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WEIS MARKETS INC

For the period ended Dec 30, 2023. Filed Feb 28, 2024.

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About this filing

A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2023 · Filed Feb 28, 2024

WMK$82.45+3.2%Stored close · as of Nov 10, 2026

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands, except shares)December 30, 2023December 31, 2022
Assets​​​​​​
Current:​​​​​​
Cash and cash equivalents​$184,217​$157,997
Marketable securities​​225,991​​186,419
SERP investment​​26,651​​22,696
Accounts receivable, net​​65,092​​50,863
Inventories​​296,157​​293,274
Prepaid expenses and other current assets​​34,107​​29,921
Total current assets​​832,214​​741,170
Property and equipment, net​​961,353​​970,913
Operating lease right-to-use​​174,208​​175,952
Goodwill​​52,330​​52,330
Intangible and other assets, net​​19,527​​18,785
Total assets​$2,039,632​$1,959,150
​​​​​​​
Liabilities​​​​​​
Current:​​​​​​
Accounts payable​$226,164​$206,849
Accrued expenses​​42,676​​57,431
Operating leases​​40,658​​43,527
Accrued self-insurance​​18,353​​19,416
Deferred revenue, net​​12,416​​11,774
Income taxes payable​​516​​6,354
Total current liabilities​​340,782​​345,351
Postretirement benefit obligations​​29,032​​25,270
Accrued self-insurance​​25,174​​23,712
Operating leases​​142,345​​142,424
Deferred income taxes​​118,091​​111,225
Other​​9,871​​9,334
Total liabilities​​665,296​​657,316
Shareholders’ Equity​​​​​​
Common stock, no par value, 100,800,000 shares authorized, 33,047,807 shares issued, 26,898,443 shares outstanding​​9,949​​9,949
Retained earnings​​1,516,438​​1,449,191
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(Net of deferred taxes of $430 in 2023 and $2,342 in 2022)​​(1,193)​​(6,449)
​​​1,525,194​​1,452,691
Treasury stock at cost, 6,149,364 shares​​(150,857)​​(150,857)
Total shareholders’ equity​​1,374,337​​1,301,834
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity​$2,039,632​$1,959,150

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

​​​​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands, except shares and per share amounts)​​​​​​​​​
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 30, 2023, · ​ · 2023 · ​ · 2022 · ​ · 2021
December 31, 2022 and December 25, 2021 · (52 weeks) · ​ · (53 weeks) · ​ · (52 weeks)
Net sales​$4,696,950$4,695,943$4,224,417
Cost of sales, including advertising, warehousing and distribution expenses​​3,535,009​​3,514,029​​3,108,710
Gross profit on sales​​1,161,941​​1,181,914​​1,115,707
Operating, general and administrative expenses​​1,024,755​​1,024,862​​968,996
Income from operations​​137,186​​157,052​​146,711
Investment income (loss) and interest expense​​13,162​​(82)​​5,007
Other income (expense)​​(3,652)​​3,807​​(3,411)
Income before provision for income taxes​​146,696​​160,777​​148,307
Provision for income taxes​​42,868​​35,581​​39,458
Net income​$103,828​$125,196​$108,849
​​​​​​​​​​
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted​​26,898,443​​26,898,443​​26,898,443
Cash dividends per share​$1.36​$1.30​$1.25
Basic and diluted earnings per share​$3.86​$4.65​$4.05

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

​​​​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands)​​​​​​​​​
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 30, 2023, · ​ · 2023 · ​ · 2022 · ​ · 2021
December 31, 2022 and December 25, 2021 · (52 weeks) · ​ · (53 weeks) · ​ · (52 weeks)
Net income​$103,828$125,196$108,849
Other comprehensive income (loss) by component, net of tax:​​​​​​​​​
Available-for-sale marketable securities​​​​​​​​​
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period (Net of deferred taxes of $1,912, $3,011 and $630, respectively)​​5,255​​(8,135)​​(1,599)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax​​5,255​​(8,135)​​(1,599)
Comprehensive income, net of tax​$109,083​$117,061​$107,250

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Accumulated · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
(amounts in thousands, except shares) · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Other · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Total
For the Fiscal Years Ended December 30, 2023, · ​ · Common Stock · ​ · Retained · ​ · Comprehensive · ​ · Treasury Stock · ​ · Shareholders’
December 31, 2022 and December 25, 2021 · Shares · Amount · Earnings · Income (Loss) · Shares · Amount · Equity
Balance at December 26, 2020​33,047,807​$9,949​$1,283,737​$3,286​6,149,364​$(150,857)​$1,146,115
Net income​—​​—​​108,849​​—​—​​—​​108,849
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax​—​​—​​—​​(1,599)​—​​—​​(1,599)
Dividends paid​—​​—​​(33,623)​​—​—​​—​​(33,623)
Balance at December 25, 2021​33,047,807​$9,949​$1,358,963​$1,687​6,149,364​$(150,857)​$1,219,742
Net income​—​​—​​125,196​​—​—​​—​​125,196
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax​—​​—​​—​​(8,135)​—​​—​​(8,135)
Dividends paid​—​​—​​(34,968)​​—​—​​—​​(34,968)
Balance at December 31, 2022​33,047,807​$9,949​$1,449,191​$(6,449)​6,149,364​$(150,857)​$1,301,834
Net income​—​​—​​103,828​​—​—​​—​​103,828
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax​—​​—​​—​​5,255​—​​—​​5,255
Dividends paid​—​​—​​(36,582)​​—​—​​—​​(36,582)
Balance at December 30, 2023​33,047,807​$9,949​$1,516,438​$(1,193)​6,149,364​$(150,857)​$1,374,337

