Monro Muffler Brake : First Quarter 2017 Results

CONTACT: John Van Heel

Chief Executive Officer (585) 647-6400

Robert Gross Executive Chairman (585) 647-6400

Catherine D'Amico

Executive Vice President - Finance Chief Financial Officer

(585) 647-6400

Investors: Effie Veres Media: Kelly Whitten FTI Consulting

(212) 850-5600

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC. ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2017 FINANCIAL RESULTS

~ First Quarter Sales of $236.9 Million and EPS of $.50, in-line with Company Guidance ~

~ Signs Definitive Agreements to Acquire Stores with Annualized Sales of $40 Million ~

~ Initiates Second Quarter Fiscal 2017 EPS Guidance of $.53 to $.58 ~

~ Reiterates Fiscal 2017 EPS Guidance of $2.05 to $2.20 ~

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - July 28, 2016 - Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. (Nasdaq: MNRO), a leading provider of automotive undercar repair and tire services, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended June 25, 2016.

Sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 increased .2% to $236.9 million, as compared to $236.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The total sales increase for the first quarter of $.4 million was due to an increase in sales from new stores of $18.5 million, including sales from recently acquired stores of $16.8 million, largely offset by a comparable store sales decrease of 6.9%. Comparable store sales decreased approximately 3% for tires, 6% for maintenance services, 7% for alignments, 13% for brakes, 15% for front end/shocks and 16% for exhaust.

Gross margin declined 80 basis points to 41.4% in the first quarter, as compared to 42.2% in the prior year period, primarily due to a sales mix shift toward lower margin tires and the impact of recent acquisitions. On a comparable store basis, gross margin increased by 50 basis points, driven by lower material costs. Total operating expenses increased by $.7 million to $66.8 million, or 28.2% of sales, as compared to $66.1 million, or 28.0% of sales in the prior year period. The dollar increase represents expenses from 65 net new stores as compared to the prior year period, largely offset by diligent cost control.

Operating income was $31.3 million, or 13.2% of sales, as compared to $33.6 million, or 14.2% of sales in the prior year period. Interest expense was $4.5 million as compared to $3.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Net income for the first quarter was $16.8 million, as compared to $18.8 million in the same period of the prior year. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $.50, achieving the higher end of the Company's guidance range of $.47 to $.51. This compares to diluted earnings per share of $.57 in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 reflects an effective tax rate of 37.9%, as compared to 38.0% for the prior year period.

The Company opened 36 Company-operated locations and closed one Company-operated location during the first quarter, ending the quarter with 1,064 Company-operated stores and 133 franchised Car-X stores. The new stores include the acquisition of 29 McGee Auto Service and Tires retail and commercial stores as well as seven new greenfield locations.

In the first quarter, the Company completed the acquisition of 29 McGee Auto Service and Tires retail and commercial stores in Florida. The acquisition significantly increases Monro`s presence in the greater Tampa Bay and Fort Myers areas, while also expanding into Daytona and Tallahassee. The acquisition is expected to add approximately $50 million in annualized sales, representing a sales mix of 40% service and 60% tires, and is expected to be earnings neutral in fiscal 2017. Importantly, after entering Florida less than two years ago, Monro now operates 86 stores in the state, extending across both Florida coasts, representing approximately $118 million in annualized sales. Monro believes that the state represents a significant opportunity for continued store growth and further diversification of the Company`s footprint into southern markets.

The Company also announced today that it has signed definitive agreements to acquire stores located within its markets that are expected to add approximately $40 million in annualized sales. The acquisitions are expected to close in the second quarter and to be breakeven to slightly dilutive in fiscal 2017.

On a combined basis, the Company's acquisitions completed and announced to date in fiscal 2017 add approximately $90 million in annualized sales.

John Van Heel, President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "Our top-line results for the first quarter continued to reflect both a difficult consumer spending environment and the lingering effects of a mild winter on our business across our Northern markets. However, our focus on margins and cost control, combined with the successful integration of our acquisitions, allowed us to deliver earnings at the higher end of our guidance. Additionally, we opened a net 35 new stores through acquisition and greenfield growth during the quarter and announced the signing of definitive agreements to acquire additional stores with approximately $40 million in annualized sales. The added scale and purchasing power from these new stores, which represent approximately 10% annualized sales growth, is expected to support earnings growth for many years to come."

Based on current visibility, business and economic trends, and recently completed and announced acquisitions, the Company now anticipates fiscal 2017 sales to be in the range of $1 billion to $1.03 billion versus the previous guidance range of $980 million to $1.01 billion. The fiscal 2017 sales guidance assumes a comparable store sales range of flat to a decline of 2.0%. The Company continues to expect fiscal 2017 diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.05 to $2.20, as compared to $2.00 in fiscal 2016. Fiscal 2017 earnings per share guidance assumes $.14 to $.16 in contribution from recent acquisitions. This estimate is based on 33.4 million weighted diluted average shares outstanding.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company anticipates sales to be in the range of $245 to $255 million and comparable store sales to decrease 2% to 5%. July comparable store sales decreased 4.8%. The Company expects diluted earnings per share for the second quarter to be between $.53 and $.58, as compared to $.57 in the prior year period.

Mr. Van Heel continued, "While we remain cautious in the short-term due to a choppy sales environment, our outlook for the industry and for our business continues to be positive. Our confidence is underscored by our ability historically to grow our business at an accelerated pace in difficult markets through acquisitions. Fiscal 2017 is no exception, with 10% annualized sales growth through acquisitions already achieved in just the first four months of the fiscal year. Looking ahead, we remain very optimistic about the opportunity to complete additional acquisitions in fiscal 2017, and further leverage our flexible business model, which has allowed us to successfully navigate through any consumer or operating environment."

The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-888-510-1785 and using the required pass code 2894817. A replay will be available approximately one hour after the recording through Thursday, August 11, 2016 and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-870-5176. The live conference call and replay can also be accessed via audio webcast at the Investor Information section of the Company's website, located at www.monro.com. An archive will be available at this website through August 11, 2016.

Monro Muffler Brake operates a chain of stores providing automotive undercar repair and tire services in the United States, operating under the brand names of Monro Muffler Brake and Service, Mr. Tire, Tread Quarters Discount Tires, Autotire, Tire Warehouse, Tire Barn, Ken Towery's Tire and Auto Care, The Tire Choice and Car-X. The Company currently operates 1,070 Company stores in 26 states and is the franchisor of 132 Car-X stores in ten states. Monro's stores provide a full range of services for brake systems, steering and suspension systems, tires, exhaust systems and many vehicle maintenance services.