McCormick(MKC) - 2024 Q1 - Quarterly Results

First Quarter 2024 Performance McCormick reported a strong start to 2024 with sales growth, improved operating income, and increased cash flow, driven by strategic investments and pricing actions Overview & CEO Remarks McCormick's CEO highlighted strong Q1 results, reflecting successful prioritized investments, sequential volume improvements, and confidence in achieving 2024 outlook and long-term goals - The CEO stated that the strong Q1 performance reflects the early success of prioritized investments, leading to sequential improvement in volumes across segments[4] Q1 2024 Key Performance Indicators (YoY, in millions, except per share data) | Metric | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 | Change | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Sales | - | - | +3% (+2% constant currency) | | Operating Income | $234M | $199M | +17.6% | | Adjusted Operating Income | $238M | $227M | +5% | | Diluted EPS | $0.62 | $0.52 | +19.2% | | Adjusted Diluted EPS | $0.63 | $0.59 | +7% | | Cash Flow from Operations | $138M | $103M | +34.0% | - The company is prioritizing investments in key categories and growth levers, including brand marketing, new products, and proprietary technology, while using cost savings programs (CCI & GOE) to fuel these investments and expand margins[6] Consolidated Financial Results Q1 2024 sales grew 3% from pricing, with gross profit margin expanding 140 basis points, leading to significant operating income and EPS growth - Q1 sales growth of 3% was driven by a 3% increase from pricing actions, partially offset by a 1% volume and mix decline from strategic decisions to exit low-margin business and divest a canning business. Underlying volume and product mix was flat YoY[8] - Gross profit margin expanded by 140 basis points, driven by favorable product mix, cost savings from CCI and GOE programs, and pricing actions, which were partially offset by cost inflation[9] - Adjusted earnings per share increased to $0.63 from $0.59, driven by higher adjusted operating income and higher income from unconsolidated operations, notably from McCormick de Mexico[11] - Net cash from operating activities increased to $138 million from $103 million in the prior year, mainly due to higher operating income and working capital improvements[12] Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Outlook McCormick reaffirmed its FY2024 guidance, projecting sales from -2% to 0%, adjusted operating income growth of 3-5%, and adjusted EPS of $2.80-$2.85 FY 2024 Financial Outlook | Metric | Reported Growth | Constant Currency Growth | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net Sales | (2)% to 0% | (1)% to 1% | | Adjusted Operating Income | 3% to 5% | 4% to 6% | | Adjusted EPS | 4% to 6% | 5% to 7% | - The company expects to improve volume trends as the year progresses and return to volume growth, absent new macroeconomic headwinds. Strategic decisions from 2023 to exit low-margin business will impact 2024 volume growth[14] FY 2024 Earnings Per Share (EPS) Outlook (in $) | Metric | 2024 Projection | 2023 Actual | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Diluted EPS | $2.76 to $2.81 | $2.52 | | Adjusted Diluted EPS | $2.80 to $2.85 | $2.70 | - The company anticipates returning a significant portion of its expected strong cash flow to shareholders through dividends[16] Business Segment Results This section details the first-quarter performance of McCormick's Consumer and Flavor Solutions segments, highlighting regional sales trends and key drivers Consumer Segment Consumer segment sales grew 1% from pricing, offset by volume declines from strategic exits, with adjusted operating income up 2% due to pricing and cost savings Consumer Segment Q1 Financials (in millions) | Metric | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net Sales | $921.5 | $909.5 | | Adjusted Operating Income | $176.3 | $173.4 | - Sales increased 1% (0.7% constant currency), reflecting a 3% increase from pricing actions offset by a 2% volume decline. The volume decline includes a 1% impact from discontinuing low-margin business[18] - Adjusted operating income rose 2%, as pricing actions, cost savings, and lower distribution costs were partially offset by lower volume and higher brand marketing investments[19] Consumer Segment by Region Regional performance varied, with Americas sales flat, EMEA growing 13% from broad-based volume, and APAC sales declining 7% due to slower China demand - Americas: Sales were comparable to Q1 2023, as pricing actions were offset by a 3% volume decline, partly due to business discontinuation and weakness in prepared food categories[21] - EMEA: Sales grew 13% (8% constant