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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☑ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 27, 2021
or
☐
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
TSCO-20210327_G1.JPG
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware 13-3139732
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
5401 Virginia Way, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
(615) 440-4000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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, $0.008 par value TSCO 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, a 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 ☑
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 April 24, 2021
Common Stock, $0.008 par value 115,255,974



TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY

INDEX


    Page No.
     
3
3
3
4
5
6
7
8
17
25
25
26
26
26
26
26
26
26
27
28



Page 2
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
March 27,
2021 		December 26,
2020 		March 28,
2020
ASSETS  
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,149,930  $ 1,341,756  $ 461,473 
Inventories 2,084,677  1,783,270  1,905,913 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 146,227  133,659  112,853 
Total current assets 3,380,834  3,258,685  2,480,239 
Property and equipment, net 1,287,004  1,248,960  1,143,189 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 2,589,418  2,423,881  2,228,597 
Goodwill and other intangible assets 55,520  55,520  124,492 
Deferred income taxes 11,428  31,586  — 
Other assets 35,475  30,484  25,888 
Total assets $ 7,359,679  $ 7,049,116  $ 6,002,405 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $ 1,181,924  $ 976,096  $ 887,938 
Accrued employee compensation 68,102  119,701  31,146 
Other accrued expenses 377,777  324,813  234,460 
Current portion of long-term debt —  —  30,000 
Current portion of finance lease liabilities 4,674  4,554  4,172 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 303,222  298,696  281,620 
Income taxes payable 40,226  19,938  24,789 
Total current liabilities 1,975,925  1,743,798  1,494,125 
Long-term debt 984,838  984,324  989,074 
Finance lease liabilities, less current portion 31,890  33,096  31,157 
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion 2,399,246  2,220,904  2,051,885 
Deferred income taxes —  —  1,796 
Other long-term liabilities 115,481  143,154  80,645 
Total liabilities 5,507,380  5,125,276  4,648,682 
Stockholders’ equity:      
Preferred stock —  —  — 
Common stock 1,409  1,401  1,391 
Additional paid-in capital 1,154,451  1,095,500  978,837 
Treasury stock (3,610,362) (3,356,953) (3,277,215)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,118) (3,243) (5,051)
Retained earnings 4,307,919  4,187,135  3,655,761 
Total stockholders’ equity 1,852,299  1,923,840  1,353,723 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 7,359,679  $ 7,049,116  $ 6,002,405 
Preferred Stock (shares in thousands): $1.00 par value; 40 shares authorized; no shares were issued or outstanding during any period presented.
Common Stock (shares in thousands): $0.008 par value; 400,000 shares authorized at all periods presented. 176,069, 175,128, and 173,888 shares issued; 115,587, 116,246, and 115,592 shares outstanding at March 27, 2021, December 26, 2020, and March 28, 2020, respectively.
Treasury Stock (at cost, shares in thousands): 60,482, 58,882, and 58,296 shares at March 27, 2021, December 26, 2020, and March 28, 2020, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 3
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

  For the Fiscal Three
Months Ended
  March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Net sales $ 2,792,336  $ 1,959,188 
Cost of merchandise sold 1,808,556  1,297,939 
Gross profit 983,780  661,249 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 693,190  497,275 
Depreciation and amortization 60,054  51,436 
Operating income 230,536  112,538 
Interest expense, net 7,221  5,049 
Income before income taxes 223,315  107,489 
Income tax expense 41,961  23,712 
Net income $ 181,354  $ 83,777 
Net income per share – basic $ 1.56  $ 0.72 
Net income per share – diluted $ 1.55  $ 0.71 
Weighted average shares outstanding:    
Basic 116,153  116,738 
Diluted 117,227  117,432 
Dividends declared per common share outstanding $ 0.52  $ 0.35 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 4
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)

  For the Fiscal Three
Months Ended
  March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Net income $ 181,354  $ 83,777 
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of taxes 2,125  (5,250)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) 2,125  (5,250)
Total comprehensive income $ 183,479  $ 78,527 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Page 5
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
  Common Stock Additional
Paid-in
Capital 		Treasury
Stock 		Accum. Other Comp. Income/(Loss) Retained
Earnings 		Total
Stockholders’
Equity
Shares Dollars
Stockholders’ equity at
December 26, 2020 		116,246  $ 1,401  $ 1,095,500  $ (3,356,953) $ (3,243) $ 4,187,135  $ 1,923,840 
Common stock issuance under stock award plans & ESPP
941  8  58,700  58,708 
Share-based compensation expense 12,318  12,318 
Repurchase of shares to satisfy tax obligations
(12,067) (12,067)
Repurchase of common stock
(1,600) (253,409) (253,409)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders (60,570) (60,570)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of taxes
2,125  2,125 
Net income 181,354  181,354 
Stockholders’ equity at
March 27, 2021 		115,587  $ 1,409  $ 1,154,451  $ (3,610,362) $ (1,118) $ 4,307,919  $ 1,852,299 



  Common Stock
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Treasury
Stock
Accum. Other Comp. Income/(Loss)
Retained
Earnings
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
Shares Dollars
Stockholders’ equity at
December 28, 2019 		118,165  $ 1,389  $ 966,698  $ (3,013,996) $ 199  $ 3,612,833  $ 1,567,123 
Common stock issuance under stock award plans & ESPP
280  2  10,601  10,603 
Share-based compensation expense 6,945  6,945 
Repurchase of shares to satisfy tax obligations
(5,407) (5,407)
Repurchase of common stock
(2,853) (263,219) (263,219)
Cash dividends paid to stockholders (40,849) (40,849)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of taxes
(5,250) (5,250)
Net income 83,777  83,777 
Stockholders’ equity at
March 28, 2020 		115,592  $ 1,391  $ 978,837  $ (3,277,215) $ (5,051) $ 3,655,761  $ 1,353,723 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. 


