10-Q 1 tsco-6302012x10q.htm Q2 2012 10-Q TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY TSCO-6/30/2012-10Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2012
OR
o
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   000-23314

TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
 
13-3139732
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)
 
 
 
 
 
200 Powell Place, Brentwood, Tennessee
 
37027
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
 
Not Applicable
 
(615) 440-4000
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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  þ    NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).
YES  þ    NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
 
Large accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
 
Non-accelerated filer
o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)
YES o   NO þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.
Class
 
Outstanding at July 28, 2012
Common Stock, $.008 par value
 
70,889,653



TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY

INDEX


 
 
Page No.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




Page 2


PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements

TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
June 30,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
June 25,
2011
ASSETS
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
179,100

 
$
176,965

 
$
185,517

Restricted cash
8,800

 
21,870

 
21,870

Inventories
946,934

 
830,819

 
875,483

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
56,331

 
51,728

 
46,363

Deferred income taxes
7,084

 
8,867

 

Total current assets
1,198,249

 
1,090,249

 
1,129,233

Property and equipment:
 

 
 

 
 

Land
41,821

 
36,962

 
31,146

Buildings and improvements
492,379

 
459,703

 
395,700

Furniture, fixtures and equipment
330,562

 
312,708

 
275,832

Computer software and hardware
117,521

 
107,753

 
103,541

Construction in progress
16,024

 
19,309

 
47,278

 
998,307

 
936,435

 
853,497

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(497,278
)
 
(455,580
)
 
(421,883
)
Property and equipment, net
501,029

 
480,855

 
431,614

Goodwill
10,258

 
10,258

 
10,258

Other assets
12,876

 
13,470

 
11,758

Total assets
$
1,722,412

 
$
1,594,832

 
$
1,582,863

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 

 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
314,757

 
$
266,409

 
$
351,763

Accrued employee compensation
29,325

 
48,261

 
19,317

Other accrued expenses
126,445

 
134,048

 
114,879

Current portion of capital lease obligations
35

 
33

 
33

Income taxes payable
64,160

 
11,874

 
42,431

Deferred income taxes

 

 
7,348

Total current liabilities
534,722

 
460,625

 
535,771

Capital lease obligations, less current maturities
1,263

 
1,284

 
1,300

Deferred income taxes
6,157

 
13,827

 
124

Deferred rent
76,667

 
75,731

 
72,301

Other long-term liabilities
36,464

 
35,075

 
32,672

Total liabilities
655,273

 
586,542

 
642,168

Stockholders’ equity:
 

 
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 40 shares authorized; no shares issued

 

 

Common stock, $.008 par value; 200,000 shares authorized; 81,366, 80,401 and 79,808 shares issued; 71,070, 71,265 and 71,592 shares outstanding at June 30, 2012, December 31, 2011 and June 25, 2011, respectively
652

 
643

 
639

Additional paid-in capital
335,899

 
298,426

 
269,864

Treasury stock – at cost, 10,296, 9,136 and 8,216 shares at June 30, 2012, December 31, 2011 and June 25, 2011, respectively
(539,909
)
 
(437,373
)
 
(380,249
)
Retained earnings
1,270,497

 
1,146,594

 
1,050,441

Total stockholders’ equity
1,067,139

 
1,008,290

 
940,695

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
1,722,412

 
$
1,594,832

 
$
1,582,863

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

Page 3


TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
For the Fiscal
Three Months Ended
 
For the Fiscal
Six Months Ended
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
Net sales
$
1,291,899

 
$
1,178,363

 
$
2,312,316

 
$
2,014,939

Cost of merchandise sold
840,438

 
775,866

 
1,528,055

 
1,338,836

Gross margin
451,461

 
402,497

 
784,261

 
676,103

Selling, general and administrative expenses
259,184

 
239,405

 
505,852

 
465,980

Depreciation and amortization
22,433

 
18,829

 
44,172

 
37,094

Operating income
169,844

 
144,263

 
234,237

 
173,029

Interest expense, net
31

 
217

 
614

 
460

Income before income taxes
169,813

 
144,046

 
233,623

 
172,569

Income tax expense
63,192

 
52,886

 
86,674

 
63,074

Net income
$
106,621

 
$
91,160

 
$
146,949

 
$
109,495

Net income per share – basic
$
1.48

 
$
1.27

 
$
2.05

 
$
1.51

Net income per share – diluted
$
1.45

 
$
1.23

 
$
2.00

 
$
1.47

Weighted average shares outstanding:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
71,814

 
72,007

 
71,704

 
72,368

Diluted
73,488

 
74,180

 
73,491

 
74,566

Dividends declared per common share outstanding
$
0.20

 
$
0.12

 
$
0.32

 
$
0.19


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


Page 4


TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

 
For the Fiscal
Six Months Ended
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
 
(Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
146,949

 
$
109,495

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
44,172

 
37,094

Loss on disposition of property and equipment
146

 
569

Stock compensation expense
9,309

 
6,989

Excess tax benefit of stock options exercised
(16,497
)
 
(8,897
)
Deferred income taxes
(5,887
)
 
4,368

Change in assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

Inventories
(116,115
)
 
(138,963
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(4,603
)
 
