FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONAGRA FOODS REPORTS SOLID FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS
FIRST-QUARTER FISCAL 2006 OVERVIEW:
o First-quarter fiscal 2006 diluted EPS was $0.68, reflecting a large gain
from selling 15.4 million shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common
stock as well as a solid performance in several areas of the business.
>> The $0.68 per diluted share includes a $0.40 per share gain from the
sale of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock, $0.04 per share of
expense from asset impairment and plant closure costs, and $0.01 per
share of earnings from discontinued operations. These items impacting
comparability are summarized toward the end of this release.
>> Prior-year earnings of $0.26 per diluted share included $0.02 per
share of net expense related to implementing cost-saving initiatives.
o New chief executive officer Gary Rodkin will join ConAgra Foods on Oct. 1.
OMAHA, Neb., Sept. 21, 2005 -- ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG), one of North
America's leading packaged food companies, today reported results for the fiscal
2006 first quarter ended Aug. 28, 2005. First-quarter diluted EPS was $0.68, and
diluted EPS was $0.26 for the same period last year; the major items affecting
comparability are summarized toward the end of this release. Sales for the
quarter were $3.4 billion, slightly less than the same period last year.
Bruce Rohde, chairman and chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, commented,
"Operating profitability for fiscal 2006 is off to a good start. We are
executing better in key areas of our business, and we are also encouraged by the
fact that input cost inflation trends for some items are moderating following
the significant cost increases we experienced in recent quarters. Fiscal 2006
should be a year of solid operating profit performance as we continue to improve
our packaged meats operations and make our cost structure more efficient."
Retail Products Segment (58% of company sales)
During the quarter, sales for the Retail Products segment were $1.9 billion, a
decrease of 4% compared with the same period last year; sales mix was slightly
negative, as volume declined 3%. Sales and volume decreases reflect a
combination of the effect of price increases, customer and product mix changes,
continued challenges for some packaged meats products, and to a lesser extent, a
rigorous SKU (stock keeping unit) reduction program.
o Sales for the company's top 30 brands as a group, which represent
approximately 80% of total segment sales, decreased 1% during the quarter.
>> Several brands posted strong sales performance as a result of ongoing
sales and marketing initiatives intended to strengthen brand equity
and improve category share performance. Popular brands posting sales
gains include: Butterball, Chef Boyardee, DAVID, Kid Cuisine, La Choy,
Manwich, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, Peter Pan, Slim
Jim, Snack Pack, Van Camp's, and Wesson.
>> Those brands posting sales declines include: ACT II, Armour, Banquet,
Blue Bonnet, Cook's, Eckrich, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew
National, Hunt's, PAM, Parkay, Reddi-wip, and Swiss Miss.
The Retail Products segment operating profit for the quarter was $211 million,
slightly above the amount reported for the same quarter last year. Several
factors contributed to the profit performance, including price increases across
several product lines, more efficient manufacturing operations, and overall
cost-management efforts. Those factors largely offset higher input costs for
beef, steel, resin, and transportation.
Profit margin trends for the packaged meats operations have improved from the
trends experienced during the second half of fiscal 2005, even though profits
for those operations are substantially below desired levels. The packaged meats
operations are benefiting from new management and lower pork input costs, as
well as better net pricing policies that are closely linked to SKU optimization
efforts and product and customer mix improvement. The company is encouraged by
the progress being made by the new packaged meats team, and continues to expect
year-over-year profit improvement for these operations in the second half of
fiscal 2006.
$7 million of costs associated with a plant closure in the current year, and $8
million of costs associated with implementing efficiency initiatives in the
prior year, impact year-over-year comparability of segment operating profit.
Foodservice Products Segment (23% of company sales)
Sales for the Foodservice Products segment were $790 million for the first
quarter, roughly equal to the same period last year. Segment operating profit
was $80 million in the first quarter, up from $66 million in the year-ago
period. Last year's operating profit includes $5 million of costs associated
with implementing efficiency initiatives as well as $11 million of unfavorable
production costs associated with a planned plant consolidation.
