ST. LOUIS, Feb. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST), a consumer packaged goods holding company, today reported results for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2022.

Highlights:

• First quarter net sales of $1.6 billion
• Operating profit of $149.9 million; net earnings from continuing operations of $91.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $269.9 million
• Raised fiscal year 2023 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)* guidance to $1,025-$1,065 million
  

*Post provides Adjusted EBITDA guidance only on a non-GAAP basis and does not provide a reconciliation of its forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA non-GAAP guidance measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation, including the adjustments described under “Outlook” below.

Basis of Presentation

On March 10, 2022, Post’s distribution to its shareholders of 80.1% of its interest in BellRing Brands, Inc. (“BellRing”) was completed. Accordingly, the historical results of the BellRing business have been presented as discontinued operations in Post’s financial statements for prior periods.

First Quarter Consolidated Operating Results

Net sales were $1,566.3 million, an increase of 17.1%, or $228.8 million, compared to $1,337.5 million in the prior year period. Gross profit was $414.9 million, or 26.5% of net sales, an increase of 25.1%, or $83.2 million, compared to $331.7 million, or 24.8% of net sales, in the prior year period. Results for the first quarter of 2023 reflected pricing actions across the business which offset input and freight inflation. Supply chain disruptions eased during the first quarter of 2023 when compared to the prior year period but continued to drive higher manufacturing costs and customer order fulfillment rates below optimal levels.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $228.7 million, or 14.6% of net sales, an increase of 3.7%, or $8.2 million, compared to $220.5 million, or 16.5% of net sales, in the prior year period. Operating profit was $149.9 million, an increase of 91.7%, or $71.7 million, compared to $78.2 million in the prior year period.

Net earnings from continuing operations were $91.9 million, an increase of 305.6%, or $136.6 million, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $44.7 million in the prior year period. Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations included the following:

Diluted earnings from continuing operations per common share were $1.52, compared to diluted loss from continuing operations per common share of $0.64 in the prior year period. Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations were $71.2 million, or $1.08 per diluted common share, compared to an adjusted net loss from continuing operations of $6.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted common share, in the prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA was $269.9 million, an increase of 32.8%, or $66.6 million, compared to $203.3 million in the prior year period.

The prior year period included net earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax and noncontrolling interest of $23.9 million. Net earnings were $91.9 million, or $1.52 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $20.8 million, or $0.25 per diluted common share, in the prior year period.

Post Consumer Brands

North American ready-to-eat (“RTE”) cereal and Peter Pan peanut butter.

For the first quarter, net sales were $554.7 million, an increase of 9.3%, or $47.4 million, compared to the prior year period. Volumes decreased 1.2%, primarily driven by declines in Honey Bunches of Oats, government bid business and Malt-O-Meal bag cereal, partially offset by increases in Peter Pan peanut butter and private label cereal. Segment profit was $79.3 million, an increase of 11.2%, or $8.0 million, compared to the prior year period. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $112.9 million, an increase of 4.8%, or $5.2 million, compared to the prior year period.

Weetabix

Primarily United Kingdom (“U.K.”) RTE cereal, muesli and protein-based ready-to-drink (“RTD”) shakes.

For the first quarter, net sales were $118.1 million, a decrease of 0.4%, or $0.5 million, compared to the prior year period, and included $6.5 million in net sales from Lacka Foods Limited (“Lacka”), which was acquired on April 5, 2022. Additionally, net sales reflected a foreign currency exchange rate headwind of approximately 1,400 basis points. Volumes increased 6.5%; excluding the benefit from the Lacka acquisition, volumes declined 1.1% as growth in private label products was offset by declines in branded products. Segment profit was $21.5 million, a decrease of 21.0%, or $5.7 million, compared to the prior year period. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $29.7 million, a decrease of 17.7%, or $6.4 million, compared to the prior year period.

Foodservice

Primarily egg and potato products.

For the first quarter, net sales were $600.5 million, an increase of 36.9%, or $161.9 million, compared to the prior year period. Volumes increased 4.4%, driven by increased away-from-home egg and potato demand in the current year period. Egg volumes increased 4.4%, and potato volumes increased 8.1%. Segment profit was $79.1 million, an increase of 423.8%, or $64.0 million, compared to the prior year period. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $109.0 million, an increase of 163.9%, or $67.7 million, compared to the prior year period.

Refrigerated Retail

Primarily side dish, egg, cheese and sausage products.

