News Release

CORONA, Calif., Nov. 4, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hansen Natural Corporation (Nasdaq:HANS) today reported record sales and profits for the three-months ended September 30, 2010.

Gross sales for the 2010 third quarter increased 23.5 percent to $438.6 million from $355.0 million in the same period last year. Net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2010 increased 23.9 percent to $381.5 million from $307.9 million a year ago.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the 2010 third quarter was 51.9 percent, compared with 53.6 percent for the comparable 2009 quarter. 

Distribution costs as a percentage of net sales were 4.5 percent for the 2010 third quarter, compared with 4.3 percent in the same quarter last year.

Selling expenses as a percentage of net sales for the 2010 third quarter were 11.0 percent, compared with 12.5 percent in the same quarter a year ago. 

General and administrative expenses for the 2010 third quarter were $31.1 million, compared with $20.3 million for the corresponding quarter last year. Stock-based compensation (a non-cash item) was $4.3 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared with $3.3 million for the third quarter of 2009. Operating expenses for the 2010 third quarter increased to $90.4 million from $72.1 million in the same quarter last year. Operating expenses (specifically general and administrative expenses) in the comparable 2009 third quarter were reduced by proceeds of $4.7 million from the reimbursement to the Company of legal expenses previously paid by the Company. 

Operating income for the 2010 third quarter increased 15.8 percent to $107.6 million from $92.9 million in the comparable 2009 quarter.

The effective tax rate for the 2010 third quarter was 38.1 percent compared with 39.1 percent in the same quarter last year. 

Net income for the 2010 third quarter increased 17.7 percent to $66.5 million from $56.5 million in the same quarter last year. Net income per diluted share increased 20.0 percent to $0.72 from $0.60 per diluted share in the 2009 comparable quarter.

Net sales for the Company's DSD segment increased 26.8 percent to $356.7 million for the 2010 third quarter from $281.4 million for the same period in 2009. Net sales for the Company's warehouse segment were $24.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $26.5 million for the same period in 2009.

Gross sales to customers outside the United States rose to $69.8 million in the 2010 third quarter, compared with $50.0 million in the corresponding quarter in 2009.

Rodney C. Sacks, chairman and chief executive officer, attributed the record revenues to solid sales of Monster Energy® drinks. The Monster Energy® brand continues to gain market share, with sales increasing in excess of category growth. "During the third quarter, we launched Monster Absolutely Zero™ and Monster Import Light™ to address increased consumer demand for lower and zero calorie beverages," Sacks said. "We continued to make progress on the international front during the third quarter and launched the Monster Energy® brand in Germany, Europe's second largest energy drink market, and also in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Jordan and Tahiti. We are in the process of launching the Monster Energy® brand in Switzerland, Austria and Iceland and are planning to launch Monster Energy® in Bulgaria before the end of the year," he added.

For the nine-months ended September 30, 2010, gross sales increased 14.8 percent to $1.124 billion from $979.7 million for the comparable period a year earlier. Net sales for the first nine months of 2010 increased 15.6 percent to $985.3 million from $852.4 million for the same period of 2009. Both gross and net sales for the fiscal 2009 fourth quarter and the 2010 first quarter were impacted by advance purchases made by customers in the fiscal 2009 fourth quarter due to the Company's announcement of a new per case marketing contribution program for Monster Energy® distributors commencing January 1, 2010, as well as to avoid potential interruptions in product supply due to the announcement of the transition to the SAP enterprise resource planning system which commenced January 1, 2010. The Company previously estimated that approximately 4 percent to 6 percent of its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter gross sales were attributable to such advance purchases.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 52.4 percent for the first nine months of 2010, compared with 53.6 percent for the same period last year.     

Operating expenses for the nine-months ended September 30, 2010 increased to $247.8 million from $205.6 million in the same period last year. Operating income for the first nine months of 2010 increased 6.6 percent to $268.0 million from $251.5 million in the corresponding period in 2009. 

Net income for the first nine months of 2010 was $162.9 million, or $1.75 per diluted share, compared with $155.4 million, or $1.63 per diluted share, for the same period last year.

