- North America Sales Growth Experienced a 2% organic sales decline in Q2 due to challenging consumer environment and trade down.
- A&P Spend Increase Rose by 6.8% to 20.8% in the half year, focusing on innovation and ROI improvement.
- Gross Margin Improvement Achieved 160 basis points improvement in the first half, driven by productivity initiatives.
- Regional Growth Asia Pac saw strong volume growth, with 2/3 of Q2 growth coming from volume, while Europe experienced high single-digit growth in Central Europe.
- Operating Profit Growth Guidance Expects high single-digit operating profit growth driven by gross margin improvement and leverage in the P&L.
Financial Performance
The company's A&P spend increased by 6.8% in the half to 20.8%, with a focus on supporting innovation, driving growth in key markets, and improving ROI. The gross margin improvement of 160 basis points in the first half is a positive sign, and the company expects to deliver high single-digit operating profit growth. However, the nicotine replacement business has been a drag on growth, with a decline of around 60 basis points in the quarter. The company's EV/EBITDA of 17.33 indicates that the debt levels are manageable, and the ROIC of 5.68% suggests that the company is generating decent returns on its investments.
Regional Performance
The company's performance in North America was disappointing, with a 2% organic sales growth decline in Q2. However, the company is seeing strong volume growth in Asia Pac, with 2/3 of growth in Q2 coming from volume. In Europe, the company is seeing high single-digit growth in Central Europe and mid-single-digit growth in Western Europe, driven by strength in Oral Health. The company's focus on driving category growth and innovation-led premiumization is expected to drive growth in the back half of the year.
Valuation and Outlook
The company's valuation metrics suggest that the stock is fairly priced, with a P/B Ratio of 2.03 and a Dividend Yield of 0.02. The Free Cash Flow Yield of 0.0% is a concern, but the company's focus on driving growth and improving profitability is expected to improve this metric. The ROE of 8.73% suggests that the company is generating decent returns on its equity, and the Net Debt / EBITDA of 3.41 indicates that the debt levels are manageable. Analysts estimate next year's revenue growth at 4.0%, which is in line with the company's guidance.