Post Holdings Reports Results for the First Quarte

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POST ), a consumer packaged goods holding company, today reported results for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016.

Highlights:

• Net sales of $1.25 billion
• Operating profit of $76.2 million and net earnings of $97.6 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of $230.1 million
• Updated Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) guidance range for fiscal year 2017 of $920-$950 million

First Quarter Consolidated Operating Results

Net sales were $1,249.8 million, an increase of 0.1%, or $1.0 million, compared to the prior year. On a comparable basis, net sales declined 2.2% when compared to the same period in fiscal 2016 primarily resulting from an anticipated decline in sales within the Michael Foods Group segment.

Gross profit was $379.2 million or 30.3% of net sales, an increase of $16.7 million compared to the prior year gross profit of $362.5 million or 29.0% of net sales. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $264.1 million or 21.1% of net sales, an increase of $77.1 million compared to the prior year SG&A of $187.0 million or 15.0% of net sales. First quarter 2017 SG&A expenses include a provision for $74.5 million in legal settlements related to agreements to settle egg antitrust class action claims.

Operating profit was $76.2 million, a decline of 42.7%, or $56.7 million, compared to the prior year and was negatively impacted by a provision for $74.5 million in legal settlements as discussed above. Net earnings were $97.6 million, an increase of 282.7%, or $72.1 million, compared to the prior year. Net earnings available to common shareholders were $94.2 million, or $1.22 per diluted common share. Net earnings and net earnings available to common shareholders included a $144.5 million gain primarily related to non-cash mark-to-market adjustments on interest rate swaps as discussed later. Adjusted net earnings available to common shareholders were $49.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted common share.

Adjusted EBITDA was $230.1 million, a decline of 2.3%, or $5.5 million, compared to the prior year.

Post Consumer Brands

Post Consumer Brands includes the ready-to-eat (“RTE”) cereal business.

Net sales were $420.6 million for the first quarter, an increase of 2.2%, or $9.0 million, compared to the prior year first quarter, with volumes declining 0.5%. Net sales benefitted from growth in net sales and volume for Malt-O-Meal branded bags, Pebbles and Honey Bunches of Oats, which was partially offset by reduced volumes for lower margin co-manufacturing and government bid business .

Segment profit was $81.6 million and $62.9 million for first quarter 2017 and 2016, respectively. First quarter 2017 and 2016 segment profit was negatively impacted by integration expenses of $0.5 million and $7.9 million, respectively. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $108.9 million and $97.2 million for first quarter 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Michael Foods Group

Michael Foods Group includes the egg, potato, cheese and pasta businesses.

Net sales were $539.8 million for the first quarter, a decline of 7.9%, or $46.6 million, over the reported prior year first quarter. On a comparable basis, net sales declined 12.3%, or $75.4 million, over the same period in fiscal 2016. Egg sales, on a comparable basis, declined 12.8% as a result of reduced pricing related to the roll back of the temporary component of avian influenza pricing and reduced market-based pricing in the ingredient and retail shell egg channels. Egg volumes, on a comparable basis, increased 11.8% as first quarter 2016 egg inventory available for sale was reduced as a result of the impact of avian influenza. Net sales and volume information for potato, cheese and pasta products is disclosed in a table presented later in this release.

Segment (loss) profit was ($17.0) million and $80.8 million for first quarter 2017 and 2016. First quarter 2017 segment loss was negatively impacted by a provision for $74.5 million in legal settlements as discussed above. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $92.3 million and $118.0 million for first quarter 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Active Nutrition

Active Nutrition includes protein shakes, bars and powders and nutritional supplements.

Net sales were $153.9 million for the first quarter, an increase of 32.9%, or $38.1 million, over the prior year first quarter, primarily driven by strong growth for Premier Protein branded products. Segment profit was $24.9 million and $10.5 million for first quarter 2017 and 2016, respectively. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $31.1 million and $16.7 million for first quarter 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Private Brands

Private Brands primarily includes peanut and other nut butters, dried fruit and nuts, and granola.

