- Q2 Sales Growth: Record $1.9 billion in sales, up 12.5% YoY, driven by $82 million organic volume growth and $74 million from acquisitions.
- Organic Volume Expansion: U.S. premium protein and artisan bakery products delivered 21% combined organic volume growth, contributing $82 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA Performance: $177.1 million in adjusted EBITDA, +7.6% YoY, with a 10.1% margin after adjusting for raw material inflation (up 50 bps).
- Capital Expenditures: $52.4 million spent on CapEx, with $25.3 million on major projects and an additional $108 million planned for future capacity expansion ($1.7 billion incremental sales).
- Debt Reduction Progress: Total debt-to-EBITDA ratio reduced to 4.2:1, with $583 million in unused credit capacity providing liquidity flexibility.
Strong Performance in Premium Protein and Artisan Baked Goods
The company's focus on premium protein and artisan baked goods strategies in the U.S. and demand for protein products in Canada drove strong organic growth rates. As George Paleologou, CEO, mentioned, "Our results for the quarter were on plan, driven by strong organic growth rates in our premium protein and artisan baked goods strategies in the U.S. and demand for protein products in Canada."
Margin Pressure and Cost Reduction Initiatives
Despite the strong revenue growth, the company faced headwinds from higher-than-expected inflation in certain commodities, which put pressure on margins. However, the company is taking actions to restore its margins, including targeted pricing and cost reduction initiatives. Adjusted EBITDA margin fell by 50 basis points to 9.2%, but after adjusting for raw material cost inflation, it is 10.1%, representing a positive 50 basis points year-over-year increase.
Valuation Metrics
The company's valuation metrics indicate that the stock is trading at a premium. The P/E ratio stands at 34.99, while the P/S ratio is 0.62. The EV/EBITDA ratio is 13.24, and the ROIC and ROE are 5.3% and 6.72%, respectively. The company's dividend yield is 3.68%, and its free cash flow yield is -1.38%. With a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 5.81, the company has some room to maneuver in terms of debt financing.