During the first quarter, specialty potato products and culinary products
increased volumes with key customers. Growth in operating profits for specialty
potato products and culinary products primarily reflects increased volumes and
improved operating efficiencies. Due to tariff-related market dynamics, sales
and profits for seafood products were below year-ago levels. Higher
transportation costs for the overall segment were partially offset by effective
cost-management efforts.
Food Ingredients Segment (19% of company sales)
During the quarter, sales for the Food Ingredients segment were $631 million, an
increase of 9% compared with the first quarter last year. Segment operating
profit was $76 million, an increase of 27% over the year-ago period; this
increase was largely driven by a very favorable market environment for the
commodity trading and merchandising operations. Those operations, which include
trading and merchandising energy, grains, fertilizer, and other input
commodities, contributed $47 million of the segment's total operating profit of
$76 million. Despite a weak performance from the dehydrated product lines, the
specialty ingredients products posted growth in sales and operating profit due
to a strong performance from the flour milling operations.
Pilgrim's Pride Stock Sale
o During the quarter, ConAgra Foods sold all of its remaining 15.4 million
shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NYSE: PPC) common stock for
approximately $482 million, resulting in a net pretax gain of approximately
$329 million. That gain is classified on the company's income statement as
Gain on sale of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock. ConAgra Foods
acquired these shares in the fall of 2003 in connection with the
divestiture of its chicken-processing operations to Pilgrim's Pride.
Equity Method Investments, Corporate Expense, Capital Resource Matters, and Tax
Rate
o Equity method investments posted a pretax loss of $14 million for the first
quarter, reflecting impairment charges totaling $19 million associated with
two joint ventures. For the same quarter last year, equity method
investment earnings were $14 million. Prior to the company's sale of its
equity investment in Swift Foods during the second quarter of fiscal 2005,
that investment provided $7 million of equity method investment earnings to
ConAgra Foods during the first quarter of fiscal 2005.
o For the first quarter, corporate expense was $73 million, compared with $64
million for the same period a year ago.
o For the quarter, capital expenditures for property, plant, and equipment
totaled $71 million compared with $105 million last year. Depreciation and
amortization expense was approximately $89 million for the quarter versus
$88 million a year ago. Dividends paid totaled $141 million versus $135
million last year. Net interest expense for the quarter was $68 million
compared with $73 million last year.
o At the end of the first quarter, interest-bearing debt was $4.5 billion,
compared with $5.7 billion for the same period a year ago. Because of debt
prepayments made in fiscal 2005, the company has only $126 million of debt
scheduled to be paid in fiscal 2006. As of the end of the first quarter,
the company had more than $500 million of cash and cash equivalents on
hand.
o The company benefited from an effective tax rate of approximately 36% in
the quarter; that rate is slightly less than the 38% effective tax rate in
the first quarter of last year. The company currently expects the effective
tax rate for fiscal 2006 to be in line with that of the first quarter.
New CEO and New Chairman of the Board
Recently the company announced that Gary Rodkin will become the company's new
president and chief executive officer and a member of its board of directors on
Oct. 1. He will succeed Bruce Rohde, the current chief executive officer.
Board member Steven F. Goldstone has been elected the non-executive chairman,
commencing Oct. 1. Mr. Goldstone is a retired chairman and chief executive
officer of RJR Nabisco, and succeeds Bruce Rohde, the company's current
chairman.
Outlook
As previously stated, the company continues to expect fiscal 2006 EPS to be
higher than fiscal 2005 EPS, excluding amounts that impact comparability. That
earnings improvement is expected to be more apparent in the second half of the
fiscal year as the company makes more progress working through the issues that
have negatively impacted the packaged meats operations.
