J M SMUCKER Co (SJM)
SIC breadcrumb: Manufacturing > Food And Kindred Products > SIC 2033 Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=91419. Latest filing source: 0000091419-26-000050.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 9,050,900,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-06-09 |
| Net income | -138,700,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-06-09 |
| Assets | 16,219,400,000 | USD | 2026 | 2026-06-09 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-06-09. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000091419.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 7,392,300,000 | 7,357,100,000 | 7,838,000,000 | 7,801,000,000 | 8,002,700,000 | 7,998,900,000 | 8,529,200,000 | 8,178,700,000 | 8,726,100,000 | 9,050,900,000 | |
| Net income | 592,300,000 | 1,338,600,000 | 514,400,000 | 779,500,000 | 876,300,000 | 631,700,000 | -91,300,000 | 744,000,000 | -1,230,800,000 | -138,700,000 | |
| Operating income | 1,042,600,000 | 1,044,000,000 | 928,600,000 | 1,223,100,000 | 1,386,800,000 | 1,023,800,000 | 157,500,000 | 1,305,800,000 | -673,900,000 | 360,200,000 | |
| Gross profit | 2,835,300,000 | 2,836,100,000 | 2,915,700,000 | 3,002,000,000 | 3,138,700,000 | 2,700,700,000 | 2,801,800,000 | 3,115,400,000 | 3,384,700,000 | 3,034,500,000 | |
| Diluted EPS | 5.10 | 11.78 | 4.52 | 6.84 | 7.79 | 5.83 | -0.86 | 7.13 | -11.57 | -1.30 | |
| Operating cash flow | 730,929,000 | 1,218,000,000 | 1,141,200,000 | 1,254,800,000 | 1,565,000,000 | 1,136,300,000 | 1,194,400,000 | 1,229,400,000 | 1,210,400,000 | 1,473,600,000 | |
| Capital expenditures | 192,400,000 | 321,900,000 | 359,800,000 | 269,300,000 | 306,700,000 | 417,500,000 | 477,400,000 | 586,500,000 | 393,800,000 | 317,400,000 | |
| Dividends paid | 339,300,000 | 350,300,000 | 377,900,000 | 396,800,000 | 403,200,000 | 418,100,000 | 430,200,000 | 437,500,000 | 455,400,000 | 464,700,000 | |
| Share buybacks | 437,600,000 | 7,000,000 | 5,400,000 | 4,200,000 | 678,400,000 | 270,400,000 | 367,500,000 | 372,800,000 | 3,300,000 | 5,600,000 | |
| Assets | 15,639,700,000 | 15,301,200,000 | 16,711,300,000 | 16,970,400,000 | 16,284,200,000 | 16,055,000,000 | 14,991,400,000 | 20,273,700,000 | 17,563,300,000 | 16,219,400,000 | |
| Liabilities | 8,789,500,000 | 7,410,100,000 | 8,740,800,000 | 8,779,500,000 | 8,159,400,000 | 7,914,900,000 | 7,700,600,000 | 12,579,800,000 | 11,480,700,000 | 10,675,600,000 | |
| Stockholders' equity | 6,850,200,000 | 7,891,100,000 | 7,970,500,000 | 8,190,900,000 | 8,124,800,000 | 8,140,100,000 | 7,290,800,000 | 7,693,900,000 | 6,082,600,000 | 5,543,800,000 | |
| Free cash flow | 896,100,000 | 781,400,000 | 985,500,000 | 1,258,300,000 | 718,800,000 | 717,000,000 | 642,900,000 | 816,600,000 | 1,156,200,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 8.01% | 18.19% | 6.56% | 9.99% | 10.95% | 7.90% | -1.07% | 9.10% | -14.10% | -1.53% | |
| Operating margin | 14.10% | 14.19% | 11.85% | 15.68% | 17.33% | 12.80% | 1.85% | 15.97% | -7.72% | 3.98% | |
| Return on equity | 8.65% | 16.96% | 6.45% | 9.52% | 10.79% | 7.76% | -1.25% | 9.67% | -20.23% | -2.50% | |
| Return on assets | 3.79% | 8.75% | 3.08% | 4.59% | 5.38% | 3.93% | -0.61% | 3.67% | -7.01% | -0.86% | |
| Liabilities / equity | 1.28 | 0.94 | 1.10 | 1.07 | 1.00 | 0.97 | 1.06 | 1.64 | 1.89 | 1.93 | |
| Current ratio | 0.90 | 1.50 | 0.69 | 1.24 | 0.68 | 1.03 | 1.44 | 0.52 | 0.81 | 0.78 |
Financial Charts
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-06-09. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000091419.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q1 | 2022-07-31 | 1.03 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2022-10-31 | 1.79 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-01-31 | 1.95 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q1 | 2023-07-31 | 1,805,200,000 | 183,600,000 | 1.79 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q2 | 2023-07-31 | 183,600,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q2 | 2023-10-31 | 1,938,600,000 | 1.90 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q3 | 2023-10-31 | 194,900,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-01-31 | 2,229,200,000 | 1.13 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-04-30 | 2,205,700,000 | 245,100,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2024-07-31 | 2,125,100,000 | 185,000,000 | 1.74 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2024-07-31 | 185,000,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q2 | 2024-10-31 | 2,271,200,000 | -0.23 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q3 | 2024-10-31 | -24,500,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-01-31 | 2,186,000,000 | -6.22 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-04-30 | 2,143,800,000 | -729,000,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2025-07-31 | 2,113,300,000 | -43,900,000 | -0.41 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2026-Q2 | 2025-07-31 | -43,900,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2026-Q2 | 2025-10-31 | 2,330,100,000 | 2.26 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2026-Q3 | 2025-10-31 | 241,300,000 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2026-Q3 | 2026-01-31 | 2,339,400,000 | -6.79 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2026-Q4 | 2026-04-30 | 2,268,100,000 | 388,100,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD |
Quarterly Charts
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0000091419-26-000016.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Dollars and shares in millions, unless otherwise noted, except per share data)
This discussion and analysis deals with comparisons of material changes in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2026 and 2025. All comparisons presented are to the corresponding period of the prior year, unless otherwise noted.
On March 3, 2025, we sold certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands to JTM. The transaction included certain trademarks and licenses, a manufacturing facility in Chicago, Illinois, and approximately 400 employees who supported the business. Under our ownership, these Sweet Baked Snacks value brands generated net sales of approximately $48.4 in 2025, which were included in the Sweet Baked Snacks segment. Net proceeds from the divestiture were $34.6, inclusive of the final working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $44.2 on this transaction, primarily during the third quarter of 2025.
On December 2, 2024, we sold the Voortman business to Second Nature. The transaction included products sold under the Voortman brand, inclusive of certain trademarks, a leased manufacturing facility in Burlington, Ontario, and approximately 300 employees who supported the business. Under our ownership, the Voortman business generated net sales of approximately $86.3 in 2025, which were included in the Sweet Baked Snacks segment. Net proceeds from the divestiture were $291.4, inclusive of the final working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $265.9 on this transaction, primarily during the second quarter of 2025.
We are the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for the following, which are used under license: Dunkin’ is a trademark of DD IP Holder LLC used under three licenses (the “Dunkin’ Licenses”) for packaged coffee products, including K-Cup® pods, sold in retail channels, such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, e-commerce, and drug stores, as well as in certain away from home channels. The Dunkin’ Licenses do not pertain to coffee or other products for sale in Dunkin’ restaurants. K-Cup® is a trademark of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., used with permission.
Trends Affecting our Business
During the first nine months of 2026, we continued to experience input cost inflation and a dynamic macroeconomic environment, inclusive of tariffs, regulatory and policy changes, and changes in consumer behaviors, including health and wellness trends, which we anticipate will persist through the remainder of 2026. Further, the higher costs have required price increases across our business, and we anticipate that the price elasticity of demand could remain elevated during 2026 as consumers continue to experience broader inflationary pressures and are selective in their spending. In response to the inflationary pressures, we continue to focus on the delivery of our company-wide transformation initiative to deliberately translate our continuous improvement mindset into sustainable productivity initiatives in order to grow our profit margins and reinvest in the Company to enable future growth and cost savings.
In addition, it is possible significant disruptions in our supply chain could occur if certain geopolitical events continue to impact markets around the world, including the impact of potential shipping delays due to supply and demand imbalances, as well as labor shortages and tariffs. We also continue to work closely with our customers and external business partners, taking additional actions to ensure safety and business continuity and to maximize product availability. We have maintained production at all our facilities and availability of appointments at distribution centers.
Although we do not have any operations in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, China, or Taiwan, we continue to monitor these environments, among others, for any significant escalation or expansion of economic or supply chain disruptions, including broader inflationary costs and the impact of tariffs, as well as regional or global economic recessions. Overall, broad-based supply chain disruptions and the impact of inflation remain uncertain. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent to which supply chain disruptions and inflation will impact our business, supply chain, including labor availability and attrition, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
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Table of Contents
Results of Operations
| Three Months Ended January 31, | Nine Months Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | % Increase (Decrease) | 2026 | 2025 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 2,339.4 | $ | 2,186.0 | 7 | % | $ | 6,782.8 | $ | 6,582.3 | 3 | % | |||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 827.8 | $ | 878.1 | (6) | $ | 2,172.4 | $ | 2,561.4 | (15) | |||||||||||
| % of net sales | 35.4 | % | 40.2 | % | 32.0 | % | 38.9 | % | |||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | (548.4) | $ | (594.0) | 8 | $ | (84.3) | $ | (74.8) | (13) | |||||||||||
| % of net sales | (23.4) | % | (27.2) | % | (1.2) | % | (1.1) | % | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (724.2) | $ | (662.3) | (9) | $ | (526.8) | $ | (501.8) | (5) | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) per common share – assuming dilution | $ | (6.79) | $ | (6.22) | (9) | $ | (4.94) | $ | (4.72) | (5) | |||||||||||
| Adjusted gross profit (A) | $ | 790.8 | $ | 819.2 | (3) | $ | 2,323.9 | $ | 2,531.4 | (8) | |||||||||||
| % of net sales | 33.8 | % | 37.5 | % | 34.3 | % | 38.5 | % | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted operating income (A) | $ | 431.6 | $ | 463.8 | (7) | $ | 1,196.2 | $ | 1,402.3 | (15) | |||||||||||
| % of net sales | 18.4 | % | 21.2 | % | 17.6 | % | 21.3 | % | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted income: (A) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income | $ | 254.5 | $ | 278.3 | (9) | $ | 682.2 | $ | 832.0 | (18) | |||||||||||
| Earnings per share – assuming dilution | $ | 2.38 | $ | 2.61 | (9) | $ | 6.38 | $ | 7.80 | (18) |
(A)We use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure.
Net Sales
| Three Months Ended January 31, | Nine Months Ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | Increase (Decrease) | % | 2026 | 2025 | Increase (Decrease) | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 2,339.4 | $ | 2,186.0 | $ | 153.4 | 7 | % | $ | 6,782.8 | $ | 6,582.3 | $ | 200.5 | 3 | % | |||||||||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks value brands divestiture | — | (13.4) | 13.4 | 1 | — | (43.3) | 43.3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Voortman divestiture | — | (12.9) | 12.9 | 1 | — | (86.3) | 86.3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange | (2.0) | — | (2.0) | — | (0.2) | — | (0.2) | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange (A) | $ | 2,337.4 | $ | 2,159.7 | $ | 177.7 | 8 | % | $ | 6,782.6 | $ | 6,452.7 | $ | 329.9 | 5 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
(A) Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange is a non-GAAP financial measure used to evaluate performance internally. This measure provides useful information to investors because it enables comparison of results on a year-over-year basis.
Net sales in the third quarter of 2026 increased $153.4, or 7 percent, which includes $26.3 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to divestitures. Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange increased $177.7, or 8 percent. Net price realization contributed 10 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by higher net pricing for coffee. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 2 percentage points, primarily driven by decreases for sweet baked goods and fruit spreads, and lapping contract manufacturing sales related to the divested pet food brands in the prior year, partially offset by an increase for Uncrustables sandwiches.
Net sales in the first nine months of 2026 increased $200.5, or 3 percent, which includes $129.6 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to divestitures. Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange increased $329.9, or 5 percent. Net price realization contributed 9 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by higher net pricing for coffee. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 4 percentage points, primarily driven by decreases for coffee, dog snacks, sweet baked goods, fruit spreads, and peanut butter, and lapping contract manufacturing sales related to the divested pet food brands in the prior year, partially offset by an increase for Uncrustables sandwiches.
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Table of Contents
Operating Income (Loss)
The following table presents the components of operating income (loss) as a percentage of net sales.
| Three Months Ended January 31, | Nine Months Ended January 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||
| Gross profit | 35.4 | % | 40.2 | % | 32.0 | % | 38.9 | % | |||
| Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses: | |||||||||||
| Marketing | 4.7 | % | 5.2 | % | 5.5 | % | 5.2 | % | |||
| Selling | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 | |||||||
| Distribution | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.3 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 5.0 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.9 | |||||||
| Total selling, distribution, and administrative expenses | 15.5 | % | 16.8 | % | 16.8 | % | 17.4 | % | |||
| Amortization | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.5 | |||||||
| Goodwill impairment charges | 21.7 | 36.3 | 7.5 | 12.1 | |||||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 19.4 | 9.5 | 6.7 | 3.2 | |||||||
| Other special project costs | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | |||||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | — | 2.3 | — | 4.7 | |||||||
| Other operating expense (income) – net | (0.2) | (0.6) | (0.2) | (0.3) | |||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (23.4) | % | (27.2) | % | (1.2) | % | (1.1) | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
Gross profit decreased $50.3, or 6 percent, in the third quarter of 2026, primarily driven by higher costs, inclusive of commodity costs and tariffs, and unfavorable volume/mix, partially offset by higher net price realization.
Operating loss decreased $45.6, or 8 percent, in the third quarter of 2026, primarily driven by lapping a $50.2 net pre-tax loss on divestitures in the prior year and a $40.8 decrease in impairment charges related to the goodwill of the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit and Hostess brand indefinite-lived trademark, partially offset by the decrease in gross profit.
Our non-GAAP financial measures are adjusted to exclude amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Gross profit excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted gross profit”) decreased $28.4, or 3 percent, as compared to the prior year third quarter, primarily reflecting the exclusion of the change in special project costs as compared to GAAP gross profit. Adjusted operating income decreased $32.2, or 7 percent, as compared to the prior y
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Dollars and shares in millions, unless otherwise noted, except per share data)
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to provide an understanding of our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows by focusing on changes in certain key measures from year to year, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form
10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Company Background
At The J. M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands available across North America. We are proud to lead in the coffee, peanut butter, fruit spreads, frozen handheld, sweet baked goods, dog snacks, and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day, including Folgers, Dunkin’, Café Bustelo, Jif, Uncrustables, Smucker’s, Hostess, Milk-Bone, and Meow Mix. Through our unwavering commitment to producing quality products, operating responsibly and ethically, and delivering on our Purpose, we will continue to grow our business while making a positive impact on society.
We have five reportable segments: U.S. Retail Coffee, U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads, U.S. Retail Pet Foods, Sweet Baked Snacks, and Away From Home. Products within our U.S. Retail reportable segments are primarily sold through a combination of direct sales and brokers to food retailers, club stores, discount and dollar stores, online retailers, pet specialty stores, drug stores, military commissaries, mass merchandisers, and distributors. The Sweet Baked Snacks reportable segment includes products distributed across all channels, both domestically and in foreign countries, such as supermarket chains, convenience stores, national mass retailers, discount and dollar stores, club stores, the vending channel, drug stores, and military commissaries. The Away From Home reportable segment includes the sale of all products domestically and in foreign countries through foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., healthcare operators, restaurants, educational institutions, offices, lodging and gaming establishments, and convenience stores).
We remain rooted in our Basic Beliefs to Be Bold, Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Play to Win, and Thrive Together. Our Basic Beliefs are the core of our unique corporate culture, serving as the foundation for decision-making and how we interact with our colleagues and partners. While our Basic Beliefs have evolved over time as we have grown, we remain unwavering in our commitment to these core values and recognize how we are called to act upon them will continue to transform as the world around us does. In addition, we have been led by five generations of family leadership, having had only six chief executive officers in over 125 years. This continuity of management and thought extends to the broader leadership team that embodies the values and embraces the business practices that have contributed to our consistent growth.
Our strategic vision is to engage, delight, and inspire consumers by building brands they love and leading in attractive categories. It provides clear long-term direction, aligning the organization and guiding business priorities. As a Company of #1 and leading brands, complemented by emerging, on-trend brands, we will continue to drive balanced, long-term growth, primarily in North America.
Our strategic growth objectives include net sales increasing by a low single-digit percentage and operating income excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted operating income”) increasing by a mid-single-digit percentage on average over the long term. Related to income per diluted share excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted earnings per share”), our strategic growth objective is to increase by a high single-digit percentage over the long term. We expect organic growth, including new products, to drive much of our top-line growth, while the contribution from acquisitions will vary from year to year. Our non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs (“special project costs”), gains and losses on divestitures, the net change in cumulative unallocated gains and losses on commodity and foreign currency exchange derivative activities (“change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses”), and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Due to a dynamic external environment, we may experience difficulties or be delayed in achieving our long-
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term strategies; however, we continue to evaluate the effects of the macroeconomic environment on our long-term growth objectives.
Over the past five years, both net sales and adjusted operating income increased at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 2 percent, while adjusted earnings per share was flat. These changes were primarily driven by an increase in net sales from the acquisition of Hostess Brands, partially offset by the reduction in net sales from the divested Voortman business and certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands in 2025, Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses in 2024, certain pet food brands in 2023, and the private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses in 2022. Net cash provided by operating activities decreased at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 1 percent over the past five years. Our cash deployment strategy is to balance reinvesting in our business through acquisitions and capital expenditures with returning cash to our shareholders through the payment of dividends and share repurchases. Our current deployment strategy also includes a significant focus on debt repayment.
Acquisition
On November 7, 2023, we completed a cash and stock transaction to acquire Hostess Brands, a manufacturer and marketer of sweet baked goods brands, including Hostess Donettes, Twinkies, CupCakes, DingDongs, Zingers, CoffeeCakes, HoHos, Mini Muffins, and Fruit Pies, and the Voortman cookie brand at the acquisition date. In addition to its headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas, the transaction included six manufacturing facilities located in Emporia, Kansas; Burlington, Ontario; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Arkadelphia, Arkansas, a distribution facility in Edgerton, Kansas, and a commercial center of excellence in Chicago, Illinois at the acquisition date. The total purchase consideration in connection with the acquisition was $5.4 billion, which reflects an exchange offer of all outstanding shares of Hostess Brands common stock at a price of $34.25 per share, consisting of $30.00 in cash and 0.03002 shares of our common shares, based on the closing stock price on September 8, 2023, that were exchanged for each share of Hostess Brands common stock as of the transaction date. For additional information, refer to Note 2: Acquisition.
Divestitures
On March 3, 2025, we sold certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands to JTM. The transaction included certain trademarks and licenses, a manufacturing facility in Chicago, Illinois, and approximately 400 employees who supported the business. Under our ownership, these Sweet Baked Snacks value brands generated net sales of approximately $48.4 and $30.0 in 2025 and 2024, respectively, which were included in the Sweet Baked Snacks reportable segment. Net proceeds from the divestiture were $34.6, inclusive of the final working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $44.2 during 2025, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.
On December 2, 2024, we sold the Voortman business to Second Nature. The transaction included products sold under the Voortman brand, inclusive of certain trademarks, a leased manufacturing facility in Burlington, Ontario, and approximately 300 employees who supported the business. Under our ownership, the Voortman business generated net sales of approximately $86.3 and $65.0 in 2025 and 2024, respectively, which were included in the Sweet Baked Snacks reportable segment. Net proceeds from the divestiture were $291.4, inclusive of the final working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $265.9 during 2025, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.
On January 2, 2024, we sold the Canada condiment business to TreeHouse Foods. The transaction included Bick’s pickles, Habitant pickled beets, Woodman’s horseradish, and McLarens pickled onions brands, inclusive of certain trademarks. Under our ownership, these brands generated net sales of $43.8 in 2024, which was included in the International operating segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $25.3, inclusive of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. Upon completion of this transaction during 2024, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $5.7, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.
On November 1, 2023, we sold the Sahale Snacks business to Second Nature. The transaction included products sold under the Sahale Snacks brand, inclusive of certain trademarks and licensing agreements, a leased manufacturing facility in Seattle, Washington, and approximately 100 employees who supported the brand. Under our ownership, the Sahale Snacks brand generated net sales of $24.1 in 2024, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads reportable segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $31.6, inclusive of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. Upon completion of this transaction during 2024, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $6.7, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.
For additional information, refer to Note 3: Divestitures.
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Trends Affecting our Business
During 2026, we continued to experience input cost inflation and a dynamic macroeconomic environment, including tariffs, regulatory and policy changes, and shifts in consumer behavior, including health and wellness trends, which could persist into 2027. Further, these higher costs have required price increases across certain areas of our business during 2026 as consumers faced broader inflationary pressures and were selective in their spending. In support of ongoing cost management and earnings growth, we remain focused on executing our company-wide transformation initiative, which is designed to translate our continuous improvement mindset into sustainable productivity gains. These efforts are intended to expand our profit margins while enabling reinvestment in the Company to support future growth and cost savings.
Additionally, significant supply chain disruptions could arise if certain geopolitical events continue to impact global markets, including the impact of potential shipping delays driven by supply and demand imbalances, labor shortages, and tariffs. We continue to work closely with our customers and external business partners, taking proactive measures to support safety, ensure business continuity, and maximize product availability. Production has been maintained across all facilities, and appointments at distribution centers remain available.
We are closely monitoring ongoing geopolitical conflicts, as well as evolving international trade and regulatory conditions, for any escalation that could significantly disrupt economic activity or supply chains. These factors may contribute to broader inflationary pressures, tariff impacts, increased energy costs, or regional and global economic slowdowns. Given these uncertainties, the extent to which inflation and supply chain disruptions, including labor availability and attrition, may affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity could be difficult to predict. We will continue to evaluate these factors as conditions evolve.
Results of Operations
This discussion and analysis deals with comparisons of material changes in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended April 30, 2026 and 2025. For the comparisons of the years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024, see the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II, Item 7 of our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 9,050.9 | $ | 8,726.1 | 4 | % | ||||
| Gross profit | $ | 3,034.5 | $ | 3,384.7 | (10) | |||||
| % of net sales | 33.5 | % | 38.8 | % | ||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 360.2 | $ | (673.9) | n/m | |||||
| % of net sales | 4.0 | % | (7.7) | % | ||||||
| Net income (loss): | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (138.7) | $ | (1,230.8) | 89 | |||||
| Net income (loss) per common share – assuming dilution | $ | (1.30) | $ | (11.57) | 89 | |||||
| Adjusted gross profit (A) | $ | 3,159.2 | $ | 3,335.6 | (5) | |||||
| % of net sales | 34.9 | % | 38.2 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted operating income (A) | $ | 1,678.3 | $ | 1,824.7 | (8) | |||||
| % of net sales | 18.5 | % | 20.9 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted income: (A) | ||||||||||
| Income | $ | 977.8 | $ | 1,078.8 | (9) | |||||
| Earnings per share – assuming dilution | $ | 9.15 | $ | 10.12 | (10) |
(A)We use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for a reconciliation to the comparable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measure.
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Net Sales
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | Increase (Decrease) | % | |||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 9,050.9 | $ | 8,726.1 | $ | 324.8 | 4 | % | ||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks value brands divestiture | — | (48.4) | 48.4 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Voortman divestiture | — | (86.3) | 86.3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange | (3.3) | — | (3.3) | — | ||||||||||
| Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange (A) | $ | 9,047.6 | $ | 8,591.4 | $ | 456.2 | 5 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
(A)Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange is a non-GAAP financial measure used to evaluate performance internally. This measure provides useful information to investors because it enables comparison of results on a year-over-year basis.
Net sales in 2026 increased $324.8, or 4 percent, which includes $134.7 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to divestitures. Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange increased $456.2. Net price realization contributed 9 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by higher net pricing for coffee. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 4 percentage points, primarily driven by decreases for coffee, sweet baked goods, dog snacks, peanut butter, and fruit spreads, as well as the lapping of contract manufacturing sales related to the divested pet food brands in the prior year, partially offset by an increase for Uncrustables sandwiches.
Operating Income (Loss)
The following table presents the components of operating income (loss) as a percentage of net sales.
| Year Ended April 30, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||
| Gross profit | 33.5 | % | 38.8 | % | |
| Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses: | |||||
| Marketing | 3.1 | % | 3.3 | % | |
| Advertising | 2.0 | 2.1 | |||
| Selling | 2.9 | 3.0 | |||
| Distribution | 3.1 | 3.3 | |||
| General and administrative | 5.4 | 5.9 | |||
| Total selling, distribution, and administrative expenses | 16.5 | % | 17.5 | % | |
| Amortization | 2.3 | 2.5 | |||
| Goodwill impairment charges | 5.6 | 19.0 | |||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 5.0 | 3.7 | |||
| Other special project costs | 0.2 | 0.4 | |||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | — | 3.6 | |||
| Other operating expense (income) – net | (0.2) | (0.2) | |||
| Operating income (loss) | 4.0 | % | (7.7) | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
Gross profit decreased $350.2, or 10 percent, in 2026, primarily driven by higher costs, inclusive of commodity costs and tariffs, unfavorable volume/mix, a net unfavorable impact of derivative gains and losses, an increase in special project costs, and the noncomparable impact of divestitures, partially offset by higher net price realization.
Operating income (loss) increased $1,034.1, primarily reflecting a $1.0 billion decrease in impairment charges related to the goodwill of the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit and the Hostess brand trademark, the lapping of a $310.1 net pre-tax loss on divestitures in the prior year, and a $32.4 decrease in selling, distribution, and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses, partially offset by the decrease in gross profit.
Our non-GAAP adjustments include the exclusion of amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and
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losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Gross profit excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted gross profit”), decreased $176.4, or 5 percent, as compared to the prior year, reflecting the exclusion of the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses and special project costs as compared to GAAP gross profit. Adjusted operating income decreased $146.4, or 8 percent, as compared to the prior year, further reflecting the exclusion of amortization expense, noncash impairment charges, the net pre-tax loss on divestitures in the prior year, and other special project costs as compared to GAAP operating income.
Interest Expense
Net interest expense decreased $7.5, or 2 percent, in 2026, primarily due to reduced debt outstanding as compared to the prior year. For additional information, refer to Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
Income Taxes
Income taxes decreased $107.7, or 59 percent, in 2026, as compared to the prior year. The effective income tax rate for 2026 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to the unfavorable permanent impact associated with the goodwill impairment charge for the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit and state income taxes. The effective income tax rate for 2025 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to the unfavorable permanent impacts associated with the goodwill impairment charges for the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit and the sale of the Voortman business, as well as state income taxes, partially offset by favorable noncash deferred tax benefits associated with the integration of Hostess Brands into our Company and certain state legislative changes enacted during the year. We anticipate a full-year effective income tax rate for 2027 to be approximately 24.4 percent. For additional information, refer to Note 14: Income Taxes.
Special Project Costs
Divestiture Costs: Total divestiture costs incurred to date related to the divested Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses that were divested in 2024 were $6.4, which included $4.3 and $2.1 of employee-related and other transition and termination costs, respectively, all of which were cash charges. We did not incur any divestiture costs in 2026 and incurred divestiture costs of $0.9 during 2025, primarily consisting of employee-related costs and a noncash gain related to a lease termination in 2025. We do not anticipate any additional costs to be incurred related to these divestiture activities.
As a result of our recent divestitures, we identified opportunities to address certain distribution inefficiencies. We have recognized total cumulative costs of $9.0 related to these efforts, of which $2.5 and $6.5 were recognized during 2026 and 2025, respectively, all of which were cash charges, primarily consisting of other transition and termination costs. We do not anticipate any additional costs to be incurred related to these activities. For additional information, see Note 3: Divestitures.
Integration Costs: We have recognized total cumulative integration costs related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands of $187.4, of which $2.5 and $37.5 were recognized during 2026 and 2025, respectively. These costs primarily consisted of transaction costs, employee-related costs, and other transition and termination charges, the majority of which were cash charges. We do not anticipate any additional costs to be incurred related to these integration activities.
Restructuring Costs: During 2026, we closed our Indianapolis, Indiana manufacturing facility, which manufactured Hostess branded products, and consolidated operations into other existing facilities to further optimize operations within our Sweet Baked Snacks reportable segment. We have recognized total cumulative costs of $83.5 during 2026, consisting primarily of employee-related and other transition and termination costs. We do not anticipate remaining charges related to these restructuring activities to be material in 2027.
For further information on these costs, refer to Note 4: Special Project Costs.
Commodities Overview
The raw materials we use in each of our segments are primarily commodities, agricultural-based products, and packaging materials. The most significant of these materials, based on 2026 annual spend, are green coffee, peanuts, oils, fats, flour, sugar, and fruit. Green coffee, corn, certain meals, oils, and grains are traded on active regulated exchanges, and the price of these commodities fluctuates based on market conditions. Derivative instruments, including futures and options, are used to minimize the impact of price volatility for these commodities.
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We source green coffee from more than 20 coffee-producing countries. Its price is subject to high volatility due to factors such as weather, global supply and demand, product scarcity, plant disease, investor speculation, geopolitical conflicts, changes in governmental agricultural and energy policies and regulation, political and economic conditions in the source countries, and tariffs.
We source peanuts, oils, and fats mainly from North America. We are one of the largest roasters of peanuts in the U.S. and frequently enter into long-term purchase contracts for various periods of time to mitigate the risk of a shortage of this commodity. The oils we purchase are mainly palm, soybean, and peanut. The price of agricultural commodities are primarily driven by weather, which impacts crop sizes and yield, as well as global demand, especially from large importing countries such as China and India.
We frequently enter into long-term contracts to purchase plastic containers, which are sourced mainly within the U.S. Plastic resin is made from petrochemical feedstock and natural gas feedstock, and the price can be influenced by feedstock, energy, and crude oil prices, as well as global economic and geopolitical conditions.
Excluding the impact of derivative gains and losses, our overall commodity costs in 2026 were higher than in 2025, primarily due to higher costs for green coffee, corn, and meals.
Segment Results
We have five reportable segments: U.S. Retail Coffee, U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads, U.S. Retail Pet Foods, Sweet Baked Snacks, and Away From Home. The presentation of Other represents the International operating segment, which does not meet the criteria to be presented as a reportable segment under FASB ASC 280.
In accordance with FASB ASC 280, we completed our annual evaluation of operating segments to determine which segments meet the quantitative thresholds to be presented as a reportable segment. As a result of this evaluation, the Away From Home operating segment met the reportable segment criteria and is presented as such beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026. Previously, the Away From Home operating segment was presented as a combination of all other operating segments that were not individually reportable. Segment information for 2025 and 2024 has been recast to reflect this change.
The U.S. Retail Coffee reportable segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Folgers, Dunkin’, and Café Bustelo branded coffee; the U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads reportable segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Uncrustables, Jif, and Smucker’s branded products; the U.S. Retail Pet Foods reportable segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Meow Mix, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, and Canine Carry Outs branded products; and the Sweet Baked Snacks reportable segment primarily includes all domestic and foreign sales of Hostess branded products in all channels. The Away From Home reportable segment includes the sale of all products, with the exception of Sweet Baked Snacks products, domestically and in foreign countries through foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., healthcare operators, restaurants, educational institutions, offices, lodging and gaming establishments, and convenience stores).
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| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | $ | 3,304.9 | $ | 2,806.6 | 18 | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads | 1,853.9 | 1,877.0 | (1) | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 1,600.0 | 1,663.6 | (4) | |||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 971.3 | 1,178.8 | (18) | |||||||
| Away From Home | 879.0 | 763.0 | 15 | |||||||
| Other (A) | 441.8 | 437.1 | 1 | |||||||
| Segment profit: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | $ | 701.5 | $ | 795.1 | (12) | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads | 444.7 | 425.3 | 5 | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 473.3 | 459.6 | 3 | |||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 97.2 | 219.8 | (56) | |||||||
| Away From Home | 220.1 | 176.1 | 25 | |||||||
| Other (A) | 69.6 | 71.3 | (2) | |||||||
| Segment profit margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 21.2 | % | 28.3 | % | ||||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads | 24.0 | 22.7 | ||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 29.6 | 27.6 | ||||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 10.0 | 18.6 | ||||||||
| Away From Home | 25.0 | 23.1 | ||||||||
| Other (A) | 15.8 | 16.3 |
(A) Represents the International operating segment.