Page 6
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
  For the Fiscal Three Months Ended
  March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net income $ 181,354  $ 83,777 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 60,054  51,436 
Loss/(gain) on disposition of property and equipment 108  (315)
Share-based compensation expense 12,318  6,945 
Deferred income taxes 20,158  1,643 
Change in assets and liabilities:    
Inventories (301,407) (303,132)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (12,568) (11,988)
Accounts payable 205,828  244,902 
Accrued employee compensation (51,599) (8,609)
Other accrued expenses 55,305  (12,352)
Income taxes 20,288  18,805 
Other (12,722) 12,820 
Net cash provided by operating activities 177,117  83,932 
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Capital expenditures (100,741) (29,648)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 222  320 
Net cash used in investing activities (100,519) (29,328)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Borrowings under debt facilities —  809,000 
Repayments under debt facilities —  (186,500)
Principal payments under finance lease liabilities (1,086) (1,000)
Repurchase of shares to satisfy tax obligations (12,067) (5,407)
Repurchase of common stock (253,409) (263,219)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock 58,708  10,603 
Cash dividends paid to stockholders (60,570) (40,849)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities (268,424) 322,628 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (191,826) 377,232 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 1,341,756  84,241 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 1,149,930  $ 461,473 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:    
Cash paid during the period for:    
Interest                                                                         $ 4,216  $ 5,781 
Income taxes 2,071  1,358 
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities:
Non-cash accruals for construction in progress $ 10,301  $ 7,046 
Increase of operating lease assets and liabilities from new or modified leases 238,494  108,872 
Increase of finance lease assets and liabilities from new or modified leases —  1,904 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. 
Page 7
TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 – General:

Nature of Business

Founded in 1938, Tractor Supply Company (the “Company” or “we” or “our” or “us”) is the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States (“U.S.”). The Company is focused on supplying the needs of recreational farmers, ranchers, and all those who enjoy living the rural lifestyle (which we refer to as the “Out Here” lifestyle), as well as tradesmen and small businesses. Our stores are located primarily in towns outlying major metropolitan markets and in rural communities. The Company also owns and operates Petsense, LLC (“Petsense”), a small-box pet specialty supply retailer focused on meeting the needs of pet owners, primarily in small and mid-sized communities, and offering a variety of pet products and services. At March 27, 2021, the Company operated a total of 2,121 retail stores in 49 states (1,944 Tractor Supply and Del’s retail stores and 177 Petsense retail stores) and also offered an expanded assortment of products through the Tractor Supply Company mobile application and online at TractorSupply.com and Petsense.com.

On February 17, 2021, the Company announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of Orscheln Farm and Home, LLC, a farm and ranch retailer with 167 retail stores in 11 states, in an all-cash transaction for approximately $320 million. The Company intends to fund the acquisition through cash-on-hand. The acquisition is conditioned on the receipt of regulatory clearance and satisfactory completion of customary closing conditions.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP 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 26, 2020.  The results of operations for our interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full fiscal year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant public health concerns as well as economic disruption, uncertainty, and volatility which may negatively affect our business operations. As a result, if the pandemic persists or worsens, our accounting estimates and assumptions could be impacted in subsequent interim reports and upon final determination at year-end, and it is reasonably possible such changes could be significant (although the potential effects cannot be estimated at this time).

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.

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term receivables, trade payables, debt instruments, and interest rate swaps.  Due to their short-term nature, the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, short-term receivables, and trade payables approximate current fair value at each balance sheet date. As described in further detail in Note 5 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company had $1.00 billion in borrowings under its debt facilities at each of March 27, 2021 and December 26, 2020, and $1.02 billion in borrowings under its debt facilities at March 28, 2020. Based on market interest rates (Level 2 inputs), the carrying value of borrowings in our debt facilities approximates fair value for each period reported. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps is determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows using forward rate curves (a Level 2 input). As described in further detail in Note 6 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the fair value of the interest rate swaps, excluding accrued interest, was a net liability of $1.5 million, $4.4 million, and $6.8 million at March 27, 2021, December 26, 2020, and March 28, 2020, respectively.

Page 8
Note 3 – Share-Based Compensation:

Share-based compensation includes stock options, restricted stock units, performance-based restricted share units, 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 stock options, restricted stock units, and performance-based restricted share units plus a 15% discount on shares purchased by employees as a part of the ESPP. The discount under the ESPP represents the difference between the purchase date market value and the employee’s purchase price.

There were no significant modifications to the Company’s share-based compensation plans during the fiscal three months ended
March 27, 2021.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and 2020, share-based compensation expense was $12.3 million and $6.9 million, respectively.

Stock Options

The following table summarizes information concerning stock option grants during the first three months of fiscal 2021:

  Fiscal Three Months Ended
  March 27, 2021
Stock options granted 235,607 
Weighted average exercise price $ 143.18 
Weighted average grant date fair value per option $ 30.13 

As of March 27, 2021, total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options was approximately $13.4 million with a remaining weighted average expense recognition period of 2.3 years.

Restricted Stock Units and Performance-Based Restricted Share Units

The following table summarizes information concerning restricted stock unit and performance-based restricted share unit grants during the first three months of fiscal 2021:

  Fiscal Three Months Ended
  March 27, 2021
Restricted stock units granted 245,961 
Performance-based restricted share units granted (a)
56,882 
Weighted average grant date fair value per share $ 139.97 
(a) Assumes 100% target level achievement of the relative performance targets.

In the first three months of fiscal 2021, the Company granted awards that are subject to the achievement of specified performance goals. The performance metrics for the units are growth in net sales and growth in earnings per diluted share and also include a relative shareholder return modifier. The number of performance-based restricted share units presented in the foregoing table represent the shares that can be achieved at the performance metric target value. The actual number of shares that will be issued under the performance share awards, which may be higher or lower than the target, will be determined by the level of achievement of the performance goals and the total shareholder return modifier. If the performance targets are achieved, the units will be issued based on the achievement level and the grant date fair value and will cliff vest in full on the third anniversary of the date of the grant.

As of March 27, 2021, total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock units and non-vested performance-based restricted share units was approximately $72.9 million with a remaining weighted average expense recognition period of 2.3 years.

Page 9
Note 4 – Net Income Per Share:

The Company presents both basic and diluted net income per share on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.  Basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average diluted shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive shares are computed using the treasury stock method for share-based awards. Performance-based restricted share units are included in diluted shares only if the related performance conditions are considered satisfied as of the end of the reporting period. Net income per share is calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
  Fiscal Three Months Ended Fiscal Three Months Ended
March 27, 2021 March 28, 2020
  Income Shares Per Share
Amount 		Income Shares Per Share
 Amount
Basic net income per share: $ 181,354  116,153  $ 1.56  $ 83,777  116,738  $ 0.72 
Dilutive effect of share-based awards —  1,074  (0.01) —  694  (0.01)
Diluted net income per share: $ 181,354  117,227  $ 1.55  $ 83,777  117,432  $ 0.71 

Anti-dilutive stock awards excluded from the above calculations totaled approximately 0.2 million and 0.5 million shares for the fiscal three months ended March 27, 2021 and March 28, 2020, respectively.

Note 5 – Debt:

The following table summarizes the Company’s outstanding debt as of the dates indicated (in millions):
March 27,
2021 		December 26,
2020 		March 28,
2020
1.75% Senior Notes due 2030 $ 650.0  $ 650.0  $ — 
3.70% Senior Notes due 2029 150.0  150.0  150.0 
Senior Credit Facility:
February 2016 Term Loan —  —  140.0 
June 2017 Term Loan —  —  85.0 
March 2020 Term Loan —  —  200.0 
November 2020 Term Loan 200.0  200.0  — 
Revolving credit loans —  —  445.0 
Total outstanding borrowings 1,000.0  1,000.0  1,020.0 
Less: unamortized debt discounts and issuance costs (15.2) (15.7) (0.9)
Total debt 984.8  984.3  1,019.1 
Less: current portion of long-term debt —  —  (30.0)
Long-term debt $ 984.8  $ 984.3  $ 989.1 
Outstanding letters of credit $ 60.3  $ 48.7  $ 39.0 

1.75% Senior Notes due 2030

On October 30, 2020, the Company issued and sold, in a public offering, $650 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due November 1, 2030 bearing interest at 1.75% per annum (the “1.75% Senior Notes”). The entire principal amount of the 1.75% Senior Notes is due in full on November 1, 2030. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each November 1 and May 1. The terms of the 1.750% Notes are governed by an indenture dated as of October 30, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”) between the Company and Regions Bank, as trustee, as amended and supplemented by a first supplemental indenture dated as of October 30, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) between the Company and Regions Bank, as trustee.

The 1.75% Senior Notes are senior unsecured debt obligations of the Company and will rank equally with the Company’s other senior unsecured liabilities and senior to any future subordinated indebtedness of the Company. The 1.75% Senior Notes are subject to customary covenants restricting the Company’s ability, subject to certain exceptions, to incur debt secured by liens, to
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enter into sale and leaseback transactions or to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell substantially all of its assets to another person.

At any time prior to August 1, 2030, the Company will have the right, at its option, to redeem the 1.75% Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, by paying the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the 1.75% Senior Notes to be redeemed, or the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest through the par call date, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption. In addition, on or after August 1, 2030, the Company will have the right, at its option, to redeem the 1.75% Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 1.75% Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption.

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the 1.75% Senior Notes, holders of the 1.75% Senior Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s 1.75% Senior Notes at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such 1.75% Senior Notes to, but not including, the purchase date. Upon the occurrence of an event of default with respect to the 1.75% Senior Notes, which includes payment defaults, defaults in the performance of certain covenants, cross defaults, and bankruptcy and insolvency related defaults, the Company’s obligations under the 1.75% Senior Notes may be accelerated, in which case the entire principal amount of the 1.75% Senior Notes would be due and payable immediately.

Senior Note Facility (including 3.70% Senior Notes due 2029)

On August 14, 2017, the Company entered into a note purchase and private shelf agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”), as amended from time to time, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell, in a private placement, $150 million aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due August 14, 2029 bearing interest at 3.70% per annum (the “3.70% Senior Notes”). The entire principal amount of the 3.70% Senior Notes is due in full on August 14, 2029. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each annual and semi-annual anniversary of the issuance date. The obligations under the Note Purchase Agreement are unsecured.

The Company may from time to time issue and sell additional senior unsecured notes (the “Shelf Notes”) pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, in an aggregate principal amount of up to $300 million minus the aggregate principal amount of all notes outstanding and issued under the Note Purchase Agreement. The Shelf Notes will have a maturity date of no more than 12 years after the date of original issuance and may be issued through November 4, 2023, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement.

Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, the 3.70% Senior Notes and any Shelf Notes (collectively, the "Senior Note Facility") are redeemable by the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Note Facility being redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and a make whole amount calculated by discounting all remaining scheduled payments on the Senior Note Facility by the yield on the U.S. Treasury security with a maturity equal to the remaining average life of the Senior Note Facility plus 0.50%.

Senior Credit Facility

On February 19, 2016, the Company entered into a senior credit facility, as amended from time to time, and as amended and restated on November 4, 2020 (the “Senior Credit Facility”), which provides borrowing capacity under term loan facilities as well as a revolving credit facility. There are no compensating balance requirements associated with the Senior Credit Facility.

The Senior Credit Facility contains a $500 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) with a sublimit of $50 million for swingline loans and a sublimit of $150 million for letters of credit. This agreement is unsecured and matures on November 4, 2023, which, subject to satisfaction of certain terms and conditions, may be extended at the option of the Company to November 4, 2024 (as may be extended, the “Senior Credit Facility Maturity Date”).

Under the Senior Credit Facility, on November 4, 2020, a $200 million term loan (the “November 2020 Term Loan”) was extended to the Company. The November 2020 Term Loan is unsecured and the entire principal amount is due in full on the Senior Credit Facility Maturity Date.

Borrowings under both the Revolver and the November 2020 Term Loan each bear interest either at the bank’s base rate (3.250% at March 27, 2021) plus an additional amount ranging from 0.000% to 0.375% (0.125% at March 27, 2021) or at the London Inter-Bank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) (0.107% at March 27, 2021) plus an additional amount ranging from 0.875% to 1.375% per annum (1.125% at March 27, 2021), adjusted based on the Company's public credit ratings. The Company is also
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required to pay, quarterly in arrears, a commitment fee related to unused capacity on the Revolver ranging from 0.090% to 0.200% per annum (0.125% at March 27, 2021), adjusted based on the Company's public credit ratings.

As further described in Note 6, the Company has entered into an interest rate swap agreement in order to hedge our exposure to variable rate interest payments associated with the Senior Credit Facility.

On February 19, 2016, the Company entered into a $200 million term loan agreement (the “February 2016 Term Loan”). This agreement was repaid in full on November 4, 2020 and is no longer in effect.

On June 15, 2017, the Company entered into a $100 million incremental term loan agreement (the “June 2017 Term Loan”). This agreement was repaid in full on November 4, 2020 and is no longer in effect.

On March 12, 2020, the Company entered into a $200 million incremental term loan agreement (the “March 2020 Term Loan”). This agreement was repaid in full on November 4, 2020 and is no longer in effect.

On April 22, 2020, the Company entered into a $350 million incremental term loan agreement (the "April 2020 Term Loan"). This agreement was repaid in full on October 30, 2020 and is no longer in effect.