(12,418
)
Accounts payable
48,348

 
104,375

Accrued employee compensation
(18,936
)
 
(15,259
)
Other accrued expenses
(6,422
)
 
(11,931
)
Income taxes payable
68,783

 
43,059

Other
2,923

 
(1,120
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
152,170

 
117,361

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
(65,566
)
 
(74,084
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 
138

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash
13,070

 
(21,870
)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

 
15,913

Net cash used in investing activities
(52,496
)
 
(79,903
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Excess tax benefit of stock options exercised
16,497

 
8,897

Principal payments under capital lease obligations
(19
)
 
(74
)
Restricted stock units withheld to satisfy tax obligations
(6,581
)
 
(981
)
Repurchase of common stock
(102,536
)
 
(122,873
)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
18,146

 
19,509

Cash dividends paid to stockholders
(23,046
)
 
(13,758
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(97,539
)
 
(109,280
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
2,135

 
(71,822
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
176,965

 
257,339

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
179,100

 
$
185,517

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
 

 
 

Cash paid during the period for:
 

 
 

Interest
$
86

 
$
214

Income taxes
22,616

 
14,596

Non-cash accruals for construction in progress
1,181

 
576


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

Page 5


TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation:

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.  The results of operations for the fiscal three-month and six-month periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full fiscal year.

Our business is highly seasonal.  Historically, our sales and profits have been the highest in the second and fourth fiscal quarters due to the sale of seasonal products.  Unseasonable weather, excessive precipitation, drought, and early or late frosts may also affect our sales.  We believe, however, that the impact of extreme weather conditions is somewhat mitigated by the geographic dispersion of our stores and our ability to effectively manage inventory allocation.

We experience our highest inventory and accounts payable balances during the first fiscal quarter for purchases of seasonal products in anticipation of the spring selling season and again during the third fiscal quarter in anticipation of the cold-weather selling season.

Note 2 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value.  These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value

Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term receivables, trade payables and long-term debt instruments.  The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term receivables and trade payables approximate current fair value at each balance sheet date.  We had no borrowings under the revolving credit facility at June 30, 2012, December 31, 2011 or June 25, 2011.

Note 3 – Share-Based Compensation:

Share-based compensation includes stock options and restricted stock unit awards and certain transactions under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”).   Share-based compensation expense is recognized based on grant date fair value of all options and restricted stock unit awards plus a discount on shares purchased by employees as a part of the ESPP.  The discount under the ESPP represents the difference between the grant date market value and the employee’s purchase price.

There were no significant modifications to our share-based compensation plans during the fiscal six months ended June 30, 2012.

For the second quarters of fiscal 2012 and 2011, share-based compensation expense was $4.8 million and $3.4 million, respectively, and $9.3 million and $7.0 million for the first six months of fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Page 6



Stock Options

The following summarizes information concerning stock option grants during each of the first six months of fiscal 2012 and 2011:
 
Fiscal six months ended
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
Stock options granted
560,477

 
538,855

Weighted average exercise price
$
85.45

 
$
51.95

Weighted average fair value per option
$
26.22

 
$
17.67


As of June 30, 2012, total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options was approximately $17.6 million with a remaining weighted average expense recognition period of 1.4 years.

Restricted Stock Units

The following summarizes information concerning restricted stock unit grants during each of the first six months of fiscal 2012 and 2011:
 
Fiscal six months ended
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
Restricted stock units granted
40,017

 
63,484

Weighted average fair value per share
$
87.10

 
$
53.23


As of June 30, 2012, total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock units was approximately $4.4 million with a remaining weighted average expense recognition period of 1.6 years.

Note 4 - Net Income Per Share:

We present both basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) on the face of the consolidated statements of income.  Basic EPS is calculated as income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.  There were no participating securities other than common stock during the fiscal three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011.  Diluted EPS is calculated using the weighted average outstanding common shares and the treasury stock method for options and restricted stock units.

Net income per share is calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 
Fiscal three months ended June 30, 2012
 
Fiscal three months ended June 25, 2011
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per Share
Amount
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per Share
 Amount
Basic net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
106,621

 
71,814

 
$
1.48

 
$
91,160

 
72,007

 
$
1.27

Diluted net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dilutive stock options and restricted stock units outstanding

 
1,674

 
(0.03
)
 

 
2,173

 
(0.04
)
Net income
$
106,621

 
73,488

 
$
1.45

 
$
91,160

 
74,180

 
$
1.23



Page 7


 
Fiscal six months ended June 30, 2012
 
Fiscal six months ended June 25, 2011
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per Share
Amount
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per Share
 Amount
Basic net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
146,949

 
71,704

 
$
2.05

 
$
109,495

 
72,368

 
$
1.51

Diluted net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dilutive stock options and restricted stock units outstanding

 
1,787

 
(0.05
)
 

 
2,198

 
(0.04
)
Net income
$
146,949

 
73,491

 
$
2.00

 
$
109,495

 
74,566

 
$
1.47


Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from the above calculations totaled approximately 0.6 million and 0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011, respectively, and 0.4 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011.
 
