Special items, net of tax ^{(2), (3)}		5,226			11,950
Interest Expense, net of tax ^{(3), (4)}		12,862			17,803
Net operating profit after tax (NOPAT)	$	268,775		$	160,451

Total rent expense, net of tax ⁽³⁾		140,468			123,259
Estimated depreciation on operating leases, net of tax ⁽³⁾		(71,301	)		(56,210	)
Estimated interest on operating leases, net of tax ^{(3), (5), (6)}		69,167			67,049
NOPAT, including effect of operating leases	$	337,942		$	227,500

Average working capital		85,809			32,520
Average property and equipment		739,621			744,219
Average other assets		566,645			570,363
Average other liabilities		(99,789	)		(145,847	)
Average invested capital	$	1,292,286		$	1,201,255

Average operating leases ⁽⁷⁾		1,194,213			1,192,228
Average invested capital, including operating leases	$	2,486,499		$	2,393,483

ROIC		20.8	%		13.4	%
ROIC, including operating leases		13.6	%		9.5	%

(1)	Net income amounts represent total net income for past four trailing quarters.

(2)	2019 special items include $6.3 million (after-tax) related to store closures and $5.7 million (after-tax) related to executive severance. 2020 special items include professional fees related to our ongoing strategic initiatives.

(3)	Net of tax amounts are calculated using the normalized effective tax rate for the periods presented.

(4)	During the rolling four quarters ended September 27, 2020, we made an immaterial change in the method for calculating the tax effect on interest expense. We have conformed the comparative period accordingly. The change did not have an impact on ROIC or ROIC, including operating leases.

(5)	2019 estimated interest on operating leases is calculated by multiplying operating leases by the 7.4% discount rate for each lease recorded as rent expense within direct store expense.

(6)	2020 estimated interest on operating leases is calculated by multiplying operating leases by the 7.6% discount rate for each lease recorded as rent expense within direct store expense.

(7)	2019 average operating leases represents the net present value of outstanding operating lease obligations. 2020 average operating leases represents the average net present value of outstanding lease obligations over the past four trailing quarters.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table sets forth the major sources and uses of cash for each of the periods set forth below, as well as our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of each period (in thousands):

	Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020			September 29, 2019
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	139,044		$	81,397
Cash flows from operating activities	$	410,264		$	323,312
Cash flows used in investing activities	$	(95,874	)	$	(146,480	)
Cash flows used in financing activities	$	(262,131	)	$	(97,683	)

We have generally financed our operations principally through cash generated from operations and borrowings under our credit facilities. Our primary uses of cash are for purchases of inventory, operating expenses, capital expenditures primarily for opening new stores, remodels and maintenance, repurchases of our common stock and debt service. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, and cash anticipated to be generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months, and we may continue to use borrowings under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as discussed in Note 4, “Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Liabilities”. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, new store openings, remodel and maintenance capital expenditures at existing stores, store initiatives and other corporate capital expenditures and activities. Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash position benefits from the fact that we generally collect cash from sales to customers the same day or, in the case of credit or debit card transactions, within days from the related sale.

Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities increased $87.0 million to $410.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 compared to $323.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019. The increase in cash flows from operating activities was primarily a result of cash generated from net income of $219.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 compared to $118.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in cash flows provided by operating activities from changes in working capital.

Cash flows provided by operating activities from changes in working capital were $88.6 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 compared to $101.9 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019. The decrease was primarily driven by elevated accounts payable and accrual balances in the prior year period.

Investing Activities

Cash flows used in investing activities consist primarily of capital expenditures in new stores, including leasehold improvements and store equipment, capital expenditures to maintain the appearance of our stores, sales enhancing initiatives and other corporate investments. Cash flows used in investing activities were $95.9 million and $146.5 million, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 and September 29, 2019, respectively.

Financing Activities

Cash flows used in financing activities were $262.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020 compared to $97.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020, cash flows used in financing activities primarily consisted of $263.0 million payments on our credit facility.

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2019, cash flows used in financing activities primarily consisted of $163.3 million for stock repurchases, partially offset by $62.0 million of net borrowings on our credit facility, and $4.5 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities

Long-term debt decreased $263.0 million to $275.0 million as of September 27, 2020, compared to December 29, 2019. The decrease was due to payments under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement.

See Note 4, “Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Liabilities” of our unaudited consolidated financial statements for a description of our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and our Former Credit Facility (each as defined therein).

Share Repurchase Program

Our board of directors from time to time authorizes share repurchase programs for our common stock. The following table outlines the share repurchase programs authorized by our board, and the related repurchase activity and available authorization as of September 27, 2020.

Effective date

Expiration date

Amount

authorized

Cost of

repurchases

Authorization

available

February 20, 2017

December 31, 2018

250,000

—

February 20, 2018

December 31, 2019

350,000

308,017

—

Our board of directors has not authorized additional share repurchases subsequent to the expiration of the prior authorization on December 31, 2019, and there was no share repurchase authorization available as of September 27, 2020.