Auction Rate Securities

In March 2010, the Company entered into an agreement relating to $54.2 million in par value auction rate securities, which enables the Company to sell such securities (the "Put Option") in semi-annual or annual installments beginning March 22, 2011 with full sale rights available on or after March 22, 2013. Such auction rate securities, which have been reclassified from available-for-sale to trading securities, will continue to accrue interest until redeemed through either the Put Option, by the auction process, or by the terms outlined in their respective prospectuses in the event of auction failure.

At September 30, 2010 the Company held auction rate securities with a face value of $81.5 million ($87.3 million at June 30, 2010 and $92.7 million at March 31, 2010) and the Put Option with a fair market value of $3.8 million ($4.1 million at June 30, 2010 and $5.1 million at March 31, 2010). The Company determined that an impairment related to its auction rate securities of $7.2 million existed at September 30, 2010, of which $2.2 million was deemed temporary and $5.0 million was deemed other-than-temporary. As a result, a loss of $1.2 million, net of taxes, is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2010, and the Company recorded a net non-cash charge to earnings of $0.7 million in respect of our auction rate securities and Put Option for the third quarter of 2010. The auction rate securities will continue to accrue interest at their contractual rates until their respective auctions succeed or they are redeemed.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will host an investor conference call today, November 4, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The conference call will be open to all interested investors through a live audio web broadcast via the internet at www.hansens.com. For those who are not able to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived for approximately one year on the website.

Hansen Natural Corporation

Based in Corona, California, Hansen Natural Corporation markets and distributes Hansen's® natural sodas, sparkling beverages, apple juice and juice blends, fruit juice smoothies, multi-vitamin juice drinks in aseptic packaging, iced teas, energy drinks, Junior Juice® juices and water beverages, Blue Sky® brand beverages, Monster Energy® brand energy drinks, Nitrous™ Monster Energy® brand energy drinks, Monster Hitman™ energy shooters, Java Monster™ brand non-carbonated coffee + energy drinks, X-Presso Monster™ brand non-carbonated espresso energy drinks, Peace Tea™ iced teas, Lost® Energy™ brand energy drinks, Rumba®, Samba and Tango brand energy juices, Vidration™ brand vitamin enhanced waters, Admiral™ iced teas and Hubert's™ Lemonades. For more information visit www.hansens.com and www.monsterenergy.com.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Gross sales, although used internally by management as an indicator of operating performance, should not be considered as an alternative to net sales, which is determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and should not be used alone as an indicator of operating performance in place of net sales. Additionally, gross sales may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies as gross sales has been defined by our internal reporting requirements. However, gross sales are used by management to monitor operating performance including sales performance of particular products, salesperson performance, product growth or declines and our overall performance. The use of gross sales allows evaluation of sales performance before the effect of any promotional items, which can mask certain performance issues. Management believes the presentation of gross sales allows a more comprehensive presentation of our operating performance. Gross sales may not be realized in the form of cash receipts as promotional payments and allowances may be deducted from payments received from customers.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this announcement may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding the expectations of management with respect to our future operating results and other future events including revenues and profitability. Management cautions that these statements are based on management's current knowledge and expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the control of the Company, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the statements made herein. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the current uncertainty and volatility in the national and global economy; changes in consumer preferences; changes in demand due to both domestic and international economic conditions; activities and strategies of competitors, including the introduction of new products and competitive pricing and/or marketing of similar products; potential distribution disruptions and/or decline in sales arising out of the termination and/or appointment of domestic and/or international distributors; changes in the price and/or availability of raw materials; other supply issues, including the availability of products and/or suitable production facilities; product distribution and placement decisions by retailers; changes in governmental regulation; political, legislative or other governmental actions or events in one or more regions in which we operate. For a more detailed discussion of these and other risks that could affect our operating results, see the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:  Hansen Natural Corporation

          Rodney C. Sacks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

          Hilton H. Schlosberg, Vice Chairman

          (951) 739-6200



          PondelWilkinson Inc.

          Roger S. Pondel

          Judy Lin Sfetcu

          (310) 279-5980

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