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Dean Foods (DF) Stock Gains on Q1 Earnings & Sales Beat
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Shares of Dean Foods Company rallied 16.9% yesterday after it reported better-than-expected results for the first quarter of 2018. With this, the company bucked the trend of earnings miss/in-line earnings in the preceding seven quarters. Also, sales beat estimates after three straight quarters of miss. Further, management reiterated its full-year adjusted earnings guidance.
Q1 in Detail
Dean Foods’ quarterly adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 12 cents and grew 7.7% from 13 cents in the year-ago quarter.
Dean Foods Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
However, on a GAAP basis, the company posted breakeven loss per share narrower than a loss per share of 11 cents in the prior-year period.
Net sales dipped 0.8% year over year to $1,980.5 million but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,838 million. Volume and mix results were in-line with the company’s expectations. Further, raw milk costs were down 16% year over year and nearly 13% on a sequential basis.
Moreover, adjusted gross profit declined 4% to $448.5 million mainly due to soft volume and greater mix of private label products. Adjusted operating income decreased 11.1% to $35.8 million in the first quarter.
In fact, Dean Foods has long been grappling with lower product volumes, higher raw milk costs and loss of share in U.S. fluid milk volumes, which has been largely impacting its top line. Consequently, this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company’s shares have lost 15.6% year to date, narrower than its industry’s decline of 28.8%.
Financial Position
Dean Foods ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $28.1 million, long-term debt (including current maturities) of $907.2 million and shareholders’ equity of $650.4 million. Total debt outstanding, excluding cash on hand, was nearly $884 million as of Mar 31, 2018.
In first-quarter 2018, the company generated nearly $39 million of net cash from operating activities and $22.4 million of free cash flow from continuing operations.
The company deployed roughly $17 million as capital expenditures in the reported quarter. As of Mar 31, 2018, Dean Foods’ net debt to bank EBITDA total leverage ratio on an all cash-netted basis came in at 2.68 times, which remained flat with fourth-quarter 2017.
Outlook
Management remains impressed with its quarterly results and is focused on executing commercial strategies and cost productivity initiatives. Additionally, the company’s enterprise-wide productivity program to boost operational excellence is impressive. The productivity program mainly focuses on three areas, including enhancement of supply-chain network, optimizing spending across all key categories to ensure greater efficiency, and integration of operating model along with minimizing general and administrative expenses.
Dean Foods is likely to start the next phase of the plan that aims at rightsizing the company’s network to drive volume. Management is also implementing plans to alleviate headwinds in non-dairy input costs while continuing to boost its brands and private label business.
That said, Dean Foods reaffirmed its adjusted earnings per share in the range of 55-80 cents for 2018 versus 80 cents in 2017. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at 63 cents for the year. Further, it continues to project free cash flow in the band of $30-$50 million. The company still anticipates spending nearly $135-$160 million of capital expenditures for 2018.
Three Top-Ranked Stocks You Can’t Miss
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) , with a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.2%, has pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 10.7% in the trailing four quarters. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Calavo Growers, Inc. (CVGW - Free Report) has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an average positive earnings surprise of 31.6% in the trailing four quarters.
Limoneira Company (LMNR - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 14.1% in the trailing four quarters.
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Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
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Dean Foods (DF) Stock Gains on Q1 Earnings & Sales Beat
Shares of Dean Foods Company rallied 16.9% yesterday after it reported better-than-expected results for the first quarter of 2018. With this, the company bucked the trend of earnings miss/in-line earnings in the preceding seven quarters. Also, sales beat estimates after three straight quarters of miss. Further, management reiterated its full-year adjusted earnings guidance.
Q1 in Detail
Dean Foods’ quarterly adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 12 cents and grew 7.7% from 13 cents in the year-ago quarter.
Dean Foods Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Dean Foods Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Dean Foods Company Quote
However, on a GAAP basis, the company posted breakeven loss per share narrower than a loss per share of 11 cents in the prior-year period.
Net sales dipped 0.8% year over year to $1,980.5 million but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,838 million. Volume and mix results were in-line with the company’s expectations. Further, raw milk costs were down 16% year over year and nearly 13% on a sequential basis.
Moreover, adjusted gross profit declined 4% to $448.5 million mainly due to soft volume and greater mix of private label products. Adjusted operating income decreased 11.1% to $35.8 million in the first quarter.
In fact, Dean Foods has long been grappling with lower product volumes, higher raw milk costs and loss of share in U.S. fluid milk volumes, which has been largely impacting its top line. Consequently, this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company’s shares have lost 15.6% year to date, narrower than its industry’s decline of 28.8%.
Financial Position
Dean Foods ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $28.1 million, long-term debt (including current maturities) of $907.2 million and shareholders’ equity of $650.4 million. Total debt outstanding, excluding cash on hand, was nearly $884 million as of Mar 31, 2018.
In first-quarter 2018, the company generated nearly $39 million of net cash from operating activities and $22.4 million of free cash flow from continuing operations.
The company deployed roughly $17 million as capital expenditures in the reported quarter. As of Mar 31, 2018, Dean Foods’ net debt to bank EBITDA total leverage ratio on an all cash-netted basis came in at 2.68 times, which remained flat with fourth-quarter 2017.
Outlook
Management remains impressed with its quarterly results and is focused on executing commercial strategies and cost productivity initiatives. Additionally, the company’s enterprise-wide productivity program to boost operational excellence is impressive. The productivity program mainly focuses on three areas, including enhancement of supply-chain network, optimizing spending across all key categories to ensure greater efficiency, and integration of operating model along with minimizing general and administrative expenses.
Dean Foods is likely to start the next phase of the plan that aims at rightsizing the company’s network to drive volume. Management is also implementing plans to alleviate headwinds in non-dairy input costs while continuing to boost its brands and private label business.
That said, Dean Foods reaffirmed its adjusted earnings per share in the range of 55-80 cents for 2018 versus 80 cents in 2017. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at 63 cents for the year. Further, it continues to project free cash flow in the band of $30-$50 million. The company still anticipates spending nearly $135-$160 million of capital expenditures for 2018.
Three Top-Ranked Stocks You Can’t Miss
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) , with a long-term earnings growth rate of 8.2%, has pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 10.7% in the trailing four quarters. The company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Calavo Growers, Inc. (CVGW - Free Report) has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an average positive earnings surprise of 31.6% in the trailing four quarters.
Limoneira Company (LMNR - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 stock, has pulled off an average positive earnings surprise of 14.1% in the trailing four quarters.
The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All
Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.
See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>