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · 52 Weeks Ended · 53 Weeks Ended · 52 Weeks Ended
(amounts in thousands)​​December 30, 2023​​December 31, 2022​​December 25, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:​​​​​​​​​
Net income​$103,828​$125,196​$108,849
Adjustments to reconcile net income to​​​​​​​​​
net cash provided by operating activities:​​​​​​​​​
Depreciation and amortization​​108,438​​104,026​​102,804
(Gain) loss on disposition of fixed assets​​(46)​​(2,407)​​1,026
Unrealized (gain) loss in value of equity securities​​275​​1,325​​900
Deferred income taxes​​4,955​​(852)​​12,313
Unrealized (gain) loss in SERP​​(2,834)​​5,653​​(2,309)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:​​​​​​​​​
Inventories​​(2,883)​​(23,687)​​(563)
Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses​​(18,564)​​2,436​​2,727
Accounts payable and other liabilities​​13,095​​7,695​​174
Income taxes​​(5,839)​​(1,005)​​2,302
Other​​1,176​​(356)​​(514)
Net cash provided by operating activities​​201,602​​218,024​​227,709
Cash flows from investing activities:​​​​​​​​​
Purchase of property and equipment​​(104,010)​​(122,169)​​(151,800)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment​​867​​6,691​​5,932
Purchase of marketable securities​​(112,979)​​(355,757)​​(116,268)
Proceeds from the sale and maturities of marketable securities​​79,518​​362,237​​19,680
Purchase of intangible assets​​(1,075)​​(819)​​(208)
Change in SERP investment​​(1,120)​​(1,290)​​(1,986)
Net cash used in investing activities​​(138,800)​​(111,107)​​(244,650)
Cash flows from financing activities:​​​​​​​​​
Dividends paid​​(36,582)​​(34,968)​​(33,623)
Net cash used in financing activities​​(36,582)​​(34,968)​​(33,623)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents​​26,220​​71,949​​(50,564)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year​​157,997​​86,048​​136,612
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period​$184,217​$157,997​$86,048

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Cash paid for income taxes was*$43.8** million,$37.4 million,$24.8 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Cash paid for interest related to long-term debt was**$41** thousand,$40 thousand,$32 thousand in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.*

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies utilized in preparing the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements:

(a) Description of Business

Weis Markets, Inc. is a Pennsylvania business corporation founded in 1912 and incorporated in 1924. The Company is engaged principally in the retail sale of food in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The Company’s operations are reported as a single reportable segment. There was no material change in the nature of the Company’s business during fiscal 2023.

(b) Definition of Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in December. Fiscal 2023 was comprised of 52 weeks, ending on December 30, 2023. Fiscal 2022 was comprised of 53 weeks, ending on December 31, 2022. Fiscal 2021 was comprised of 52 weeks, ending on December 25, 2021. References to years in this Annual Report relate to fiscal years.

(c) Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

(d) Use of Estimates

Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare these Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(e) Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company maintains its cash balances in the form of core checking accounts and money market accounts. The Company maintains cash deposits with banks that at times exceed applicable insurance limits. The Company reduces its exposure to credit risk by maintaining such deposits with high quality financial institutions that Management believes are creditworthy.

The Company considers investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Investment amounts classified as cash equivalents as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 totaled $118.4 million and $80.5 million, respectively.

Consumer electronic payments accepted at the point of sale, including all credit card, debit card and electronic benefits transfer transactions that process in three days or less are classified as cash equivalents. Consumer electronic payment amounts classified as cash equivalents as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 totaled $39.7 million and $42.9 million, respectively.

(f) Marketable Securities

Marketable securities consist of corporate and municipal bonds, commercial paper and equity securities. The Company invests primarily in high-grade marketable debt securities. The Company classifies all of its marketable securities as available-for-sale.

Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value as determined by quoted market price based on national markets. To determine fair value the Company utilizes standard pricing procedures of its investment advisory firm(s), which include various third-party pricing services. If the cost of an investment exceeds its fair value, the Company evaluates general market conditions, credit quality of debt instrument issuers, and the extent to which the fair value is less than cost. Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, on corporate and municipal bonds and commercial paper are excluded from earnings and are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized. Unrealized holding gains and losses on equity securities are recorded in investment income (loss) and interest expense. Dividend and interest income is recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities.

