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TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (THS - Free Report) released second-quarter 2019 results, with the bottom line beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, earnings and sales declined year on year. Headwinds like SKU rationalization, McCann's divestiture as well as the adverse impacts from volume/mix and currency fluctuations impacted the outcome. However, pricing actions and savings initiatives — TreeHouse 2020 and Structure to Win — provided some respite.
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings of 36 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 29 cents and also surpassed management’s previous guidance by a penny. However, the bottom line reflects a 2-cents decline from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
Net sales of $1,250.7 million missed the consensus mark of $1,298 million and tumbled almost 14.1% year over year. The downside was caused by SKU rationalization of low-margin businesses and the divestiture of McCann. Excluding SKU rationalization and divestiture impacts, sales fell 12.9% primarily due to adverse volume/mix, unfavorable pricing and foreign currency headwinds.
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Gross margin came in at 15.9%, down 30 basis points (bps) from the year-ago quarter’s figure. This was triggered by lower volumes and a charge related to multiyear pension withdrawal.
Operating expenses increased 50% year on year. As a percentage of sales, the same increased 11.8 percentage points to 27.8%.
Further, adjusted EBITDA declined 5.3% to $113.4 million, owing to fixed cost impacts stemming from low volumes and unfavorable pricing. These were partially offset by lower freight costs and savings from the Structure to Win initiatives and TreeHouse 2020.
Segment Details
Baked Goods: Sales in the segment fell 6.9% year on year to $397.1 million. The downside was caused by SKU rationalization, adverse volume/mix and currency. This was partially mitigated by favorable impacts from pricing. Direct operating income (DOI) margin in the segment advanced 180 bps to 10.5%, driven by favorable pricing, lower product costs, reduced freight, favorable mix and reduced expenses driven by Structure to Win and TreeHouse 2020 efforts. These were partially negated by lower volumes and higher commodity expenses related to the packaging of flour.
Beverages: Sales fell 10% to $212.8 million due to efforts to rationalize SKUs, adverse volume/mix and unfavorable pricing. DOI margin declined 30 bps to 19.4% owing to unfavorable pricing, increased production costs and adverse volume/mix impacts. These were partially countered by lower freight.
Meals Solutions: Net sales declined almost 9.3% to $470.3 million owing to SKU rationalization efforts, impacts from the divestiture of McCann’s business, adverse volume/mix and currency rates. However, the decline was partly compensated by improved pricing. DOI margin improved 50 bps to 11.8% owing to favorable pricing, lower freight costs and reduced expenses driven by TreeHouse 2020 and Structure to Win initiatives. These were countered by higher costs of certain commodities and lower volumes.
Snacks: Net sales in the segment plunged 37.8% to $170.5 million due to lost distribution for the Snack nuts and Trail mix as well as unfavorable pricing. DOI margin declined 460 bps, owing to reduced volumes and the associated fixed cost impacts. This was somewhat countered by lower freight costs and input prices of certain commodities.
Other Financial Updates
The company concluded the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $63.7 million, long-term debt of $2,257.6 million and total shareholders’ equity of $1,983.3 million.
For the first half of 2019, cash provided by operating activities amounting to $9.4 million.
Other Developments & Guidance
In a separate release, management announced that it has completed the divestiture of snack nuts and trail mix business to Atlas Holdings for $90 million. The sale of ready-to-eat cereal business to Post Holdings (POST - Free Report) is also on track. As a result, these businesses will form part of the company’s discontinued operations from the beginning of the third quarter. These divestitures are expected to be accretive by nearly 19 cents upon the bottom line in 2019. However, earnings for the year will be weighed down by adverse impacts of nearly 6 cents, stemming from certain adjustments.
After considering these, management expects adjusted earnings from continuing operations for 2019 in the band of $2.33-$2.63. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for 2019 is currently pegged at $2.33.
Further, management expects third-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings in the range of 52-62 cents and net sales in the band of $1.04-$1.14 billion. Decline in sales in the Baked Goods and Meals Solutions units is likely to dent quarterly performance. However, the Beverages division is expected to perform well.
Price Performance
This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock lost 4% in the past three months against the industry’s rise of 4%.
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McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has long-term earnings growth rate of 8%.
