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The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) has posted better-than-expected third-quarter fiscal 2022 results. The top and bottom lines not only surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but also grew year over year. Results were driven by improved productivity amid cost headwinds along with the rising demand for cleaning products. Consequently, management lifted its fiscal 2022 outlook.
We note that shares of PG have gained 19.4% in the past year compared with the industry’s 5.3% growth.
Q3 in Detail
Procter & Gamble’s adjusted earnings of $1.33 per share moved up 6% from core earnings of $1.26 per share in the year-ago quarter. This can be attributable to higher sales and lower outstanding shares. The figure also outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.28. Currency-neutral net EPS rose 10% year over year.
The company reported net sales of $19,381 million, increasing 7% year over year and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $18,651 million. Sales growth was attributed to strength across all segments coupled with robust volume, pricing gains and a favorable mix.
On an organic basis (excluding the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign exchange), revenues improved 10%, backed by a 3% increase in the shipment volume, a 5% rise in pricing, and a 2% benefit related to positive geographic and product mix.
Net sales for the Beauty, Grooming, Fabric & Home Care, Health Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care segments increased 2%, 3%, 7%, 13% and 7%, respectively. All of the company’s business segments reported growth in organic sales. Organic sales for the Beauty, Grooming, Fabric & Home Care, Health Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care segments moved up 3%, 8%, 10%, 16% and 10%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Margins
In the reported quarter, the gross margin contracted 400 basis points (bps) to 46.7%. Currency had a 0.2% positive impact on the gross margin. The currency-neutral gross margin declined 380 bps to 46.9%. The decline in the gross margin was mainly due to a 130-bps impact of an unfavorable mix, 410 bps of commodity cost inflation, an 80-bps increase in transportation costs, and 30 bps from product and packaging investments, and other impacts. This was partly negated by 50 bps of gross manufacturing productivity savings and 220 bps of pricing gains.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A), as a percentage of sales, declined 380 bps from the year-ago quarter to 26%. Adverse currency imapcted SG&A expenses by 0.2%. SG&A expenses declined 400 bps on a currency-neutral basis, owing to 130 bps of savings from overhead and marketing expenses, and 270 bps of cost leverage gains.
The operating margin declined 10 bps from the prior year to 20.8%. Favorable currency aided the operating margin by 0.2%. On a currency-neutral basis, the operating margin expanded 20 bps to 21.1%, driven by 170 bps of productivity cost savings.
Financials
Procter & Gamble ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $8,526 million, long-term debt of $23,767 million, and total shareholders’ equity of $45,746 million.
The company generated an operating cash flow of $3,246 million in third-quarter fiscal 2022 and an adjusted free cash flow of $2,499 million. Adjusted free cash flow productivity was 74% in the quarter.
It returned more than $3.4 billion in cash to its shareholders in the fiscal third quarter. This included $2.2 billion of dividend payouts and $1.2 billion of share buybacks.
Procter & Gamble Company The Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Driven by the solid results, management raised its fiscal 2022 guidance. The company now anticipates all-in sales growth of 4-5%, up from the previously mentioned 3-4%. Organic sales are likely to increase 6-7%, up from the earlier stated 4-5%. Currency movements are expected to negatively impact all-in sales growth by 2%.
The company expects reported EPS to increase 6-9%, whereas the company recorded $5.50 in fiscal 2021. Core EPS for fiscal 2022 is anticipated to grow 3-6% from $5.66 earned in fiscal 2021. The earnings view takes into account unfavorable currency movements and higher costs, due to which it envisions fiscal 2022 core EPS growth to be at the low end of the guidance.
The earnings view also includes an after-tax headwind of $2.5 billion from higher commodity costs, $400 million from higher freight costs and $300 million from unfavorable currency. Commodity and freight costs are likely to hurt fiscal 2022 EPS by $1.26 per share on a combined basis. Earlier, the company predicted after-tax headwinds of $2.3 billion from higher commodity costs, $300 million from higher freight costs and $200 million from unfavorable currency. Commodity and freight costs were previously expected to hurt fiscal 2022 EPS by $1.10 per share on a combined basis.
This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company continues to project a core effective tax rate of 18-19% for fiscal 2022. It still expects capital expenditure to be 4-5% of net sales in fiscal 2022.
Adjusted free cash flow productivity is estimated to be 95% for fiscal 2022. The company intends to make dividend payments of more than $8 billion along with share repurchases of $10 billion in fiscal 2022.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current financial-year sales and EPS suggests growth of 17% and 35.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported number. DAR has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 30.3%, on average.
Flower Foods is involved in baked food products and produces a wide range of bread, buns, rolls, snack cakes and tortillas. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flower Foods’ current financial-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 7.2% and 4%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s reported figures. FLO has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9%, on average.
McCormick is one of the leading manufacturers, marketers and distributors of spices, seasonings, specialty foods and flavors. It also currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McCormick’s current financial-year sales and EPS suggests growth of 5% and 3.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s reported figures. MKC has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.3%, on average.
Image: Bigstock
Procter & Gamble (PG) Tops on Q3 Earnings & Sales, Hikes View
The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) has posted better-than-expected third-quarter fiscal 2022 results. The top and bottom lines not only surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but also grew year over year. Results were driven by improved productivity amid cost headwinds along with the rising demand for cleaning products. Consequently, management lifted its fiscal 2022 outlook.