Net sales were $135.6 million for the first quarter, flat compared to the prior year first quarter. Net sales benefitted from growth in volume for granola and organic peanut butter, which was offset by lower net pricing for almond and walnut products and volume declines for regular peanut butter and fruit and nut. Segment profit was $7.0 million and $12.9 million for first quarter 2017 and 2016, respectively. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $13.5 million and $19.1 million for first quarter 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Interest, Other (Income) Expense and Income Tax

Interest expense, net was $72.9 million for the first quarter compared to $77.8 million for the prior year quarter. The decrease related to a decline in Post’s weighted-average debt interest rate.

Other (income) expense relates to non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps. Other income was ($144.5) million for the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to an expense of $15.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Income tax expense was $50.2 million, or an effective income tax rate of 34.0%, in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to an expense of $13.7 million and an effective income tax rate of 34.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Share Repurchase

During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, Post repurchased 1.7 million shares under its share repurchase authorization for $133.1 million at an average price of $76.32 per share.

Outlook

Post management has updated its fiscal 2017 Adjusted EBITDA range to be between $920-$950 million, with modest favorability to the second half of fiscal 2017.

Post management continues to expect fiscal 2017 capital expenditures to range between $180-$200 million, including approximately $60-$70 million related to growth activities, of which approximately $25-$35 million is related to the previously announced cage-free housing conversion at the Bloomfield, Nebraska facility. Maintenance capital expenditures for fiscal 2017 are expected to range between $120-$140 million.

The Company 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 mostly 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 non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps, provision for legal settlement, transaction and integration costs, restructuring and plant closure costs, losses on assets held for sale, mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges and other charges reflected in the Company’s reconciliation of historic 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

The Company 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 total segment profit, Adjusted net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders, Adjusted diluted net earnings (loss) 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 at the end of 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 cash bonuses for its executive officers and employees. Management believes the use of these non-GAAP measures provides increased transparency and assists investors in understanding the underlying operating performance of the Company 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 the Company’s non-GAAP measures, see the related explanations provided under “Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” later in this release.

Conference Call to Discuss Earnings Results and Outlook

The Company will host a conference call on Friday, February 3, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2017 outlook and to respond to questions. Robert V. Vitale, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Jeff A. Zadoks, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the call.

Interested parties may join the conference call by dialing (877) 540-0891 in the United States and (678) 408-4007 from outside of the United States. The conference identification number is 48363175. Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast of the conference call, which can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.postholdings.com .