Note 5 – Credit Agreement:

The Senior Credit Facility provides for borrowings up to $250 million (with sublimits of $250 million and $20 million for letters of credit and swingline loans, respectively).  This agreement is unsecured and matures in October 2016, with proceeds available to be used for working capital, capital expenditures, dividends, share repurchases and other matters.  At June 30, 2012, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility.  There were $60.1 million outstanding letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility as of June 30, 2012.  Borrowings bear interest at either the bank’s base rate or LIBOR plus an additional amount ranging from 0.40% to 1.00% per annum, adjusted quarterly based on our leverage ratio (0.50% at June 30, 2012).  We are also required to pay quarterly in arrears, a commitment fee for unused capacity ranging from 0.08% to 0.20% per annum, adjusted quarterly based on our leverage ratio (0.10% at June 30, 2012).  The agreement requires quarterly compliance with respect to fixed charge coverage and leverage ratios.  As of June 30, 2012, we were in compliance with all debt covenants.

Note 6 – Treasury Stock:

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized share repurchases under the share repurchase program up to $1 billion, exclusive of any fees, commissions, or other expenses related to such repurchases, through April 2015. The repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.  The timing and amount of any shares repurchased under the program will depend on a variety of factors, including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, capital availability, and other market conditions.  Repurchased shares will be held in treasury.  The program may be limited or terminated at any time without prior notice.

We repurchased 1,106,000 and 1,145,000 shares under the share repurchase program for a total cost of $98.4 million and $69.7 million during the second quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the first six months of 2012 and 2011, we repurchased 1,160,700 and 2,156,500 shares under the share repurchase program for a total cost of $102.5 million and $122.9 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2012, we had remaining authorization under the share repurchase program of $460.4 million exclusive of any fees, commissions, or other expenses.

Note 7 – Dividends:

During the first six months of fiscal 2012, the Board of Directors declared the following dividends:

Date Declared
 
Dividend Amount
Per Share
 
Stockholders of Record Date
 
Date Paid
February 8, 2012
 
$
0.12

 
February 27, 2012
 
March 13, 2012
May 2, 2012
 
$
0.20

 
May 21, 2012
 
June 5, 2012

It is the present intention of the Board of Directors to continue to pay a quarterly cash dividend; however, the declaration and payment of future dividends will be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion and will depend upon the earnings, financial condition, and capital needs of the Company, along with other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant.

Page 8



Note 8 – Income Taxes:

Our effective income tax rate increased to 37.2% in the second quarter of 2012 compared to 36.7% for the second quarter of 2011.  For the first six months of 2012 our effective income tax rate increased to 37.1% compared to 36.6% for the first six months of 2011.  The increase in the tax rate was largely due to a change in tax laws resulting in lower federal tax credits as well as a reduction of the benefit from other permanent tax differences as a result of a higher base of pretax income in the current fiscal year. The Company expects the full year effective tax rate will be approximately 37.0%.

Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies:

Construction Commitments

At June 30, 2012, we had commitments related to construction projects for new stores totaling approximately $3.1 million, commitments to purchase property for facilities under development of approximately $13.3 million and a commitment to purchase one store previously under lease for approximately $0.5 million.

Letters of Credit

At June 30, 2012, there were $60.1 million outstanding letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility and a $5.0 million outstanding letter of credit at a financial institution outside of the Senior Credit Facility which is collateralized by a time deposit classified as restricted cash.
 
Litigation

The Company responded to a Request for Information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 relating to certain recreational vehicles and non-road spark ignition engines sold by the Company.  In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the Environmental Enforcement Section of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), on behalf of the EPA, informed the Company that it believed the Company had violated the Clean Air Act by importing or causing the importation of certain engines that were noncompliant, and that unless the DOJ and the Company were able to reach a settlement, the DOJ was prepared to commence a civil action.  The engines were purchased by the Company pursuant to agreements with vendors under which the vendors represented that their products complied with all applicable laws and regulations and under which the vendors agreed to indemnify the Company for any liabilities or costs relating to, among other matters, the noncompliance or alleged noncompliance of their products.  The Company notified these vendors of the EPA's position and has been working with these vendors to provide additional information to the DOJ and EPA regarding the alleged violations.  As a result of this process, the Company believes it has provided evidence that many of the products identified by the DOJ and EPA were in compliance with the Clean Air Act and that most of the remaining issues relate to products purchased from one vendor.   The vendor of these products and the Company are engaged in settlement discussions with the DOJ and EPA that would call for the payment of a civil penalty and certain injunctive relief.  In May 2012, the EPA provided the Company with a summary of preliminary findings based on inspections of certain products sold by the Company. The Company is working with the vendor of these products to provide additional information to EPA.  The Company does not expect the resolution of these matters to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  We do not believe it is reasonably possible that a loss in excess of the amount accrued will be incurred. 

We are also involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business.  We expect these matters will be resolved without material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  We believe that any estimated loss related to such matters has been adequately provided in accrued liabilities to the extent probable and reasonably estimable.

