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The J. M. Smucker Company Announces First Quarter Results

 
    ORRVILLE, Ohio, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The J. M. Smucker
 Company (NYSE:   SJM) today announced results for the first quarter ended
 July 31, 2007, of its 2008 fiscal year. Results for the quarter include the
 operations of Eagle Family Foods Holdings, Inc. ("Eagle") since the
 acquisition closing date of May 1, 2007.
     First Quarter Results
                                           Three months ended
                                              July 31,
                                          2007        2006     % Increase
                                   (Dollars in millions, except per share data)
 
     Net sales                           $561.5       $526.5         7%
     Net income:
        Income                           $40.8        $28.7         42%
        Income per diluted share         $0.71        $0.50         42%
     Net sales increased 17 percent in the first quarter, excluding the
 Canadian nonbranded, grain-based foodservice and industrial businesses sold
 in September 2006. The acquired Eagle businesses contributed $43.5 million
 in the quarter, accounting for approximately one-half of the increase in
 net sales. Also contributing to growth in the quarter were the Jif(R),
 Crisco(R), Pillsbury(R), and Uncrustables(R) businesses, and strong
 performance across the special markets segment. Net sales growth, gross
 margin improvements, and a reduction in restructuring costs, all
 contributed to an increase in net income for the quarter.
     Net income per diluted share for the quarter was $0.71, a 42 percent
 increase over last year's first quarter. Net income for the first quarter
 of 2008 included restructuring and merger and integration costs of $0.01
 per diluted share, while net income for the first quarter of 2007 included
 restructuring costs of $0.09 per diluted share. Excluding these costs in
 both years, the Company's income per diluted share was $0.72 in the first
 quarter of 2008, and $0.59 in the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 22
 percent.
     "Once again, our brands delivered good sales growth in the quarter,"
 commented Tim Smucker, chairman and co-chief executive officer. "Earnings
 grew at an even greater rate than sales, a significant accomplishment in a
 very difficult cost environment. The addition of Eagle to our portfolio
 supports our strategic emphasis on owning leading North American brands and
 enhances our future growth opportunities."
     "We have started the year with good momentum," added Richard Smucker,
 president and co-chief executive officer. "To support future growth, we
 continue to introduce new products and are spending behind our brands with
 marketing support. We are committed to investing in the long-term growth of
 our brands, even as we expect raw material costs to continue to escalate
 for the foreseeable future."
     The Company uses income and income per diluted share, excluding
 restructuring and merger and integration costs, as key performance measures
 of results of operations for purposes of evaluating performance internally.
 These non-GAAP measures are not intended to replace the presentation of
 financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Rather, the presentation of
 results excluding such charges is consistent with the way management
 internally evaluates its businesses, facilitates the comparison of past and
 present operations, and provides a more comprehensive understanding of the
 financial results. A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to net income for
 the current quarter is included in the "Unaudited Financial Highlights"
 table.
     Margins
                                                      Three months ended
                                                            July 31,
                                                     2007             2006
                                                       (% of net sales)
     Gross margin                                   33.1%             30.0%
     Selling, distribution, and administrative      20.8%             20.6%
     Operating margin                               12.2%              9.3%
     Operating income increased by $19.6 million, or 40 percent, compared to
 the first quarter of 2007. The quarter's operating income was favorably
 impacted by lower restructuring charges compared to last year. In addition,
 the current quarter's margins benefited from the divestiture of the lower
 margin, nonbranded Canadian businesses in the second quarter of fiscal
 2007. Favorable product mix, mainly attributable to increased peanut butter
 sales, and improved Uncrustables profitability also contributed to margin
 improvement.
     The Company realized significantly higher commodity costs during the
 quarter as compared to the same period last year. Pricing actions taken
 over the last several quarters helped to offset a portion of the increased
 costs. Commodity costs are expected to continue to rise, particularly for
 milk, soybean oil, wheat, and peanuts. As a result, future pricing actions
 are anticipated.
     Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses as a percentage of
 net sales increased in the first quarter of 2008 as marketing and selling
 expenses increased at a higher rate than sales.
     Other
     Interest expense increased by $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2008
 compared to the first quarter of 2007, resulting from the issuance of $400
 million in senior notes, a portion of which was used to repay short-term
 debt used in financing the Eagle acquisition. The investment of excess
 proceeds resulted in an increase in interest income of $1.5 million during
 the quarter compared to the same quarter last year.
     In June 2007, the Company divested its industrial ingredients business
 in Scotland resulting in a pre-tax gain of $1.9 million and an after-tax
 gain of $0.5 million. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 36.1
 percent due primarily to taxes associated with the divestiture of the
 Scotland operation and repatriation of foreign earnings. However, the
 Company expects a tax rate for the full year of approximately 34.5 percent.
     Segment Performance
 
