On Jul 31, Berry Plastics Group, Inc. BERY reported its third-quarter fiscal 2015 results (ended Jun 27, 2015). Adjusted earnings from continuing operations of 51 cents per share in the quarter came in line with the prior-year figure as well as the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Including one-time items, the company posted loss per share of 11 cents in the reported quarter as against earnings of 12 cents in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues in the quarter declined 4.4% year over year to $1.24 billion from $1.29 billion. Revenues also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.30 billion. Owing to this, shares of Berry Plastics lost nearly 9% of their value since the earnings release.
The year-over-year decline in revenue was due to decrease in selling prices as a result of the pass-through of lower raw material costs, negative impact from foreign currency changes and low customer demand. These were partly offset by sales growth from acquisition and volume gains in certain product categories.
Operational Update
Cost of sales decreased 7.9% to $1 billion in the third quarter from $1.09 billion in the year-ago quarter. Gross profit went up 13.9% year over year to $238 million. Gross margin increased 310 basis points (bps) to 19.2%.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 8.2% year over year to $92 million. Adjusted operating income came in at $146 million, up from $124 million in the year-ago quarter, leading to 220 bps expansion in operating margin to 11.8%.
Segmental Performance
Net sales from the Rigid Open Top segment were $276 million, compared with $303 million in the year-ago quarter. However, segment operating profit surged significantly to $26 million from $1 million in the year-ago quarter.
The Rigid Closed Top segment reported revenues of $368 million, decreasing 3% from $381 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating earnings rose 10.5% year over year to $42 million.
The Engineered Materials segment sales went down 3% year over year to $359 million. Operating income grew 15% year over year to $38 million.
In the Flexible Packaging segment, sales declined 2% to $238 million from $243 million in the year-ago quarter. Segment operating income improved 36% year over year to $15 million.
Financial Updates
At the end of third-quarter fiscal 2015, Berry Plastics had cash and cash equivalents of $62 million versus $129 million as of Sep 27, 2014. The company generated $392 million in cash from operating activities for the period of nine months ended Jun 27, 2015 compared with $370 million as of Jun 28, 2014. Long-term debt was $3.7 billion as of Jun 27, 2015, compared with $3.9 billion as of Sep 27, 2014.
Outlook
Berry Plastics raised fiscal 2015 adjusted free cash flow guidance to $400 million from the prior guidance of $350 million. This estimate includes capital expenditures of $180 million, cash interest of $190 million, other cash costs of approximately $35 million and a source of working capital of $25 million.
Berry Plastics expects fourth-quarter fiscal 2015 sales volumes to be consistent with the past several quarters. The company will benefit from expected positive growth in several products.
Our View
Continued focus on driving organic and international growth, coupled with cost reduction actions pave the way for Berry Plastics’ success in the future. Going forward, Berry Plastics will remain focused on its key strategic initiatives to persistently drive shareholder value.
Evansville, IN-based Berry Plastics Group makes and sells plastic consumer packaging and engineered materials in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and several other countries around the world. The company sells its products to specialty businesses through its direct field sales force and distributors.
Berry Plastics currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Better-ranked stocks in the same industry are AptarGroup, Inc. ATR, Sealed Air Corporation SEE and AO Smith Corp. AOS. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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