Investment amounts classified as marketable securities as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 totaled $226.0 million and $186.4 million, respectively.

Equity securities are measured at fair value and the unrealized holding gains and losses are recorded in investment income (loss) and interest expense. The Company recognized a $275 thousand loss in 2023 and a $1.3 million loss in 2022.

(g) Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are stated net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts of $2.0 million and $4.6 million as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The reserve balance relates to amounts due from pharmacy third party providers, retail customer returned checks, manufacturing customers, vendors and tenants. The Company maintains an allowance for the amount of receivables deemed to be uncollectible and calculates this amount based upon historical collection activity adjusted for current conditions.

(h) Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using both the retail inventory and average cost methods. The retail inventory method is commonly used by retail companies to determine cost and calculate gross margin based on applying a cost-to-retail ratio to each similar merchandise category’s ending retail value. The Company’s center store and pharmacy inventories are valued using last in, first out (LIFO). The Company’s fresh inventories are valued using average cost. The Company evaluates inventory shortages throughout the year based on actual physical counts in its facilities. Allowances for inventory shortages are recorded based on the results of these counts and to provide for estimated shortages from the last physical count to the financial statement date.

(i) Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided on the cost of buildings and improvements and equipment using the straight-line method.

Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the terms of the leases or the useful lives of the assets, whichever is shorter.

Maintenance and repairs are expensed and renewals and betterments are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the assets and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and any profit or loss on the disposition is credited or charged to “Operating, general and administrative expenses.”

Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

(j) Leases

The Company leases approximately 49% of its open store facilities under operating leases that expire at various dates through 2036, with the remaining store facilities being owned. These leases generally provide for fixed annual rentals; however, several provide for minimum annual rentals plus variable lease costs related to real estate taxes and insurance as well as contingent rentals based on apercentage of annual sales or increases periodically based on inflation. These variable lease costs are not included in the measurement of the operating lease right-to-use assets or lease liabilities and are charged to the related expense category included in “Operating, general and administrative expenses.” Most of the leases contain multiple renewal options, under which the Company may extend the lease terms from 5 to 20 years. Additionally, the Company has operating leases for certain transportation and other equipment. The Company leases or subleases space to tenants in owned, vacated and open store facilities. Rental income is recorded when earned as a component of “Operating, general and administrative expenses.”

(k) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill is not amortized but tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests when indicators of impairment are identified. Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortized until their useful life is determined to be no longer indefinite and are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

The Company’s intangible assets and related accumulated amortization at December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 consisted of the following:

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · December 30, 2023 · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · December 31, 2022 · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Accumulated · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Accumulated · ​ · ​ · ​
(amounts in thousands) · Gross · Amortization · Net · Gross · Amortization · Net
Liquor licenses​$15,975​$—​$15,975​$15,899​$—​$15,899
Asset acquisitions and other​3,612​1,734​1,878​2,566​1,433​1,133
Total​$19,587​$1,734​$17,853​$18,465​$1,433​$17,032

Intangible assets with a definite useful life are generally amortized on a straight-line basis over periods up to 10 years for customer lists. Estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years is approximately $430 thousand in 2024, $299 thousand in 2025, $265 thousand in 2026, $168 thousand in 2027 and $146 thousand in 2028. As of December 30, 2023, the Company’s intangible assets with indefinite lives consisted of goodwill and liquor licenses.

(l) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company periodically evaluates the period of depreciation or amortization for long-lived assets to determine whether current circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives. The Company completes an impairment test annually. The Company also reviews its property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount to the net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. An impairment loss would be recorded for the excess of net book value over the fair value of the asset impaired. The fair value is estimated based on current market values or expected discounted future cash flows.

With respect to owned property and equipment associated with closed stores, the value of the property and equipment would be adjusted to reflect recoverable values if current economic conditions and estimated fair values of the property was less than the net book value.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification No. 360,Property, Plant and Equipment, the Company believes that, based on current conditions, materially different reported results are not likely to result from long-lived asset impairments.

(l) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets (continued)

The results of impairment tests are subject to Management’s estimates and assumptions of projected cash flows and operating results. The Company believes that, based on current conditions, materially different reported results are not likely to result from long-lived asset impairments. However, a change in assumptions or market conditions could result in a change in estimated future cash flows and the likelihood of materially different reported results.