Major Items Affecting First-Quarter Fiscal 2006 EPS Comparability
Included in diluted EPS of $0.68 for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 (EPS
amounts after tax):
o A gain of $0.40 per diluted share from the sale of Pilgrim's Pride
Corporation common stock that is classified as such on the company's income
statement.
o Expense of $0.03 per diluted share resulting from impairment charges
associated with two joint ventures. These amounts are included in the
equity method investment results.
o Expense of $0.01 per diluted share related to plant closure costs
classified as part of the results for the Retail Products segment.
o Income of $0.01 per diluted share from discontinued operations.
Included in the $0.26 diluted EPS for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 (EPS
amounts after tax):
o Expense of approximately $0.02 per diluted share related to implementing
cost-saving initiatives.
For more details regarding the company's financial goals, please refer to the
company's Web site, www.conagrafoods.com/investors, and choose the button
titled, "ConAgra Foods Comments on Strategic Direction."
ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America's largest packaged food
companies, serving consumer grocery retailers, as well as restaurants and other
foodservice establishments. Popular ConAgra Foods consumer brands include: ACT
II, Armour, Banquet, Blue Bonnet, Brown 'N Serve, Butterball, Chef Boyardee,
Cook's, Crunch 'n Munch, DAVID, Eckrich, Egg Beaters, Fleischmann's, Golden
Cuisine, Gulden's, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Kid Cuisine, Knott's
Berry Farm, La Choy, Lamb Weston, Libby's, Lightlife, Lunch Makers, MaMa Rosa's,
Manwich, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, Parkay, Pemmican, Peter
Pan, Reddi-wip, Rosarita, Ro*Tel, Slim Jim, Snack Pack, Swiss Miss, Van Camp's,
Wesson, Wolf, and many others. For more information, please visit us at
www.conagrafoods.com.
Discussion of Results
ConAgra Foods will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. EDT to discuss
first-quarter results. Following the company's remarks, the call will include a
question-and-answer session with the investment community. Domestic and
international participants may access the conference call toll-free by dialing
1-877-447-8217 and 1-706-679-0415, respectively. No confirmation or pass code is
needed. This conference call also can be accessed live on the Internet at
www.conagrafoods.com/investors.
A rebroadcast of the conference call will be available after 2:00 p.m. EDT. To
access the digital replay, a conference I.D. number will be required. Domestic
participants should dial 1-800-642-1687, and international participants should
dial 1-706-645-9291 and enter conference I.D. 8266376. A rebroadcast also will
be available on the company's Web site, where it will be archived.
In addition, the company has posted a question-and-answer supplement relating to
this release at www.conagrafoods.com/investors. To view recent company news,
please visit www.conagrafoods.com/media.
Note on Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on
management's current views and assumptions of future events and financial
performance and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Readers
of this release should understand that these statements are not guarantees of
performance or results. Many factors could affect the company's actual financial
results and cause them to vary materially from the expectations contained in the
forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things, future
economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial
results, availability and prices of raw materials, product pricing, competitive
environment and related market conditions, operating efficiencies, access to
capital, actions of governments and regulatory factors affecting the company's
businesses and other risks described in the company's reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The company cautions readers not to place
undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this release, which
speak only as of the date made.
