Bullish on Hain Celestial - Analyst Blog
June 28 2012 - 5:30AM
Zacks
Buoyed by impressive third-quarter
2012 results and an optimistic outlook, we have adopted a bullish
stance on The Hain Celestial Group Inc. (HAIN). We
upgraded our recommendation to Outperform from Neutral with a
target price of $55.00.
Fabulous Quarter,
Upbeat Guidance
Rise in consumption, innovative
marketing and expanded distribution facilitated Hain Celestial to
post third-quarter 2012 earnings of 54 cents a share that surpassed
the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents. The reported earnings
jumped 50% from 36 cents a share delivered in the prior-year
quarter.
Higher demand for natural organic
products proved to be a boon for the company, as the quarterly
revenue rose 31.5% year over year to $379.4 million. However,
including sales of the United Kingdom private label chilled ready
meals operations (discontinued business), revenue came in at $400.3
million, up 39% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was
$405 million for the quarter.
Buoyed by better-than-expected
bottom-line results management raised its fiscal 2012 earnings
guidance in the range of $1.76 to $1.80 per share from its previous
guidance of $1.63 to $1.73. The company now expects sales to be in
the range of $1.40 billion to $1.41 billion, reflecting adjustment
for the discontinued operations of private label chilled ready
meals.
A Healthy Option for
Wealth
A leader in natural food and
personal care products categories with an extensive portfolio of
well-known brands, Hain Celestial offers investors one of the
strongest growth profiles in the industry. The stock is poised to
surge as the economy gradually revives and appetite for organic
foods gets bigger.
Hain Celestial continues to remain
a healthy option for the investors. Shares of the company have
portrayed an upward trend so far this year, giving a return of
45.9% considering the last traded price of $53.02 on June 27,
moving closer to its 52-week high of $57.42.
The Company Counts
Upon
We believe that the company remains
well positioned to capitalize on the growing global demand for
organic products. During the third-quarter 2012 earnings call,
management hinted that consumption in the U.S. grew 9% with an 11%
growth witnessed in sales, which is quite a good number in this
scenario.
The company registered increased
consumption in core categories with robust contribution from
Earth's Best, Celestial Seasonings, Imagine, MaraNatha, Garden of
Eatin', Sensible Portions, The Greek Gods, and JASON brands. Hain
Celestial also experienced solid sales across recently-acquired
brands.
Acquisitions have been a key part
of the company’s strategy to build market share. Not only did
buyouts expand Hain Celestial’s geographic reach, but also brought
in opportunities to cross-sell its products in the U.S., Canadian,
and European markets. Notably, a healthy balance sheet enables the
company to target strategic acquisition opportunities.
Following its growth plan, Hain
Celestial completed the acquisition of U.K.-based marketer and
manufacturer of fresh and frozen foods, Daniels Group ("Daniels").
Adding to the string, the company announced the acquisition of
Cully & Sully Limited in Ireland. The acquisition is expected
to amplify the sales of the company as it provides a gateway to a
sturdy food and grocery market that is swiftly gaining ground.
Moreover, Hain Celestial has
undertaken a number of initiatives to improve its performance and
has put itself on the growth trajectory. The company’s Stock
Keeping Unit (“SKU”) rationalization program has helped to
eliminate SKUs, which had lower sales volume or weak margins.
Management focuses on improving profitability through new product
introductions while reducing costs.
Holds Zacks #1
Rank
The company’s strong fundamentals
and favorable outlook are compelling even in a volatile market.
Hain Celestial, which competes with General Mills
Inc. (GIS) and Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT),
holds a Zacks #1 Rank that translates into a short-term ‘Strong
Buy’ rating.
GENL MILLS (GIS): Free Stock Analysis Report
HAIN CELESTIAL (HAIN): Free Stock Analysis Report
KRAFT FOODS INC (KFT): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
Kraft (NASDAQ:KFT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Kraft (NASDAQ:KFT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024