Hershey Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Financial Results; Provides 2022 Outlook

HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced net sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2021.

"In 2021, we delivered a record year of production and double-digit sales and earnings growth, with a strong finish and momentum heading into 2022.  While the environment remains volatile, we are confident in our ability to continue to respond to the changes in the world around us and deliver another year of advantaged performance in 2022," said Michele Buck, The Hershey Company President and Chief Executive Officer.  "I could not be prouder of the entire Hershey organization for the way they continue to unite to overcome obstacles, show courage and adaptability, and persevere to deliver for consumers, partners, shareholders and each other during unprecedented times."

Fourth-Quarter 2021 Financial Results Summary¹

• Consolidated net sales of $2,326.1 million, an increase of 6.4%.
• Organic, constant currency net sales increased 4.0%.
• The impact of acquisitions on net sales was a 2.2-point benefit² while foreign currency exchange was a 0.2-point benefit.
• Reported net income of $335.6 million, or $1.62 per share-diluted, an increase of 16.5%.
• Adjusted earnings per share-diluted of $1.69, an increase of 13.4%.

2021 Full-Year Financial Results Summary³

• Consolidated net sales of $8,971.3 million, an increase of 10.1%.
• Organic, constant currency net sales increased 8.7%.
• The net impact of acquisitions and divestitures on net sales was a 1.0-point benefit⁴ and foreign currency exchange was a 0.4-point benefit.
• Reported net income of $1,477.5 million, or $7.11 per share-diluted, an increase of 16.4%.
• Adjusted earnings per share-diluted of $7.19, an increase of 14.3%.

2022 Full-Year Financial Outlook Summary

The company's 2022 outlook is provided in the context of greater than usual volatility associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and industry-wide supply chain disruption.   

The company expects net sales growth to be driven primarily by list price increases across all segments.  Pricing is anticipated to partially offset investments in labor, along with higher logistics costs and raw material inflation.  Sales growth and increased media efficiencies are expected to more than offset gross margin pressures to drive adjusted earnings per share growth.

The company also expects:

• A reported and adjusted effective tax rate in the range of 16% to 17%;
• Other expense of approximately $105 million to $115 million;
• Interest expense of approximately $125 million; and
• Capital expenditures of approximately $550 million to $600 million, driven by key strategic initiatives including expanding the agility and capacity of the company's supply chain and building digital infrastructure across the enterprise.

Below is a reconciliation of projected 2022 and full-year 2021 and 2020 earnings per share-diluted calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share-diluted:

2022 projected earnings per share-diluted, as presented above, does not include the impact of mark-to-market gains and losses on our commodity derivative contracts that are reflected within corporate unallocated expense in segment results until the related inventory is sold since we are not able to forecast the impact of the market changes.

Explanatory Note

Since December 31, 2014, Hershey has reported its operations through two segments, (i) North America and (ii) International and Other.  After the completion of the Dot's and Pretzels acquisitions in December 2021, management elected to begin reporting its operations through three reportable segments.  Therefore, in the fourth quarter of 2021, Hershey realigned its former two reportable segments into three reportable segments: (i) North America Confectionery, (ii) North America Salty Snacks and (iii) International.

Fourth-Quarter 2021 Results

Consolidated net sales were $2,326.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus $2,185.2 million in the prior-year period, an increase of 6.4%.  Net price realization was a 6.1-point benefit driven primarily by list price increases across all segments as well as slightly lower levels of promotional activity versus the prior year.  Volume was a 2.1-point headwind driven by price elasticity and fewer shipping days in the quarter.  Sales from the acquisitions of Pretzels, Dot's and Lily's were a 2.2-point benefit and foreign exchange was a 0.2-point benefit.

Reported gross margin was 43.5% in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to 44.0% in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 50 basis points.  This decrease was driven by higher supply chain costs and lower derivative mark-to-market commodity gains.  Adjusted gross margin was 43.5% in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to 43.9% in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 40 basis points.  Higher logistics, labor and packaging costs contributed to the decline as well as unfavorable mix driven by accelerated growth in the North America Salty Snacks segment.  Accelerating net price realization partially offset these headwinds. 

Selling, marketing and administrative expenses increased 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus the fourth quarter of 2020, driven by an increase in corporate expenses.  Advertising and related consumer marketing expenses decreased 6.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus the same period last year, driven by lower advertising in the North America Confectionery segment in response to sustained consumer demand and capacity constraints on select brands.  Selling, marketing and administrative expenses, excluding advertising and related consumer marketing, increased 8.2% versus the fourth quarter of 2020, driven by higher capability and technology investments along with costs related to the acquisitions of Dot's and Pretzels.

Fourth-quarter 2021 reported operating profit of $459.2 million increased 13.3% versus the fourth quarter of 2020, resulting in an operating profit margin of 19.7%, an increase of 120 basis points.  Adjusted operating profit of $475.7 million increased 10.8% versus the fourth quarter of 2020, resulting in adjusted operating profit margin of 20.5%, an increase of 90 basis points.  Profit increases in both reported and adjusted operating profit were driven by price realization gains and reduced levels of advertising, partially offset by the previously mentioned gross margin declines.  In addition, reported operating profit was higher due to prior-year period business realignment costs related to the operating model optimization in China.

The reported effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2021 was 0.9% compared to negative 10.6% in the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of 1,150 basis points.  The adjusted effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2021 was 2.2% compared to negative 8.1% in the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of 1,030 basis points.  Both the reported and adjusted effective tax rate increases were driven by unfavorable country rate differentials and lower tax credits versus the prior-year period.

