Hormel Foods Corp. reported its performance for the fiscal year 2011 second quarter.
All comparisons are to the second quarter or first half of fiscal 2010. All per share results reported here have been adjusted to give effect to the two-for-one stock split, which was effective February 1, 2011.
The company reported fiscal 2011 second quarter net earnings of $109.6 million, up 20 percent from adjusted net earnings of $91.3 million a year earlier. For the six months ended May 1, 2011, net earnings were $258.4 million, up 28 percent from adjusted net earnings of $202.5 million the same period last year. Diluted net earnings per share for the six months ended May 1, 2011 were $.95, up 27 percent from diluted adjusted net earnings per share of $.75 last year.
On a U.S. GAAP basis, the company’s fiscal 2011 second quarter net earnings of $109.6 million were up 41 percent from net earnings of $77.9 million a year earlier. Diluted U.S. GAAP earnings per share for the quarter were $.40 this year, up 38 percent compared to $.29 per share last year. U.S. GAAP segment operating profit for the quarter was $183.6 million, up 25 percent from a year ago. Grocery Products U.S. GAAP segment operating profit for the quarter was $39 million, up 18 percent from a year ago. For the six months ended May 1, 2011, U.S. GAAP net earnings were $258.4 million or $.95 per diluted share (up 37 percent and 36 percent, respectively) compared to U.S. GAAP net earnings of $189.1 million or $.70 per diluted share from the same period last year.
Sales for the quarter were $2 billion, up 15 percent from fiscal 2010. For the six months ended May 1, 2011, sales totaled $3.9 billion, up 13 percent from the same period last year.
“We are pleased to report double-digit growth in both earnings and sales for the quarter. Earnings growth was led by our Refrigerated Foods and Jennie-O Turkey Store segments, both of which had a strong quarter. We are also gratified to attain sales growth in all five of our segments,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer in a prepared statement.
“Our refrigerated foods segment generated excellent results, benefitting from strong pork operating margins, and our Jennie-O Turkey Store segment delivered another outstanding quarter, aided by stronger commodity meat prices and improved efficiencies. Our international business in our All Other segment also achieved impressive results, driven by strong export sales. Both our grocery products and specialty foods segments were pressured by higher commodity costs during the quarter,” remarked Ettinger.
The grocery products segment operating profit declined 9 percent from adjusted segment operating profit a year ago, due to higher input costs. Net sales exceeded last year by 1 percent. Strong results from our core products, such as the SPAM® family of products, Hormel® bacon toppings, Hormel® Mary Kitchen® hash and Dinty Moore® stew offset soft sales of our microwave products and imported canned meats. The MegaMex Foods business continued to grow sales.
The refrigerated foods segment exceeded last year’s profitability by 27 percent, due primarily to higher pork operating margins. Net sales for the quarter increased 16 percent, with strong contributions from products such as Hormel® party trays, Hormel® Natural Choice® deli meats and Hormel® Cure 81® premium hams. Positive contributions from the new Hormel® Country Crock® business were also reflected in the results.
Jennie-O Turkey Store had another excellent quarter, with segment operating profit up 45 percent from a year ago. Stronger commodity meat markets and improved efficiencies contributed to the good results. Net sales for the quarter rose 25 percent, and sales of our value-added products rose in all three trade channels.
The specialty foods segment operating profit declined 11 percent, due to higher raw material costs. Net sales grew 4 percent, as higher sales of private label canned meats, sugar and blended items offset softer nutritional jar sales.
The “all other” segment, which consists primarily of Hormel Foods International, grew segment profit 104 percent, and grew net sales by 45 percent, driven mostly by stronger exports of fresh pork and the SPAM® family of products.