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Segment Operating Results
In millions
FIRST QUARTER
---------------------------------------------------------------
13 Weeks
Ended 13 Weeks Ended
-------------------- -------------------- ------------------
August 28, 2005 August 29, 2004 Percent Change
-------------------- -------------------- ------------------
SALES
Retail Products $ 1,941.6 $ 2,014.2 (3.6)%
Foodservice Products 789.9 792.2 (0.3)%
Food Ingredients 631.4 576.8 9.5%
-------------------- --------------------
Total 3,362.9 3,383.2 (0.6)%
-------------------- --------------------
OPERATING PROFIT
Retail Products $ 210.7 $ 209.8 0.4%
Foodservice Products 79.5 66.4 19.7%
Food Ingredients 76.3 60.1 27.0%
-------------------- --------------------
Total operating profit for segments 366.5 336.3 9.0%
Reconciliation of total operating profit to income from continuing operations
before income taxes and equity method investment earnings (loss)
Items excluded from segment operating profit:
General corporate expense (73.0) (63.6) 14.8%
Gain on sale of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock 329.4 - 100.0%
Interest expense, net (68.1) (73.4) (7.2)%
-------------------- --------------------
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and
equity method investment earnings (loss) $ 554.8 $ 199.3 178.4%
==================== ====================
Segment operating profit excludes general corporate expense, gain on sale
of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock, equity method investment
earnings (loss) and net interest expense. Management believes such amounts
are not directly associated with segment performance results for the
period. Management believes the presentation of total operating profit for
segments facilitates period-to-period comparison of results of segment
operations.
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
In millions, except per share amounts
FIRST QUARTER
---------------------------------------------------------------
13 Weeks Ended 13 Weeks Ended
------------------- ------------------- -------------------
August 28, 2005 August 29, 2004 Percent
Change
------------------- ------------------- -------------------
Net sales $ 3,362.9 $ 3,383.2 (0.6)%
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold 2,635.4 2,700.4 (2.4)%
Selling, general and administrative expenses 434.0 410.1 5.8%
Interest expense, net 68.1 73.4 (7.2)%
Gain on sale of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock 329.4 - 100.0%
------------------- -------------------
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and 554.8 199.3 178.4%
equity method investment earnings (loss)
Income tax expense 193.6 81.0 139.0%
Equity method investment earnings (loss) (13.9) 14.1 -
------------------- -------------------
Income from continuing operations 347.3 132.4 162.3%
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax 4.8 2.3 108.7%
------------------- -------------------
Net income $ 352.1 $ 134.7 161.4%
=================== ===================
Earnings per share - basic
Income from continuing operations $ 0.67 $ 0.26 157.7%
Income from discontinued operations 0.01 - 100.0%
------------------- -------------------
Net income $ 0.68 $ 0.26 161.5%
=================== ===================
Weighted average shares outstanding 518.1 517.0 0.2%
=================== ===================
Earnings per share - diluted
Income from continuing operations $ 0.67 $ 0.26 157.7%
Income from discontinued operations 0.01 - 100.0%
------------------- -------------------
Net income $ 0.68 $ 0.26 161.5%
=================== ===================
Weighted average share and share equivalents
outstanding 520.5 521.4 (0.2)%
=================== ===================
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
In millions
August 28, 2005 August 29, 2004
--------------------- --------------------
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 501.4 $ 369.8
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts
Of $31.7 and $28.2 1,286.9 1,322.9
Inventories 2,756.3 2,584.9
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 572.7 372.6
Current assets of discontinued operations 8.5 257.6
--------------------- --------------------
Total current assets 5,125.8 4,907.8
Property, plant and equipment, net 2,834.5 2,868.7
Goodwill 3,794.0 3,791.2
Brands, trademarks and other intangibles, net 819.3 826.4
Other assets 444.4 1,564.9
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations 0.4 54.9
--------------------- --------------------
$ 13,018.4 $ 14,013.9
===================== ====================
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Notes payable $ 10.8 $ 22.4
Current installments of long-term debt 119.1 366.9
Accounts payable 926.9 863.4
Advances on sales 128.8 103.0
Accrued payroll 194.3 175.4
Other accrued liabilities 1,177.4 1,245.0
Current liabilities of discontinued operations 4.2 181.0
--------------------- --------------------
Total current liabilities 2,561.5 2,957.1
Senior long-term debt, excluding current installments 3,943.5 4,887.1
Subordinated debt 400.0 400.3
Other noncurrent liabilities 1,121.9 1,154.8
Common stockholders' equity 4,991.5 4,614.6
--------------------- --------------------
$ 13,018.4 $ 14,013.9
===================== ====================