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5.2.2006: Meldung: The Hain Celestial Group: Record Sales and Earnings
The Hain Celestial Group Announces Record Sales and Earnings
Net Income Increases 19% to $12.7 Million
Sales Increase 10% to $186.2 Million
Earnings Per Share at $0.33 Versus $0.29
MELVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 2 -- The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. a leading natural and organic food and personal care products company, today reported results for the second quarter ended December 31, 2005. Hain Celestial reported second quarter record sales of $186.2 million, a 10% increase over the prior year"s $169.8 million. Net income reached $12.7 million, a second quarter record, an increase of 19% from the prior year"s $10.7 million. Diluted earnings for the second quarter this year were a record $0.33 per share as compared to $0.29 in the prior year"s second quarter.
"I am proud of our team as we accomplished record sales and profits with significant improvement in operating margins and our cash conversion," said Irwin D. Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We saw strength in each of our Grocery, Tea and Personal Care lines in both sales and consumption driven by Earth"s Best(R), Imagine(R) soups, Garden of Eatin"(R), Terra(R), Rice Dream(R), WestSoy(R), Ethnic Gourmet(R), Celestial Seasonings(R), Jason(R) and Zia Natural Skincare(R). We are also excited by the progress we are making on the operating front with enhanced margins despite increased input costs. Our sales and earnings continue to grow, driven by strong top line growth, improved margins and focused working capital management."
The Company"s gross profit for the second quarter was 32.3% versus 31.4% in the prior year period before consolidation of the Company"s lower margin Hain Pure Protein joint venture, which reduced gross profit by 1.1%. Operating income grew 20.3% to $21.7 million versus $18.1 million in the period while selling, general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of sales to 19.6% versus the prior year"s 20.7%.
Interest expense in the quarter was $0.4 million higher than in the prior year"s quarter with the increase coming from increased market rates and from higher borrowings for acquisitions. There were no foreign exchange gains or losses in the second quarter while the Company benefited from foreign exchange gains of $0.6 million in the prior year"s quarter. These items negatively impacted earnings by $0.02 per share in the second quarter when compared to the prior year.
The Company"s average diluted shares outstanding during the second quarter were 38.4 million, an increase of 1.2 million shares or 3%, over the prior year"s quarter. This increase in shares was caused by the issuance of shares in the acquisition of Spectrum Organic Products, Inc., the establishment of the alliance with Yeo Hiap Seng Limited and incremental equivalent shares included in the computation due to the higher market price of the Company"s stock. The higher share count reduced earnings by $0.01 per share in the second quarter when compared to the prior year.
The Company"s balance sheet remains strong with $142.3 million in working capital and a current ratio of 2.5 to 1 at the end of the second quarter. Debt as a percentage of equity was 19% with total equity at $578 million. The Company"s operating free cash flow (defined as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) increased by 79% to $23.9 million for the trailing 12 months ended December 31, 2005 versus $13.3 million for the same period of the prior year. The cash conversion cycle improved to 67 days this period versus 82 days in the prior year period.
Mr. Simon concluded, "The stellar results that the Company achieved over the past two years are a testament to the excellence of our people, our strong brands and our positioning within a clear growth category. Our focus and long-term strategy allow us to make the right decisions for our business today and tomorrow. We are committed to growing our brand equity through targeted new product introductions and realizing new distribution opportunities while continuing to strengthen our management team. Hain Celestial will continue to be the leader as the world moves toward A Healthy Way of Life(TM)."
Fiscal Year 2006 Outlook
The Company updated its annual guidance for fiscal year 2006, adjusted only to reflect the recently completed acquisition of Spectrum Organic Products on December 16, 2005. The Company expects full fiscal year 2006 sales of $670 million to $690 million and earnings of $0.98 to $1.05 per share, as it integrates Spectrum into its operations during the second half of its fiscal year. The Company anticipates that Spectrum will be accretive to earnings beginning in fiscal year 2007, with a neutral impact on earnings for the remainder of this fiscal year as a result of higher interest costs and increased shares issued in connection with the acquisition which will offset Spectrum"s otherwise positive contribution to operating income.
Webcast and Upcoming Events
Hain Celestial will host a conference call and live webcast at 4:15 PM Eastern Standard Time today to review its second quarter 2006 results via the Hain Celestial corporate website, www.hain-celestial.com. On February 16, 2006 the Company is scheduled to present at the JP Morgan Small Cap Conference, and on March 16, 2006 the Company is scheduled to present at the Bank of America Consumer Conference. These presentations, as well as the Company"s earnings conference call, will be available under the Investor Relations section of the Company"s website.
The Hain Celestial Group
The Hain Celestial Group (Nasdaq: HAIN), headquartered in Melville, NY, is a leading natural and organic food and personal care products company in North America and Europe. Hain Celestial participates in almost all natural food categories with well-known brands that include Celestial Seasonings(R), Terra Chips(R), Garden of Eatin"(R), Health Valley(R), WestSoy(R), Earth"s Best(R), Arrowhead Mills(R), DeBoles(R), Hain Pure Foods(R), Raised Right(TM), Hollywood(R), Spectrum Naturals(R), Spectrum Essentials(R), Walnut Acres Organic(TM), Imagine Foods(R), Rice Dream(R), Soy Dream(R), Rosetto(R), Ethnic Gourmet(R), Yves Veggie Cuisine(R), Lima(R), Biomarche(TM), Grains Noirs(R), Natumi(R), JASON(R) and Zia(R) Natural Skincare. For more information, visit www.hain-celestial.com.