(m) Self-Insurance

The Company is self-insured for a majority of its workers’ compensation, general liability, vehicle accident and associate medical benefit claims. The self-insurance liability for most of the medical benefit claims is determined based on historical data and an estimate of claims incurred but not reported. The other self-insurance liabilities including workers’ compensation are determined actuarially, based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. The Company is self-insured for certain healthcare claims and stop-loss coverage is maintained for individual annual claim occurrences exceeding a $500 thousand specific deductible. The Company is liable for workers’ compensation claims ranging from $1.0 million to $2.0 million per claim. Property and casualty insurance coverage is maintained with outside carriers at deductible or retention levels ranging from $250 thousand to $1.0 million. Significant assumptions used in the development of the actuarial estimates include reliance on the Company’s historical claims data including average monthly claims and average lag time between incurrence and reporting of the claim.

(n) Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company reviews the tax positions taken or expected to be taken on tax returns to determine whether and to what extent a benefit can be recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer to Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the amount of unrecognized tax benefits and other disclosures related to uncertain tax positions. To the extent interest and penalties would be assessed by taxing authorities on any underpayment of income tax, such amounts are accrued and classified as a component of income tax expense.

(o) Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share are based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.

(p) Revenue Recognition

Revenue from the sale of products to the Company’s customers is recognized at the point of sale. Discounts provided to customers at the point of sale through the Weis Club Preferred Shopper loyalty program are recognized as a reduction in sales as products are sold. Periodically, the Company will run a point-based sales incentive program that rewards customers with future sales discounts. The Company makes reasonable and reliable estimates of the amount of future discounts based upon historical experience and its customer data tracking software. Sales are reduced rationally and systematically by these estimates over the life of the program. Discounts to customers at the point of sale provided by vendors, usually in the form of paper coupons, are not recognized as a reduction in sales provided the discounts are redeemable at any retailer that accepts those discounts. The Company records “Deferred revenue” for the sale of gift cards and revenue is recognized in “Net sales” at the time of customer redemption for products. Gift card breakage income is recognized in “Operating, general and administrative expenses” based upon historical redemption patterns and represents the balance of gift cards for which the Company believes the likelihood of redemption by the customer is remote. Sales tax is excluded from “Net sales.” The Company charges sales tax on all taxable customer purchases and remits these taxes monthly to the appropriate taxing jurisdiction. Merchandise return activity is immaterial to revenues due to products being returned quickly and the relatively low unit cost.

(q) Cost of Sales, Including Advertising, Warehousing and Distribution Expenses

“Cost of sales, including advertising, warehousing and distribution expenses” consists of direct product costs (net of discounts and allowances), advertising (net of vendor paid cooperative advertising credits), distribution center and transportation costs, as well as manufacturing facility operations. Advertising costs, net of vendor paid cooperative advertising credits, are expensed as incurred which are primarily funded by vendor cooperative advertising credits and occur in the same period as the product is sold.

(r) Vendor Allowances

Vendor allowances related to the Company’s buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a reduction of cost of sales as they are earned, in accordance with the underlying agreement. Off-invoice and bill-back allowances are used to reduce direct product costs upon the receipt of goods. Promotional rebates and credits are accounted for as a reduction in the cost of inventory and recognized when the related inventory is sold. Volume incentive discounts are accounted for as a reduction of cost of sales and realized using estimated amounts at the time it is deemed probable that the incentive target will be reached. Long-term contract incentives, which require an exclusive vendor relationship, are allocated over the life of the contract. Promotional allowance funds for specific vendor-sponsored programs are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales as the program occurs and the funds are earned per the agreement. Cash discounts for prompt payment of invoices are realized in cost of sales as invoices are paid. Warehouse and back-haul allowances provided by suppliers for distributing their product through the Company’s distribution system are recorded in cost of sales offsetting costs incurred. Warehouse slotting allowances are recorded in cost of sales when new items are initially set up in the Company’s distribution system, which is when the related expenses are incurred and performance under the agreement is complete. Swell allowances for damaged goods are realized in cost of sales as provided by the supplier, helping to offset product shrink losses also recorded in cost of sales.

Vendor allowances recorded as credits in cost of sales totaled $106.9 million in 2023, $120.0 million in 2022 and $100.1 million in 2021. Vendor paid cooperative advertising credits totaled $3.1 million in 2023, $2.9 million in 2022 and $3.4 million in 2021. These credits were netted against advertising costs within “Cost of Sales, including Advertising, Warehousing and Distribution expenses.” The Company had accounts receivable due from vendors of$450 thousand and $617 thousand for earned advertising credits and $8.8 million and $3.5 million for earned promotional discounts as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company had $2.4 million and $3.3 million in unearned income included in accrued liabilities for unearned vendor programs under long-term contracts for display and shelf space allocation as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

(s) Operating, General and Administrative Expenses

Business operating costs including expenses generated from administration and purchasing functions, are recorded in “Operating, general and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Business operating costs include items such as wages, benefits, utilities, repairs and maintenance, rent, insurance, depreciation, leasehold amortization and costs for outside provided services.

(t) Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. The Company recorded advertising expense, before vendor paid cooperative advertising credits, of $24.2 million in 2023, $23.7 million in 2022, $24.9 million in 2021 in “Cost of Sales, including Advertising, Warehousing and Distribution Expenses.”

