The J. M. Smucker Company Announces Fiscal 2019 First Quarter Results

ORRVILLE, Ohio, Aug. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) today announced results for the first quarter ended July 31, 2018, of its 2019 fiscal year.  All comparisons are to the first quarter of the prior fiscal year, unless otherwise noted. Certain items previously reported in the financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Net sales increased $153.6 million, or 9 percent, reflecting the acquisition of Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, LLC ("Ainsworth") on May 14, 2018. 
• Net income per diluted share was $1.17.  Adjusted earnings per share was $1.78, an increase of 18 percent. 
• Both fiscal 2019 first quarter earnings per share measures included an unfavorable $0.07 per share impact from a purchase accounting adjustment attributable to acquired Ainsworth inventory.
• Cash provided by operating activities was $243.0 million and free cash flow was $141.7 million.  
• The Company updated its full-year fiscal 2019 outlook reflecting the anticipated impact from the pending divestiture of its U.S. baking business.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REMARKS

"Our strong first quarter earnings reflect the execution of our strategy, aligning our portfolio for growth in pet food, coffee, and snacking," said Mark Smucker, Chief Executive Officer.  "During the first quarter, we completed the Ainsworth acquisition, which drove much of our year-over-year sales growth, and we are making significant progress toward integrating the business.  We also announced a planned divestiture of our U.S. baking business, which is expected to close at the end of this month.  In addition, we had strong first quarter performance for key growth brands including Dunkin' Donuts^®, Smucker's^® Uncrustables^®, Nature's Recipe^®, and Café Bustelo^® while continuing to execute our cost reduction programs to enhance margins and provide fuel for investments in future growth."  

FIRST QUARTER CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Net Sales
Net sales increased reflecting a $162.8 million contribution from the Ainsworth acquisition. Excluding Ainsworth, net sales declined $9.2 million, or 1 percent, reflecting lower net price realization.  This was mostly attributable to the pet food, coffee, and oils categories, partially offset by higher net pricing in the peanut butter category.  Volume/mix and foreign currency exchange were both neutral to net sales.    

Operating Income
Gross profit increased $16.1 million, or 2 percent, primarily driven by the addition of Ainsworth. This was partially offset by an unfavorable net impact of lower pricing and higher costs, attributable to an unfavorable change in derivative gains and losses. Reflected in gross profit was a $10.9 million fair value purchase accounting adjustment attributable to acquired Ainsworth inventory, which resulted in higher cost of products sold when the related inventory was sold in the quarter.  Selling, distribution, and administrative ("SD&A") expenses increased $34.5 million, primarily reflecting the addition of Ainsworth.  Operating income decreased $8.3 million, due to the higher SD&A expenses and a $9.0 million increase in amortization expense, which was primarily attributable to Ainsworth.  A reduction in other special project costs of $19.4 million partially offset these factors.

On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted gross profit increased $50.0 million, or 8 percent, with the primary difference from GAAP results being the exclusion of the $34.6 million unfavorable change in unallocated derivative gains and losses.  After factoring in the increase in SD&A expenses, adjusted operating income increased $15.2 million, or 5 percent.     

Other
Net interest expense increased $11.6 million, due to increased debt associated with the Ainsworth acquisition.  The Company's effective tax rate was 23.2 percent compared to 32.9 percent in the prior year.  The decrease reflected the benefit of a lower U.S. federal statutory tax rate as a result of U.S. income tax reform.

Cash provided by operating activities was $243.0 million, compared to $304.3 million in the prior year, with the decline reflecting an increase in working capital requirements, primarily attributable to accounts receivable.  Free cash flow was $141.7 million, compared to $234.7 million in the prior year with the decrease further reflecting a $31.7 million increase in capital expenditures.

FULL-YEAR OUTLOOK

The Company updated its full-year fiscal 2019 guidance as summarized below:

On July 9, 2018, the Company announced the signing of a definitive agreement to divest its U.S. baking business.  Full-year projections for this business were included in the Company's previous fiscal 2019 guidance.  The Company has now updated its full-year outlook to reflect the anticipated impact of the divestiture, based on an expected transaction close date of August 31, 2018.  In addition, the net sales guidance also reflects lower than anticipated net sales in the first quarter. 

The adjusted earnings per share guidance range now reflects the estimated impact from the divestiture, including the following factors: (1) foregone profit related to the U.S. baking business for the last 8 months of fiscal 2019; (2) an anticipated gain related to the transaction; and (3) a benefit from the use of net proceeds from the divestiture. 

The reduction in the free cash flow guidance range primarily reflects the forgone profit related to the divestiture. In addition to free cash flow of $770 million to $820 million, the Company anticipates net proceeds from the divestiture of $315 million, after transaction costs and taxes.

FIRST QUARTER SEGMENT RESULTS

Dollar amounts in the segment tables below are reported in millions.

Effective May 1, 2018, sales to customers within the convenience store channel, which were previously included in the U.S. Retail market segments, are now included in the International and Away From Home segment.  Segment performance for historical periods have been reclassified accordingly, as reflected in the "Unaudited Reportable Segments Supplemental Information" table included at the end of this press release.

Segment net sales increased $10.1 million.  Favorable volume/mix contributed 2 percentage points, driven by the Dunkin' Donuts^®, 1850tm, and Café Bustelo^® brands, partially offset by declines in Folgers^® roast and ground coffee.  The favorable volume/mix was slightly offset by lower net price realization, driven by the Folgers^® brand. Segment profit increased $24.6 million primarily due to lower input costs, which more than offset an increase in marketing expense.