     Net sales                                  Three months ended
                                                July 31,       % Increase
                                           2007        2006     (Decrease)
                                                (Dollars in millions)
 
     U.S. retail market                   $418.2       $353.3        18%
     Special markets                      $143.4       $173.2       (17%)
     Special markets excluding divested
      nonbranded Canadian businesses      $143.4       $125.9        14%
     U.S. Retail Market
     U.S. retail market segment net sales for the quarter were up 18
 percent. Net sales in the consumer strategic business area increased 6
 percent led by peanut butter and Uncrustables. A temporary interruption in
 supply of peanut butter in the market continued through the first quarter,
 adding to demand for the Company's products. Net sales in the consumer oils
 and baking strategic business area were up 42 percent. Excluding the
 contribution of $38.3 million from the acquired Eagle business, consumer
 oils and baking sales increased 10 percent due to growth in oils, baking
 mixes and frostings, and the impact of the White Lily(R) brand acquired in
 the second quarter of 2007.
     Special Markets
     Net sales in the first quarter for the special markets segment,
 excluding divested businesses, increased 14 percent resulting primarily
 from a 36 percent increase in the foodservice strategic business area.
 Foodservice sales increased 21 percent excluding the contribution of Eagle.
 Contributing to growth in special markets, sales in beverage were up 11
 percent and Canada sales were up 6 percent primarily resulting from the
 impact of favorable exchange rates.
     Conference Call
     The Company will conduct an earnings conference call and webcast on
 Friday, August 17, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. E.T. The webcast, as well as a replay
 in downloadable MP3 format, can be accessed from the Company's website at
 www.smuckers.com. For those unable to listen to the webcast, an audio
 replay will be available following the call and can be accessed by dialing
 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820, with a pass code of 4871503, and will be
 available until Friday, August 24, 2007.
     About The J. M. Smucker Company
     The J. M. Smucker Company is the leading marketer and manufacturer of
 fruit spreads, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings,
 sweetened condensed milk, and health and natural foods beverages in North
 America. Its family of brands includes Smucker's(R), Jif(R), Crisco(R),
 Pillsbury(R), Eagle Brand(R), R.W. Knudsen Family(R), Hungry Jack(R), White
 Lily(R) and Martha White(R) in the United States, along with Robin Hood(R),
 Five Roses(R) and Bick's(R) in Canada. 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. Since
 1998, the Company has appeared on FORTUNE Magazine's annual listing of the
 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States, ranking number one in
 2004. For more information about the company, visit www.smuckers.com.
     The J. M. Smucker Company Forward-Looking Language
     This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
 statements regarding estimates of future earnings and cash flows that are
 subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
 differ materially. Uncertainties that could affect actual results include,
 but are not limited to, volatility of commodity markets from which raw
 materials are procured and the related impact on costs, crude oil price
 trends and its impact on transportation, energy, and packaging costs, raw
 material and ingredient cost trends, the ability to successfully implement
 price changes, particularly in the consumer oils and baking business, the
 success and cost of introducing new products and the competitive response,
 particularly in the consumer oils and baking area, the success and cost of
 marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in
 the Company's businesses, the concentration of certain of the Company's
 businesses with key customers and the ability to manage and maintain key
 customer relationships, the timing and amount of capital expenditures,
 restructuring, and merger and integration costs, the timing and cost of
 acquiring common shares under the Company's share repurchase authorization,
 and other factors affecting share prices and capital markets generally.
 Other risks and uncertainties that may materially affect the Company are
 detailed from time to time in the respective reports filed by the Company
 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 10-Q, 10-K,
 and 8-K.
                           The J. M. Smucker Company
             Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
 
                                                  Three Months Ended July 31,
                                                  2007                  2006
                                  (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
     Net sales                                  $561,513              $526,509
     Cost of products sold                       375,529               361,342
     Cost of products sold - restructuring           -                   7,173
     Gross Profit                                185,984               157,994
     Selling, distribution, and administrative
      expenses                                   116,750               108,397
     Other restructuring costs                       313                   731
     Merger and integration costs                    432                   -
     Operating Income                             68,489                48,866
     Interest income                               3,495                 1,995
     Interest expense                            (10,093)               (6,101)
     Other income (expense) - net                  1,932                  (569)
     Income Before Income Taxes                   63,823                44,191
     Income taxes                                 23,062                15,467
     Net Income                                  $40,761               $28,724
 
        Net income per common share                $0.72                 $0.51
 
        Net income per common share -
         assuming dilution                         $0.71                 $0.50
 
     Dividends declared per common share           $0.30                 $0.28
 
     Weighted-average shares outstanding      56,645,611            56,677,665
     Weighted-average shares outstanding -
      assuming dilution                       57,265,133            57,194,161
 