A replay of the conference call will be available through Friday, February 10, 2017 by dialing (800) 585-8367 in the United States and (404) 537-3406 from outside of the United States and using the conference identification number 48363175. A webcast replay will also be available for a limited period on the Company’s website in the Investor Relations section.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this release and on the conference call are forward-looking statements, including our Adjusted EBITDA outlook for fiscal 2017 and our capital expenditures expectations, including capital expenditure expectations for growth and maintenance. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include our ability to continue to compete in our product markets and our ability to retain our market position; our ability to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences and trends; our ability to identify and complete acquisitions and manage our growth; changes in our cost structure, management, financing and business operations; our ability to integrate acquired businesses and whether acquired businesses will perform as expected; changes in economic conditions and consumer demand for our products; significant volatility in the costs of certain raw materials, commodities, packaging or energy used to manufacture our products; impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangibles; our ability to successfully implement business strategies to reduce costs; our ability to comply with increased regulatory scrutiny related to certain of our products and/or international sales; allegations that our products cause injury or illness, product recalls and product liability claims and other litigation; legal and regulatory factors, including environmental laws, advertising and labeling laws, changes in food safety and laws and regulations governing animal feeding and housing operations; our ability to maintain competitive pricing, introduce new products and successfully manage our costs; the ultimate impact litigation may have on us; the ultimate outcome of the remaining portions of the Michael Foods egg antitrust litigation, including formal court approval of the announced settlement with the direct purchaser plaintiffs; the loss or bankruptcy of a significant customer; consolidations in the retail grocery and foodservice industries; the ability of our private label products to compete with nationally branded products; disruptions or inefficiencies in supply chain; our reliance on third party manufacturers for certain of our products; disruptions in the U.S. and global capital and credit markets; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in estimates in critical accounting judgments and changes to or new laws and regulations affecting our business; loss of key employees; changes in weather conditions, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other events beyond our control; labor strikes, work stoppages or unionization efforts; losses or increased funding and expenses related to our qualified pension and other post-retirement plans; business disruptions caused by information technology failures and/or technology hacking; our ability to protect our intellectual property; media campaigns and improper use of social media that damage our brands; our ability to successfully operate our international operations in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; significant differences in our actual operating results from our guidance regarding our future performance; our ability to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including with respect to acquired businesses; our high leverage and substantial debt, including covenants that restrict the operation of our business; our ability to service our outstanding debt or obtain additional financing, including both secured and unsecured debt; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release. The Company 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 operating in the center-of-the-store, foodservice, food ingredient, private label, refrigerated and active nutrition food categories. Through its Post Consumer Brands business, Post is a leader in the ready-to-eat cereal category and offers a broad portfolio that includes recognized brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats®, Pebbles™, Great Grains®, Grape-Nuts®, Honeycomb®, Frosted Mini Spooners®, Golden Puffs®, Cinnamon Toasters®, Fruity Dyno-Bites®, Cocoa Dyno-Bites®, Berry Colossal Crunch® and Malt-O-Meal® hot wheat cereal. Post’s Michael Foods Group supplies value-added egg products, refrigerated potato products, cheese and other dairy case products and dry pasta products to the foodservice, food ingredient and private label retail channels and markets retail brands including All Whites®, Better’n Eggs®, Simply Potatoes® and Crystal Farms®. Post’s Active Nutrition platform aids consumers in adopting healthier lifestyles through brands such as PowerBar®, Premier Protein® and Dymatize®. Post’s Private Brands Group manufactures private label peanut butter and other nut butters, dried fruits, baking and snacking nuts, cereal and granola. For more information, visit www.postholdings.com .

SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT INFORMATION

Results include one acquisition completed in fiscal 2017 and one acquisition completed in fiscal 2016. Each acquired business is included in results as of its respective closing date as listed below. Results also include one divestiture completed in fiscal 2016, which is no longer included in results as of its sale date as listed below.

Comparable basis, as referred to within the text of this release, is defined as a comparison of the three-month period ended December 31, 2016 to the same three-month period in fiscal 2016, including results for the periods of time Post owned each of the acquired businesses and the respective periods of time Post did not own the businesses and excluding results for the divestiture for both periods.

SUPPLEMENTAL MICHAEL FOODS GROUP SEGMENT INFORMATION

The below table presents net sales and volume percentage changes for the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter for the products within the Michael Foods Group segment.

EXPLANATION AND RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

The Company 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 total segment profit, Adjusted net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders, Adjusted diluted net earnings (loss) 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.

Total segment profit Total segment profit represents the aggregation of the segment profit for each of the Company’s reportable segments. The Company believes total segment profit is useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s operating performance because it facilitates period-to-period comparison of results of segment operations.

Adjusted net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted net earnings (loss) per common share The Company believes Adjusted net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted net earnings (loss) per common share are useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s operating performance because they exclude items that affect the comparability of the Company’s financial results and could potentially distort an understanding of the trends in business performance.