Segment net sales decreased $4.6 million.  Excluding the baking business, which is pending divestiture, net sales were comparable to the prior year as volume/mix gains for Smucker's^® Uncrustables^® were partially offset by declines for the Jif^® brand.  Net price realization was neutral.  Segment profit decreased $12.8 million due to higher input and freight costs, unfavorable volume/mix, and increased marketing expense.

Segment net sales increased $150.5 million reflecting the $162.8 million contribution from Ainsworth.  Excluding Ainsworth, net sales declined $12.3 million, or 2 percent.  Lower net price realization reduced net sales by 1 percentage point.  Lower volume/mix also decreased net sales by 1 percentage point, reflecting declines for the Natural Balance^® brand and the discontinuation of certain Gravy Train^® products, partially offset by gains for the Nature's Recipe^®, Milk Bone^®, and Meow Mix^® brands.  Segment profit increased $2.6 million, reflecting the addition of Ainsworth.  However, profit contributions from the Ainsworth acquisition reflected the unfavorable impact of the $10.9 million fair value purchase accounting adjustment.  Excluding Ainsworth, segment profit declined as the net impact of lower pricing and higher input and freight costs was only partially offset by reduced marketing expense.

Segment net sales decreased $2.4 million due to lower net price realization.  Volume/mix was neutral.  Segment profit increased $3.2 million, reflecting a net benefit of lower pricing and costs as well as lower marketing expense.

Conference Call
The Company will conduct an earnings conference call and webcast today, August 21, 2018, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.  To access the webcast, please visit jmsmucker.com/investor-relations.

The J. M. Smucker Company Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as projected net sales, operating results, earnings, and cash flows that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements.  The risks, uncertainties, important factors, and assumptions listed and discussed in this press release, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed, include: the ability to successfully integrate the acquired Ainsworth business in a timely and cost-effective manner and retain key suppliers, customers, and employees; the ability to achieve synergies and cost savings related to the Ainsworth acquisition in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated; the ability to successfully complete the divestiture of the U.S. baking business in a timely and cost-effective manner; the ability to achieve cost savings related to the organization optimization and cost management programs in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet the Company's cash deleveraging objectives; volatility of commodity, energy, and other input costs; risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies employed to manage commodity pricing risks; the availability of reliable transportation on acceptable terms; the ability to implement and realize the full benefit of price changes, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period; the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in the businesses, including product innovation; general competitive activity in the market, including competitors' pricing practices and promotional spending levels; the impact of food security concerns involving either the Company's or its competitors' products; the impact of accidents, extreme weather, and natural disasters; the concentration of certain of the Company's businesses with key customers and suppliers, including single-source suppliers of certain key raw materials and finished goods, and the ability to manage and maintain key relationships; the timing and amount of capital expenditures and share repurchases; impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in useful lives of other intangible assets; the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws and regulations and their application, including tariffs; the outcome of tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters; foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations; and risks related to other factors described under "Risk Factors" in other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, to reflect new events or circumstances.

About The J. M. Smucker Company
For more than 120 years, The J. M. Smucker Company has brought families together to share memorable meals and moments.  Guided by a vision to engage, delight, and inspire consumers through trusted food and beverage brands that bring joy throughout their lives, Smucker has grown to be a well-respected North American marketer and manufacturer with a balanced portfolio of leading and emerging, on-trend brands.  In consumer foods and beverages, its brands include Smucker's^®, Folgers^®, Jif^®, Dunkin' Donuts^®, Crisco^®, Café Bustelo^®, R.W. Knudsen Family^®, Sahale Snacks^®, Smucker's^® Uncrustables^®, Robin Hood^®, and Bick's^®.  In pet food and pet snacks, its brands include Rachael Ray^® Nutrish^®, Meow Mix^®, Milk-Bone^®, Kibbles 'n Bits^®, Natural Balance^®, and Nature's Recipe^®.  The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth, and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago.  For more information about our Company, visit jmsmucker.com.

The J. M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for the following, which are used under license: Dunkin' Donuts^® is a registered trademark of DD IP Holder LLC, and Rachael Ray^® is a registered trademark of Ray Marks Co. LLC.   

Dunkin' Donuts^® brand is licensed to The J. M. Smucker Company for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and drug stores.  This information does not pertain to Dunkin' Donuts^® coffee or other products for sale in Dunkin' Donuts^® restaurants. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures, including: net sales excluding acquisition and foreign currency exchange; adjusted gross profit, operating income, income, and earnings per share; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA"); and free cash flow, as key measures for purposes of evaluating performance internally.  The Company believes that investors' understanding of its performance is enhanced by disclosing these performance measures. Furthermore, these non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in preparation of the annual budget and for the monthly analyses of its operating results. The Board of Directors also utilizes the adjusted earnings per share, adjusted operating income, and free cash flow measures as components for measuring performance for incentive compensation purposes.

Non-GAAP profit measures exclude certain items affecting comparability which include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, integration and restructuring costs ("special project costs"), and unallocated gains and losses on commodity and foreign currency exchange derivatives ("unallocated derivative gains and losses").  The special project costs relate to specific integration and restructuring projects, and the unallocated derivative gains and losses reflect the changes in fair value of the Company's commodity and foreign currency exchange contracts. 

These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").  Rather, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures supplements other metrics used by management to internally evaluate its businesses and facilitates the comparison of past and present operations and liquidity.  These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and may exclude certain nondiscretionary expenses and cash payments.  A reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measure for the current and prior year periods is included in the "Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures" tables.  The Company has also provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures for its fiscal 2019 outlook.  As the amount of unallocated derivative gains and losses varies depending on market conditions and levels of derivative transactions with respect to a particular fiscal year, it is not determinable on a forward-looking basis and no guidance has been provided.

SOURCE The J. M. Smucker Company