For the first quarter, net sales were $293.0 million, an increase of 7.2%, or $19.6 million, compared to the prior year period. Net sales in the first quarter of 2022 included $7.1 million related to the Willamette Egg Farms business (“Willamette”), which was sold on December 1, 2021. Volumes declined 4.6%; excluding the contribution from Willamette in the prior year period, volumes increased 1.1%, led by an 11.7% increase in side dishes. Side dish volume growth reflected improved inventory levels (resulting from lapping capacity constraints and allocations in the prior year period) and a restoration of promotional activities, which together improved velocities in the current year period. This increase was partially offset by volume decreases in egg (resulting from reduced supply driven by avian influenza and elasticities resulting from inflation-driven price increases) and cheese (primarily resulting from the decision to exit certain low-margin business). Volume information by product is disclosed in a table presented later in this release. Segment profit was $21.0 million, an increase of 54.4%, or $7.4 million, compared to the prior year period. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $40.0 million, an increase of 12.4%, or $4.4 million, compared to the prior year period.

Interest, Gain on Extinguishment of Debt, (Income) Expense on Swaps and Income Tax

Interest expense, net was $65.9 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $82.8 million in the first quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in the aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding resulting from repayments of certain indebtedness in fiscal year 2022.

Gain on extinguishment of debt, net of $8.7 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2023 primarily in connection with Post’s repayment of $71.0 million in total principal amounts to extinguish a portion of Post’s 4.50% senior notes.

(Income) expense on swaps, net relates to mark-to-market adjustments on interest rate swaps. Income on swaps, net was $12.3 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to an expense of $36.9 million in the first quarter of 2022.

Income tax expense was $24.7 million in the first quarter of 2023, an effective income tax rate of 20.9%, compared to a benefit of $12.8 million in the first quarter of 2022, an effective income tax rate of 33.2%. For the first quarter of 2023, the effective income tax rate differed from the statutory tax rate primarily as a result of discrete income tax benefit items related to excess tax benefits for share-based payments. For the first quarter of 2022, the effective income tax rate differed significantly from the statutory tax rate primarily as a result of Post’s equity method loss attributable to 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc. (“8th Avenue”) and excess tax benefits for share-based payments.

Share Repurchases

During the first quarter of 2023, Post repurchased 0.3 million shares of its common stock for $24.0 million at an average price of $84.79 per share. As of December 31, 2022, Post had $276.0 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization.

Outlook

For fiscal year 2023, Post management has raised its guidance range for Adjusted EBITDA to $1,025-$1,065 million from $990-$1,040 million. Post management now expects fiscal year 2023 capital expenditures to range between $275-$300 million, which includes $75-$85 million investment in RTD shake manufacturing and precooked and cage-free eggs.

Post provides Adjusted EBITDA guidance only on a non-GAAP basis and does not provide a reconciliation of its forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA non-GAAP guidance measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation, including adjustments that could be made for income/expense on swaps, net, gain/loss on extinguishment of debt, net, equity method investment adjustment, mark-to-market adjustments on commodity and foreign exchange hedges, warrant liabilities and equity securities, transaction and integration costs and other charges reflected in Post’s reconciliations of historical numbers, the amounts of which, based on historical experience, could be significant. For additional information regarding Post’s non-GAAP measures, see the related explanations presented under “Use of Non-GAAP Measures.”

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Post uses certain non-GAAP measures in this release to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP measures include Adjusted net earnings/loss from continuing operations, Adjusted diluted earnings/loss from continuing operations per common share, Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA. The reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is provided later in this release under “Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures.”

Management uses certain of these non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA, as key metrics in the evaluation of underlying company and segment performance, in making financial, operating and planning decisions and, in part, in the determination of bonuses for its executive officers and employees. Additionally, Post is required to comply with certain covenants and limitations that are based on variations of EBITDA in its financing documents. Management believes the use of these non-GAAP measures provides increased transparency and assists investors in understanding the underlying operating performance of Post and its segments and in the analysis of ongoing operating trends. Non-GAAP measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, as they exclude certain items as described later in this release. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. For additional information regarding Post’s non-GAAP measures, see the related explanations provided under “Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures.”

Conference Call to Discuss Earnings Results and Outlook

Post will host a conference call on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. EST to discuss financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2023 outlook and to respond to questions. Robert V. Vitale, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Matthew J. Mainer, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will participate in the call.

