Campbell Reports Fourth-Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results; Provides Full-Year Fiscal 2024 Guidance

CAMDEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today reported results for its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2023 ended July 30, 2023.

CEO Comments

“We delivered a strong fiscal 2023 with both top and bottom-line growth, exceeding our initial expectations and demonstrating momentum against our strategic plan,” said Mark Clouse, Campbell’s President and CEO. “Looking ahead, we see fiscal 2024 as another year of sustained growth and continued progress against our strategic plan. We expect accelerated growth and margin improvement in Snacks, and sequential and steady improvement in Meals & Beverages throughout the year, and with the pending strategic acquisition of Sovos Brands, Campbell will be one of the most dependable, growth-oriented names in food.”

Note: A detailed reconciliation of the reported (GAAP) financial information to the adjusted financial information is included at the end of this news release.

Items Impacting Comparability

The table below presents a summary of items impacting comparability in each period. A detailed reconciliation of the reported (GAAP) financial information to the adjusted information is included at the end of this news release.

*Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Fourth-Quarter Results

Net sales in the quarter increased 4%. Organic net sales increased 5% to $2.1 billion. The impact of inflation-driven net price realization of 10% was partially offset by some unfavorable volume / mix of 5%.

Gross profit increased to $656 million from $571 million. Gross profit margin was 31.7% compared to 28.7%. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted gross profit increased to $632 million from $622 million. Adjusted gross profit margin decreased 70 basis points, as expected, to 30.6% primarily driven by unfavorable volume / mix, with net price realization and supply chain productivity improvements more than offsetting higher cost inflation and other supply chain costs.

Marketing and selling expenses increased 11% to $199 million and represented approximately 10% of net sales. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted marketing and selling expenses increased 9% to $194 million and represented approximately 9% of net sales in line with our objectives. The increase was driven by higher advertising and consumer promotion expense (A&C), which increased 23%, and higher selling expenses, partially offset by increased benefits from cost savings initiatives.

Administrative expenses increased 2% to $167 million. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted administrative expenses increased 7% to $164 million primarily due to higher general administrative costs and inflation, partially offset by increased benefits from cost savings initiatives.

Other income was $9 million compared to other expenses of $31 million. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted other expenses were $7 million compared to adjusted other income of $1 million primarily due to lower pension and postretirement benefit income this year.

As reported EBIT increased to $272 million from $170 million. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted EBIT decreased 10% to $242 million primarily due to higher adjusted strategic marketing and selling expenses, higher adjusted administrative expenses, and higher adjusted other expenses related to lower pension and postretirement benefit income this year, partially offset by higher adjusted gross profit.

Net interest expense was $47 million compared to $45 million. The effective tax rate was 24.9% compared to 23.2%. Excluding items impacting comparability, the adjusted effective tax rate decreased to 23.1% compared to 24.1%.

As reported EPS increased to $0.57 per share compared to $0.32 per share. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted EPS decreased $0.06, or 11%, to $0.50 per share compared to $0.56 per share primarily reflecting the decrease in adjusted EBIT and slightly higher interest expense, partially offset by a lower adjusted effective tax rate and a reduction in the weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Lower pension and postretirement benefit income in the fourth quarter drove an approximate $0.02 impact to adjusted EPS as compared to the prior-year period.

Full-Year Results

Net sales increased 9% and organic net sales increased 10% to $9.4 billion with the benefit of inflation-driven net price realization more than offsetting unfavorable volume / mix.

As reported EBIT increased 13% to $1.31 billion. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted EBIT increased 5% to $1.37 billion primarily due to higher adjusted gross profit, partially offset by higher adjusted marketing and selling expenses, higher adjusted other expenses, and higher adjusted administrative expenses. Lower pension and postretirement benefit income this year drove an approximate $44 million impact to adjusted EBIT.

Net interest expense was $184 million compared to $188 million. Excluding items impacting comparability in the prior year, adjusted net interest expense was $184 million. The effective tax rate was 23.9% compared to 22.4%. Excluding items impacting comparability, the adjusted effective tax rate increased to 23.7% compared to 22.6% primarily due to the impact of state tax law changes in the prior year.