currency), driven by a 5% increase from pricing and a 3% increase from volume and product mix[21] - APAC: Sales decreased 7% (5% constant currency), driven by a 6% volume decline related to the macroeconomic environment in China[21] Flavor Solutions Segment Flavor Solutions sales increased 4% from pricing and volume, with adjusted operating income growing 15% due to higher sales, favorable mix, and cost savings Flavor Solutions Segment Q1 Financials (in millions) | Metric | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net Sales | $681.2 | $656.0 | | Adjusted Operating Income | $61.4 | $53.4 | - Sales increased 4% (2.5% constant currency), reflecting a 2% increase from pricing and a 1% increase from volume, partially offset by strategic business exits[20] - Adjusted operating income grew 15% (14% constant currency), driven by pricing, higher volume, favorable product mix, and cost savings[22] Flavor Solutions Segment by Region Americas led Flavor Solutions growth with 5% sales increase, EMEA sales declined 1% constant currency, and APAC sales rose 5% constant currency - Americas: Sales rose 5% (3% constant currency), with a 2% increase from pricing and 1% growth in volume, driven by flavors and branded foodservice[20] - EMEA: Sales grew 2% but decreased 1% constant currency, including a 3% decline from the canning divestiture. Pricing actions of 4% were offset by a 2% volume decline[27] - APAC: Sales increased 2% (5% constant currency), reflecting a 4% increase from pricing and 1% growth in volume[27] Non-GAAP Financial Measures & Reconciliations This section details the company's use of non-GAAP measures, such as adjusted operating income and EPS, and constant currency results, to enhance comparability and show underlying performance - The company uses non-GAAP measures (e.g., adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted EPS) that exclude special charges. This is done to provide additional information for enhanced comparison to prior periods and is used by management to measure ongoing operational profitability[23][25] Reconciliation of Q1 GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Income (in millions) | Metric | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Operating Income (GAAP) | $233.5 | $199.0 | | Impact of special charges | $4.2 | $27.8 | | Adjusted Operating Income (Non-GAAP) | $237.7 | $226.8 | Reconciliation of Q1 GAAP to Non-GAAP Diluted EPS (in $) | Metric | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Diluted EPS (GAAP) | $0.62 | $0.52 | | Impact of special charges | $0.01 | $0.07 | | Adjusted Diluted EPS (Non-GAAP) | $0.63 | $0.59 | - Constant currency figures are presented to exclude the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, providing additional insight into the underlying performance of operations outside the U.S.[30] Financial Statements This section presents McCormick's consolidated financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, for the first quarter of 2024 Consolidated Income Statement Q1 2024 net sales reached $1.60 billion, with gross profit at $599.3 million and net income at $166.0 million, or $0.62 per diluted share Q1 Consolidated Income Statement Highlights (in millions, except per-share data) | Metric | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net Sales | $1,602.7 | $1,565.5 | | Gross Profit | $599.3 | $562.9 | | Operating Income | $233.5 | $199.0 | | Net Income | $166.0 | $139.1 | | Earnings Per Share - Diluted | $0.62 | $0.52 | Consolidated Balance Sheet As of Feb 29, 2024, total assets were $12.89 billion, liabilities decreased to $7.63 billion, and shareholders' equity increased to $5.26 billion Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights (in millions) | Metric | Feb 29, 2024 | Nov 30, 2023 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Total Current Assets | $2,020.2 | $2,001.6 | | Total Assets | $12,890.1 | $12,862.3 | | Total Current Liabilities | $2,973.8 | $3,098.9 | | Long-Term Debt | $3,329.1 | $3,339.9 | | Total Liabilities | $7,632.7 | $7,778.8 | | Total Shareholders' Equity | $5,257.4 | $5,083.5 | Consolidated Cash Flow Statement Q1 2024 net cash from operating activities improved to $138.4 million, with stable investing activities and increased financing cash outflow due to dividends Q1 Consolidated Cash Flow Highlights (in millions) | Metric | Three Months Ended Feb 29, 2024 | Three Months Ended Feb 28, 2023 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | $138.4 | $103.4 | | Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | ($61.8) | ($61.5) | | Net Cash Used in Financing Activities | ($67.7) | ($44.7) | | Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents | $11.4 | $22.8 |