Interested parties may join the conference call by dialing (800) 343-5172 in the United States and (203) 518-9783 from outside of the United States. The conference identification number is POSTQ123. Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast of the conference call, which can be accessed by visiting the Investors section of Post’s website at www.postholdings.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available through Friday, February 10, 2023 by dialing (800) 839-6136 in the United States and (402) 220-2572 from outside of the United States. A webcast replay also will be available for a limited period on Post’s website in the Investors section.

Prospective Financial Information

Prospective financial information is necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions underlying the prospective financial information described above will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. For further discussion of some of the factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from the information provided above, see “Forward-Looking Statements” below. Accordingly, the prospective financial information provided above is only an estimate of what Post’s management believes is realizable as of the date of this release. It also should be recognized that the reliability of any forecasted financial data diminishes the farther in the future that the data is forecasted. In light of the foregoing, the information should be viewed in context and undue reliance should not be placed upon it.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this release and on Post’s conference call are forward-looking statements, including Post’s Adjusted EBITDA outlook for fiscal year 2023 and Post’s capital expenditure outlook for fiscal year 2023. These forward-looking statements are sometimes identified from the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” “target,” “is likely,” “will,” “can,” “may” or “would” or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, and include all statements regarding future performance, earnings projections, events or developments. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• significant volatility in the cost or availability of inputs to Post’s businesses (including freight, raw materials, energy and other supplies);
• Post’s ability to increase its prices to offset cost increases and the potential for such price increases to impact demand for Post’s products;
• disruptions or inefficiencies in Post’s supply chain, including as a result of inflation, labor shortages, insufficient product or raw material availability, limited freight carrier availability, Post’s reliance on third parties for the supply of materials for or the manufacture of many of Post’s products, public health crises (including the COVID-19 pandemic), climatic events, agricultural diseases and pests, fires and evacuations related thereto and other events beyond Post’s control;
• Post’s high leverage, Post’s ability to obtain additional financing (including both secured and unsecured debt), Post’s ability to service its outstanding debt (including covenants that restrict the operation of Post’s businesses) and a downgrade or potential downgrade in Post’s credit ratings;
• Post’s ability to hire and retain talented personnel, increases in labor-related costs, the ability of Post’s employees to safely perform their jobs, including the potential for physical injuries or illness, employee absenteeism, labor strikes, work stoppages and unionization efforts;
• changes in economic conditions, the occurrence of a recession, disruptions in the U.S. and global capital and credit markets, changes in interest rates and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
• Post’s ability to continue to compete in its product categories and Post’s ability to retain its market position and favorable perceptions of its brands;
• the impacts of public health crises (including the COVID-19 pandemic), such as negative impacts on demand for Post’s foodservice and on-the-go products, Post’s ability to manufacture and deliver its products, workforce availability, the health and safety of Post’s employees, operating costs, the global economy and capital markets and Post’s operations generally;
• Post’s ability to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer and customer preferences and behaviors and introduce new products;
• allegations that Post’s products cause injury or illness, product recalls and withdrawals and product liability claims and other related litigation;
• Post’s ability to identify, complete and integrate or otherwise effectively execute acquisitions or other strategic transactions and effectively manage its growth;
• risks related to the intended tax treatment of the transactions Post undertook related to divestitures of Post’s interest in BellRing;
• the possibility that Post Holdings Partnering Corporation (“PHPC”), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company in which Post indirectly owns an interest (through PHPC Sponsor, LLC, Post’s wholly-owned subsidiary), may not consummate a suitable partnering transaction within the prescribed two-year time period, that the partnering transaction may not be successful or that the activities for PHPC could be distracting to Post’s management;
• conflicting interests or the appearance of conflicting interests resulting from several of Post’s directors and officers also serving as directors or officers of one or more other companies;
• Post’s ability to successfully implement business strategies to reduce costs;
• impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangibles;
• legal and regulatory factors, such as compliance with existing laws and regulations, as well as new laws and regulations and changes to existing laws and regulations and interpretations thereof, affecting Post’s businesses, including current and future laws and regulations regarding tax matters, food safety, advertising and labeling, animal feeding and housing operations, data privacy and climate change and other environmental matters;
• the loss of, a significant reduction of purchases by or the bankruptcy of a major customer;
• costs, business disruptions and reputational damage associated with information technology failures, cybersecurity incidents or information security breaches;
• the failure or weakening of the RTE cereal category and consolidations in the retail and foodservice distribution channels;
• the ultimate impact litigation or other regulatory matters may have on Post;
• costs associated with the obligations of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (“Bob Evans”) in connection with the sale and separation of its restaurants business in April 2017, including certain indemnification obligations under the restaurants sale agreement and Bob Evans’s payment and performance obligations as a guarantor for certain leases;
• Post’s ability to protect its intellectual property and other assets and to continue to use third party intellectual property subject to intellectual property licenses;
• the ability of Post’s and its customers’ private brand products to compete with nationally branded products;
• the impact of national or international disputes, political instability, terrorism, war or armed hostilities, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, including on the global economy, capital markets, Post’s supply chain, commodity, energy and freight availability and costs and information security;
• risks associated with Post’s international businesses;
• changes in critical accounting estimates;
• losses or increased funding and expenses related to Post’s qualified pension or other postretirement plans;
• significant differences in Post’s actual operating results from any of Post’s guidance regarding Post’s future performance;
• Post’s and PHPC’s ability to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and
• other risks and uncertainties described in Post’s and PHPC’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  