We note that shares of PG have gained 19.4% in the past year compared with the industry’s 5.3% growth.
Q3 in Detail
Procter & Gamble’s adjusted earnings of $1.33 per share moved up 6% from core earnings of $1.26 per share in the year-ago quarter. This can be attributable to higher sales and lower outstanding shares. The figure also outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.28. Currency-neutral net EPS rose 10% year over year.
The company reported net sales of $19,381 million, increasing 7% year over year and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $18,651 million. Sales growth was attributed to strength across all segments coupled with robust volume, pricing gains and a favorable mix.
On an organic basis (excluding the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures and foreign exchange), revenues improved 10%, backed by a 3% increase in the shipment volume, a 5% rise in pricing, and a 2% benefit related to positive geographic and product mix.
Net sales for the Beauty, Grooming, Fabric & Home Care, Health Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care segments increased 2%, 3%, 7%, 13% and 7%, respectively. All of the company’s business segments reported growth in organic sales. Organic sales for the Beauty, Grooming, Fabric & Home Care, Health Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care segments moved up 3%, 8%, 10%, 16% and 10%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Margins
In the reported quarter, the gross margin contracted 400 basis points (bps) to 46.7%. Currency had a 0.2% positive impact on the gross margin. The currency-neutral gross margin declined 380 bps to 46.9%. The decline in the gross margin was mainly due to a 130-bps impact of an unfavorable mix, 410 bps of commodity cost inflation, an 80-bps increase in transportation costs, and 30 bps from product and packaging investments, and other impacts. This was partly negated by 50 bps of gross manufacturing productivity savings and 220 bps of pricing gains.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A), as a percentage of sales, declined 380 bps from the year-ago quarter to 26%. Adverse currency imapcted SG&A expenses by 0.2%. SG&A expenses declined 400 bps on a currency-neutral basis, owing to 130 bps of savings from overhead and marketing expenses, and 270 bps of cost leverage gains.
The operating margin declined 10 bps from the prior year to 20.8%. Favorable currency aided the operating margin by 0.2%. On a currency-neutral basis, the operating margin expanded 20 bps to 21.1%, driven by 170 bps of productivity cost savings.
Financials
Procter & Gamble ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $8,526 million, long-term debt of $23,767 million, and total shareholders’ equity of $45,746 million.
The company generated an operating cash flow of $3,246 million in third-quarter fiscal 2022 and an adjusted free cash flow of $2,499 million. Adjusted free cash flow productivity was 74% in the quarter.
It returned more than $3.4 billion in cash to its shareholders in the fiscal third quarter. This included $2.2 billion of dividend payouts and $1.2 billion of share buybacks.
Procter & Gamble Company The Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Procter & Gamble Company The price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Procter & Gamble Company The Quote
Fiscal 2022 Guidance
Driven by the solid results, management raised its fiscal 2022 guidance. The company now anticipates all-in sales growth of 4-5%, up from the previously mentioned 3-4%. Organic sales are likely to increase 6-7%, up from the earlier stated 4-5%. Currency movements are expected to negatively impact all-in sales growth by 2%.
The company expects reported EPS to increase 6-9%, whereas the company recorded $5.50 in fiscal 2021. Core EPS for fiscal 2022 is anticipated to grow 3-6% from $5.66 earned in fiscal 2021. The earnings view takes into account unfavorable currency movements and higher costs, due to which it envisions fiscal 2022 core EPS growth to be at the low end of the guidance.
The earnings view also includes an after-tax headwind of $2.5 billion from higher commodity costs, $400 million from higher freight costs and $300 million from unfavorable currency. Commodity and freight costs are likely to hurt fiscal 2022 EPS by $1.26 per share on a combined basis. Earlier, the company predicted after-tax headwinds of $2.3 billion from higher commodity costs, $300 million from higher freight costs and $200 million from unfavorable currency. Commodity and freight costs were previously expected to hurt fiscal 2022 EPS by $1.10 per share on a combined basis.
This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company continues to project a core effective tax rate of 18-19% for fiscal 2022. It still expects capital expenditure to be 4-5% of net sales in fiscal 2022.
Adjusted free cash flow productivity is estimated to be 95% for fiscal 2022. The company intends to make dividend payments of more than $8 billion along with share repurchases of $10 billion in fiscal 2022.
Here’s How Better-Ranked Stocks Fared
Some better-ranked stocks in the Consumer Staples sector are Darling Ingredients (DAR - Free Report) , Flower Foods (FLO - Free Report) and McCormick & Company (MKC - Free Report) .
Darling Ingredients, a provider of rendering, cooking oil, and bakery waste recycling and recovery solutions, carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current financial-year sales and EPS suggests growth of 17% and 35.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported number. DAR has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 30.3%, on average.
Flower Foods is involved in baked food products and produces a wide range of bread, buns, rolls, snack cakes and tortillas. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flower Foods’ current financial-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 7.2% and 4%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s reported figures. FLO has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9%, on average.
McCormick is one of the leading manufacturers, marketers and distributors of spices, seasonings, specialty foods and flavors. It also currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for McCormick’s current financial-year sales and EPS suggests growth of 5% and 3.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s reported figures. MKC has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.3%, on average.