U.S. Retail Coffee
U.S. Retail Coffee net sales increased $498.3 in 2026. Net price realization increased net sales by 22 percentage points, reflecting higher net pricing across the portfolio. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 5 percentage points, reflecting decreases for the Dunkin’ and Folgers brands, partially offset by an increase for the Café Bustelo brand. Segment profit decreased $93.6, primarily reflecting higher costs, inclusive of commodity costs and tariffs, unfavorable volume/mix, and higher marketing spend, partially offset by higher net price realization.
U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads
U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads net sales decreased $23.1 in 2026. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 3 percentage points, primarily reflecting decreases for peanut butter and fruit spreads, partially offset by an increase for Uncrustables sandwiches. Net price realization contributed 2 percentage points to net sales, primarily reflecting higher net pricing for Uncrustables sandwiches. Segment profit increased $19.4, primarily driven by higher net price realization and lower pre-production expenses related to the new Uncrustables sandwiches manufacturing facility, partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix.
U.S. Retail Pet Foods
U.S. Retail Pet Foods net sales decreased $63.6 in 2026. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 5 percentage points, primarily reflecting a decrease for dog snacks and the lapping of contract manufacturing sales related to the divested pet food brands in the prior year, partially offset by an increase for cat food. Net price realization increased net sales by 1 percentage point, primarily reflecting higher net pricing for cat food and dog snacks. Segment profit increased $13.7, primarily reflecting higher net price realization and lower marketing spend, partially offset by unfavorable volume/mix.
Sweet Baked Snacks
Sweet Baked Snacks net sales decreased $207.5 in 2026, inclusive of the impact of $134.7 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to the divested Voortman business and certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divestitures, net sales decreased $72.8, or 7 percent. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 8 percentage points, primarily reflecting decreases for snack cakes, private label, and breakfast. Net price realization increased
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net sales by 1 percentage point, primarily reflecting higher net pricing across the portfolio. Segment profit decreased $122.6, primarily reflecting higher costs, unfavorable volume mix, and the impact of noncomparable segment profit in the prior year related to the divested businesses, partially offset by higher net price realization.
Away From Home
Away From Home net sales increased $116.0 in 2026. Net price realization contributed 10 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by higher net pricing for coffee. Volume/mix contributed 6 percentage points to net sales, reflecting increases for Uncrustables sandwiches and coffee. Segment profit increased $44.0, primarily driven by higher net price realization and favorable volume/mix, partially offset by higher costs.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
Our principal source of funds is cash generated from operations, supplemented by borrowings against our commercial paper program and revolving credit facility. Total cash and cash equivalents decreased to $58.6 at April 30, 2026, compared to $69.9 at April 30, 2025.
The following table presents selected cash flow information.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,473.6 | $ | 1,210.4 | ||
| Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities | (258.8) | (100.3) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | (1,226.5) | (1,102.7) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,473.6 | $ | 1,210.4 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (317.4) | (393.8) | ||||
| Free cash flow (A) | $ | 1,156.2 | $ | 816.6 |
(A)Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to evaluate the amount of cash available for debt repayment, dividend distribution, acquisition opportunities, share repurchases, and other corporate purposes.
The $263.2 increase in cash provided by operating activities in 2026 was primarily driven by a decrease in cash used for income and other taxes, primarily reflecting the timing of income tax payments and lower taxable income, as well as lower working capital requirements in 2026, partially offset by lower net income (loss) adjusted for noncash items in the current year. The cash required to fund working capital decreased compared to the prior year, primarily driven by lower inventories, reflecting moderation in input cost inflation during the current year, the timing of settling our derivative instruments, and a reduction in payments related to transition services agreements entered into in connection with divestitures. These increases in cash were partially offset by decreases related to changes in trade receivables, reflecting higher sales and the timing of cash collections, and changes in accounts payable, reflecting the timing of spend and cash payments.
Cash used for investing activities in 2026 consisted primarily of $317.4 in capital expenditures, primarily reflecting plant maintenance and improvement of our facilities, partially offset by a decrease of $44.9 in our derivative cash margin account balances. Cash used for investing activities in 2025 consisted primarily of $393.8 in capital expenditures, reflecting our investments in the new Uncrustables sandwiches manufacturing and distribution facilities in McCalla, Alabama, as well as plant maintenance across our facilities, and also an increase of $39.4 in our derivative cash margin account balances. These uses of cash for 2025 were partially offset by net proceeds received of $326.0 from the divestiture of certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands and the Voortman business.
Cash used for financing activities in 2026 consisted primarily of long-term debt repayments of $500.0, dividend payments of $464.7, and a net decrease in short-term borrowings of $251.5. Cash used for financing activities in 2025 consisted primarily of long-term debt repayments of $1,300.0 and dividend payments of $455.4, partially offset by $650.0 of proceeds from long-term debt and a net increase in short-term borrowings of $19.2.
Supplier Financing Program
As part of ongoing efforts to maximize working capital, we work with our suppliers to optimize our terms and conditions, which includes the extension of payment terms. Payment terms with our suppliers, which we deem to be commercially reasonable, range from 0 to 180 days. We have an agreement with a third-party administrator to provide an accounts payable
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tracking system and facilitate a supplier financing program, which allows participating suppliers the ability to monitor and voluntarily elect to sell our payment obligations to a designated third-party financial institution. Participating suppliers can sell one or more of our payment obligations at their sole discretion. We have no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to enter into these agreements. Our rights and obligations to our suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted by our suppliers’ decisions to sell amounts under these arrangements. As of April 30, 2026 and 2025, $325.1 and $340.4 of our outstanding payment obligations, respectively, were elected and sold to a financial institution by participating suppliers. During 2026 and 2025, we paid $1,270.1 and $1,562.3, respectively, to a financial institution for payment obligations that were settled through the supplier financing program.
Contingencies
We, like other food manufacturers, are from time to time subject to various administrative, regulatory, and other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We are currently a defendant in a variety of such legal proceedings, and while we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate results of these proceedings or potential settlements associated with these or other matters, we have accrued losses for certain contingent liabilities that we have determined are probable and reasonably estimable at April 30, 2026. Based on the information known to date, with the exception of the matters discussed below, we do not believe the final outcome of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Class Action Lawsuits: We are defendants in a series of putative class action lawsuits that were transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri for coordinated pre-trial proceedings. The plaintiffs assert claims arising under various state laws for false advertising, consumer protection, deceptive and unfair trade practices, and similar statutes. Their claims are premised on allegations that we have misrepresented the number of servings that can be made from various canisters of Folgers coffee on the packaging for those products. The outcome and the financial impact of these cases, if any, cannot be predicted at this time. Accordingly, no loss contingency has been recorded for these matters as of April 30, 2026, and the likelihood of loss is not considered probable or reasonably estimable. However, if we are required to pay significant damages, our business and financial results could be adversely impacted, and sales of those products could suffer not only in these locations but elsewhere.
Voortman Contingency: In December 2020, Hostess Brands asserted claims for indemnification against the sellers (the “Sellers”) under the terms of a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Hostess Brands acquired Voortman Cookies Limited (“Voortman”). The claims were for damages arising out of alleged breaches by the Sellers of certain representations, warranties, and covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement relating to periods prior to the closing of the acquisition. Hostess Brands also submitted claims relating to these alleged breaches under the representation and warranty insurance policy (“RWI”) that was purchased in connection with the acquisition. In the third quarter of calendar 2022, the RWI insurers paid Hostess Brands $42.5 CAD (the RWI coverage limit) (the “Proceeds”) related to these breaches. Per agreement with the RWI insurers, we will not be required to return the Proceeds under any circumstances.
On November 3, 2022, pursuant to the agreement with the RWI insurers, Voortman brought claims in the Ontario (Canada) Superior Court of Justice (the “Claim”) against certain of the Sellers related to the alleged breaches. The Claim alleges the seller defendants made certain non-disclosures and misrepresentations to induce Hostess Brands to overpay for Voortman. We are seeking damages of $109.0 CAD representing the amount of the aggregate liability of the Sellers for indemnification under the Purchase Agreement, $5.0 CAD in punitive or aggravated damages, interest, proceedings fees, and any other relief the presiding court deems appropriate. A portion of any recovery will be shared with the RWI insurers. Although we believe that the Claim is meritorious, no assurance can be given as to whether we will recover all, or any part, of the amounts being pursued. We retained rights to the Claim upon the divestiture of the Voortman business in 2025.
Tariff Refunds: In April 2026, we began pursuing claims for refunds of tariffs previously paid on certain imported goods. As of April 30, 2026, recovery of these claims was subject to regulatory review and approval, and the timing and amount of any recovery was uncertain. Accordingly, no amounts were recognized as of April 30, 2026. The scope and realization of any recoveries remain subject to ongoing legal and administrative proceedings, including an announced appeal by the U.S. Department of Justice, which may affect our ability to recover or retain any amounts received.
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Capital Resources
The following table presents our capital structure.
| April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 150.0 | $ | — | ||
| Short-term borrowings | 420.9 | 640.8 | ||||
| Long-term debt, less current portion | 6,392.8 | 7,036.8 | ||||
| Total debt | $ | 6,963.7 | $ | 7,677.6 | ||
| Shareholders’ equity | 5,543.8 | 6,082.6 | ||||
| Total capital | $ | 12,507.5 | $ | 13,760.2 |
We have available a $2.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of ten banks that matures in March 2030. Additionally, we participate in a commercial paper program under which we can issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper not to exceed $2.0 billion at any time. The commercial paper program is backed by our revolving credit facility and reduces what we can borrow under the revolving credit facility by the amount of commercial paper outstanding. Commercial paper is used as a continuing source of short-term financing for general corporate purposes. As of April 30, 2026, we had $421.0 of short-term borrowings outstanding, which were issued under our commercial paper program at a weighted-average interest rate of 4.03 percent.
We are in compliance with all our debt covenants as of April 30, 2026, and expect to be for the next 12 months. For additional information on our long-term debt, sources of liquidity, and debt covenants, see Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
Dividend payments were $464.7 and $455.4 in 2026 and 2025, respectively, and dividends declared per share were $4.40 and $4.32 in 2026 and 2025, respectively. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board and depends on various factors, such as our net income (loss), financial condition, cash requirements, future events, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
During 2026 and 2025, we did not repurchase any common shares under a repurchase plan authorized by the Board. The shares repurchased during 2026 and 2025 consisted of shares repurchased from stock plan recipients in lieu of cash payments. As of April 30, 2026, approximately 1.1 million common shares remain available for repurchase pursuant to the Board’s authorizations. There is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares that may be repurchased or when such purchases may occur.
The following table presents certain cash requirements related to 2027 investing and financing activities based on our current expectations.
| Projection Year Ending April 30, 2027 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Principal payments (A) | $ | 150.0 |
| Dividend payments (B) | 469.3 | |
| Capital expenditures | 325.0 | |
| Interest payments | 343.2 |
(A)Represents required principal payments on maturing debt and does not include additional discretionary debt repayments.
(B)Based on current rates and common shares outstanding.
Absent any material acquisitions or other significant investments, we believe that cash on hand, combined with cash provided by operations, borrowings available under our revolving credit facility and commercial paper program, and access to capital markets, will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the next 12 months, including the payment of quarterly dividends, principal and interest payments on debt outstanding, and capital expenditures. However, as a result of the current macroeconomic environment, we may experience an increase in the cost or the difficulty to obtain debt or equity financing, or to refinance our debt in the future. We continue to evaluate these risks, which could affect our financial condition or our ability to fund operations or future investment opportunities.
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As of April 30, 2026, total cash and cash equivalents of $48.6 was held by our foreign subsidiaries, primarily in Canada. During 2026, we returned $42.1 of foreign cash to the U.S. from Canada, which was subject to $2.1 of foreign withholding taxes, while U.S. federal and state income taxes were not significant. There was no other foreign cash repatriated to the U.S. during 2026.
Material Cash Requirements
The following table summarizes our material cash requirements by fiscal year at April 30, 2026.
| Total | 2027 | 2028-2029 | 2030-2031 | 2032 and beyond | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt obligations, including current portion (A) | $ | 6,603.2 | $ | 150.0 | $ | 1,250.0 | $ | 500.0 | $ | 4,703.2 | ||||||||
| Interest payments (B) | 4,903.4 | 338.7 | 625.1 | 507.8 | 3,431.8 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (C) | 2,317.8 | 1,836.7 | 472.6 | 8.5 | — | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 13,824.4 | $ | 2,325.4 | $ | 2,347.7 | $ | 1,016.3 | $ | 8,135.0 |
(A)Long-term debt obligations, including current portion, excludes the impact of offering discounts, make-whole payments, and debt issuance costs.
(B)Interest payments consists of the interest payments for our fixed-rate Senior Notes and Term Loan.
(C)Purchase obligations includes agreements that are enforceable and legally bind us to purchase goods or services, which primarily consist of obligations related to normal, ongoing purchase obligations in which we have guaranteed payment to ensure availability of raw materials. We expect to receive consideration for these purchase obligations in the form of materials and services. These purchase obligations do not represent all future purchases expected but represent only those items for which we are contractually obligated. Amounts included in the table above represent our current best estimate of payments due. Actual cash payments may vary due to the variable pricing components of certain purchase obligations.
Our other cash requirements at April 30, 2026, primarily included operating and finance lease obligations, which consist of the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating and finance leases. As of April 30, 2026, we had total undiscounted minimum lease payments of $181.3 and $11.3 related to our operating and finance leases, respectively. For additional information, see Note 12: Leases.
In addition, we have other liabilities consisting primarily of projected commitments associated with our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, as disclosed in Note 9: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits. The total liability for our unrecognized tax benefits and tax-related net interest at April 30, 2026, was $1.8 under FASB ASC 740, Income Taxes; however, we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of cash settlements with the respective taxing authorities. For additional information, see Note 14: Income Taxes.
As of April 30, 2026, we do not have material off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also known as variable interest entities. Transactions with related parties are in the ordinary course of business and are not material to our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We use non-GAAP financial measures including: net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted income, adjusted earnings per share, and free cash flow, as key measures for purposes of evaluating performance internally. We believe that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing these performance measures. Furthermore, these non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in preparation of the annual budget and for the monthly analyses of our operating results. The Board also utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures as components for measuring performance for incentive compensation purposes.
Non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items affecting comparability that can significantly affect the year-over-year assessment of operating results, which include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Income taxes, as adjusted is calculated using an adjusted effective income tax rate that is applied to adjusted income before income taxes and reflects the exclusion of the previously discussed items, as well as any adjustments for one-time tax-related activities, when they occur. While this adjusted effective income tax rate does not generally differ materially from our GAAP effective income tax rate, certain exclusions from non-GAAP results, such as the unfavorable tax impact associated with the impairment charges for the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit, can significantly impact our adjusted effective income tax rate.
These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Rather, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures supplements other metrics we use to internally evaluate our business and facilitate the comparison of past and present operations and liquidity. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and may exclude certain nondiscretionary expenses and cash payments.
The following table reconciles certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measure. See page 30 for a reconciliation of net sales adjusted for certain noncomparable items to the comparable GAAP financial measure.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| Gross profit reconciliation: | ||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 3,034.5 | $ | 3,384.7 | ||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 58.6 | (58.2) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs | 66.1 | 9.1 | ||||
| Adjusted gross profit | $ | 3,159.2 | $ | 3,335.6 | ||
| % of net sales | 34.9 | % | 38.2 | % | ||
| Operating income (loss) reconciliation: | ||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | 360.2 | $ | (673.9) | ||
| Amortization | 210.6 | 219.3 | ||||
| Goodwill impairment charges | 507.5 | 1,661.6 | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 454.2 | 320.9 | ||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | — | 310.1 | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 58.6 | (58.2) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs | 66.1 | 9.1 | ||||
| Other special project costs | 21.1 | 35.8 | ||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 1,678.3 | $ | 1,824.7 | ||
| % of net sales | 18.5 | % | 20.9 | % | ||
| Net income (loss) reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (138.7) | $ | (1,230.8) | ||
| Income tax expense | 76.3 | 184.0 | ||||
| Amortization | 210.6 | 219.3 | ||||
| Goodwill impairment charges | 507.5 | 1,661.6 | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 454.2 | 320.9 | ||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | — | 310.1 | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 58.6 | (58.2) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs | 66.1 | 9.1 | ||||
| Other special project costs | 21.1 | 35.8 | ||||
| Other expense – special project costs | 1.3 | — | ||||
| Other infrequently occurring items: | ||||||
| Other debt charges (gains) – net (A) | — | (30.2) | ||||
| Pension plan termination settlement charges (B) | 34.0 | — | ||||
| Adjusted income before income taxes | $ | 1,291.0 | $ | 1,421.6 | ||
| Income taxes, as adjusted | 313.2 | 342.8 | ||||
| Adjusted income | $ | 977.8 | $ | 1,078.8 | ||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding – assuming dilution (C) | 106.9 | 106.6 | ||||
| Adjusted earnings per share – assuming dilution (C) | $ | 9.15 | $ | 10.12 | ||
| Free cash flow reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,473.6 | $ | 1,210.4 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (317.4) | (393.8) | ||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 1,156.2 | $ | 816.6 |
(A) Net other debt charges (gains) includes a net gain on extinguishment of debt as a result of the tender offers completed during 2025. For more information, see Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
(B) Pension plan termination settlement charges represents the pre-tax settlement charges recognized during 2026 related to the termination of one of our U.S. qualified defined benefit plans. For more information, see Note 9: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.
(C) Adjusted earnings per common share – assuming dilution for 2026 and 2025 was computed using the treasury stock method. Further, in 2026 and 2025, the weighted-average shares outstanding – assuming dilution differed from our GAAP weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution as a result of the anti-dilutive effect of our stock-based awards, which were excluded from the computation of net loss per share – assuming dilution. For more information, see Earnings Per Share in Note 1: Accounting Policies and Note 6: Earnings Per Share.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that in certain circumstances affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. We do not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Trade Marketing and Merchandising Programs: In order to support the sale of our products, various promotional activities are conducted through retailers, distributors, or directly with consumers, including in-store display and product placement programs, price discounts, coupons, and other similar activities. The costs of these programs are classified as a reduction of sales. We regularly review and revise, when we deem necessary, estimates of costs for these promotional programs based on estimates of what will be redeemed by retailers, distributors, or consumers. These estimates are made using various techniques, including historical data on performance of similar promotional programs. Differences between estimated expenditures and actual performance are recognized as a change in estimate in a subsequent period. During 2026, 2025, and 2024, subsequent period adjustments were less than 2 percent of both consolidated pre-tax adjusted income and cash provided by operating activities.
Income Taxes: We account for income taxes using the liability method. In the ordinary course of business, we are exposed to uncertainties related to tax filing positions and periodically assess the technical merits of these tax positions for all tax years that remain subject to examination, based upon the latest information available. We recognize a tax benefit when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination, based on its technical merits. The tax position is then measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
We routinely evaluate the likelihood of realizing the benefit of our deferred tax assets and may record a valuation allowance if, based on all available evidence, we determine that it is more likely than not that all or some portion of such assets will not be realized. Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be affected by changes in tax legislation, statutory tax rates, and projected future taxable income levels. Changes in estimated realization of deferred tax assets would result in an adjustment to income in the period in which that determination is made, unless such changes are determined to be an adjustment to goodwill within the allowable measurement period under the acquisition method of accounting.
The future tax benefit arising from the net deductible temporary differences and tax carryforwards was $218.9 and $231.5 at April 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and results of operations. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of tax carryforwards or the projected operating results indicate that realization is not likely, a valuation allowance has been provided.
As of April 30, 2026, a portion of our undistributed foreign earnings, primarily in Canada, is not considered permanently reinvested, and an immaterial deferred tax liability has been recognized accordingly. For additional information, see Note 14: Income Taxes.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets: A significant portion of our assets is composed of goodwill and other intangible assets, the majority of which are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment at least annually on
February 1, and more often if indicators of impairment exist. At April 30, 2026, the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets totaled $10.9 billion, compared to total assets of $16.2 billion and total shareholders’ equity of $5.5 billion. If the carrying value of these assets exceeds the current estimated fair value, the asset is considered impaired, which would result in a noncash impairment charge to earnings, that could be material. Events and conditions that could result in impairment include a sustained drop in the market price of our common shares, increased competition or loss of market share, obsolescence, product claims that result in a significant loss of sales or profitability over the product life, deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, declining financial performance in comparison to projected results, increased input costs beyond projections, or divestitures of significant brands.
To test for goodwill impairment, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units using both a discounted cash flow valuation technique and a market-based approach. The impairment test incorporates estimates of future cash flows; allocations of certain assets, liabilities, and cash flows among reporting units; future growth rates; terminal value amounts;
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and the applicable weighted-average cost of capital used to discount those estimated cash flows. The estimates and projections used in the calculation of fair value are consistent with our current and long-range plans, including anticipated changes in market conditions, industry trends, growth rates, and planned capital expenditures. Changes in forecasted operations and other estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2026, goodwill totaled $5.2 billion. Goodwill is substantially concentrated within the U.S. Retail reportable segments. During 2026, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $507.5 related to the goodwill of the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit, which was a result of an interim evaluation performed during 2026 and represented the full remaining carrying value of the goodwill within the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit. As of April 30, 2026, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value by greater than 10 percent for all of our reporting units with a goodwill balance.
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets, consisting entirely of trademarks, are also tested for impairment at least annually and more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying values may be below their fair values. To test these assets for impairment, we estimate the fair value of each asset based on a discounted cash flow model using various inputs, including projected revenues, an assumed royalty rate, and a discount rate. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2026, other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $2.6 billion. Trademarks that represent our leading brands comprise more than 95 percent of the total carrying value of other indefinite-lived intangible assets. As of April 30, 2026, the estimated fair value of the majority of our leading brand trademarks was substantially in excess of their carrying values. In all instances, the estimated fair value exceeded carrying value by more than 10 percent, with the exception of the Pup-Peroni brand indefinite-lived intangible asset within the U.S. Retail Pet Foods reportable segment, which is susceptible to future impairment charges if there is any significant adverse change in our near- or long-term projections for the brand or macroeconomic conditions. During 2026, we recognized impairment charges of $454.2 related to the Hostess brand indefinite-lived trademark, to the extent the carrying value exceeded the estimated fair value, and reclassified the brand as a finite-lived intangible asset. For additional information, see Note 7: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans, and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “will,” “plan,” and similar phrases.
Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the following:
•our ability to maintain operational stability and continue executing ongoing optimization initiatives to realize the anticipated benefits with respect to the Hostess Brands’ acquisition, including the possibility that the benefits will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period;
•disruptions or inefficiencies in our operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls, political instability, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, work stoppages or labor shortages, or other calamities;
•risks related to the availability of, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation;
•the impact of food security concerns involving either our products or our competitors’ products, changes in consumer preferences, consumer or other litigation, actions by the FDA or other agencies, and product recalls;
•risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies we employ to manage commodity pricing and interest rate risks;
•the availability of reliable transportation on acceptable terms;
•our ability to achieve cost savings related to our restructuring and cost management programs in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated;
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•our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to continue operating under our capital deployment model, including capital expenditures, debt repayment to meet our deleveraging objectives, dividend payments, and share repurchases;
•a change in outlook or downgrade in our public credit ratings by a rating agency below investment grade;
•our ability to implement and realize the full benefit of price changes, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period;
•the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in our business, including product innovation;
•general competitive activity in the market, including competitors’ pricing practices and promotional spending levels;
•our ability to attract and retain key talent;
•the concentration of certain of our businesses with key customers and suppliers, including primary or single-source suppliers of certain key raw materials and finished goods, and our ability to manage and maintain key relationships;
•impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in the useful lives of other intangible assets or other long-lived assets;
•the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws, regulations, and policies and their application, including tariffs, food ingredients, food labeling, and food accessibility;
•the outcome of tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters;
•a disruption, failure, or security breach of our or our suppliers’ information technology systems, including, but not limited to, ransomware attacks;
•foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations; and
•risks related to other factors described under “Risk Factors” in other reports and statements we have filed with the SEC.
Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances subsequent to the filing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2025 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000091419-25-000056.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Dollars and shares in millions, unless otherwise noted, except per share data)
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to provide an understanding of our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows by focusing on changes in certain key measures from year to year, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Company Background
At The J. M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands available across North America. We are proud to lead in the coffee, peanut butter, fruit spreads, frozen handheld, sweet baked goods, dog snacks, and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day, including Folgers, Dunkin’, Café Bustelo, Jif, Uncrustables, Smucker’s, Hostess, Milk-Bone, and Meow Mix. Through our unwavering commitment to producing quality products, operating responsibly and ethically, and delivering on our Purpose, we will continue to grow our business while making a positive impact on society.
We have four reportable segments: U.S. Retail Coffee, U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads, U.S. Retail Pet Foods, and Sweet Baked Snacks. These segments in total comprised 86 percent of consolidated net sales in 2025 and represent a major portion of our strategic focus – the sale of branded food and beverage products with leadership positions to consumers through retail outlets in North America. Products within our U.S. retail market segments are primarily sold through a combination of direct sales and brokers to food retailers, club stores, discount and dollar stores, online retailers, pet specialty stores, drug stores, military commissaries, mass merchandisers, and distributors. The Sweet Baked Snacks segment includes products distributed across all channels, both domestically and in foreign countries, such as supermarket chains, convenience stores, national mass retailers, discount and dollar stores, club stores, the vending channel, drug stores, and military commissaries. International and Away From Home includes the sale of all products that are distributed in foreign countries through retail channels, as well as domestically and in foreign countries through foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., healthcare operators, restaurants, educational institutions, offices, lodging and gaming establishments, and convenience stores).
Strategic Overview
We remain rooted in our Basic Beliefs to Be Bold, Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Play to Win, and Thrive Together. Our Basic Beliefs are the core of our unique corporate culture, serving as the foundation for decision-making and how we interact with our colleagues and partners. While our Basic Beliefs have evolved over time as we have grown, we remain unwavering in our commitment to these core values and recognize how we are called to act upon them will continue to transform as the world around us does. In addition, we have been led by five generations of family leadership, having had only six chief executive officers in over 125 years. This continuity of management and thought extends to the broader leadership team that embodies the values and embraces the business practices that have contributed to our consistent growth.
Our strategic vision is to engage, delight, and inspire consumers by building brands they love and leading in growing categories. This vision is our long-term direction that guides business priorities and aligns our organization. As a company of iconic brands and new favorites, we will continue to drive balanced, long-term growth, primarily in North America. Further, we will continue to guide the transformation of our business by advancing our strategy of leading in the attractive categories of pet, coffee, and snacking.
Our strategic growth objectives include net sales increasing by a low single-digit percentage and operating income excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted operating income”) increasing by a mid-single-digit percentage on average over the long term. Related to income per diluted share excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted earnings per share”), our strategic growth objective is to increase by a high single-digit percentage over the long term. We expect organic growth, including new products, to drive much of our top-line growth, while the contribution from acquisitions will vary from year to year. Our non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs (“special project costs”), gains and losses on divestitures, the net change in
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cumulative unallocated gains and losses on commodity and foreign currency exchange derivative activities (“change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses”), and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Due to the unknown and potentially prolonged impact of the inflationary environment and challenged supply network, we may experience difficulties or be delayed in achieving our long-term strategies; however, we continue to evaluate the effects of the macroeconomic environment on our long-term growth objectives.
Over the past five years, net sales, adjusted operating income, and adjusted earnings per share increased at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 2 percent, 4 percent, and 3 percent, respectively. These changes were primarily driven by an increase in net sales from the acquisition of Hostess Brands, partially offset by the reduction in net sales from the divested Voortman business and certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands in 2025, Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses in 2024, certain pet food brands in 2023, the private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses in 2022, and the Crisco® and Natural Balance® businesses in 2021. Net cash provided by operating activities decreased at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 1 percent over the past five years. Our cash deployment strategy is to balance reinvesting in our business through acquisitions and capital expenditures with returning cash to our shareholders through the payment of dividends and share repurchases. Our deployment strategy also includes a significant focus on debt repayment.
Acquisition
On November 7, 2023, we completed a cash and stock transaction to acquire Hostess Brands. The total purchase consideration in connection with the acquisition was $5.4 billion, which reflects an exchange offer of all outstanding shares of Hostess Brands common stock at a price of $34.25 per share, consisting of $30.00 in cash and 0.03002 shares of our common shares, based on the closing stock price on September 8, 2023, that were exchanged for each share of Hostess Brands common stock as of the transaction date. The purchase price included the issuance of approximately 4.0 million of our common shares to Hostess Brands’ shareholders, valued at $450.2. In addition, we paid $3.9 billion in cash, net of cash acquired, and assumed $991.0 of debt from Hostess Brands and $67.8 of an other debt-like item, reflecting consideration transferred for the cash payment of Hostess Brands’ employee equity awards. New debt of $5.0 billion was borrowed, consisting of $3.5 billion in Senior Notes, an $800.0 senior unsecured delayed-draw Term Loan Credit Agreement (“Term Loan”), and $700.0 of short-term borrowings under our commercial paper program to partially fund the transaction and pay off the debt assumed as part of the acquisition. Hostess Brands is a manufacturer and marketer of sweet baked goods brands including Hostess Donettes, Twinkies, CupCakes, DingDongs, Zingers, CoffeeCakes, HoHos, Mini Muffins, and Fruit Pies, and the Voortman cookie brand at the acquisition date. In addition to its headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas, the transaction included six manufacturing facilities located in Emporia, Kansas; Burlington, Ontario; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Arkadelphia, Arkansas, a distribution facility in Edgerton, Kansas, and a commercial center of excellence in Chicago, Illinois at the acquisition date. During 2025, the acquired business contributed net sales of $1,178.8. We anticipate cost synergies of approximately $100.0, which are expected to be achieved by the end of 2026. To date, we have achieved cost synergies of approximately $86.0, of which approximately $75.0 was achieved during 2025. For additional information, refer to Note 2: Acquisition.
Divestitures
On March 3, 2025, we sold certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands to JTM. The transaction included certain trademarks and licenses, a manufacturing facility in Chicago, Illinois, and approximately 400 employees who supported the business. Under our ownership, these Sweet Baked Snacks value brands generated net sales of approximately $48.4 and $30.0 in 2025 and 2024, respectively, which were included in the Sweet Baked Snacks segment. Net proceeds from the divestiture were $34.6, inclusive of the final working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $44.2 during 2025, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.
On December 2, 2024, we sold the Voortman business to Second Nature. The transaction included products sold under the Voortman brand, inclusive of certain trademarks, a leased manufacturing facility in Burlington, Ontario, and approximately 300 employees who supported the business. Under our ownership, the Voortman business generated net sales of approximately $86.3 and $65.0 in 2025 and 2024, respectively, which were included in the Sweet Baked Snacks segment. Net proceeds from the divestiture were $291.4, inclusive of the final working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $265.9 during 2025, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.
On January 2, 2024, we sold the Canada condiment business to TreeHouse Foods. The transaction included Bick’s pickles, Habitant pickled beets, Woodman’s horseradish, and McLarens pickled onions brands, inclusive of certain trademarks. Under
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our ownership, these brands generated net sales of $43.8 and $61.6 in 2024 and 2023, respectively, which were included in the International operating segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $25.3, inclusive of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. Upon completion of this transaction during 2024, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $5.7, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.
On November 1, 2023, we sold the Sahale Snacks business to Second Nature. The transaction included products sold under the Sahale Snacks brand, inclusive of certain trademarks and licensing agreements, a leased manufacturing facility in Seattle, Washington, and approximately 100 employees who supported the brand. Under our ownership, the Sahale Snacks brand generated net sales of $24.1 and $48.4 in 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $31.6, inclusive of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. Upon completion of this transaction during 2024, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $6.7, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows.
