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Flowers Foods (FLO) View Up on Q2 Earnings Beat, Shares Rise
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Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO - Free Report) delivered second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein the top and bottom exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate, though both the metrics declined year over year. Nonetheless, results remained above the pre-pandemic levels and management remains confident about the company’s future potential, thanks to its four strategic pillars. Flowers Foods raised its earnings per share guidance range for fiscal 2021, alongside pulling up the lower end of the sales view. Shares of the company gained 3.4% in the after-market trading session on Aug 12.
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 32 cents came in ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 28 cents. The bottom line declined nearly 3% from 33 cents reported in the year-ago period.
Flowers Foods, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Sales dipped 0.8% to $1,017.3 million, though the figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,009 million. We note that the metric compares with record results posted in the year-ago period, which saw elevated pandemic-led demand.
Branded retail sales declined 2% to $674.7 million. Store branded retail sales slid 9.4% to $131 million. Non-retail and other sales rose 9.9% to $211.5 million.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Costs & Margins
Materials, labor, supplies and other production expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization), as a percentage of sales, expanded 20 basis points (bps) year over year to 49.5%. The upswing can be attributed to moderating sales as well as higher returns of unsold products. This was somewhat negated by favorable comparisons with the year-ago quarter, which included $1.5 million in start-up costs related to the conversion of the company’s Lynchburg, VA facility to an organic bakery. The company saw increased commodity costs, partly made up by improved price/mix and better promotional efficiency.
Adjusted selling, distribution and administrative (SD&A) costs, as a percentage of sales, flared up 30 bps to 38.4% on account of escalated logistic costs and marketing investments, partially offset by reduced distributor distribution fees. Adjusted EBITDA slipped 5% to $122.1 million and adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 50 bps to 12%.
More Financial Aspects
The company ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $292.3 million and long-term debt of $889.9 million. Stockholders’ equity amounted to $1,425.1 million.
On a year-to-date basis till the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the company’s cash flow from operating activities amounted to $223.4 million, while it incurred capital expenditures of $58.3 million.
Flowers Foods paid out dividends worth $87 million in the aforementioned period and has 6.1 million shares remaining under the ongoing repurchase program. Capital expenditures are projected in the range of $125-$135 million for fiscal 2021.
Fiscal 2021 Guidance
While the fiscal second-quarter results declined year over year, it came ahead of pre-pandemic levels and the company continued witnessing market share gains. Management is impressed with its performance, which was powered by the company’s leading brands and continued investments toward enhancing sales and optimizing network. The company remains encouraged about Flowers Foods’ future potential, thanks to focus on its four key strategies. These include developing its team; undertaking prudent M&A activities; concentrating on brands and prioritizing margins.
Management raised its guidance for fiscal 2021. It now projects sales in the range of $4.256- $4.300 billion, suggesting a 2-3% year-over-year decline. This guidance includes a 1.8% sales reduction due to one less week in fiscal 2021. Earlier, sales were anticipated to be $4.234-$4.300 billion for fiscal 2021. Earnings per share or EPS is now envisioned in the range of $1.17-$1.22, up from the prior projection of $1.10-$1.17. The guidance includes an effect of nearly 2 cents from one fewer week in fiscal 2021.
The company expects net interest expenses of about $8 million and an effective tax rate of nearly 24.5% for the fiscal year.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have risen 2.8%, year to date, compared with the industry’s growth of 4.3%.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) , currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.8%, on average.
Pilgrim’s Pride (PPC - Free Report) , currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of nearly 34%, on average.
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Flowers Foods (FLO) View Up on Q2 Earnings Beat, Shares Rise
Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO - Free Report) delivered second-quarter fiscal 2021 results, wherein the top and bottom exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate, though both the metrics declined year over year. Nonetheless, results remained above the pre-pandemic levels and management remains confident about the company’s future potential, thanks to its four strategic pillars. Flowers Foods raised its earnings per share guidance range for fiscal 2021, alongside pulling up the lower end of the sales view. Shares of the company gained 3.4% in the after-market trading session on Aug 12.
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 32 cents came in ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 28 cents. The bottom line declined nearly 3% from 33 cents reported in the year-ago period.
Flowers Foods, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Flowers Foods, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Flowers Foods, Inc. Quote
Sales dipped 0.8% to $1,017.3 million, though the figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,009 million. We note that the metric compares with record results posted in the year-ago period, which saw elevated pandemic-led demand.
Branded retail sales declined 2% to $674.7 million. Store branded retail sales slid 9.4% to $131 million. Non-retail and other sales rose 9.9% to $211.5 million.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Costs & Margins
Materials, labor, supplies and other production expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization), as a percentage of sales, expanded 20 basis points (bps) year over year to 49.5%. The upswing can be attributed to moderating sales as well as higher returns of unsold products. This was somewhat negated by favorable comparisons with the year-ago quarter, which included $1.5 million in start-up costs related to the conversion of the company’s Lynchburg, VA facility to an organic bakery. The company saw increased commodity costs, partly made up by improved price/mix and better promotional efficiency.
Adjusted selling, distribution and administrative (SD&A) costs, as a percentage of sales, flared up 30 bps to 38.4% on account of escalated logistic costs and marketing investments, partially offset by reduced distributor distribution fees. Adjusted EBITDA slipped 5% to $122.1 million and adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 50 bps to 12%.
More Financial Aspects
The company ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $292.3 million and long-term debt of $889.9 million. Stockholders’ equity amounted to $1,425.1 million.
On a year-to-date basis till the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the company’s cash flow from operating activities amounted to $223.4 million, while it incurred capital expenditures of $58.3 million.
Flowers Foods paid out dividends worth $87 million in the aforementioned period and has 6.1 million shares remaining under the ongoing repurchase program. Capital expenditures are projected in the range of $125-$135 million for fiscal 2021.
Fiscal 2021 Guidance
While the fiscal second-quarter results declined year over year, it came ahead of pre-pandemic levels and the company continued witnessing market share gains. Management is impressed with its performance, which was powered by the company’s leading brands and continued investments toward enhancing sales and optimizing network. The company remains encouraged about Flowers Foods’ future potential, thanks to focus on its four key strategies. These include developing its team; undertaking prudent M&A activities; concentrating on brands and prioritizing margins.
Management raised its guidance for fiscal 2021. It now projects sales in the range of $4.256- $4.300 billion, suggesting a 2-3% year-over-year decline. This guidance includes a 1.8% sales reduction due to one less week in fiscal 2021. Earlier, sales were anticipated to be $4.234-$4.300 billion for fiscal 2021. Earnings per share or EPS is now envisioned in the range of $1.17-$1.22, up from the prior projection of $1.10-$1.17. The guidance includes an effect of nearly 2 cents from one fewer week in fiscal 2021.
The company expects net interest expenses of about $8 million and an effective tax rate of nearly 24.5% for the fiscal year.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have risen 2.8%, year to date, compared with the industry’s growth of 4.3%.
Some Solid Food Bets
J&J Snack Foods (JJSF - Free Report) sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), at present, and its bottom line outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a wide margin in the preceding four quarters, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) , currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.8%, on average.
Pilgrim’s Pride (PPC - Free Report) , currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of nearly 34%, on average.