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Church & Dwight (CHD) Tops Earnings, Stock Dips on Soft Sales
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Church & Dwight Company, Inc. (CHD - Free Report) posted mixed results in the second quarter of 2017, wherein while earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, revenues missed the same as the segments reported slower-than-expected growth due to continued discounting. Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company also declined around 2% in the pre-market trading session.
Adjusted earnings (excluding charges related to U.K pension termination) of 41 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents by 5.1%. In fact, earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimates in 11 out of the last 14 quarters, including the current one.
Adjusted earnings, however, declined 4.7% from the year-ago period and were below management’s estimated growth of 5%. Higher promotional expenses pressured margins.
Notably, Church & Dwight’ shares have underperformed the industry as well as the broader Consumer Staple sector in the last one month. The stock has moved up 1.4% in the last one month, while the industry grew about 3.0% and the broader sector gained 2.1%.
Quarter in Detail
The company reported sales of $898.0 million in the second quarter. Sales marginally lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $904 million by 0.7% but grew 2.3% from the prior-year quarter on the back of acquisitions. We note that sales outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimates in 12 out of the last 15 quarters, including the current one. Further, sales growth also outpaced the company’s expected range of 1-2%.
Organic sales inched up 1.8% from the prior-year quarter, which was within the company’s range of 1–2% as higher volumes of 6.2% were offset by 4.4% higher promotional investments. Strong growth in International and Specialty Products business continued to boost sales in the quarter. However, sales growth in Consumer Domestic segment was dented by decline in Personal Care Products category. Organic growth in the second quarter was weaker than the preceding quarter’s growth of 2.3%.
Gross margin declined 80 basis points to 45.7% due to planned increased promotion and coupon investments in the domestic business. Adjusted operating margin declined 190 basis points to 18.1% in the quarter, due to higher SG&A ratio and lower gross margin.
Segment Details
Consumer Domestic: Segment net sales increased 1.3% to $678.2 million, while organic sales was down 0.1% as 6.2% higher volume growth was overshadowed by a decline of 6.3% related to higher promotional investments.
ARM & HAMMER liquid and unit dose laundry detergents, OXICLEAN laundry detergent and stain fighters, BATISTE dry shampoo and ARM & HAMMER cat litter was offset by declines in XTRA laundry detergent, FIRST RESPONSE pregnancy test kits and TROJAN condoms.
Consumer International: Segment net sales grew 6.4% to $145.1 million. Organic sales increased 7.4% driven by broad based household and personal care sales. While volume increased 6.8%, favorable product mix and pricing added 0.6% in the quarter.
FEMFRESH and BATISTE in the export business, ARM & HAMMER liquid laundry detergent, STERIMAR and OXICLEAN Stain Fighter Gel in Mexico and BATISTE, VITAFUSION and FEMFRESH in Australia, all added to the strong sales growth.
Specialty Products: The segment sales showed an increase of 4.9% to $74.7 million. Organic sales surged 9.4% backed by higher volumes and strong pricing in the animal productivity business. Encouragingly, milk prices and U.S. dairy farm profitability remain at a higher level than a year ago.
Church & Dwight Company, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Church & Dwight ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $237.6 million, long-term debt of $894.1 million, and total shareholders’ equity of $1,848 million.
In the first half of 2017, the company generated cash flow from operations of $249.3 million and incurred capital expenditure of $10.4 million. For 2017, management expects adjusted free cash flow to exceed adjusted net income. The company expects to generate over $1.8 billion in free cash flow over the next three years.
Guidance for 2017
Church & Dwight remains optimistic about its future performance on the back of a stable portfolio of value and premium products, launch of new and innovative products, aggressive productivity programs and tight management of overhead expenses, along with robust sales and earnings growth. However, it also expects a competitive environment in 2017 due to new product introductions by competitors and persistent pricing pressure. The company expects rising commodity costs and foreign currency headwinds to prevail in 2017.
The company continues to expect reported and organic sales growth of approximately 3% for 2017 driven by innovations. Further, it anticipates adjusted gross margin expansion of 40 bps year over year, despite rising commodity costs and currency headwinds. Also, operating margin is estimated to improve nearly 30 bps (40 bps expected earlier), on adjustment for pension settlement cost and Brazil charges. Considering all these factors, management envisions adjusted earnings per share in 2017 to grow by 8.5%. Excluding negative currency impact of 1%, the company forecasts adjusted earnings to grow 9.5% for 2017.
Third-Quarter Outlook
For the third quarter, the company expects reported and organic sales growth of 3.5%, with approximately 3% growth coming from the domestic business. The company expects adjusted earnings of 46 cents in the third quarter including 2 cents of net dilution from Waterpik acquisition expenses.
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Inter Parfums has an average positive earnings surprise of 15.6% over the past four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12.3%.
Kellogg Company has an average positive earnings surprise of 6.2% over the past four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 6%.
Constellation Brands has an average positive earnings surprise of 11.7% over the past four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 18.2%.
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Church & Dwight (CHD) Tops Earnings, Stock Dips on Soft Sales
Church & Dwight Company, Inc. (CHD - Free Report) posted mixed results in the second quarter of 2017, wherein while earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, revenues missed the same as the segments reported slower-than-expected growth due to continued discounting. Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company also declined around 2% in the pre-market trading session.
Adjusted earnings (excluding charges related to U.K pension termination) of 41 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 39 cents by 5.1%. In fact, earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimates in 11 out of the last 14 quarters, including the current one.