On April 28, 2023, we sold certain pet food brands to Post. The transaction included the Rachael Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, Kibbles ’n Bits, Nature’s Recipe, and Gravy Train brands, as well as the private label pet food business, inclusive of certain trademarks and licensing agreements, manufacturing and distribution facilities in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, manufacturing facilities in Meadville, Pennsylvania and Lawrence, Kansas, and approximately 1,100 employees who supported these pet food brands. Under our ownership, these brands generated net sales of $1.5 billion in 2023, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $1.2 billion, consisting of $683.9 in cash, net of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs, and approximately 5.4 million shares of Post common stock, valued at $491.6 at the close of the transaction. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $1.0 billion upon completion of this transaction during 2023, within loss (gain) on divestitures – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss) and Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows. During 2024, we finalized the working capital adjustment and transaction costs, which resulted in an immaterial adjustment to the pre-tax loss. Furthermore, during 2024, we entered into equity forward derivative transactions under an agreement with an unrelated third-party to facilitate the forward sale of the Post common stock. All 5.4 million shares of Post common stock were settled for $466.3 under the equity forward contract on November 15, 2023. For additional information, see Note 10: Derivative Financial Instruments.
For additional information, refer to Note 3: Divestitures.
Trends Affecting our Business
During 2025, we continued to experience input cost inflation and a dynamic and evolving macroeconomic environment, inclusive of tariffs, regulatory and policy changes, and changes in consumer behaviors, which we anticipate will persist into 2026. Further, the higher costs have required price increases across our business, and we anticipate the price elasticity of demand could remain elevated into 2026 as consumers continue to experience broader inflationary pressures and are selective in their spending. In response to the inflationary pressures, we continue to focus on the delivery of our company-wide transformation initiative to deliberately translate our continuous improvement mindset into sustainable productivity initiatives in order to grow our profit margins and reinvest in the Company to enable future growth and cost savings.
In addition, it is possible significant disruptions in our supply chain could occur if certain geopolitical events continue to impact markets around the world, including the impact of potential shipping delays due to supply and demand imbalances, as well as labor shortages and tariffs. We also continue to work closely with our customers and external business partners, taking additional actions to ensure safety, business continuity, and maximize product availability. We have maintained production at all our facilities and availability of appointments at distribution centers. Furthermore, we have implemented measures to manage order volumes to ensure a consistent supply across our retail partners during periods of high demand. However, to the extent that high demand levels or supply chain disruptions delay order fulfillment, we may experience volume loss and elevated penalties. Although we do not have any operations in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, China or Taiwan, we continue to monitor the environment for any significant escalation or expansion of economic or supply chain disruptions, including broader inflationary costs and the impact of tariffs, as well as regional or global economic recessions.
Overall, broad-based supply chain disruptions and the impact of inflation remain uncertain. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent to which supply chain disruptions and inflation will impact our business, supply chain, including labor availability and attrition, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
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Results of Operations
This discussion and analysis deals with comparisons of material changes in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended April 30, 2025 and 2024. For the comparisons of the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, see the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II, Item 7 of our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 8,726.1 | $ | 8,178.7 | 7 | % | ||||
| Gross profit | $ | 3,384.7 | $ | 3,115.4 | 9 | |||||
| % of net sales | 38.8 | % | 38.1 | % | ||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | (673.9) | $ | 1,305.8 | n/m | |||||
| % of net sales | (7.7) | % | 16.0 | % | ||||||
| Net income (loss): | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (1,230.8) | $ | 744.0 | n/m | |||||
| Net income (loss) per common share – assuming dilution | $ | (11.57) | $ | 7.13 | n/m | |||||
| Adjusted gross profit (A) | $ | 3,335.6 | $ | 3,111.6 | 7 | |||||
| % of net sales | 38.2 | % | 38.0 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted operating income (A) | $ | 1,824.7 | $ | 1,636.2 | 12 | |||||
| % of net sales | 20.9 | % | 20.0 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted income: (A) | ||||||||||
| Income | $ | 1,078.8 | $ | 1,038.0 | 4 | |||||
| Earnings per share – assuming dilution | $ | 10.12 | $ | 9.94 | 2 |
(A)We use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for a reconciliation to the comparable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measure.
Net Sales
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase (Decrease) | % | |||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 8,726.1 | $ | 8,178.7 | $ | 547.4 | 7 | % | ||||||
| Hostess Brands acquisition | (669.3) | — | (669.3) | (8) | ||||||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks value brands divestiture | — | (11.2) | 11.2 | — | ||||||||||
| Voortman divestiture | — | (54.9) | 54.9 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Canada condiment divestiture | — | (43.8) | 43.8 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Sahale Snacks divestiture | — | (24.1) | 24.1 | — | ||||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange | 10.7 | — | 10.7 | — | ||||||||||
| Net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange (A) | $ | 8,067.5 | $ | 8,044.7 | $ | 22.8 | — | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
(A)Net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange is a non-GAAP financial measure used to evaluate performance internally. This measure provides useful information to investors because it enables comparison of results on a year-over-year basis.
Net sales in 2025 increased $547.4, or 7 percent, which includes incremental net sales in the current year of $669.3 related to the Hostess Brands acquisition, partially offset by $134.0 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to divestitures. Net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange increased $22.8. Net price realization contributed 2 percentage points to net sales, reflecting higher net pricing for coffee, partially offset by lower net pricing for sweet baked goods, dog snacks, and cat food. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 2 percentage points, primarily driven by lower contract manufacturing sales related to the divested pet food brands and decreases for coffee, dog snacks, and sweet baked goods, partially offset by increases for Uncrustables sandwiches and cat food.
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Operating Income (Loss)
The following table presents the components of operating income (loss) as a percentage of net sales.
| Year Ended April 30, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| Gross profit | 38.8 | % | 38.1 | % | |
| Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses: | |||||
| Marketing | 3.3 | % | 3.2 | % | |
| Advertising | 2.1 | 2.2 | |||
| Selling | 3.0 | 3.1 | |||
| Distribution | 3.3 | 3.2 | |||
| General and administrative | 5.9 | 6.0 | |||
| Total selling, distribution, and administrative expenses | 17.5 | % | 17.7 | % | |
| Amortization | 2.5 | 2.3 | |||
| Goodwill impairment charges | 19.0 | — | |||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 3.7 | — | |||
| Other special project costs | 0.4 | 1.6 | |||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 3.6 | 0.2 | |||
| Other operating expense (income) – net | (0.2) | 0.4 | |||
| Operating income (loss) | (7.7) | % | 16.0 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
Gross profit increased $269.3, or 9 percent, in 2025, primarily reflecting the noncomparable benefit of Hostess Brands and higher net price realization, partially offset by higher costs, the noncomparable impact of divestitures, and unfavorable volume/mix.
Operating income (loss) decreased $1,979.7, primarily reflecting pre-tax noncash impairment charges of $1,661.6 and $320.9 related to the goodwill of the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit and Hostess brand indefinite-lived trademark, respectively, the $310.1 net pre-tax loss on divestitures, reflecting the $44.2 and $265.9 pre-tax losses on the divestiture of certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands and the Voortman business, respectively, and an $82.8 increase in selling, distribution, and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses. These impacts were partially offset by the increase in gross profit, a $94.4 decrease in other special project costs primarily related to integration costs associated with the acquisition of Hostess Brands, and lapping a $39.1 charge in the prior year related to the termination of a supplier agreement.
Our non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Gross profit excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted gross profit”), increased $224.0, or 7 percent, as compared to the prior year, primarily reflecting the exclusion of the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses and the exclusion of special project costs as compared to GAAP gross profit. Adjusted operating income, which further reflects the exclusion of the noncash impairment charges of $2.0 billion associated with the goodwill of the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit and Hostess brand indefinite-lived trademark, the $310.1 net pre-tax loss on divestitures, and other special project costs as compared to GAAP operating income, increased $188.5, or 12 percent, as compared to the prior year.
Interest Expense
Net interest expense increased $124.4, or 47 percent, in 2025, primarily due to increased interest expense related to the new Senior Notes issued during 2024 to partially finance the acquisition of Hostess Brands. For additional information, refer to Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
Income Taxes
Income taxes increased $68.4 in 2025, as compared to the prior year. The effective income tax rate for 2025 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to state income taxes and the unfavorable permanent impacts associated with the goodwill impairment charges for the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit and the sale of the Voortman business, partially offset by favorable noncash deferred tax benefits associated with the integration of Hostess Brands into our Co
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mpany and certain state legislative changes enacted during the year. The effective income tax rate for 2024 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to state income taxes and unfavorable tax impacts associated with the acquisition of Hostess Brands, partially offset by a favorable tax impact of the sale of the Sahale Snacks business. We anticipate a full-year effective income tax rate for 2026 to be approximately 23.8 percent. For additional information, refer to Note 14: Income Taxes.
Special Project Costs
Divestiture Costs: Total divestiture costs incurred to date related to the divested Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses were $6.4, which included $4.3 and $2.1 of employee-related and other transition and termination costs, respectively. We incurred divestiture costs of $0.9 and $5.5 during 2025 and 2024, respectively, which primarily consisted of employee-related costs and a noncash gain related to a lease termination in 2025. As of April 30, 2025, we do not anticipate any additional costs to be incurred related to these divestiture activities.
Furthermore, we identified opportunities to address certain distribution inefficiencies, as a result of the divestitures. We anticipate incurring approximately $12.0 of costs related to these efforts, consisting primarily of other transition and termination charges. The majority of these costs are expected to be cash charges and incurred by the end of 2026. We have recognized total cumulative costs of $6.5 during 2025, primarily consisting of other transition and termination costs. For additional information, see Note 3: Divestitures.
Integration Costs: Total integration costs related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands are anticipated to be approximately $190.0 and include transaction costs, employee-related costs, and other transition and termination charges, with the majority expected to be cash charges. We have recognized total cumulative integration costs of $184.9, of which $37.5 were recognized during 2025. We anticipate the remaining integration costs will be incurred by the end of 2026 and are expected to be split between employee-related and other transition and termination costs.
Restructuring Costs: On May 27, 2025, we announced plans to close our Indianapolis, Indiana manufacturing facility, which manufactures Hostess branded products, and consolidate operations into other existing facilities by early calendar year 2026 to further optimize operations for our Sweet Baked Snacks segment. We anticipate incurring approximately $75.0 of costs related to these efforts, consisting of $60.0 in noncash charges for accelerated depreciation and $15.0 in employee-related and other transition and termination costs.
For further information on these costs, refer to Note 4: Special Project Costs.
Commodities Overview
The raw materials we use in each of our segments are primarily commodities, agricultural-based products, and packaging materials. The most significant of these materials, based on 2025 annual spend, are green coffee, peanuts, oils and fats, flour, sugar, and fruit. Green coffee, corn, certain meals, oils, and grains are traded on active regulated exchanges, and the price of these commodities fluctuates based on market conditions. Derivative instruments, including futures and options, are used to minimize the impact of price volatility for these commodities.
We source green coffee from more than 20 coffee-producing countries. Its price is subject to high volatility due to factors such as weather, global supply and demand, product scarcity, plant disease, investor speculation, geopolitical conflicts, changes in governmental agricultural and energy policies and regulation, political and economic conditions in the source countries, and tariffs.
We source peanuts and oils and fats mainly from North America. We are one of the largest roasters of peanuts in the U.S. and frequently enter into long-term purchase contracts for various periods of time to mitigate the risk of a shortage of this commodity. The oils we purchase are mainly palm, soybean, and peanut. The price of peanuts, protein meals, and oils is driven primarily by weather, which impacts crop sizes and yield, as well as global demand, especially from large importing countries such as China and India.
We frequently enter into long-term contracts to purchase plastic containers, which are sourced mainly within the U.S. Plastic resin is made from petrochemical feedstock and natural gas feedstock, and the price can be influenced by feedstock, energy, and crude oil prices as well as global economic and geopolitical conditions.
Excluding the impact of derivative gains and losses, our overall commodity costs in 2025 were higher than in 2024, primarily due to higher costs for green coffee, corn, and meals.
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Segment Results
We have four reportable segments: U.S. Retail Coffee, U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads, U.S. Retail Pet Foods, and Sweet Baked Snacks. The presentation of International and Away From Home represents a combination of all other operating segments that are not individually reportable.
The U.S. Retail Coffee segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Folgers, Dunkin’, and Café Bustelo branded coffee; the U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Uncustables, Jif, and Smucker’s branded products; the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Meow Mix, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, and Canine Carry Outs branded products; and the Sweet Baked Snacks segment primarily includes all domestic and foreign sales of Hostess branded products in all channels. With the exception of Sweet Baked Snacks products, International and Away From Home includes the sale of all products that are distributed in foreign countries through retail channels, as well as domestically and in foreign countries through foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., healthcare operators, restaurants, educational institutions, offices, lodging and gaming establishments, and convenience stores).
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | $ | 2,806.6 | $ | 2,704.4 | 4 | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads | 1,877.0 | 1,815.6 | 3 | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 1,663.6 | 1,822.8 | (9) | |||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 1,178.8 | 637.3 | 85 | |||||||
| International and Away From Home | 1,200.1 | 1,198.6 | — | |||||||
| Segment profit: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | $ | 795.1 | $ | 759.2 | 5 | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads | 425.3 | 434.1 | (2) | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 459.6 | 402.1 | 14 | |||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 219.8 | 138.2 | 59 | |||||||
| International and Away From Home | 247.4 | 208.1 | 19 | |||||||
| Segment profit margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 28.3 | % | 28.1 | % | ||||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads | 22.7 | 23.9 | ||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 27.6 | 22.1 | ||||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 18.6 | 21.7 | ||||||||
| International and Away From Home | 20.6 | 17.4 |
U.S. Retail Coffee
The U.S. Retail Coffee segment net sales increased $102.2 in 2025. Net price realization increased net sales by 5 percentage points, primarily driven by higher net pricing for the Folgers and Café Bustelo brands, partially offset by lower net pricing for the Dunkin’ brand. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 2 percentage points, primarily reflecting decreases for the Folgers and Dunkin’ brands, partially offset by an increase for the Café Bustelo brand. Segment profit increased $35.9, primarily reflecting higher net price realization, lapping a $39.1 charge in the prior year related to the termination of a supplier agreement, lower marketing spend, and favorable property taxes, partially offset by higher commodity costs and unfavorable volume/mix.
U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads
The U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment net sales increased $61.4 in 2025, inclusive of the impact of $15.1 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to the divested Sahale Snacks business. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divestiture, net sales increased $76.5, or 4 percent. Volume/mix contributed 5 percentage points to net sales, primarily reflecting increases for Uncrustables sandwiches and peanut butter, partially offset by a decrease for fruit spreads. Net price realization was neutral to net sales as lower net pricing for Uncrustables sandwiches was mostly offset by higher net pricing for toppings and syrups and peanut butter. Segment profit decreased $8.8, primarily reflecting increased marketing spend, higher costs, lower net price realization, increased distribution expenses, and equipment write-off charges, partially offset by favorable volume/mix.
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U.S. Retail Pet Foods
The U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment net sales decreased $159.2 in 2025. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 7 percentage points, primarily reflecting lower contract manufacturing sales related to the divested pet food brands, as the contract manufacturing agreement with Post concluded at the end of 2025, and a decrease for dog snacks, partially offset by an increase for cat food. Net price realization decreased net sales by 2 percentage points, primarily reflecting higher trade spend for cat food and dog snacks. Segment profit increased $57.5, primarily reflecting lower costs and decreased operating and distribution expenses, partially offset by lower net price realization and unfavorable volume/mix.
Sweet Baked Snacks
We acquired Hostess Brands on November 7, 2023, as discussed in Note 2: Acquisition. During 2025, the Sweet Baked Snacks segment contributed net sales of $1,178.8 and segment profit of $219.8. Excluding noncomparable net sales of $669.3 in the current year related to the Hostess Brands acquisition and $66.1 in the prior year related to the divestiture of certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands and the Voortman business, net sales decreased $61.7, or 11 percent during 2025. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 7 percentage points, primarily reflecting decreases for snack cakes and private label products. Net price realization decreased net sales by 4 percentage points, primarily reflecting lower net pricing across the portfolio. Segment profit increased $81.6 during 2025, primarily reflecting the impact of noncomparable segment profit in the current year related to the Hostess Brands acquisition, partially offset by lower net price realization, unfavorable volume/mix, the impact of noncomparable segment profit in the prior year related to the divestitures, higher costs, and increased marketing spend.
International and Away From Home
International and Away From Home net sales increased $1.5 in 2025, including the noncomparable impact of $52.8 of net sales in the prior year primarily related to the divestitures and $10.7 of unfavorable foreign currency exchange. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divested brands and foreign currency exchange, net sales increased $65.0, or 6 percent. Net price realization contributed 5 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by higher net pricing across the majority of the portfolio. Volume/mix was neutral to net sales, as increases for Uncrustables sandwiches and peanut butter were mostly offset by a decrease for coffee. Segment profit increased $39.3, primarily driven by higher net price realization and favorable volume/mix, partially offset by higher costs, the impact of noncomparable segment profit in the prior year related to the divested businesses, and pre-production expenses primarily related to the new Uncrustables sandwiches manufacturing facility.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
Our principal source of funds is cash generated from operations, supplemented by borrowings against our commercial paper program and revolving credit facility. Total cash and cash equivalents increased to $69.9 at April 30, 2025, compared to $62.0 at April 30, 2024.
The following table presents selected cash flow information.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,210.4 | $ | 1,229.4 | ||
| Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities | (100.3) | (3,964.6) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | (1,102.7) | 2,141.6 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,210.4 | $ | 1,229.4 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (393.8) | (586.5) | ||||
| Free cash flow (A) | $ | 816.6 | $ | 642.9 |
(A)Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to evaluate the amount of cash available for debt repayment, dividend distribution, acquisition opportunities, share repurchases, and other corporate purposes.
The $19.0 decrease in cash provided by operating activities in 2025 was primarily driven by higher working capital requirements in 2025 and lapping the $42.5 proceeds received from settlement of the interest rate contracts assumed as part of the acquisition of Hostess Brands in the prior year, partially offset by higher net income (loss) adjusted for noncash items in the current year. The cash required to fund working capital increased compared to the prior year primarily driven by an increase in cash used for accrued liabilities reflecting timing of interest payments and a decrease in the payable for transition s
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ervices agreements entered into in connection with the divestitures and inventories reflecting higher inventory levels and input cost inflation in the current year. These uses of cash were partially offset by an increase in cash from trade receivables due to timing of sales and cash collections and accounts payable due to timing of spend and cash payments.
Cash used for investing activities in 2025 consisted primarily of $393.8 in capital expenditures, reflecting our investments in the new Uncrustables sandwiches manufacturing and distribution facilities in McCalla, Alabama, as well as plant maintenance across our facilities, and also included an increase of $39.4 in our derivative cash margin account balances. These uses of cash for 2025 were partially offset by net proceeds received of $326.0 from the divestiture of certain Sweet Baked Snacks value brands and the Voortman business. Cash used for investing activities in 2024 consisted primarily of $3.9 billion related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands, including $67.8 of consideration transferred for the cash payment of Hostess Brands’ employee equity awards, and $586.5 in capital expenditures, primarily driven by investments in Uncrustables sandwiches to support the new manufacturing and distribution facilities in McCalla, Alabama, as well as plant maintenance across our facilities. These uses of cash for 2024 were partially offset by proceeds of $466.3 received from the settlement of our equity investment in Post common stock and net proceeds received of $56.3, primarily from the divested Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses, and a decrease of $18.9 in our derivative cash margin account balances.
Cash used for financing activities in 2025 consisted primarily of long-term debt repayments of $1,300.0 and dividend payments of $455.4, partially offset by $650.0 of proceeds from long-term debt and a net increase in short-term borrowings of $19.2. Cash provided by financing activities in 2024 consisted primarily of proceeds from long-term debt of $4.3 billion to partially finance the acquisition of Hostess Brands and a net increase in short-term borrowings of $578.2. These proceeds were partially offset by the $991.0 repayment of Hostess Brands’ debt assumed, the $800.0 Term Loan prepayment, dividend payments of $437.5, purchase of treasury shares of $372.8, and an $86.4 payment to terminate the tax receivable agreement assumed with the acquisition of Hostess Brands.
Supplier Financing Program
As part of ongoing efforts to maximize working capital, we work with our suppliers to optimize our terms and conditions, which includes the extension of payment terms. Payment terms with our suppliers, which we deem to be commercially reasonable, range from 0 to 180 days. We have an agreement with a third-party administrator to provide an accounts payable tracking system and facilitate a supplier financing program, which allows participating suppliers the ability to monitor and voluntarily elect to sell our payment obligations to a designated third-party financial institution. Participating suppliers can sell one or more of our payment obligations at their sole discretion, and our rights and obligations to our suppliers are not impacted. We have no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to enter into these agreements. Our rights and obligations to our suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted by our suppliers’ decisions to sell amounts under these arrangements. As of April 30, 2025 and 2024, $340.4 and $384.9 of our outstanding payment obligations, respectively, were elected and sold to a financial institution by participating suppliers. During 2025 and 2024, we paid $1,562.3 and $1,685.5, respectively, to a financial institution for payment obligations that were settled through the supplier financing program.
Contingencies
We, like other food manufacturers, are from time to time subject to various administrative, regulatory, and other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We are currently a defendant in a variety of such legal proceedings, and while we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate results of these proceedings or potential settlements associated with these or other matters, we have accrued losses for certain contingent liabilities that we have determined are probable and reasonably estimable at April 30, 2025. Based on the information known to date, with the exception of the matters discussed below, we do not believe the final outcome of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Class Action Lawsuits: We are defendants in a series of putative class action lawsuits that were transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri for coordinated pre-trial proceedings. The plaintiffs assert claims arising under various state laws for false advertising, consumer protection, deceptive and unfair trade practices, and similar statutes. Their claims are premised on allegations that we have misrepresented the number of servings that can be made from various canisters of Folgers coffee on the packaging for those products. The outcome and the financial impact of these cases, if any, cannot be predicted at this time. Accordingly, no loss contingency has been recorded for these matters as of April 30, 2025, and the likelihood of loss is not considered probable or reasonably estimable. However, if we are required to pay significant damages, our business and financial results could be adversely impacted, and sales of those products could suffer not only in these locations but elsewhere.
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Product Recall: We are defendants in ongoing consumer litigation associated with a voluntary recall of select Jif peanut butter products initiated in May 2022. The outcome and financial impact of this litigation cannot be predicted at this time. Accordingly, no loss contingency has been recorded for these matters as of April 30, 2025, and the likelihood of loss is not considered probable or reasonably estimable.
Voortman Contingency: In December 2020, Hostess Brands asserted claims for indemnification against the sellers (the “Sellers”) under the terms of a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Hostess Brands acquired Voortman Cookies Limited (“Voortman”). The claims were for damages arising out of alleged breaches by the Sellers of certain representations, warranties, and covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement relating to periods prior to the closing of the acquisition. Hostess Brands also submitted claims relating to these alleged breaches under the representation and warranty insurance policy (“RWI”) that was purchased in connection with the acquisition. In the third quarter of calendar 2022, the RWI insurers paid Hostess Brands $42.5 CAD (the RWI coverage limit) (the “Proceeds”) related to these breaches. Per agreement with the RWI insurers, we will not be required to return the Proceeds under any circumstances.
On November 3, 2022, pursuant to the agreement with the RWI insurers, Voortman brought claims in the Ontario (Canada) Superior Court of Justice (the “Claim”) against certain of the Sellers related to the alleged breaches. The Claim alleges the seller defendants made certain non-disclosures and misrepresentations to induce Hostess Brands to overpay for Voortman. We are seeking damages of $109.0 CAD representing the amount of the aggregate liability of the Sellers for indemnification under the Purchase Agreement, $5.0 CAD in punitive or aggravated damages, interest, proceedings fees, and any other relief the presiding court deems appropriate. A portion of any recovery will be shared with the RWI insurers. Although we believe that the Claim is meritorious, no assurance can be given as to whether we will recover all, or any part, of the amounts being pursued. We retained rights to the Claim upon the divestiture of the Voortman business in 2025.
Capital Resources
The following table presents our capital structure.
| April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | — | $ | 999.3 | ||
| Short-term borrowings | 640.8 | 591.0 | ||||
| Long-term debt, less current portion | 7,036.8 | 6,773.7 | ||||
| Total debt | $ | 7,677.6 | $ | 8,364.0 | ||
| Shareholders’ equity | 6,082.6 | 7,693.9 | ||||
| Total capital | $ | 13,760.2 | $ | 16,057.9 |
In March 2025, we entered into a Term Loan for an unsecured $650.0 term facility. Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest on the prevailing Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) and are payable at the end of the borrowing term. The Term Loan matures on March 5, 2027, and does not require scheduled amortization payments. Voluntary prepayments are permitted without premium or penalty. During 2025, the full amount was drawn on the Term Loan to partially finance the repayment of $1.0 billion in principal of our 3.50% Senior Notes due March 15, 2025. As of April 30, 2025, the interest rate on the Term Loan was 5.43 percent.
In March 2025, we also entered into an unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of ten banks, which provides for a revolving credit line of $2.0 billion and matures in March 2030. As a result of the new facility in March 2025, we terminated the previous $2.0 billion revolving credit facility. Additionally, we participate in a commercial paper program under which we can issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper not to exceed $2.0 billion at any time. The commercial paper program is backed by our revolving credit facility and reduces what we can borrow under the revolving credit facility by the amount of commercial paper outstanding. Commercial paper is used as a continuing source of short-term financing for general corporate purposes. As of April 30, 2025, we had $641.0 of short-term borrowings outstanding, which were issued under our commercial paper program at a weighted-average interest rate of 4.73 percent.
In December 2024, we commenced cash tender offers to purchase up to $300.0 in aggregate purchase price, not including accrued and unpaid interest, of certain outstanding Senior Notes. As a result, an aggregate principal amount of $122.5 of our 2.750% Senior Notes due 2041 and $138.8 of our 3.550% Senior Notes due 2050 were tendered and accepted, and $194.1 of our 2.125% Senior Notes due 2032 were tendered, of which $135.5 was accepted.
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In October 2023, we completed an offering of $3.5 billion in Senior Notes due November 15, 2028, November 15, 2033, November 15, 2043, and November 15, 2053. The net proceeds from the offering were used to partially finance the acquisition of Hostess Brands and pay off the debt assumed as part of the acquisition.
We are in compliance with all our debt covenants as of April 30, 2025, and expect to be for the next 12 months. For additional information on our long-term debt, sources of liquidity, and debt covenants, see Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
Dividend payments were $455.4 and $437.5 in 2025 and 2024, respectively, and dividends declared per share were $4.32 and $4.24 in 2025 and 2024, respectively. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board and depends on various factors, such as our net income (loss), financial condition, cash requirements, future events, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
On March 2, 2023, we entered into a share repurchase plan (“10b5-1 Plan”) established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act in connection with the remaining common shares authorized for repurchase by the Board, which was approximately 3.5 million common shares as of April 30, 2023. In accordance with the 10b5-1 Plan, our designated broker had the authority to repurchase approximately 2.4 million common shares, which commenced upon the sale of certain pet food brands on April 28, 2023, and expired 45 calendar days after the closure of the transaction. In 2024, we repurchased approximately 2.4 million common shares for $362.8 under the 10b5-1 Plan, and approximately 1.1 million common shares remain available for repurchase. In accordance with The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, H.R. 5376 (the “Inflation Reduction Act”), a one percent excise tax was applied to share repurchases after December 31, 2022. As a result, an excise tax of $3.6 was accrued on the repurchased shares during 2024, and included within additional capital in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. An accrued excise tax of $6.7 was paid during 2025, which was related to these shares repurchased under the 10b5-1 Plan during 2023 and 2024. All other share repurchases during 2025 and 2024 consisted of shares repurchased from stock plan recipients in lieu of cash payments.
On November 7, 2023, we acquired Hostess Brands, and as a result, we issued approximately 4.0 million common shares valued at $450.2 in exchange for the outstanding shares of Hostess Brands common stock to partially fund the acquisition. The shares issued were based on each outstanding share of Hostess Brands common stock receiving $30.00 per share in cash and 0.03002 shares of our common shares, which represented a value of $4.25 based on the closing stock price of our common shares on September 8, 2023, the last trading day preceding September 11, 2023, the date on which the execution of the Hostess Brands merger agreement was publicly announced. For additional information on the acquisition of Hostess Brands, see Note 2: Acquisition.
In November 2021, we announced plans to invest $1.1 billion to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in McCalla, Alabama dedicated to production of Uncrustables sandwiches. Construction of this facility began in 2022, and production began during the second quarter of 2025. The project demonstrates our commitment to meet increasing demand for this highly successful product and deliver on our strategy to focus on brands with the most significant growth opportunities. Construction of the facility and production will occur in three phases over multiple years, with financial investments and job creation aligning across each of the three phases.
The following table presents certain cash requirements related to 2026 investing and financing activities based on our current expectations.
| Projection Year Ending April 30, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dividend payments – based on current rates and common shares outstanding | $ | 459.8 |
| Capital expenditures | 325.0 | |
| Interest payments | 384.4 |
Absent any material acquisitions, apart from the recent acquisition of Hostess Brands, or other significant investments, we believe that cash on hand, combined with cash provided by operations, borrowings available under our revolving credit facility and commercial paper program, and access to capital markets, will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the next 12 months, including the payment of quarterly dividends, principal and interest payments on debt outstanding, and capital expenditures. However, as a result of the current macroeconomic environment and the recent acquisition, we may experience an increase in the cost or the difficulty to obtain debt or equity financing, or to refinance our debt in the future.
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We continue to evaluate these risks, which could affect our financial condition or our ability to fund operations or future investment opportunities.
As of April 30, 2025, total cash and cash equivalents of $56.2 was held by our foreign subsidiaries, primarily in Canada. During 2025, we returned $35.0 of foreign cash to the U.S. from Canada, reflecting intercompany debt repayments, and as a result, there were no tax impacts. There was no other foreign cash repatriated to the U.S. during 2025.
Material Cash Requirements
The following table summarizes our material cash requirements by fiscal year at April 30, 2025.
| Total | 2026 | 2027-2028 | 2029-2030 | 2031 and beyond | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt obligations, including current portion (A) | $ | 7,103.2 | $ | — | $ | 1,150.0 | $ | 1,250.0 | $ | 4,703.2 | ||||||||
| Interest payments (B) | 5,266.1 | 354.1 | 668.4 | 564.0 | 3,679.6 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (C) | 2,361.4 | 2,078.9 | 264.3 | 18.2 | — | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 14,730.7 | $ | 2,433.0 | $ | 2,082.7 | $ | 1,832.2 | $ | 8,382.8 |
(A)Long-term debt obligations, including current portion, excludes the impact of offering discounts, make-whole payments, and debt issuance costs.
(B)Interest payments consist of the interest payments for our fixed-rate Senior Notes.
(C)Purchase obligations includes agreements that are enforceable and legally bind us to purchase goods or services, which primarily consist of obligations related to normal, ongoing purchase obligations in which we have guaranteed payment to ensure availability of raw materials. We expect to receive consideration for these purchase obligations in the form of materials and services. These purchase obligations do not represent all future purchases expected but represent only those items for which we are contractually obligated. Amounts included in the table above represent our current best estimate of payments due. Actual cash payments may vary due to the variable pricing components of certain purchase obligations.
Our other cash requirements at April 30, 2025, primarily included operating and finance lease obligations, which consist of the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating and finance leases. As of April 30, 2025, we had total undiscounted minimum lease payments of $142.1 and $13.8 related to our operating and finance leases, respectively. For additional information, see Note 12: Leases.
In addition, we have other liabilities which consisted primarily of projected commitments associated with our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, as disclosed in Note 9: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits. The total liability for our unrecognized tax benefits and tax-related net interest at April 30, 2025, was $3.1 under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, Income Taxes; however, we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of cash settlements with the respective taxing authorities. For additional information, see Note 14: Income Taxes.
As of April 30, 2025, we do not have material off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also known as variable interest entities. Transactions with related parties are in the ordinary course of business and are not material to our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We use non-GAAP financial measures including: net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted income, adjusted earnings per share, and free cash flow, as key measures for purposes of evaluating performance internally. We believe that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing these performance measures. Furthermore, these non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in preparation of the annual budget and for the monthly analyses of our operating results. The Board also utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures as components for measuring performance for incentive compensation purposes.
