10-Q: Utz Brands Reports Slight Sales Increase in Q1 2025, Focuses on Growth Strategy and Cost Management
Summary
- Utz Brands, Inc. reported net sales of $352.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2025, a 1.6% increase compared to $346.5 million for the same period in 2024.
- The increase in net sales was primarily due to a favorable volume/mix of 6.3%, offset by a 3.4% decrease from lower net price realization and a 1.3% impact from the Good Health and R.W. Garcia Sale.
- Gross profit was $118.2 million, with a gross profit margin of 33.6%, down from 34.5% in the prior year, due to promotional investments and increased spending on capacity expansions and distribution growth.
- Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses increased by 3.5% to $113.2 million, driven by higher people, selling, and delivery costs.
- The company reported net income of $5.7 million, compared to $2.4 million in the prior year.
- Adjusted EBITDA was $45.1 million, representing 12.8% of net sales, compared to $43.4 million, or 12.5% of net sales, in the prior year.
- Utz is focused on a growth strategy that includes expanding its Branded Salty Snacks in Expansion Geographies and maintaining its share in Core Geographies.
- The company is managing operating costs through cost-saving initiatives, sourcing and hedging programs, pricing actions, and tax optimization.
- Utz amended its Term Loan B, reducing the interest rate and extending the maturity date, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $0.5 million.
- The company has outstanding purchase commitments for key ingredients totaling $91.0 million as of March 30, 2025.
Sentiment
Score: 6
Explanation: The report presents a mixed picture. While sales and net income increased, gross profit margin decreased, and expenses increased. The company is taking steps to manage costs and grow, but faces competitive pressures and economic uncertainties.
Highlights
- Net sales increased by 1.6% to $352.1 million, driven by a 6.3% favorable volume/mix.
- Gross profit margin decreased to 33.6% due to promotional investments and increased spending on capacity expansions and distribution growth.
- Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses increased by 3.5% to $113.2 million.
- Net income increased to $5.7 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA increased to $45.1 million, representing 12.8% of net sales.
- The company amended its Term Loan B, reducing the interest rate to SOFR plus 2.50% and extending the maturity date to January 29, 2032.
- Utz has outstanding purchase commitments for key ingredients totaling $91.0 million.
- Retail volumes and retail sales in Expansion Geographies were up by 8.9% and 4.9%, respectively.
- The weighted average interest rate for the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 2025 was 4.9%, down from 6.6% during the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2024.
Positives
- Net sales increased by 1.6% due to favorable volume/mix.
- Net income increased to $5.7 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA increased to $45.1 million.
- The company successfully refinanced its Term Loan B, reducing the interest rate and extending the maturity date.
- Retail volumes and retail sales in Expansion Geographies were up by 8.9% and 4.9%, respectively, indicating successful growth initiatives.
- The weighted average interest rate decreased from 6.6% to 4.9%.
Negatives
- Gross profit margin decreased to 33.6% due to promotional investments and increased spending on capacity expansions and distribution growth.
- Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses increased by 3.5%.
- Lower net price realization negatively impacted net sales by 3.4%.
- The Good Health and R.W. Garcia Sale negatively impacted net sales by 1.3%.
Risks
- The salty snack industry is highly competitive.
- Changes in consumer preferences and tastes could impact demand.
- Disruptions to manufacturing operations, supply chain, or distribution channels could occur.
- Inflation, including rising labor costs, could impact profitability.
- The company is exposed to changes in interest rates.
- The company's success depends on its ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel.
- The company's success depends on its ability to protect its intellectual property rights.
- The company is exposed to liabilities, claims or new laws or regulations with respect to environmental matters.
- The company is exposed to changes to trade policies and tariff and import/export regulations by the United States and other jurisdictions.
Future Outlook
The company's long-term growth strategy focuses on investments in marketing and innovation to drive top-line growth and achieve share gains in the salty snack category, further penetrating Expansion Geographies and untapped channels and customers.
Management Comments
- Management monitors developments and trends that could impact revenue and profitability objectives.
- Management is focused on accelerating investments in marketing and innovation to drive top-line growth and achieve share gains.
- Management is managing operating costs through annual cost saving and productivity initiatives, sourcing and hedging programs, pricing actions, refinancing and tax optimization.
Industry Context
Utz operates in the $42 billion U.S. salty snack category, within the broader approximately $143 billion market for U.S. snack foods. The company competes with other salty snack producers and more broadly with other snack foods. The industry is highly competitive, with key competitive factors including taste, convenience, product variety, product quality, price, consumer brand awareness, and distribution.
