Craft Brew Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:BREW) released fourth quarter earnings and discussed fiscal year 2012 results with shareholders on Wednesday. Earnings per share were flat year-over-year and earnings for 2012 were in line with November’s revised guidance at $.13 per diluted share. The share price barely moved on the report but the conference call contained exciting news for 
Flashback
Once again, Craft Brew Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:BREW) had a mediocre quarter balance sheet-wise and CEO Terry Michaelson began with an apology that sounded awful similar to statements from the second and third quarter conference calls. As previously stated, EPS were flat in the fourth quarter. Revenue grew 13.5% in 2012, which isn’t much helping Craft Brew Alliance grow into its P/E of 50. Craft Brew Alliance did not offer EPS or revenue guidance for 2013, but did project depletions growth between seven and 11%, and gross margins between 28.5% and 30.5%. This puts Craft Brew Alliance behind competitor Boston Beer Co Inc (NYSE:SAM) on some important metrics. Boston Beer’s shares soared in recent months on upwards of 20% revenue growth, but even with the run up, the company sports a P/E of 36, lower than Craft Brew Alliance’s 50. Boston Beer Co Inc (NYSE:SAM)’s depletions growth for 2013 should be a modest 13%, but its 60% gross margin crushes Craft Brew Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:BREW). Michaelson once again stated that investment and long-term strategic decisions compressed earnings growth but should eventually pay off.
Widmer’s slow turnaround, variety, and depletion
Widmer once again declined, with depletions contracting 5%. However, shareholders should note that Widmer depletions declined less than in previous quarters, and that most of the decline comes from lower depletions of hefeweizen in the West, particularly in California. Importantly, Widmer’s other beers grew, with volumes of the high-end Reserve line doubling. In other words, while past quarters pointed to a flailing brand, the fourth quarter showed that Craft Brew Alliance’s strategies to retool the Widmer brand have worked, and that the problem is now confined to a single beer.
Widmer’s struggles with its hefeweizen are not surprising. Boston Beer Co Inc (NYSE:SAM) has also struggled to reverse declining sales of its top beer, Boston Lager, as craft consumers drop safe and familiar beers for new, more exciting ones. Widmer’s hefeweizen has also been squeezed by Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (ADR) (NYSE:BUD) aggressive Shock Top positioning. Shock Top is a Belgian wheat-style beer, brewed and marketed to appear craft but appeal to younger drinkers who are not exclusively craft consumers. Shock Top sales grew over 100% in 2011 and continued to grow quickly in 2012, becoming the fastest-growing wheat beer brand in the U.S. While this is great news for Anheuser-Busch’s diversification and growth strategy – which, to be fair, includes owning over 30% of Craft Brew Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:BREW)’s shares – it’s been bad news for Widmer and its hefeweizen.
In good news, Craft Brew Alliance’s Kona, Redhook, and brand new Omission brands continue to grow, with Kona in particular delivering double digit depletions growth for nearly all of its offerings. Seasonal offerings for Kona, Redhook, and Widmer grew, underscoring the seasonal trend across the beer industry. With double digit growth for seasonal, specialty, and limited edition sales throughout 2012, Craft Brew Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:BREW) has shown that it can cater to and profit from fickle consumer taste.
Exports
In the question and answer section, Commercial Operations president Andrew Thomas revealed that the CraftCanTravel partnership has already produced results. In the fourth quarter, Craft Brew Alliance sold beer to customers in the U.K., Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan, and have already received return orders for more. This is really exciting news for shareholders. The partnership moves Craft Brew Alliance into new and, in the case of the Asian markets, growing and far less saturated beer markets. While the overall U.S. beer market contracts by one or two percent a year and Europe is also declining, hundreds of new craft and microbrew breweries compete with established breweries for U.S. and European market share. Globally, however, China is actually the largest beer market and Asian consumers are steadily drinking more beer, growing the regional market by two to four percent a year. While big brewers like Anheuser-Busch have been present in these and more markets for years, Craft Brew Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:BREW)’s partnership gives it an edge over competitors in the craft segment like Boston Beer. Further differentiating its product, Craft Brew Alliance now offers some of the first imported craft beer in the Asian markets, giving it an edge over the established big brewers.
Bottom line
Craft Brew Alliance shareholders should continue to watch the company’s margins, Widmer’s decline, and downward guidance in 2013. However, this most recent conference call pointed to exciting new developments for the company as its export partnership with CraftCanTravel grows. Furthermore, Kona’s continued blockbuster growth, Widmer’s successful retooling, and excellent growth in seasonal and specialty offerings should leave Craft Brew Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:BREW) shareholders relieved about 2012 results and optimistic for 2013.
The article Exciting News in Craft Brew Alliance’s Earnings Call originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Calla Hummel.
Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
