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Hain Celestial (HAIN) Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Miss
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The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.’s (HAIN - Free Report) third-quarter fiscal 2021 earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year, while sales missed estimates and fell year over year. Earnings benefited from strong margin expansion despite the sales decline. This marked the fifth straight quarter of adjusted gross margin and EBITDA margin growth of more than 200 basis points (bps). Moreover, strong margins in the North America and International units aided the bottom line.
Shares of this organic and natural products company have declined 1.5% in the past three months against the industry’s growth of 9.7%.
Quarter in Detail
Hain Celestial posted adjusted earnings of 44 cents a share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents. This marked the company’s seventh consecutive beat. The bottom line also improved 57.1% from 28 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. Higher margins coupled with a lower adjusted effective tax rate fueled the bottom line.
Net sales of $492.6 million declined 11% on a reported basis. Moreover, the top line missed the consensus mark of $504.2 million. The sales decline can be attributed to sluggish sales performance in North America and International segments. The declines were mainly attributed to the pantry loading due to the pandemic-led stay-at-home orders in March 2020. Further, the impact of the Brexit volume, which was pulled into the second quarter of fiscal 2021, and the timing of the Hair Care Program hurt sales by about 700 bps in the fiscal third quarter. Also, divestitures and brand discontinuations hurt sales by 820 bps. However, currency acted as a tailwind and contributed around 320 basis points (bps) to sales.
On adjusting for currency fluctuations, divestitures and discontinued brands, net sales advanced 6% year over year. However, when adjusting for all the aforesaid headwinds, the company’s sales improved slightly from the prior-year quarter.
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Adjusted gross margin expanded 317 bps to 27.4%, buoyed by gains from supply-chain productivity initiatives, higher product mix from SKU rationalization efforts and the sale of the fruits business. This was partly offset by higher distribution and warehousing costs, as a percentage of sales. The increase in the costs can be attributed to elevated freight costs in the United States and higher-than-expected inventory levels, partly mitigated by better truck utilization, driven by its consolidation and efficiency initiatives.
Adjusted operating income was $59.7 million in the reported quarter, up 30.6% from $45.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased 21.6% to $73.8 million, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit adjusted EBITDA growth. Meanwhile, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 400 bps to 15%. The expansion was fueled by a higher gross margin and lower SG&A expenses.
Segmental Results
Net sales in the North America segment dropped 10% year over year to $287.5 million. On adjusting for currency movements, divestitures and discontinued brands, net sales declined 8%. The decline can be attributed to the Personal Care Club program, which was not repeated in the fiscal third quarter, as well as tough comparison with the prior-year quarter due to pantry-stocking activities that occurred after the onset of the pandemic. Segment adjusted operating income rose 15% to $43.9 million. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA amounted to $48.5 million, rising nearly 13%. Moreover, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 348 bps to 16.9%. The Get Bigger brand is also performing well.
International net sales declined 12% year over year to $205.1 million. Foreign exchange contributed nearly 660 bps to sales, while divestitures marred sales by 160 bps. On adjusting for foreign currency fluctuations, divestitures and discontinued brands, net sales dipped 3% year over year. The decline in net sales was driven by lower customer inventories in the U.K., which were elevated in the fiscal second quarter in anticipation of potential Brexit-related supply disruptions. Additionally, sales were impacted by last year’s pantry stocking due to the pandemic-led stay-at-home orders.
Further, segment adjusted operating income rose 28% to $29.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $36.7 million, up 19% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 463 bps to reach 17.9%.
Other Financials
The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $53 million, long-term debt (excluding current portion) of $255.5 million and total shareholders’ equity of $1,501.7 million.
Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $42 million and operating free cash flow from continuing operations was $18.6 million in the reported quarter. During the year-to-date period through fiscal third quarter, cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $146.5 million and operating free cash flow from continuing operations was $93.5 million.
In the quarter under review, the company repurchased 0.2 million shares for $8.6 million, excluding commissions under its share buyback program. It had shares worth $109.5 million remaining under its buyback authorization as of Mar 31, 2021.
Outlook
Driven by a robust fiscal third-quarter performance, management reaffirmed its view for the fiscal year. The company continues to anticipate gross margin and adjusted EBITDA margin expansion. Additionally, it expects double-digit adjusted EBITDA and operating free cash flow improvement for fiscal 2021.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, it expects solid gross margin and EBITDA margin expansion, with adjusted EBITDA rising close to 10%. Gross margin for the quarter is expected to increase 100 bps.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, the company anticipates a 5-8% year-over-year decline in net sales, when adjusted for foreign exchange, divestitures and discontinued brands. When compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, net sales are expected to increase in mid-single digits, after adjusting for foreign currency, divestitures and discontinued brands.
For fiscal 2021, capital expenditure is projected to be close to 5% of net sales, suggesting growth from the year-ago reported figure. Adjusted effective tax rate is anticipated between 24% and 25%.
Medifast Inc. (MED - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #1 stock, has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.7%, on average.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 20.7%, on average.
+1,500% Growth: One of 2021’s Most Exciting Investment Opportunities
In addition to the stocks you read about above, would you like to see Zacks’ top picks to capitalize on the Internet of Things (IoT)? It is one of the fastest-growing technologies in history, with an estimated 77 billion devices to be connected by 2025. That works out to 127 new devices per second.
Zacks has released a special report to help you capitalize on the Internet of Things’s exponential growth. It reveals 4 under-the-radar stocks that could be some of the most profitable holdings in your portfolio in 2021 and beyond.