Non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items affecting comparability that can significantly affect the year-over-year assessment of operating results, which include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Income taxes, as adjusted is calculated using an adjusted effective income tax rate that is applied to adjusted income before income taxes and reflects the exclusion of the previously discussed items, as well as any adjustments for one-time tax-related activities, when they occur. While this adjusted effective income tax rate does not generally differ materially from our GAAP effective income tax rate, certain exclusions from non-GAAP results, such as the unfavorable permanent tax impacts associated with the goodwill impairment charges for the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit, the sale of the Voortman Cookies Limited entity, and the favorable noncash deferred tax benefits associated with the integration of Hostess Brands into our Company, can significantly impact our adjusted effective income tax rate.
These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Rather, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures supplements other metrics we use to internally evaluate our business and facilitate the comparison of past and present operations and liquidity. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and may exclude certain nondiscretionary expenses and cash payments.
The following table reconciles certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measure. See page 31 for a reconciliation of net sales adjusted for certain noncomparable items to the comparable GAAP financial measure.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| Gross profit reconciliation: | ||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 3,384.7 | $ | 3,115.4 | ||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | (58.2) | (6.7) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs | 9.1 | 2.9 | ||||
| Adjusted gross profit | $ | 3,335.6 | $ | 3,111.6 | ||
| % of net sales | 38.2 | % | 38.0 | % | ||
| Operating income (loss) reconciliation: | ||||||
| Operating income (loss) | $ | (673.9) | $ | 1,305.8 | ||
| Amortization | 219.3 | 191.1 | ||||
| Goodwill impairment charges | 1,661.6 | — | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 320.9 | — | ||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 310.1 | 12.9 | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | (58.2) | (6.7) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs | 9.1 | 2.9 | ||||
| Other special project costs | 35.8 | 130.2 | ||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 1,824.7 | $ | 1,636.2 | ||
| % of net sales | 20.9 | % | 20.0 | % | ||
| Net income (loss) reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (1,230.8) | $ | 744.0 | ||
| Income tax expense | 184.0 | 252.4 | ||||
| Amortization | 219.3 | 191.1 | ||||
| Goodwill impairment charges | 1,661.6 | — | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 320.9 | — | ||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 310.1 | 12.9 | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | (58.2) | (6.7) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs | 9.1 | 2.9 | ||||
| Other special project costs | 35.8 | 130.2 | ||||
| Other expense – special project costs | — | 0.3 | ||||
| Other infrequently occurring items: | ||||||
| Other debt charges (gains) – net (A) | (30.2) | 19.5 | ||||
| Realized loss on investment in equity securities – net (B) | — | 21.5 | ||||
| Pension plan termination settlement charge (C) | — | 3.2 | ||||
| Adjusted income before income taxes | $ | 1,421.6 | $ | 1,371.3 | ||
| Income taxes, as adjusted | 342.8 | 333.3 | ||||
| Adjusted income | $ | 1,078.8 | $ | 1,038.0 | ||
| Weighted-average shares – assuming dilution (D) | 106.6 | 104.4 | ||||
| Adjusted earnings per share – assuming dilution (D) | $ | 10.12 | $ | 9.94 | ||
| Free cash flow reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,210.4 | $ | 1,229.4 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (393.8) | (586.5) | ||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 816.6 | $ | 642.9 |
(A) Includes a net gain on extinguishment of debt as a result of the tender offers completed during 2025 and financing fees associated with the Bridge Term Loan Credit Facility (“Bridge Loan”) entered into during 2024 to provide committed financing for the acquisition of Hostess Brands. For more information, see Note 2: Acquisition and Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
(B) Includes gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of our investment in Post common stock and the related equity forward contract, which was settled on November 15, 2023. For more information, see Note 3: Divestitures and Note 10: Derivative Financial Instruments.
(C) Represents the nonrecurring pre-tax settlement charge recognized during 2024 related to the acceleration of prior service cost for the portion of the plan surplus to be allocated to plan members within our Canadian defined benefit plans. For additional information, see Note 9: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.
(D) Adjusted earnings per common share – assuming dilution for 2025 and 2024 was computed using the treasury stock method. Further, in 2025, the weighted-average shares – assuming dilution differed from our GAAP weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution as a result of the anti-dilutive effect of our stock-based awards, which were excluded from the computation of net loss per share – assuming dilution. For more information, see Earnings Per Share in Note 1: Accounting Policies and Note 6: Earnings Per Share.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that in certain circumstances affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. We do not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Trade Marketing and Merchandising Programs: In order to support our products sold within the U.S. retail market segments and Sweet Baked Snacks segment, various promotional activities are conducted through retailers, distributors, or directly with consumers, including in-store display and product placement programs, price discounts, coupons, and other similar activities. The costs of these programs are classified as a reduction of sales. We regularly review and revise, when we deem necessary, estimates of costs for these promotional programs based on estimates of what will be redeemed by retailers, distributors, or consumers. These estimates are made using various techniques, including historical data on performance of similar promotional programs. Differences between estimated expenditures and actual performance are recognized as a change in estimate in a subsequent period. During 2025, 2024, and 2023, subsequent period adjustments were less than 2 percent of both consolidated pre-tax adjusted income and cash provided by operating activities.
Income Taxes: We account for income taxes using the liability method. In the ordinary course of business, we are exposed to uncertainties related to tax filing positions and periodically assess the technical merits of these tax positions for all tax years that remain subject to examination, based upon the latest information available. We recognize a tax benefit when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination, based on its technical merits. The tax position is then measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
We routinely evaluate the likelihood of realizing the benefit of our deferred tax assets and may record a valuation allowance if, based on all available evidence, we determine that it is more likely than not that all or some portion of such assets will not be realized. Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be affected by changes in tax legislation, statutory tax rates, and projected future taxable income levels. Changes in estimated realization of deferred tax assets would result in an adjustment to income in the period in which that determination is made, unless such changes are determined to be an adjustment to goodwill within the allowable measurement period under the acquisition method of accounting.
The future tax benefit arising from the net deductible temporary differences and tax carryforwards was $231.5 and $279.8 at April 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and results of operations. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of tax carryforwards or the projected operating results indicate that realization is not likely, a valuation allowance has been provided.
As of April 30, 2025, a portion of our undistributed foreign earnings, primarily in Canada, is not considered permanently reinvested, and an immaterial deferred tax liability has been recognized accordingly. For additional information, see Note 14: Income Taxes.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets: A significant portion of our assets is composed of goodwill and other intangible assets, the majority of which are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment at least annually on
February 1, and more often if indicators of impairment exist. At April 30, 2025, the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets totaled $12.1 billion, compared to total assets of $17.6 billion and total shareholders’ equity of $6.1 billion. If the carrying value of these assets exceeds the current estimated fair value, the asset is considered impaired, which would result
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in a noncash impairment charge to earnings, that could be material. Events and conditions that could result in impairment include a sustained drop in the market price of our common shares, increased competition or loss of market share, obsolescence, product claims that result in a significant loss of sales or profitability over the product life, deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, declining financial performance in comparison to projected results, increased input costs beyond projections, or divestitures of significant brands.
To test for goodwill impairment, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units using both a discounted cash flow valuation technique and a market-based approach. The impairment test incorporates estimates of future cash flows; allocations of certain assets, liabilities, and cash flows among reporting units; future growth rates; terminal value amounts; and the applicable weighted-average cost of capital used to discount those estimated cash flows. The estimates and projections used in the calculation of fair value are consistent with our current and long-range plans, including anticipated changes in market conditions, industry trends, growth rates, and planned capital expenditures. Changes in forecasted operations and other estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2025, goodwill totaled $5.7 billion. Goodwill is substantially concentrated within the U.S. retail market segments and Sweet Baked Snacks segment. During 2025, we recognized goodwill impairment charges of $1,661.6 related to the goodwill of the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit, which was a result of the evaluations performed during 2025. As of April 30, 2025, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value by greater than 10 percent for all of our reporting units with a goodwill balance, with the exception of the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit, for which its fair value approximated carrying value as a result of the impairment charges recognized during 2025.
The carrying value of the goodwill within the Sweet Baked Snacks segment was $507.5 as of April 30, 2025, and remains susceptible to future impairment charges due to narrow differences between fair value and carrying value, which is attributable to the impairment charges recognized during 2025. Any significant adverse change in our near or long-term projections or macroeconomic conditions could result in future impairment charges which could be material. For additional information, see Note 7: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets, consisting entirely of trademarks, are also tested for impairment at least annually and more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying values may be below their fair values. To test these assets for impairment, we estimate the fair value of each asset based on a discounted cash flow model using various inputs, including projected revenues, an assumed royalty rate, and a discount rate. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2025, other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $3.8 billion. Trademarks that represent our leading brands comprise more than 95 percent of the total carrying value of other indefinite-lived intangible assets. As of April 30, 2025, the estimated fair value was substantially in excess of the carrying value for the majority of these leading brand trademarks, and in all instances, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value by greater than 10 percent, with the exception of the Hostess brand indefinite-lived intangible asset within the Sweet Baked Snacks segment. During 2025, we recognized impairment charges of $320.9 related to the Hostess brand indefinite-lived trademark, to the extent the carrying value exceeded the estimated fair value.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans, and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “will,” “plan,” and similar phrases.
Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the following:
•our ability to successfully integrate Hostess Brands’ operations and employees and to implement plans and achieve financial forecasts with respect to the Hostess Brands’ business;
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•our ability to realize the anticipated benefits, including synergies and cost savings, related to the Hostess Brands acquisition, including the possibility that the expected benefits will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period;
•disruption from the acquisition of Hostess Brands by diverting the attention of our management and making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships;
•the negative effects of the acquisition of Hostess Brands on the market price of our common shares;
•the amount of the costs, fees, expenses, and charges and the risk of litigation related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands;
•the effect of the acquisition of Hostess Brands on our business relationships, operating results, ability to hire and retain key talent, and business generally;
•disruptions or inefficiencies in our operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls, political instability, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, work stoppages or labor shortages, or other calamities;
•risks related to the availability of, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation;
•the impact of food security concerns involving either our products or our competitors’ products, changes in consumer preferences, consumer or other litigation, actions by the FDA or other agencies, and product recalls;
•risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies we employ to manage commodity pricing and interest rate risks;
•the availability of reliable transportation on acceptable terms;
•our ability to achieve cost savings related to our restructuring and cost management programs in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated;
•our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to continue operating under our capital deployment model, including capital expenditures, debt repayment to meet our deleveraging objectives, dividend payments, and share repurchases;
•a change in outlook or downgrade in our public credit ratings by a rating agency below investment grade;
•our ability to implement and realize the full benefit of price changes, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period;
•the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in our business, including product innovation;
•general competitive activity in the market, including competitors’ pricing practices and promotional spending levels;
•our ability to attract and retain key talent;
•the concentration of certain of our businesses with key customers and suppliers, including primary or single-source suppliers of certain key raw materials and finished goods, and our ability to manage and maintain key relationships;
•impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in the useful lives of other intangible assets or other long-lived assets;
•the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws and regulations and their application, including tariffs, food ingredients, food labeling, and food accessibility;
•the outcome of tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters;
•a disruption, failure, or security breach of our or our suppliers’ information technology systems, including, but not limited to, ransomware attacks;
•foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations; and
•risks related to other factors described under “Risk Factors” in other reports and statements we have filed with the SEC.
Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances subsequent to the filing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000091419-24-000054.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Dollars and shares in millions, unless otherwise noted, except per share data)
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to provide an understanding of our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows by focusing on changes in certain key measures from year to year, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Company Background
At The J. M. Smucker Company, it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands available across North America. We are proud to lead in the coffee, peanut butter, fruit spreads, frozen handheld, sweet baked goods, dog snacks, and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day, including Folgers, Dunkin’, Café Bustelo, Jif, Smucker’s Uncrustables, Smucker’s, Hostess, Voortman, Milk-Bone, and Meow Mix. Through our unwavering commitment to producing quality products, operating responsibly and ethically, and delivering on our Purpose, we will continue to grow our business while making a positive impact on society.
We have four reportable segments: U.S. Retail Coffee, U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads, U.S. Retail Pet Foods, and Sweet Baked Snacks. We acquired Hostess Brands in a cash and stock transaction on November 7, 2023, resulting in the new Sweet Baked Snacks reportable segment for 2024. Further, the historical U.S. Retail Consumer Foods reportable segment has been renamed to U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads; however, there is no change to the manner in which the segment was previously presented. For additional information on our reportable segments, see Note 5: Reportable Segments.
The U.S. retail market segments and Sweet Baked Snacks segment in total comprised 85 percent of consolidated net sales in 2024 and represent a major portion of our strategic focus – the sale of branded food and beverage products with leadership positions to consumers through retail outlets in North America. Products within our U.S. retail market segments are primarily sold through a combination of direct sales and brokers to food retailers, club stores, discount and dollar stores, online retailers, pet specialty stores, drug stores, military commissaries, mass merchandisers, and distributors. The Sweet Baked Snacks segment includes products distributed in all channels, both domestically and in foreign countries, such as supermarket chains, national mass retailers, convenience stores, club stores, discount and dollar stores, drug stores, and the vending channel. International and Away From Home includes the sale of all products that are distributed in foreign countries through retail channels, as well as domestically and in foreign countries through foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., healthcare operators, restaurants, educational institutions, offices, lodging and gaming establishments, and convenience stores).
Strategic Overview
We remain rooted in our Basic Beliefs to Be Bold, Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Play to Win, and Thrive Together. They were established by our founder and namesake, Jerome Smucker, more than a century ago and are the core of our unique corporate culture, serving as the foundation for decision-making and how we interact with our colleagues and partners. While our Basic Beliefs have evolved over time as we have grown, we remain unwavering in our commitment to these core values and recognize how we are called to act upon them will continue to transform as the world around us does. In addition, we have been led by five generations of family leadership, having had only six chief executive officers in over 125 years. This continuity of management and thought extends to the broader leadership team that embodies the values and embraces the business practices that have contributed to our consistent growth.
Our strategic vision is to engage, delight, and inspire consumers by building brands they love and leading in growing categories. This vision is our long-term direction that guides business priorities and aligns our organization. As a company of #1 and leading brands with emerging, on-trend brands, we will continue to drive balanced, long-term growth, primarily in
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North America. Further, we will continue to guide the transformation of our business and ensure our strategy of leading in the attractive categories of pet, coffee, and snacking by driving results through advancement on the following strategic pillars:
•Driving prioritization and best-in-class execution;
•Improving profitability and cost discipline;
•Transforming our portfolio;
•Nurturing and investing in our culture; and
•Improving diversity and fostering inclusion and equity.
Our strategic growth objectives include net sales increasing by a low single-digit percentage and operating income excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted operating income”) increasing by a mid-single-digit percentage on average over the long term. Related to income per diluted share excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted earnings per share”), our strategic growth objective is to increase by a high single-digit percentage over the long term. We expect organic growth, including new products, to drive much of our top-line growth, while the contribution from acquisitions will vary from year to year. Our non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs (“special project costs”), gains and losses on divestitures, the net change in cumulative unallocated gains and losses on commodity and foreign currency exchange derivative activities (“change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses”), and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Due to the unknown and potentially prolonged impact of the inflationary environment and challenged supply network, we may experience difficulties or be delayed in achieving our long-term strategies; however, we continue to evaluate the effects of the macroeconomic environment on our long-term growth objectives.
Over the past five years, net sales, adjusted operating income, and adjusted earnings per share increased at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 1 percent, 2 percent, and 4 percent, respectively. These changes were primarily driven by increased at-home consumption for the U.S. Retail Coffee and U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segments and an increase in net sales from the acquisition of Hostess Brands. These increases were partially offset by the reduction in net sales from the divested Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses in 2024, certain pet food brands in 2023, the private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses in 2022, and the Crisco® and Natural Balance® businesses in 2021. Net cash provided by operating activities increased at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 2 percent over the past five years. Our cash deployment strategy is to balance reinvesting in our business through acquisitions and capital expenditures with returning cash to our shareholders through the payment of dividends and share repurchases. Our deployment strategy also includes a significant focus on debt repayment.
Acquisition
On November 7, 2023, we completed a cash and stock transaction to acquire Hostess Brands. The total purchase consideration in connection with the acquisition was $5.4 billion, which reflects an exchange offer of all outstanding shares of Hostess Brands common stock at a price of $34.25 per share, consisting of $30.00 in cash and 0.03002 shares of our common shares, based on the closing stock price on September 8, 2023, that were exchanged for each share of Hostess Brands common stock as of the transaction date. The purchase price included the issuance of approximately 4.0 million of our common shares to Hostess Brands’ shareholders, valued at $450.2. In addition, we paid $3.9 billion in cash, net of cash acquired, and assumed $991.0 of debt from Hostess Brands and $67.8 of an other debt-like item, reflecting consideration transferred for the cash payment of Hostess Brands’ employee equity awards. New debt of $5.0 billion was borrowed, consisting of $3.5 billion in Senior Notes, an $800.0 senior unsecured delayed-draw Term Loan Credit Agreement (“Term Loan”), and $700.0 of short-term borrowings under our commercial paper program to partially fund the transaction and pay off the debt assumed as part of the acquisition. Hostess Brands is a manufacturer and marketer of sweet baked goods brands including Hostess Donettes, Twinkies, CupCakes, DingDongs, Zingers, CoffeeCakes, HoHos, Mini Muffins, and Fruit Pies, and the Voortman cookie brand. In addition to its headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas, the transaction included six manufacturing facilities located in Emporia, Kansas; Burlington, Ontario; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Arkadelphia, Arkansas, a distribution facility in Edgerton, Kansas, and a commercial center of excellence in Chicago, Illinois. Approximately 3,000 employees transitioned with the business at the close of the transaction. During 2024, the acquired business contributed net sales of $637.3 within the Sweet Baked Snacks segment. We anticipate cost synergies of approximately $100.0, which are expected to be achieved by the end of 2026. During 2024, we achieved cost synergies of approximately $11.0. For additional information, refer to Note 2: Acquisition.
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Divestitures
On January 2, 2024, we sold our Canada condiment business to TreeHouse Foods. The transaction included Bick’s pickles, Habitant pickled beets, Woodman’s horseradish, and McLarens pickled onions brands, inclusive of certain trademarks. Under our ownership, these brands generated net sales of $43.8, $61.6, and $62.7 in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which were included in the International operating segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $25.3, inclusive of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $5.7 during 2024, within other operating expense (income) – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income.
On November 1, 2023, we sold our Sahale Snacks business to Second Nature. The transaction included products sold under our Sahale Snacks brand, inclusive of certain trademarks and licensing agreements, a leased manufacturing facility in Seattle, Washington, and approximately 100 employees who supported the brand. Under our ownership, the Sahale Snacks brand generated net sales of $24.1, $48.4, and $47.4 in 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $31.6, inclusive of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $-6.7 during 2024, within other operating expense (income) – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income.
On April 28, 2023, we sold certain pet food brands to Post. The transaction included the Rachael Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, Kibbles ’n Bits, Nature’s Recipe, and Gravy Train brands, as well as our private label pet food business, inclusive of certain trademarks and licensing agreements, manufacturing and distribution facilities in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, manufacturing facilities in Meadville, Pennsylvania and Lawrence, Kansas, and approximately 1,100 employees who supported these pet food brands. Under our ownership, these brands generated net sales of $1.5 billion and $1.4 billion in 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $1.2 billion, consisting of $683.9 in cash, net of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs, and approximately 5.4 million shares of Post common stock, valued at $491.6 at the close of the transaction. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $1.0 billion upon completion of this transaction in 2023, within other operating expense (income) – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income, net of a working capital adjustment and transaction costs. During 2024, we finalized the working capital adjustment and transaction costs, which resulted in an immaterial adjustment to the pre-tax loss. Furthermore, during 2024, we entered into equity forward derivative transactions under an agreement with an unrelated third-party to facilitate the forward sale of the Post common stock. All 5.4 million shares of Post common stock were settled under the equity forward contract for $466.3 on November 15, 2023.
On January 31, 2022, we sold the natural beverage and grains businesses to Nexus. The transaction included products sold under the R.W. Knudsen and TruRoots brands, inclusive of certain trademarks, a licensing agreement for Santa Cruz Organic beverages, dedicated manufacturing and distribution facilities in Chico, California and Havre de Grace, Maryland, and approximately 150 employees who supported the natural beverage and grains businesses. The transaction did not include Santa Cruz Organic nut butters, fruit spreads, syrups, or applesauce. Under our ownership, the businesses generated net sales of $106.7 in 2022, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $98.7, inclusive of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax gain of $28.3 related to the natural beverage and grains businesses, of which $26.7 was recognized during 2022, and the remaining $1.6 was recognized upon finalization of the working capital adjustment in 2023, and is included within other operating expense (income) – net in the Statements of Consolidated Income.
On December 1, 2021, we sold the private label dry pet food business to Diamond Pet Foods. The transaction included dry pet food products sold under private label brands, a dedicated manufacturing facility located in Frontenac, Kansas, and approximately 220 employees who supported the private label dry pet food business. The transaction did not include any branded products or our private label wet pet food business. Under our ownership, the business generated net sales of $62.3 in 2022, included in the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $32.9, net of cash transaction costs. Upon completion of this transaction during 2022, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $17.1, within other operating expense (income) – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income.
For additional information, refer to Note 3: Divestitures.
Trends Affecting our Business
During 2024, we continued to experience a dynamic macroeconomic environment, which we anticipate will persist into 2025, although with less volatility than experienced in prior years. In addition, we anticipate the price elasticity of demand will remain elevated into 2025 as consumers continue to experience broader inflationary pressures. In response to the inflationary pressures, we continue to focus on the delivery of our company-wide transformation initiative to deliberately translate our
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continuous improvement mindset into sustainable productivity initiatives in order to grow our profit margins and reinvest in the Company to enable future growth and cost savings.
In addition, it is possible significant disruptions in our supply chain could occur if certain geopolitical events continue to impact markets around the world, including the impact of potential shipping delays due to supply and demand imbalances, as well as labor shortages. We also continue to work closely with our customers and external business partners, taking additional actions to ensure safety, business continuity, and maximize product availability. We have maintained production at all our facilities and availability of appointments at distribution centers. Furthermore, we have implemented measures to manage order volumes to ensure a consistent supply across our retail partners during periods of high demand. However, to the extent that high demand levels or supply chain disruptions delay order fulfillment, we may experience volume loss and elevated penalties. Although we do not have any operations in Russia, Ukraine, Israel, or Palestine, we continue to monitor the environment for any significant escalation or expansion of economic or supply chain disruptions, including broader inflationary costs, as well as regional or global economic recessions.
Overall, broad-based supply chain disruptions and the impact of inflation remain uncertain. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent to which supply chain disruptions and inflation will impact our business, supply chain, including labor availability and attrition, results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
Results of Operations
This discussion and analysis deals with comparisons of material changes in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended April 30, 2024 and 2023. For the comparisons of the years ended April 30, 2023 and 2022, see the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II, Item 7 of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 8,178.7 | $ | 8,529.2 | (4) | % | ||||
| Gross profit | $ | 3,115.4 | $ | 2,801.8 | 11 | |||||
| % of net sales | 38.1 | % | 32.8 | % | ||||||
| Operating income | $ | 1,305.8 | $ | 157.5 | n/m | |||||
| % of net sales | 16.0 | % | 1.8 | % | ||||||
| Net income (loss): | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 744.0 | $ | (91.3) | n/m | |||||
| Net income (loss) per common share – assuming dilution | $ | 7.13 | $ | (0.86) | n/m | |||||
| Adjusted gross profit (A) | $ | 3,111.6 | $ | 2,829.6 | 10 | |||||
| % of net sales | 38.0 | % | 33.2 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted operating income (A) | $ | 1,636.2 | $ | 1,415.4 | 16 | |||||
| % of net sales | 20.0 | % | 16.6 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted income: (A) | ||||||||||
| Income | $ | 1,038.0 | $ | 950.8 | 9 | |||||
| Earnings per share – assuming dilution | $ | 9.94 | $ | 8.92 | 11 |
(A)We use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for a reconciliation to the comparable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measure.
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Net Sales
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | Increase (Decrease) | % | |||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 8,178.7 | $ | 8,529.2 | $ | (350.5) | (4) | % | ||||||
| Hostess Brands acquisition | (637.3) | — | (637.3) | (7) | ||||||||||
| Pet food brands divestiture | — | (1,522.4) | 1,522.4 | 18 | ||||||||||
| Sahale Snacks divestiture | — | (23.7) | 23.7 | — | ||||||||||
| Canada condiment divestiture | — | (19.4) | 19.4 | — | ||||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange | 6.8 | — | 6.8 | — | ||||||||||
| Net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange (A) | $ | 7,548.2 | $ | 6,963.7 | $ | 584.5 | 8 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
(A)Net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange is a non-GAAP financial measure used to evaluate performance internally. This measure provides useful information to investors because it enables comparison of results on a year-over-year basis.
Net sales in 2024 decreased $350.5, or 4 percent, which includes $1,565.5 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to divestitures, partially offset by incremental net sales in the current year of $637.3 related to the Hostess Brands acquisition. Net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange increased $584.5, or 8 percent. Favorable volume/mix contributed 5 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by contract manufacturing sales related to the divested pet food brands, Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches, the impact of lapping the Jif peanut butter product recall in the prior year, and coffee products. Higher net price realization contributed 3 percentage points to net sales, primarily due to list price increases for our U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads and U.S. Retail Pet Foods segments and for International and Away From Home, as well as the favorable impact of lapping customer returns and fees related to the Jif peanut butter product recall in the prior year, partially offset by a net price decline for the U.S. Retail Coffee segment.
Operating Income
The following table presents the components of operating income as a percentage of net sales.
| Year Ended April 30, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Gross profit | 38.1 | % | 32.8 | % | |
| Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses: | |||||
| Marketing | 3.2 | % | 3.3 | % | |
| Advertising | 2.2 | 1.9 | |||
| Selling | 3.1 | 2.8 | |||
| Distribution | 3.2 | 3.5 | |||
| General and administrative | 6.0 | 5.5 | |||
| Total selling, distribution, and administrative expenses | 17.7 | % | 17.1 | % | |
| Amortization | 2.3 | 2.4 | |||
| Other special project costs | 1.6 | 0.1 | |||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 0.2 | 11.9 | |||
| Other operating expense (income) – net | 0.4 | (0.5) | |||
| Operating income | 16.0 | % | 1.8 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
Gross profit increased $313.6, or 11 percent, in 2024, primarily reflecting higher net price realization, the noncomparable benefit of Hostess Brands, lower commodity costs, and favorable volume/mix, including the price and cost benefits from lapping the impact of the Jif peanut butter product recall in the prior year, partially offset by the noncomparable impact of divestitures.
Operating income increased $1,148.3, primarily driven by lapping the $1.0 billion pre-tax loss related to the divestiture of certain pet food brands in 2023, the increase in gross profit, a $15.8 decrease in amortization expense, and an $8.8 decrease in
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selling, distribution, and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses. These increases to operating income were partially offset by a $125.5 increase in special project costs, primarily reflecting integration costs related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands, and a $70.0 decrease in net other operating income, primarily reflecting an unfavorable impact related to the termination of a supplier agreement and the impact of lapping the prior year insurance recovery from the Jif peanut butter product recall.
Our non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Gross profit excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted gross profit”), increased $282.0, or 10 percent, as compared to the prior year, primarily reflecting the exclusion of the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses as compared to GAAP gross profit. Adjusted operating income increased $220.8, or 16 percent, as compared to the prior year, further reflecting the exclusion of the net pre-tax loss on divestitures, special project costs, and amortization expense.
Interest Expense
Net interest expense increased $112.3, or 74 percent, in 2024, primarily due to increased interest expense related to the new Senior Notes and Term Loan issued during 2024 to partially finance the acquisition of Hostess Brands, partially offset by an increase in interest income, reflecting higher interest rates on cash investments held during 2024, as compared to the prior year. For additional information, refer to Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
Income Taxes
Income taxes increased $170.3 in 2024, as compared to the prior year. The effective income tax rate for 2024 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to state income taxes and unfavorable permanent and deferred tax impacts associated with the acquisition of Hostess Brands. The effective income tax rate for 2023 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to unfavorable permanent tax impacts associated with the divestiture of certain pet food brands, as well as state income taxes. We anticipate a full-year effective income tax rate for 2025 to be approximately 24.4 percent. For additional information, refer to Note 14: Income Taxes.
Special Project Costs
Divestiture Costs: Total divestiture costs related to the divested Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses are anticipated to be approximately $6.0, consisting primarily of employee-related and lease termination costs, all of which are expected to be cash charges with the majority recognized in 2024 and the remainder to be recognized during the first half of 2025. We incurred $3.9 of employee-related costs and $1.6 of other transition and termination costs related to lease termination costs for these divestitures during 2024.
Furthermore, we identified opportunities to address certain distribution inefficiencies, as a result of the divestiture of certain pet food brands. We anticipate incurring approximately $11.0 of costs related to these efforts, consisting primarily of other transition and termination charges. The majority of these costs are expected to be cash charges and incurred by the end of 2026, with over half of the costs expected to be recognized in 2025. For additional information, see Note 3: Divestitures.
Integration Costs: Total integration costs related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands are anticipated to be approximately $210.0 and include transaction costs, employee-related costs, and other transition and termination charges. Of the total anticipated integration costs, approximately half reflect transaction costs, with the remainder split between employee-related costs and other transition and termination charges. The majority of the integration costs are expected to be cash charges and will be incurred by the end of 2026, with $147.4 of the costs recognized in 2024.
Restructuring Costs: A restructuring program was approved by the Board during 2021, associated with opportunities identified to reduce our overall cost structure, optimize our organizational design, and support our portfolio reshape. The program was further expanded in 2022 to include the costs associated with the divestitures of the private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses as well as the closure of certain production facilities. The restructuring activities were considered complete as of April 30, 2023. The costs incurred associated with these restructuring activities included other transition and termination costs related to our cost reduction and margin management initiatives, inclusive of accelerated depreciation, as well as employee-related costs. We incurred total cumulative restructuring costs of $63.7.
For further information on these costs, refer to Note 4: Special Project Costs.
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Commodities Overview
The raw materials we use in each of our segments are primarily commodities, agricultural-based products, and packaging materials. The most significant of these materials, based on 2024 annual spend, are green coffee, peanuts, oils and fats, flour, sugar, and fruit. Green coffee, corn, certain meals, oils, and grains are traded on active regulated exchanges, and the price of these commodities fluctuates based on market conditions. Derivative instruments, including futures and options, are used to minimize the impact of price volatility for these commodities.
We source green coffee from more than 20 coffee-producing countries. Its price is subject to high volatility due to factors such as weather, global supply and demand, product scarcity, plant disease, investor speculation, geopolitical conflicts (including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas), changes in governmental agricultural and energy policies and regulation, and political and economic conditions in the source countries.
We source peanuts, protein meals, and oils and fats mainly from North America. We are one of the largest roasters of peanuts in the U.S. and frequently enter into long-term purchase contracts for various periods of time to mitigate the risk of a shortage of this commodity. The oils we purchase are mainly palm, soybean, and peanut. The price of peanuts, protein meals, and oils is driven primarily by weather, which impacts crop sizes and yield, as well as global demand, especially from large importing countries such as China and India.
We frequently enter into long-term contracts to purchase plastic containers, which are sourced mainly within the U.S. Plastic resin is made from petrochemical feedstock and natural gas feedstock, and the price can be influenced by feedstock, energy, and crude oil prices as well as global economic and geopolitical conditions.
Excluding the impact of derivative gains and losses, our overall commodity costs in 2024 were lower than in 2023, primarily due to lower costs for green coffee, oils and fats, and corn.
Segment Results
We have four reportable segments: U.S. Retail Coffee, U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads, U.S. Retail Pet Foods, and Sweet Baked Snacks. The presentation of International and Away From Home represents a combination of all other operating segments that are not individually reportable.
As disclosed in Note 2: Acquisition, we acquired Hostess Brands in a cash and stock transaction on November 7, 2023, resulting in the new Sweet Baked Snacks reportable segment for 2024. Further, the historical U.S. Retail Consumer Foods reportable segment has been renamed to U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads; however, there is no change to the manner in which the segment was previously presented. We do not anticipate any impact to our other historical reportable segments, as we do not anticipate any changes to the internal manner in which we will manage and report these reportable segments.
