Beam's Profit Surges, but Misses Est - Analyst Blog
03 November 2011 - 5:08PM
Zacks
Beam Inc.’s (BEAM) adjusted earnings of 53
cents a share for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 surged 13% from
the prior-year quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the
quarter stood at 59 cents per share.
Earnings, on a GAAP basis, were $2.65 compared with 66 cents per
share posted in the year-ago quarter. The GAAP figure includes a
gain on sale of the golf business and spin-off of Fortune Brands
Home & Security business.
Quarterly Details
Net sales, excluding excise taxes, during the reported quarter
grew 12.5% year over year to $579.3 million, surpassing the Zacks
Consensus Estimate of $564.0 million. Beam’s adjusted operating
income inched up 3.8% to $142.4 million. However, operating margin
plummeted by 210 basis points to 24.6%.
At the end of the quarter, Fortune Brands had cash and cash
equivalents of $112.0 million and total long-term debt of $1,921.0
million compared with a cash balance of $476.0 million and
long-term debt of $2,551.0 million in the prior-year quarter.
During the quarter, the company generated a free cash flow of
$247.5 million compared with $289.8 million in the prior-year
quarter.
Guidance
The company expects to sustain its growth momentum into fiscal
year 2011. Fortune Brands anticipates its fiscal 2011 to be a solid
year despite higher commodity costs and investments to support
long-term growth. Beam anticipates achieving a high-single-digit
growth in adjusted earnings against a base of $1.92 per share.
Business Restructuring
Recently, Fortune Brands splits the company into three
standalone units, giving investors pure plays in golf, home
products and alcoholic drinks. After the separation, the ongoing
company has been re-named as Beam Inc. The company has spun-off its
home and security business to shareholders in a tax-free
transaction in July 2011. The company’s home products business will
retain its name of Fortune Brands Home & Security in
future.
Consequent to the spin-off, the company continues to subsist as
a publicly traded manufacturer of distilled spirit. This unit has
parented brands like Jim Beam bourbon, Courvoisier cognac and Sauza
tequila.
The company faces intense competition from well-established
players, such as Diageo plc (DEO) and
Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B). Besides, global
competitive conditions have also been intensified. Consequently,
risk related in operating in such a competitive environment may
undermine the company’s future operating performance.
Currently, Beam has a Zacks #5 Rank, implying a short-term
Strong Sell rating on the stock. Besides, the company retains a
long-term Underperform recommendation.
BEAM INC (BEAM): Free Stock Analysis Report
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DIAGEO PLC-ADR (DEO): Free Stock Analysis Report
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