Deerfield / IL. (mdlz) Mondelez International Inc. reported its second quarter 2015 results, reflecting strong Adjusted Operating Income margin expansion and Adjusted EPS growth on a constant currency basis, as well as solid Organic Net Revenue growth. In addition, the company increased its share repurchase authorization by 6.0 billion USD and extended the expiration by two years to December 31, 2018. Highlights:
- Net revenues decreased 9.2 percent due to currency; Organic Net Revenue grew 4.3 percent
- Operating Income margin was 11.0 percent, down 30 basis points; Adjusted Operating Income margin expanded 270 basis points to 15.2 percent
- Diluted EPS was 0.25 USD, down 30.6 percent; Adjusted EPS was 0.47 USD, up 37.5 percent on a constant-currency basis
«Our strong second quarter results reflect continued execution of our transformation agenda», said Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO. «With the creation of the coffee joint venture now complete, our portfolio is focused even more on snacks. In addition, we are continuing to make excellent progress driving supply chain productivity and overhead cost reductions to deliver top-tier margin expansion and earnings growth. This provides additional fuel to step up investments in marketing, sales and capacity expansion to accelerate revenue growth and improve market share, both now and over the long term».
«We are building upon this strong year-to-date performance, and have updated our 2015 outlook accordingly. For full year 2015, we have increased our organic revenue growth target and expect to capitalize on the margin expansion momentum in our base business to offset the margin dilution related to the coffee transaction. As a result, we remain on track to deliver double-digit Adjusted EPS growth on a constant currency basis, and are increasingly confident in our ability to deliver our 2016 Adjusted Operating Income margin target of 15 to 16 percent».
On a reported basis, net revenues were 7.7 billion USD, down 9.2 percent, including a negative 13.6 percentage point impact from currency. Operating income was 841 million USD, down 12.1 percent. Diluted EPS was 0.25 USD, down 0.11 USD.
Net Revenue
Organic Net Revenue increased 4.3 percent, as the company raised prices to recover currency-driven input cost inflation. Volume/mix was unfavorable, largely due to price elasticity as well as strategic decisions to exit certain low-margin product lines. In addition, the shift of Easter-related shipments into the first quarter was a headwind of approximately 50 basis points. Power Brands grew 6.6 percent. Organic Net Revenue from emerging markets was up 9.7 percent, while developed markets increased 0.9 percent.
Operating Income and Diluted EPS
Adjusted Gross Profit margin was 40.2 percent, up 330 basis points. The improvement was driven by record net productivity and a 150 basis point benefit from mark-to-market adjustments associated with commodities and currency hedging.
Adjusted Operating Income margin expanded 270 basis points to 15.2 percent. The company made good progress in reducing overhead costs as a percent of revenue by leveraging zero-based budgeting and other cost-saving tools. However, total selling, general and administrative expenses increased as the company significantly stepped up advertising and consumer support in each region, especially behind its Power Brands.
Adjusted EPS grew 37.5 percent on a constant-currency basis, driven primarily by operating income improvement.
Return of Capital
The company’s Board of Directors approved a 6.0 billion USD increase to the company’s share repurchase authorization from 7.7 billion USD to 13.7 billion USD and extended the expiration by two years to December 31, 2018. In the first half, the company repurchased nearly 2.2 billion USD of its common stock at an average price of 37.17 USD per share.
The company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of 0.17 USD per share, an increase of 13 percent. The dividend is payable on October 14, 2015, to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2015. In the first half, the company paid 495 million USD in dividends.
Outlook
The company combined its global coffee business with D.E Master Blenders 1753 B.V. on July 02, 2015, to create Jacobs Douwe Egberts. As a result of the transaction, the net revenue and costs associated with the company’s global coffee business will no longer be included in the company’s income statement in future reporting periods. Beginning in the third quarter 2015, the company will reflect its proportional share of JDE’s after-tax income, as well as after-tax income related to its other non-consolidated joint ventures, in equity earnings, which are not included in operating income.
Organic Net Revenue: For the second half and full year 2015, the company increased its Organic Net Revenue growth outlook to at least three percent to reflect its strong year-to-date performance. The company previously expected full year Organic Net Revenue growth of at least two percent including the coffee business. The company’s updated target is versus the company’s pro forma revenue of 15.2 billion USD and 30.5 billion USD for the second half 2014 and full year 2014, respectively.
In addition, the company estimates currency translation will reduce net revenue growth in the second half 2015 by approximately eleven percentage points due to the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar versus other currencies.
Adjusted Operating Income Margin: The company updated its Adjusted Operating Income margin outlook to reflect the strong year-to-date margin expansion for its ongoing business and continued progress with its cost-reduction programs. The underlying strength of the company’s ongoing business is expected to largely offset total estimated margin dilution of 75 to 100 basis points related to the coffee business transaction, including the temporary impact of stranded overhead costs, and the reclassification of after-tax income from interests in non-consolidated joint ventures from operating income to equity earnings that are not included in operating income.
For full year 2015, the company expects Adjusted Operating Income margin to be approximately 14 percent, excluding a negative 20 to 30 basis point impact from stranded overhead costs. The company anticipates offsetting all stranded overhead costs by the end of 2015. The company previously targeted an Adjusted Operating Income margin of approximately 14 percent, including the coffee business.
For the second half 2015, the company expects Adjusted Operating Income margin to be at least 14 percent. For 2016, the company reaffirmed its Adjusted Operating Income margin target of 15 to 16 percent as it continues to make progress in executing its supply chain and overhead cost reduction programs.
Adjusted EPS: For 2015, the company reaffirmed its target of double-digit Adjusted EPS growth on a constant-currency basis, despite absorbing the dilutive impact of the coffee transaction. The company estimates currency translation to reduce 2015 Adjusted EPS by approximately 0.336 USD.
Free Cash Flow Excluding Items: For 2015, the company expects Free Cash Flow excluding items to be approximately 1.0 billion USD, down approximately 0.2 billion USD from its previous estimate. The reduction reflects an expectation of stronger-than-expected Free Cash Flow from its base business of approximately 0.4 billion USD, which is more than offset by an approximately 0.6 billion USD of Free Cash Flow that was expected to be generated by the coffee business in the second half 2015 (Image Source: obs | Kraft Foods Germany 2011).