Share repurchase activity under our repurchase programs for the periods indicated was as follows (total cost in thousands):

	Thirteen weeks ended				Thirty-nine weeks ended
	September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019		September 27, 2020		September 29, 2019
Number of common shares acquired		—		—		—		7,302,878
Average price per common share acquired	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	22.36
Total cost of common shares acquired	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	163,310

Shares purchased under our repurchase programs were subsequently retired.

Contractual Obligations

We are committed under certain operating and finance leases for the rental of land, buildings, and for rental of facilities and equipment. These leases expire or become subject to renewal clauses at various dates through 2040.

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of September 27, 2020, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods:

	Payments Due by Period
	Total		Less Than 1 Year		1-3 Years		3-5 Years		More Than 5 Years
	(in thousands)
$700.0 million Credit Agreement (1)	$	275,000	$	—	$	275,000	$	—	$	—
Interest payments on $700.0 million Credit Agreement (2)		23,778		2,645		20,108		1,025		—
Finance lease obligations (3)		17,549		1,591		3,333		3,477		9,148
Operating lease obligations (3)		1,783,966		201,945		386,557		333,309		862,155
Totals	$	2,100,293	$	206,181	$	684,998	$	337,811	$	871,303

(1)

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is scheduled to mature, and the commitments thereunder will terminate on March 27, 2023, subject to extensions as set forth therein. These borrowings are reflected in the “1-3 Years” column and discussed in the financing activities section above. See Note 4, “Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Liabilities” to our unaudited consolidated financial statements located elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

(2)	Represents estimated interest payments through the March 27, 2023 maturity date of our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement based on the outstanding amounts as of September 27, 2020 and based on LIBOR rates in effect at the time of this report, net of interest rate swaps.

(3)

Represents estimated payments for finance and operating lease obligations as of September 27, 2020. Lease obligations are presented gross without offset for subtenant rentals. We have subtenant agreements under which we will receive $1.6 million for the period of less than one year, $2.7 million for years one to three, $1.8 million for years three to five, and $1.8 million for the period beyond five years.

We have other contractual commitments which were presented under Contractual Obligations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019, and for which there have not been material changes since that filing through September 27, 2020.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not engage in any off-balance sheet financing activities, nor do we have any interest in entities referred to as variable interest entities.

Impact of Deflation and Inflation

Deflation and inflation in the prices of food and other products we sell may periodically affect our sales, gross profit and gross margin. Food deflation across multiple categories, particularly in produce, could reduce sales growth and earnings if our competitors react by lowering their retail pricing and expanding their promotional activities, which can lead to retail deflation higher than cost deflation that could reduce our sales, gross profit margins and comparable store sales. Food inflation, when combined with reduced consumer spending, could also reduce sales, gross profit margins and comparable store sales. The short-term impact of deflation and inflation is largely dependent on whether or not the effects are passed through to our customers, which is subject to competitive market conditions.

Food deflation and inflation is affected by a variety of factors and our determination of whether to pass on the effects of deflation or inflation to our customers is made in conjunction with our overall pricing and marketing strategies, as well as our competitors’ responses. Although we may experience periodic effects on sales, gross profit, gross margins and cash flows as a result of changing prices, we do not expect the effect of deflation or inflation to have a material impact on our ability to execute our long-term business strategy.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. These principles require us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses, cash flow and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Our estimates include, but are not limited to, those related to inventory, lease assumptions, self-insurance reserves, sublease assumptions for closed stores, goodwill and intangible assets, impairment of long-lived assets, fair values of share-based awards and derivatives, and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and our actual results, our future financial statements will be affected.

There have been no substantial changes to these estimates, or the policies related to them during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2020. For a full discussion of these estimates and policies, see “Critical Accounting Estimates” in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

As described in Note 4, “Long-Term Debt and Finance Lease Liabilities” to our unaudited consolidated financial statements located elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that bears interest at a rate based in part on LIBOR. Accordingly, we are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. Based on the $275 million principal outstanding under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as of September 27, 2020, each hundred basis point change in LIBOR would result in a change in interest expense by $2.8 million annually. We entered into an interest rate swap agreement in December 2017 to manage our cash flow associated with variable interest rates. The notional dollar amount of the three outstanding swaps at September 27, 2020 and December 29, 2019 was $250.0 million under which we pay a fixed rate and received a variable rate of interest (cash flow swap). Taking into account the interest rate swaps, based on the $275 million principal outstanding under our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as of September 27, 2020, each hundred basis point change in LIBOR would result in a change in interest expense by $0.3 million annually.

This sensitivity analysis assumes our mix of financial instruments and all other variables will remain constant in future periods. These assumptions are made in order to facilitate the analysis and are not necessarily indicative of our future intentions.

We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading purposes (see Note 9, “Derivative Financial Instruments” of our unaudited consolidated financial statements).

