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General Mills (GIS) Stock Gains on Q2 Earnings & Sales Beat
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General Mills, Inc. (GIS - Free Report) released second-quarter fiscal 2020 results, wherein both top and bottom lines improved year over year and the latter marked its seventh straight earnings beat. Management is impressed with its quarterly performance, which reflects broad-based organic sales growth.
The company is encouraged about building sales momentum in the second half of the fiscal on the back of increased brand investments. Also, General Mills is on track with its Consumer First strategy. Markedly, General Mills reiterated its guidance for fiscal 2020. Notably, shares of the company gained more than 2% during the pre-market trading session on Dec 18. Further, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has surged 39.4% year to date, outpacing the industry’s growth of 19.8%.
Q2 Highlights
The company’s adjusted earnings per share of 95 cents increased 11% year over year on a constant-currency (cc) basis. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 88 cents. The upside was fueled by reduced adjusted effective tax rate and net interest expenses as well as higher adjusted operating profit and non-service benefit plan income. These were somewhat offset by greater average shares outstanding.
General Mills, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Net sales of $4,420.8 million were flat year over year but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,413 million. Organic sales climbed 1%, courtesy of strength in the Pet segment. Further, organic volumes grew 1%, while net price realization and mix were flat.
Adjusted gross margin expanded 80 basis points (bps) to 35.3% on the back of HMM savings and manufacturing leverage. Results were somewhat hurt by inflated input costs.
Adjusted operating profit came in at $813 million. The metric rose 7% at cc, courtesy of improved gross margin and reduced consumer promotional costs, partly negated by elevated media costs. Adjusted operating margin expanded 110 bps to 18.4%.
Segmental Performance
North America Retail: Revenues in the segment came in at $2,676 million, which was flat year over year. Organic net sales were also in line with the year-ago quarter’s level. Weakness in U.S. Snacks, U.S. Meals & Baking and U.S. Yogurt categories were offset by strength in U.S. Cereal. Sales in Canada were also flat year over year.
Convenience Stores & Foodservice: Revenues were in line with the year-ago period at $513.5 million, owing to growth in the Focus 6 platforms such as cereal, frozen baked goods and yogurt. This was countered by adverse index pricing of bakery flour and weakness in other non-Focus 6 products. Organically, sales were flat year over year.
Europe & Australia: The segment’s revenues declined 5% to $432.9 million due to unfavorable currency rates. Further, sales declined 1% year over year on an organic basis.
Asia & Latin America: Revenues declined 5% from the year-ago quarter to $409.6 million. The downside was caused by adverse impacts of divestitures in fiscal 2019 and currency headwinds. Sales rose 1% on an organic basis, thanks to improvements in Latin America and China, countered by softness in India.
Pet Segment: Revenues came in at $388.7 million, up 16% year over year on the back of volume growth as well as favorable net price realization and mix impacts.
Other Financial Aspects
The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $560.2 million, long-term debt of $10,953.1 million and total shareholder equity of $7,712.3 million.
General Mills generated $1,456.6 million as net cash from operating activities in the first half of fiscal 2020. During the same time frame, the company made capital investments worth $158 million and paid dividends of $596 million.
Other Developments
Constant-currency sales from joint ventures of Cereal Partners Worldwide increased 1% in the second quarter. In Haagen-Dazs Japan, sales dropped 6% at cc from the prior-year quarter.
Fiscal 2020 Guidance
Management expects organic sales to improve 1-2%. Moreover, net sales are expected to rise 1 percentage point, considering the impact from divestitures, currency translations and contributions from the 53rd week in fiscal 2020.
Adjusted operating profit (at cc) is expected to improve 2-4% from $2.86 billion in fiscal 2019. Also, the company envisions adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growth (at cc) of 3-5%. Currency translation impacts are expected to remain irrelevant on adjusted operating profit and the bottom line.
The company now estimates free cash flow conversion of minimum 105% of adjusted after-tax earnings.
Beyond Meat (BYND - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has an impressive earnings surprise record.
Newell Brands (NWL - Free Report) , also with a Zacks Rank #2, has a long-term earnings per share growth rate of 6%.
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General Mills (GIS) Stock Gains on Q2 Earnings & Sales Beat
General Mills, Inc. (GIS - Free Report) released second-quarter fiscal 2020 results, wherein both top and bottom lines improved year over year and the latter marked its seventh straight earnings beat. Management is impressed with its quarterly performance, which reflects broad-based organic sales growth.