(u) Rental and Commission Income

The Company leases or subleases space to tenants in owned, vacated and open store facilities. Rental income is recorded when earned as a component of “Operating, general and administrative expenses.” All leases are operating leases. Refer to Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further disclosure on operating leases and rental income.

The Company provides a variety of services to its customers, including but not limited to lottery, money orders, third-party gift cards, and third-party bill pay services. Commission income earned from these services are recorded when earned as a component of “Operating, general and administrative expenses.” The Company recorded commission income of$17.6 million in 2023, $18.0 million in 2022, $18.9 million in 2021.

(v) Current Relevant Accounting Standards

The Company regularly monitors recently issued accounting standards and assesses their applicability and impact. The Company believes there is one accounting standard update that has or will have a material or significant impact on the Company’s accounting policies.

The FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), that is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 requires disclosures of reconciliation of the expected tax at the applicable statutory federal income tax rate to the reported tax in a tabular format, using both percentages and amounts, broken out into specific categories with certain reconciling items of five percent or greater of the expected tax further broken out by

nature and/or jurisdiction, disclosure of income taxes paid, net of refunds received, broken out between federal and state and local income taxes and payments to individual jurisdictions representing five percent or more of the total income tax payments must also be separately disclosed.

The disclosures required by ASU 2023-09 are required in the Company’s annual financial statements beginning with the year ended December 28, 2024, with early adoption permitted.

Note 2 Marketable Securities

The Company’s marketable securities are all classified as available-for-sale within “Current Assets” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has established three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 Observable inputs, other than Level 1 inputs in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3 Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The Company’s marketable securities valued using Level 1 inputs include four public company equity securities, for which quoted market prices are available. The Company’s bond and commercial paper portfolio is valued using Level 2 inputs. The Company’s corporate and municipal bonds and commercial paper are valued using a combination of pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions, cash flow models with yield curves and other pricing models utilizing observable inputs, which are considered Level 2 inputs.

For Level 2 investment valuation, the Company utilizes standard pricing procedures of its investment advisory firm(s), which include various third-party pricing services. These procedures also require specific price monitoring practices as well as pricing review reports, valuation oversight and pricing challenge procedures to maintain the most accurate representation of investment fair market value.

The Company accrues interest on its bond and commercial paper portfolio throughout the life of each bond and commercial paper held. Dividends from the equity securities are recognized as received. Both interest and dividends are recognized in “Investment income and interest expense” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognized investment income of $9.5 million, $3.8 million and $1.6 million which included unrealized losses of $275 thousand, $1.3 million and $900 thousand in the fiscal years ended December 30, 2023, December 31, 2022 and December 25, 2021, respectively.

Marketable securities, as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, consisted of:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Gross · ​ · Gross · ​ · ​ · ​
(amounts in thousands) · ​ · Amortized · ​ · Unrealized · ​ · Unrealized · ​ · Fair
December 30, 2023CostHolding GainsHolding LossesValue
Available-for-sale:​​​​​​​​​​​​
Level 1​​​​​​​​​​​​
Equity securities​​​​​​​​​​$4,910
Level 2​​​​​​​​​​​​
Corporate and municipal bonds​$177,972​$3,853​$(6,553)​​175,272
Commercial Paper​​44,732​​1,076​​—​​45,808
Total​$222,704​$4,929​$(6,553)​$225,991
​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​Gross​​​
Gross
(amounts in thousands) · ​ · Amortized · ​ · Unrealized · ​ · Unrealized · ​ · Fair
December 31, 2022CostHolding GainsHolding LossesValue
Available-for-sale:​​​​​​​​​​​​
Level 1​​​​​​​​​​​​
Equity securities​​​​​​​​​​$5,185
Level 2​​​​​​​​​​​​
Corporate and municipal bonds​$190,025​$2,110​$(10,901)​​181,234
Total​$190,025​$2,110​$(10,901)​$186,419

Maturities of marketable securities classified as available-for-sale at December 30, 2023, were as follows:

​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · Amortized · ​ · Fair
(amounts in thousands)CostValue
Available-for-sale:​​​​​​
Due within one year​$93,503​$95,188
Due after one year through five years​​77,187​​74,573
Due after five years through ten years​​16,308​​15,351
Due after ten years​​35,706​​35,968
Total​$222,704​$221,080

SERP Investments

The Company also maintains a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP) for certain of its associates which allows them to defer income to future periods. Participants in the plans earn a return on their deferrals based on mutual fund investments. The Company chooses to invest in the underlying mutual fund investments to offset the liability associated with the non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Such investments are reported on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as “SERP investment,” are classified as trading securities and are measured at fair value using Level 1 inputs with gains and losses included in “Investment income and interest expense” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognized investment income of $3.7 million in the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023, investment loss of $3.8 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and investment income of $3.4 million in the fiscal year ended December 25, 2021, respectively. The changes in the underlying liability to the associates are recorded in “Other income (expense).”