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (our principal financial officer), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures under the Exchange Act as of September 27, 2020, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the quarterly period ended September 27, 2020, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

From time to time we are a party to legal proceedings, including matters involving personnel and employment issues, product liability, personal injury, intellectual property and other proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, which have not resulted in any material losses to date. Although management does not expect that the outcome in these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations, litigation is inherently unpredictable. Therefore, we could incur judgments or enter into settlements of claims that could materially impact our results.

See Note 6, “Commitments and Contingencies” to our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding certain legal proceedings in which we are involved.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Certain factors may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties referenced below, together with all of the other information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes. Any of those risks could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition, or prospects and cause the value of our common stock to decline, which could cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

Aside from that set forth below, there have been no material changes to the Risk Factors described under “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted our business and could negatively impact our financial condition.

The unprecedented global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that began in the first quarter of 2020 and has surged in many parts of the country as state economies have begun to open to varying degrees during the second and third quarters of 2020 has affected us in several ways. While the health and safety of our team members and customers remains our first priority, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our business and could continue to do so for the foreseeable future until the impact of the pandemic subsides.

Although our grocery store operations are generally deemed “essential” operations by federal, state and local authorities, thereby allowing our stores to remain open despite government mandated stay-at-home or similar shelter-in-place orders, there can be no assurance that our stores will continue to be allowed by governmental authorities to remain open while the COVID-19 pandemic persists or if it worsens. A closure of stores would adversely impact our net sales, and any alleged failure to comply with such orders or any other governmental regulations promulgated in response to the COVID-19 crisis could result in costly litigation, enforcement actions and penalties. Even if our stores remain open, we have previously reduced operating hours and implemented restrictions on the number of customers allowed in our stores at a given time to promote social distancing, and we may reimplement similar measures if the pandemic surges again. Store traffic may further decline as customers shop less frequently, choose other retail or online outlets to minimize potential exposure to COVID-19 or return to restaurants and other outlets to purchase and consume food as state economies reopen. We have incurred incremental ecommerce fees as more customers adopt our digital solutions.

Although our operations have generally stabilized since the onset of the crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has strained our entire supply chain, store operations and merchandising functions. We have encountered difficulties and delays in obtaining products from our distributors, delivering products to our stores and adequately staffing our stores and distribution centers. If we are unable to continue to source, transport and stock products in our stores or to maintain adequate staffing levels in our stores and distribution centers due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis, we will be unable to maintain inventory levels and continue to operate our stores at levels to meet customer demand. Further, if we do

not identify and source appropriate products in response to our customers’ evolving needs during the COVID-19 crisis, we may lose existing customers and fail to attract new customers, which could cause our sales to decrease, resulting in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, significant costs to support our front-line store team members, including expenses for added labor, store bonuses, enhanced benefits and safety measures. If, as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to continue to provide our team members with appropriate compensation and protective measures, we may be unable to retain current or attract new team members to perform necessary functions within our stores and engage with our customers. Because of the increased demand arising from the pandemic, we have been hiring new team members. There is no assurance we will be able to hire sufficient numbers of individuals to meet our needs. In addition, nearly all of our store support team members remain in a remote work environment in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Our failure to provide appropriate technological resources and maintain adequate safeguards around our remote work environment could result in loss of productivity and usage errors by our team members or the loss or compromise of confidential customer, team member or company data. In addition, the remote work environment may increase certain risks to our business, including phishing and other cybersecurity attacks.

We have experienced instances of our team members contracting COVID-19 that have generally tracked national trends, and in response, we follow CDC and other health authority guidelines to report positive test results and reduce further transmission. Any widespread transmission of COVID-19 among our team members within a particular store or geographical area might necessitate that we temporarily close impacted stores, which may negatively affect our business and financial condition, as well as the perception of our company. Further, if individuals believe they have contracted COVID-19 in our stores or believe that we have not taken appropriate precautionary measures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, we may be subject to costly and time-consuming litigation.

Although we haven’t experienced significant delays to date, our growth plans for 2020 and beyond may be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic if our new store construction projects are placed on hold or delayed due to restrictions on construction work or constraints on necessary resources, and we expect such delays may continue for as long as the COVID-19 crisis persists.

Measures taken by governmental authorities to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, including stay-at-home orders and business closures, as well as lack of subsequent economic stimulus initiatives, have resulted in wide-scale unemployment and financial hardship for a large portion of the U.S. population. Shifts in demand to lower priced options and reduced traffic from stockpiling in preparation for the pandemic or from consuming less food at home as restaurants and other businesses reopen may negatively impact sales in subsequent periods. The economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic on the geographic areas where we operate may adversely affect our business.

The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business and financial condition will largely depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the pandemic and the actions necessary to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

There was no share repurchase activity during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2020.

Item 6. Exhibits.

Exhibit Number		Description

31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101.INS		Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET, INC.

Date: October 28, 2020	By:	/s/ Denise A. Paulonis
	Name:	Denise A. Paulonis
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer)