Midas Reports Third Quarter Results

Midas Inc. has reported net earnings of $1.4 million for the third quarter ended Oct. 1, compared to $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2010.

For the first nine months of 2011, net earnings were $4.4 million, an increase from $2.3 million, in 2010.

“We continued to make solid progress during the quarter in executing our growth strategies, including co-branding our shops, reducing our inventory of company-operated shops and attracting new, high-quality franchisees,” said Alan Feldman, Midas chairman and CEO. “We are especially encouraged by improving trends in retail sales and operating income, and have now delivered eight consecutive quarters of positive comparable shops sales at U.S. Midas shops. Midas shops continue to drive traffic with value-priced oil changes, which, in turn, has led to growing customer awareness about the breadth of our auto repair and maintenance services.”

Overall, comparable shop sales at U.S. Midas shops increased by 3% in the third quarter. In the third quarter, comparable shop sales at company-operated Midas shops were up 4.6%, led by increases of 15% in the Northeast shops and 9% in Canada.

Total sales and revenues for the quarter were $46.3 million, compared to $48.8 million in the third quarter last year. Sales for the first nine months were $140.1 million down, from $145.8 million in the first nine months last year. The company said this anticipated decline in revenues was due to having 27 fewer company-operated Midas and SpeeDee shops compared to 2010, primarily as a result of the company’s ongoing re-franchising efforts.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."