Covenants and Default Provisions of the Debt Agreements

The Senior Credit Facility and the Note Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Debt Agreements”) require quarterly compliance with respect to two material covenants: a fixed charge coverage ratio and a leverage ratio.  Both ratios are calculated on a trailing twelve-month basis at the end of each fiscal quarter. The fixed charge coverage ratio compares earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation and rent expense (“consolidated EBITDAR”) to the sum of interest paid and rental expense (excluding any straight-line rent adjustments).  The fixed charge coverage ratio shall be greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.0 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter. The leverage ratio compares total funded debt to consolidated EBITDAR.  The leverage ratio shall be less than or equal to 4.00 to 1.0 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter. The Debt Agreements also contain certain other restrictions regarding additional subsidiary indebtedness, business operations, subsidiary guarantees, mergers, consolidations and sales of assets, transactions with subsidiaries or affiliates, and liens.  As of March 27, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

The Debt Agreements contain customary events of default, including payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, material judgments, certain ERISA events and invalidity of loan documents. Upon certain changes of control, payment under the Debt Agreements could become due and payable. In addition, under the Note Purchase Agreement, upon an event of default or change of control, the make whole payment described above may become due and payable.

The Note Purchase Agreement also requires that, in the event the Company amends its Senior Credit Facility, or any subsequent credit facility of $100 million or greater, such that it contains covenant or default provisions that are not provided in the Note Purchase Agreement or that are similar to those contained in the Note Purchase Agreement but which contain percentages, amounts, formulas or grace periods that are more restrictive than those set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement or are otherwise more beneficial to the lenders thereunder, the Note Purchase Agreement shall be automatically amended to include such additional or amended covenants and/or default provisions.

Note 6 – Interest Rate Swaps:

The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement which became effective on March 18, 2020, with a maturity date of March 18, 2025. The notional amount of this swap agreement is fixed at $200 million.

The Company previously had interest rate swap agreements associated with the February 2016 Term Loan and the June 2017 Term Loan, each of which was settled in full on November 10, 2020, following the repayment and termination of the associated term loans, and is no longer in effect.

The Company’s interest rate swap agreements are executed for risk management and are not held for trading purposes. The objective of the interest rate swap agreements is to mitigate interest rate risk associated with future changes in interest rates. To accomplish this objective, the interest rate swap agreements are intended to hedge the variable cash flows associated with the variable rate term loan borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility. The interest rate swap agreements entitle the Company to receive, at specified intervals, a variable rate of interest based on LIBOR in exchange for the payment of a fixed rate of interest throughout the life of the agreement, without exchange of the underlying notional amount.
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The Company has designated its interest rate swap agreements as cash flow hedges and accounts for the underlying activity in accordance with hedge accounting. The interest rate swaps are presented within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. In accordance with hedge accounting, the gains and losses on interest rate swaps that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”), net of related income taxes, and reclassified into earnings in the same income statement line and period during which the hedged transactions affect earnings.

As of March 27, 2021, amounts to be reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”) into interest during the next twelve months are not expected to be material. No significant amounts were excluded from the assessment of cash flow hedge effectiveness as of March 27, 2021.

The assets and liabilities measured at fair value related to the Company’s interest rate swaps, excluding accrued interest, were as follows (in thousands):

Derivatives Designated
as Cash Flow Hedges
Balance Sheet Location March 27,
2021 		December 26,
2020 		March 28,
2020
Interest rate swaps (short-term portion) Other accrued expenses $ 1,229  $ 1,227  $ 2,512 
Interest rate swaps (long-term portion) Other long-term liabilities 274  3,137  4,277 
Total derivative liabilities $ 1,503  $ 4,364  $ 6,789 

The offset to the interest rate swap asset or liability is recorded as a component of equity, net of deferred taxes, in AOCI, and will be reclassified into earnings over the term of the underlying debt as interest payments are made.

The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI, net of tax, related to the Company’s interest rate swaps (in thousands):

March 27,
2021 		December 26,
2020 		March 28,
2020
Beginning fiscal year AOCI balance $ (3,243) $ 199  $ 199 
Current fiscal period gain/(loss) recognized in OCI 2,125  (5,666) (5,250)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI —  2,224  — 
Other comprehensive gain/(loss), net of tax 2,125  (3,442) (5,250)
Ending fiscal period AOCI balance $ (1,118) $ (3,243) $ (5,051)

Cash flows related to the interest rate swaps are included in operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The following table summarizes the impact of pre-tax gains and losses derived from the Company’s interest rate swaps (in thousands):
Fiscal Three Months Ended
Financial Statement Location March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Amount of gains/(losses) recognized in OCI during the period Other comprehensive income/(loss) $ 2,861  $ (7,056)

The following table summarizes the impact of taxes affecting AOCI as a result of the Company’s interest rate swaps (in thousands):
Fiscal Three Months Ended
March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Income tax expense/(benefit) of interest rate swaps on AOCI $ 736  $ (1,806)

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Credit-risk-related contingent features

In accordance with the underlying interest rate swap agreements, the Company could be declared in default on its interest rate swap obligations if repayment of the underlying indebtedness (i.e., the Company’s term loans) is accelerated by the lender due to the Company’s default on such indebtedness.

If the Company had breached any of the provisions in the underlying agreements at March 27, 2021, it could have been required to post full collateral or settle its obligations under the Company’s interest rate swap agreements. However, as of March 27, 2021, the Company had not breached any of these provisions or posted any collateral related to the underlying interest rate swap agreements.

Note 7 – Capital Stock and Dividends:

Capital Stock

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of common stock and preferred stock. The Company is authorized to issue 400 million shares of common stock. The Company is also authorized to issue 40 thousand shares of preferred stock, with such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company's Board of Directors.

Dividends

During the first three months of fiscal 2021 and 2020, the Company's Board of Directors declared the following cash dividends:
Date Declared Dividend Amount
Per Share of Common Stock 		Record Date Date Paid
January 27, 2021 $ 0.52  February 22, 2021 March 9, 2021
February 5, 2020 $ 0.35  February 24, 2020 March 10, 2020

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

On May 5, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.52 per share of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The dividend will be paid on June 8, 2021, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 24, 2021.

Note 8 – Treasury Stock:

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized common stock repurchases under a share repurchase program which was announced in February 2007. The authorization amount of the program, which has been increased from time to time, is currently authorized for up to $4.5 billion, exclusive of any fees, commissions, or other expenses related to such repurchases. The share repurchase program does not have an expiration date. 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 are accounted for at cost and will be held in treasury for future issuance.  The program may be limited, temporarily paused (as it was from March 12, 2020 until November 5, 2020 in order to strengthen the Company's liquidity and preserve cash while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic), or terminated at any time without prior notice. As of March 27, 2021, the Company had remaining authorization under the share repurchase program of $890.5 million, exclusive of any fees, commissions, or other expenses.


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The following table provides the number of shares repurchased, average price paid per share, and total amount paid for share repurchases during the fiscal three months ended March 27, 2021 and March 28, 2020, respectively (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Fiscal Three Months Ended
March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Total number of shares repurchased 1,600  2,853 
Average price paid per share $ 158.35  $ 92.28 
Total cash paid for share repurchases $ 253,409  $ 263,219 

Note 9 – Income Taxes:

The Company’s effective income tax rate was 18.8% in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 22.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The improvement in the effective income tax rate was primarily related to a discrete incremental tax benefit associated with share-based compensation compared to the first quarter of 2020.

