International Paper Q2 2022 Prepared Remarks Earnings Call Transcript

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November 23, 2021

There are 3 speakers on the call.

Operator

Good morning. This is Aaron Burlholm, Vice President, Investor Relations for The J. M. Smucker Company. Thank you for listening to our prepared remarks on our fiscal 2022 Q2 earnings.

Operator

After this brief introduction, Mark Smucker, President and Chief Executive Officer, We'll give an overview of Q2 results and an update on strategic initiatives. Tucker Marshall, Chief Financial Officer, We'll then provide a detailed analysis of the financial results and our updated fiscal 2022 outlook. Later this morning, We will hold a separate, live question and answer webcast. During today's discussion, we will make forward looking statements that reflect our current expectations about future plans and performance. These statements rely on assumptions and estimates, and actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties.

Operator

Additionally, please note we will refer to non GAAP financial measures management uses to evaluate performance internally. I encourage you to read the full disclosure concerning forward looking statements and details on our non GAAP measures in this morning's press release. Today's press release, a supplementary slide deck summarizing the quarterly results, management's prepared remarks, and the Q and A webcast can all be accessed on our Investor Relations website atjmsmucker.com. Please contact me if you have additional questions after today's question and answer session. I will now turn the discussion over to Mark.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Aaron, and good morning, everyone. After a solid start to the fiscal year, our momentum continues across our businesses, Enabled by the extraordinary contributions of our people, we delivered 2nd quarter results that exceeded our expectations. Our performance through the first half of the fiscal year reflects the strength of our brands, our focus on execution, and our targeted response to a dynamic operating environment. Macroeconomic conditions remain volatile As supply chain disruptions and cost inflation persist, our teams continue to navigate the challenging environment, execute our strategy and deliver exceptional results. We continue to see elevated at home consumption trends that developed during the pandemic as consumers increasingly seek out brands they trust most.

Speaker 1

In the Q2, net sales increased 1% versus the prior year. Excluding non comparable net sales from divestitures and foreign change, net sales grew 8% with every business outperforming our expectations. Organic net sales grew 6% on a 2 year CAGR basis, demonstrating growth across all three of our U. S. Retail segments.

Speaker 1

We continue to successfully implement net pricing actions across our businesses and benefited from lower than anticipated elasticity. Strong demand for our brands was supported by our improved commercial execution and innovative marketing. As a result, adjusted earnings per share increased 2%, benefiting from the top line growth and favorable spending, partially offset by increased costs. While top line growth is healthy, we continue to experience supply chain and transportation constraints, along with isolated labor shortages. In addition, the extreme weather events earlier in the year and the rising Cost environment are delaying incremental bottom line growth due to the disruption and timing of cost recovery through higher net pricing.

Speaker 1

We will continue to mitigate these pressures with additional inflation justified pricing actions, including list price increases, trade spend optimization and revenue growth management strategies, as well as productivity initiatives. The combination of strong underlying demand and effective pricing actions is allowing us to raise our net sales outlook for fiscal 2022 to be flat at the midpoint of our range, which reflects 4.5% comparable growth. We also increased our full year adjusted earnings per share expectation to be in the range of $8.35 to $8.75 as increased sales and productivity savings will help offset We are confident in our strategy and the strength of our brands, While our improved execution reinforces our ability to sustain our market share improvements, Brands that are growing or maintaining share accounted for 76% of our U. S. Retail sales in the 2nd quarter, up from 48% during the same period a year ago.

Speaker 1

Turning to our segment results, in Pet Foods, Comparable net sales grew 7% versus the prior year. Growth was mostly driven by our cat food and market leading dog snacks businesses with net sales increases of 9% 7%, respectively, while dog food grew 1%. Our dry cat food portfolio continues to outperform the category as retail sales growth for the Meow Mix brand was nearly double the category rate, leading to a 1.2. Market share gain in the quarter. Sales growth for dog snacks was led by the Milk Bone brand, which grew 17% and outpaced the category in retail sales, reflecting benefits of net pricing and revenue growth management actions as well as volume growth supported by premium positioned innovation.

Speaker 1

In coffee, net sales growth of 8% was driven by all brands in our market leading at home coffee portfolio. Our portfolio gained over 0.5 point of dollar share in the quarter, more than any other manufacturer, as we outpaced the category in all segments, including mainstream, premium, 1 cup and instant. Growth was led by Dunkin' and Cafe Bustelo, which grew 10% 15%, respectively, in retail sales. In the K Cup segment, We continue to grow at over 2.5 times the category rate and gained over a point of share in the quarter. Our K Cup growth was led by the Folgers brand, which delivered the largest share increase of any K Cup brand in the category.

