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McCormick (MKC) Stock Tumbles on Q4 Earnings & Sales Miss
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McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC - Free Report) posted fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein both top and bottom lines came below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with earnings breaking its three-quarter long positive surprise trend. Also, the bottom line declined year over year. This along with management’s earnings guidance for fiscal 2020 seems to have weighed on investors’ sentiments, as shares of the company lost 7.3% during the pre-market trading session.
Adjusted earnings for fiscal 2020 are projected to be $5.20-$5.30 per share compared with $5.24 reported in fiscal 2019. The guided range is much below the current consensus mark of $5.56.
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings of $1.61 per share dropped 3.6% on a year-over-year basis and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.63. The decline was accountable to the unfavorable tax rate. A rise in adjusted operating profit failed to compensate for the decline.
McCormick & Company, Incorporated Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
This global leader of flavors and spices generated sales of $1,484.8 million that inched up roughly 1% year over year, including currency headwinds of roughly 1%. On a constant-currency (or cc) basis, sales rose 2%. McCormick’s top-line growth was driven by improvements in both segments. However, sales fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,511 million.
Gross margin expanded 120 basis points (bps) to 42.4% on savings from the Comprehensive Continuous Improvement (CCI) program.
Adjusted operating income increased 3% to $303 million and rose 4% at cc. Further, the adjusted operating margin expanded 40 bps to 20.4%. The upside can be attributable to improved sales and gross margin. This was somewhat countered by a planned increase in investments toward brand marketing.
Notably, McCormick achieved cost-savings of $119 million in fiscal 2019, courtesy of the CCI program. This also helped the company see adjusted operating margin growth of 80 bps in the fiscal. Taking this into account, the company has realized savings of $463 million since fiscal 2016, exceeding its four-year goal of $400 million. Well, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has surged 42.6% in a year compared with the industry’s growth of 13.7%.
Segment Details
Consumer Business: Sales grew 1% to $966.6 million and rose 2% at cc on the back of strength in the Americas and the Asia Pacific. Sales in the Americas rose 2% at cc. This was mainly driven by solid U.S. branded improvements. Sales in the Asia-Pacific region rose 3% at cc, courtesy of efficient pricing and holiday-season promotions. In the EMEA region, sales dipped 1% at cc mainly due to soft sales of private-label products.
Flavor Solutions: Sales in the segment climbed 2% from the prior-year quarter’s $518.2 million. At cc, sales rose 3% year over year, backed by strength in all regions. Sales in the Americas advanced 3% at cc, owing to growth in the base business, contributions from new products and sustained momentum in the snacks seasoning and branded foodservice categories. Sales in the EMEA region improved 5% at cc, driven by volume growth and favorable product mix. Sales in the Asia-Pacific region improved 2% at cc, owing to sales to quick-service restaurants.
Financial Update
McCormick exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $155.4 million, long-term debt of $3,625.8 million and shareholders’ equity of $3,456.7 million. For fiscal 2019, net cash provided by operating activities was $946.8 million.
McCormick’s net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio stood at 3.4x at the end of fiscal 2019.
Fiscal 2020 Guidance
For fiscal 2020, McCormick anticipates consumer demand to continue witnessing global growth. Management is focused on catering to consumers’ demands through effective brand marketing, product launches and extended distribution. While management expects sales to drive the underlying business performance, the same is likely to be negatively impacted by increased investments related to business transformation and higher expected tax rate. Excluding the impact of these factors, underlying growth is expected to be strong in fiscal 2020.
The company expects sales growth of 2-4%. It anticipates achieving top-line growth completely on an organic basis, as it envisions no benefits from acquisitions. That said, sales are likely to be driven by product launches, and expanded distribution and marketing. Also, strong pricing is expected to drive sales.
In fact, management anticipates pricing and cost-saving efforts to help the company counter an expected mid-single-digit cost inflation in fiscal 2020. Incidentally, the company expects to achieve cost savings of nearly $105 million in fiscal 2020, which will be utilized for enhancing margins, sponsoring growth-oriented investments and offsetting high costs.