Note 10 – Segment Reporting:

Tractor Supply Company has one reportable segment which is the retail sale of farm and ranch products.  The Company manages the business on the basis of one operating segment.  The following chart indicates the percentage of sales represented by each of our major product categories for the fiscal three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011:


Page 9


 
Fiscal three months ended
 
Fiscal six months ended
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 25, 2011
 
June 30, 2012
 
June 25, 2011
Product Category:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Livestock and Pet
40%
 
38%
 
42%
 
42%
Seasonal, Gift and Toy Products
25
 
26
 
22
 
22
Hardware, Tools and Truck
22
 
23
 
22
 
23
Agriculture
8
 
8
 
7
 
6
Clothing and Footwear
5
 
5
 
7
 
7
Total
100%
 
100%
 
100%
 
100%

Note 11 – Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards:

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05 which provides new guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and instead requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted the standard for the interim period ended March 31, 2012.  There are no items of other comprehensive income for the periods presented; thus there was no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment.” The ASU gives an entity the option in its annual goodwill impairment test to first assess revised qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that the fair value of a reporting unit is more than its carrying amount (“qualitative assessment”). If it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is more than its carrying amount, an entity would not be required to perform the existing two-step impairment test. The amendments to Topic 350 are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted the standard for the interim period ended March 31, 2012.  There was no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Note 12 – Subsequent Events:

On August 1, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share of the Company’s common stock.  The dividend will be paid on September 5, 2012 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 20, 2012.

Subsequent to June 30, 2012, we entered into construction commitments totaling approximately $30 million for a new distribution center in Macon, GA.

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

General

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The following discussion and analysis also contains certain historical and forward-looking information.  The forward-looking statements included herein are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”).  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such things as estimated results of operations in future periods, the declaration and payment of dividends, future capital expenditures (including their amount and nature), business strategy, expansion and growth of our business operations and other such matters are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements may be affected by certain risks and uncertainties, any one, or a combination of which could materially affect the results of our operations.  To take advantage of the safe harbor provided by the Act, we are identifying certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements, whether oral or written.


Page 10



As with any business, many aspects of our operations are subject to influences outside our control.  These factors include, without limitation, general economic conditions affecting consumer spending, the timing and acceptance of new products in the stores, the mix of goods sold,  purchase price volatility (including inflationary and deflationary pressures), the ability to increase sales at existing stores, the ability to manage growth and identify suitable locations, the ability to manage expenses, the availability of favorable credit sources, capital market conditions in general, failure to open new stores in the manner and number currently contemplated, the impact of new stores on our business, competition, weather conditions, the seasonal nature of our business, effective merchandising initiatives and marketing emphasis, the ability to retain vendors, reliance on foreign suppliers, the ability to attract, train and retain qualified employees, product liability and other claims, changes in federal, state or local regulations, potential judgments, fines, legal fees and other costs, breach of privacy, ongoing and potential future legal or regulatory proceedings, management of our information systems, failure to secure or develop and implement new technologies, the failure of customer-facing technology systems, business disruption including from the implementation of supply chain technologies, effective tax rate changes and results of examination by taxing authorities, the ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting and changes in accounting standards, assumptions and estimates.  We discuss in greater detail risk factors relating to our business in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.  Forward-looking statements are based on our knowledge of our business and the environment in which we operate, but because of the factors listed above or other factors, actual results could differ materially from those reflected by any forward-looking statements.  Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on our business and operations.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  We undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Three Months (Second Quarter) Ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011
Net sales increased 9.6% to $1.29 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 from $1.18 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2011.  Same-store sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were $1.21 billion, a 3.2% increase over the second quarter of fiscal 2011. This compares to a 4.6% same-store sales increase for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. The same-store sales increase was driven primarily by continued strong results in key consumable, usable and edible ("C.U.E.") products, principally animal- and pet-related merchandise. Inflation, principally in C.U.E. products, contributed approximately 275 basis points to the same-store sales increase. In addition to these factors, total net sales benefited from new store growth.

Each quarter of fiscal 2012 starts one week later than the same quarter of fiscal 2011 due to the Company's 2011 fiscal year having 53 weeks versus the normal 52 weeks. Adjusting for the one-week calendar shift, same-store sales for the second quarter of 2011 increased 7.1%.

Store growth was approximately 8.8%, a net increase of 92 stores since June 25, 2011.  Non-comp sales (defined as stores opened less than one year) for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were $77.4 million, a 6.6% increase over total second quarter fiscal 2011 net sales.  Non-comp sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 were $63.8 million, a 6.0% increase over total second quarter fiscal 2010 net sales.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we opened 18 new stores (compared to 16 new stores in the second quarter of fiscal 2011). We operated 1,135 stores at June 30, 2012 compared to 1,043 stores at June 25, 2011.

The following chart indicates the percentage of sales represented by each of our major product categories for the fiscal three months ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011:
 
Fiscal three months ended
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
Product Category:
 
 
 
Livestock and Pet
40%
 
38%
Seasonal, Gift and Toy Products
25
 
26
Hardware, Tools and Truck
22
 
23
Agriculture
8
 
8
Clothing and Footwear
5
 
5
Total
100%
 
100%

Page 11


 
Gross margin dollars increased 12.2% to $451.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 from $402.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.  As a percent of sales, gross margin increased 80 basis points to 34.9% for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to 34.1% for the comparable period in fiscal 2011.  The increase in gross margin as a percent of sales was primarily driven by the favorable impact of a lower percent of sales mix of low margin, big ticket seasonal and emergency response products. In addition, direct product margin increased as a result of continued efforts in our key margin-driving initiatives of inventory management, strategic sourcing, private branding and pricing.