Speaker 1

We are confident in continued K Cup growth as household penetration for new brewers is expected to increase by 2,000,000 households annually. We remain optimistic in the momentum for our total coffee portfolio. At home coffee habits formed during the pandemic continue to persist as at home consumption now represents 72% of all coffee drinking occasions compared to 2 thirds pre pandemic. In our consumer foods business, We delivered strong results across all categories. Comparable net sales grew 9%.

Speaker 1

Growth was driven by another quarter of net sales growth across all our key brands, including Smucker's Uncrustables Frozen Sandwiches, Jif peanut butter and Smucker's fruit spreads and toppings. Total company net sales for Uncrustables, Including Away From Home, were approximately $140,000,000 this quarter, the 30th consecutive quarter of growth for the brand. The brand generated sales of nearly $490,000,000 over the past 4 quarters and is on track to exceed $500,000,000 this fiscal year, a full year ahead of our stated target. Given the momentum we are seeing in the business and investments we are making to more than double production capacity, Over the next 5 years, we expect to grow Smucker's Uncrustables to $1,000,000,000 in annual net sales. This is still a powerful growth opportunity for our company, both for the near term and long term.

Speaker 1

To support this growth, Phase 2 of construction at our Longmont, Colorado facility remains on track for completion by the end of next fiscal year, which will support double digit top line growth for the next several years. Last week, We announced that we will begin construction on a 3rd production location in Alabama that is expected to begin and our operations in calendar year 2025, further supporting our long term growth opportunity. In peanut butter, the Jif brand grew net sales by 5% in the quarter, building upon double digit growth last year. Our total peanut butter market share increased nearly 2 points versus the prior year and grew to 49%. Consumption remains strong and we anticipate lasting benefits from distribution gained in recent shelf resets, Although we do expect year over year market share growth to moderate as competitive supply begins to normalize in the 3rd quarter.

Speaker 1

We delivered strong top line performance across our U. S. Retail businesses, along with a robust recovery for our Away From Home business, which delivered 25% comparable net sales growth. Our away from home business sales have reached approximately 95% of pre pandemic levels As growth for Smucker's Uncrustables and market share gains in liquid coffee and portion control spreads have been significant contributors to the recovery. Notably, the introduction of Jif branded portion control spreads has supported recent growth and share gains.

Speaker 1

Across all our businesses, our 2nd quarter results demonstrate the significant progress we've made against our execution priorities, which include driving commercial excellence, streamlining our cost infrastructure, reshaping our portfolio for faster growth, and unleashing our organization to win. Some of our key accomplishments against these priorities include demonstrating our ability to navigate complex supply chain challenges and leverage our improved commercial model and investments in data capabilities to deliver improved in store fundamentals and in stock performance for our brands. Also successfully implementing significant inflation justified pricing actions across all businesses with lower than anticipated elasticity impacts. Our marketing transformation continued delivering results As our new breakthrough social media campaign, the GIF Wrap Challenge, which features rap icons Ludacris and Gunna, of our U. S.

Speaker 1

Retail revenues in the quarter, and we announced a significant multiyear investment to Our focus and resources to reshape our portfolio towards sustainable growth in the excellent categories of pet food and pet snacks, coffee and snacking. As we look ahead, we are committed to the delivery of our business as we continue to support Our Thriving Together agenda, which helps improve the quality of life for people and pets by supporting access to quality food and education, connections with community resources, the equitable and ethical treatment for all people and animals and a healthier planet. In closing, we continue to have Strong conviction in our strategy, with this quarter demonstrating our momentum and improved execution in a dynamic environment, while taking actions to strengthen our company to support long term sales and profit growth and shareholder value creation. Our success continues to be powered by our unique culture and our dedicated employees, who I would like to thank for their outstanding contributions. I'll now turn the discussion over to Tucker.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Mark. Good morning, everyone. First, I'll begin by giving an overview of second quarter results. Then I'll provide details on our updated financial outlook for fiscal 2022. Net sales increased 1%.