Note 3 Inventories

Inventories, as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, were valued as follows:

​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​
(amounts in thousands) · 2023 · 2022
LIFO​$201,683​$192,984
Average cost​94,474​100,290
Total​$296,157​$293,274

Management believes the use of the LIFO method for valuing certain inventories represents the most appropriate matching of costs and revenues in the Company’s circumstances. If all inventories were valued on the average cost method, which approximates current cost, total inventories would have been $110.3 million and $103.6 million higher than as reported on the above methods as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Note 4 Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, consisted of:

​​​​​​​​​
​​Useful Life​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands) · (in years) · 2023 · 2022
Land​​​$137,784​$137,132
Buildings and improvements​10-60​​839,202​​828,407
Equipment​3-12​​1,397,659​​1,313,676
Leasehold improvements​5-20​​234,287​​233,300
Total, at cost​​​​2,608,932​​2,512,515
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization​​​​1,647,579​​1,541,602
Total​​​$961,353​$970,913

Note 5 Lease Commitments

The following is a schedule of the lease costs included in “Operating, general and administrative expenses” for the fiscal years ended December 30, 2023, December 31, 2022 and December 25, 2021.

​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · 52 Weeks Ended · 53 Weeks Ended · 52 Weeks Ended
(amounts in thousands)​​December 30, 2023​​December 31, 2022​​December 25, 2021
Operating lease cost​$47,187​$48,289​$45,435
Variable lease cost​​11,335​​11,221​​10,875
Lease or sublease income​​(10,210)​​(9,744)​​(10,055)
Net lease cost​$48,312​$49,766​$46,255

The following is a schedule by year of the future minimum rental payments required under operating leases and total minimum sublease and lease rental income to be received as of December 30, 2023.

​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands) · Leases · Subleases
2024​$47,918$(4,560)
2025​​44,439​(3,985)
2026​​35,562​(3,121)
2027​​27,515​(2,522)
2028​​20,387​(1,710)
Thereafter​​33,220​(3,614)
Total Lease Payments​$209,042$(19,513)
Less: Interest​​26,038​—
Present value of lease liabilities​​183,003​(19,513)

The following is a schedule of weighted-average remaining lease terms and weighted-average discount rates as of December 30, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 25, 2021.

​​​​​​​
Lease Term and Discount Rate · December 30, 2023 · December 31, 2022 · December 25, 2021
Weighted-average remaining lease term​3.63​3.85​4.11
Weighted-average discount rate​3.43%​2.81%​2.73%

The following is a schedule of supplemental cash flow information related to leases as of December 30, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 25, 2021.

​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands) · December 30, 2023 · December 31, 2022 · December 25, 2021
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities​48,476​48,744​47,799
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities​39,928​27,364​31,663

Note 6 Retirement Plans

The following is a schedule of the retirement plan costs for the fiscal years ended December 30, 2023, December 31, 2022 and December 25, 2021.

​​​​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands) · 2023 · 2022 · 2021
Retirement savings plan​5,882​5,155​3,692
Profit Sharing​​—​​—​​2,450
Deferred compensation plan​821​815​810
Supplemental executive retirement plan​875​709​703
Total​$7,578​$6,679​$7,655

The Company has a qualified retirement savings plan, the Weis Markets, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan, covering substantially all associates. Employer contributions are made at the sole discretion of the Company. In 2022, the plan was adjusted to benefit more associates by eliminating the noncontributory profit-sharing component and increasing the contributory component to $0.50 for every dollar that all eligible associates contributed to the plan, up to 6% of their eligible pay.

The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for the payment of specific amounts of annual retirement benefits to certain officers or their beneficiaries over an actuarially computed normal life expectancy. Currently, there are no active officers in the plan. The expected payments under the plan provisions were determined through actuarial calculations dependent on the age of the recipient, using an assumed discount rate. The plan is unfunded and accounted for on an accrual basis. The recorded liability at December 30, 2023 is $3.4 million which is based on expected payments to be made over the remaining lives of the beneficiaries. This amount is included in “Accrued expenses” and “Postretirement benefit obligations” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The expected payment amounts are approximately $1.0 million for 2024 and for the years thereafter dependent on the lives of the beneficiaries.

The Company also maintains a non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan covering highly compensated associates. This plan is designed to provide retirement benefits and salary deferral opportunities because of limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code and the Regulations implemented by the Internal Revenue Service. This plan is unfunded and accounted for on an accrual basis. Plan participants are 100% vested in their accounts after three years of service with the Company. Benefits are distributed among participants upon termination or retirement. Substantial risk of benefit forfeiture does exist for participants in this plan. The present value of accumulated benefits amounted to $26.7 million and $22.7 million at December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, and is included in “Postretirement benefit obligations” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 7 Revenue Recognition

The Chief Operating Officer, the Company’s chief operating decision maker, analyzed store operational revenues by geographical area but each area offers customers similar product, has similar distribution methods, and supported by centralized management processes. The Company’s operations are reported as asingle reportable segment.

