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Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B) Up 6.5% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B - Free Report) . Shares have added about 6.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Brown-Forman Corporation 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 drivers.
Brown-Forman Q1 Earnings Beat, Tariffs Hurt Sales
Brown-Forman reported mixed first-quarter fiscal 2020 results, wherein earnings topped estimates while sales lagged. This marked the company’s ninth straight quarter of earnings beat. However, sales missed estimates for the fourth consecutive time. Results reflected significant impacts of tariff and the timing of customer orders despite strength in the United States – the company’s largest market.
Earnings per share of 39 cents declined 6% year over year but surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 37 cents.
Net sales of $766 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $772.2 million but remained flat on a reported and underlying basis. During the quarter, the company’s broad-based growth across its geographies and brand portfolio was negated by impacts of tariffs and the timing of customer orders.
On a geographic basis, in the fiscal first quarter, underlying sales growth was the strongest in the United States on continued double-digit growth from its premium bourbons, Woodford Reserve and Old Forester, and high-single-digit underlying net sales growth in aggregate from tequilas, Herradura and el Jimador. Underlying sales grew 3% in emerging markets and 4% in the United States while it declined 3% in developed international markets. Soft results in the developed international markets were due to an impact of nearly six points from tariff-related buy-ins last year and net pricing reductions this year.
Growth across the company’s brand portfolio was led by Herradura, which reported 22% underlying sales growth in the fiscal first quarter. This was followed by 16% gain in underlying sales for its premium bourbon brands, including Woodford Reserve and Old Forester. Meanwhile, el Jimador reported underlying sales growth of 10%. However, underlying net sales for the Jack Daniel’s family of brands declined 1% globally, driven by nearly a three-percentage-point impact of tariff-related buy-ins and net pricing reductions. Moreover, underlying sales for Finlandia vodka dipped 5%.
Margins & Costs
In the fiscal first quarter, Brown-Forman’s gross profit declined nearly 5% to $498 million while gross margin contracted 330 basis points (bps) to 64.9%. On an underlying basis, gross profit declined 5%, mainly reflecting impacts of tariffs and higher input costs. Notably, tariff costs hurt gross margin by nearly 210 bps while the remaining decline was attributed to higher input costs, particularly agave and wood.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses moved down 2% year over year to $164 million and 1% on an underlying basis. The decline in SG&A expenses can be attributed to lower compensation-related costs. Advertising expenses declined 6% year over year to $92 million and 4% on an underlying basis. This was driven by the timing of spending on tequila brands and the Jack Daniel’s family of brands, except for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. However, advertising costs were partly offset by increased media spending on Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey in the United States.
Operating income dropped 6% to $248 million and 8% on an underlying basis. Meanwhile, operating margin contracted 210 bps to 32.4% from 34.5% in the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Brown-Forman ended first-quarter fiscal 2020 with cash and cash equivalents of $307 million, and long-term debt of $2,267 million. Its total shareholders’ equity was $1,663 million as of Jul 31, 2019. The company’s total debt of $2,487 million as of Jul 31, 2019, reflected a decline from $2,556 million at the end of fiscal 2018.
In first-quarter fiscal 2020, it generated $72 million in cash from operating activities.
On Jul 25, the company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16.6 cents per share on Class A and Class B shares, reflecting an annualized dividend rate of 66.4 cents. The dividend is payable Oct 1, 2019, to shareholders of record as of Sep 6.
Fiscal 2020 Outlook
The company believes that fierce competition in developed economies as well as concerns related to the global economic and geopolitical environment may hurt near-term results. However, it reiterated its outlook for fiscal 2020.
For fiscal 2020, the company expects earnings per share of $1.75-$1.85, with underlying sales growth of 5-7%. Underlying operating income is anticipated to improve 3-5%.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month.
VGM Scores
At this time, Brown-Forman Corporation has a subpar Growth Score of D, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a C. However, the stock was allocated a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions has been net zero. Notably, Brown-Forman Corporation has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
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Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B) Up 6.5% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B - Free Report) . Shares have added about 6.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Brown-Forman Corporation 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 drivers.
