ORRVILLE, Ohio, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) today announced results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2015, of its 2016 fiscal year. All comparisons are to the second quarter of the prior fiscal year, unless otherwise noted.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Net sales increased $595.9 million, or 40 percent, reflecting the contribution of Big Heart Pet Brands ("Big Heart"), acquired in fiscal 2015, and growth within the U.S. Retail Coffee segment.
• Net income per diluted share was $1.47, a decrease of 5 percent, as the benefit from Big Heart operations was offset by merger and integration costs, higher interest expense, and the impact of additional shares outstanding.
• Non-GAAP income per diluted share was $1.62, an increase of 6 percent, while adjusted non-GAAP income per diluted share, which excludes amortization, was $1.91, an increase of 13 percent.
• Free cash flow was $211.0 million, reflecting the benefits of the Company's working capital reduction initiatives.
• The Company updated its fiscal 2016 earnings outlook with non-GAAP income per diluted share expected to range from $5.70 to $5.80, and adjusted non-GAAP income per diluted share expected to range from $6.85 to $6.95.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER REMARKS
"We are pleased to have delivered another quarter of solid financial results, which reflects the momentum we are seeing across our businesses," said Richard Smucker, Chief Executive Officer. "Much of our net sales growth is coming from the addition of the pet food business which continues to perform well. In addition, our coffee business had a strong second quarter, with double-digit volume gains for Folgers^® roast and ground coffee and contributions from our recently introduced Dunkin' Donuts^® K-Cup^® pods. With a number of key initiatives ongoing across the Company, including the integration of Big Heart, this remains a dynamic and exciting time for our teams, and we thank all our employees for their continued dedication."

SECOND QUARTER CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Net sales increased reflecting the contribution of $576.7 million from Big Heart. Excluding Big Heart, the incremental impact of Sahale, and foreign currency exchange, net sales increased $35.8 million, or 2 percent. This was driven by favorable volume/mix led by the U.S. Retail Coffee segment. Net price realization was 3 percentage points lower, reflecting lower net pricing for coffee and peanut butter.

Gross profit increased $250.8 million, or 47 percent, primarily due to the addition of Big Heart. Excluding Big Heart, gross profit was higher, driven by Dunkin' Donuts^® K-Cup^® pods, which were introduced in May 2015, and other favorable volume/mix within the U.S. Retail Coffee segment. The impact of lower net pricing was offset by a reduction in commodity costs.

Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses increased $137.4 million, or 54 percent, primarily driven by the addition of Big Heart, higher selling expense due to royalties related to Dunkin' Donuts^® K-Cup^® pods, and a planned increase in marketing expense. Amortization expense also increased driven by the Big Heart acquisition.

Operating income increased $59.0 million, or 23 percent, reflecting the addition of Big Heart, partially offset by an increase in merger and integration costs.

On a non-GAAP basis, gross profit increased $255.1 million, or 48 percent, and operating income increased $91.1 million, or 36 percent.

Net interest expense increased $26.4 million, due to the impact of acquisition-related debt issued in the fourth quarter of 2015. Income taxes increased $13.0 million due to an increase in income before income taxes and a higher effective tax rate. The quarterly effective tax rate increased from 33.7 percent to 34.7 percent.

For the quarter, cash provided by operating activities was $275.4 million, compared to $92.0 million in the prior year. The change in operating cash flow was primarily attributed to an increase in net income adjusted for noncash items and a decrease in working capital, including lower inventory levels. The Company's working capital initiatives and lower green coffee costs were key drivers of the reduced inventory.

FULL-YEAR OUTLOOK

The Company updated its full-year fiscal 2016 guidance as provided below:

In comparison to the prior fiscal year, net sales are expected to increase approximately 38 percent reflecting a full year contribution from Big Heart and an increase of approximately 3 percent on the remainder of the Company's businesses. Included in the earnings guidance range is $25 million of synergies related to the Big Heart acquisition, of which $8 million has been realized through the first six months of the fiscal year. The net sales and earnings guidance reflects the projected impact of the previously announced canned milk divestiture on the Company's operating results, but excludes an estimated one-time gain of $0.10 to $0.15 per share related to the transaction, which is expected to close by December 31, 2015.

SECOND QUARTER SEGMENT RESULTS

Dollar amounts in the segment tables below are reported in millions.

U.S. Retail Coffee

Segment net sales increased $53.1 million reflecting favorable volume/mix which contributed 13 percentage points of growth, primarily driven by Dunkin' Donuts^® K-Cup^® pods. The Folgers^® brand also contributed to net sales growth as volume gains on mainstream roast and ground offerings more than offset lower net price realization. Segment profit increased $10.5 million reflecting the contribution from Dunkin' Donuts^® K-Cup^® pods, other favorable volume/mix, and the benefit of lower costs which were mostly offset by lower prices. These combined benefits to segment profit more than offset an increase in marketing expenses.

U.S. Retail Consumer Foods

Segment net sales decreased $20.4 million as net price realization was lower, reflecting price declines on the Pillsbury^® and Jif^® brands in July 2015 and November 2014, respectively. Favorable volume/mix contributed 1 percentage point of growth to net sales, led by Smucker's^® Uncrustables^® frozen sandwiches and Eagle Brand^® canned milk. The Sahale business contributed an incremental $3.8 million. Segment profit was flat as lower net price realization and higher manufacturing overhead costs offset overall lower commodity costs, primarily for milk, peanuts, and oils, and the impact of favorable volume/mix.

