We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Hormel Foods (HRL - Free Report) . Shares were flat in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Hormel due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Hormel Foods' Q3 Earnings & Revenues Beat, Down Y/Y
Hormel Foods posted third-quarter fiscal 2019 results. Quarterly earnings of 37 cents per share came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents. However, the bottom line fell nearly 5% year over year due to the increased effective tax rate.
Net sales came in at $2,290.7 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,285 million. However, the top line descended about 3% year over year due to weak Grocery unit performance. Also, organic sales were flat year over year.
Hormel Foods witnessed a 4% drop in volumes, due to soft volumes across most segments.
Segment Details
Sales in the Grocery Products unit decreased about 11% to $543.1 million and volumes declined 10%, due to the divestiture of CytoSport. However, organic sales rose as gains from SPAM, Don Miguel, Dinty Moore and Herdez compensated for sales decline at Skippy. Further, operating profit plunged about 30% to $58.8 million due to CytoSport’s divestiture, considerably high avocado costs and unfavorable pricing of Skippy peanut butter.
Revenues in the Jennie-O Turkey Store segment lost 5.5% to $298.8 million, with volumes declining 4%. Softness in retail and foodservice sales was a deterrent, partly offset by improvements at the commodity and whole-bird businesses. Operating profit declined 8.7% to $21.3 million due to reduced sales.
The company’s Refrigerated Foods segment generated sales of $ 1,301.1 million, up roughly 1% year over year. The upside was fueled by products like Hormel Bacon 1, Hormel Fire Braised and Old Smokehouse as well as retail sales of Hormel Black Label and Columbus. Volumes dipped due to higher pricing on value-added products. Operating profit increased 13.1% to $171.8 million, courtesy of higher profitability for value-added items, lower operational costs and increased commodity profits.
International & Other revenues were nearly flat at $147.7 million. Also, volumes remained nearly flat. CytoSport’s divestiture was offset by better results in China. Operating profit rose 0.6% to nearly $18.8 million on account of improvements in China.
Costs/Margins
Selling, general and administrative expenses declined, courtesy of reduced employee-related costs and effects of CytoSport’s divestiture.
Operating margin increased 30 bps to 11.2%.
Balance Sheet/Cash Flow
The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $560.2 million and long-term debt of $250 million (excluding current maturities).
In the first nine months of fiscal 2019, Hormel Foods generated cash of $572.9 million from operating activities. Capital expenditure summed $67 million in the third quarter.
During the quarter, the company repurchased 2.7 million shares for nearly $107 million. On Aug 15, the company paid out dividend at an annual rate of 84 cents per share.
Outlook
Hormel Foods is pleased with its earnings performance, as it managed to respond promptly to the changing market conditions. Further, the company’s strong pricing, efficient promotions and prudent innovation drove its performance. However, it continues to bear the impacts of African Swine fever. Thus, it is yet to see continued increased pork prices. Also, Hormel Foods is battling input cost inflation and expects this volatility to increase.
We expect the Refrigerated Foods segment to continue benefiting from its value-added growth, effective pricing and innovation. However, fourth-quarter earnings in the Grocery Products unit is expected to bear the brunt of elevated avocado prices and dynamics at the peanut butter category.
All Said, Hormel Foods reiterated its outlook for fiscal 2019, wherein it expects net sales of $9.5-$10 billion. Further, earnings are anticipated to be $1.71-1.85 per share.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Estimates review followed an upward path over the past two months.
VGM Scores
Currently, Hormel has a nice Growth Score of B, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Hormel has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
How Has HRL Performed 30 Days Post Earnings
It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Hormel Foods (HRL - Free Report) . Shares were flat in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Hormel due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Hormel Foods' Q3 Earnings & Revenues Beat, Down Y/Y
Hormel Foods posted third-quarter fiscal 2019 results. Quarterly earnings of 37 cents per share came ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents. However, the bottom line fell nearly 5% year over year due to the increased effective tax rate.
Net sales came in at $2,290.7 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,285 million. However, the top line descended about 3% year over year due to weak Grocery unit performance. Also, organic sales were flat year over year.
Hormel Foods witnessed a 4% drop in volumes, due to soft volumes across most segments.
Segment Details
Sales in the Grocery Products unit decreased about 11% to $543.1 million and volumes declined 10%, due to the divestiture of CytoSport. However, organic sales rose as gains from SPAM, Don Miguel, Dinty Moore and Herdez compensated for sales decline at Skippy. Further, operating profit plunged about 30% to $58.8 million due to CytoSport’s divestiture, considerably high avocado costs and unfavorable pricing of Skippy peanut butter.
Revenues in the Jennie-O Turkey Store segment lost 5.5% to $298.8 million, with volumes declining 4%. Softness in retail and foodservice sales was a deterrent, partly offset by improvements at the commodity and whole-bird businesses. Operating profit declined 8.7% to $21.3 million due to reduced sales.
The company’s Refrigerated Foods segment generated sales of $ 1,301.1 million, up roughly 1% year over year. The upside was fueled by products like Hormel Bacon 1, Hormel Fire Braised and Old Smokehouse as well as retail sales of Hormel Black Label and Columbus. Volumes dipped due to higher pricing on value-added products. Operating profit increased 13.1% to $171.8 million, courtesy of higher profitability for value-added items, lower operational costs and increased commodity profits.
International & Other revenues were nearly flat at $147.7 million. Also, volumes remained nearly flat. CytoSport’s divestiture was offset by better results in China. Operating profit rose 0.6% to nearly $18.8 million on account of improvements in China.
Costs/Margins
Selling, general and administrative expenses declined, courtesy of reduced employee-related costs and effects of CytoSport’s divestiture.
Operating margin increased 30 bps to 11.2%.
Balance Sheet/Cash Flow
The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $560.2 million and long-term debt of $250 million (excluding current maturities).
In the first nine months of fiscal 2019, Hormel Foods generated cash of $572.9 million from operating activities. Capital expenditure summed $67 million in the third quarter.
During the quarter, the company repurchased 2.7 million shares for nearly $107 million. On Aug 15, the company paid out dividend at an annual rate of 84 cents per share.
Outlook
Hormel Foods is pleased with its earnings performance, as it managed to respond promptly to the changing market conditions. Further, the company’s strong pricing, efficient promotions and prudent innovation drove its performance. However, it continues to bear the impacts of African Swine fever. Thus, it is yet to see continued increased pork prices. Also, Hormel Foods is battling input cost inflation and expects this volatility to increase.
We expect the Refrigerated Foods segment to continue benefiting from its value-added growth, effective pricing and innovation. However, fourth-quarter earnings in the Grocery Products unit is expected to bear the brunt of elevated avocado prices and dynamics at the peanut butter category.
All Said, Hormel Foods reiterated its outlook for fiscal 2019, wherein it expects net sales of $9.5-$10 billion. Further, earnings are anticipated to be $1.71-1.85 per share.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Estimates review followed an upward path over the past two months.
VGM Scores
Currently, Hormel has a nice Growth Score of B, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Hormel has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.