Note 10 – Commitments and Contingencies:

Construction and Real Estate Commitments

The Company is building a new distribution center in Navarre, Ohio which is expected to be approximately 900,000 square feet and is currently anticipated to be complete by the end of fiscal 2022. At March 27, 2021, the Company had contractual commitments of approximately $75 million related to the construction of this new distribution center.

Letters of Credit

At March 27, 2021, there were $60.3 million of outstanding letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility.

Litigation

On October 9, 2020, an alleged stockholder, the City of Pontiac Police and Fire Retirement System, filed a derivative lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, purportedly on the Company's behalf, against certain current and former members of our Board of Directors, and the Company as a nominal defendant, seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages payable to the Company, disgorgement, restitution, corporate governance and hiring changes, mandated community investment, and attorneys' fees and costs. Plaintiff alleges that defendants violated the federal securities laws governing proxy solicitations and breached their fiduciary duties by misrepresenting the Company’s commitment to and support for diversity and inclusion. The Company disputes the allegations of the complaint. The Company and the individual defendants moved to dismiss the complaint based on plaintiff’s failure to make a demand on the Board of Directors and to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Given the indeterminate claims for monetary damages and the early stage of the proceedings where key factual and legal issues have not been resolved, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate timing or outcome of, or reasonably estimate the possible losses or a range of possible losses resulting from the matter described above.

The Company is also involved in various other litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that, based upon information currently available, any estimated loss related to such matters has been adequately provided for in accrued liabilities to the extent probable and reasonably estimable. Accordingly, the Company currently expects these matters will be resolved without material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  However, litigation and other legal matters involve an element of uncertainty. Future developments in such matters, including adverse decisions or settlements or resulting required changes to the Company's business operations, could affect our consolidated operating results when resolved in future periods or could result in liability or other amounts material to the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Note 11 – Segment Reporting:

The Company has one reportable segment which is the retail sale of products that support the rural lifestyle.  The following table indicates the percentage of net sales represented by each major product category during the fiscal three months ended March 27, 2021 and March 28, 2020:
  Fiscal Three Months Ended
Product Category: March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Livestock and Pet 51  % 54  %
Hardware, Tools and Truck 21  20 
Seasonal, Gift and Toy Products 18  17 
Clothing and Footwear 7  6 
Agriculture 3  3 
Total 100  % 100  %

Note 12 – New Accounting Pronouncements:

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope." This collective guidance is in response to accounting concerns regarding contract modifications and hedge accounting because of impending rate reform associated with structural risks of interbank offered rates (IBORs), and, particularly, the risk of cessation of LIBOR related to regulators in several jurisdictions around the world having undertaken reference rate reform initiatives to identify alternative reference rates. The guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The adoption of this guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
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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 26, 2020 (the "2020 10-K"). This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also contains forward-looking statements and 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 sales and earnings growth, estimated results of operations in future periods, the declaration and payment of dividends, the timing and amount of share repurchases, 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.

As with any business, many aspects of our operations are subject to influences outside our control. These factors include, without limitation, national, regional, and local economic conditions affecting consumer spending, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the efficacy and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the timing and acceptance of new products, the timing and 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 complete acquisitions on expected terms, failure of an acquisition to produce anticipated results, the ability to successfully manage expenses (including increased expenses as a result of operating as an essential retailer during the COVID-19 pandemic) and execute our key gross margin enhancing initiatives, the availability of favorable credit sources, capital market conditions in general, the ability to open new stores in the time, manner and number currently contemplated, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to open distribution centers in the anticipated timeframe and within budget, the impact of new stores on our business, competition, including that from online competitors, 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, the effects that “shelter in place” and similar federal, state, and local regulations and protocols could have on our business, including our supply chain and employees, the effectiveness of the Company’s responses to COVID-19, including our efforts to make a vaccine available to our employees, and customer response with respect to those actions, the refusal by our employees and the public generally to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the imposition of tariffs on imported products or the disallowance of tax deductions on imported products, potential judgments, fines, legal fees, and other costs, breach of information systems or theft of employee or customer data, ongoing and potential future legal or regulatory proceedings, management of our information systems, failure to 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 Part I, Item 1A of our 2020 10-K and in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  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.

Information Regarding COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

The Company continues to closely monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all facets of our business. This includes the impact on our team members, customers, suppliers, vendors, business partners, and supply chain networks.

The health and safety of our team members and customers are the primary concerns of our management team. We have taken and continue to take numerous actions to promote health and safety, including, encouraging vaccination efforts, providing personal protective equipment to our team members, requiring the use of masks in our facilities, maintaining enhanced services for cleaning and sanitation, continuing to provide additional functionality to support contactless shopping experiences, adding
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services for cleaning and sanitation in our stores and distribution centers, hiring additional team members to assist in promoting social distancing and cleaning actions in our stores, and continuing to offer remote work plans at our store support center.

As further described in the results of operations, our net sales have significantly increased due to unprecedented customer demand across all major product categories, channels, and geographic regions. However, the net incremental costs of doing business during this pandemic have increased as a result of the aforementioned actions we have taken, and continue to take, to support and promote the safety and well-being of our team members and customers, and we believe many of these incremental costs will continue after the pandemic is over.

There are numerous uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and its impact on the economy and our business, as further described in the Risk Factors section under Part I Item 1A of our 2020 10-K, which make it difficult to predict the impact on our business, financial position, or results of operations in fiscal 2021 and beyond. While our stores, distribution centers, and e-commerce operations are open and plan to remain open, we cannot predict the uncertainties, or the corresponding impacts on our business, at this time.

Seasonality and Weather

Our business is seasonal.  Historically, our sales and profits are the highest in the second and fourth fiscal quarters due to the sale of seasonal products. We usually experience our highest inventory and accounts payable balances during our first fiscal quarter for purchases of seasonal products to support the higher sales volume of the spring selling season, and again during our third fiscal quarter to support the higher sales volume of the cold-weather selling season. We believe that our business can be more accurately assessed by focusing on the performance of the halves, not the quarters, due to the fact that different weather patterns from year-to-year can shift the timing of sales and profits between quarters, particularly between the first and second fiscal quarters and the third and fourth fiscal quarters.