The following table represents net sales by product category for years ending December 30, 2023, December 31, 2022 and December 25, 2021.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​ · ​ · 52 Weeks Ended · ​ · 53 Weeks Ended · ​ · 52 Weeks Ending · ​
(amounts in thousands) · ​ · December 30, 2023 · ​ · December 31, 2022 · ​ · December 25, 2021 · ​
Grocery​$3,921,041​83.5%$3,978,397​84.7%$3,633,023​86.1%
Pharmacy​​527,010​11.2​​441,840​9.4​​399,128​9.4​
Fuel​​239,665​5.1​​263,265​5.6​​183,631​4.3​
Manufacturing​​9,233​0.2​​12,441​0.3​​8,635​0.2​
Total net sales​$4,696,950​100.0%$4,695,943​100.0%$4,224,417​100.0%

Note 8 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

All balances in accumulated other comprehensive income are related to available-for-sale marketable securities. The following table sets forth the balance of the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.

​​​​
​ · ​ · Unrealized Gains (Losses)
​ · ​ · on Available-for-Sale
(amounts in thousands)Marketable Securities
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balance as of December 25, 2021​$1,687
Other comprehensive income (loss)​​(8,135)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)​​(8,135)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balance as of December 31, 2022​$(6,449)
Other comprehensive income (loss)​​5,255
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)​​5,255
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balance as of December 30, 2023​$(1,193)

Note 9 Income Taxes

​​​​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands)202320222021
Current:​​​​​​​​​
Federal​$28,392​$28,536​$20,771
State​​9,521​​7,896​​6,374
Deferred:​​​​​​​​​
Federal​​955​​3,191​​8,074
State​​4,000​​(4,042)​​4,239
Total​$42,868​$35,581​$39,458

The reconciliation of income taxes has been computed at the federal statutory rate of 21% in 2023, 2022 and 2021. Ending deferred tax liability has been computed at the federal statutory rate of 21%.

​​​​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands) · 2023 · 2022 · 2021
Income taxes at federal statutory rate​$30,806​$33,763​$31,144
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit​​9,800​​4,700​​6,207
Nondeductible employee-related expenses​​2,709​​2,235​​2,530
State deferred rate change​​—​​(5,462)​​-
Other​​(448)​​345​​(423)
Provision for income taxes​$42,868​$35,581​$39,458

The effective income tax rate was 29.2%,22.1% and 26.6% in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The effective income tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to state taxes as well as nondeductible employee-related expenses. The Company reduced its provision for income taxes by $5.5 million in 2022 primarily due to the effects of Pennsylvania House Bill 1342 which was enacted on July 8, 2022. The bill made significant changes to the Commonwealth’s corporate income tax laws which included lowering the tax rate gradually from 9.99% in 2022 to 4.99% in 2031.

Cash paid for federal income taxes was $23.0 million, $29.4 million and $20.4 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021 respectively. Cash paid for state income taxes was $20.8 million, $8.0 million and $4.4 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021 respectively.

Note 9 Income Taxes (continued)

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, are:

​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands)20232022
Deferred tax assets:​​​​​​
Accounts receivable​$540​$1,195
Employment incentives​​4,855​​6,329
Self-insurance liability​​9,155​​8,717
Postretirement benefit obligations​​6,565​​5,963
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards​​2,153​​5,009
Unrecognized tax benefits​​1,341​​2,869
174 R&D Capitalization​​2,307​​426
Other​​683​​675
Total deferred tax assets​​27,599​​31,183
Deferred tax liabilities:​​​​​​
Inventories​​(12,225)​​(13,398)
Unrealized gains on marketable securities​​(554)​​1,280
Prepaids​​(6,290)​​(5,570)
Depreciation​​(126,621)​​(124,720)
Total deferred tax liabilities​​(145,690)​​(142,408)
Net deferred tax liability​$(118,091)​$(111,225)

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits:

​​​​​​​
(amounts in thousands) · 2023 · 2022
Unrecognized tax benefits at beginning of year​$13,661​$10,036
Increases based on tax positions related to the current year​​—​​2,376
Additions for tax positions of prior year​​—​​1,249
Reductions for tax positions of prior years​​(948)​​—
Settlements​​(6,329)​​—
Expiration of the statute of limitations for assessment of taxes​​—​​—
Unrecognized tax benefits at end of year​$6,384​$13,661

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $0 in 2023, $3.6 million in 2022 and $1.7 million in 2021.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files tax returns in the United States and various state jurisdictions. The tax years subject to examination in the United States and in Pennsylvania, where the majority of the Company’s revenues are generated, are 2018 to 2023.

The Company has net operating loss carryforwards of $14 million available for state income tax purposes. The net operating losses will begin to expire starting in 2027. The Company expects to fully utilize these net operating loss carryforwards.

