ConAgra Foods Reports Strong Second-Quarter EPS Gr ConAgra Foods Reports Strong Second-Quarter EPS Growth; Raises Fiscal 2013 Expectations; Acquisition of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. on Track for Closing in the First Quarter of Calendar 2013
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2012-- ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG):
Fiscal 2013 Second-quarter Highlights (% cited vs. year-ago period amounts, where applicable):
Diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.51 as reported and $0.57 adjusted for items impacting comparability, up 19% as reported and up 16% on a comparable basis.
Consumer Foods’ operating profit increased 12% as reported and 8% on a comparable basis, including a double-digit increase in base business marketing investment. Segment sales increased 11%, driven by acquisitions.
Commercial Foods’ operating profit grew 5% as reported and segment sales increased 5%.
The company now expects EPS expectations for the full fiscal year, adjusted for items impacting comparability, to be at least $2.06, an increase from the previous guidance of $2.03 - $2.06 on that same basis. This upwardly revised outlook includes a strong year-over-year increase in marketing investment, and does not include any fiscal 2013 EPS benefit from acquiring Ralcorp, which will be determined in due course after the transaction closes.
The company continues to expect operating cash flow in excess of $1.2 billion for the fiscal year, excluding any fiscal 2013 cash flow from acquiring Ralcorp.
The company’s planned acquisition of Ralcorp for $90 per share in cash is on track to close in the first quarter of calendar 2013. Please refer to the company’s press release dated Nov. 27, 2012, for details on the transaction.
ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) one of North America’s leading packaged food companies, today reported results for the fiscal 2013 second quarter ended Nov. 25, 2012. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.51 in the fiscal second quarter, up 19% over $0.43 earned in the year-ago period. Excluding $0.06 of net expense in both the current quarter and the year-ago period from items impacting comparability, current quarter EPS of $0.57 was 16% above the comparable $0.49 earned in the year-ago period. Items impacting comparability in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 and the same period a year ago are summarized toward the end of this release and reconciled for Regulation G purposes starting on page 9.
Gary Rodkin, ConAgra Foods’ chief executive officer, said, “We are pleased that both of our segments posted operating profit growth in the midst of current economic conditions. Effective margin management initiatives, moderating input cost inflation, the benefit of acquisitions, and good results from our potato operations are collectively driving high-quality EPS growth. We are very excited about the pending acquisition of Ralcorp, which we announced on Nov. 27, 2012, given the strategically and financially compelling nature of the acquisition. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of calendar 2013, and we look forward to updating our investors on the financial benefits of the acquisition in due course.”
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