Historically, weather conditions, including unseasonably warm weather in the fall and winter months and unseasonably cool weather in the spring and summer months, have unfavorably affected the timing and volume of our sales and results of operations. In addition, extreme weather conditions, including snow and ice storms, flood and wind damage, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme rain, and droughts have impacted operating results both negatively and positively, depending on the severity and length of these conditions. Our strategy is to manage product flow and adjust merchandise assortments and depth of inventory to capitalize on seasonal demand trends.

Furthermore, we are not able to predict at this time the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on the seasonality of our business in the future.

Comparable Store Metrics

Comparable store metrics are a key performance indicator used in the retail industry and by the Company to measure the performance of the underlying business. Our comparable store metrics are calculated on an annual basis using sales generated from all stores open at least one year and all online sales and exclude certain adjustments to net sales. Stores closed during either of the years being compared are removed from our comparable store metrics calculations. Stores relocated during either of the years being compared are not removed from our comparable store metrics calculations. If the effect of relocated stores on our comparable store metrics calculations became material, we would remove relocated stores from the calculations.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Three Months (First Quarter) Ended March 27, 2021 and March 28, 2020

Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 increased 42.5% to $2.79 billion from $1.96 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Comparable store sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 were $2.71 billion, a 38.6% increase as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2020. In the first quarter of fiscal 2020, net sales increased 7.5% and comparable store sales increased 4.3%.

The comparable store sales results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 included an increase in comparable average transaction count of 21.0% and an increase in comparable average transaction value of 17.6%, each as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Our sales performance continued to benefit from growth in new customer acquisition and the re-engagement of lapsed customers as well as a continuation of shifting consumer behavior trends from the COVID-19 pandemic as customers focused on the care of their homes, land, and animals. Additionally, consumer demand in the quarter benefited from favorable weather conditions across much of the country as well as government stimulus. These factors all led to a significant increase in comparable store sales across all major product categories, driven by strong demand for everyday merchandise, including
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consumable, usable and edible products and robust growth for summer seasonal categories. All geographic regions of the Company had positive comparable store sales growth of at least 30%. In addition, the Company’s e-commerce sales experienced triple-digit percentage growth for the fourth consecutive quarter.

In addition to comparable store sales growth for the first quarter of fiscal 2021, sales from stores open less than one year were $82.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2021, which represented 4.2 percentage points of the 42.5% increase over first quarter fiscal 2020 net sales. For the first quarter of fiscal 2020, sales from stores open less than one year were $60.2 million, which represented 3.3 percentage points of the 7.5% increase over first quarter fiscal 2019 net sales.

The following table summarizes store growth for the fiscal three months ended March 27, 2021 and March 28, 2020:

Fiscal Three Months Ended
Store Count Information: March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Tractor Supply
Beginning of period 1,923  1,844 
New stores opened 21  20 
Stores closed —  (1)
End of period 1,944  1,863 
Petsense
Beginning of period 182  180 
New stores opened 2  — 
Stores closed (7) — 
End of period 177  180 
Consolidated, end of period 2,121  2,043 
Stores relocated —  1 

The following table indicates the percentage of net sales represented by each of our major product categories for the fiscal three months ended March 27, 2021 and March 28, 2020:
Percent of Net Sales
  Fiscal Three Months Ended
Product Category: March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Livestock and Pet 51  % 54  %
Hardware, Tools and Truck 21  20 
Seasonal, Gift and Toy Products 18  17 
Clothing and Footwear 7  6 
Agriculture 3  3 
Total 100  % 100  %
 
Gross profit increased 48.8% to $983.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $661.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2020. As a percent of net sales, gross margin in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 increased 148 basis points to 35.2% from 33.8% in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The increase in gross margin was primarily attributable to a lower depth and frequency of sales promotions and less clearance activity and favorable product mix. These factors were partially offset by higher transportation costs as a percent of net sales.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses, including depreciation and amortization, increased 37.3% to $753.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $548.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2020. As a percent of net sales, SG&A expenses improved 103 basis points to 27.0% for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from 28.0% for the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The improvement in SG&A as a percent of net sales was primarily attributable to leverage in occupancy and other costs from the increase in comparable store sales. Certain first quarter costs as a percent of net sales were higher than the prior year, driven by incremental costs from incentive compensation and COVID-19 costs of approximately $28 million including investments in pay and benefits and other health and safety related expenses.
Page 19

Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 increased 104.9% to $230.5 million compared to $112.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

The effective income tax rate was 18.8% in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to 22.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The improvement in the effective income tax rate was primarily related to a discrete incremental tax benefit associated with share-based compensation compared to the first quarter of 2020. The Company expects the full fiscal year 2021 effective tax rate to be in a range between 22.1% and 22.4%.

As a result of the foregoing factors, net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 increased 116.5% to $181.4 million, or $1.55 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $83.8 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we repurchased approximately 1.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock at a total cost of $253.4 million as part of our share repurchase program.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

In addition to normal operating expenses, and expenses associated with COVID-19 response, our primary ongoing cash requirements are for new store expansion, existing store remodeling and improvements, store relocations, distribution facility capacity and improvements, information technology, inventory purchases, repayment of existing borrowings under our debt facilities, share repurchases, cash dividends, and selective acquisitions as opportunities arise.  

Our primary ongoing sources of liquidity are existing cash balances, cash provided from operations, remaining funds available under our debt facilities, operating and finance leases, and normal trade credit.  Our inventory and accounts payable levels typically build in the first and third fiscal quarters to support the higher sales volume of the spring and cold-weather selling seasons, respectively.

The Company believes that its existing cash balances, expected cash flow from future operations, funds available under its debt facilities, operating and finance leases, and normal trade credit will be sufficient to fund its operations, including increased expenses associated with COVID-19, and its capital expenditure needs, including new store openings, existing store remodeling and improvements, store relocations, distribution facility capacity and improvements, and information technology improvements, through the end of fiscal 2021.

Working Capital

At March 27, 2021, the Company had working capital of $1.40 billion, which decreased $110.0 million from December 26, 2020, and increased $418.8 million from March 28, 2020.  The shifts in working capital were attributable to changes in the following components of current assets and current liabilities (in millions):
  March 27,
2021 		December 26,
2020 		Variance March 28,
2020 		Variance
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,149.9  $ 1,341.8  $ (191.9) $ 461.4  $ 688.5 
Inventories 2,084.7  1,783.3  301.4  1,905.9  178.8 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 146.2  133.6  12.6  112.9  33.3 
Total current assets 3,380.8  3,258.7  122.1  2,480.2  900.6 
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable 1,181.9  976.1  205.8  887.9  294.0 
Accrued employee compensation 68.1  119.7  (51.6) 31.1  37.0 
Other accrued expenses 377.8  324.8  53.0  234.5  143.3 
Current portion of long-term debt —  —  —  30.0  (30.0)
Current portion of finance lease liabilities 4.7  4.6  0.1  4.2  0.5 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 303.2  298.7  4.5  281.6  21.6 
Income taxes payable 40.2  19.9  20.3  24.8  15.4 
Total current liabilities 1,975.9  1,743.8  232.1  1,494.1  481.8 
Working capital $ 1,404.9  $ 1,514.9  $ (110.0) $ 986.1  $ 418.8 
Page 20

In comparison to December 26, 2020, working capital as of March 27, 2021, was impacted most significantly by changes in cash and cash equivalents, inventories, and accounts payable.

