Campbell Soup exceeded both earnings and sales estimates in the latest quarter, supported by higher prices across its product range. Despite this positive performance, the company has chosen to maintain its guidance for the full fiscal year, indicating that top-line sales growth is at the lower end of expectations.
Financial Snapshot
- Earnings: Campbell Soup delivered profits of 80 cents per share for the second fiscal quarter, surpassing analyst predictions of 77 cents.
- Sales: The company reported sales of $2.46 billion, outperforming estimates of $2.44 billion.
- Performance: Prices on products increased by 1% in the last quarter, with a 2% decline in "volume/mix" compared to the previous year. However, prices marked a significant increase of over 14% during the previous year.
Market Insights
Rising prices and improved supply chain efficiency have contributed to a 70 basis point increase in adjusted gross profit margin compared to the previous year. Despite some challenges, these factors have offset rising costs well.
Industry Comparison
In comparison to another leading packaged food company, Kraft Heinz, Campbell's demonstrated stronger performance with a lower decline in "volume/mix." Kraft Heinz raised consumer prices by 3.7% in the latest quarter while facing a 4.4% drop in sales volume.
Future Outlook
Campbell's maintained its fiscal-year 2024 earnings target at $3.09 to $3.15 per share, slightly above analyst expectations of $3.07 per share.
Overall, Campbell Soup's resilient performance and strategic pricing adjustments position the brand well for continued growth and success in the competitive food industry landscape.