As a percent of sales, selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses, including depreciation and amortization, improved 10 basis points to 21.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 from 21.9% in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.  The SG&A improvement as a percent of sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was primarily attributable to expense control with respect to store personnel and other operating costs.  Total SG&A expenses increased 9.1% to $281.6 million from $258.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.  The increase in SG&A expense primarily reflects new store growth, variable costs associated with our same store sales growth, and operating costs relating to the new Franklin, Kentucky distribution center, which became operational in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.

Our effective income tax rate increased to 37.2% in the second quarter of 2012 compared to 36.7% for the second quarter of 2011.  The increase in the tax rate was largely due to a change in tax laws resulting in lower federal tax credits as well as a reduction of the benefit from other permanent tax differences as a result of a higher base of pretax income in the current fiscal year. The Company expects the full year effective tax rate will be approximately 37.0%.

As a result of the foregoing factors, net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 increased 17.0% to $106.6 million compared to $91.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.  Net income per diluted share for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 increased to $1.45 from $1.23 in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

Fiscal Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011
Net sales increased 14.8% to $2.31 billion for the first six months of fiscal 2012 from $2.01 billion for the first six months of fiscal 2011.  Same-store sales for the first six months of fiscal 2012 were $2.18 billion, a 6.7% increase over the first six months of fiscal 2011. This compares to a 7.0% same-store sales increase for the first six months of fiscal 2011. The same-store sales increase was broad-based across all major product categories. Inflation, principally in C.U.E. categories also contributed approximately 340 basis points to the same-store sales increase.  In addition to these factors, total net sales benefited from new store growth.

Each quarter of fiscal 2012 starts one week later than the same quarter of fiscal 2011 due to the Company's 2011 fiscal year having 53 weeks versus the normal 52 weeks. Adjusting for the one-week calendar shift, same-store sales for the first six months of fiscal 2011 increased 7.3%. Same-store sales for the first two quarters and fiscal six months of 2011, adjusted for the one-week calendar shift, are presented in the table below:
 
FISCAL 2011
 
First Quarter
 
Second Quarter
 
First Six Months
 
 
 
 
 
 
Same-store sales increase (originally reported)
10.7%
 
4.6%
 
7.0%
Same-store sales increase (adjusted for week shift)(1)
7.6%
 
7.1%
 
7.3%
Impact of week shift
(3.1)%
 
2.5%
 
0.3%
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Due to the 53-week fiscal 2011, each quarter of fiscal 2012 starts one week later than the same quarter of fiscal 2011. The chart above presents same-store sales for 2011 as originally reported and as adjusted to represent the same 13-week period as the 2012 fiscal quarters. The adjusted 13-week periods end on April 2, 2011 and July 2, 2011, respectively.

Store growth was approximately 8.8%, a net increase of 92 stores since June 25, 2011.  Non-comp sales for the first six months of fiscal 2012 were $136.3 million, a 6.8% increase over total first six months fiscal 2011 net sales.  Non-comp sales for the first six months of fiscal 2011 were $113.5 million, a 6.4% increase over total first six months fiscal 2010 net sales.

During the first six months of fiscal 2012, we opened 51 new stores (compared to 42 new stores in the first six months of fiscal 2011) and closed one store (compared to no closed stores in the first six months of fiscal 2011).


Page 12



The following chart indicates the percentage of sales represented by each of our major product categories for the fiscal six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011:
 
Fiscal six months ended
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
Product Category:
 
 
 
Livestock and Pet
42%
 
42%
Seasonal, Gift and Toy Products
22
 
22
Hardware, Tools and Truck
22
 
23
Agriculture
7
 
6
Clothing and Footwear
7
 
7
Total
100%
 
100%

Gross margin increased 16.0% to $784.3 million for the first six months of fiscal 2012 from $676.1 million in the first six months of fiscal 2011.  As a percent of sales, gross margin increased 30 basis points to 33.9% for the first six months of fiscal 2012 compared to 33.6% for the comparable period in fiscal 2011.  The increase in gross margin as a percent of sales resulted primarily from improved direct product margin. Direct product margin increased primarily as a result of continued efforts in our key margin-driving initiatives of inventory management, strategic sourcing, private branding and pricing.

As a percent of sales, SG&A expenses, including depreciation and amortization, improved 120 basis points to 23.8% in the first six months of fiscal 2012 from 25.0% in the first six months of fiscal 2011.  The SG&A improvement as a percent of sales for the first six months of fiscal 2012 was primarily attributable to strong same-store sales growth as well as expense control with respect to store personnel and other operating costs.  Total SG&A expenses increased 9.3% to $550.0 million from $503.1 million in the first six months of fiscal 2011.  The increase in SG&A expense primarily reflects new store growth, variable costs associated with our same store sales growth, and operating costs relating to the new Franklin, Kentucky distribution center, which became operational in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.

For the first six months of 2012 our effective tax rate increased to 37.1% compared to 36.6% for the first six months of 2011. The increase in the tax rate was largely due to a change in tax laws resulting in lower federal tax credits as well as a reduction of the benefit from other permanent tax differences as a result of a higher base of pretax income in the current fiscal year.