The U.S. Retail Coffee segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Folgers, Dunkin’, and Café Bustelo branded coffee; the U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Smucker’s and Jif branded products; the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Meow Mix, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, and Canine Carry Outs branded products; and the Sweet Baked Snacks segment primarily includes all domestic and foreign sales of Hostess and Voortman branded products in all channels. With the exception of Sweet Baked Snacks products, International and Away From Home includes the sale of all products that are distributed in foreign countries through retail channels, as well as domestically and in foreign countries through foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., healthcare operators, restaurants, educational institutions, offices, lodging and gaming establishments, and convenience stores).
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| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | $ | 2,704.4 | $ | 2,735.3 | (1) | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Snacks | 1,815.6 | 1,630.9 | 11 | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 1,822.8 | 3,038.1 | (40) | |||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 637.3 | — | n/a | |||||||
| International and Away From Home | 1,198.6 | 1,124.9 | 7 | |||||||
| Segment profit: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | $ | 759.2 | $ | 737.7 | 3 | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Snacks | 434.1 | 352.6 | 23 | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 402.1 | 494.9 | (19) | |||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 138.2 | — | n/a | |||||||
| International and Away From Home | 208.1 | 143.3 | 45 | |||||||
| Segment profit margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 28.1 | % | 27.0 | % | ||||||
| U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Snacks | 23.9 | 21.6 | ||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 22.1 | 16.3 | ||||||||
| Sweet Baked Snacks | 21.7 | — | ||||||||
| International and Away From Home | 17.4 | 12.7 |
U.S. Retail Coffee
The U.S. Retail Coffee segment net sales decreased $30.9 in 2024. Net price realization decreased net sales by 3 percentage points, reflecting list price decreases, partially offset by reduced trade spend. Favorable volume/mix contributed 1 percentage point to net sales, reflecting increases for the Café Bustelo and Dunkin’ brands, primarily for one cup offerings, partially offset by decreases for the Folgers brand. Segment profit increased $21.5, primarily reflecting lower commodity costs and favorable volume/mix, partially offset by lower net price realization, an unfavorable impact related to the termination of a supplier agreement, and higher marketing spend.
U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads
The U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment net sales increased $184.7 in 2024, inclusive of the impact of $16.0 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to the divested Sahale Snacks business. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divestiture, net sales increased $200.7, or 12 percent. Net price realization contributed 8 percentage points to net sales, primarily reflecting a favorable impact of lapping customer returns and fees related to the Jif peanut butter product recall in the prior year and a list price increase for Jif peanut butter. Volume/mix increased net sales by 4 percentage points, primarily driven by Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches and Jif peanut butter. Segment profit increased $81.5, primarily reflecting a favorable net impact of lapping the recall, favorable volume/mix for Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches, and higher net price realization, partially offset by higher marketing spend and pre-production expenses related to the new Smucker’s Uncrustables manufacturing facility.
U.S. Retail Pet Foods
The U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment net sales decreased $1,215.3 in 2024, inclusive of the impact of $1,497.2 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to the divestiture of certain pet food brands. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divested brands, net sales increased $281.9, or 18 percent. Favorable volume/mix contributed 11 percentage points to net sales, primarily reflecting $136.2 of contract manufacturing sales related to the divested pet food brands and growth for the Meow Mix and Milk-Bone brands, partially offset by a decrease for the Pup-Peroni brand. Higher net price realization increased net sales by 7 percentage points, primarily reflecting list price increases across the portfolio, partially offset by increased trade spend. Segment profit decreased $92.8, reflecting the impact of noncomparable segment profit in the prior year related to the divested brands, increased distribution costs, and higher marketing spend, partially offset by a favorable net impact of higher net price realization and increased costs and favorable volume/mix.
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Sweet Baked Snacks
We acquired Hostess Brands on November 7, 2023, as discussed in Note 2: Acquisition. During 2024, the Sweet Baked Snacks segment contributed net sales of $637.3 and segment profit of $138.2, including the recognition of an unfavorable fair value purchase accounting adjustment of approximately $8.3 attributable to the acquired inventory, which increased cost of products sold for the segment.
International and Away From Home
International and Away From Home net sales increased $73.7 in 2024, including the noncomparable impact of $52.3 of net sales in the prior year primarily related to the divestitures and $6.8 of unfavorable foreign currency exchange. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divested brands and foreign currency exchange, net sales increased $132.8, or 12 percent. Favorable volume/mix contributed 7 percentage points to net sales, primarily reflecting increases for frozen handheld, portion control, peanut butter, inclusive of the impact of lapping the Jif peanut butter product recall in the prior year, and coffee products. Net price realization contributed 5 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by list price increases across the majority of the portfolio, partially offset by increased trade spend. Segment profit increased $64.8, primarily driven by higher net price realization and favorable volume/mix, primarily reflecting the recovery from the Jif peanut butter product recall, partially offset by increased SD&A expenses.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
Our principal source of funds is cash generated from operations, supplemented by borrowings against our commercial paper program and revolving credit facility. Total cash and cash equivalents decreased to $62.0 at April 30, 2024, compared to $655.8 at April 30, 2023.
The following table presents selected cash flow information.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,229.4 | $ | 1,194.4 | ||
| Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities | (3,964.6) | 256.2 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | 2,141.6 | (964.6) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,229.4 | $ | 1,194.4 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (586.5) | (477.4) | ||||
| Free cash flow (A) | $ | 642.9 | $ | 717.0 |
(A)Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to evaluate the amount of cash available for debt repayment, dividend distribution, acquisition opportunities, share repurchases, and other corporate purposes.
The $35.0 increase in cash provided by operating activities in 2024 was primarily driven by lapping the $70.0 contribution to our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plans in the prior year, $42.5 of proceeds received from settlement of the interest rate contracts assumed as part of the acquisition of Hostess Brands, and higher net income adjusted for noncash items in the current year, partially offset by an increase in cash payments for income and other taxes as compared to the prior year and higher working capital requirements in 2024. The cash required to fund working capital increased compared to the prior year primarily driven by an increase in cash for accounts payable due to lower spend and timing of payments and the lapping of the prior year insurance proceeds received related to the Jif peanut butter product recall. These increases in cash requirements were partially offset by the moderation of input cost inflation related to our inventories, an increase in cash from trade receivables due to the timing of sales and payments, and an increase in accrued liabilities reflecting a payable to Post related to the transition services agreement entered into in connection with the divestiture of certain pet food brands.
Cash used for investing activities in 2024 consisted primarily of $3.9 billion related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands, including $67.8 of consideration transferred for the cash payment of Hostess Brands’ employee equity awards, and $586.5 in capital expenditures, primarily driven by investments in Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches to support the new manufacturing and distribution facilities in McCalla, Alabama, as well as plant maintenance across our facilities. These uses of cash for 2024 were partially offset by proceeds of $466.3 received from the settlement of our equity investment in Post common stock and net proceeds received of $56.3, primarily from the divested Sahale Snacks and Canada condiment businesses, and a decrease of $18.9 in our derivative cash margin account balances. Cash provided by investing activities in 2023 consisted primarily of net proceeds received from the sale of certain pet food brands of $684.7 and a decrease of $37.6
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in our derivative cash margin account balances. These increases were partially offset by $477.4 in capital expenditures, primarily driven by investments in Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches to support the new manufacturing and distribution facilities in McCalla, Alabama, and capacity expansions in Longmont, Colorado, as well as plant maintenance across our facilities.
Cash provided by financing activities in 2024 consisted primarily of proceeds from long-term debt of $4.3 billion to partially finance the acquisition of Hostess Brands and a net increase in short-term borrowings of $578.2. These proceeds were partially offset by the $991.0 repayment of Hostess Brands’ debt assumed, the $800.0 Term Loan prepayment, dividend payments of $437.5, purchase of treasury shares of $372.8, and an $86.4 payment to terminate the tax receivable agreement assumed with the acquisition of Hostess Brands. Cash used for financing activities in 2023 consisted primarily of dividend payments of $430.2, purchase of treasury shares of $367.5, and a net decrease in short-term borrowings of $185.9.
Supplier Financing Program
As part of ongoing efforts to maximize working capital, we work with our suppliers to optimize our terms and conditions, which includes the extension of payment terms. Payment terms with our suppliers, which we deem to be commercially reasonable, range from 0 to 180 days. We have an agreement with a third-party administrator to provide an accounts payable tracking system and facilitate a supplier financing program, which allows participating suppliers the ability to monitor and voluntarily elect to sell our payment obligations to a designated third-party financial institution. Participating suppliers can sell one or more of our payment obligations at their sole discretion, and our rights and obligations to our suppliers are not impacted. We have no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to enter into these agreements. Our rights and obligations to our suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted by our suppliers’ decisions to sell amounts under these arrangements. As of April 30, 2024 and 2023, $384.9 and $414.2 of our outstanding payment obligations, respectively, were elected and sold to a financial institution by participating suppliers. During 2024 and 2023, we paid $1,685.5 and $1,495.2, respectively, to a financial institution for payment obligations that were settled through the supplier financing program.
Contingencies
We, like other food manufacturers, are from time to time subject to various administrative, regulatory, and other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We are currently a defendant in a variety of such legal proceedings, and while we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate results of these proceedings or potential settlements associated with these or other matters, we have accrued losses for certain contingent liabilities that we have determined are probable and reasonably estimable at April 30, 2024. Based on the information known to date, with the exception of the matters discussed below, we do not believe the final outcome of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Class Action Lawsuits: We are defendants in a series of putative class action lawsuits that were transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri for coordinated pre-trial proceedings. The plaintiffs assert claims arising under various state laws for false advertising, consumer protection, deceptive and unfair trade practices, and similar statutes. Their claims are premised on allegations that we have misrepresented the number of servings that can be made from various canisters of Folgers coffee on the packaging for those products. The outcome and the financial impact of these cases, if any, cannot be predicted at this time. Accordingly, no loss contingency has been recorded for these matters as of April 30, 2024, and the likelihood of loss is not considered probable or reasonably estimable. However, if we are required to pay significant damages, our business and financial results could be adversely impacted, and sales of those products could suffer not only in these locations but elsewhere.
Product Recall: In May 2022, we initiated a voluntary recall of select Jif peanut butter products produced at our Lexington, Kentucky facility and sold primarily in the U.S., due to potential salmonella contamination. At that time, we also suspended the manufacturing of Jif peanut butter products at the Lexington facility. We partnered with retailers to restock Jif peanut butter products and returned to normal levels by the end of 2023. During 2023 and 2022, we recognized total direct costs associated with the recall of approximately $120.0, net of insurance recoveries, related to customer returns, fees, unsaleable inventory, and other product recall-related costs, primarily within our U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment. There were no significant direct costs recognized during 2024.
Further, the FDA issued a Warning Letter on January 24, 2023, following an inspection of our Lexington facility completed in June 2022 in connection with the Jif voluntary recall, identifying concerns regarding certain practices and controls at the facility. We responded to the Warning Letter with a detailed explanation of our food safety plan and extensive verification activities to prevent contamination in Jif peanut butter products. In addition, we strengthened our already stringent quality
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processes. The FDA delivered its Establishment Inspection Report concluding the June 2022 inspection in March 2024. Although the FDA has concluded its inspection, other agencies may nonetheless conclude that certain practices or controls were not in compliance with the FDCA or other laws. Any potential regulatory action based on such an agency conclusion could result in the imposition of injunctive terms and monetary payments that could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, brand, results of operations, and financial performance, as well as affect ongoing consumer litigation associated with the voluntary recall of Jif peanut butter products. The outcome and financial impact of the ongoing consumer litigation or any potential regulatory action associated with the Jif voluntary recall cannot be predicted at this time. Accordingly, no loss contingency has been recorded for these matters as of April 30, 2024, and the likelihood of loss is not considered probable or reasonably estimable.
Voortman Contingency: In December 2020, Hostess Brands asserted claims for indemnification against the sellers (the “Sellers”) under the terms of a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Hostess Brands acquired Voortman Cookies Limited (“Voortman”). The claims were for damages arising out of alleged breaches by the Sellers of certain representations, warranties, and covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement relating to periods prior to the closing of the acquisition. Hostess Brands also submitted claims relating to these alleged breaches under the representation and warranty insurance policy (“RWI”) that was purchased in connection with the acquisition. In the third quarter of calendar 2022, the RWI insurers paid Hostess Brands $42.5 CAD (the RWI coverage limit) (the “Proceeds”) related to these breaches. Per agreement with the RWI insurers, we will not be required to return the Proceeds under any circumstances.
On November 3, 2022, pursuant to the agreement with the RWI insurers, Voortman brought claims in the Ontario (Canada) Superior Court of Justice (the “Claim”), related to the breaches against certain of the Sellers. The Claim alleges the seller defendants made certain non-disclosures and misrepresentations to induce Hostess Brands to overpay for Voortman. We are seeking damages of $109.0 CAD representing the amount of the aggregate liability of the Sellers for indemnification under the Purchase Agreement, $5.0 CAD in punitive or aggravated damages, interest, proceedings fees, and any other relief the presiding court deems appropriate. A portion of any recovery will be shared with the RWI insurers. Although we believe that the Claim is meritorious, no assurance can be given as to whether we will recover all, or any part, of the amounts being pursued.
Capital Resources
The following table presents our capital structure.
| April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 999.3 | $ | — | ||
| Short-term borrowings | 591.0 | — | ||||
| Long-term debt, less current portion | 6,773.7 | 4,314.2 | ||||
| Total debt | $ | 8,364.0 | $ | 4,314.2 | ||
| Shareholders’ equity | 7,693.9 | 7,290.8 | ||||
| Total capital | $ | 16,057.9 | $ | 11,605.0 |
In September 2023, we entered into a Term Loan with a group of banks for an unsecured $800.0 term facility. Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest based on the prevailing Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”). In November 2023, the full amount was drawn on the Term Loan to partially finance the acquisition of Hostess Brands and to pay off the debt assumed as part of the acquisition, as discussed in Note 2: Acquisition. As of April 30, 2024, the $800.0 Term Loan was prepaid in full.
In September 2023, we entered into a commitment letter for a $5.2 billion 364-day senior unsecured Bridge Term Loan Credit Facility (“Bridge Loan”) that provided committed financing for the acquisition of Hostess Brands, as discussed in Note 2: Acquisition. No balances were drawn against this facility, as the commitment letter was terminated after completion of the Senior Notes offering and drawing on the Term Loan.
In October 2023, we completed an offering of $3.5 billion in Senior Notes due November 15, 2028, November 15, 2033, November 15, 2043, and November 15, 2053. The net proceeds from the offering were used to partially finance the acquisition of Hostess Brands and pay off the debt assumed as part of the acquisition.
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We have available a $2.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of 11 banks that matures in August 2026. Additionally, we participate in a commercial paper program under which we can issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper not to exceed $2.0 billion at any time. The commercial paper program is backed by our revolving credit facility and reduces what we can borrow under the revolving credit facility by the amount of commercial paper outstanding. Commercial paper is used as a continuing source of short-term financing for general corporate purposes. As of April 30, 2024, we had $591.0 of short-term borrowings outstanding, which were issued under our commercial paper program at a weighted-average interest rate of 5.48 percent.
We are in compliance with all our debt covenants as of April 30, 2024, and expect to be for the next 12 months. For additional information on our long-term debt, sources of liquidity, and debt covenants, see Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
Dividend payments were $437.5 and $430.2 in 2024 and 2023, respectively, and quarterly dividends declared per share were $4.24 and $4.08 in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board and depends on various factors, such as our net income (loss), financial condition, cash requirements, future events, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
On March 2, 2023, we entered into a share repurchase plan (“10b5-1 Plan”) established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act in connection with the remaining common shares authorized for repurchase by the Board, which was approximately 3.5 million common shares as of April 30, 2023. In accordance with the 10b5-1 Plan, our designated broker had the authority to repurchase approximately 2.4 million common shares, which commenced upon the sale of certain pet food brands on April 28, 2023, and expired 45 calendar days after the closure of the transaction. In 2024, we repurchased approximately 2.4 million common shares for $362.8 under the 10b5-1 Plan, and approximately 1.1 million common shares remain available for repurchase. In accordance with The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, H.R. 5376 (the “Inflation Reduction Act”), a one percent excise tax was applied to share repurchases after December 31, 2022. As a result, an excise tax of $3.6 was accrued on the repurchased shares during 2024, and included within additional capital in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.
In 2023, we repurchased approximately 2.4 million common shares for $358.0 pursuant to the authorizations of the Board and an excise tax of $3.6 was accrued on the repurchased shares. All other share repurchases during 2024 and 2023 consisted of shares repurchased from stock plan recipients in lieu of cash payments.
On November 7, 2023, we acquired Hostess Brands, and as a result, we issued approximately 4.0 million common shares valued at $450.2 in exchange for the outstanding shares of Hostess Brands common stock to partially fund the acquisition of Hostess Brands. The shares issued were based on each outstanding share of Hostess Brands common stock receiving $30.00 per share in cash and 0.03002 shares of our common shares, which represented a value of $4.25 based on the closing stock price of our common shares on September 8, 2023, the last trading day preceding September 11, 2023, the date on which the execution of the Hostess Brands merger agreement was publicly announced. For additional information on the acquisition of Hostess Brands, see Note 2: Acquisition.
In November 2021, we announced plans to invest $1.1 billion to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in McCalla, Alabama dedicated to production of Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches. Construction of this facility began in 2022, with production expected to begin in 2025. The project demonstrates our commitment to meet increasing demand for this highly successful product and deliver on our strategy to focus on brands with the most significant growth opportunities. Construction of the facility and production will occur in three phases over multiple years, with financial investments and job creation aligning across each of the three phases. During the fourth quarter of 2024, property damage was incurred at the new manufacturing facility as a result of an equipment fire. Based on our assessment of the damage, the financial impact, net of the anticipated insurance recovery, was not material during 2024, and we expect minimal impact in 2025. Further, we do not anticipate a significant delay in beginning production in 2025.
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The following table presents certain cash requirements related to 2025 investing and financing activities based on our current expectations.
| Projection Year Ending April 30, 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Principal payments – excludes the impact of potential debt refinancing | $ | 1,000.0 |
| Dividend payments – based on current rates and common shares outstanding | 450.3 | |
| Capital expenditures | 450.0 | |
| Interest payments | 401.8 |
Absent any material acquisitions, apart from the recent acquisition of Hostess Brands, or other significant investments, we believe that cash on hand, combined with cash provided by operations, borrowings available under our revolving credit facility and commercial paper program, and access to capital markets, will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the next 12 months, including the payment of quarterly dividends, principal and interest payments on debt outstanding, and capital expenditures. However, as a result of the current macroeconomic environment and the recent acquisition, we may experience an increase in the cost or the difficulty to obtain debt or equity financing, or to refinance our debt in the future. We continue to evaluate these risks, which could affect our financial condition or our ability to fund operations or future investment opportunities.
During 2024, we returned $61.2 of foreign cash to the U.S. from Canada, reflecting intercompany debt repayments, and as a result, there were no tax impacts. As of April 30, 2024, total cash and cash equivalents of $38.4 was held by our foreign subsidiaries, primarily in Canada.
Material Cash Requirements
The following table summarizes our material cash requirements by fiscal year at April 30, 2024.
| Total | 2025 | 2026-2027 | 2028-2029 | 2030 and beyond | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt obligations, including current portion (A) | $ | 7,850.0 | $ | 1,000.0 | $ | — | $ | 1,250.0 | $ | 5,600.0 | ||||||||
| Interest payments (B) | 5,917.9 | 379.4 | 664.3 | 647.4 | 4,226.8 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (C) | 2,187.6 | 2,008.4 | 175.8 | 3.1 | 0.3 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 15,955.5 | $ | 3,387.8 | $ | 840.1 | $ | 1,900.5 | $ | 9,827.1 |
(A)Long-term debt obligations, including current portion, excludes the impact of offering discounts, make-whole payments, and debt issuance costs.
(B)Interest payments consist of the interest payments for our fixed-rate Senior Notes.
(C)Purchase obligations includes agreements that are enforceable and legally bind us to purchase goods or services, which primarily consist of obligations related to normal, ongoing purchase obligations in which we have guaranteed payment to ensure availability of raw materials. We expect to receive consideration for these purchase obligations in the form of materials and services. These purchase obligations do not represent all future purchases expected but represent only those items for which we are contractually obligated. Amounts included in the table above represent our current best estimate of payments due. Actual cash payments may vary due to the variable pricing components of certain purchase obligations.
Our other cash requirements at April 30, 2024, primarily included operating and finance lease obligations, which consist of the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating and finance leases. As of April 30, 2024, we had total undiscounted minimum lease payments of $212.3 and $12.3 related to our operating and finance leases, respectively. For additional information, see Note 12: Leases.
In addition, we have other liabilities which consisted primarily of projected commitments associated with our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, as disclosed in Note 9: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits. The total liability for our unrecognized tax benefits and tax-related net interest at April 30, 2024, was $5.5 under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, Income Taxes; however, we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of cash settlements with the respective taxing authorities. For additional information, see Note 14: Income Taxes.
As of April 30, 2024, we do not have material off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also known as variable interest entities. Transactions with related parties are in the ordinary course of business and are not material to our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We use non-GAAP financial measures including: net sales excluding acquisition, divestitures, and foreign currency exchange, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted income, adjusted earnings per share, and free cash flow, as key measures for purposes of evaluating performance internally. We believe that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing these performance measures. Furthermore, these non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in preparation of the annual budget and for the monthly analyses of our operating results. The Board also utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures as components for measuring performance for incentive compensation purposes.
Non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items affecting comparability that can significantly affect the year-over-year assessment of operating results, which include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Income taxes, as adjusted is calculated using an adjusted effective income tax rate that is applied to adjusted income before income taxes and reflects the exclusion of the previously discussed items, as well as any adjustments for one-time tax-related activities, when they occur. While this adjusted effective income tax rate does not generally differ materially from our GAAP effective income tax rate, certain exclusions from non-GAAP results, such as the unfavorable tax impacts associated with the acquisition of Hostess Brands in 2024 and unfavorable permanent tax impacts of the divestiture of certain pet food brands during 2023, can significantly impact our adjusted effective income tax rate.
These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Rather, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures supplements other metrics we use to internally evaluate our business and facilitate the comparison of past and present operations and liquidity. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and may exclude certain nondiscretionary expenses and cash payments.
The following table reconciles certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measure. See page 32 for a reconciliation of net sales adjusted for certain noncomparable items to the comparable GAAP financial measure.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Gross profit reconciliation: | ||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 3,115.4 | $ | 2,801.8 | ||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | (6.7) | 21.4 | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 2.9 | 6.4 | ||||
| Adjusted gross profit | $ | 3,111.6 | $ | 2,829.6 | ||
| % of net sales | 38.0 | % | 33.2 | % | ||
| Operating income reconciliation: | ||||||
| Operating income | $ | 1,305.8 | $ | 157.5 | ||
| Amortization | 191.1 | 206.9 | ||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 12.9 | 1,018.5 | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | (6.7) | 21.4 | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 2.9 | 6.4 | ||||
| Other special project costs (A) | 130.2 | 4.7 | ||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 1,636.2 | $ | 1,415.4 | ||
| % of net sales | 20.0 | % | 16.6 | % | ||
| Net income (loss) reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 744.0 | $ | (91.3) | ||
| Income tax expense | 252.4 | 82.1 | ||||
| Amortization | 191.1 | 206.9 | ||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 12.9 | 1,018.5 | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | (6.7) | 21.4 | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 2.9 | 6.4 | ||||
| Other special project costs (A) | 130.2 | 4.7 | ||||
| Other debt costs – special project costs (A) | 19.5 | — | ||||
| Other expense – special project costs (A) | 0.3 | — | ||||
| Other infrequently occurring items: | ||||||
| Realized loss on investment in equity securities – net (B) | 21.5 | 3.8 | ||||
| Pension plan termination settlement charge (C) | 3.2 | — | ||||
| Adjusted income before income taxes | $ | 1,371.3 | $ | 1,252.5 | ||
| Income taxes, as adjusted | 333.3 | 301.7 | ||||
| Adjusted income | $ | 1,038.0 | $ | 950.8 | ||
| Weighted-average shares – assuming dilution (D) | 104.4 | 106.6 | ||||
| Adjusted earnings per share – assuming dilution (D) | $ | 9.94 | $ | 8.92 | ||
| Free cash flow reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,229.4 | $ | 1,194.4 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (586.5) | (477.4) | ||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 642.9 | $ | 717.0 |
(A) Includes certain divestiture, acquisition, and restructuring costs. For more information, see Note 4: Special Project Costs, Note 5: Reportable Segments, and Note 8: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
(B) Realized loss on investment in equity securities – net includes gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of our investment in Post common stock and the related equity forward contract, which was settled on November 15, 2023. For more information, see Note 3: Divestitures, Note 10: Derivative Financial Instruments, and Note 11: Other Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements.
(C) Represents the nonrecurring pre-tax settlement charge recognized during 2024 related to the acceleration of prior service cost for the portion of the plan surplus to be allocated to plan members within our Canadian defined benefit plans, which is subject to regulatory approval before a payout can be made. For additional information, see Note 9: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.
(D) Adjusted earnings per common share – assuming dilution for 2024 and 2023 was computed using the treasury stock method. Further, in 2023, the weighted-average shares – assuming dilution differed from our GAAP weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution as a result of the anti-dilutive effect of our stock-based awards, which were excluded from the computation of net
loss per share – assuming dilution. For more information, see Earnings Per Share in Note 1: Accounting Policies and Note 6: Earnings Per Share.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that in certain circumstances affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. We do not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Trade Marketing and Merchandising Programs: In order to support our products sold within the U.S. retail market segments and Sweet Baked Snacks segment, various promotional activities are conducted through retailers, distributors, or directly with consumers, including in-store display and product placement programs, price discounts, coupons, and other similar activities. The costs of these programs are classified as a reduction of sales. We regularly review and revise, when we deem necessary, estimates of costs for these promotional programs based on estimates of what will be redeemed by retailers, distributors, or consumers. These estimates are made using various techniques, including historical data on performance of similar promotional programs. Differences between estimated expenditures and actual performance are recognized as a change in estimate in a subsequent period. During 2024, 2023, and 2022, subsequent period adjustments were less than 2 percent of both consolidated pre-tax adjusted income and cash provided by operating activities.
Income Taxes: We account for income taxes using the liability method. In the ordinary course of business, we are exposed to uncertainties related to tax filing positions and periodically assess the technical merits of these tax positions for all tax years that remain subject to examination, based upon the latest information available. We recognize a tax benefit when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination, based on its technical merits. The tax position is then measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
We routinely evaluate the likelihood of realizing the benefit of our deferred tax assets and may record a valuation allowance if, based on all available evidence, we determine that it is more likely than not that all or some portion of such assets will not be realized. Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be affected by changes in tax laws, statutory tax rates, and projected future taxable income levels. Changes in estimated realization of deferred tax assets would result in an adjustment to income in the period in which that determination is made, unless such changes are determined to be an adjustment to goodwill within the allowable measurement period under the acquisition method of accounting.
The future tax benefit arising from the net deductible temporary differences and tax carryforwards was $279.8 and $196.8 at April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and results of operations. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of tax carryforwards or the projected operating results indicate that realization is not likely, a valuation allowance has been provided.
As of April 30, 2024, a portion of our undistributed foreign earnings, primarily in Canada, is not considered permanently reinvested, and an immaterial deferred tax liability has been recognized accordingly. For additional information, see Note 14: Income Taxes.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets: A significant portion of our assets is composed of goodwill and other intangible assets, the majority of which are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment at least annually on
February 1, and more often if indicators of impairment exist. At April 30, 2024, the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets totaled $14.9 billion, compared to total assets of $20.3 billion and total shareholders’ equity of $7.7 billion. If the carrying value of these assets exceeds the current estimated fair value, the asset is considered impaired, which would result in a noncash impairment charge to earnings, that could be material. Events and conditions that could result in impairment include a sustained drop in the market price of our common shares, increased competition or loss of market share, obsolescence, product claims that result in a significant loss of sales or profitability over the product life, deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, declining financial performance in comparison to projected results, increased input costs beyond projections, or divestitures of significant brands.
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To test for goodwill impairment, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units using both a discounted cash flow valuation technique and a market-based approach. The impairment test incorporates estimates of future cash flows; allocations of certain assets, liabilities, and cash flows among reporting units; future growth rates; terminal value amounts; and the applicable weighted-average cost of capital used to discount those estimated cash flows. The estimates and projections used in the calculation of fair value are consistent with our current and long-range plans, including anticipated changes in market conditions, industry trends, growth rates, and planned capital expenditures. Changes in forecasted operations and other estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2024, goodwill totaled $7.6 billion. Goodwill is substantially concentrated within the U.S. retail market segments and Sweet Baked Snacks segment. During 2024, no goodwill impairment was recognized as a result of the evaluations performed throughout the year. The estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value by greater than 10 percent for all of our reporting units with a goodwill balance as of the annual test date, with the exception of the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit, for which its fair value exceeded its carrying value by approximately 3 percent. A sensitivity analysis was performed for the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit, assuming a hypothetical 50-basis-point decrease in the expected long-term growth rate or a hypothetical 50-basis-point increase in the weighted average cost of capital, and both scenarios independently yielded an estimated fair value for the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit below carrying value.
The carrying value of the goodwill within the Sweet Baked Snacks segment was $2.4 billion as of April 30, 2024, and remains susceptible to future impairment charges due to narrow differences between fair value and carrying value, which is attributable to the recent acquisition of Hostess Brands. Any significant adverse change in our near or long-term projections or macroeconomic conditions could result in future impairment charges which could be material. For additional information, see Note 7: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets, consisting entirely of trademarks, are also tested for impairment at least annually and more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying values may be below their fair values. To test these assets for impairment, we estimate the fair value of each asset based on a discounted cash flow model using various inputs, including projected revenues, an assumed royalty rate, and a discount rate. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2024, other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $4.3 billion. Trademarks that represent our leading brands comprise more than 95 percent of the total carrying value of other indefinite-lived intangible assets. As of April 30, 2024, the estimated fair value was substantially in excess of the carrying value for the majority of these leading brand trademarks, and in all instances, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value by greater than 10 percent, with the exception of the other indefinite-lived intangible assets within the Sweet Baked Snacks segment, as the carrying value approximates fair value due to the recent acquisition of Hostess Brands.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans, and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “will,” “plan,” and similar phrases.
Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the following:
•our ability to successfully integrate Hostess Brands’ operations and employees and to implement plans and achieve financial forecasts with respect to the Hostess Brands’ business;
•our ability to realize the anticipated benefits, including synergies and cost savings, related to the Hostess Brands acquisition, including the possibility that the expected benefits will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period;
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•disruption from the acquisition of Hostess Brands by diverting the attention of our management and making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships;
•the negative effects of the acquisition of Hostess Brands on the market price of our common shares;
•the amount of the costs, fees, expenses, and charges and the risk of litigation related to the acquisition of Hostess Brands;
•the effect of the acquisition of Hostess Brands on our business relationships, operating results, ability to hire and retain key talent, and business generally;
•disruptions or inefficiencies in our operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls, political instability, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts (including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas), extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, work stoppages or labor shortages, or other calamities;
•risks related to the availability of, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation;
•the impact of food security concerns involving either our products or our competitors’ products, including changes in consumer preference, consumer litigation, actions by the FDA or other agencies, and product recalls;
•risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies we employ to manage commodity pricing and interest rate risks;
•the availability of reliable transportation on acceptable terms;
•our ability to achieve cost savings related to our restructuring and cost management programs in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated;
•our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to continue operating under our capital deployment model, including capital expenditures, debt repayment to meet our deleveraging objectives, dividend payments, and share repurchases;
•a change in outlook or downgrade in our public credit ratings by a rating agency below investment grade;
•our ability to implement and realize the full benefit of price changes, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period;
•the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in our business, including product innovation;
•general competitive activity in the market, including competitors’ pricing practices and promotional spending levels;
•our ability to attract and retain key talent;
•the concentration of certain of our businesses with key customers and suppliers, including primary or single-source suppliers of certain key raw materials and finished goods, and our ability to manage and maintain key relationships;
•impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in the useful lives of other intangible assets or other long-lived assets;
•the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws and regulations and their application;
•the outcome of tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters;
•a disruption, failure, or security breach of our or our suppliers’ IT systems, including, but not limited to, ransomware attacks;
•foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations; and
•risks related to other factors described under “Risk Factors” in other reports and statements we have filed with the SEC.
Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances subsequent to the filing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000091419-23-000072.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Dollars and shares in millions, unless otherwise noted, except per share data)
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to provide an understanding of our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows by focusing on changes in certain key measures from year-to-year, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Company Background
At The J. M. Smucker Company, it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse portfolio of brands available across North America. We are proud to lead in the coffee, consumer foods, dog snacks, and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day including Folgers, Dunkin’, Café Bustelo, Jif, Smucker’s Uncrustables, Smucker’s, Milk-Bone, and Meow Mix. Through our unwavering commitment to producing quality products, operating responsibly and ethically, and delivering on our purpose, we will continue to grow our business and the positive impact we have on society.
We have three reportable segments: U.S. Retail Pet Foods, U.S. Retail Coffee, and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods. The U.S. retail market segments in total comprised 87 percent of net sales in 2023, and represent a major portion of our strategic
focus – the sale of branded food and beverage products with leadership positions to consumers through retail outlets in North America. In the U.S. retail market segments, our products are primarily sold to food retailers, club stores, discount and dollar stores, online retailers, pet specialty stores, drug stores, military commissaries, mass merchandisers, and natural foods stores and distributors. International and Away From Home includes the sale of products distributed domestically and in foreign countries through retail channels and foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., health care operators, restaurants, lodging, hospitality, offices, K-12, colleges and universities, and convenience stores).
Strategic Overview
Our Basic Beliefs are the foundation for everything we do as an organization. They serve as guideposts for decision-making and how we interact with our colleagues and partners. As we have grown, we have remained unwavering in our commitment to these values but also recognize how we are called to act upon them must evolve as the world around us does. In this spirit, with 2023 marking our 125th year in business, we introduced an evolution of our Basic Beliefs, building from the original Basic Beliefs, to ensure they are as actionable as possible in order to help our employees continue to bring our unique culture to life. As such, we evolved our Basic Beliefs to Be Bold, Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Play to Win, and Thrive Together, which are clear, concise, and actionable. In addition, we have been led by five generations of family leadership, having had only six chief executive officers in 125 years. This continuity of management and thought extends to the broader leadership team that embodies the values and embraces the business practices that have contributed to our consistent growth.
Our strategic vision is to engage, delight, and inspire consumers by building brands they love and leading in growing categories. This vision is our long-term direction that guides business priorities and aligns our organization. We will continue to drive balanced, long-term growth by advancing on the following strategic pillars:
•Winning with superior execution;
•Improving profitability and cost discipline;
•Transforming our portfolio;
•Doing our part: Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability, and ID&E; and
•Nurturing and evolving our culture.
Our strategic growth objectives include net sales increasing by a low-single digit percentage and operating income excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted operating income”) increasing by a mid-single digit percentage on average over the long-term. Related to income per diluted share excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted earnings per share”), our strategic growth objective is to increase by a high-single digit percentage over the long-term. We expect organic growth, including new products, to drive much of our top-line growth, while the contribution from acquisitions will vary from year-to-year. Our
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non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs (“special project costs”), gains and losses on divestitures, the net change in cumulative unallocated gains and losses on commodity and foreign currency exchange derivative activities (“change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses”), and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results, such as unrealized gains and losses on the investment in equity securities. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Due to the unknown and potentially prolonged impact of the inflationary environment, challenged supply network, and increased labor shortages, we may experience difficulties or be delayed in achieving our long-term strategies; however, we continue to evaluate the effects of the macroeconomic environment on our long-term growth objectives.
Over the past five years, net sales and adjusted earnings per share increased at a compound annual growth rate of 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively, while adjusted operating income has remained consistent. These changes were primarily driven by increased at-home consumption for the U.S. Retail Coffee and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segments, partially offset by the reduction in net sales from the divestitures of the private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses in 2022, Crisco and Natural Balance businesses in 2021, and the U.S. baking business in 2019. Net cash provided by operating activities has remained consistent over the past five years. Our cash deployment strategy is to balance reinvesting in our business through acquisitions and capital expenditures with returning cash to our shareholders through the payment of dividends and share repurchases. Our deployment strategy also includes a significant focus on debt repayment.
Divestitures
On April 28, 2023, we sold certain pet food brands to Post. The transaction included the Rachael Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, Kibbles ’n Bits, Nature’s Recipe, and Gravy Train brands, as well as our private label pet food business, inclusive of certain trademarks and licensing agreements, manufacturing and distribution facilities in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, manufacturing facilities in Meadville, Pennsylvania and Lawrence, Kansas, and approximately 1,100 employees who supported these pet food brands. Under our ownership, these brands generated net sales of $1.5 billion in 2023, and $1.4 billion in both 2022 and 2021, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment. Net proceeds from the divestiture were $1.2 billion, consisting of $684.7 in cash, net of a preliminary working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs, and approximately 5.4 million shares of Post common stock, valued at $491.6 at the close of the transaction. Upon completion of this transaction, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $1.0 billion. The net proceeds and pre-tax loss will be finalized during the first quarter of 2024, upon finalization of the working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs.
On January 31, 2022, we sold the natural beverage and grains businesses to Nexus. The transaction included products sold under the R.W. Knudsen and TruRoots brands, inclusive of certain trademarks, a licensing agreement for Santa Cruz Organic beverages, dedicated manufacturing and distribution facilities in Chico, California and Havre de Grace, Maryland, and approximately 150 employees who supported the natural beverage and grains businesses. The transaction did not include Santa Cruz Organic nut butters, fruit spreads, syrups, or applesauce. Under our ownership, the businesses generated net sales of $106.7 in 2022, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $98.7, inclusive of a working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs. We recognized a pre-tax gain of $28.3 related to the natural beverage and grains businesses, of which $26.7 was recognized during 2022, and the remaining $1.6 was recognized upon finalization of the working capital adjustment during 2023.
On December 1, 2021, we sold the private label dry pet food business to Diamond Pet Foods. The transaction included dry pet food products sold under private label brands, a dedicated manufacturing facility located in Frontenac, Kansas, and approximately 220 employees who supported the private label dry pet food business. The transaction did not include any branded products or our private label wet pet food business. Under our ownership, the business generated net sales of $62.3 in 2022, included in the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $32.9, net of cash transaction costs. Upon completion of this transaction during 2022, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $17.1.
Trends Affecting our Business
During 2023, we experienced significant input cost inflation and a dynamic macroeconomic environment, which we anticipate will persist into 2024. In addition, the higher costs required us to implement material price increases across our business in 2023, and we anticipate the price elasticity of demand will remain elevated into 2024 as consumers continue to respond to broader inflationary pressures. In response to the inflationary pressures, we have introduced a company-wide transformation initiative to focus on deliberately translating our continuous improvement mindset into sustainable productivity initiatives to grow our profit margins and reinvest in the Company to enable future growth and cost savings.
In addition, we continued to experience disruption in our supply chain network, including labor shortages and the supply of certain ingredients, packaging, and other sourced materials, which has resulted in the continued elevation of transportation
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and other supply chain costs during 2023. It is possible that more significant disruptions could occur if the COVID-19 pandemic and certain geopolitical events continue to impact markets around the world, including the impact of e-commerce pressures on freight charges and potential shipping delays due to supply and demand imbalances, as well as labor shortages. We also continue to work closely with our customers and external business partners, taking additional actions to ensure safety and business continuity and maximize product availability. We have maintained production at all our facilities and availability of appointments at distribution centers. Furthermore, we have implemented measures to manage order volumes to ensure a consistent supply across our retail partners during periods of high demand. However, to the extent that high demand levels or the current supply chain environment continues to disrupt order fulfillment, we may experience volume loss and elevated penalties.
Although we do not have any operations in Russia or Ukraine, we continue to monitor the environment for any significant escalation or expansion of economic or supply chain disruptions, including broader inflationary costs, as well as regional or global economic recessions. During 2023, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine primarily impacted the price of grains, oils, and fat-based products, which may continue to have an adverse impact on our results of operations into 2024.
Overall, broad-based supply chain disruptions and rising levels of inflation, including the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, remain uncertain and ultimately depend on the length and severity of the conflict and the pandemic. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent to which supply chain disruptions and inflation will impact our business; supply chain, including labor availability and attrition; results of operations; financial condition; and liquidity.
Results of Operations
This discussion and analysis deals with comparisons of material changes in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended April 30, 2023 and 2022. For the comparisons of the years ended April 30, 2022 and 2021, see the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II, Item 7 of our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 8,529.2 | $ | 7,998.9 | 7 | % | ||||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,801.8 | $ | 2,700.7 | 4 | |||||
| % of net sales | 32.8 | % | 33.8 | % | ||||||
| Operating income | $ | 157.5 | $ | 1,023.8 | (85) | |||||
| % of net sales | 1.8 | % | 12.8 | % | ||||||
| Net income (loss): | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (91.3) | $ | 631.7 | (114) | |||||
| Net income (loss) per common share – assuming dilution | $ | (0.86) | $ | 5.83 | (115) | |||||
| Adjusted gross profit (A) | $ | 2,829.6 | $ | 2,744.6 | 3 | |||||
| % of net sales | 33.2 | % | 34.3 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted operating income (A) | $ | 1,415.4 | $ | 1,440.1 | (2) | |||||
| % of net sales | 16.6 | % | 18.0 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted income: (A) | ||||||||||
| Income | $ | 950.8 | $ | 962.2 | (1) | |||||
| Earnings per share – assuming dilution | $ | 8.92 | $ | 8.88 | — |
(A)We use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for a reconciliation to the comparable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measure.
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Net Sales
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | Increase (Decrease) | % | |||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 8,529.2 | $ | 7,998.9 | $ | 530.3 | 7 | % | ||||||
| Private label dry pet food divestiture | — | (62.3) | 62.3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Natural beverage and grains divestiture | — | (106.7) | 106.7 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Pet food brands divestiture | — | (12.2) | 12.2 | — | ||||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange | 26.3 | — | 26.3 | — | ||||||||||
| Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange (A) | $ | 8,555.5 | $ | 7,817.7 | $ | 737.8 | 9 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
(A)Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange is a non-GAAP financial measure used to evaluate performance internally. This measure provides useful information to investors because it enables comparison of results on a year-over-year basis.
Net sales in 2023 increased $530.3, or 7 percent, which includes $181.2 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to divestitures. Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange increased $737.8, or 9 percent. Higher net price realization contributed a 14 percentage point increase to net sales, primarily reflecting list price increases for each of our U.S. Retail segments and for International and Away From Home, which was partially offset by a 5 percentage point decrease from volume/mix, primarily driven by the U.S. Retail Coffee segment and manufacturing downtime related to the Jif peanut butter product recall.
Operating Income
The following table presents the components of operating income as a percentage of net sales.
| Year Ended April 30, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
| Gross profit | 32.8 | % | 33.8 | % | |
| Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses: | |||||
| Marketing | 3.3 | % | 3.5 | % | |
| Advertising | 1.9 | 2.2 | |||
| Selling | 2.8 | 2.8 | |||
| Distribution | 3.5 | 3.6 | |||
| General and administrative | 5.5 | 5.0 | |||
| Total selling, distribution, and administrative expenses | 17.1 | % | 17.0 | % | |
| Amortization | 2.4 | 2.8 | |||
| Other intangible assets impairment charge | — | 1.9 | |||
| Other special project costs | 0.1 | 0.1 | |||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 11.9 | (0.1) | |||
| Other operating expense (income) – net | (0.5) | (0.7) | |||
| Operating income | 1.8 | % | 12.8 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
Gross profit increased $101.1, or 4 percent, in 2023, reflecting a favorable net impact of higher net price realization and increased commodity and ingredient, manufacturing, and packaging costs, inclusive of the unfavorable impact related to the Jif peanut butter product recall, partially offset by a lower contribution from volume/mix and the noncomparable impact of the divested natural beverage and grains businesses.
Operating income decreased $866.3, or 85 percent, primarily driven by the $1.0 billion pre-tax loss related to the divestiture of certain pet food brands and a $94.7 increase in selling, distribution, and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses, primarily driven by increased incentive compensation, partially offset by lapping a $150.4 intangible asset impairment charge in the prior year and the increase in gross profit.
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Our non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results, such as unrealized gains and losses on the investment in equity securities. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Gross profit excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted gross profit”) increased $85.0, or 3 percent, in 2023, primarily reflecting the exclusion of special project costs, as compared to GAAP gross profit. Adjusted operating income decreased $24.7, or 2 percent, as compared to the prior year, further reflecting the exclusion of the pre-tax loss related to the divestiture of certain pet food brands and the prior year impairment charge.
Interest Expense
Net interest expense decreased $8.9, or 6 percent, in 2023, primarily due to a net favorable impact of the repayment of Senior Notes and the issuance of debt in the prior year. For additional information, refer to Note 7: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
Income Taxes
Income taxes decreased $130.0, or 61 percent, in 2023, as compared to the prior year. The effective income tax rate for 2023 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to an unfavorable permanent impact of the divestiture of certain pet food brands, as well as state income taxes. The effective income tax rate for 2022 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to state income taxes, including an unfavorable one-time deferred tax impact of an internal legal entity simplification. We anticipate a full-year effective income tax rate for 2024 to be approximately 24.2 percent. For additional information, refer to Note 13: Income Taxes.
Special Project Costs
A restructuring program was approved by the Board during 2021, associated with opportunities identified to reduce our overall cost structure, optimize our organizational design, and support our portfolio reshape. This is inclusive of certain restructuring costs associated with the divestitures of the Crisco, Natural Balance, private label dry pet food, and natural beverage and grains businesses. For additional information related to the divestitures, see Note 3: Divestitures.
During 2021, we substantially completed an organizational redesign related to our corporate headquarters and announced plans to close our Suffolk, Virginia facility as a result of a new strategic partnership for the production of our liquid coffee products. During 2022, we completed the transition of production to JDE Peet’s, and expanded the restructuring program to include certain costs associated with the divestitures of the private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses, as well as the closure of our Ripon, Wisconsin production facility to further optimize operations for our U.S. Retail Consumer Foods business. We completed the closure of the Ripon facility during 2023, as planned, and the remaining restructuring activities were completed as of April 30, 2023. The costs incurred associated with these restructuring activities include other transition and termination costs associated with our cost reduction and margin management initiatives, inclusive of accelerated depreciation, as well as employee-related costs. We have incurred total cumulative restructuring costs of $63.7, of which $11.1 and $28.5 were incurred during 2023 and 2022, respectively. For further information, refer to Note 2: Special Project Costs.
Commodities Overview
The raw materials we use in each of our segments are primarily commodities, agricultural-based products, and packaging materials. The most significant of these materials, based on 2023 annual spend, are green coffee, protein meals, peanuts, grains, and plastic containers. Green coffee, corn, certain meals, oils, and grains are traded on active regulated exchanges, and the price of these commodities fluctuates based on market conditions. Derivative instruments, including futures and options, are used to minimize the impact of price volatility for these commodities.
We source green coffee from more than 20 coffee-producing countries. Its price is subject to high volatility due to factors such as weather, global supply and demand, plant disease, investor speculation, and political and economic conditions in the source countries.
We source peanuts, protein meals, and oils and fats mainly from North America. We are one of the largest procurers of peanuts in the U.S. and frequently enter into long-term purchase contracts for various periods of time to mitigate the risk of a shortage of this commodity. The oils we purchase are mainly peanut and soybean. The price of peanuts, protein meals, and oils are driven primarily by weather, which impacts crop sizes and yield, as well as global demand, especially from large importing countries such as China and India. In particular, the supply chain for protein meals, fats, corn products, and green coffee has been significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore, the price for these commodities has
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increased and may continue to increase due to such disruptions. Furthermore, the price of grains and oils and fat-based products has been impacted by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
We frequently enter into long-term contracts to purchase plastic containers, which are sourced mainly from within the U.S. Plastic resin is made from petrochemical feedstock and natural gas feedstock, and the price can be influenced by feedstock, energy, and crude oil prices as well as global economic and geopolitical conditions.
Excluding the impact of derivative gains and losses, our overall commodity costs in 2023 were higher than in 2022, primarily due to higher costs for green coffee, protein meals, oils and fats, and grains.
Segment Results
We have three reportable segments: U.S. Retail Pet Foods, U.S. Retail Coffee, and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods. The presentation of International and Away From Home represents a combination of all other operating segments that are not individually reportable.
The U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Meow Mix, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, and Canine Carry Outs branded products; the U.S. Retail Coffee segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Folgers, Dunkin’, and Café Bustelo branded coffee; and the U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Smucker’s and Jif branded products. International and Away From Home includes the sale of products distributed domestically and in foreign countries through retail channels and foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., health care operators, restaurants, lodging, hospitality, offices, K-12, colleges and universities, and convenience stores). Under our ownership, the divested Rachael Ray Nutrish, 9Lives, Kibbles ’n Bits, Nature’s Recipe, and Gravy Train brands generated net sales of $1.5 billion and $1.4 billion in 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | $ | 3,038.1 | $ | 2,764.3 | 10 | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 2,735.3 | 2,497.3 | 10 | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Consumer Foods | 1,630.9 | 1,707.2 | (4) | |||||||
| International and Away From Home | 1,124.9 | 1,030.1 | 9 | |||||||
| Segment profit: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | $ | 494.9 | $ | 395.9 | 25 | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 737.7 | 736.7 | — | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Consumer Foods | 352.6 | 424.2 | (17) | |||||||
| International and Away From Home | 143.3 | 142.0 | 1 | |||||||
| Segment profit margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 16.3 | % | 14.3 | % | ||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 27.0 | 29.5 | ||||||||
| U.S. Retail Consumer Foods | 21.6 | 24.8 | ||||||||
| International and Away From Home | 12.7 | 13.8 |
U.S. Retail Pet Foods
The U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment net sales increased $273.8 in 2023, inclusive of the impact of $74.3 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to the divested private label dry pet food business and the divestiture of certain pet food brands. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divested businesses, net sales increased $348.1, or 13 percent. Higher net price realization increased net sales by 16 percentage points, primarily reflecting list price increases across the portfolio, partially offset by increased trade spend. The higher net price realization was partially offset by a lower contribution from volume/mix of 3 percentage points, primarily reflecting decreases for cat food and dog food. Segment profit increased $99.0, primarily reflecting a favorable net impact of higher net price realization and increased commodity and ingredient, packaging, and manufacturing costs, partially offset by higher marketing spend.
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U.S. Retail Coffee
The U.S. Retail Coffee segment net sales increased $238.0 in 2023. Net price realization contributed a 19 percentage point increase to net sales, primarily reflecting list price increases across the portfolio, partially offset by increased trade spend. Unfavorable volume/mix decreased net sales by 9 percentage points driven by mainstream and premium coffee. Segment profit was comparable to the prior year as a favorable net impact of higher net price realization and increased commodity and manufacturing costs was mostly offset by the unfavorable volume/mix.
U.S. Retail Consumer Foods
The U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment net sales decreased $76.3 in 2023, inclusive of the impact of $101.8 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to the divested natural beverage and grains businesses. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divested businesses, net sales increased $25.5, or 2 percent. Net price realization contributed a
6 percentage point increase to net sales, primarily driven by list price increases for the Smucker’s brand, partially offset by declines for Jif peanut butter, inclusive of the unfavorable impact of customer returns and fees related to the Jif peanut butter product recall. Volume/mix decreased net sales by 4 percentage points, primarily driven by downtime related to the recall, partially offset by an increase for Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches. Segment profit decreased $71.6, primarily reflecting higher commodity and ingredient, manufacturing, and packaging costs, inclusive of costs related to the recall, and the impact of the noncomparable segment profit in the prior year related to the divested natural beverage and grains businesses, partially offset by higher net pricing and favorable volume/mix.
International and Away From Home
International and Away From Home net sales increased $94.8 in 2023, including $26.3 of unfavorable foreign currency exchange and the noncomparable impact of $5.1 of net sales in the prior year primarily related to the divested natural beverage and grains businesses. Excluding the noncomparable impact of foreign currency exchange and the divested businesses, net sales increased $126.2, or 12 percent, reflecting a 19 percent and 5 percent increase for the Away From Home and International operating segments, respectively. Net price realization contributed a 13 percentage point increase to net sales for the combined businesses, primarily driven by increases for coffee products, baking mixes and ingredients, and frozen handheld products, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of customer returns and fees related to the Jif peanut butter product recall. Segment profit increased $1.3, primarily reflecting a favorable net impact of higher net price realization and increased commodity costs, as well as decreased marketing spend, partially offset by the unfavorable foreign currency exchange.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
Our principal source of funds is cash generated from operations, supplemented by borrowings against our commercial paper program and revolving credit facility. Further benefiting from proceeds from divestitures, total cash and cash equivalents increased to $655.8 at April 30, 2023, compared to $169.9 at April 30, 2022.
The following table presents selected cash flow information.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities (A) | $ | 1,194.4 | $ | 1,136.3 | ||
| Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities (A) | 256.2 | (355.5) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | (964.6) | (944.5) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities (A) | $ | 1,194.4 | $ | 1,136.3 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment (A) | (477.4) | (417.5) | ||||
| Free cash flow (B) | $ | 717.0 | $ | 718.8 |
(A)Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities and net cash provided by (used for) investing activities differ immaterially from the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow for the year ended April 30, 2023, as previously furnished within the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 6, 2023, reflecting the reclassification of certain items, inclusive of additions to property, plant, and equipment. Free cash flow and the net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents for the year ended April 30, 2023, were not impacted by the reclassifications and remain unchanged.
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(B)Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to evaluate the amount of cash available for debt repayment, dividend distribution, acquisition opportunities, share repurchases, and other corporate purposes.
The $58.1 increase in cash provided by operating activities in 2023 was primarily driven by lower working capital requirements in 2023, partially offset by the $70.0 contribution to our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plans during the first quarter of 2023. The cash required to fund working capital decreased compared to the prior year primarily related to insurance proceeds related to the Jif peanut butter product recall that were received in 2023, a decrease in inventory, and changes in accrued incentive compensation, which were partially offset by a decrease in cash from trade receivables due to timing of sales and payments.
Cash provided by investing activities in 2023 consisted primarily of net proceeds received from the sale of certain pet food brands of $684.7 and a decrease of $37.6 in our derivative cash margin account balances. These increases were partially offset by $477.4 in capital expenditures, primarily driven by investments in Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches to support the new manufacturing and distribution facilities in McCalla, Alabama and capacity expansion in Longmont, Colorado, as well as plant maintenance across our facilities. Cash used for investing activities in 2022 consisted primarily of $417.5 in capital expenditures, primarily driven by investments in Smucker's Uncrustables frozen sandwiches to support the new manufacturing and distribution facilities, and an increase of $65.4 in our derivative cash margin account balances. These decreases in 2022 were partially offset by net proceeds received from the divested private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses of $130.0.
Cash used for financing activities in 2023 consisted primarily of dividend payments of $430.2, purchase of treasury shares of $367.5, and a net decrease in short-term borrowings of $185.9. Cash used for financing activities in 2022 consisted primarily of long-term debt repayments of $1,157.0, dividend payments of $418.1, and purchase of treasury shares of $270.4, partially offset by $797.6 in long-term debt proceeds and a net increase in short-term borrowings of $97.6.
Supplier Financing Program
As part of ongoing efforts to maximize working capital, we work with our suppliers to optimize our terms and conditions, which includes the extension of payment terms. Payment terms with our suppliers, which we deem to be commercially reasonable, range from 0 to 180 days. We have an agreement with a third-party administrator to provide an accounts payable tracking system and facilitate a supplier financing program, which allows participating suppliers the ability to monitor and voluntarily elect to sell our payment obligations to a designated third-party financial institution. Participating suppliers can sell one or more of our payment obligations at their sole discretion, and our rights and obligations to our suppliers are not impacted. We have no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to enter into these agreements. Our rights and obligations to our suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted by our suppliers’ decisions to sell amounts under these arrangements. As of April 30, 2023 and 2022, $414.2 and $314.3 of our outstanding payment obligations, respectively, were elected and sold to a financial institution by participating suppliers. During 2023 and 2022, we paid $1,495.2 and $1,042.9, respectively, to a financial institution for payment obligations that were settled through the supplier financing program.
Contingencies
We, like other food manufacturers, are from time to time subject to various administrative, regulatory, and other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We are currently a defendant in a variety of such legal proceedings, including certain lawsuits related to the alleged price-fixing of shelf stable tuna products prior to 2011 by a business previously owned by, but divested prior to our acquisition of, Big Heart, the significant majority of which were settled and paid during 2019 and 2020. While we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate results of these proceedings or potential settlements associated with these or other matters, we have accrued losses for certain contingent liabilities that we have determined are probable and reasonably estimable at April 30, 2023. Based on the information known to date, with the exception of the matters discussed below, we do not believe the final outcome of these proceedings would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
In addition to the legal proceedings discussed above, we are defendants in a series of putative class action lawsuits that were transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri for coordinated pre-trial proceedings. The plaintiffs assert claims arising under various state laws for false advertising, consumer protection, deceptive and unfair trade practices, and similar statutes. Their claims are premised on allegations that we have misrepresented the number of servings that can be made from various canisters of Folgers coffee on the packaging for those products.
The outcome and the financial impact of these cases, if any, cannot be predicted at this time. Accordingly, no loss contingency has been recorded for these matters as of April 30, 2023, and the likelihood of loss is not considered probable or
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estimable. However, if we are required to pay significant damages, our business and financial results could be adversely impacted, and sales of those products could suffer not only in these locations but elsewhere. For additional information, see Note 15: Contingencies.
Product Recall
In May 2022, we initiated a voluntary recall of select Jif peanut butter products produced at our Lexington, Kentucky facility and sold primarily in the U.S., due to potential salmonella contamination. At that time, we also suspended the manufacturing of Jif peanut butter products at the Lexington facility and temporarily paused shipments from our Memphis, Tennessee facility to eliminate confusion while customers cleared their shelves of potentially impacted products manufactured at the Lexington facility. No other products produced at our other facilities were affected by the recall. In June 2022, we resumed manufacturing Jif peanut butter products at our Lexington facility, as well as shipping from our Memphis facility. We partnered with retailers to restock Jif peanut butter products during the first quarter of 2023, and as of April 30, 2023, we have returned to normal levels. To date, we have recognized total direct costs associated with the recall of approximately $120.0, net of insurance recoveries, related to customer returns, fees, unsaleable inventory, and other product recall-related costs, primarily within our U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment. We expect costs associated with the recall to be minimal in 2024.
Further, the FDA issued a Warning Letter on January 24, 2023, following an inspection of our Lexington facility completed in June 2022 in connection with the Jif voluntary recall, identifying concerns regarding certain practices and controls at the facility. We have responded to the Warning Letter with a detailed explanation of our food safety plan and extensive verification activities to prevent contamination in Jif peanut butter products. In addition, we have worked diligently to further strengthen our already stringent quality processes, including doubling our finished product testing and tripling our environmental testing to verify the efficacy of our actions. The FDA or other agencies may nonetheless conclude that certain practices or controls were not in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or other laws. Any potential regulatory action based on such an agency conclusion could result in the imposition of injunctive terms and monetary payments that could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, brand, results of operations, and financial performance, as well as affect ongoing consumer litigation associated with the voluntary recall of Jif peanut butter products. The outcome and financial impact of the ongoing consumer litigation or any potential regulatory action associated with the Jif voluntary recall cannot be predicted at this time. Accordingly, no loss contingency has been recorded for these matters as of April 30, 2023, and the likelihood of loss is not considered probable or estimable.
Capital Resources
The following table presents our capital structure.
| April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Short-term borrowings | $ | — | $ | 180.0 | ||
| Long-term debt | 4,314.2 | 4,310.6 | ||||
| Total debt | $ | 4,314.2 | $ | 4,490.6 | ||
| Shareholders’ equity | 7,290.8 | 8,140.1 | ||||
| Total capital | $ | 11,605.0 | $ | 12,630.7 |
We have available a $2.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of 11 banks that matures in August 2026. Additionally, we participate in a commercial paper program under which we can issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper not to exceed $2.0 billion at any time. The commercial paper program is backed by our revolving credit facility and reduces what we can borrow under the revolving credit facility by the amount of commercial paper outstanding. Commercial paper is used as a continuing source of short-term financing for general corporate purposes. As of April 30, 2023, we did not have a balance outstanding under the commercial paper program.
We are in compliance with all our debt covenants as of April 30, 2023, and expect to be for the next 12 months. For additional information on our long-term debt, sources of liquidity, and debt covenants, see Note 7: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
Dividend payments were $430.2 and $418.1 in 2023 and 2022, respectively, and quarterly dividends declared per share were $4.08 and $3.96 in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board and depends on various factors, such as our net income, financial condition, cash requirements, future events, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.
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During the fourth quarter of 2023, we repurchased approximately 2.4 million common shares for $358.0 pursuant to the authorizations of the Board. Under the repurchase plan, a total of approximately 3.5 million common shares remain available for repurchase as of April 30, 2023. In accordance with the Inflation Reduction Act, a one percent excise tax was applied to share repurchases after December 31, 2022. As a result, an excise tax of $3.6 was accrued on the repurchased shares during 2023, and included within additional capital in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. A total of 2.0 million common shares were repurchased for $262.5 during 2022 under authorizations by the Board, and no excise tax was accrued on the repurchased shares. All other share repurchases during 2023 and 2022 consisted of shares repurchased from stock plan recipients in lieu of cash payments.
On March 2, 2023, we also entered into a share repurchase plan (the “10b5-1 Plan”) established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act in connection with the remaining common shares authorized for repurchase by the Board. In accordance with the 10b5-1 Plan, our designated broker has the authority to repurchase approximately 2.4 million commons shares, which commenced on the consummation of the sale of certain pet food brands on April 28, 2023, and will expire 45 calendar days after the closure of the transaction, which is in the first quarter of 2024, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the 10b5-1 Plan. Subsequent to April 30, 2023, we repurchased approximately 2.4 million common shares for $362.8 under this 10b5-1 Plan and approximately 1.1 million common shares remain available for repurchase. An excise tax of $3.6 was also accrued on the repurchased shares during the first quarter of 2024.
In November 2021, we announced plans to invest $1.1 billion to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in McCalla, Alabama dedicated to production of Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches. Construction of this facility began in 2022, with production expected to begin in calendar year 2025. The project demonstrates our commitment to meet increasing demand for this highly successful product and deliver on our strategy to focus on brands with the most significant growth opportunities. Construction of the facility and production will occur in three phases over multiple years and will result in the creation of up to 750 jobs. Financial investments and job creation will align with each of the three phases.
The following table presents certain cash requirements related to 2024 investing and financing activities based on our current expectations. Although no principal payments are required on our debt obligations in 2024, we may utilize a portion of our cash for debt repayment.
| Projection Year Ending April 30, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dividend payments – based on current rates and common shares outstanding | $ | 425.9 |
| Capital expenditures | 565.0 | |
| Interest payments | 138.9 |
Absent any material acquisitions or other significant investments, we believe that cash on hand, combined with cash provided by operations, borrowings available under our revolving credit facility and commercial paper program, and access to capital markets, will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the next 12 months, including the payment of quarterly dividends, principal and interest payments on debt outstanding, and capital expenditures. However, as a result of the current macroeconomic environment, we may experience an increase in the cost or the difficulty to obtain debt or equity financing, or to refinance our debt in the future. We continue to evaluate these risks, which could affect our financial condition or our ability to fund operations or future investment opportunities.
As of April 30, 2023, total cash and cash equivalents of $35.8 was held by our foreign subsidiaries, primarily in Canada. We did not repatriate foreign cash to the U.S. during 2023.
