Hostess Brands Delivers Strong Profits Driven by 16.1% Net Revenue Growth in the Fourth Quarter

Hostess Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWNK) ("Hostess Brands" or the "Company") today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.

"The Hostess team once again showcased its resilience and tenacity by delivering record high quarterly sales and adjusted EBITDA, well-ahead of expectations. Our double-digit top-line growth and stable margins in the fourth quarter, and for the full year, reflect higher volumes, multiple pricing actions, increasingly impactful innovation, omni-channel presence and outstanding execution. We continue to perform at best-in-class levels while navigating inflation and supply chain challenges," commented Andy Callahan, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer.

He continued, "Our strong 2022 financial guidance reflects our confidence in maintaining our ongoing profitable growth momentum. We are even more excited to share our long-term strategic vision and planned investments to continue to deliver top-tier shareholder returns at our Investor Day presentation, beginning at noon ET today."

Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights as Compared to the Prior Year Period¹:

• Net revenue of $297.2 million increased 16.1% from the same period last year, reflecting strong Hostess® and Voortman® branded growth across all channels.
• Gross profit increased 15.2% from the year-ago period to $110.4 million, or 37.1% of net revenue. On an adjusted basis, gross profit increased 15.4% and gross margin was relatively flat at 37.2% as higher price, volume leverage, and productivity initiatives offset double-digit inflation.
• Net income of $36.5 million, or $0.25 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $1.4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share in the same period last year. Adjusted net income increased $5.3 million, or 18.5%, to $34.0 million, resulting in $0.25 adjusted EPS compared to $0.21 in the year-ago period.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.9% to $73.2 million, or 24.6% of net revenue. The increase was driven by higher gross profit, partially offset by investments in its workforce and selling expenses to support double-digit net revenue growth.
• Cash and cash equivalents were $249.2 million as of December 31, 2021. Net leverage ratio improved from 3.9x to 3.1x driven by improved operating cash flow.

Other Highlights:

• Hostess manufacturer point-of-sale ("POS") increased 24.1% for the quarter and its share of the Sweet Baked Goods category increased by 218 basis points to 21.5%. The ongoing Hostess® momentum is driven by the strength of its core portfolio and greater contributions from new innovation including Baby Bundts, Muff'n Stix and Strawberry Cheesecake Donettes®.
• Voortman® branded POS grew 19.7% for the quarter, more than 2x faster than the overall Cookie category, reflecting ongoing distribution gains and strong consumer demand.
• Successfully implemented additional pricing actions as the Company continues to execute its revenue management initiatives to maintain its industry-leading margin structure.
• Installed a new cake production line in 2021 and purchased a facility in the first quarter of 2022 for the Company's planned bakery in Arkansas to support growing consumer demand.
• Executed $61.1 million of total repurchases under the previously announced $100 million securities repurchase authorization, including $53.2 million during 2021.

2022 Financial Guidance²

The Company's guidance for the full year 2022 is as follows:

• Adjusted net revenue growth of 5% to 8%;
• Adjusted EBITDA of $280 million to $290 million, an increase of 4% to 8% from 2021;
• Adjusted EPS of $0.93 to $0.98, an increase of 6% to 11% from 2021;
• Weighted average diluted shares outstanding of 137 million to 138 million;
• Capital expenditures of approximately $120 million to $140 million, including nearly $80 million for the new bakery;
• Income tax rate of approximately 27%.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2020

Net revenue was $297.2 million, an increase of $41.2 million, or 16.1%, compared to $256.0 million with higher volumes accounting for approximately 10 percentage points of the quarterly growth. Sweet baked goods increased $39.3 million, or 17.3%, while Cookies net revenue of $30.6 million increased 6.6%, or $1.9 million.

Gross profit was $110.4 million, or 37.1% of net revenue compared to 37.4% in the same period last year. Adjusted gross profit increased 15.4% from year-ago levels. Adjusted gross margin of 37.2% was relatively unchanged from the prior year period as higher transportation costs and input cost inflation was effectively offset by pricing actions, volume leverage, productivity initiatives and favorable product mix.

Operating income was $54.0 million. Adjusted operating income of $56.9 million increased 19.3% from the same period last year as higher gross profit was partially offset by incremental workforce investments and higher selling expenses. Depreciation and amortization expense declined $0.3 million to $13.7 million while share-based compensation expense increased $0.5 million to $2.6 million in the quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA of $73.2 million, or 24.6% of net revenue, increased 14.9% from the same period last year driven by strong volume and favorable price/mix.

The Company's effective tax rate was 19.6% compared to 108.6% in the prior year. Effective tax rates were significantly impacted by non-taxable changes in the fair value of the warrant liabilities, which drove a $1.2 million gain in the current year period, compared to a $25.0 million loss in the prior year period. The effective tax rates, excluding discrete items, were 27.7% and 23.2% in the current year and prior year periods, respectively.

Net income was $36.5 million. Adjusted net income of $34.0 million increased 18.3% from the same period last year. Diluted EPS was $0.25. Adjusted EPS was $0.25 compared to $0.21 in the prior year period as higher income was partially offset by higher share dilution from the warrants.