Lamb Weston (LW - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.8% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Sysco Corporation (SYY - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has a positive earnings surprise of 5.2%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
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McCormick (MKC) Stock Tumbles on Q4 Earnings & Sales Miss
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC - Free Report) posted fourth-quarter fiscal 2019 results, wherein both top and bottom lines came below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with earnings breaking its three-quarter long positive surprise trend. Also, the bottom line declined year over year. This along with management’s earnings guidance for fiscal 2020 seems to have weighed on investors’ sentiments, as shares of the company lost 7.3% during the pre-market trading session.
Adjusted earnings for fiscal 2020 are projected to be $5.20-$5.30 per share compared with $5.24 reported in fiscal 2019. The guided range is much below the current consensus mark of $5.56.
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings of $1.61 per share dropped 3.6% on a year-over-year basis and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.63. The decline was accountable to the unfavorable tax rate. A rise in adjusted operating profit failed to compensate for the decline.
McCormick & Company, Incorporated Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
McCormick & Company, Incorporated price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | McCormick & Company, Incorporated Quote
This global leader of flavors and spices generated sales of $1,484.8 million that inched up roughly 1% year over year, including currency headwinds of roughly 1%. On a constant-currency (or cc) basis, sales rose 2%. McCormick’s top-line growth was driven by improvements in both segments. However, sales fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,511 million.
Gross margin expanded 120 basis points (bps) to 42.4% on savings from the Comprehensive Continuous Improvement (CCI) program.
Adjusted operating income increased 3% to $303 million and rose 4% at cc. Further, the adjusted operating margin expanded 40 bps to 20.4%. The upside can be attributable to improved sales and gross margin. This was somewhat countered by a planned increase in investments toward brand marketing.
Notably, McCormick achieved cost-savings of $119 million in fiscal 2019, courtesy of the CCI program. This also helped the company see adjusted operating margin growth of 80 bps in the fiscal. Taking this into account, the company has realized savings of $463 million since fiscal 2016, exceeding its four-year goal of $400 million. Well, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has surged 42.6% in a year compared with the industry’s growth of 13.7%.
Segment Details
Consumer Business: Sales grew 1% to $966.6 million and rose 2% at cc on the back of strength in the Americas and the Asia Pacific. Sales in the Americas rose 2% at cc. This was mainly driven by solid U.S. branded improvements. Sales in the Asia-Pacific region rose 3% at cc, courtesy of efficient pricing and holiday-season promotions. In the EMEA region, sales dipped 1% at cc mainly due to soft sales of private-label products.
Flavor Solutions: Sales in the segment climbed 2% from the prior-year quarter’s $518.2 million. At cc, sales rose 3% year over year, backed by strength in all regions. Sales in the Americas advanced 3% at cc, owing to growth in the base business, contributions from new products and sustained momentum in the snacks seasoning and branded foodservice categories. Sales in the EMEA region improved 5% at cc, driven by volume growth and favorable product mix. Sales in the Asia-Pacific region improved 2% at cc, owing to sales to quick-service restaurants.
Financial Update
McCormick exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $155.4 million, long-term debt of $3,625.8 million and shareholders’ equity of $3,456.7 million. For fiscal 2019, net cash provided by operating activities was $946.8 million.
McCormick’s net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio stood at 3.4x at the end of fiscal 2019.
Fiscal 2020 Guidance
For fiscal 2020, McCormick anticipates consumer demand to continue witnessing global growth. Management is focused on catering to consumers’ demands through effective brand marketing, product launches and extended distribution. While management expects sales to drive the underlying business performance, the same is likely to be negatively impacted by increased investments related to business transformation and higher expected tax rate. Excluding the impact of these factors, underlying growth is expected to be strong in fiscal 2020.
The company expects sales growth of 2-4%. It anticipates achieving top-line growth completely on an organic basis, as it envisions no benefits from acquisitions. That said, sales are likely to be driven by product launches, and expanded distribution and marketing. Also, strong pricing is expected to drive sales.
In fact, management anticipates pricing and cost-saving efforts to help the company counter an expected mid-single-digit cost inflation in fiscal 2020. Incidentally, the company expects to achieve cost savings of nearly $105 million in fiscal 2020, which will be utilized for enhancing margins, sponsoring growth-oriented investments and offsetting high costs.
Don’t Miss These Solid Picks
General Mills (GIS - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 7% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Lamb Weston (LW - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.8% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Sysco Corporation (SYY - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has a positive earnings surprise of 5.2%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
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