Material Cash Requirements
The following table summarizes our material cash requirements by fiscal year at April 30, 2023.
| Total | 2024 | 2025-2026 | 2027-2028 | 2029 and beyond | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt obligations (A) | $ | 4,350.0 | $ | — | $ | 1,000.0 | $ | 500.0 | $ | 2,850.0 | ||||||||
| Interest payments (B) | 1,682.3 | 147.2 | 259.3 | 224.3 | 1,051.5 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (C) | 2,146.2 | 1,774.3 | 228.6 | 93.9 | 49.4 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 8,178.5 | $ | 1,921.5 | $ | 1,487.9 | $ | 818.2 | $ | 3,950.9 |
(A)Long-term debt obligations excludes the impact of offering discounts, make-whole payments, and debt issuance costs.
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(B)Interest payments consists of the interest payments for our fixed-rate Senior Notes.
(C)Purchase obligations includes agreements that are enforceable and legally bind us to purchase goods or services, which primarily consist of obligations related to normal, ongoing purchase obligations in which we have guaranteed payment to ensure availability of raw materials. We expect to receive consideration for these purchase obligations in the form of materials and services. These purchase obligations do not represent all future purchases expected but represent only those items for which we are contractually obligated. Amounts included in the table above represent our current best estimate of payments due. Actual cash payments may vary due to the variable pricing components of certain purchase obligations.
Our other cash requirements at April 30, 2023, primarily included operating and finance lease obligations, which consist of the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating and finance leases. As of April 30, 2023, we had total undiscounted minimum lease payments of $120.9 and $3.5 related to our operating and finance leases, respectively. For additional information, see Note 11: Leases.
In addition, we have other liabilities which consisted primarily of projected commitments associated with our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, as disclosed in Note 8: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits. The total liability for our unrecognized tax benefits and tax-related net interest at April 30, 2023, was $6.3 under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, Income Taxes; however, we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of cash settlements with the respective taxing authorities. For additional information, see Note 13: Income Taxes.
As of April 30, 2023, we do not have material off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also known as variable interest entities. Transactions with related parties are in the ordinary course of business and are not material to our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We use non-GAAP financial measures including: net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted income, adjusted earnings per share, and free cash flow, as key measures for purposes of evaluating performance internally. We believe that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing these performance measures. Furthermore, these non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in preparation of the annual budget and for the monthly analyses of our operating results. The Board also utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures as components for measuring performance for incentive compensation purposes.
Non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items affecting comparability that can significantly affect the year-over-year assessment of operating results, which include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other infrequently occurring items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results, such as unrealized gains and losses on the investment in equity securities. Income taxes, as adjusted is calculated using an adjusted effective income tax rate that is applied to adjusted income before income taxes and reflects the exclusion of the previously discussed items, as well as any adjustments for one-time tax related activities, when they occur. While this adjusted effective income tax rate does not generally differ materially from our GAAP effective income tax rate, certain exclusions from non-GAAP results, such as the unfavorable permanent impact of the divestiture of certain pet food brands during 2023, and the one-time deferred state tax impact of the internal legal entity simplification during 2022, can significantly impact our adjusted effective income tax rate.
These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Rather, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures supplements other metrics we use to internally evaluate our business and facilitate the comparison of past and present operations and liquidity. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and may exclude certain nondiscretionary expenses and cash payments.
The following table reconciles certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measure. See page 29 for a reconciliation of net sales adjusted for certain noncomparable items to the comparable GAAP financial measure.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Gross profit reconciliation: | ||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,801.8 | $ | 2,700.7 | ||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 21.4 | 23.4 | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 6.4 | 20.5 | ||||
| Adjusted gross profit | $ | 2,829.6 | $ | 2,744.6 | ||
| % of net sales | 33.2 | % | 34.3 | % | ||
| Operating income reconciliation: | ||||||
| Operating income | $ | 157.5 | $ | 1,023.8 | ||
| Amortization | 206.9 | 223.6 | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charge | — | 150.4 | ||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 1,018.5 | (9.6) | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 21.4 | 23.4 | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 6.4 | 20.5 | ||||
| Other special project costs (A) | 4.7 | 8.0 | ||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 1,415.4 | $ | 1,440.1 | ||
| % of net sales | 16.6 | % | 18.0 | % | ||
| Net income (loss) reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (91.3) | $ | 631.7 | ||
| Income tax expense | 82.1 | 212.1 | ||||
| Amortization | 206.9 | 223.6 | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charge | — | 150.4 | ||||
| Loss (gain) on divestitures – net | 1,018.5 | (9.6) | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 21.4 | 23.4 | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 6.4 | 20.5 | ||||
| Other special project costs (A) | 4.7 | 8.0 | ||||
| Other infrequently occurring items: | ||||||
| Unrealized loss (gain) on investment in equity securities (B) | 3.8 | — | ||||
| Adjusted income before income taxes | $ | 1,252.5 | $ | 1,260.1 | ||
| Income taxes, as adjusted | 301.7 | 297.9 | ||||
| Adjusted income | $ | 950.8 | $ | 962.2 | ||
| Weighted-average shares – assuming dilution(C) | 106.6 | 108.4 | ||||
| Adjusted earnings per share – assuming dilution(C) | $ | 8.92 | $ | 8.88 | ||
| Free cash flow reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,194.4 | $ | 1,136.3 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (477.4) | (417.5) | ||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 717.0 | $ | 718.8 |
(A) Special project costs include certain restructuring costs, which are recognized in cost of products sold and other special project costs. For more information, see Note 2: Special Project Costs and Note 4: Reportable Segments.
(B) Unrealized loss (gain) on investment in equity securities includes unrealized gains and losses on the change in fair value on our investment in Post common stock. For more information, see Note 3: Divestitures and Note 10: Other Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements.
(C) Adjusted earnings per common share – assuming dilution for 2023 and 2022 was computed using the treasury stock method. Further, in 2023, the weighted-average shares – assuming dilution differed from our GAAP weighted-average common shares outstanding – assuming dilution as a result of the anti-dilutive effect of our stock-based awards, which were excluded from the computation of net loss per share – assuming dilution. For more information see Earnings Per Share in Note 1: Accounting Policies and Note 5: Earnings Per Share.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that in certain circumstances affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. We do not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Trade Marketing and Merchandising Programs: In order to support our products, various promotional activities are conducted through retailers, distributors, or directly with consumers, including in-store display and product placement programs, price discounts, coupons, and other similar activities. The costs of these programs are classified as a reduction of sales. We regularly review and revise, when we deem necessary, estimates of costs for these promotional programs based on estimates of what will be redeemed by retailers, distributors, or consumers. These estimates are made using various techniques, including historical data on performance of similar promotional programs. Differences between estimated expenditures and actual performance are recognized as a change in estimate in a subsequent period. During 2023, 2022, and 2021, subsequent period adjustments were less than 3 percent of both consolidated pre-tax adjusted income and cash provided by operating activities.
Income Taxes: We account for income taxes using the liability method. In the ordinary course of business, we are exposed to uncertainties related to tax filing positions and periodically assess the technical merits of these tax positions for all tax years that remain subject to examination, based upon the latest information available. We recognize a tax benefit when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination, based on its technical merits. The tax position is then measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
We routinely evaluate the likelihood of realizing the benefit of our deferred tax assets and may record a valuation allowance if, based on all available evidence, we determine that it is more likely than not that all or some portion of such assets will not be realized. Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be affected by changes in tax laws, statutory tax rates, and projected future taxable income levels. Changes in estimated realization of deferred tax assets would result in an adjustment to income in the period in which that determination is made, unless such changes are determined to be an adjustment to goodwill within the allowable measurement period under the acquisition method of accounting.
The future tax benefit arising from the net deductible temporary differences and tax carryforwards was $196.8 and $193.4 at April 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and results of operations. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of tax carryforwards or the projected operating results indicate that realization is not likely, a valuation allowance has been provided.
As of April 30, 2023, a portion of our undistributed foreign earnings, primarily in Canada, is not considered permanently reinvested, and an immaterial deferred tax liability has been recognized accordingly. Further, we have not repatriated foreign cash to the U.S during 2023. For additional information, see Note 13: Income Taxes.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets: A significant portion of our assets is composed of goodwill and other intangible assets, the majority of which are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment at least annually on
February 1, and more often if indicators of impairment exist. At April 30, 2023, the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets totaled $9.6 billion, compared to total assets of $15.0 billion and total shareholders’ equity of $7.3 billion. If the carrying value of these assets exceeds the current estimated fair value, the asset is considered impaired, and this would result in a noncash impairment charge to earnings. Any such impairment charge would reduce earnings and could be material. Events and conditions that could result in impairment include a sustained drop in the market price of our common shares, increased competition or loss of market share, obsolescence, product claims that result in a significant loss of sales or profitability over the product life, deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, or declining financial performance in comparison to projected results.
To test for goodwill impairment, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units using both a discounted cash flow valuation technique and a market-based approach. The impairment test incorporates estimates of future cash flows; allocations of certain assets, liabilities, and cash flows among reporting units; future growth rates; terminal value amounts;
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and the applicable weighted-average cost of capital used to discount those estimated cash flows. The estimates and projections used in the calculation of fair value are consistent with our current and long-range plans, including anticipated changes in market conditions, industry trends, growth rates, and planned capital expenditures. Changes in forecasted operations and other estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
As a result of the divestiture of certain pet food brands on April 28, 2023, we disposed of $790.3 of goodwill, primarily within the Pet Foods reporting unit. The amount of goodwill allocated to the disposal group was determined based on a relative fair value analysis, utilizing a discounted cash flow valuation technique, which required management to make certain estimates and assumptions utilizing Level 3 inputs, consistent with our approach for an impairment test.
At April 30, 2023, goodwill totaled $5.2 billion. Goodwill is substantially concentrated within the U.S. Retail Coffee, U.S. Retail Pet Foods, and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segments. During 2023, no goodwill impairment was recognized as a result of the evaluations performed throughout the year, inclusive of an assessment performed following the divestiture. The estimated fair value of each of our reporting units for which there is a goodwill balance was substantially in excess of its carrying value as of the annual test date, with the exception of the Pet Foods reporting unit, for which its fair value exceeded its carrying value by approximately 7 percent. However, subsequent to the annual test, the reporting units impacted by the divestiture were assessed for impairment as of April 30, 2023, and we concluded there were no indicators of impairment, as the estimated fair values were in excess of the carrying values for all reporting units. For additional information, see Note 3: Divestitures and Note 6: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets, consisting entirely of trademarks, are also tested for impairment at least annually and more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying values may be below their fair values. To test these assets for impairment, we estimate the fair value of each asset based on a discounted cash flow model using various inputs, including projected revenues, an assumed royalty rate, and a discount rate. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2023, other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $2.6 billion. Trademarks that represent our leading brands comprise approximately 95 percent of the total carrying value of other indefinite-lived intangible assets. As of April 30, 2023, the estimated fair value was substantially in excess of the carrying value for the majority of these leading brand trademarks, and in all instances, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value by greater than 10 percent.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans: To determine the ultimate obligation under our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, we must estimate the future cost of benefits and attribute that cost to the time period during which each covered employee works. Various actuarial assumptions must be made in order to predict and measure costs and obligations many years prior to the settlement date, the most significant being the interest rates used to discount the obligations of the plans, the long-term rates of return on the plans’ assets, and mortality assumptions. We, along with third-party actuaries and investment managers, review all of these assumptions on an ongoing basis to ensure that the most reasonable information available is being considered.
We employ a total return on investment approach for the defined benefit pension plans’ assets. A mix of equity, fixed-income, and alternative investments is used to maximize the long-term rate of return on assets for the level of risk. In determining the expected long-term rate of return on the defined benefit pension plans’ assets, we consider the historical rates of return, the nature of investments, the asset allocation, and expectations of future investment strategies. The actual rate of return was a loss of 2.3 percent and a loss of 4.6 percent for the years ended April 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which excludes administrative and investment expenses.
We utilize a spot rate methodology for the estimation of service and interest cost for our plans by applying specific spot rates along the yield curve to the relevant projected cash flows to provide a better estimate of service and interest costs. For 2024 expense recognition, we will use weighted-average discount rates for the U.S. defined benefit pension plans of 5.19 percent to determine benefit obligation, 5.38 percent to determine service cost, and 5.08 percent to determine interest cost. As of April 30, 2023, a 50 basis-point decrease in the discount rate assumption would increase the 2024 net periodic benefit cost by approximately $0.4, and the benefit obligation would increase by approximately $18.4. In addition, we anticipate using an expected rate of return on plan assets of 5.35 percent for the U.S. defined benefit pension plans. A 50 basis-point decrease in the expected rate of return on plan assets assumption would increase the 2024 net periodic benefit cost by approximately $1.5.
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For the Canadian defined benefit pension plans, we will use weighted-average discount rates of 4.59 percent to determine benefit obligation and 4.65 percent to determine interest cost for 2024 expense recognition. In addition, we anticipate using an expected rate of return on plan assets of 3.30 percent for the Canadian defined pension plans. A change in the assumptions used for the Canadian defined benefit pension plans would not have a material impact on the net periodic benefit cost and benefit obligation. For additional information, see Note 8: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans, and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “will,” “plan,” and similar phrases.
Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the following:
•the effect of the sale of certain pet food brands on our ability to retain key personnel and to maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, and other business partners, and any impact to the value of our investment in Post common stock or our ability to dispose of some or all of such securities at favorable market prices;
•disruptions or inefficiencies in our operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls (including the Jif peanut butter product recall), political instability, terrorism, armed hostilities (including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine), extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics (including COVID-19), work stoppages or labor shortages, or other calamities;
•risks related to the availability, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation;
•the impact of food security concerns involving either our products or our competitors’ products, including changes in consumer preference, consumer litigation, actions by the FDA or other agencies, and product recalls;
•risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies we employ to manage commodity pricing and interest rate risks;
•the availability of reliable transportation on acceptable terms;
•our ability to achieve cost savings related to our restructuring and cost management programs in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated;
•our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to continue operating under our capital deployment model, including capital expenditures, debt repayment, dividend payments, and share repurchases;
•our ability to implement and realize the full benefit of price changes, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period;
•the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in our business, including product innovation;
•general competitive activity in the market, including competitors’ pricing practices and promotional spending levels;
•our ability to attract and retain key talent;
•the concentration of certain of our businesses with key customers and suppliers, including single-source suppliers of certain key raw materials and finished goods, and our ability to manage and maintain key relationships;
•impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in the useful lives of other intangible assets or other long-lived assets;
•the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws and regulations and their application;
•the outcome of tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters;
•a disruption, failure, or security breach of our or our suppliers’ information technology systems, including ransomware attacks;
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•foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations; and
•risks related to other factors described under “Risk Factors” in other reports and statements we have filed with the SEC.
Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances subsequent to the filing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000091419-22-000049.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
(Dollars and shares in millions, unless otherwise noted, except per share data)
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to provide an understanding of our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows by focusing on changes in certain key measures from year-to-year, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes presented in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Company Background
Each generation of consumers leaves their mark on culture by establishing new expectations for food and the companies that make it. At the J. M. Smucker Company, it is our privilege to be at the heart of this dynamic with a diverse portfolio that appeals to each generation of people and pets and is found in nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants, including iconic brands consumers have always loved such as Folgers, Jif, and Milk-Bone and new favorites like Café Bustelo, Smucker’s Uncrustables, and Rachael Ray Nutrish. By continuing to immerse ourselves in consumer preferences and acting responsibly, we will continue growing our business and the positive impact we have on society.
We have three reportable segments: U.S. Retail Pet Foods, U.S. Retail Coffee, and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods. The U.S. retail market segments in total comprised 87 percent of net sales in 2022 and represent a major portion of our strategic focus – the sale of branded food and beverage products with leadership positions to consumers through retail outlets in North America. In the U.S. retail market segments, our products are primarily sold to food retailers, club stores, discount and dollar stores, online retailers, pet specialty stores, natural foods stores and distributors, drug stores, military commissaries, and mass merchandisers. International and Away From Home includes the sale of products distributed domestically and in foreign countries through retail channels and foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., health care operators, restaurants, lodging, hospitality, offices, K-12, colleges and universities, and convenience stores).
Strategic Overview
We remain rooted in our Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth, and Independence established by our founder and namesake, Jerome Smucker, more than a century ago. Today, these Basic Beliefs are the core of our unique corporate culture and serve as a foundation for decision-making and actions. We have been led by five generations of family leadership, having had only six chief executive officers in 125 years. This continuity of management and thought extends to the broader leadership team that embodies the values and embraces the business practices that have contributed to our consistent growth.
Our strategic vision is to engage, delight, and inspire consumers by building brands they love and leading in growing categories. This vision is our long-term direction that guides business priorities and aligns our organization. We will continue to drive balanced, long-term growth by advancing on the following executional priorities:
•Drive Commercial Excellence | Deliver best-in-class go-to-market execution and commercial delivery;
•Streamline our Cost Infrastructure | Focus on profitability and cost discipline;
•Reshape our Portfolio | Optimize our portfolio to meet the evolving needs of consumers; and
•Unleash our Organization to Win | Inspire, enable, and empower our employees while improving diversity at every level.
Our strategic growth objectives include net sales increasing by a low-single digit percentage and operating income excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted operating income”) increasing by a mid-single digit percentage on average over the long-term. Related to income per diluted share excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted earnings per share”), our strategic growth objective is to increase by a high-single digit percentage over the long-term. We expect organic growth, including new products, to drive much of our top-line growth, while the contribution from acquisitions will vary from year to year. Our non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs (“special project costs”), gains and losses on divestitures, the net change in cumulative unallocated gains and losses on commodity and foreign currency exchange derivative activities (“change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses”), and other one-time items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating
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results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Due to the unknown and potentially prolonged impact of COVID-19, as well as the challenged supply network and increased labor shortages, we may experience difficulties or be delayed in achieving our long-term strategies; however, we continue to evaluate the effects on our long-term growth objectives.
Over the past five years, net sales and adjusted earnings per share increased at a compound annual growth rate of 2 percent and 3 percent, respectively, while adjusted operating income decreased at a rate of 1 percent. These changes were primarily driven by increased at-home consumption for the U.S. Retail Coffee and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segments and the Ainsworth acquisition in 2019, partially offset by the reduction in net sales from the divestitures of the private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses in 2022, Crisco and Natural Balance businesses in 2021, and the U.S. baking business in 2019. Net cash provided by operating activities has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 1 percent over the past five years. Our cash deployment strategy is to balance reinvesting in our business through acquisitions and capital expenditures with returning cash to our shareholders through the payment of dividends and share repurchases. Our deployment strategy also includes a significant focus on debt repayment.
Divestitures
On January 31, 2022, we sold the natural beverage and grains businesses to Nexus. The transaction included products sold under the R.W. Knudsen and TruRoots brands, inclusive of certain trademarks, a licensing agreement for Santa Cruz Organic beverages, dedicated manufacturing and distribution facilities in Chico, California, and Havre de Grace, Maryland, and approximately 150 employees who supported the natural beverage and grains businesses. The transaction did not include Santa Cruz Organic nut butters, fruit spreads, syrups, or applesauce. Under our ownership, the businesses generated net sales of $106.7 and $143.4 in 2022 and 2021, respectively, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment. Net proceeds from the divestiture were $97.1, which were inclusive of a preliminary working capital adjustment and cash transaction costs, and will be finalized during the first quarter of 2023. Upon completion of this transaction, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $26.7 during 2022, which was included in other operating expense (income) – net within the Statement of Consolidated Income.
On December 1, 2021, we sold the private label dry pet food business to Diamond Pet Foods. The transaction included dry pet food products sold under private label brands, a dedicated manufacturing facility located in Frontenac, Kansas, and approximately 220 employees who supported the private label dry pet food business. The transaction did not include any branded products or our private label wet pet food business. Under our ownership, the business generated net sales of $62.3 and $94.0 in 2022 and 2021, respectively, included in the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $32.9, which were net of cash transaction costs. Upon completion of this transaction, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $17.1 during 2022, which was included in other operating expense (income) – net within the Statement of Consolidated Income.
On January 29, 2021, we sold the Natural Balance premium pet food business to Nexus. The transaction included pet food products sold under the Natural Balance brand, certain trademarks and licensing agreements, and select employees who supported the Natural Balance business. Under our ownership, the business generated net sales of $156.7 in 2021, included in the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $33.8, which were net of cash transaction costs and included a working capital adjustment. Upon completion of the transaction, we recognized a pre-tax loss of $89.5 during 2021, which was included in other operating expense (income) – net within the Statement of Consolidated Income.
On December 1, 2020, we sold the Crisco oils and shortening business to B&G Foods. The transaction included oils and shortening products sold under the Crisco brand, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, certain trademarks and licensing agreements, dedicated manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and approximately 160 employees who supported the Crisco business. Under our ownership, the business generated net sales of $198.9 in 2021, primarily included in the U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment. Final net proceeds from the divestiture were $530.2, which were net of cash transaction costs and included a working capital adjustment. Upon completion of the transaction, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $114.8 during 2021, which was included in other operating expense (income) – net within the Statement of Consolidated Income.
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COVID-19
The spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States and the international community has had, and will continue to have, an impact on financial markets, economic conditions, and portions of our business and industry.
During calendar year 2021, state governments reopened their economies, while adhering to new guidelines and enhanced safety measures, such as social distancing, face mask protocols, and vaccination requirements. However, there was a significant number of U.S. cases in late calendar year 2021 and early calendar year 2022, and as a result, consumers stayed at home more frequently as a precaution, causing the demand related to at-home food consumption to remain elevated, though the impact is of a lesser extent as compared to the prior year. While we continue to benefit from elevated consumption, the supply chain network remains challenged due to the increased demand and supply pressures, as well as COVID-19 cases and increasing labor shortages, which continue to negatively impact our business and overall industry. We anticipate this consumer behavior and at-home food consumption may continue, to some extent, through calendar year 2022, dependent on government guidance regarding risk mitigation measures, vaccination rates and effectiveness, and the impact of additional COVID-19 variants.
In September 2021, the U.S. President issued an executive order applicable to federal contractors and employers with 100 or more employees. As a result, we announced a vaccination mandate that required all employees to be vaccinated or have received an approved medical or religious exemption as early as December 2021, and no later than March 2022, dependent upon location. We fully implemented the mandate for salaried employees in December 2021, prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in January 2022 to block the federal mandate. However, we lifted the mandate that required hourly employees to be vaccinated by March 2022 to support business continuity across our operations.
Furthermore, we have reopened our corporate headquarters in Orrville, Ohio, with appropriate safety protocols, and as a result, occupancy levels have gradually increased during 2022 while our office-based employees transition to a hybrid work schedule. We continue to monitor the latest public health and government guidance related to COVID-19 and will adjust our approach and safety protocols, as needed. We have crisis management teams at all our facilities, which continue to monitor their respective locations and implement additional risk mitigation actions, as necessary. All our production operations remain open, and none have experienced significant disruptions or labor reductions related to COVID-19.
During 2022, we experienced increased disruption in our supply chain network, including the supply of certain ingredients, packaging, and other sourced materials, which has resulted in higher than expected inflation, including escalating transportation and other supply chain costs. We expect that these inflationary cost increases will continue, but we expect they will be partially mitigated by pricing actions implemented in 2022 and those that we plan to implement in 2023. It is possible that more significant disruptions could occur if the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact markets around the world, including the impact of e-commerce pressures on freight charges and potential shipping delays due to supply and demand imbalances, as well as labor shortages. We also continue to work closely with our customers and external business partners, taking additional actions to ensure safety and business continuity, and maximize product availability. We have maintained production at all our facilities and availability of appointments at distribution centers. Furthermore, we have implemented measures to manage order volumes to ensure a consistent supply across our retail partners during this period of high demand. However, to the extent that high demand levels or the current supply chain environment continues to disrupt order fulfillment, we may experience volume loss and elevated penalties.
During 2022, customer order levels remain elevated, primarily across our U.S. Retail Consumer Foods and U.S. Retail Coffee segments, in response to the increased consumer demand for our products related to the elevated at-home consumption. Further, as states have reopened their economies during 2022, our net sales for the away from home channels have continued to improve compared to the initial months of the pandemic. This trend could moderate during the remainder of calendar year 2022 if cases rise and governments impose additional safety measures that further impact away from home consumption, which is partially dependent upon vaccination rates and effectiveness, as well as the impact of additional COVID-19 variants. Overall, the impact of COVID-19 remains uncertain and ultimately depends on the length and severity of the pandemic, inclusive of the introduction of new strains of the virus; the federal, state, and local government actions taken in response; vaccination rates and effectiveness; the impact of vaccination requirements; and the macroeconomic environment. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent to which COVID-19 will impact our business, supply chain, including labor availability and attrition, consolidated results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.
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Results of Operations
This discussion and analysis deals with comparisons of material changes in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended April 30, 2022 and 2021. For the comparisons of the years ended April 30, 2021 and 2020, see the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II, Item 7 of our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 7,998.9 | $ | 8,002.7 | — | % | ||||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,700.7 | $ | 3,138.7 | (14) | |||||
| % of net sales | 33.8 | % | 39.2 | % | ||||||
| Operating income | $ | 1,023.8 | $ | 1,386.8 | (26) | |||||
| % of net sales | 12.8 | % | 17.3 | % | ||||||
| Net income: | ||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 631.7 | $ | 876.3 | (28) | |||||
| Net income per common share – assuming dilution | $ | 5.83 | $ | 7.79 | (25) | |||||
| Adjusted gross profit (A) | $ | 2,744.6 | $ | 3,048.5 | (10) | |||||
| % of net sales | 34.3 | % | 38.1 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted operating income (A) | $ | 1,440.1 | $ | 1,528.8 | (6) | |||||
| % of net sales | 18.0 | % | 19.1 | % | ||||||
| Adjusted income: (A) | ||||||||||
| Income | $ | 962.2 | $ | 1,025.0 | (6) | |||||
| Earnings per share – assuming dilution | $ | 8.88 | $ | 9.12 | (3) |
(A)We use non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for a reconciliation to the comparable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measure.
Net Sales
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | Increase (Decrease) | % | |||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 7,998.9 | $ | 8,002.7 | $ | (3.8) | — | % | ||||||
| Crisco divestiture | — | (198.9) | 198.9 | 2 | ||||||||||
| Natural Balance divestiture | — | (156.7) | 156.7 | 2 | ||||||||||
| Private label dry pet food divestiture | — | (40.7) | 40.7 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Natural beverage and grains divestiture | — | (35.5) | 35.5 | — | ||||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange | (17.1) | — | (17.1) | — | ||||||||||
| Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange (A) | $ | 7,981.8 | $ | 7,570.9 | $ | 410.9 | 5 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
(A)Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange is a non-GAAP financial measure used to evaluate performance internally. This measure provides useful information to investors because it enables comparison of results on a year-over-year basis.
Net sales in 2022 was comparable to the prior year, which includes $431.8 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to divestitures. Net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange increased $410.9, or 5 percent, which was primarily due to higher net price realization across each of our U.S. Retail segments and for International and Away From Home, reflecting list price increases during 2022.
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Operating Income
The following table presents the components of operating income as a percentage of net sales.
| Year Ended April 30, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||
| Gross profit | 33.8 | % | 39.2 | % | |
| Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses: | |||||
| Marketing | 3.5 | % | 3.9 | % | |
| Advertising | 2.2 | 2.8 | |||
| Selling | 2.8 | 3.0 | |||
| Distribution | 3.6 | 3.4 | |||
| General and administrative | 5.0 | 5.9 | |||
| Total selling, distribution, and administrative expenses | 17.0 | % | 19.0 | % | |
| Amortization | 2.8 | 2.9 | |||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 1.9 | — | |||
| Other special project costs | 0.1 | 0.3 | |||
| Other operating expense (income) – net | (0.8) | (0.4) | |||
| Operating income | 12.8 | % | 17.3 | % |
Amounts may not add due to rounding.
Gross profit decreased $438.0, or 14 percent, in 2022, reflecting higher costs, primarily driven by increased commodity and ingredient, transportation, packaging, and manufacturing costs, the noncomparable impact related to divestitures, the unfavorable impact of unsaleable inventory and estimated customer returns related to the Jif peanut butter recall, and unfavorable volume/mix, partially offset by higher net pricing.
Operating income decreased $363.0, or 26 percent, primarily reflecting the decrease in gross profit and a $150.4 intangible asset impairment charge in 2022 related to the Rachael Ray Nutrish brand, partially offset by a $162.8 decrease in selling, distribution, and administrative (“SD&A”) expenses, primarily driven by lower marketing spend and incentive compensation expense. Further offsetting the decrease in operating income is a $36.7 increase in net other operating income, primarily reflecting an anticipated insurance recovery of $49.8, net of the deductible, related to the Jif peanut butter recall that mostly offsets the unfavorable impact of unsaleable inventory, estimated customer returns, and consumer refunds, as discussed in Note 15: Contingencies.
Our non-GAAP adjustments include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other one-time items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this discussion and analysis for additional information. Gross profit excluding non-GAAP adjustments (“adjusted gross profit”) decreased $303.9, or 10 percent, in 2022, reflecting the exclusion of the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses and special project costs, as compared to GAAP gross profit. Adjusted operating income decreased $88.7, or 6 percent, as compared to the prior year, further reflecting the exclusion of the impairment charge and net pre-tax gain on divestitures.
Interest Expense
Net interest expense decreased $16.2, or 9 percent, in 2022, primarily as a result of reduced debt outstanding as compared to the prior year. For additional information, see “Capital Resources” in this discussion and analysis.
Income Taxes
Income taxes decreased $83.5, or 28 percent, in 2022, as compared to the prior year. The effective income tax rate of 25.1 percent for 2022 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to state income taxes, including an unfavorable one-time deferred tax impact of an internal legal entity simplification in the third quarter of 2022 to support multiple work locations for office-based employees and our continued strategic activities. The effective income tax rate of 25.2 percent for 2021 varied from the U.S. statutory income tax rate of 21.0 percent primarily due to the impact of state income taxes, as well as additional net income tax expense related to the divestitures of the Crisco and Natural Balance businesses. We anticipate a full-year effective income tax rate for 2023 to be approximately 24.2 percent. For additional information, refer to Note 13: Income Taxes.
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Restructuring Activities
A restructuring program was approved by the Board during 2021, associated with opportunities identified to reduce our overall cost structure, optimize our organizational design, and support our portfolio reshape. This is inclusive of certain restructuring costs associated with the divestitures of the Crisco, Natural Balance, private label dry pet food, and natural beverage and grains businesses. For additional information related to the divestitures, see Note 3: Divestitures.
During 2021, we substantially completed an organizational redesign related to our corporate headquarters and announced plans to close our Suffolk, Virginia, facility as a result of a new strategic partnership for the production of our liquid coffee products. During 2022, we completed the transition of production to JDE Peet’s, as anticipated. Furthermore, the restructuring program was expanded during the third quarter of 2022 to include certain costs associated with the recent divestitures of the private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses, as well as the recently announced plans to close our Ripon, Wisconsin, production facility by the end of calendar year 2022 to further optimize operations for our Consumer Foods business. We expect to incur costs of approximately $70.0 associated with the restructuring activities planned to date. More than half of these costs are expected to be other transition and termination costs associated with our cost reduction and margin management initiatives, inclusive of accelerated depreciation, while the remainder represents employee-related costs. We anticipate the planned activities associated with this restructuring program will be completed by the end of 2023, with the majority of the costs expected to be incurred in the first half of 2023. We have incurred total cumulative restructuring costs of $52.6, of which $28.5 and $24.1 were incurred during 2022 and 2021, respectively. For further information, refer to Note 2: Integration and Restructuring Costs.
Commodities Overview
The raw materials we use in each of our segments are primarily commodities, agricultural-based products, and packaging materials. The most significant of these materials, based on 2022 annual spend, are green coffee, peanuts, protein meals, grains, and plastic containers. Green coffee, corn, certain meals, oils, and grains are traded on active regulated exchanges, and the price of these commodities fluctuates based on market conditions. Derivative instruments, including futures and options, are used to minimize the impact of price volatility for these commodities.
We source green coffee from more than 20 coffee-producing countries. Its price is subject to high volatility due to factors such as weather, global supply and demand, plant disease, investor speculation, and political and economic conditions in the source countries.