Cash flow from operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was $203.0 million compared to $159.2 million for the same period last year. Operating cash flow benefited from increased profitability as well as lapping prior-year costs related to the integration and conversion of Voortman's operations.

Share Repurchase

The Company announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase authorization of up to $150 million shares of its Common Stock replacing its previous program, to provide additional flexibility to generate greater shareholder returns. The program has no expiration date and acquired shares of the Class A common stock will be held as treasury stock. The share repurchase program may be amended, suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company's discretion and does not commit the Company to repurchase shares of its Class A common stock. The actual timing, number and value of shares to be purchased under the program will be determined by the Company at its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including the performance of the Company's stock price, general market and other conditions, applicable legal requirements, and compliance with the terms of the Company's outstanding indebtedness.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a virtual Investor Day on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, from noon to approximately 3:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). Andy Callahan, President and Chief Executive Officer, will be joined by other members of the senior leadership team to discuss the Company's quarterly and full year results, and review its long-term strategy to drive profitable growth based on its advantaged position in growing snacking occasions. A live question and answer session will follow management's presentations. Questions for presenters may be entered at any time during the event on the webcast dashboard.

About Hostess Brands, Inc.

Hostess Brands, Inc. is a leading sweet snacks company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing snacks in North America sold under the Hostess® and Voortman® brands. The Company produces a variety of new and classic treats including iconic Hostess® Donettes®, Twinkies®, CupCakes, Ding Dongs® and Zingers®, as well as a variety of Voortman® cookies and wafers. For more information about Hostess Brands, Inc., please visit hostessbrands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements reflecting the Company's views about its future performance that 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, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are generally identified through the inclusion of words such as "believes," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "anticipates," "will," "plan," "may," "should," or similar language. Statements addressing the Company's future operating performance and statements addressing events and developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur are also considered as forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

These statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, maintaining, extending and expanding the Company's reputation and brand image; protecting intellectual property rights; leveraging the Company's brand value to compete against lower-priced alternative brands; correctly predicting, identifying and interpreting changes in consumer preferences and demand and offering new products to meet those changes; operating in a highly competitive industry; the continued ability to produce and successfully market products with extended shelf life; the ability to pass cost increases on to our customers; the ability to maintain or add additional shelf or retail space for the Company's products; our ability to identify or complete strategic acquisitions, alliances, divestitures or joint ventures; our ability to successfully integrate, achieve expected synergies and manage our acquired businesses and brands; the ability to drive revenue growth in key products or add products that are faster-growing and more profitable; adverse impact or disruption to our business caused by COVID-19 or future outbreaks of highly infectious or contagious diseases; volatility in commodity, energy, and other input prices and the ability to adjust pricing to cover increased costs; significant changes in the availability and pricing of transportation; dependence on major customers; supply chain disruptions; increased labor and employee related costs; strikes or work stoppages; product liability claims, product recalls, or regulatory enforcement actions; dependence on third parties for significant services; unanticipated business disruptions; geographic focus that could make the Company particularly vulnerable to economic and other events and trends in North America; consolidation of retail customers; unsuccessful implementation of business strategies to reduce costs; increased costs to comply with governmental regulation; failures, unavailability, or disruptions of the Company's information technology systems; dependence on key personnel or a highly skilled and diverse workforce; the Company's ability to finance indebtedness on terms favorable to the Company; and other risks as set forth from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, the Company's actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in Item 1A-Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2021 to be filed today. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on the Company's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

HOSTESS BRANDS, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted net revenue, adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted net income margin, adjusted Class A net income, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted shares and adjusted EPS collectively referred to as "Non-GAAP Financial Measures," are commonly used in the Company's industry and should not be construed as an alternative to net revenue, gross profit, operating income, net income, net income margin, net income attributed to Class A stockholders, diluted shares outstanding or earnings per share as indicators of operating performance (as determined in accordance with GAAP). These Non-GAAP Financial Measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company has included these Non-GAAP Financial Measures because it believes the measures provide management and investors with additional information to measure the Company's performance, estimate the Company's value and evaluate the Company's ability to service debt.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures are adjusted to exclude certain items that affect comparability. The adjustments are itemized in the tables below. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reason the Company considers them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating adjustments, you should be aware that in the future, the Company may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments set forth below. The presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures should not be construed as an inference that future results will be unaffected by unusual or recurring items.

The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted to exclude (i) interest expense, net, (ii) depreciation and amortization (iii) income taxes and (iv) share-based compensation, as further adjusted to eliminate the impact of certain items that the Company does not consider indicative of its ongoing operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP. For example, adjusted EBITDA:

• does not reflect the Company's capital expenditures, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

• does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, the Company's working capital needs;

• does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on the Company's debt; and

• does not reflect payments related to income taxes, the tax receivable agreement or distributions to the non-controlling interest to reimburse its tax liability.