Speaker 2

Excluding the impact of divestitures and foreign exchange, net sales increased 8%. The increase in comparable net Sales was primarily due to favorable volume mix and higher net price realization across each of the U. S. Retail segments. In addition, the away from home business continues to recover from pandemic related headwinds and contributed favorable volume mix.

Speaker 2

Adjusted gross profit decreased $56,000,000 or 7 percent from the prior year. This was primarily driven by higher costs for commodities, manufacturing, transportation and packaging, as well as lapping the non comparable divested profit in the prior year. These headwinds were partially offset by increased pricing and favorable volume mix. Adjusted operating income decreased $21,000,000 or 5%, reflecting the gross profit decline partially offset by favorable SD and A expenses. Within SD and A, General and administrative expenses decreased $27,000,000 or 21%.

Speaker 2

This primarily reflects benefits of our organization redesign in the Q4 of the prior year and lapping higher incentive compensation and reinstatement of salary increases in the prior year. Below operating income, interest expense decreased $5,000,000 primarily due to reduced debt outstanding as compared to the prior year. Further, the adjusted effective income tax rate was 23.5% compared to 24%. Weighted average shares outstanding were 108,400,000 versus 114,200,000, reflecting shares repurchased in the 3rd 4th quarters of the prior year. Factoring all this in, 2nd quarter adjusted earnings per share was $2.43 compared to $2.39 an increase of 2% from the prior year.

Speaker 2

Turning to our segment results, U. S. Retail Pet Foods Net sales decreased 1% versus the prior year. Net sales increased 7% excluding the non comparable divestiture impact. This was driven by increased net pricing across the portfolio and favorable volume mix for dog snacks, private label offerings and cat food, partially offset by declines for dog food.

Speaker 2

Higher commodity, manufacturing and transportation costs, partially offset by initial higher net pricing actions, versus the prior year, driven by a 5 percentage point increase from volume mix and a 3 percentage point increase from higher net pricing. Growth occurred across all brands and formats in the portfolio, led by the Dunkin' growth of 14%, Folgers growth of 4% and Cafe Bustelo growth of 18%. Our K Cup portfolio continues to be a key growth driver for our portfolio as sales increased 20% and accounted for over 30% of the segment's net sales. Coffee segment profit increased 3%, reflecting higher net pricing and favorable volume mix, partially offset by higher green coffee costs. In U.

Speaker 2

S. Retail Consumer Foods, net sales decreased 8%. Excluding the non comparable net sales for the divested Crisco business, Net sales increased 9% versus the prior year. This was driven by volume mix growth of 6% and 3 percentage points from higher net pricing. Growth was led by Uncrustables Frozen Sandwiches, which grew 33%, the Jif brand grew 5% and Smucker's Fruit Shreds grew 3%.

Speaker 2

Consumer Foods segment profit decreased 18% Due to lapping the prior year non comparable profit from the divested business, comparable segment profit growth from volumemix and higher net pricing was partially offset by higher costs related to manufacturing, transportation, ingredients and packaging. Lastly, in International and Away From Home, net sales increased 4%. Excluding non comparable net sales in the prior year for the divested business and foreign exchange. Net sales increased 6%. The away from home business increased 25% on a comparable basis, driven by double digit growth for coffee, Uncrustables frozen sandwiches and portion control spreads.

Speaker 2

The international business declined 10% on a comparable basis, primarily due to lapping significant pandemic related at home consumption for the Canadian baking business. Overall, International Away From Home segment profit increased 2%, primarily reflecting increased contribution from volume mix, Higher net pricing and favorable foreign exchange. This was partially offset by higher commodity costs the non comparable profit from the divested Crisco business. 2nd quarter free cash flow was $106,000,000 Compared to $326,000,000 in the prior year, this reflects a decrease in cash provided by operating activities due to greater working capital requirements, driven by the timing of payments for accounts payable and accrued liabilities as well as a reduction in net income adjusted for non cash items. Capital expenditures for the quarter were $59,000,000 compared to $52,000,000 in the prior year and represents 2.9% of net sales.

Speaker 2

During the quarter, we issued $800,000,000 of senior notes. The net proceeds were primarily used to repay $750,000,000 of senior notes that were due in October. Based on a total debt balance of $4,600,000,000 and a trailing 12 month EBITDA Of approximately $1,700,000,000 our leverage ratio stands at 2.8 times. We anticipate maintaining a strong balance sheet and leverage ratio, enabling a balanced capital deployment model, which includes strategic reinvestment in the business through capital expenditures and acquisitions, while returning cash to shareholders through increasing dividends and evaluating share repurchases over time. Let me now provide additional color on our revised outlook for fiscal 2022.