We source peanuts, protein meals, and oils and fats mainly from North America. We are one of the largest procurers of peanuts in the U.S. and frequently enter into long-term purchase contracts for various periods of time to mitigate the risk of a shortage of this commodity. The oils we purchase are mainly peanut and soybean. The price of peanuts, protein meals, and oils are driven primarily by weather, which impacts crop sizes and yield, as well as global demand, especially from large importing countries such as China and India. In particular, the supply chain for protein meals, fats, corn products, and green coffee has been significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore, the price for these commodities has increased and may continue to increase due to such disruptions. Furthermore, the price of grains and oils and fat-based products has been impacted by the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
We frequently enter into long-term contracts to purchase plastic containers, which are sourced mainly from within the U.S. Plastic resin is made from petrochemical feedstock and natural gas feedstock, and the price can be influenced by feedstock, energy, and crude oil prices as well as global economic and geopolitical conditions.
Excluding the impact of derivative gains and losses, our overall commodity costs in 2022 were higher than in 2021, primarily due to higher costs for green coffee, protein meals, oils and fats, and grains.
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Segment Results
We have three reportable segments: U.S. Retail Pet Foods, U.S. Retail Coffee, and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods. The presentation of International and Away From Home represents a combination of all other operating segments that are not individually reportable.
The U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Rachael Ray Nutrish, Meow Mix, Milk-Bone, 9Lives, Kibbles ’n Bits, Pup-Peroni, and Nature’s Recipe branded products; the U.S. Retail Coffee segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Folgers, Dunkin’, and Café Bustelo branded coffee; and the U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment primarily includes the domestic sales of Smucker’s and Jif branded products. International and Away From Home includes the sale of products distributed domestically and in foreign countries through retail channels and foodservice distributors and operators (e.g., health care operators, restaurants, lodging, hospitality, offices, K-12, colleges and universities, and convenience stores).
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | % Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | $ | 2,764.3 | $ | 2,844.5 | (3) | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 2,497.3 | 2,374.6 | 5 | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Consumer Foods | 1,707.2 | 1,835.7 | (7) | |||||||
| International and Away From Home | 1,030.1 | 947.9 | 9 | |||||||
| Segment profit: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | $ | 395.9 | $ | 487.0 | (19) | % | ||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 736.7 | 769.1 | (4) | |||||||
| U.S. Retail Consumer Foods | 424.2 | 472.5 | (10) | |||||||
| International and Away From Home | 142.0 | 124.1 | 14 | |||||||
| Segment profit margin: | ||||||||||
| U.S. Retail Pet Foods | 14.3 | % | 17.1 | % | ||||||
| U.S. Retail Coffee | 29.5 | 32.4 | ||||||||
| U.S. Retail Consumer Foods | 24.8 | 25.7 | ||||||||
| International and Away From Home | 13.8 | 13.1 |
U.S. Retail Pet Foods
The U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment net sales decreased $80.2 in 2022, inclusive of the impact of $197.4 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to the divested Natural Balance and private label dry pet food businesses. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divested businesses, net sales increased $117.2, or 4 percent. Higher net price realization across the portfolio increased net sales by 5 percentage points, primarily reflecting list price increases across the portfolio, partially offset by increased trade spend. Unfavorable volume/mix decreased net sales by 1 percentage point, primarily driven by declines for dog food, partially offset by growth for cat food and dog snacks. Segment profit decreased $91.1, primarily reflecting higher commodity and ingredient, transportation, and manufacturing costs and the unfavorable volume/mix, partially offset by the higher net pricing and lower marketing expense.
U.S. Retail Coffee
The U.S. Retail Coffee segment net sales increased $122.7 in 2022. Net price realization contributed 6 percentage points to net sales, primarily reflecting list price increases across the portfolio. Unfavorable volume/mix decreased net sales by 1 percentage point, primarily driven by the Folgers brand, partially offset by the Dunkin’ and Café Bustelo brands. Segment profit decreased $32.4, reflecting higher commodity costs and the unfavorable volume/mix, partially offset by higher net pricing.
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U.S. Retail Consumer Foods
The U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment net sales decreased $128.5 in 2022, inclusive of the impact of $211.8 of noncomparable net sales in the prior year related to the divested Crisco and natural beverage and grains businesses. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divested businesses, net sales increased $83.3, or 5 percent. Higher net price realization contributed 4 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches and Smucker’s fruit spreads, including the unfavorable impact of estimated customer returns related to the Jif peanut butter recall. Volume/mix increased net sales by 1 percentage point, reflecting increases for Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches and Jif peanut butter, partially offset by a decline for Smucker’s fruit spreads. Segment profit decreased $48.3, reflecting the noncomparable segment profit in the prior year related to the divested businesses. Comparable segment profit growth from the higher net pricing, lower marketing spend, and favorable volume/mix was partially offset by higher commodity and ingredient, manufacturing, packaging, and transportation costs. Segment profit also reflects the unfavorable impact of unsaleable inventory and estimated customer returns, as well as other associated costs related to the Jif peanut butter recall, which were mostly offset by the anticipated insurance recovery, net of the deductible.
International and Away From Home
International and Away From Home net sales increased $82.2 in 2022, including the noncomparable impact of $22.6 of net sales in the prior year related to the divested Crisco and natural beverage and grains businesses. Excluding the noncomparable impact of the divested businesses and foreign currency exchange, net sales increased $87.7, or 9 percent, primarily reflecting a 23 percent increase for the Away From Home operating segment, partially offset by a 2 percent decrease for the International operating segment. Favorable volume/mix for the combined businesses contributed 6 percentage points to net sales, primarily driven by increases for portion control and coffee products in the away from home channels, partially offset by a decrease for baking mixes and ingredients in the International operating segment. Net price realization contributed a 3 percentage point increase to net sales for the combined businesses, primarily driven by increases for coffee products in the away from home channels and fruit spread products in the International operating segment. Segment profit increased $17.9, primarily reflecting higher net pricing, favorable volume/mix, and the favorable foreign currency exchange impact, partially offset by increased commodity costs and the noncomparable segment profit in the prior year related to the divested businesses.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
Our principal source of funds is cash generated from operations, supplemented by borrowings against our commercial paper program and revolving credit facility. Total cash and cash equivalents decreased to $169.9 at April 30, 2022, compared to $334.3 at April 30, 2021.
The following table presents selected cash flow information.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,136.3 | $ | 1,565.0 | ||
| Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities | (355.5) | 311.1 | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities | (944.5) | (1,943.9) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,136.3 | $ | 1,565.0 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (417.5) | (306.7) | ||||
| Free cash flow (A) | $ | 718.8 | $ | 1,258.3 |
(A)Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to evaluate the amount of cash available for debt repayment, dividend distribution, acquisition opportunities, share repurchases, and other corporate purposes.
The $428.7 decrease in cash provided by operating activities in 2022 was primarily driven by greater working capital requirements in 2022, as well as lower net income adjusted for noncash items in the current year. The increase in cash required to fund working capital, as compared to the prior year, was primarily attributable to timing of payments for accounts payable, changes in accrued incentive compensation and marketing, and an increase in inventory levels compared to the prior year, primarily driven by the recent input cost inflation.
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Cash used for investing activities in 2022 consisted primarily of $417.5 in capital expenditures, primarily driven by investments in Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches to support the new manufacturing and distribution facilities in McCalla, Alabama, and capacity expansion in Longmont, Colorado, as well as plant maintenance across our facilities. An increase of $65.4 in our derivative cash margin account balances also contributed to the use of cash in 2022. These decreases were partially offset by net proceeds received from the divested private label dry pet food and natural beverage and grains businesses of $130.0. Cash provided by investing activities in 2021 primarily consisted of net proceeds received from the divestitures of the Crisco and Natural Balance businesses of $564.0 and a decrease of $54.0 in our derivative cash margin account balances, partially offset by $306.7 in capital expenditures, which primarily reflected capacity expansion at our Longmont facility, as well as plant maintenance across our facilities.
Cash used for financing activities in 2022 consisted primarily of long-term debt repayments of $1,157.0, dividend payments of $418.1, and purchase of treasury shares of $270.4, partially offset by $797.6 in long-term debt proceeds and a net increase in short-term borrowings of $97.6. Cash used for financing activities in 2021 consisted primarily of long-term debt repayments of $700.0, purchase of treasury shares of $678.4, dividend payments of $403.2, and net short-term debt repayments of $166.4.
Supplier Financing Program
As part of ongoing efforts to maximize working capital, we work with our suppliers to optimize our terms and conditions, which includes the extension of payment terms. Payment terms with our suppliers, which we deem to be commercially reasonable, range from 0 to 180 days. During 2020, we entered into an agreement with a third-party administrator to provide an accounts payable tracking system and facilitate a supplier financing program, which allows participating suppliers the ability to monitor and voluntarily elect to sell our payment obligations to a designated third-party financial institution. Participating suppliers can sell one or more of our payment obligations at their sole discretion, and our rights and obligations to our suppliers are not impacted. We have no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to enter into these agreements. Our rights and obligations to our suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted by our suppliers’ decisions to sell amounts under these arrangements. As of April 30, 2022 and 2021, $314.3 and $304.2 of our outstanding payment obligations, respectively, were elected and sold to a financial institution by participating suppliers. During 2022 and 2021, we paid $1,042.9 and $663.5, respectively, to a financial institution for payment obligations that were settled through the supplier financing program.
Contingencies
We, like other food manufacturers, are from time to time subject to various administrative, regulatory, and other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We are currently a defendant in a variety of such legal proceedings, including certain lawsuits related to the alleged price-fixing of shelf stable tuna products prior to 2011 by a business previously owned by, but divested prior to our acquisition of, Big Heart, the significant majority of which were settled and paid during 2019 and 2020. While we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate results of these proceedings or potential settlements associated with these or other matters, we have accrued losses for certain contingent liabilities that we have determined are probable and reasonably estimable at April 30, 2022. Based on the information known to date, with the exception of the matters discussed below, we do not believe the final outcome of these proceedings would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
In addition to the legal proceedings discussed above, we are currently a defendant in Council for Education and Research on Toxics (“CERT”) v. Brad Barry LLC, et al., which alleges that we, in addition to nearly eighty other defendants (collectively the “Defendants”) who manufacture, package, distribute, or sell packaged coffee, failed to provide warnings for our coffee products of exposure to the chemical acrylamide as required under Proposition 65. CERT sought equitable relief, including warnings to consumers, as well as civil penalties in the amount of the statutory maximum of $2,500 per day per violation of Proposition 65. In addition, CERT asserted that every consumed cup of coffee, absent a compliant warning, was equivalent to a violation under Proposition 65. In June 2019, the state agency responsible for administering the Proposition 65 program, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”), approved a regulation clarifying that cancer warnings are not required for coffee under Proposition 65, and in August 2020, the trial court granted the Defendants’ motion for summary judgment based on the regulation. CERT appealed the ruling in November 2020 to the California Court of Appeals for the Second Appellate District, which is currently pending.
We are also defendants in a series of putative class action lawsuits that were originally filed in federal courts in California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Texas, Washington, and Washington D.C. but have been transferred to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri for coordinated pre-trial proceedings. The plaintiffs assert claims arising under various state laws for false advertising, consumer protection, deceptive and unfair trade practices, and similar
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statutes. Their claims are premised on allegations that we have misrepresented the number of servings that can be made from various canisters of Folgers coffee on the packaging for those products.
The outcome and the financial impact of these cases, if any, cannot be predicted at this time. Accordingly, no loss contingency has been recorded for these matters as of April 30, 2022, and the likelihood of loss is not considered probable or estimable. However, if we are required to pay significant damages, our business and financial results could be adversely impacted, and sales of those products could suffer not only in these locations but elsewhere. For additional information, see Note 15: Contingencies.
Product Recall
Subsequent to April 30, 2022, we initiated a voluntary recall of select Jif peanut butter products produced at our Lexington, Kentucky, facility and sold primarily in the U.S., due to potential salmonella contamination. At that time, we also suspended the manufacturing of Jif peanut butter products at the Lexington facility. No other products produced at our other facilities were affected by this recall. As a result, and in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we recorded reserves of $52.3 in our consolidated financial statements as of April 30, 2022, within our U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment, which was inclusive of unsaleable inventory as of April 30, 2022, as well as estimated customer returns and consumer refunds related to net sales in 2022. We anticipate these costs will be recovered by insurance, and as a result, an insurance receivable of $49.8, net of the deductible, was also recorded as of April 30, 2022.
On June 10, 2022, we announced our plans to resume manufacturing Jif peanut butter products at our Lexington facility. Further, our Memphis, Tennessee, facility was not affected by the recall and has continued to manufacture Jif peanut butter products. However, we temporarily paused shipments from the Memphis facility to eliminate confusion while customers cleared their shelves of potentially impacted products manufactured at the Lexington facility. We will resume shipping from both the Lexington and Memphis facilities and are partnering with retailers to restock Jif peanut butter products as soon as possible. Based on progress to date, we believe this matter will be substantially resolved during the first quarter of 2023. Based on our best estimates, we anticipate an unfavorable pre-tax impact of approximately $125.0 in 2023, net of the remaining anticipated insurance recoveries, primarily related to the estimated impact of manufacturing downtime, customer returns and penalties, and unsaleable inventory, as well as other recall related costs. The recall will primarily impact our U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segment. Our ultimate loss from the Jif peanut butter recall could differ materially from these estimates, primarily dependent upon the magnitude of lost sales resulting from the unavailability of products for a longer period of time than anticipated, as well as any resulting adverse consumer reaction, including the loss of perceived value and any shift in consumer preferences.
Capital Resources
The following table presents our capital structure.
| April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $ | — | $ | 1,152.9 | ||
| Short-term borrowings | 180.0 | 82.0 | ||||
| Long-term debt, less current portion | 4,310.6 | 3,516.8 | ||||
| Total debt | $ | 4,490.6 | $ | 4,751.7 | ||
| Shareholders’ equity | 8,140.1 | 8,124.8 | ||||
| Total capital | $ | 12,630.7 | $ | 12,876.5 |
During the second quarter of 2022, we completed an offering of $800.0 in Senior Notes due March 15, 2032, and September 15, 2041. The Senior Notes included $7.2 of capitalized debt issuance costs and $2.4 of offering discounts, and which are amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt. The net proceeds from the offering were primarily used to repay $750.0 in principal of the Senior Notes due October 15, 2021. Furthermore, during the first quarter of 2022, we prepaid $400.0 in principal of the Senior Notes due March 15, 2022, and as a result, we recognized a net loss on extinguishment of $6.9, which primarily consisted of a make-whole payment and was included in other income (expense) – net in the Statement of Consolidated Income.
We have available a $2.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of 11 banks that matures in August 2026. Additionally, we participate in a commercial paper program under which we can issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper not to exceed $2.0 billion at any time. The commercial paper program is backed by our revolving credit facility and reduces what we can borrow under the revolving credit facility by the amount of commercial paper outstanding. Commercial
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paper is used as a continuing source of short-term financing for general corporate purposes. As of April 30, 2022, we had $180.0 of short-term borrowings outstanding, all of which were issued under our commercial paper program, at a weighted-average interest rate of 0.65 percent.
We are in compliance with all our debt covenants as of April 30, 2022, and expect to be for the next 12 months. For additional information on our long-term debt, sources of liquidity, and debt covenants, see Note 7: Debt and Financing Arrangements.
During 2022, we repurchased 2.0 million common shares under a repurchase plan authorized by the Board for $262.5. At April 30, 2022, approximately 5.8 million common shares remain available for repurchase pursuant to the Board’s authorizations. There is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares that may be repurchased or when such purchases may occur. During 2021, we repurchased 5.8 million common shares under a repurchase plan authorized by the Board for $671.9.
In November 2021, we announced plans to invest $1.1 billion to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in McCalla, Alabama, dedicated to production of Smucker’s Uncrustables frozen sandwiches. Construction of this facility began in the third quarter of 2022, with production expected to begin in calendar year 2025. The project demonstrates our commitment to meet increasing demand for this highly successful product and deliver on our strategy to focus on brands with the most significant growth opportunities. Construction of the facility and production will occur in three phases over multiple years and will result in the creation of up to 750 jobs. Financial investments and job creation will align with each of the three phases.
The following table presents certain cash requirements related to 2023 investing and financing activities based on our current expectations. Although no principal payments are required on our debt obligations in 2023, we may utilize a portion of our cash for debt repayment.
| Projection Year Ending April 30, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dividend payments – based on current rates and common shares outstanding | $ | 421.6 |
| Capital expenditures | 550.0 | |
| Interest payments | 147.2 |
Absent any material acquisitions or other significant investments, we believe that cash on hand, combined with cash provided by operations, borrowings available under our revolving credit facility and commercial paper program, and access to capital markets, will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the next 12 months, including the payment of quarterly dividends, principal and interest payments on debt outstanding, and capital expenditures. However, as a result of the current economic environment, we may experience an increase in the cost or the difficulty to obtain debt or equity financing, or to refinance our debt in the future. We continue to evaluate these risks, which could affect our financial condition or our ability to fund operations or future investment opportunities.
As of April 30, 2022, total cash and cash equivalents of $46.2 was held by our foreign subsidiaries, primarily in Canada. We did not repatriate foreign cash to the U.S. during 2022.
Material Cash Requirements
The following table summarizes our material cash requirements by fiscal year at April 30, 2022.
| Total | 2023 | 2024-2025 | 2026-2027 | 2028 and beyond | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term debt obligations, including current portion (A) | $ | 4,350.0 | $ | — | $ | 1,000.0 | $ | — | $ | 3,350.0 | ||||||||
| Interest payments (B) | 1,982.8 | 147.2 | 294.3 | 224.3 | 1,317.0 | |||||||||||||
| Purchase obligations (C) | 2,787.6 | 2,309.4 | 297.3 | 119.7 | 61.2 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 9,120.4 | $ | 2,456.6 | $ | 1,591.6 | $ | 344.0 | $ | 4,728.2 |
(A)Long-term debt obligations, including current portion, excludes the impact of offering discounts, make-whole payments, and debt issuance costs.
(B)Interest payments consists of the interest payments for our fixed-rate Senior Notes.
(C)Purchase obligations includes agreements that are enforceable and legally bind us to purchase goods or services, which primarily consist of obligations related to normal, ongoing purchase obligations in which we have guaranteed payment to ensure availability of
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raw materials. We expect to receive consideration for these purchase obligations in the form of materials and services. These purchase obligations do not represent all future purchases expected but represent only those items for which we are contractually obligated. Amounts included in the table above represent our current best estimate of payments due. Actual cash payments may vary due to the variable pricing components of certain purchase obligations.
Our other cash requirements at April 30, 2022, primarily included operating and finance lease obligations, which consist of the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating and finance leases. As of April 30, 2022, we had total undiscounted minimum lease payments of $121.4 and $4.0 related to our operating and finance leases, respectively. For additional information, see Note 11: Leases.
In addition, we have other liabilities which consisted primarily of projected commitments associated with our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, as disclosed in Note 8: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits, including expected contributions of $80.0 in 2023 to our qualified defined benefit pension plans. The total liability for our unrecognized tax benefits and tax-related net interest at April 30, 2022, was $7.4 under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, Income Taxes; however, we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of cash settlements with the respective taxing authorities. For additional information, see Note 13: Income Taxes.
As of April 30, 2022, we do not have material off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also known as variable interest entities. Transactions with related parties are in the ordinary course of business and are not material to our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
We use non-GAAP financial measures including: net sales excluding divestitures and foreign currency exchange, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted income, adjusted earnings per share, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and impairment charges related to intangible assets (“EBITDA (as adjusted)”), and free cash flow, as key measures for purposes of evaluating performance internally. We believe that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by disclosing these performance measures. Furthermore, these non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in preparation of the annual budget and for the monthly analyses of our operating results. The Board also utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures as components for measuring performance for incentive compensation purposes.
Non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items affecting comparability that can significantly affect the year-over-year assessment of operating results, which include amortization expense and impairment charges related to intangible assets, special project costs, gains and losses on divestitures, the change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses, and other one-time items that do not directly reflect ongoing operating results. Income taxes, as adjusted is calculated using an adjusted effective income tax rate that is applied to adjusted income before income taxes and reflects the exclusion of the previously discussed items, as well as any adjustments for one-time tax related activities, when they occur. While this adjusted effective income tax rate does not generally differ materially from our GAAP effective income tax rate, certain exclusions from non-GAAP results, such as the one-time deferred state tax impact of the internal legal entity simplification during 2022, can significantly impact our adjusted effective income tax rate.
These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Rather, the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures supplements other metrics we use to internally evaluate our businesses and facilitate the comparison of past and present operations and liquidity. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies and may exclude certain nondiscretionary expenses and cash payments.
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The following table reconciles certain non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measure. See page 28 for a reconciliation of net sales adjusted for certain noncomparable items to the comparable GAAP financial measure.
| Year Ended April 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||
| Gross profit reconciliation: | ||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 2,700.7 | $ | 3,138.7 | ||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 23.4 | (93.6) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 20.5 | 3.4 | ||||
| Adjusted gross profit | $ | 2,744.6 | $ | 3,048.5 | ||
| % of net sales | 34.3 | % | 38.1 | % | ||
| Operating income reconciliation: | ||||||
| Operating income | $ | 1,023.8 | $ | 1,386.8 | ||
| Amortization | 223.6 | 233.0 | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 150.4 | 3.8 | ||||
| Gain on divestitures – net | (9.6) | (25.3) | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 23.4 | (93.6) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 20.5 | 3.4 | ||||
| Other special project costs (A) | 8.0 | 20.7 | ||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 1,440.1 | $ | 1,528.8 | ||
| % of net sales | 18.0 | % | 19.1 | % | ||
| Net income reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net income | $ | 631.7 | $ | 876.3 | ||
| Income tax expense | 212.1 | 295.6 | ||||
| Amortization | 223.6 | 233.0 | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 150.4 | 3.8 | ||||
| Gain on divestitures – net | (9.6) | (25.3) | ||||
| Change in net cumulative unallocated derivative gains and losses | 23.4 | (93.6) | ||||
| Cost of products sold – special project costs (A) | 20.5 | 3.4 | ||||
| Other special project costs (A) | 8.0 | 20.7 | ||||
| Other one-time items: | ||||||
| Pension plan termination settlement charges (B) | — | 29.6 | ||||
| Adjusted income before income taxes | $ | 1,260.1 | $ | 1,343.5 | ||
| Income taxes, as adjusted | 297.9 | 318.5 | ||||
| Adjusted income | $ | 962.2 | $ | 1,025.0 | ||
| Weighted-average shares – assuming dilution | 108.4 | 112.4 | ||||
| Adjusted earnings per share – assuming dilution | $ | 8.88 | $ | 9.12 | ||
| EBITDA (as adjusted) reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net income | $ | 631.7 | $ | 876.3 | ||
| Income tax expense | 212.1 | 295.6 | ||||
| Interest expense – net | 160.9 | 177.1 | ||||
| Depreciation | 235.5 | 219.5 | ||||
| Amortization | 223.6 | 233.0 | ||||
| Other intangible assets impairment charges | 150.4 | 3.8 | ||||
| EBITDA (as adjusted) | $ | 1,614.2 | $ | 1,805.3 | ||
| Free cash flow reconciliation: | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities | $ | 1,136.3 | $ | 1,565.0 | ||
| Additions to property, plant, and equipment | (417.5) | (306.7) | ||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 718.8 | $ | 1,258.3 |
(A) Special project costs include certain divestiture, acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs, which are recognized in cost of products sold and other special project costs. For more information, see Note 2: Integration and Restructuring Costs and Note 4: Reportable Segments.
(B) Represents the nonrecurring pre-tax settlement charges of $29.6 related to the purchase of an irrevocable group annuity contract to transfer our Canadian defined benefit pension plan obligation to an insurance company (the “Canadian buy-out contract”). For additional information, see Note 8: Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND POLICIES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that in certain circumstances affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. We do not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Trade Marketing and Merchandising Programs: In order to support our products, various promotional activities are conducted through retailers, distributors, or directly with consumers, including in-store display and product placement programs, price discounts, coupons, and other similar activities. The costs of these programs are classified as a reduction of sales. We regularly review and revise, when we deem necessary, estimates of costs for these promotional programs based on estimates of what will be redeemed by retailers, distributors, or consumers. These estimates are made using various techniques, including historical data on performance of similar promotional programs. Differences between estimated expenditures and actual performance are recognized as a change in estimate in a subsequent period. During 2022, 2021, and 2020, subsequent period adjustments were less than 3 percent of both consolidated pre-tax income and cash provided by operating activities.
Income Taxes: We account for income taxes using the liability method. In the ordinary course of business, we are exposed to uncertainties related to tax filing positions and periodically assess the technical merits of these tax positions for all tax years that remain subject to examination, based upon the latest information available. We recognize a tax benefit when it is more likely than not the position will be sustained upon examination, based on its technical merits. The tax position is then measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
We routinely evaluate the likelihood of realizing the benefit of our deferred tax assets and may record a valuation allowance if, based on all available evidence, we determine that it is more likely than not that all or some portion of such assets will not be realized. Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be affected by changes in tax laws, statutory tax rates, and projected future taxable income levels. Changes in estimated realization of deferred tax assets would result in an adjustment to income in the period in which that determination is made, unless such changes are determined to be an adjustment to goodwill within the allowable measurement period under the acquisition method of accounting.
The future tax benefit arising from the net deductible temporary differences and tax carryforwards was $193.4 and $229.6 at April 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and results of operations. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of tax carryforwards or the projected operating results indicate that realization is not likely, a valuation allowance has been provided.
As of April 30, 2022, a portion of our undistributed foreign earnings, primarily in Canada, is not considered permanently reinvested, and an immaterial deferred tax liability has been recognized accordingly. Further, we have not repatriated foreign cash to the U.S during 2022.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets: A significant portion of our assets is composed of goodwill and other intangible assets, the majority of which are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment at least annually on
February 1, and more often if indicators of impairment exist. At April 30, 2022, the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets totaled $11.7 billion, compared to total assets of $16.1 billion and total shareholders’ equity of $8.1 billion. If the carrying value of these assets exceeds the current estimated fair value, the asset is considered impaired, and this would result in a noncash impairment charge to earnings. Any such impairment charge would reduce earnings and could be material. Events and conditions that could result in impairment include a sustained drop in the market price of our common shares, increased competition or loss of market share, obsolescence, product claims that result in a significant loss of sales or profitability over the product life, deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, or declining financial performance in comparison to projected results.
To test for goodwill impairment, we estimate the fair value of each of our reporting units using both a discounted cash flow valuation technique and a market-based approach. The impairment test incorporates estimates of future cash flows; allocations of certain assets, liabilities, and cash flows among reporting units; future growth rates; terminal value amounts;
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and the applicable weighted-average cost of capital used to discount those estimated cash flows. The estimates and projections used in the calculation of fair value are consistent with our current and long-range plans, including anticipated changes in market conditions, industry trends, growth rates, and planned capital expenditures. Changes in forecasted operations and other estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2022, goodwill totaled $6.0 billion. Goodwill is substantially concentrated within the U.S. Retail Pet Foods, U.S. Retail Coffee, and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods segments. During 2022, no goodwill impairment was recognized as a result of the evaluations performed throughout the year. The estimated fair value of each of our reporting units for which there is a goodwill balance was substantially in excess of its carrying value as of the annual test date, with the exception of the Pet Foods reporting unit, for which its fair value exceeded its carrying value by approximately 6 percent. A sensitivity analysis was performed for the Pet Foods reporting unit, assuming a hypothetical 50-basis-point decrease in the expected long-term growth rate or a hypothetical 50-basis-point increase in the weighted-average cost of capital, and both scenarios independently yielded an estimated fair value for the Pet Foods reporting unit below carrying value.
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets, consisting entirely of trademarks, are also tested for impairment at least annually and more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying values may be below their fair values. To test these assets for impairment, we estimate the fair value of each asset based on a discounted cash flow model using various inputs, including projected revenues, an assumed royalty rate, and a discount rate. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could impact the assessment of impairment in the future.
At April 30, 2022, other indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $2.6 billion. Trademarks that represent our leading brands comprise approximately 90 percent of the total carrying value of other indefinite-lived intangible assets. As of April 30, 2022, the estimated fair value was substantially in excess of the carrying value for the majority of these leading brand trademarks, and in all instances, the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value by greater than 10 percent. During 2022, we recognized an impairment charge of $150.4 related to the Rachael Ray Nutrish brand within the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment, representing the extent to which the carrying value exceeded the estimated fair value. We reassessed the long-term strategic expectations for the Rachael Ray Nutrish brand and reclassified this brand as a finite-lived intangible asset on January 31, 2022.
The carrying value of the goodwill within the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment was $2.4 billion as of April 30, 2022, and remains susceptible to future impairment charges due to narrow differences between fair value and carrying value, which is primarily attributable to the recognition of these assets at fair value resulting from impairment charges in recent years. Any significant adverse change in our near- or long-term projections or macroeconomic conditions could result in future impairment charges which could be material. For additional information, see Note 6: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Furthermore, we continue to evaluate the potential impact of COVID-19 on the fair value of our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. While we concluded there were no indicators of impairment as of April 30, 2022, any significant sustained adverse change in consumer purchasing behaviors, government restrictions, financial results, or macroeconomic conditions could result in future impairment.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans: To determine the ultimate obligation under our defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, we must estimate the future cost of benefits and attribute that cost to the time period during which each covered employee works. Various actuarial assumptions must be made in order to predict and measure costs and obligations many years prior to the settlement date, the most significant being the interest rates used to discount the obligations of the plans, the long-term rates of return on the plans’ assets, and mortality assumptions. We, along with third-party actuaries and investment managers, review all of these assumptions on an ongoing basis to ensure that the most reasonable information available is being considered.
We utilize a spot rate methodology for the estimation of service and interest cost for our plans by applying specific spot rates along the yield curve to the relevant projected cash flows to provide a better estimate of service and interest costs. For 2023 expense recognition, we will use weighted-average discount rates for the U.S. defined benefit pension plans of 4.59 percent to determine benefit obligation, 4.77 percent to determine service cost, and 4.26 percent to determine interest cost. For the Canadian defined benefit pension plans, we will use weighted-average discount rates of 2.41 percent to determine benefit obligation and 2.33 percent to determine interest cost. As of April 30, 2022, a 50 basis-point decrease in the discount rate assumption would increase the 2023 net periodic benefit cost by approximately $0.2, and the benefit obligation would increase by approximately $22.2. In addition, we anticipate using an expected rate of return on plan assets of 4.51 percent and 1.60 percent for the U.S. and Canadian defined benefit pension plans, respectively. A 50 basis-point decrease in the expected
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rate of return on plan assets assumption would increase the 2023 net periodic benefit cost by approximately $1.8. A change in the assumptions used for the Canadian defined benefit pension plans would not have a material impact on the net periodic benefit cost and benefit obligation.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans, and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “will,” “plan,” and similar phrases.
Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the following:
•the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, industry, suppliers, customers, consumers, employees, and communities;
•disruptions or inefficiencies in our operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls (including the recent Jif peanut butter recall), political instability, terrorism, armed hostilities (including the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine), extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic), or other calamities;
•risks related to the availability of, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation;
•the impact of food security concerns involving either our products or our competitors’ products, including product recalls;
•risks associated with derivative and purchasing strategies we employ to manage commodity pricing and interest rate risks;
•the availability of reliable transportation on acceptable terms, including any impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
•our ability to achieve cost savings related to our restructuring and cost management programs in the amounts and within the time frames currently anticipated;
•our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to continue operating under our capital deployment model, including capital expenditures, debt repayment, dividend payments, and share repurchases;
•our ability to implement and realize the full benefit of price changes, and the impact of the timing of the price changes to profits and cash flow in a particular period;
•the success and cost of marketing and sales programs and strategies intended to promote growth in our businesses, including product innovation;
•general competitive activity in the market, including competitors’ pricing practices and promotional spending levels;
•our ability to attract and retain key talent;
•the concentration of certain of our businesses with key customers and suppliers, including single-source suppliers of certain key raw materials and finished goods, and our ability to manage and maintain key relationships;
•impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets or changes in the useful lives of other intangible assets or other long-lived assets;
•the impact of new or changes to existing governmental laws and regulations and their application;
•the outcome of tax examinations, changes in tax laws, and other tax matters;
•a disruption, failure, or security breach of our or our suppliers’ information technology systems, including ransomware attacks;
•foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations; and
•risks related to other factors described under “Risk Factors” in other reports and statements we have filed with the SEC.
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Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances subsequent to the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.