Net income for the first six months of fiscal 2012 increased 34.2% to $146.9 million compared to $109.5 million in the first six months of fiscal 2011.  Net income per diluted share for the first six months of fiscal 2012 increased to $2.00 from $1.47 in the first six months of fiscal 2011.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

In addition to normal operating expenses, our primary ongoing cash requirements are for new store expansion, remodeling and relocation programs (including inventory purchases and capital expenditures), distribution center capacity and improvements, information technology, share repurchases and cash dividends.  Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity are existing cash balances, funds provided from operations, borrowings available under our Senior Credit Facility, capital and operating leases and normal trade credit.  Our inventory and accounts payable levels typically build in the first and third fiscal quarters in anticipation of the spring and cold-weather selling seasons, respectively.

At June 30, 2012, we had working capital of $663.5 million, a $33.9 million increase and a $70.0 million increase from December 31, 2011 and June 25, 2011, respectively.  The shifts in working capital were attributable to changes in the following components of current assets and current liabilities (in millions):


Page 13


 
June 30,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
 
Variance
 
June 25,
2011
 
Variance
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
179.1

 
$
176.9

 
$
2.2

 
$
185.5

 
$
(6.4
)
Restricted cash
8.8

 
21.9

 
(13.1
)
 
21.9

 
(13.1
)
Inventories
946.9

 
830.8

 
116.1

 
875.5

 
71.4

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
56.3

 
51.7

 
4.6

 
46.4

 
9.9

Deferred income taxes
7.1

 
8.9

 
(1.8
)
 

 
7.1

 
1,198.2

 
1,090.2

 
108.0

 
1,129.3

 
68.9

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
314.8

 
266.4

 
48.4

 
351.8

 
(37.0
)
Accrued employee compensation
29.3

 
48.3

 
(19.0
)
 
19.3

 
10.0

Other accrued expenses
126.4

 
134.0

 
(7.6
)
 
114.9

 
11.5

Income taxes payable
64.2

 
11.9

 
52.3

 
42.4

 
21.8

Deferred income taxes

 

 

 
7.4

 
(7.4
)
 
534.7

 
460.6

 
74.1

 
535.8

 
(1.1
)
Working capital
$
663.5

 
$
629.6

 
$
33.9

 
$
593.5

 
$
70.0


In comparison to December 31, 2011, working capital as of June 30, 2012 increased as a result of an increase in inventories and a decrease in accrued employee compensation, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable and income taxes payable. The increase in inventories and accounts payable is due primarily to the purchase of additional inventory to support new store growth and increased average inventory per store due to seasonality and inflation. The decrease in accrued employee compensation is the result of payments of prior year accrued incentive compensation. The increase in income taxes payable is due to the timing of tax payments and the increased amount of pretax income in fiscal 2012.

The increase in working capital as of June 30, 2012 as compared to June 25, 2011 resulted primarily from an increase in inventory and a decrease in accounts payable, partially offset by an increase in income taxes payable. The increase in inventory is related to new store growth and inflation within the cost of merchandise. Accounts payable declined primarily as a result of the timing of payments in relation to the end of the fiscal period. The increase in income taxes payable is due to the timing of tax payments and the increased amount of pretax income in fiscal 2012.
 
Operations provided net cash of $152.2 million and $117.4 million in the first six months of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively.  The $34.8 million increase in net cash provided by operations in 2012 over 2011 is due to changes in the following operating activities (in millions):
 
Fiscal six months ended
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
 
Variance
Net income
$
146.9

 
$
109.5

 
$
37.4

Depreciation and amortization
44.2

 
37.1

 
7.1

Stock compensation expense
9.3

 
7.0

 
2.3

Excess tax benefit of stock options exercised
(16.5
)
 
(8.9
)
 
(7.6
)
Deferred income taxes
(5.9
)
 
4.4

 
(10.3
)
Inventories and accounts payable
(67.8
)
 
(34.6
)
 
(33.2
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(4.6
)
 
(12.4
)
 
7.8

Accrued expenses
(25.4
)
 
(27.2
)
 
1.8

Income taxes payable
68.8

 
43.1

 
25.7

Other, net
3.2

 
(0.6
)
 
3.8

Net cash provided by operations
$
152.2

 
$
117.4

 
$
34.8



Page 14


The improvement in net cash provided by operations in the first six months of fiscal 2012 compared with the first six months of fiscal 2011 primarily reflects stronger earnings and an increase in income taxes payable. This is partially offset by a lower accounts payable increase relative to inventory. The increase in income taxes payable is primarily attributable to the timing of tax payments and larger pretax income in fiscal 2012. The decrease in accounts payable is primarily a result of the timing of payments in relation to the end of the fiscal period.

Investing activities used cash of $52.5 million and $79.9 million in the first six months of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively. The majority of this cash requirement relates to our capital expenditures. The decrease in restricted cash during the first six months of fiscal 2012 relates to less cash required as collateral for an outstanding letter of credit at a financial institution outside of the Senior Credit Facility. During the first six months of fiscal 2011, the maturity of our short-term investment of $15.9 million was replaced by a $21.9 million time deposit classified as restricted cash.
 