Adjusted net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted net earnings (loss) per common share are adjusted for the following items:

a.   Non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps : The Company has excluded the impact of non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to estimates of fair value and economic conditions and the amount and frequency of such adjustments and settlements are not consistent.

b.   Provision for legal settlement : The Company has excluded gains and losses recorded to recognize a receivable or liability associated with an anticipated resolution of certain ongoing litigation as the Company believes such gains and losses do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance or comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods.

c.  Transaction costs and integration costs : The Company has excluded transaction costs related to professional service fees and other related costs associated with signed and closed business combinations and divestitures and integration costs incurred to integrate acquired or to-be-acquired businesses as the Company believes that these exclusions allow for more meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance and comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods. The Company believes such costs are generally not relevant to assessing or estimating the long-term performance of acquired assets as part of the Company or the performance of the divested assets, and are not factored into management’s evaluation of potential acquisitions or its performance after completion of an acquisition or the evaluation to divest an asset. In addition, the frequency and amount of such charges varies significantly based on the size and timing of the acquisitions and divestitures and the maturities of the businesses being acquired or divested. Also, the size, complexity and/or volume of past acquisitions and divestitures, which often drive the magnitude of such expenses, may not be indicative of the size, complexity and/or volume of future acquisitions or divestitures. By excluding these expenses, management is better able to evaluate the Company’s ability to utilize its existing assets and estimate the long-term value that acquired assets will generate for the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items more closely correlate with the sustainability of the Company’s operating performance.

d.  Restructuring and plant closure costs, including accelerated depreciation : The Company has excluded certain costs associated with facility closures as the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Additionally, the Company believes that these costs do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance or comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods.

e.  Assets held for sale : The Company has excluded adjustments recorded to adjust the carrying value of facilities and other assets classified as held for sale as such adjustments represent non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Additionally, the Company believes that these adjustments do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance or comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods.

f.  Inventory valuation adjustments on acquired businesses : The Company has excluded the impact of fair value step-up adjustments to inventory in connection with business combinations as such adjustments represent non-cash items, are not consistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Company’s acquisitions.

g.  Mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges : The Company has excluded the impact of mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates. Additionally, these adjustments are primarily non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent.

h.  Foreign currency gains and losses on intercompany loans : The Company has excluded the impact of foreign currency fluctuations related to intercompany loans denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective legal entity in evaluating Company performance to allow for more meaningful comparisons of performance to other periods.

i.  Tax : The Company has included the tax impact of the non-GAAP adjustments using either the effective income tax rate or the statutory rate, as noted in the footnote of the reconciliation table. In certain instances, the Company’s GAAP effective income tax rate as reported in the relevant period is not representative of the tax expense impact of the adjustments. In those circumstances, the Company utilizes the statutory rate to determine the tax effect of the adjustments in its calculation of Adjusted net earnings available to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share.

j.  Preferred stock : The Company has included dividend and share adjustments related to its convertible preferred stock using the “if-converted” method when the convertible preferred stock is not anti-dilutive.

Adjusted EBITDA and segment Adjusted EBITDA The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s operating performance and liquidity because (i) we believe 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 the Company’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 the Company is required to comply with certain covenants and limitations that are based on variations of EBITDA in the Company’s financing documents. Variations of EBITDA may include, but are not limited to, further adjustments to the Company’s reported Adjusted EBITDA to give effect to the Company’s completed acquisitions as if all completed acquisitions were owned for the entire calculation period. The Company believes that segment Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating the Company’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 interest expense, net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, as well as the adjustments discussed above reflected in Adjusted net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per common share, but do not adjust for the tax and preferred stock adjustments as discussed above, and adjust for the following item:

k.  Non-cash stock-based compensation : The Company’s compensation strategy includes the use of stock-based compensation to attract and retain executives and employees by aligning their long-term compensation interests with shareholders’ investment interests. The Company has excluded non-cash stock-based compensation as non-cash stock-based compensation can vary significantly based on reasons such as the timing, size and nature of the awards granted and subjective assumptions which are unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any particular period and do not contribute to meaningful comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods.

Contact: Investor Relations Brad Harper brad.harper@postholdings.com (314) 644-7626