These forward-looking statements represent Post’s judgment as of the date of this release. Post disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

About Post Holdings, Inc.

Post Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a consumer packaged goods holding company with businesses operating in the center-of-the-store, refrigerated, foodservice and food ingredient categories. Its businesses include Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Michael Foods and Bob Evans Farms. Post Consumer Brands is a leader in the North American ready-to-eat cereal category and also markets Peter Pan^® peanut butter. Weetabix is home to the United Kingdom’s number one selling ready-to-eat cereal brand, Weetabix^®. Michael Foods and Bob Evans Farms are leaders in refrigerated foods, delivering innovative, value-added egg and refrigerated potato side dish products to the foodservice and retail channels. Post participates in the private brand food category through its ownership interest in 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc., a leading, private brand centric, consumer products holding company. For more information, visit www.postholdings.com.

Contact:
Investor Relations
Jennifer Meyer
jennifer.meyer@postholdings.com
(314) 644-7665

Media Relations
Lisa Hanly
lisa.hanly@postholdings.com
(314) 665-3180

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(in millions, except per share data)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(in millions)

SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
INFORMATION (Unaudited)
(in millions)

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited)
(in millions)

SUPPLEMENTAL REFRIGERATED RETAIL SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited)

The below table presents volume percentage changes for the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter for products within the Refrigerated Retail segment.

EXPLANATION AND RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

Post uses certain non-GAAP measures in this release to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP measures include Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations, Adjusted diluted earnings from continuing operations per common share, Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA. The reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is provided in the tables following this section. Non-GAAP measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, as they exclude certain items as described below. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Adjusted net earnings/loss from continuing operations and Adjusted diluted earnings/loss from continuing operations per common share
Post believes Adjusted net earnings/loss from continuing operations and Adjusted diluted earnings/loss from continuing operations per common share are useful to investors in evaluating Post’s operating performance because they exclude items that affect the comparability of Post’s financial results and could potentially distort an understanding of the trends in business performance.

Adjusted net earnings/loss from continuing operations and Adjusted diluted earnings/loss from continuing operations per common share are adjusted for the following items:

Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA
Post believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating Post’s operating performance and liquidity because (i) Post believes it is widely used to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets, (ii) it presents a measure of corporate performance exclusive of Post’s capital structure and the method by which the assets were acquired and (iii) it is a financial indicator of a company’s ability to service its debt, as Post is required to comply with certain covenants and limitations that are based on variations of EBITDA in its financing documents. Post believes that segment Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating Post’s operating performance because it allows for assessment of the operating performance of each reportable segment. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA to provide forward-looking guidance and uses Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA to forecast future results.

Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA reflect adjustments for income tax expense/benefit, interest expense, net and depreciation and amortization, and the following adjustments discussed above: gain/loss on investment in BellRing, income/expense on swaps, net, mark-to-market adjustments on commodity and foreign exchange hedges and warrant liabilities, mark-to-market adjustments on equity securities, gain/loss on assets held for sale, transaction costs and integration costs, gain/loss on sale of business, restructuring and facility closure costs, costs expected to be indemnified, net and advisory income. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA reflect adjustments for the following items:

RECONCILIATION OF NET EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
TO ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(in millions)

RECONCILIATION OF WEIGHTED-AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING
TO ADJUSTED WEIGHTED-AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING (Unaudited)
(in millions)

RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS PER COMMON SHARE
TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS PER COMMON SHARE (Unaudited)

RECONCILIATION OF NET EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (Unaudited)
(in millions)

RECONCILIATION OF SEGMENT PROFIT TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (Unaudited)
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
(in millions)

RECONCILIATION OF SEGMENT PROFIT TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (Unaudited)
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021
(in millions)