Capital expenditures for the first six months of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 were as follows (in millions):
 
Fiscal six months ended
 
June 30,
2012
 
June 25,
2011
New and relocated stores and stores not yet opened
$
31.0

 
$
20.4

Information technology
13.1

 
5.3

Purchase of previously leased stores
10.2

 
7.7

Existing stores
7.9

 
8.6

Distribution center capacity and improvements
3.0

 
31.9

Corporate and other
0.4

 
0.2

 
$
65.6

 
$
74.1


The above table reflects 51 new stores in the first six months of fiscal 2012, compared to 42 new stores during the first six months of fiscal 2011. We expect to open a total of approximately 90 to 95 new stores during fiscal 2012. The decrease in expenditures for distribution center capacity and improvements is related to the Franklin, Kentucky distribution center, which was constructed in the prior year and became operational in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Financing activities used cash of $97.5 million and $109.3 million in the first six months of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively.  This change in net cash used in financing activities is largely due to $20.3 million less in common stock repurchases during the first six months of fiscal 2012 compared to the first six months of fiscal 2011.
 
The Senior Credit Facility provides for borrowings up to $250 million (with sublimits of $250 million and $20 million for letters of credit and swingline loans, respectively).  This agreement is unsecured and  matures in October 2016, with proceeds available to be used for working capital, capital expenditures, dividends, share repurchases and other matters.  At June 30, 2012, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility.  There were $60.1 million outstanding letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility as of June 30, 2012.  Borrowings bear interest at either the bank’s base rate or LIBOR plus an additional amount ranging from 0.40% to 1.00% per annum, adjusted quarterly based on our leverage ratio (0.50% at June 30, 2012).  We are also required to pay quarterly in arrears, a commitment fee for unused capacity ranging from 0.08% to 0.20% per annum, adjusted quarterly based on our leverage ratio (0.10% at June 30, 2012).  The agreement requires quarterly compliance with respect to fixed charge coverage and leverage ratios.  As of June 30, 2012, we were in compliance with all debt covenants.

We believe that existing cash balances, expected cash flow from future operations, borrowings available under the Senior Credit Facility, operating and capital leases and normal trade credit will be sufficient to fund our operations and capital expenditure needs, including new store openings, store acquisitions, relocations and renovations, and distribution center capacity, over the next several years.



Page 15


Share Repurchase Program

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized share repurchases under the share repurchase program up to $1 billion, exclusive of any fees, commissions, or other expenses related to such repurchases, through April 2015. The repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.  The timing and amount of any shares repurchased under the program will depend on a variety of factors, including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, capital availability, and other market conditions.  Repurchased shares will be held in treasury.  The program may be limited or terminated at any time without prior notice.

We repurchased 1,106,000 and 1,145,000 shares under the share repurchase program for a total cost of $98.4 million and $69.7 million during the second quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the first six months of 2012 and 2011, we repurchased 1,160,700 and 2,156,500 shares under the share repurchase program for a total cost of $102.5 million and $122.9 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2012, we had remaining authorization under the share repurchase program of $460.4 million exclusive of any fees, commissions, or other expenses.

Dividends

We believe our ability to generate cash allows us to invest in the growth of our business and, at the same time, distribute a quarterly dividend.  During the first six months of fiscal 2012, the Board of Directors declared the following dividends:

Date Declared
 
Dividend Amount
Per Share
 
Stockholders of Record Date
 
Date Paid
February 8, 2012
 
$
0.12

 
February 27, 2012
 
March 13, 2012
May 2, 2012
 
$
0.20

 
May 21, 2012
 
June 5, 2012

In addition to the above, on August 1, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share of the Company’s common stock.  The dividend will be paid on September 5, 2012 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 20, 2012.

It is the present intention of the Board of Directors to continue to pay a quarterly cash dividend; however, the declaration and payment of future dividends will be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion and will depend upon the earnings, financial condition, and capital needs of the Company, and other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Our off-balance sheet arrangements are limited to operating leases and outstanding letters of credit. We typically lease buildings for retail stores and offices rather than acquiring these assets which allows us to utilize financial capital to operate the business rather than invest in fixed assets.  Letters of credit allow us to purchase inventory, primarily sourced overseas, in a timely manner and support certain risk management programs.

Significant Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

At June 30, 2012, we had commitments related to construction projects for new stores totaling approximately $3.1 million, commitments to purchase property for facilities under development of approximately $13.3 million and a commitment to purchase one store previously under lease for approximately $0.5 million. There has been no material change in our contractual obligations and commercial commitments other than in the ordinary course of business since the end of fiscal 2011.

At June 30, 2012, there were $60.1 million outstanding letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility and a $5.0 million outstanding letter of credit at a financial institution outside of the Senior Credit Facility which is collateralized by a time deposit classified as restricted cash.

Subsequent to June 30, 2012, we entered into construction commitments totaling approximately $30 million for a new distribution center in Macon, GA.