 
 
                           The J. M. Smucker Company
                Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
                                              July 31, 2007      April 30, 2007
                                                    (Dollars in thousands)
     Assets
     Current Assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents               $206,662              $200,119
        Marketable securities                    144,580                   -
        Trade receivables                        148,061               124,048
        Inventories                              389,094               286,052
        Other current assets                      26,797                29,147
           Total Current Assets                  915,194               639,366
 
     Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net         480,418               454,028
 
     Other Noncurrent Assets:
        Goodwill                               1,069,717               990,771
        Other intangible assets, net             600,552               478,194
        Marketable securities                     41,532                44,117
        Other assets                              94,819                87,347
           Total Noncurrent Assets             1,806,620             1,600,429
                                              $3,202,232            $2,693,823
 
     Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
     Current Liabilities:
        Current portion of long-term debt        $33,000               $33,000
        Accounts payable                         108,731                93,500
        Other current liabilities                142,154               109,968
           Total Current Liabilities             283,885               236,468
 
     Noncurrent Liabilities:
        Long-term debt, net of current portion   791,903               392,643
        Other noncurrent liabilities             280,755               269,055
           Total Noncurrent Liabilities        1,072,658               661,698
 
     Shareholders' Equity, net                 1,845,689             1,795,657
                                              $3,202,232            $2,693,823
 
 
 
                           The J. M. Smucker Company
            Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
 
                                                    Three Months Ended July 31,
                                                           2007         2006
                                                        (Dollars in thousands)
 
     Operating Activities
        Net income                                        $40,761      $28,724
        Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
         provided by operating activities:
           Depreciation                                    14,770       15,127
           Amortization                                       121           41
           Asset impairments and other restructuring
            charges                                           -          7,173
           Share-based compensation expense                 2,826        2,659
           Working capital                                (48,851)       7,084
     Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities              9,627       60,808
 
     Investing Activities
        Business acquired, net of cash acquired          (133,446)     (19,408)
        Additions to property, plant, and equipment       (16,787)     (14,895)
        Proceeds from sale of business                      3,407          -
        Purchase of marketable securities                (144,705)     (20,000)
        Other - net                                         2,931       11,879
     Net Cash Used for Investing Activities              (288,600)     (42,424)
 
     Financing Activities
        Proceeds from long-term debt                      400,000          -
        Repayments of long-term debt                     (115,000)         -
        Dividends paid                                    (17,014)     (15,809)
        Purchase of treasury shares                        (3,627)      (1,047)
        Other - net                                        19,296       22,585
     Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities            283,655        5,729
     Effect of exchange rate changes                        1,861           71
     Net increase in cash and cash equivalents              6,543       24,184
     Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     200,119       71,956
     Cash and cash equivalents at end of period          $206,662      $96,140
 
 
 
                           The J. M. Smucker Company
                         Unaudited Financial Highlights
 
                                                    Three Months Ended July 31,
                                                           2007         2006
                                  (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
 
     Net sales                                           $561,513     $526,509
 
     Net income and net income per common share:
        Net income                                        $40,761      $28,724
        Net income per common share -- assuming dilution    $0.71        $0.50
 
     Income before restructuring and merger and
      integration costs: (1)
        Income                                            $41,237      $33,861
        Income per common share -- assuming dilution        $0.72        $0.59
 
 
     (1)Reconciliation to net income:
        Income before income taxes                        $63,823      $44,191
        Merger and integration costs                          432          -
        Cost of products sold - restructuring                 -          7,173
        Other restructuring costs                             313          731
        Income before income taxes, restructuring,
         and merger and integration costs                  64,568       52,095
        Income taxes                                       23,331       18,234
        Income before restructuring and merger and
         integration costs                                $41,237      $33,861
 
        The Company uses income and income per diluted share, excluding
        restructuring and merger and integration costs, as key performance
        measures of results of operations for purposes of evaluating
        performance internally.  These non-GAAP measures are not intended to
        replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S.
        GAAP.  Rather, the presentation of results excluding such charges is
        consistent with the way management internally evaluates its businesses,
        facilitates the comparison of past and present operations and provides
        a more comprehensive understanding of the financial results.
 
 
 
                           The J. M. Smucker Company
                         Unaudited Reportable Segments
 
                                          Three Months Ended July 31,
                                            2007            2006
                                            (Dollars in thousands)
     Net sales:
          U.S. retail market              $418,155          $353,335
          Special markets                  143,358           173,174
     Total net sales                      $561,513          $526,509
 
     Segment profit:
          U.S. retail market               $78,758           $69,306
          Special markets                   21,636            17,277
     Total segment profit                 $100,394           $86,583
 
 

SOURCE The J. M. Smucker Company
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