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Hain Celestial (HAIN) Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Miss
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.’s (HAIN - Free Report) third-quarter fiscal 2021 earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year, while sales missed estimates and fell year over year. Earnings benefited from strong margin expansion despite the sales decline. This marked the fifth straight quarter of adjusted gross margin and EBITDA margin growth of more than 200 basis points (bps). Moreover, strong margins in the North America and International units aided the bottom line.
Shares of this organic and natural products company have declined 1.5% in the past three months against the industry’s growth of 9.7%.
Quarter in Detail
Hain Celestial posted adjusted earnings of 44 cents a share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents. This marked the company’s seventh consecutive beat. The bottom line also improved 57.1% from 28 cents reported in the prior-year quarter. Higher margins coupled with a lower adjusted effective tax rate fueled the bottom line.
Net sales of $492.6 million declined 11% on a reported basis. Moreover, the top line missed the consensus mark of $504.2 million. The sales decline can be attributed to sluggish sales performance in North America and International segments. The declines were mainly attributed to the pantry loading due to the pandemic-led stay-at-home orders in March 2020. Further, the impact of the Brexit volume, which was pulled into the second quarter of fiscal 2021, and the timing of the Hair Care Program hurt sales by about 700 bps in the fiscal third quarter. Also, divestitures and brand discontinuations hurt sales by 820 bps. However, currency acted as a tailwind and contributed around 320 basis points (bps) to sales.
On adjusting for currency fluctuations, divestitures and discontinued brands, net sales advanced 6% year over year. However, when adjusting for all the aforesaid headwinds, the company’s sales improved slightly from the prior-year quarter.
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Quote
Adjusted gross margin expanded 317 bps to 27.4%, buoyed by gains from supply-chain productivity initiatives, higher product mix from SKU rationalization efforts and the sale of the fruits business. This was partly offset by higher distribution and warehousing costs, as a percentage of sales. The increase in the costs can be attributed to elevated freight costs in the United States and higher-than-expected inventory levels, partly mitigated by better truck utilization, driven by its consolidation and efficiency initiatives.
Adjusted operating income was $59.7 million in the reported quarter, up 30.6% from $45.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased 21.6% to $73.8 million, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit adjusted EBITDA growth. Meanwhile, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 400 bps to 15%. The expansion was fueled by a higher gross margin and lower SG&A expenses.
Segmental Results
Net sales in the North America segment dropped 10% year over year to $287.5 million. On adjusting for currency movements, divestitures and discontinued brands, net sales declined 8%. The decline can be attributed to the Personal Care Club program, which was not repeated in the fiscal third quarter, as well as tough comparison with the prior-year quarter due to pantry-stocking activities that occurred after the onset of the pandemic. Segment adjusted operating income rose 15% to $43.9 million. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA amounted to $48.5 million, rising nearly 13%. Moreover, adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 348 bps to 16.9%. The Get Bigger brand is also performing well.
International net sales declined 12% year over year to $205.1 million. Foreign exchange contributed nearly 660 bps to sales, while divestitures marred sales by 160 bps. On adjusting for foreign currency fluctuations, divestitures and discontinued brands, net sales dipped 3% year over year. The decline in net sales was driven by lower customer inventories in the U.K., which were elevated in the fiscal second quarter in anticipation of potential Brexit-related supply disruptions. Additionally, sales were impacted by last year’s pantry stocking due to the pandemic-led stay-at-home orders.
Further, segment adjusted operating income rose 28% to $29.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $36.7 million, up 19% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 463 bps to reach 17.9%.
Other Financials
The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $53 million, long-term debt (excluding current portion) of $255.5 million and total shareholders’ equity of $1,501.7 million.
Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $42 million and operating free cash flow from continuing operations was $18.6 million in the reported quarter. During the year-to-date period through fiscal third quarter, cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $146.5 million and operating free cash flow from continuing operations was $93.5 million.
In the quarter under review, the company repurchased 0.2 million shares for $8.6 million, excluding commissions under its share buyback program. It had shares worth $109.5 million remaining under its buyback authorization as of Mar 31, 2021.
Outlook
Driven by a robust fiscal third-quarter performance, management reaffirmed its view for the fiscal year. The company continues to anticipate gross margin and adjusted EBITDA margin expansion. Additionally, it expects double-digit adjusted EBITDA and operating free cash flow improvement for fiscal 2021.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, it expects solid gross margin and EBITDA margin expansion, with adjusted EBITDA rising close to 10%. Gross margin for the quarter is expected to increase 100 bps.
For the fiscal fourth quarter, the company anticipates a 5-8% year-over-year decline in net sales, when adjusted for foreign exchange, divestitures and discontinued brands. When compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, net sales are expected to increase in mid-single digits, after adjusting for foreign currency, divestitures and discontinued brands.
For fiscal 2021, capital expenditure is projected to be close to 5% of net sales, suggesting growth from the year-ago reported figure. Adjusted effective tax rate is anticipated between 24% and 25%.
Solid Consumer Staples Stocks
J & J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF - Free Report) delivered an earnings surprise of 111.7%, on average, in the trailing four quarters. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Medifast Inc. (MED - Free Report) , also a Zacks Rank #1 stock, has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.7%, on average.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 20.7%, on average.
+1,500% Growth: One of 2021’s Most Exciting Investment Opportunities
In addition to the stocks you read about above, would you like to see Zacks’ top picks to capitalize on the Internet of Things (IoT)? It is one of the fastest-growing technologies in history, with an estimated 77 billion devices to be connected by 2025. That works out to 127 new devices per second.
Zacks has released a special report to help you capitalize on the Internet of Things’s exponential growth. It reveals 4 under-the-radar stocks that could be some of the most profitable holdings in your portfolio in 2021 and beyond.
Click here to download this report FREE >>