J & J Snack Foods(US:JJSF)2026-02-03 16:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2026 was $27 million on sales of $343.8 million, representing a 7% increase in adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior year [5] - Gross margin improved by 200 basis points to 27.9% versus the prior year, driven by early Apollo savings and improved product mix [5][12] - Net sales declined by 5.2% to $343.8 million, primarily due to a decline in the bakery business [5][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Food service segment net sales declined by $19.7 million, or 8.3%, to $219.2 million, with $18 million of the decline attributed to the lower-margin bakery business [11] - Handheld sales in the food service segment declined approximately $5 million, while soft pretzel sales increased by $3.6 million, or about 6.9% [11] - Retail segment net sales increased by $1.2 million, or 2.6%, to $45.9 million, driven by a $1.8 million increase in handheld volume [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales in the quarter were impacted by the government shutdown and the pause in SNAP benefits, with a noted dip in dollar sales in mid-November [6] - Dippin' Dots sales increased approximately 4% in Q1, fueled by retail growth and theater expansion [9] - The company saw improved theater trends in January, primarily from the success of the Avatar movie [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on higher-margin opportunities and operational excellence as part of its transformation initiatives under Project Apollo [5][38] - A new $50 million share repurchase authorization was announced, demonstrating confidence in the business and commitment to returning cash to shareholders [7] - The innovation pipeline remains robust, with several new products set to launch in Q2 [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about achieving low single-digit growth for the full year despite a 3% impact from SKU rationalization [22] - The company anticipates achieving a $20 million annual run rate in cost savings from Project Apollo by Q2 [25][26] - Commodity pricing is expected to be more favorable this year compared to the previous year, which faced significant headwinds [29] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate was 27%, and on a reported basis, earnings per diluted share was $0.05 compared to $0.26 last year [15] - The company generated approximately $36 million in operating cash flow and invested $19 million in capital expenditures during the quarter [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sales and Project Apollo - Inquiry about the full-year sales expectations considering SKU rationalization and underlying growth objectives [17] - Management indicated that they expect low single-digit growth for the year despite the SKU impact [22] Question: Cost Savings from Project Apollo - Follow-up on the $20 million annual run rate for cost savings and the timeline for achieving it [25] - Management confirmed that they expect to reach the full run rate in Q2 [26] Question: Commodity Environment and Gross Margin - Question regarding the current commodity environment and its impact on gross margin [27] - Management noted that commodity pricing is expected to be more favorable this year, contributing to gross margin improvements [29]