Hormel Foods Reports First Quarter Results

HIGHLIGHTS

First Quarter

– Diluted EPS of $.48, down 13 percent from $.55 per share

• Segment operating profit down 17 percent

• Dollar sales of $2.0 billion, up 6 percent

• Volume down 2 percent

• Grocery Products operating profit down 9 percent; volume down 6 percent; dollar sales down 3 percent

• Refrigerated Foods operating profit down 44 percent; volume flat; dollar sales up 7 percent

• Jennie-O Turkey Store operating profit up 4 percent; volume down 7 percent; dollar sales up 4 percent

• Specialty Foods operating profit down 4 percent; volume up 1 percent; dollar sales up 14 percent

• All Other (International) operating profit up 25 percent; volume flat; dollar sales up 17 percent

The company reported fiscal 2012 first quarter net earnings of $128.4 million, down 14 percent from earnings of $148.8 million a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $.48 this year compared to $.55 per share last year. Sales totaled $2.04 billion, which was up 6 percent from fiscal 2011.

COMMENTARY

“Our first quarter earnings of 48 cents per share was the second best in our Company’s history, albeit down from a year ago,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer. “Sales grew six percent, with four of our five segments registering sales gains in the quarter.”

“I was pleased with the strong results achieved by our Jennie-O Turkey Store segment, led by increased retail value-added sales. Our International business also delivered a solid quarter, fueled by strong export sales. Results of our Refrigerated Foods segment were hindered by significantly lower pork operating margins, and our Grocery Products segment results were adversely impacted by softer sales in the center of the store,” commented Ettinger.

“We are encouraged by continued growth of our MegaMex Foods joint venture, led by increased sales of our DON MIGUEL products and our WHOLLY GUACAMOLE line. Our Foodservice group also achieved solid sales growth during the quarter,” stated Ettinger.

SEGMENT OPERATING SUMMARIES – FIRST QUARTER

Grocery Products (13% of Net Sales, 22% of Total Segment Operating Profit)

The Grocery Products segment operating profit declined 9 percent, due primarily to lower volumes and higher raw material costs. Sales fell 3 percent with overall softer results partially offset by sales growth of the MegaMex Foods joint venture.

Refrigerated Foods (53% of Net Sales, 26% of Total Segment Operating Profit)

Refrigerated Foods segment profit declined 44 percent, due primarily to lower pork operating margins. Sales grew 7 percent during the quarter, led by sales of HORMEL^® pepperoni, HORMEL^® COUNTRY CROCK^® side dishes, and HORMEL^® NATURAL CHOICE^® deli meats in the Meat Products group, and by sales of our HORMEL^® NATURAL CHOICE^® deli meats, AUSTIN BLUES^® barbecue products, and CAFÉ H^® ethnic products in the Foodservice group.

Jennie-O Turkey Store (19% of Net Sales, 38% of Total Segment Operating Profit)

Jennie-O Turkey Store had an outstanding quarter, with segment operating profit up 4 percent, over a very strong quarter a year ago. Sales grew 4 percent led by sales of JENNIE-O TURKEY STORE^® retail fresh tray pack items and turkey burgers.

Specialty Foods (11% of Net Sales, 8% of Total Segment Operating Profit)

Segment operating profit for Specialty Foods declined 4 percent, due primarily to higher raw material and freight costs. Sales grew 14 percent, led by sales of nutritional products, private label products, sugar, and liquid portions.

All Other (4% of Net Sales, 6% of Total Segment Operating Profit)

Segment operating profit for the All Other segment, which consists primarily of Hormel Foods International, increased 25 percent for the quarter, while sales grew 17 percent, led primarily by stronger exports of fresh pork and the SPAM^® family of products.

Net Interest and Investment Income/Expense

Net interest and investment expense was lower as a result of improved investment returns and lower interest expense.

General Corporate Expense

General corporate expenses were lower than last year due to higher expenses last year associated with the vesting of options under the Universal Stock Option award granted to all employees in 2007.

OUTLOOK

“As we stated in our fourth quarter release, we anticipated a challenging operating environment this year, and for comparisons to be more difficult in the first half of the year and to become more favorable in the back half. We continue to look for slowly improving results from our Refrigerated Foods segment as pork operating margins return to more normalized levels. Sales in our Grocery Products segment and Meat Products group should also improve, as we begin to see the effects of our new advertising campaigns supporting our HORMEL and SPAM brands. Taking all of the relevant factors into account, we are maintaining our full-year earnings guidance range of $1.79 to $1.89 per share,” concluded Ettinger.

DIVIDENDS

Effective February 15, 2012, the Company paid its 334th consecutive quarterly dividend, at the annual rate of $.60.

CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call will be webcast at 8:30 a.m. CT on Thursday, February 23, 2012. Access is available at https://www.hormelfoods.com. If you do not have Internet access and want to listen to the call over the phone, the dial-in number is 877-941-0843 and the access code is 4509484. An audio replay is available by calling 800-406-7325 and entering access code 4509484. The audio replay will be available beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT on Thursday, February 23, 2012, through 11:59 p.m. CT on March 8, 2012. The webcast replay will be available at 10:30 a.m. CT, Thursday, February 23, 2012, and will be archived for one year.

Statements Follow

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Segment Data
Fiscal 2012 First Quarter Segment Operating Results (dollars in thousands)