Hain Celestial(US:HAIN)2025-09-15 13:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported an organic net sales decline of 11% year-over-year for Q4, driven by lower sales in both North America and international segments [24] - Adjusted gross margin decreased to 20.5%, down approximately 290 basis points year-over-year, due to lower volume mix, cost inflation, and higher trade spend [24] - Adjusted net loss was $2 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $11 million, or $0.13 per diluted share in the prior year [26] - Adjusted EBITDA was $20 million, down from $40 million a year ago, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.5% [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In North America, organic net sales declined 14% year-over-year, primarily due to lower sales in snacks and meal preparation products [27] - International organic net sales declined 6%, driven by lower sales in meal prep and beverages [28] - Snacks category saw organic net sales growth down 19% year-over-year, attributed to velocity challenges and distribution losses [28] - The beverages category experienced a 3% decline in organic net sales, impacted by softness in tea in North America [29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company gained market share in the UK despite challenges in the international segment, particularly in wet baby food and soup categories [5] - E-commerce grew 10% in North America, with significant growth in the UK soup category, which is the fastest growing online category [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing cash, deleveraging the balance sheet, stabilizing sales, and improving profitability through a turnaround strategy [21] - Key actions include streamlining the portfolio, accelerating brand renovation and innovation, and enhancing digital capabilities [21] - The company is exiting unprofitable or low-margin SKUs and businesses where it is structurally disadvantaged, such as the meat-free category in North America [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed disappointment with Q4 performance, citing challenges in both North America and international segments [4] - The company is committed to decisive actions to improve its trajectory and financial health, with a focus on reducing complexity in operations [10] - Management anticipates stronger top and bottom line performance in the second half of fiscal 2026 compared to the first half, driven by aggressive cost-cutting and execution of strategic initiatives [33] Other Important Information - The company has taken restructuring charges totaling $88 million to date, with an expected increase in restructuring charges to $100 million-$110 million by fiscal 2027 [25] - Free cash flow in Q4 was an outflow of $9 million, compared to an inflow of $31 million in the prior year [30] - The company closed the quarter with cash on hand of $54 million and net debt of $650 million, having reduced net debt by $14 million in the quarter [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company manage reinvestment in the context of a strained balance sheet? - Management emphasized the need for financial flexibility and tough decisions to focus investments on high-return areas to drive growth [36][37] Question: What are the differences between the current strategy and the previous Hain Reimagined program? - Management noted that the current focus is on actionable decisions and local empowerment, with a robust innovation pipeline and pricing strategies in place [44][46] Question: What is the expected timeline for restructuring and CEO search? - Management indicated that restructuring changes would be effective between October 1st and November 1st, and the CEO search is ongoing in parallel with the strategic review [75][76]