SOURCE The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
02/02/2006
CONTACT: Ira Lamel, or Mary Anthes, both of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., +1-631-730-2200; Jeremy Fielding, or David Lilly, both of Kekst and Company, +1-212-521-4800/
Net Income Increases 19% to $12.7 Million
Sales Increase 10% to $186.2 Million
Earnings Per Share at $0.33 Versus $0.29
MELVILLE, N.Y., Feb. 2 -- The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. a leading natural and organic food and personal care products company, today reported results for the second quarter ended December 31, 2005. Hain Celestial reported second quarter record sales of $186.2 million, a 10% increase over the prior year"s $169.8 million. Net income reached $12.7 million, a second quarter record, an increase of 19% from the prior year"s $10.7 million. Diluted earnings for the second quarter this year were a record $0.33 per share as compared to $0.29 in the prior year"s second quarter.
"I am proud of our team as we accomplished record sales and profits with significant improvement in operating margins and our cash conversion," said Irwin D. Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We saw strength in each of our Grocery, Tea and Personal Care lines in both sales and consumption driven by Earth"s Best(R), Imagine(R) soups, Garden of Eatin"(R), Terra(R), Rice Dream(R), WestSoy(R), Ethnic Gourmet(R), Celestial Seasonings(R), Jason(R) and Zia Natural Skincare(R). We are also excited by the progress we are making on the operating front with enhanced margins despite increased input costs. Our sales and earnings continue to grow, driven by strong top line growth, improved margins and focused working capital management."
The Company"s gross profit for the second quarter was 32.3% versus 31.4% in the prior year period before consolidation of the Company"s lower margin Hain Pure Protein joint venture, which reduced gross profit by 1.1%. Operating income grew 20.3% to $21.7 million versus $18.1 million in the period while selling, general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of sales to 19.6% versus the prior year"s 20.7%.
Interest expense in the quarter was $0.4 million higher than in the prior year"s quarter with the increase coming from increased market rates and from higher borrowings for acquisitions. There were no foreign exchange gains or losses in the second quarter while the Company benefited from foreign exchange gains of $0.6 million in the prior year"s quarter. These items negatively impacted earnings by $0.02 per share in the second quarter when compared to the prior year.
The Company"s average diluted shares outstanding during the second quarter were 38.4 million, an increase of 1.2 million shares or 3%, over the prior year"s quarter. This increase in shares was caused by the issuance of shares in the acquisition of Spectrum Organic Products, Inc., the establishment of the alliance with Yeo Hiap Seng Limited and incremental equivalent shares included in the computation due to the higher market price of the Company"s stock. The higher share count reduced earnings by $0.01 per share in the second quarter when compared to the prior year.
The Company"s balance sheet remains strong with $142.3 million in working capital and a current ratio of 2.5 to 1 at the end of the second quarter. Debt as a percentage of equity was 19% with total equity at $578 million. The Company"s operating free cash flow (defined as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures) increased by 79% to $23.9 million for the trailing 12 months ended December 31, 2005 versus $13.3 million for the same period of the prior year. The cash conversion cycle improved to 67 days this period versus 82 days in the prior year period.
Mr. Simon concluded, "The stellar results that the Company achieved over the past two years are a testament to the excellence of our people, our strong brands and our positioning within a clear growth category. Our focus and long-term strategy allow us to make the right decisions for our business today and tomorrow. We are committed to growing our brand equity through targeted new product introductions and realizing new distribution opportunities while continuing to strengthen our management team. Hain Celestial will continue to be the leader as the world moves toward A Healthy Way of Life(TM)."
Fiscal Year 2006 Outlook
The Company updated its annual guidance for fiscal year 2006, adjusted only to reflect the recently completed acquisition of Spectrum Organic Products on December 16, 2005. The Company expects full fiscal year 2006 sales of $670 million to $690 million and earnings of $0.98 to $1.05 per share, as it integrates Spectrum into its operations during the second half of its fiscal year. The Company anticipates that Spectrum will be accretive to earnings beginning in fiscal year 2007, with a neutral impact on earnings for the remainder of this fiscal year as a result of higher interest costs and increased shares issued in connection with the acquisition which will offset Spectrum"s otherwise positive contribution to operating income.
Webcast and Upcoming Events
Hain Celestial will host a conference call and live webcast at 4:15 PM Eastern Standard Time today to review its second quarter 2006 results via the Hain Celestial corporate website, www.hain-celestial.com. On February 16, 2006 the Company is scheduled to present at the JP Morgan Small Cap Conference, and on March 16, 2006 the Company is scheduled to present at the Bank of America Consumer Conference. These presentations, as well as the Company"s earnings conference call, will be available under the Investor Relations section of the Company"s website.
The Hain Celestial Group
The Hain Celestial Group (Nasdaq: HAIN), headquartered in Melville, NY, is a leading natural and organic food and personal care products company in North America and Europe. Hain Celestial participates in almost all natural food categories with well-known brands that include Celestial Seasonings(R), Terra Chips(R), Garden of Eatin"(R), Health Valley(R), WestSoy(R), Earth"s Best(R), Arrowhead Mills(R), DeBoles(R), Hain Pure Foods(R), Raised Right(TM), Hollywood(R), Spectrum Naturals(R), Spectrum Essentials(R), Walnut Acres Organic(TM), Imagine Foods(R), Rice Dream(R), Soy Dream(R), Rosetto(R), Ethnic Gourmet(R), Yves Veggie Cuisine(R), Lima(R), Biomarche(TM), Grains Noirs(R), Natumi(R), JASON(R) and Zia(R) Natural Skincare. For more information, visit www.hain-celestial.com.
SOURCE The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
02/02/2006
CONTACT: Ira Lamel, or Mary Anthes, both of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., +1-631-730-2200; Jeremy Fielding, or David Lilly, both of Kekst and Company, +1-212-521-4800/