As reported EPS increased to $2.85 per share compared to $2.51 per share. Excluding items impacting comparability, adjusted EPS increased $0.15, or 5%, to $3.00, which was consistent with the company’s latest fiscal 2023 guidance and included an approximate $0.11 impact from lower pension and postretirement benefit income. Fiscal 2023 adjusted EPS increased from $2.85 per share in the prior year primarily reflecting the increase in adjusted EBIT and a reduction in the weighted average diluted shares outstanding, partially offset by a higher adjusted effective tax rate.

Cash flow from operations was $1.1 billion compared to $1.2 billion primarily due to changes in working capital, partially offset by higher cash earnings. Capital expenditures were $370 million compared to $242 million. In line with Campbell’s commitment to return value to its shareholders, the company paid $447 million of cash dividends and repurchased common stock of approximately $142 million. At the end of the fourth quarter, the company had approximately $301 million remaining under the current $500 million strategic share repurchase program and approximately $104 million remaining under its $250 million anti-dilutive share repurchase program. As of fiscal year end, the company had approximately $189 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1.85 billion available under its revolving credit facility.

Cost Savings Program from Continuing Operations

Through the fourth quarter, Campbell has achieved $890 million of total savings under its multi-year cost savings program, inclusive of Snyder’s-Lance synergies. The company remains on track to deliver savings of $1 billion by the end of fiscal 2025.

Full-Year Fiscal 2024 Guidance:

Following a strong fiscal 2023, Campbell’s full-year fiscal 2024 guidance reflects continued momentum against its strategic plan. The pending acquisition of Sovos Brands is currently expected to close by the end of December 2023 and is not included in Campbell’s current fiscal 2024 outlook. After the transaction closes, the company expects to update guidance expectations for the combined business.

Guidance reflects the following underlying assumptions:

• Net Sales growth reflecting:
  • Volume declines expected in the first half of fiscal 2024 with sequential improvement throughout the fiscal year leading to positive trends in the second half;
  • Expected lower contribution from pricing and disciplined levels of promotional activity;
  • More difficult first half top-line comparisons to prior year as the company will lap double-digit net sales growth driven by mid-teens inflation-driven pricing.
• Adjusted EBIT and adjusted EPS growth reflecting:
  • An expectation of modest adjusted earnings growth and margin progress in fiscal 2024, expected to be second half weighted, due to an improving cost outlook throughout the year, benefiting from a moderating inflationary environment and on-going productivity improvements benefits;
  • Continued inflation mitigation through a variety of levers including productivity improvements of approximately 3% and cost savings initiatives of approximately $35 to $40 million;
  • A continued commitment to brand investments, with marketing and selling expense as a percent of net sales expected at the low end of its targeted 9-10% range, with a meaningful step-up in marketing and selling spend in the first quarter compared to prior year;
  • Division operating margins expected to improve overall for fiscal 2024, with Snacks operating margin expected to be above 15% and modest operating margin expansion in Meals & Beverages expected in the second half of the fiscal year.
• Non-operating items:
  • Campbell’s adjusted EBIT and adjusted EPS guidance includes an estimated pre-tax headwind of approximately $13 million, or $0.03 per share, in fiscal 2024 related to lower pension and postretirement benefit income, representing approximately 1% of both adjusted EBIT and adjusted EPS growth. This impact is expected be most pronounced in the first quarter of the fiscal year;
  • The divestiture of the Emerald nuts business, which closed on May 30, 2023, is estimated to reduce reported net sales growth by approximately 0.5% and have an expected dilutive impact of $0.01 to adjusted EPS in fiscal 2024.
• Other additional guidance assumptions can be found in the accompanying investor presentation available at investor.campbellsoupcompany.com/events-and-presentations.

The full-year fiscal 2024 guidance is set forth in the table below:

Segment Operating Review

An analysis of net sales and operating earnings by reportable segment follows:

Meals & Beverages

Net sales in the quarter were flat. Organic net sales increased 1% as increases in foodservice and Prego pasta sauces were partially offset by declines in beverages, U.S. soup and Canada. Net price realization of 6% was partially offset by modestly unfavorable volume / mix of 5%. Sales of U.S. soup decreased 2% primarily due to declines in ready-to-serve soups, partially offset by strong increases in broth and modest increases in condensed.

