Maple Leaf Foods Inc (MLFNF) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong EBITDA Growth Amidst ...

In This Article:

  • Adjusted EBITDA: Increased by 37% year-over-year to $141 million.

  • Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Improved by 310 basis points to 11.2%.

  • Free Cash Flow: Increased by $103 million compared to last year.

  • Revenue: Approximately $1.3 billion, flat year-over-year.

  • Prepared Meats Revenue: Increased by 3.2% year-over-year.

  • Poultry Sales: Decreased by 3.9% year-over-year, with 12% growth in the retail channel.

  • Pork Complex Revenue: Declined by 4.2% year-over-year.

  • Net Loss: $26 million or $0.21 per basic share, compared to a loss of $54 million or $0.44 per basic share last year.

  • Adjusted Earnings: $0.18 per share, compared to $0 per share last year.

  • Capital Expenditures: $60 million in the quarter, with a full-year outlook of $120 million to $140 million.

  • Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio: Improved to 3.4 times from 5.8 times last year.

Release Date: August 08, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Adjusted EBITDA grew approximately 37% year-over-year to $141 million, showcasing strong financial performance.

  • Free cash flow increased by $103 million compared to the previous year, indicating improved cash management.

  • The adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 310 basis points to 11.2%, driven by better pork markets and contributions from capital projects.

  • Prepared meats business saw a 3.2% increase in revenue year-over-year, demonstrating resilience in a challenging consumer environment.

  • Significant growth in retail channel sales for poultry, with a 12% increase, highlighting strong brand performance.

Negative Points

  • Total sales in the second quarter were slightly down by 0.4% compared to last year, indicating stagnant revenue growth.

  • Poultry sales declined by 3.9% year-over-year, affected by reduced sales to industrial channels.

  • The plant protein segment did not achieve breakeven profitability, with increased SG&A costs impacting results.

  • The pork complex saw a 4.2% decline in revenue due to less buy-sell activity and foreign exchange impacts.

  • Consumer demand for premium offerings like RWA and organic fresh poultry remains soft, affecting sales mix.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you walk us through the key factors driving the gains in both prepared food and pork, and how should we think about the evolution in the back half of the year and into 2025? A: Curtis Frank, President and CEO, highlighted that the quarter saw a 37% increase in adjusted EBITDA year-over-year, driven by improvements in pork markets and capital projects. Prepared foods sales grew by 3.2%, with strong performance in sustainable meats and US growth platforms. The focus for the second half includes executing priorities, monitoring consumer landscapes, and maximizing benefits from capital projects.