Adjusted earnings, however, declined 4.7% from the year-ago period and were below management’s estimated growth of 5%. Higher promotional expenses pressured margins.
Notably, Church & Dwight’ shares have underperformed the industry as well as the broader Consumer Staple sector in the last one month. The stock has moved up 1.4% in the last one month, while the industry grew about 3.0% and the broader sector gained 2.1%.
Quarter in Detail
The company reported sales of $898.0 million in the second quarter. Sales marginally lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $904 million by 0.7% but grew 2.3% from the prior-year quarter on the back of acquisitions. We note that sales outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimates in 12 out of the last 15 quarters, including the current one. Further, sales growth also outpaced the company’s expected range of 1-2%.
Organic sales inched up 1.8% from the prior-year quarter, which was within the company’s range of 1–2% as higher volumes of 6.2% were offset by 4.4% higher promotional investments. Strong growth in International and Specialty Products business continued to boost sales in the quarter. However, sales growth in Consumer Domestic segment was dented by decline in Personal Care Products category. Organic growth in the second quarter was weaker than the preceding quarter’s growth of 2.3%.
Gross margin declined 80 basis points to 45.7% due to planned increased promotion and coupon investments in the domestic business. Adjusted operating margin declined 190 basis points to 18.1% in the quarter, due to higher SG&A ratio and lower gross margin.
Segment Details
Consumer Domestic: Segment net sales increased 1.3% to $678.2 million, while organic sales was down 0.1% as 6.2% higher volume growth was overshadowed by a decline of 6.3% related to higher promotional investments.
ARM & HAMMER liquid and unit dose laundry detergents, OXICLEAN laundry detergent and stain fighters, BATISTE dry shampoo and ARM & HAMMER cat litter was offset by declines in XTRA laundry detergent, FIRST RESPONSE pregnancy test kits and TROJAN condoms.
Consumer International: Segment net sales grew 6.4% to $145.1 million. Organic sales increased 7.4% driven by broad based household and personal care sales. While volume increased 6.8%, favorable product mix and pricing added 0.6% in the quarter.
FEMFRESH and BATISTE in the export business, ARM & HAMMER liquid laundry detergent, STERIMAR and OXICLEAN Stain Fighter Gel in Mexico and BATISTE, VITAFUSION and FEMFRESH in Australia, all added to the strong sales growth.
Specialty Products: The segment sales showed an increase of 4.9% to $74.7 million. Organic sales surged 9.4% backed by higher volumes and strong pricing in the animal productivity business. Encouragingly, milk prices and U.S. dairy farm profitability remain at a higher level than a year ago.
Church & Dwight Company, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Church & Dwight Company, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Church & Dwight Company, Inc. Quote
Other Financial Update
Church & Dwight ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $237.6 million, long-term debt of $894.1 million, and total shareholders’ equity of $1,848 million.
In the first half of 2017, the company generated cash flow from operations of $249.3 million and incurred capital expenditure of $10.4 million. For 2017, management expects adjusted free cash flow to exceed adjusted net income. The company expects to generate over $1.8 billion in free cash flow over the next three years.
Guidance for 2017
Church & Dwight remains optimistic about its future performance on the back of a stable portfolio of value and premium products, launch of new and innovative products, aggressive productivity programs and tight management of overhead expenses, along with robust sales and earnings growth. However, it also expects a competitive environment in 2017 due to new product introductions by competitors and persistent pricing pressure. The company expects rising commodity costs and foreign currency headwinds to prevail in 2017.
The company continues to expect reported and organic sales growth of approximately 3% for 2017 driven by innovations. Further, it anticipates adjusted gross margin expansion of 40 bps year over year, despite rising commodity costs and currency headwinds. Also, operating margin is estimated to improve nearly 30 bps (40 bps expected earlier), on adjustment for pension settlement cost and Brazil charges. Considering all these factors, management envisions adjusted earnings per share in 2017 to grow by 8.5%. Excluding negative currency impact of 1%, the company forecasts adjusted earnings to grow 9.5% for 2017.
Third-Quarter Outlook
For the third quarter, the company expects reported and organic sales growth of 3.5%, with approximately 3% growth coming from the domestic business. The company expects adjusted earnings of 46 cents in the third quarter including 2 cents of net dilution from Waterpik acquisition expenses.
Do Consumer Staples Stocks Interest You? Check These
Investors may also consider other stocks from the same sector such as Inter Parfums, Inc. (IPAR - Free Report) , Kellogg Company (K - Free Report) and Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ - Free Report) all carrying a Zacks Rank #2.You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Inter Parfums has an average positive earnings surprise of 15.6% over the past four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 12.3%.
Kellogg Company has an average positive earnings surprise of 6.2% over the past four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 6%.
Constellation Brands has an average positive earnings surprise of 11.7% over the past four quarters. It has a long-term earnings growth rate of 18.2%.
More Stock News: Tech Opportunity Worth $386 Billion in 2017
From driverless cars to artificial intelligence, we've seen an unsurpassed growth of high-tech products in recent months. Yesterday's science-fiction is becoming today's reality. Despite all the innovation, there is a single component no tech company can survive without. Demand for this critical device will reach $387 billion this year alone, and it's likely to grow even faster in the future.
Zacks has released a brand-new Special Report to help you take advantage of this exciting investment opportunity. Most importantly, it reveals 4 stocks with massive profit potential. See these stocks now>>