•Cash and cash equivalents decreased due principally to share repurchases, capital expenditures to support our strategic growth, and cash dividends paid to stockholders. These decreases in cash and cash equivalents were partially offset by net cash provided by operating activities in the first three months of fiscal 2021.
•The increase in inventories resulted primarily from an increase in average inventory per store due to normal seasonal patterns as well as the purchase of additional inventory to support new store growth and the strong sales volume trends.
•The increase in accounts payable was strongly correlated to the significant increase in inventory during the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

In comparison to March 28, 2020, working capital as of March 27, 2021, was impacted most significantly by changes in cash and cash equivalents, inventories, accounts payable, and other accrued expenses.

•The increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily driven by a significant year-over-year increase in net cash provided by operating activities as well as an increase in borrowings, net of repayments, under our debt facilities. These increases in cash and cash equivalents were partially offset by share repurchases, capital expenditures to support our strategic growth, and cash dividends paid to stockholders.
•The increase in inventories resulted primarily from the purchase of additional inventory to support new store growth as average inventory per store did not fluctuate significantly year-over-year.
•The increase in accounts payable resulted primarily from the purchase of additional inventory to support new store growth and increased sales volumes during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. However, the inventory balance did not increase at the same rate as accounts payable due to the significant increase in sales and inventory turns in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which resulted in a year-over-year increase in the amount of inventory purchases that remain in accounts payable at quarter end.
•The increase in other accrued expenses was driven primarily by Company growth year-over-year as well as the timing of payments and accruals.

Debt

The following table summarizes the Company’s outstanding debt as of the dates indicated (in millions):
March 27,
2021 		December 26,
2020 		March 28,
2020
1.75% Senior Notes due 2030 $ 650.0  $ 650.0  $ — 
3.70% Senior Notes due 2029 150.0  150.0  150.0 
Senior Credit Facility:
February 2016 Term Loan —  —  140.0 
June 2017 Term Loan —  —  85.0 
March 2020 Term Loan —  —  200.0 
November 2020 Term Loan 200.0  200.0  — 
Revolving credit loans —  —  445.0 
Total outstanding borrowings 1,000.0  1,000.0  1,020.0 
Less: unamortized debt discounts and issuance costs (15.2) (15.7) (0.9)
Total debt 984.8  984.3  1,019.1 
Less: current portion of long-term debt —  —  (30.0)
Long-term debt $ 984.8  $ 984.3  $ 989.1 
Outstanding letters of credit $ 60.3  $ 48.7  $ 39.0 
For additional information about the Company’s debt and credit facilities, refer to Note 5 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer to Note 6 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information about the Company’s interest rate swap agreements.

Page 21
Operating Activities

Operating activities provided net cash of $177.1 million and $83.9 million in the first three months of fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively.  The $93.2 million increase in net cash provided by operating activities in the first three months of fiscal 2021 compared to the first three months of fiscal 2020 is due to changes in the following operating activities (in millions):
  Fiscal Three Months Ended
  March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020 		Variance
Net income $ 181.4  $ 83.8  $ 97.6 
Depreciation and amortization 60.1  51.4  8.7 
Share-based compensation expense 12.3  6.9  5.4 
Deferred income taxes 20.2  1.6  18.6 
Inventories and accounts payable (95.6) (58.2) (37.4)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (12.6) (12.0) (0.6)
Accrued expenses 3.7  (21.0) 24.7 
Income taxes 20.3  18.8  1.5 
Other, net (12.7) 12.6  (25.3)
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 177.1  $ 83.9  $ 93.2 

The $93.2 million increase in net cash provided by operating activities in the first three months of fiscal 2021 compared with the first three months of fiscal 2020 resulted from a year-over-year increase in our net income as well as the net impact of changes in our operating assets and liabilities, principally due to Company growth year-over-year as well as the timing of payments and accruals.

Investing Activities

Investing activities used net cash of $100.5 million and $29.3 million in the first three months of fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively. The $71.2 million increase in net cash used in investing activities primarily reflects an increase in capital expenditures in the first three months of fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020.

Capital expenditures for the first three months of fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 were as follows (in millions):
  Fiscal Three Months Ended
  March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Existing stores $ 48.0  $ 6.9 
Information technology 30.9  9.0 
New and relocated stores and stores not yet opened 12.0  11.9 
Distribution center capacity and improvements 8.3  0.3 
Corporate and other 1.5  1.5 
     Total capital expenditures $ 100.7  $ 29.6 

The increase in spending for existing stores in the first three months of fiscal 2021 as compared to the first three months of fiscal 2020 principally reflects our strategic initiatives related to store remodels, including space productivity and side lot improvements. Spending in the first three months of both fiscal 2021 and 2020 also includes routine refresh activity as well as security enhancements.

The increase in spending for information technology represents continued support of our omni-channel initiatives, as well as improvements in security and compliance, enhancements to our customer relationship management program, an upgrade to our loyalty program, and other strategic initiatives.

In the first three months of fiscal 2021, the Company opened 21 new Tractor Supply stores compared to 20 new Tractor Supply stores during the first three months of fiscal 2020. The Company also opened two new Petsense stores during the first three months of fiscal 2021 and no Petsense stores during the first three months of fiscal 2020. We expect to open approximately 80
Page 22
new Tractor Supply stores and approximately 10 new Petsense stores during fiscal 2021, but the timing of new store openings in some areas may be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including local and state orders.

The increase in spending for distribution center capacity and improvements in the first three months of fiscal 2021 as compared to the first three months of fiscal 2020 is related to a new distribution center in Navarre, Ohio which is expected to be approximately 900,000 square feet and is currently anticipated to be complete by the end of fiscal 2022.