Speaker 2

The pandemic and related implications, along with cost inflation and volatility in supply chains, continue to impact financial results and cause uncertainty and risk for the fiscal year 2022 outlook. Any manufacturing or supply chain disruption, inclusive of any labor shortages, whether related to illness, vaccine requirements or other factors, as well as changes in consumer mobility and purchasing behavior, Retailer inventory levels and macroeconomic conditions could materially impact actual results. We continue to focus on managing the elements we can control, including taking the necessary steps to minimize the impact of cost inflation and any business or labor disruption. We continue to plan for unforeseen volatility while ensuring we have contingency plans in place. This guidance reflects performance expectations based on the company's current understanding of the overall environment.

Speaker 2

We increased our full year net sales expectation to be flat compared to the prior year at the midpoint of our guidance range. On a comparable basis, net sales are anticipated to increase approximately 4.5%, demonstrating the continued momentum for our business and brands. This reflects benefits from higher pricing actions across most of our portfolio, primarily to recover increased commodity, Ingredient transportation and packaging costs, along with double digit volume growth for the Smucker's Uncrustables brand and a recovery in away from home channels. These tailwinds are being partially offset by reduced volume mix, inclusive of the deceleration in at home consumption trends and anticipated pricing elasticities mostly impacting the back half of the year as well as supply chain disruption primarily impacting our Wet Pet Food business. The increase in our net sales guidance versus our previous expectation reflects stronger than anticipated demand in the Q2 and for the remainder of the fiscal year, inclusive of lower price elasticity and incremental pricing actions, notably due to sustained inflation for green coffee.

Speaker 2

We now anticipate adjusted gross profit margin of Approximately 35% to 35.5%. This reflects our expectations for higher net pricing, Cost and productivity savings and a mix benefit associated with the divestitures being more than offset by higher cost inflation. We have updated our assumptions to reflect ongoing costs inflation and the timing of additional pricing actions. We will experience higher costs for the remainder of the fiscal year, most notably due to green coffee and transportation. We also anticipate additional manufacturing expenses, primarily for labor and business continuity plans.

Speaker 2

Gross margin is expected to decline sequentially over 150 basis points in the Q3 before improving in the Q4 as incremental pricing is reflected. Cost inflation is now anticipated to have a low double digit impact on the total cost of products sold for the fiscal year. SD and A expenses are now projected to decrease by approximately 7%. This reflects the benefits of our cost management and organizational restructuring programs, Lower marketing expense primarily due to lapping elevated investments in the Q4 of the prior year, reduced incentive compensation and reductions in discretionary expenses. Total marketing spend is anticipated to be approximately 6% of net sales, Reflecting the impact of higher sales and a slight reduction in planned spend as we continue to maximize productivity for our high growth priorities and optimized spend in areas with tighter capacity.

Speaker 2

We continue to anticipate net interest expense of approximately $165,000,000 net other expense of $20,000,000 and adjusted effective income tax rate of 24% and a full year weighted average shares outstanding of 108,300,000. Taking all these factors into consideration, we anticipate and paid full year adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $8.35 to $8.75 a $0.10 increase to our previous guidance range. Given the timing of cost increases and recovery through both initial higher net pricing actions and additional net pricing actions later in the fiscal year. Earnings are expected to decline in the 3rd quarter approximately 18% to 20%. The 4th quarter is expected to grow approximately 15% to 20%, reflecting higher net pricing catching up to higher costs as well as the lapping of around $40,000,000 of incremental marketing spend in the prior year.

Speaker 2

Free cash flow is now anticipated to be $700,000,000 which reflects the adjustment to earnings expectations, increased working capital considerations, primarily for inventory and capital expenditures of $400,000,000 The increase in capital expenditures versus our previous guidance reflects the new investment to support the growth for our Smucker's Uncrustables brand. In closing, we remain confident in our strategy and are pleased with the continued momentum for our business and brands. We are taking the appropriate actions to ensure continued operational excellence while managing through this volatile environment, and we remain in a strong financial position to deliver sustainable and consistent long term growth for our shareholders. Finally, I want to express my appreciation for our employees. They have demonstrated their commitment to executing with excellent through unprecedented circumstances.

Speaker 2

Their outstanding work and passion for our company positions us for continued success. Thank you.

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