Seneca Foods Reports Sales and Earnings for the Quarter and Twelve Months Ended March 31, 2024
Seneca Foods (NASDAQ: SENEA, SENEB) announced its financial results for Q4 and the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. Annual net sales were $1,458.6M, a decrease from $1,509.4M in the previous year due to lower sales volumes, partially offset by higher selling prices. The gross margin percentage increased to 12.9% from 6.9%. For Q4, net sales were $308.0M, down from $331.1M the previous year, again due to lower sales volumes but higher prices. Q4 gross margin improved to 6.7% from -4.3%.
CEO Paul Palmby noted that despite a year-over-year decline in sales and earnings in the seasonally weak Q4, fiscal 2024 was historically the third best on an operating basis for Seneca Foods.
- Gross margin percentage for the fiscal year increased to 12.9% from 6.9%.
- Fiscal year 2024 was the third best on an operating basis in the company's history.
- Q4 gross margin improved to 6.7% from -4.3% year-over-year.
- Year-to-date sales prices increased.
- Annual net sales decreased by $50.8M year-over-year.
- Q4 net sales decreased by $23.1M year-over-year.
- Sales volumes were lower both annually and quarterly.
Insights
Seneca Foods Corporation's recent financial results demonstrate a complex picture for investors. While the overall net sales for the twelve months decreased slightly from
This mixed result entails both short-term concerns due to lower sales volumes and long-term optimism due to improved margins. Investors should keep an eye on future sales volume trends and how the company continues to manage operational costs. For now, the financial health improvements reflected in the gross margin are a positive sign.
The competitive environment in which Seneca Foods operates is a critical factor to consider. The company's ability to increase selling prices while still experiencing a healthy gross margin indicates strong pricing power and market positioning. However, the decrease in sales volume suggests that either demand has softened or competition has intensified. Investors should examine market trends in the food processing sector to understand if this is an industry-wide phenomenon or if Seneca Foods is losing market share. Additionally, the timing of contract manufacturing sales affecting the fourth-quarter results is worth monitoring, as it suggests potential supply chain management and contract negotiation dynamics that could impact future performance.
Overall, the ability to sustain higher prices without significantly hurting margins is a positive signal. However, to gauge the company's future performance accurately, investors should watch for updates on sales volume recovery and any strategic responses to competitive pressures.
FAIRPORT, N.Y., June 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seneca Foods Corporation (NASDAQ: SENEA, SENEB) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended March 31, 2024.
Executive Summary (vs. year-ago, year-to-date results):
- Net sales for the twelve months ended March 31, 2024 totaled
$1,458.6 million compared to$1,509.4 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2023. The year-over-year decrease of$50.8 million was mainly due to lower sales volumes partially offset by higher selling prices. - Gross margin as a percentage of net sales for the twelve months ended March 31, 2024 is
12.9% as compared to6.9% for the twelve months ended March 31, 2023.
“Fiscal year 2024 represented another strong year, coming in as our historically third best on an operating basis,” stated Paul Palmby, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Sales and earnings trended lower in our seasonally weak fourth quarter, but this was primarily attributable to timing of certain contract manufacturing sales, without which our business in the fourth quarter was up
Executive Summary (vs. year-ago, fourth quarter results):
- Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 totaled
$308.0 million compared to$331.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The year-over-year decrease of$23.1 million was mainly due to lower sales volumes partially offset by higher selling prices. - Gross margin as a percentage of net sales is
6.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to (4.3% ) for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
About Seneca Foods Corporation
Seneca Foods is one of North America’s leading providers of packaged fruits and vegetables, with facilities located throughout the United States. Its high quality products are primarily sourced from more than 1,200 American farms and are distributed to approximately 55 countries. Seneca holds a large share of the market for retail private label, food service, restaurant chains, international, contracting packaging, industrial, chips and cherry products. Products are also sold under the highly regarded brands of Libby’s®, Green Giant®, Aunt Nellie’s®, Green Valley®, CherryMan®, READ®, and Seneca labels, including Seneca snack chips. Seneca’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbols “SENEA” and “SENEB”. SENEA is included in the S&P SmallCap 600, Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indices.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted net earnings is calculated on a FIFO basis. The Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides for a better comparison of year over year operating performance. The Company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported earnings before income taxes to adjusted net earnings (in thousands).
| Twelve Months Ended | |||||||
| March 31, 2024 | March 31, 2023 | ||||||
| Earnings before income taxes, as reported | $ | 82,999 | $ | 13,793 | |||
| LIFO charge | 22,342 | 131,611 | |||||
| Adjusted earnings before income taxes | 105,341 | 145,404 | |||||
| Income taxes at staturory rates | 25,177 | 37,596 | |||||
| Adjusted net earnings | $ | 80,164 | $ | 107,808 | |||
Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported net earnings to EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash charges related to the LIFO inventory valuation method). The Company does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP (in thousands).
| Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||
| EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA: | March 31, 2024 | March 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 63,318 | $ | 9,231 | |||||
| Income tax expense | 19,681 | 4,562 | |||||||
| Interest expense, net of interest income | 34,020 | 14,325 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 50,729 | 52,577 | |||||||
| Interest amortization | (447 | ) | (271 | ) | |||||
| EBITDA | 167,301 | 80,424 | |||||||
| LIFO charge | 22,342 | 131,611 | |||||||
| FIFO EBITDA | $ | 189,643 | $ | 212,035 | |||||
Forward-Looking Information
This release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they address future events, developments, and results and do not relate strictly to historical facts. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance, or achievements, and may contain the words "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seeks," "should," "likely," "targets," "may", "can" and variations thereof and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. We believe important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the following:
- the effects of rising costs and availability of raw fruit and vegetables, steel, ingredients, packaging, other raw materials, distribution and labor;
- crude oil prices and their impact on distribution, packaging and energy costs;
- an overall labor shortage, ability to retain a sufficient seasonal workforce, lack of skilled labor, labor inflation or increased turnover impacting our ability to recruit and retain employees;
- climate and weather affecting growing conditions and crop yields;
- our ability to successfully implement sales price increases and cost saving measures to offset cost increases;
- the loss of significant customers or a substantial reduction in orders from these customers;
- effectiveness of our marketing and trade promotion programs;
- competition, changes in consumer preferences, demand for our products and local economic and market conditions;
- the impact of a pandemic on our business, suppliers, customers, consumers and employees;
- unanticipated expenses, including, without limitation, litigation or legal settlement expenses;
- product liability claims;
- the anticipated needs for, and the availability of, cash;
- the availability of financing;
- leverage and the ability to service and reduce debt;
- foreign currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations;
- the risks associated with the expansion of our business;
- the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions into our operations;
- our ability to protect information systems against, or effectively respond to, a cybersecurity incident or other disruption;
- other factors that affect the food industry generally, including:
- recalls if products become adulterated or misbranded, liability if product consumption causes injury, ingredient disclosure and labeling laws and regulations and the possibility that consumers could lose confidence in the safety and quality of certain food products;
- competitors’ pricing practices and promotional spending levels;
- fluctuations in the level of our customers’ inventories and credit and other business risks related to our customers operating in a challenging economic and competitive environment; and
- the risks associated with third-party suppliers, including the risk that any failure by one or more of our third-party suppliers to comply with food safety or other laws and regulations may disrupt our supply of raw materials or certain finished goods products or injure our reputation; and
- changes in, or the failure or inability to comply with, U.S., foreign and local governmental regulations, including environmental and health and safety regulations.
Except for ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by the federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the filing of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contact:
Michael Wolcott, Chief Financial Officer
585-495-4100
| Seneca Foods Corporation | |||||||||||||||
| Unaudited Selected Financial Data | |||||||||||||||
| For the Periods Ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands of dollars, except share data) | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| March 31, | March 31, | March 31, | March 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 307,983 | $ | 331,063 | $ | 1,458,603 | $ | 1,509,352 | |||||||
| Plant restructuring (note 2) | $ | 318 | $ | 1,613 | $ | 425 | $ | 3,550 | |||||||
| Other operating expense (income), net (note 3) | $ | 504 | $ | 749 | $ | (647 | ) | $ | (1,662 | ) | |||||
| Operating income (loss) (note 1) | 2,548 | (36,890 | ) | 107,231 | 21,359 | ||||||||||
| Other non-operating income | (5,288 | ) | (1,689 | ) | (9,788 | ) | (6,759 | ) | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | 10,874 | 6,288 | 34,020 | 14,325 | |||||||||||
| (Loss) earnings before income taxes | $ | (3,038 | ) | $ | (41,489 | ) | $ | 82,999 | $ | 13,793 | |||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (791 | ) | (8,432 | ) | 19,681 | 4,562 | |||||||||
| Net (loss) earnings | $ | (2,247 | ) | $ | (33,057 | ) | $ | 63,318 | $ | 9,231 | |||||
| Basic (loss) earnings per common share | $ | (0.32 | ) | $ | (4.34 | ) | $ | 8.64 | $ | 1.19 | |||||
| Diluted (loss) earnings per common share | $ | (0.32 | ) | $ | (4.34 | ) | $ | 8.56 | $ | 1.16 | |||||
| Note 1: | The effect of the LIFO inventory valuation method on the fourth quarter pre-tax results decreased operating earnings by |
| Note 2: | During fiscal year 2024, the Company incurred minimal restructuring charges which were partly driven by the Company’s decision to cease its Northeast trucking fleet operations, in addition to charges associated with plants that were closed in previous periods. During fiscal year 2023, the Company incurred restructuring charges primarily due to ceasing production of green beans at a plant in the Northeast. The charges mainly consisted of severance and write-downs of production equipment that was to be scrapped or sold |
| Note 3: | The Company had net other operating income of |
| Note 4: | The Company used the “two-class” method for basic earnings per share by dividing the net earnings attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average of common shares outstanding during the period. |
FAQ
What were Seneca Foods' net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024?
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