Operating earnings in the quarter decreased 18% primarily due to lower gross profit. Gross profit margin decreased due to higher cost inflation and other supply chain costs, as well as modestly unfavorable volume / mix, partially offset by net price realization and supply chain productivity improvements.

Snacks

Net sales in the quarter increased 8% and organic net sales increased 9% driven by sales of its 8 power brands, which were up 13%. Sales growth was driven by increases in cookies and crackers, primarily Goldfish crackers and Lance sandwich crackers, and in salty snacks, primarily Kettle Brand and Cape Cod potato chips. Sales benefited from net price realization of 13%, partially offset by modestly unfavorable volume / mix of 5%.

Operating earnings in the quarter increased 12% primarily due to higher gross profit, partially offset by higher marketing and selling expenses as well as higher administrative expenses. Gross profit margin increased due to the impact of net price realization and supply chain productivity improvements more than offsetting higher cost inflation and other supply chain costs as well as unfavorable volume / mix.

Corporate

Corporate expense was $17 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to $127 million in the prior year.

Corporate expense in the current quarter included the following:

• $41 million of pension and postretirement actuarial gains;
• $30 million of unrealized mark-to-market gains on outstanding undesignated commodity hedges;
• $15 million of costs related to cost savings initiatives;
• $13 million loss from the sale of the Emerald nuts business;
• $7 million of accelerated amortization; and
• $5 million of transaction costs associated with the pending acquisition of Sovos Brands.

Corporate expense in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 included:

• $51 million of unrealized mark-to-market losses on outstanding undesignated commodity hedges;
• $32 million of pension and postretirement actuarial losses; and
• $11 million of costs related to cost savings initiatives.

After factoring in these items, the remaining increase in Corporate expense was primarily due to lower pension and postretirement benefit income and higher administrative expenses.

Conference Call and Webcast

Campbell will host a conference call to discuss these results today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Participants calling from the U.S. may dial in using the toll-free phone number (888) 210-3346. Participants calling from outside the U.S. may dial in using phone number +1 (646) 960-0253. The conference access code is 2518868. In addition to dial-in, access to a live listen-only audio webcast and accompanying slide presentation, as well as a replay of the webcast, will be available at investor.campbellsoupcompany.com/events-and-presentations.

Reportable Segments

Campbell Soup Company earnings results are reported as follows:

Meals & Beverages, which consists of our soup, simple meals and beverage products in retail and foodservice in U.S. and Canada. The segment includes the following products: Campbell’s condensed and ready-to-serve soups; Swanson broth and stocks; Pacific Foods broth, soups and non-dairy beverages; Prego pasta sauces; Pace Mexican sauces; Campbell’s gravies, pasta, beans and dinner sauces; Swanson canned poultry; V8 juices and beverages; and Campbell’s tomato juice. The segment also includes snacking products in foodservice and Canada.

Snacks, which consists of Pepperidge Farm cookies*, crackers, fresh bakery and frozen products, including Goldfish crackers*, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels*, Lance sandwich crackers*, Cape Cod potato chips*, Kettle Brand potato chips*, Late July snacks*, Snack Factory pretzel crisps*, Pop Secret popcorn, and other snacking products in retail in the U.S. We refer to the * brands as our “power brands.” The segment also includes the retail business in Latin America. The segment included the results of our Emerald nuts business, which was sold on May 30, 2023.

About Campbell

For more than 150 years, Campbell (NYSE:CPB) has been connecting people through food they love. Generations of consumers have trusted us to provide delicious and affordable food and beverages. Headquartered in Camden, N.J. since 1869, the company generated fiscal 2023 net sales of $9.4 billion. Our portfolio includes iconic brands such as Campbell’s, Cape Cod, Goldfish, Kettle Brand, Lance, Late July, Milano, Pace, Pacific Foods, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Snyder’s of Hanover, Swanson and V8. Campbell has a heritage of giving back and acting as a good steward of the environment. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 as well as the FTSE4Good and Bloomberg Gender-Equality Indices. For more information, visit www.campbellsoupcompany.com.