Comparison to Industry Standards
- The document mentions that Utz's retail sales were flat while U.S. retail sales for salty snacks decreased by 1.7% based on Circana data, suggesting Utz performed slightly better than the overall market.
- The document does not provide enough information to compare Utz's performance to specific competitors like PepsiCo (Frito-Lay), Kellogg's (Pringles), or Campbell Soup Company (Snyder's-Lance) in terms of sales growth, profitability, or market share.
- The document does not provide enough information to compare Utz's performance to global benchmarks.
Stakeholder Impact
- Shareholders may be concerned about the decrease in gross profit margin but encouraged by the increase in net income.
- Employees may be affected by cost-saving initiatives and structural changes to the business.
- Customers may benefit from product innovation and promotional activities.
- Suppliers may be affected by the company's sourcing and hedging programs.
- Creditors are affected by the company's debt management and compliance with debt covenants.
Next Steps
- The company will continue to operate under transition services and co-manufacturing agreements with Our Home, which are scheduled to expire during the first half of 2025.
- The company will continue to monitor worldwide supply and commodity costs.
- The company will continue to evaluate its financing strategy to meet its shortand longer-term capital needs.
Key Dates
- 2024-02-05: The Company sold certain assets and brands to affiliates of Our Home, including the Good Health and R.W. Garcia brands.
- 2024-04-22: The Company sold to Our Home its Berlin, PA and Fitchburg, MA manufacturing facilities and certain related assets.
- 2025-01-29: The Company amended its Term Loan B to refinance outstanding term loans, reduce the interest rate, and extend the maturity date.
- 2025-03-30: End of the quarterly period for this report.
- 2025-04-28: Date as of which the number of shares of Class A and Class V Common Stock outstanding is reported.
Keywords
Filings with Classifications
Quarterly Report
- Gross profit margin decreased to 33.6% due to promotional investments and increased spending on capacity expansions and distribution growth.
Annual Results
- Gross profit margin increased significantly to 35.1% from 31.7%.
- Adjusted EBITDA increased to $200.2 million, representing 14.2% of net sales.
- Net income attributable to controlling interest was $15.974 million, compared to a net loss of $24.937 million in the previous year.
SEC Form 4 Filing
- A large sale of shares by a major holder is generally viewed negatively by the market.
Quarterly Report
- The company's gross profit margin improved significantly, indicating better operational efficiency and cost management.
- The company's strategic divestitures generated substantial cash and reduced debt, improving its financial position.
Quarterly Report
- The company's adjusted earnings per share increased by 23.5%, which is a better result than the prior year period.
- The company's adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 80 basis points, indicating improved profitability.
- The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, suggesting confidence in future performance.
Quarterly Report
- The company's gross profit margin improved significantly, indicating better operational efficiency.
- The company generated substantial gains from strategic divestitures, improving overall profitability.
- The company's net income improved significantly compared to the same period last year.
Quarterly Report
- The company's adjusted earnings per share increased by 46.2%, significantly exceeding expectations.
- The company's adjusted EBITDA increased by 10.0%, demonstrating strong profitability improvements.
- The company raised its full-year adjusted earnings per share outlook from 23%-28% to 28%-32%.
Quarterly Report
- The company's net sales decreased by 1.4% year-over-year, indicating a worse performance than expected.
- The company experienced a net loss attributable to controlling interest of $3.99 million, indicating a worse performance than expected.
Quarterly Report
- The company's net income improved significantly from a loss to a profit.
- Adjusted earnings per share increased by 27.3%, exceeding expectations.
- The company raised its adjusted earnings per share outlook for the full year.
Press Release
- The company expects the plant disposition to be accretive to its Adjusted Earnings Per Share in 2024.
- The term loan repricing is expected to save approximately $2 million annually in cash interest expense.
Proxy Statement
- The company's GAAP net loss moved from $(14.0 million) to ($40.0 million) in fiscal year 2023.
- Sales results were below expectations set at the beginning of 2023.
Quarterly Report
- The company reported a net loss of $33.2 million in Q4 2023 compared to a net income of $13.8 million in the same period last year, indicating worse than expected results.
- The full-year net loss of $40.0 million was also worse than the net loss of $14.0 million in the prior year.
Merger Announcement
- The transaction is expected to accelerate the company's deleveraging timeline by a full year.
- The company expects the transaction to be accretive to its Adjusted Earnings per Share in 2024.
- The company is narrowing its fiscal-year 2023 Adjusted EBITDA outlook range to growth of 9.5% to 10.0%.
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