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TreeHouse (THS) Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Decline
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (THS - Free Report) released second-quarter 2019 results, with the bottom line beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, earnings and sales declined year on year. Headwinds like SKU rationalization, McCann's divestiture as well as the adverse impacts from volume/mix and currency fluctuations impacted the outcome. However, pricing actions and savings initiatives — TreeHouse 2020 and Structure to Win — provided some respite.
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings of 36 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 29 cents and also surpassed management’s previous guidance by a penny. However, the bottom line reflects a 2-cents decline from the year-ago quarter’s figure.
Net sales of $1,250.7 million missed the consensus mark of $1,298 million and tumbled almost 14.1% year over year. The downside was caused by SKU rationalization of low-margin businesses and the divestiture of McCann. Excluding SKU rationalization and divestiture impacts, sales fell 12.9% primarily due to adverse volume/mix, unfavorable pricing and foreign currency headwinds.
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Quote
Gross margin came in at 15.9%, down 30 basis points (bps) from the year-ago quarter’s figure. This was triggered by lower volumes and a charge related to multiyear pension withdrawal.
Operating expenses increased 50% year on year. As a percentage of sales, the same increased 11.8 percentage points to 27.8%.
Further, adjusted EBITDA declined 5.3% to $113.4 million, owing to fixed cost impacts stemming from low volumes and unfavorable pricing. These were partially offset by lower freight costs and savings from the Structure to Win initiatives and TreeHouse 2020.
Segment Details
Baked Goods: Sales in the segment fell 6.9% year on year to $397.1 million. The downside was caused by SKU rationalization, adverse volume/mix and currency. This was partially mitigated by favorable impacts from pricing. Direct operating income (DOI) margin in the segment advanced 180 bps to 10.5%, driven by favorable pricing, lower product costs, reduced freight, favorable mix and reduced expenses driven by Structure to Win and TreeHouse 2020 efforts. These were partially negated by lower volumes and higher commodity expenses related to the packaging of flour.
Beverages: Sales fell 10% to $212.8 million due to efforts to rationalize SKUs, adverse volume/mix and unfavorable pricing. DOI margin declined 30 bps to 19.4% owing to unfavorable pricing, increased production costs and adverse volume/mix impacts. These were partially countered by lower freight.
Meals Solutions: Net sales declined almost 9.3% to $470.3 million owing to SKU rationalization efforts, impacts from the divestiture of McCann’s business, adverse volume/mix and currency rates. However, the decline was partly compensated by improved pricing. DOI margin improved 50 bps to 11.8% owing to favorable pricing, lower freight costs and reduced expenses driven by TreeHouse 2020 and Structure to Win initiatives. These were countered by higher costs of certain commodities and lower volumes.
Snacks: Net sales in the segment plunged 37.8% to $170.5 million due to lost distribution for the Snack nuts and Trail mix as well as unfavorable pricing. DOI margin declined 460 bps, owing to reduced volumes and the associated fixed cost impacts. This was somewhat countered by lower freight costs and input prices of certain commodities.
Other Financial Updates
The company concluded the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $63.7 million, long-term debt of $2,257.6 million and total shareholders’ equity of $1,983.3 million.
For the first half of 2019, cash provided by operating activities amounting to $9.4 million.
Other Developments & Guidance
In a separate release, management announced that it has completed the divestiture of snack nuts and trail mix business to Atlas Holdings for $90 million. The sale of ready-to-eat cereal business to Post Holdings (POST - Free Report) is also on track. As a result, these businesses will form part of the company’s discontinued operations from the beginning of the third quarter. These divestitures are expected to be accretive by nearly 19 cents upon the bottom line in 2019. However, earnings for the year will be weighed down by adverse impacts of nearly 6 cents, stemming from certain adjustments.
After considering these, management expects adjusted earnings from continuing operations for 2019 in the band of $2.33-$2.63. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for 2019 is currently pegged at $2.33.
Further, management expects third-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings in the range of 52-62 cents and net sales in the band of $1.04-$1.14 billion. Decline in sales in the Baked Goods and Meals Solutions units is likely to dent quarterly performance. However, the Beverages division is expected to perform well.
Price Performance
This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock lost 4% in the past three months against the industry’s rise of 4%.
Looking for More Consumer Staples Stocks? Check These
The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has long-term earnings growth rate of 4%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has long-term earnings growth rate of 8%.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +98%, +119% and +164% in as little as 1 month. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
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