Our projected capital expenditures for fiscal 2021 are currently estimated to be in a range of approximately $450 million to $550 million. The capital expenditures include our new store growth plans for approximately 80 new Tractor Supply stores and 10 new Petsense stores as well as the construction of our new distribution center in Navarre, Ohio. We also plan to support our strategic growth initiatives related to space productivity and side lot improvements in certain existing stores as well as continued improvements in technology and infrastructure at our existing stores, and ongoing investments to enhance our digital and omni-channel capabilities to better serve our customers.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used net cash of $268.4 million in the first three months of fiscal 2021 compared to providing net cash of $322.6 million in the first three months of fiscal 2020. The $591.0 million change in net cash used by financing activities in the first three months of fiscal 2021 compared to the first three months of fiscal 2020 is due to changes in the following (in millions):
  Fiscal Three Months Ended
  March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020 		Variance
Net borrowings and repayments under debt facilities $ —  $ 622.5  $ (622.5)
Repurchase of common stock (253.4) (263.2) 9.8 
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock 58.7  10.6  48.1 
Cash dividends paid to stockholders (60.6) (40.8) (19.8)
Other, net (13.1) (6.5) (6.6)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities $ (268.4) $ 322.6  $ (591.0)

The $591.0 million change in net cash used by financing activities in the first three months of fiscal 2021 compared with the first three months of fiscal 2020 is due to principally to a decrease in net borrowings under debt facilities during the respective periods, partially offset by an increase in net proceeds from the issuance of common stock related to the exercise of stock awards. Net borrowings under debt facilities in the first three months of fiscal 2020 included the addition of the $200 million March 2020 Term Loan and the $350 million April 2020 Term Loan as described in Note 5 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, each of which was repaid in full in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and is no longer in effect.

Dividends

During the first three months of fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, the Company's Board of Directors declared the following cash dividends:
Date Declared Dividend Amount
Per Share of Common Stock 		Record Date Date Paid
January 27, 2021 $ 0.52  February 22, 2021 March 9, 2021
February 5, 2020 $ 0.35  February 24, 2020 March 10, 2020

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

Page 23
On May 5, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.52 per share of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The dividend will be paid on June 8, 2021, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 24, 2021.

Share Repurchase Program

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized common stock repurchases under a share repurchase program which was announced in February 2007. The authorization amount of the program, which has been increased from time to time, is currently authorized for up to $4.5 billion, exclusive of any fees, commissions, or other expenses related to such repurchases. The share repurchase program does not have an expiration date. 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 are accounted for at cost and will be held in treasury for future issuance.  The program may be limited, temporarily paused (as it was from March 12, 2020 until November 5, 2020 in order to strengthen the Company's liquidity and preserve cash while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic), or terminated at any time without prior notice. As of March 27, 2021, the Company had remaining authorization under the share repurchase program of $890.5 million, exclusive of any fees, commissions, or other expenses.

The following table provides the number of shares repurchased, average price paid per share, and total amount paid for share repurchases during the fiscal three months ended March 27, 2021 and March 28, 2020, respectively (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Fiscal Three Months Ended
March 27,
2021 		March 28,
2020
Total number of shares repurchased 1,600  2,853 
Average price paid per share $ 158.35  $ 92.28 
Total cash paid for share repurchases $ 253,409  $ 263,219 

Pending Acquisition

On February 17, 2021, the Company announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of Orscheln Farm and Home, LLC, a farm and ranch retailer with 167 retail stores in 11 states, in an all-cash transaction for approximately $320 million. The Company intends to fund the acquisition through cash-on-hand. The acquisition is conditioned on the receipt of regulatory clearance and satisfactory completion of customary closing conditions.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

There have been no material changes in the Company's off-balance sheet arrangements during the fiscal quarter ended March 27, 2021. The Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements are limited to outstanding letters of credit.  Letters of credit allow the Company to purchase inventory, primarily sourced overseas, in a timely manner and support certain risk management programs.

Significant Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The Company is building a new distribution center in Navarre, Ohio which is expected to be approximately 900,000 square feet and is currently anticipated to be complete by the end of fiscal 2022. At March 27, 2021, the Company had contractual commitments of approximately $75 million related to the construction of this new distribution center.

At March 27, 2021, there were $60.3 million of outstanding letters of credit under the Senior Credit Facility.

Page 24
Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial position and results of operations are based upon its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 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.  The Company’s significant accounting policies, including areas of critical management judgments and estimates, have primary impact on the following financial statement areas:
- Inventory valuation - Impairment of long-lived assets
- Self-insurance reserves - Impairment of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets
See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2020 10-K, for a discussion of the Company’s critical accounting policies.  The Company’s 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.

New Accounting Pronouncements    

Refer to Note 12 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for recently adopted accounting pronouncements and recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted as of March 27, 2021.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

For a description of the Company’s quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks, see Part II, Item 7A. "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2020. As of March 27, 2021, there has been no material change in this information.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management 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 our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the 1934 Act) as of March 27, 2021.  Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of March 27, 2021, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

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 25
PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

For a description of the Company's legal proceedings, refer to Note 10 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

The risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our 2020 10-K should be carefully considered, together with the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC, in connection with evaluating the Company, our business, and the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. There have been no material changes to our risk factors as previously disclosed in our 2020 10-K. Other risks that we do not presently know about or that we presently believe are not material could also adversely affect us.

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Share repurchases were made pursuant to the share repurchase program which is described under Part I, Item 2. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Additionally, the Company withholds shares from vested restricted stock units and performance-based restricted share units to satisfy employees’ minimum statutory tax withholding requirements. Stock repurchase activity during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was as follows:
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average
Price Paid
Per Share 		Total 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
December 27, 2020 - January 23, 2021 172,500  $ 145.93  172,500  $ 1,118,686,709 
January 24, 2021 - February 20, 2021
(a)
542,496  150.40  461,502  1,049,167,055 
February 21, 2021 - March 27, 2021 966,352  164.24  966,352  890,467,715 
Total 1,681,348  $ 158.35  1,600,354  $ 890,467,715 
(a) The number of shares purchased and average price paid per share includes 80,994 shares withheld from vested stock awards to satisfy employees’ minimum statutory tax withholding requirements for the period of January 24, 2021 - February 20, 2021.

We expect to implement the balance of the share repurchase program through purchases made from time to time either in the open market or through private transactions, in accordance with regulations of the SEC and other applicable legal requirements. The timing and amount of any common stock repurchased under the program will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, capital availability, and other market conditions.
Any additional share repurchase programs will be subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon earnings, financial condition, and capital needs of the Company, along with any other factors which the Board of Directors deem relevant. The program may be limited, temporarily paused, or terminated at any time, without prior notice.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5.  Other Information

None.

Page 26
Item 6.  Exhibits

Exhibit






101*        The following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 27, 2021, formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

104*        The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 27, 2021, formatted in Inline XBRL (included in Exhibit 101).

*     Filed herewith
**    Furnished herewith
+    Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement


Page 27
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: May 6, 2021 By: /s/ Kurt D. Barton
      Kurt D. Barton
      Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
      (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

 
 
 

Page 28
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