Note 10 Fair Value Information

The carrying amounts for cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturities of these instruments. The fair values of the Company’s marketable securities, as disclosed in Note 2, are based on quoted market prices and institutional pricing guidelines for those securities not classified as Level 1 securities. The Company’s SERP investments are classified as trading securities and are carried at fair value using Level 1 inputs.

Note 11 Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in various legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. The Company also accrues for contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated, based on experience. In the opinion of Management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.

Note 12 Long-Term Debt

The primary source of cash is cash flows generated from operations. In addition, the Company has access to a revolving credit agreement entered into on September 1, 2016, and amended on September 29, 2023, with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement matures on October 1, 2027, and provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30.0 million with an additional discretionary amount available of $70.0 million. As of December 30, 2023, the availability under the revolving credit agreement was $22.3 million with $7.7 million of letters of credit outstanding. The letters of credit are maintained primarily to support performance, payment, deposit or surety obligations of the Company. The Company has not had an obligation on the Credit Agreement since the second quarter of 2018.

Interest expense related to long-term debt was $41 thousand, $32 thousand and $32 thousand for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Weis Markets, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Weis Markets, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the 52 week period ended December 30, 2023, the 53 week period ended December 31, 2022 and the 52 week period ended December 25, 2021, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the 52 week period ended December 30, 2023, the 53 week period ended December 31, 2022 and the 52 week period ended December 25, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013, and our report dated February 28, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Income taxes

As described in Notes 1 and 9 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company is engaged principally in the retail sale of food in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The Company’s provision for income taxes is impacted based on interpretations of various state income tax laws. Management prepared the Company’s provision for state income taxes using significant judgment when interpreting the provisions of state tax regulations and assessing the positions taken as a result of these considerations as to whether or not the amount of benefit recorded would be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination.

We identified the evaluation of the Company’s provision for state income taxes and its assessment of more likely than not surrounding state tax positions as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management when assessing the complex provisions of the tax laws and regulations. Auditing the matter required significant auditor judgment and increased audit effort, including the use of our state tax professionals, in evaluating the recorded results of management’s tax positions and their assessment of the sustainability of these tax positions.

Our audit procedures related to the Company’s provision for state income taxes and its assessment of more likely than not surrounding state tax positions include the following, among others:

We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls related to the determination of current and deferred taxes and the assessment of more likely than not surrounding state tax positions and tested such controls for design and operating effectiveness.

We involved our state tax professionals to assist in evaluating the application of state tax regulations. Our professionals developed an independent assessment of interpretations of state tax positions requiring significant judgement and compared them to the Company’s recorded positions.

We tested the accuracy and completeness of the data and inputs used to calculate the effective state tax rate, current provision calculations, deferred tax assets/liabilities, more likely than not state tax positions assessment and income taxes receivable/payable rollforward.

Retail inventory and related cost of sales

As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company accounts for retail center store inventory under the retail inventory method (RIM) using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. RIM is commonly used by retail companies to determine cost and calculate gross margin based on applying a cost-to-retail ratio to each similar merchandise category’s ending retail value.

We identified the auditing of RIM inventory as a critical audit matter due to the increased audit effort, including involvement of more experienced audit team members and our information technology (IT) professionals. The RIM inventory computations utilize critical inputs dependent on multiple information systems that capture and process high volume transactions that elevates the importance of data interfaces and reliability of information systems.

Our audit procedures related to the Company’s RIM inventory include the following, among others:

We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls, including IT general controls, surrounding the retail inventory valuation process and tested such controls for design and operating effectiveness, including automated processes and transactional data interfaces and management’s review controls over these data inputs and the Company’s RIM calculation outputs.

We tested the accuracy and completeness of the key inputs into the RIM calculation, including purchases, sales, discounts, shrink and price changes (markdowns) by comparing the key inputs back to source information such as point of sale information via retail pricing and tender/cash receipts, third-party vendor invoices and third-party inventory count information, including testing of a rollforward from the inventory count date to year-end inventory valuation.

We performed analytical procedures disaggregated by inventory category. Such disaggregated analytical procedures included trend analysis of RIM inputs based on warehouse and direct store delivery purchases as percent of sales, cost of sales percentages compared to historical periods and trends, and discounts and markdown analytics based on inquiries with various Company personnel to assess the level of retail price changes due to pricing and promotional strategies and inflation/deflation within a category. Additional analytics include trends analyses on store count and shrink results, store square footage analytics related to ending store level inventory values and gross profit analytics by category.

/s/RSM US LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

February 28, 2024

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Weis Markets, Inc.

Opinion on the Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Weis Markets, Inc.'s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the 52 week period ended December 30, 2023, the 53 week period ended December 31, 2022 and the 52 week period ended December 25, 2021, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index, and our report dated February 28, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ RSM US LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

February 28, 2024

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