TreeHouse Foods (THS) today reported first quarter earnings of $0.38 per fully diluted share compared to $0.62 per fully diluted share reported for the first quarter of last year.
The Company reported that adjusted earnings per share increased 8.1% in the first quarter to $0.80 compared to $0.74 in the prior year, excluding the items described below.
The Company's 2014 first quarter results included four items noted below that affected the year-over-year quarterly comparison. The first item is a $0.32 per share expense related to the refinancing of the Company's high yield notes. The second item is a $0.05 per share expense for acquisition, integration and related costs. The third item is a $0.03 per share loss on the foreign currency translation of an intercompany note. The last item is a $0.02 per share expense related to the previously announced restructuring of the Company's soup operations.
"We are off to an excellent start in 2014," said Sam K. Reed, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our first quarter double-digit sales growth exceeded our expectations and reflects strong private label performance, particularly in the traditional supermarket channel; continued expansion of our single serve beverage platform; as well as the contributions from the Cains Foods and Associated Brands acquisitions. Despite the negative impact of both the Canadian exchange rate and the carryover of unfavorable manufacturing variances in the quarter, I am very proud of the progress we have made and the focus our operating team has demonstrated in simplifying our operations, generating distribution system savings and delivering value for our customers."
Adjusted operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and non-cash stock based compensation, or Adjusted EBITDA (reconciliation to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles in the United States) measure, appears on the attached schedule), was $80.6 million in the first quarter, a 4.9% increase compared to the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was higher due to the acquisitions of Cains Foods and Associated Brands.
Net sales for the first quarter totaled $618.9 million compared to $540.1 million last year, an increase of 14.6% largely due to sales from acquisitions (Cains Foods and Associated Brands) and improved volume/mix, partially offset by unfavorable foreign exchange. Compared to last year, sales in the first quarter for the North American Retail Grocery segment increased 17.2%, sales for the Food Away From Home segment increased 8.4%, and sales for the Industrial and Export segment increased 7.8%.
Total reported gross margins increased to 21.5% in the first quarter this year from 21.1% last year. The increase was mainly due to favorable sales mix, partly offset by lower margins from Cains Foods and Associated Brands, and the impact of unfavorable foreign exchange.
Selling, distribution, general and administrative expenses were $71.8 million for the first quarter, an increase of 19.9% from $59.9 million last year. The increase was in line with management's expectations, and was due primarily to additional expenses associated with the Cains Foods and Associated Brands acquisitions and higher staffing levels.
Other expense was $30.3 million for the first quarter, an increase of $19.2 million from $11.0 million last year. The increase was driven by the redemption of the Company's $400 million 7.75% high yield notes due 2018 (the "2018 Notes") by issuing new $400 million 4.875% high yield notes due 2022. In connection with the extinguishment of the 2018 Notes, the Company incurred a loss of $16.7 million. The remainder of the increase was due to the impact of foreign exchange rates.
Income tax expense decreased in the first quarter to $5.7 million. The Company's first quarter effective income tax rate decreased to 28.5% from the 2013 first quarter rate of 31.1% due to the settlement of unrecognized tax benefits associated with the Company's 2011 examination by the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Net income for the first quarter totaled $14.3 million compared to $23.0 million last year.
SEGMENT RESULTS
The Company has three reportable segments:
North American Retail Grocery - This segment sells branded and private label products to customers within the United States and Canada. These products include non-dairy powdered creamers; sweeteners; condensed, ready to serve and powdered soups, broths and gravies; refrigerated and shelf stable salad dressings and sauces; pickles and related products; salsa and Mexican sauces; jams and pie fillings; aseptic products; liquid non-dairy creamer; powdered drinks; single serve hot beverages; specialty teas; hot and cold cereals; baking and mix powders; macaroni and cheese; and skillet dinners.
Food Away From Home - This segment sells non-dairy powdered creamers; sweeteners; pickles and related products; Mexican sauces; refrigerated and shelf stable salad dressings; aseptic products; hot cereals; powdered drinks; and single serve hot beverages to foodservice customers, including restaurant chains and food distribution companies, within the United States and Canada.
