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Mar 31, 2024

Hershey Q1 2024 Earnings Report

Hershey's Q1 2024 financial results were announced, with the company reaffirming its 2024 net sales and earnings outlook.

Key Takeaways

Hershey reported a strong start to 2024, with consolidated net sales increasing by 8.9% to $3,252.7 million and net income rising by 36.5% to $797.5 million, or $3.89 per share-diluted. The company reaffirms its 2024 net sales growth of 2% to 3% and adjusted earnings per share growth of approximately 0%.

Consolidated net sales increased by 8.9% to $3,252.7 million.

Organic, constant currency net sales increased by 8.6%.

Reported net income increased by 36.5% to $797.5 million, or $3.89 per share-diluted.

Adjusted earnings per share-diluted increased by 3.7% to $3.07.

Total Revenue
$3.25B
Previous year: $2.99B
+8.9%
EPS
$3.07
Previous year: $2.96
+3.7%
Total Organic Net Sales Growth
8.6%
Previous year: 12.2%
-29.5%
Gross Profit
$1.68B
Previous year: $1.38B
+21.3%
Cash and Equivalents
$520M
Previous year: $460M
+13.0%
Total Assets
$12.4B
Previous year: $11.1B
+11.5%

Hershey

Hershey

Forward Guidance

The Company is reiterating its net sales growth, reported earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share outlook for the year.

Positive Outlook

  • Net sales growth of 2% to 3%.
  • Reported earnings per share growth of approximately 0%.
  • Adjusted earnings per share growth of approximately 0%.
  • A reported and adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 13%.
  • Advancing Agility & Automation Initiative savings of $100 million.

Challenges Ahead

  • Other expense, which primarily reflects the write-down of equity investments that qualify for a tax credit, of approximately $220 million to $230 million.
  • Interest expense of approximately $165 million to $175 million, reflecting a higher interest rate environment.
  • Capital expenditures of approximately $600 million to $650 million, driven by core confection capacity expansion and continued investments in a digital infrastructure including the build and upgrade of a new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system across the enterprise.
  • Derivative mark-to-market losses
  • Business realignment activities