U.S. Retail Pet Foods

The segment contributed net sales of $566.7 million, representing low single-digit percent growth compared to Big Heart's results for the second quarter of the prior year, which were reported under previous ownership. The net sales increase was driven by growth in Milk-Bone^® dog snacks and the Natural Balance^® brand, while declines in Kibbles 'n Bits^® dry dog food offset much of the overall growth. Profit decreased at a low double-digit percent rate from the comparable measure in the prior year, driven by higher amortization expense related to the acquisition and a planned increase in marketing expense in support of new item launches. This was partially offset by favorable volume/mix and lower commodity costs.

International and Foodservice

Net sales decreased $3.5 million, as an unfavorable $20.9 million impact of foreign currency exchange more than offset the $10.0 million contribution from Big Heart and the incremental impact of Sahale. Volume/mix was favorable, contributing 2 percentage points of growth to net sales, and net price realization was higher. Segment profit increased $12.4 million, benefiting from higher net price realization in Canada which helped offset costs attributed to sourcing certain products from the U.S., reflecting the impact of a weaker Canadian dollar compared to a year ago. Favorable volume/mix in Foodservice, led by Smucker's^® Uncrustables^® frozen sandwiches, also contributed to profit growth.

Conference Call
The Company will conduct an earnings conference call and webcast today, November 19, 2015, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. To access the webcast please visit jmsmucker.com/investor-relations.

The J. M. Smucker Company Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as projected net sales, operating results, earnings, and cash flows, that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties, important factors, and assumptions listed and discussed in this press release, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed include: the ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses in a timely and cost-effective manner and retain key suppliers, customers, and employees; the ability to achieve synergies and cost savings related to the Big Heart acquisition in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet the Company's deleveraging objectives; volatility of commodity, energy, and other input costs; risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies employed to manage commodity pricing risks; the availability of reliable transportation on acceptable terms; the ability to implement and realize the full benefit of price changes, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period; the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in the businesses, including the introduction of new products; general competitive activity in the market, including competitors' pricing practices and promotional spending levels; the impact of food security concerns involving either the Company's or its competitors' products; the impact of accidents, extreme weather, and natural disasters; the concentration of certain of the Company's businesses with key customers and suppliers, including single-source suppliers of certain raw materials and finished goods, and the ability to manage and maintain key relationships; the timing and amount of capital expenditures and share repurchases; impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in useful lives of other intangible assets; the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws and regulations and their application; the outcome of tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters; foreign currency and interest rate fluctuations; the ability to successfully complete the canned milk divestiture, which is subject to obtaining necessary approvals and consents for the transaction, fulfillment of other transaction conditions, and economic conditions; and risks related to other factors described under "Risk Factors" in other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, to reflect new events or circumstances.

About The J. M. Smucker Company
For more than 115 years, The J. M. Smucker Company has been committed to offering consumers quality products that bring families together to share memorable meals and moments. Today, Smucker is a leading marketer and manufacturer of consumer food and beverage products and pet food and pet snacks in North America with projected annual net sales of approximately $8 billion. In consumer foods and beverages, its brands include Smucker's^®, Folgers^®, Jif^®, Dunkin' Donuts^®, Crisco^®, Pillsbury^®, R.W. Knudsen Family^®, Hungry Jack^®, Café Bustelo^®, Martha White^®, truRoots^®, Sahale Snacks^®, Robin Hood^®, and Bick's^®. In pet food and pet snacks, its brands include Meow Mix^®, Milk-Bone^®, Kibbles 'n Bits^®, Natural Balance^®, and 9Lives^®. The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth, and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago. For more information about the Company, visit jmsmucker.com.

The J. M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for the following, which are used under license: Pillsbury^® is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, LLC and Dunkin' Donuts^® is a registered trademark of DD IP Holder LLC.

Dunkin' Donuts^® brand is licensed to The J. M. Smucker Company for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and drug stores. This information does not pertain to Dunkin' Donuts^® coffee or other products for sale in Dunkin' Donuts^® restaurants. K-Cup^® is a trademark of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., used with permission.

Non-GAAP Measures
The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures including: net sales excluding the noncomparable impact of acquisitions and foreign currency exchange; non-GAAP gross profit, operating income, income, and income per diluted share; adjusted non-GAAP income and income per diluted share; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA"); and free cash flow as key measures for purposes of evaluating performance internally. The Company believes that these measures provide useful information to investors because they are the measures used to evaluate performance on a comparable year-over-year basis. Non-GAAP profit measures exclude certain items affecting comparability. These items can significantly affect the year-over-year assessment of operating results and include specific restructuring and merger and integration projects ("special project costs") that are each nonrecurring in nature as well as unallocated gains and losses on commodity and foreign currency exchange derivatives ("unallocated derivative gains and losses"). Adjusted non-GAAP income per diluted share further excludes the noncash impact of amortization. The Company believes this provides investors an additional metric to evaluate performance and the ability to generate cash necessary to achieve its deleveraging objectives. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Rather, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures supplements other metrics used by management to internally evaluate its businesses, and facilitates the comparison of past and present operations and liquidity. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and may exclude certain nondiscretionary expenses and cash payments. A reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measure for the current and prior year periods is included in the "Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures" tables. The Company has also provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures for its full year outlook. As the amount of unallocated derivative gains and losses varies depending on market conditions and levels of derivative transactions with respect to a particular fiscal year, it is not determinable on a forward-looking basis and no guidance has been provided.

Net sales excluding acquisitions have been adjusted for the noncomparable impact of the Big Heart and Sahale acquisitions. Big Heart was acquired after the comparable prior year period and Sahale was acquired on September 2, 2014.

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the Company's 2016 guidance for non-GAAP income per diluted share, adjusted non-GAAP income per diluted share, and free cash flow.

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SOURCE The J. M. Smucker Company

The J. M. Smucker Company: (330) 682-3000, Investors: Aaron Broholm, Director, Investor Relations, Media: Maribeth Burns, Vice President, Corporate Communications