The company is encouraged about building sales momentum in the second half of the fiscal on the back of increased brand investments. Also, General Mills is on track with its Consumer First strategy. Markedly, General Mills reiterated its guidance for fiscal 2020. Notably, shares of the company gained more than 2% during the pre-market trading session on Dec 18. Further, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has surged 39.4% year to date, outpacing the industry’s growth of 19.8%.
Q2 Highlights
The company’s adjusted earnings per share of 95 cents increased 11% year over year on a constant-currency (cc) basis. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 88 cents. The upside was fueled by reduced adjusted effective tax rate and net interest expenses as well as higher adjusted operating profit and non-service benefit plan income. These were somewhat offset by greater average shares outstanding.
General Mills, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
General Mills, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | General Mills, Inc. Quote
Net sales of $4,420.8 million were flat year over year but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,413 million. Organic sales climbed 1%, courtesy of strength in the Pet segment. Further, organic volumes grew 1%, while net price realization and mix were flat.
Adjusted gross margin expanded 80 basis points (bps) to 35.3% on the back of HMM savings and manufacturing leverage. Results were somewhat hurt by inflated input costs.
Adjusted operating profit came in at $813 million. The metric rose 7% at cc, courtesy of improved gross margin and reduced consumer promotional costs, partly negated by elevated media costs. Adjusted operating margin expanded 110 bps to 18.4%.
Segmental Performance
North America Retail: Revenues in the segment came in at $2,676 million, which was flat year over year. Organic net sales were also in line with the year-ago quarter’s level. Weakness in U.S. Snacks, U.S. Meals & Baking and U.S. Yogurt categories were offset by strength in U.S. Cereal. Sales in Canada were also flat year over year.
Convenience Stores & Foodservice: Revenues were in line with the year-ago period at $513.5 million, owing to growth in the Focus 6 platforms such as cereal, frozen baked goods and yogurt. This was countered by adverse index pricing of bakery flour and weakness in other non-Focus 6 products. Organically, sales were flat year over year.
Europe & Australia: The segment’s revenues declined 5% to $432.9 million due to unfavorable currency rates. Further, sales declined 1% year over year on an organic basis.
Asia & Latin America: Revenues declined 5% from the year-ago quarter to $409.6 million. The downside was caused by adverse impacts of divestitures in fiscal 2019 and currency headwinds. Sales rose 1% on an organic basis, thanks to improvements in Latin America and China, countered by softness in India.
Pet Segment: Revenues came in at $388.7 million, up 16% year over year on the back of volume growth as well as favorable net price realization and mix impacts.
Other Financial Aspects
The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $560.2 million, long-term debt of $10,953.1 million and total shareholder equity of $7,712.3 million.
General Mills generated $1,456.6 million as net cash from operating activities in the first half of fiscal 2020. During the same time frame, the company made capital investments worth $158 million and paid dividends of $596 million.
Other Developments
Constant-currency sales from joint ventures of Cereal Partners Worldwide increased 1% in the second quarter. In Haagen-Dazs Japan, sales dropped 6% at cc from the prior-year quarter.
Fiscal 2020 Guidance
Management expects organic sales to improve 1-2%. Moreover, net sales are expected to rise 1 percentage point, considering the impact from divestitures, currency translations and contributions from the 53rd week in fiscal 2020.
Adjusted operating profit (at cc) is expected to improve 2-4% from $2.86 billion in fiscal 2019. Also, the company envisions adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growth (at cc) of 3-5%. Currency translation impacts are expected to remain irrelevant on adjusted operating profit and the bottom line.
The company now estimates free cash flow conversion of minimum 105% of adjusted after-tax earnings.
Don’t Miss These Solid Consumer Staple Stocks
Boston Beer (SAM - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a long-term earnings per share growth rate of 10%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Beyond Meat (BYND - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has an impressive earnings surprise record.
Newell Brands (NWL - Free Report) , also with a Zacks Rank #2, has a long-term earnings per share growth rate of 6%.
7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days
Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers “Most Likely for Early Price Pops.”
Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +24.6% per year. So be sure to give these hand-picked 7 your immediate attention.
See 7 handpicked stocks now >>