Page 16


Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial position and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.  The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make informed estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Our significant accounting policies, including areas of critical management judgments and estimates, have primary impact on the following financial statement areas:

-
Inventory valuation
-
Income tax contingencies
-
Self-insurance reserves
-
Long-lived assets
-
Sales tax audit reserve
 
 

See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of our critical accounting policies.  Our financial position and/or results of operations may be materially different when reported under different conditions or when using different assumptions in the application of such policies.  In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from actual amounts, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We may be exposed to changes in interest rates primarily from the Senior Credit Facility. The Senior Credit Facility bears interest at either the bank’s base rate (3.25% at June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011) or LIBOR (0.20% at June 30, 2012 and 0.19% at June 25, 2011) plus an additional amount per annum adjusted quarterly (ranging from 0.40% to 1.00% at June 30, 2012 and 0.35% to 0.90% at June 25, 2011) based on our leverage ratio (0.50% at June 30, 2012 and 0.40% at June 25, 2011).  We are also required to pay (quarterly in arrears) a commitment fee (ranging from 0.08% to 0.20% at June 30, 2012 and 0.06% to 0.18% at June 25, 2011) based on the daily average unused portion of the credit line (0.10% at June 30, 2012 and 0.08% at June 25, 2011).  See Note 5 of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further discussion regarding the Senior Credit Facility.

Seasonality and Weather

Our business is highly seasonal.  Historically, our sales and profits have been the highest in the second and fourth fiscal quarters due to the sale of seasonal products.  Unseasonable weather, excessive precipitation, drought, and early or late frosts may also affect our sales.  We believe, however, that the impact of extreme weather conditions is somewhat mitigated by the geographic dispersion of our stores and our ability to effectively manage inventory allocation.

We experience our highest inventory and accounts payable levels during our first fiscal quarter for purchases of seasonal product in anticipation of the spring selling season and again during our third fiscal quarter in anticipation of the cold-weather selling season.
 
Purchase Price Volatility

Although we cannot determine the full effect of inflation and deflation on our operations, we believe our sales and results of operations are affected by both.  We are subject to market risk with respect to the pricing of certain products and services, which include, among other items, steel, grain, petroleum, corn, cotton and other commodities as well as transportation services.  Therefore, we may experience both inflationary and deflationary pressures on product cost, which may impact consumer demand and, as a result, sales and gross margin. Our strategy is to reduce or mitigate the effects of purchase price volatility principally by taking advantage of vendor incentive programs, economies of scale from increased volume of purchases, adjusting retail prices and selectively buying from the most competitive vendors without sacrificing quality.  Due to the competitive environment, such conditions have and may continue to adversely impact our financial performance.


Page 17



Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the 1934 Act) as of June 30, 2012.  Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Page 18


PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

The Company responded to a Request for Information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 relating to certain recreational vehicles and non-road spark ignition engines sold by the Company.  In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the Environmental Enforcement Section of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), on behalf of the EPA, informed the Company that it believed the Company had violated the Clean Air Act by importing or causing the importation of certain engines that were noncompliant, and that unless the DOJ and the Company were able to reach a settlement, the DOJ was prepared to commence a civil action.  The engines were purchased by the Company pursuant to agreements with vendors under which the vendors represented that their products complied with all applicable laws and regulations and under which the vendors agreed to indemnify the Company for any liabilities or costs relating to, among other matters, the noncompliance or alleged noncompliance of their products.  The Company notified these vendors of the EPA's position and has been working with these vendors to provide additional information to the DOJ and EPA regarding the alleged violations.  As a result of this process, the Company believes it has provided evidence that many of the products identified by the DOJ and EPA were in compliance with the Clean Air Act and that most of the remaining issues relate to products purchased from one vendor.   The vendor of these products and the Company are engaged in settlement discussions with the DOJ and EPA that would call for the payment of a civil penalty and certain injunctive relief.  In May 2012, the EPA provided the Company with a summary of preliminary findings based on inspections of certain products sold by the Company. The Company is working with the vendor of these products to provide additional information to EPA. The Company does not expect the resolution of these matters to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  We do not believe it is reasonably possible that a loss in excess of the amount accrued will be incurred. 

We are also involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business.  We expect these matters will be resolved without material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  We believe that any estimated loss related to such matters has been adequately provided in accrued liabilities to the extent probable and reasonably estimable.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to our risk factors as previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized share repurchases under the share repurchase program up to $1 billion through April 2015. Stock repurchase activity during the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was as follows:
Period
 
Number of
Shares
Purchased
 
Average
Price Paid
Per Share
 
Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Dollar
Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
April 1, 2012 – April 28, 2012
 

 
$

 

 
$
558,738,820

April 29, 2012 – May 26, 2012
 
216,000

 
95.44

 
216,000

 
538,129,937

May 27, 2012 – June 30, 2012
 
890,000

 
87.39

 
890,000

 
460,372,901

As of June 30, 2012
 
1,106,000

 
$
88.96

 
1,106,000

 
$
460,372,901


We expect to implement the balance of the repurchase program through purchases made from time to time either in the open market or through private transactions, in accordance with regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None


Page 19


Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5.  Other Information

None.

Item 6.  Exhibits

Exhibit
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101
The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of fiscal 2012, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2012, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2012; December 31, 2011; and June 25, 2011, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 25, 2011, and (iv) the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.



Page 20


SIGNATURE

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.

 
 
 
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
 
 
 
 
Date:
August 6, 2012
By:
/s/ Anthony F. Crudele
 
 
 
Anthony F. Crudele
 
 
 
Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

 
 
 


Page 21