Industrial and Export - This segment includes the Company's co-pack business and non-dairy powdered creamer sales to industrial customers for use in industrial applications, including products for repackaging in portion control packages and for use as ingredients by other food manufacturers; baking and mix powders; pickles and related products; refrigerated and shelf stable salad dressings; Mexican sauces; soup and infant feeding products; hot cereals; powdered drinks; single serve hot beverages; and specialty teas. Export sales are primarily to industrial customers outside of North America.
The direct operating income for the Company's segments is determined by deducting manufacturing costs from net sales and deducting direct operating costs, such as freight to customers, commissions, and direct selling and marketing expenses. Indirect sales and administrative expenses, including restructuring charges and other corporate costs, are not allocated to the business segments as these costs are managed at the corporate level.
North American Retail Grocery net sales for the first quarter increased 17.2% to $452.4 million from $386.1 million during the same quarter last year, driven by a 12.2% increase from acquisitions and a 5.9% increase in volume/mix, partially offset by the unfavorable impact from foreign exchange. The Company posted volume gains in the beverages (predominantly single serve hot beverages) and Mexican sauces categories that were offset by volume decreases in cereals, pickles, soup and salad dressings. The volume/mix increase was driven in large part by the continued success of the single serve hot beverages program. Direct operating income margin in the first quarter decreased from 17.0% in 2013 to 16.6% in 2014 due to the inclusion of higher cost of sales from the Cains Foods and Associated Brands businesses and an unfavorable impact of foreign exchange.
Food Away From Home segment net sales for the first quarter increased 8.4% to $88.7 million from $81.8 million during the same quarter last year, due to an 11.3% increase from acquisitions, partly offset by a 2.3% decrease in volume/mix and unfavorable foreign exchange. The volume/mix decline was primarily in the aseptic and pickles categories, and was partially offset by growth in the beverages category (primarily single serve hot beverages). Direct operating income margin in the first quarter decreased from 13.4% in 2013 to 10.7% in 2014 due to the impact of lower margin sales from the Cains Foods and Associated Brands acquisitions, operational inefficiencies at several legacy plants and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange.
Industrial and Export segment net sales for the first quarter increased 7.8% to $77.8 million from $72.2 million during the same quarter last year, largely driven by a 12.9% increase from acquisitions, offset in part by a 4.0% decrease in volume/mix and slightly negative pricing. Direct operating income margin in the first quarter also increased from 17.3% in 2013 to 19.3% in 2014 primarily due to favorable sales mix, partially offset by the inclusion of higher cost of sales from the Cains Foods and Associated Brands businesses.
REFINANCING ACTIVITIES
On May 6, 2014, TreeHouse Foods entered into a new $1.2 billion financing structure, consisting of (i) a new $900 million unsecured revolving credit facility that replaces the Company's $750 million revolving credit facility under its prior credit agreement and (ii) a new $300 million, seven year term loan, the proceeds of which, together with a draw on the new revolving credit facility at closing, were used to repay in full amounts outstanding under the Company's prior credit agreement. The covenants and other material terms and conditions of the new term loan and the new revolving credit facility are substantially similar to those under the Company's prior credit agreement.
OUTLOOK FOR 2014
The Company reiterated its expectation of adjusted earnings per share growth of 10%-13% to $3.50 to $3.60 in 2014, before considering accretion from the recently announced Protenergy Natural Foods acquisition. The Company previously announced that the Protenergy acquisition is expected to add $0.05 to $0.07 to 2014 earnings, and $0.11 to $0.14 to calendar year 2015 earnings. The 2014 earnings are the Company's best estimates at this time, subject to the timing of the transaction close and finalization of asset valuation work on goodwill and amortization of intangibles. The Company will confirm a final range of 2014 earnings accretion during its second quarter earnings call in early August.
With regard to the outlook for the year, Mr. Reed said, "2014 holds a great deal of promise for us. Our operating teams remain focused on the business, while our corporate development team is energized and continues to evaluate opportunities, given the strength of the acquisition environment. Our appetite for deals remains robust. Most recently, we increased our acquisition capacity through the combination of a new term loan and a larger revolving credit facility, and as a result, we have improved our financial wherewithal to continue expanding our private label portfolio."