Brown-Forman Q1 Earnings Beat, Tariffs Hurt Sales
Brown-Forman reported mixed first-quarter fiscal 2020 results, wherein earnings topped estimates while sales lagged. This marked the company’s ninth straight quarter of earnings beat. However, sales missed estimates for the fourth consecutive time. Results reflected significant impacts of tariff and the timing of customer orders despite strength in the United States – the company’s largest market.
Earnings per share of 39 cents declined 6% year over year but surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 37 cents.
Net sales of $766 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $772.2 million but remained flat on a reported and underlying basis. During the quarter, the company’s broad-based growth across its geographies and brand portfolio was negated by impacts of tariffs and the timing of customer orders.
On a geographic basis, in the fiscal first quarter, underlying sales growth was the strongest in the United States on continued double-digit growth from its premium bourbons, Woodford Reserve and Old Forester, and high-single-digit underlying net sales growth in aggregate from tequilas, Herradura and el Jimador. Underlying sales grew 3% in emerging markets and 4% in the United States while it declined 3% in developed international markets. Soft results in the developed international markets were due to an impact of nearly six points from tariff-related buy-ins last year and net pricing reductions this year.
Growth across the company’s brand portfolio was led by Herradura, which reported 22% underlying sales growth in the fiscal first quarter. This was followed by 16% gain in underlying sales for its premium bourbon brands, including Woodford Reserve and Old Forester. Meanwhile, el Jimador reported underlying sales growth of 10%. However, underlying net sales for the Jack Daniel’s family of brands declined 1% globally, driven by nearly a three-percentage-point impact of tariff-related buy-ins and net pricing reductions. Moreover, underlying sales for Finlandia vodka dipped 5%.
Margins & Costs
In the fiscal first quarter, Brown-Forman’s gross profit declined nearly 5% to $498 million while gross margin contracted 330 basis points (bps) to 64.9%. On an underlying basis, gross profit declined 5%, mainly reflecting impacts of tariffs and higher input costs. Notably, tariff costs hurt gross margin by nearly 210 bps while the remaining decline was attributed to higher input costs, particularly agave and wood.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses moved down 2% year over year to $164 million and 1% on an underlying basis. The decline in SG&A expenses can be attributed to lower compensation-related costs. Advertising expenses declined 6% year over year to $92 million and 4% on an underlying basis. This was driven by the timing of spending on tequila brands and the Jack Daniel’s family of brands, except for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. However, advertising costs were partly offset by increased media spending on Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey in the United States.
Operating income dropped 6% to $248 million and 8% on an underlying basis. Meanwhile, operating margin contracted 210 bps to 32.4% from 34.5% in the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
Brown-Forman ended first-quarter fiscal 2020 with cash and cash equivalents of $307 million, and long-term debt of $2,267 million. Its total shareholders’ equity was $1,663 million as of Jul 31, 2019. The company’s total debt of $2,487 million as of Jul 31, 2019, reflected a decline from $2,556 million at the end of fiscal 2018.
In first-quarter fiscal 2020, it generated $72 million in cash from operating activities.
On Jul 25, the company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16.6 cents per share on Class A and Class B shares, reflecting an annualized dividend rate of 66.4 cents. The dividend is payable Oct 1, 2019, to shareholders of record as of Sep 6.
Fiscal 2020 Outlook
The company believes that fierce competition in developed economies as well as concerns related to the global economic and geopolitical environment may hurt near-term results. However, it reiterated its outlook for fiscal 2020.
For fiscal 2020, the company expects earnings per share of $1.75-$1.85, with underlying sales growth of 5-7%. Underlying operating income is anticipated to improve 3-5%.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, fresh estimates have trended downward during the past month.
VGM Scores
At this time, Brown-Forman Corporation has a subpar Growth Score of D, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a C. However, the stock was allocated a grade of F on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions has been net zero. Notably, Brown-Forman Corporation has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.