The company's fourth-quarter 2021 results, as prepared in accordance with GAAP, included items positively impacting comparability of $20.8 million, or $0.07 per share-diluted.  For the fourth quarter of 2020, items positively impacting comparability totaled $25.6 million, or $0.10 per share-diluted.

The following table presents a summary of items impacting comparability in each period (see Appendix I for additional information):

The following are comments about segment performance for the fourth quarter of 2021 versus the prior-year period. See the schedule of supplementary information within this press release for additional information on segment net sales and profit.

North America Confectionery 

Hershey's North America Confectionery segment net sales were $1,982.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 4.9% versus the same period last year.  Price realization was a 4.3-point benefit driven by list price increases and slight reductions in promotional activity in response to ongoing industry-wide supply chain disruptions and capacity constraints.  Volume was a 1.1-point headwind resulting from price elasticity and fewer shipping days.  As expected, this growth lagged consumer demand due to strong seasonal and everyday sell-through, the continued contraction of retailer and distributor inventory levels and fewer shipping days in the quarter.  The net impact from the acquisition of Lily's was a 1.5-point benefit, while foreign currency exchange was a 0.2-point benefit.  

Hershey's U.S. candy, mint and gum (CMG) retail takeaway for the twelve-week period ended January 2, 2022⁶ in the expanded multi-outlet combined plus convenience store channels (MULO+C) increased 12.0%.  Strong consumer engagement during the Halloween and Holiday seasons led to increased sales of Hershey's confectionery products.  Combined seasonal and everyday take-home products reported retail sales growth of 13.2% during this time period.  Hershey's CMG share declined 50 basis points, in line with expectations, due to significant growth in the prior-year period, but remains up by approximately 110 basis points versus pre-pandemic levels.

North America Confectionery segment income increased 6.3% to $623.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $586.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.  This increase was driven by pricing gains and reductions in advertising on select brands in response to sustained consumer demand and capacity constraints, which was partially offset by gross margin declines driven by logistics, labor and packaging inflation.

⁶Includes candy, mint, gum, salty snacks and grocery items

North America Salty Snacks

Hershey's North America Salty Snacks segment net sales were $158.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 38.9% versus the same period last year.  Price realization contributed 15.9 points of growth driven by list price increases.  Volume drove an incremental 3.9-point benefit as consumer demand remained robust.  Sales from the acquisitions of Dot's and Pretzels were a 19.1-point benefit.

Hershey's U.S. salty snack retail takeaway, excluding Dot's, in MULO+C increased 25.3% in the 12-week period ended January 2, 2022, driven by strong consumer demand for SkinnyPop and Pirate's Booty products.  The dual strength of at-home and away-from-home consumption continues to drive retail takeaway across Hershey's salty snack portfolio, benefiting both take-home and multi-pack products.  SkinnyPop brand's retail sales increased 25.3% during this period.  SkinnyPop's ready-to-eat popcorn share gained 290 basis points in the 12-week period and is up 370 basis points versus pre-pandemic levels.  Pirate's Booty products also had exceptionally strong sell-through with retail sales growth of 63.0% for the 12-week period.

The North America Salty Snacks segment income increased 20.2% to $19.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $16.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.  The profit increase was driven by net price realization and volume gains, partially offset by higher supply chain costs and increases in advertising spend.

International

Fourth-quarter 2021 net sales for Hershey's International segment increased 1.7% versus the same period last year to $185.0 million.  Excluding a 0.3-point headwind from foreign currency exchange rates, constant currency net sales increased 2.0%.  Price realization was a 19.7-point benefit driven by list price increases across international markets and decreased levels of returns and trade promotions related to last year's operating model change in China.  Volume was a 17.7-point headwind, driven by lower retailer and distributor inventory levels versus the prior-year period and price elasticity.

The International segment reported a $0.4 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2021, reflecting a 97.6% increase versus the prior year period loss of $14.9 million.  The profit increase was driven by net price realization, partially offset by higher supply chain costs and reinvestment in advertising to pre-pandemic levels. 

Unallocated Corporate Expense

Hershey's unallocated corporate expense in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $166.8 million, an increase of $8.4 million, or 5.3% versus the same period of 2020.  This increase was driven by higher capability and technology investments.

Live Webcast

At approximately 7:00 a.m. (Eastern time) today, Hershey will post a pre-recorded management discussion of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results and business update to its website at www.thehersheycompany.com/investors.  In addition, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern time) today, the company will host a live question and answer session with investors and financial analysts.  Details to access this call are available on the company's website.

Note:  In this release, for the fourth-quarter of and full-year 2021, Hershey references income measures that are not in accordance with GAAP because they exclude certain items impacting comparability, including gains and losses associated with mark-to-market commodity derivatives, business realignment activities, acquisition-related activities, pension settlement charges relating to company-directed initiatives, long-lived asset impairment charges, and other miscellaneous benefits. The company refers to these income measures as "adjusted" or "non-GAAP" financial measures throughout this release. These non-GAAP financial measures are used in evaluating results of operations for internal purposes and are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the company believes exclusion of such items provides additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present operations. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this release to their nearest comparable GAAP financial measures as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income is provided below.

In the assessment of our results, we review and discuss the following financial metrics that are derived from the reported and non-GAAP financial measures presented above:

We present certain percentage changes in net sales on a constant currency basis, which excludes the impact of foreign currency exchange.  To present this information for historical periods, current period net sales for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average monthly exchange rates in effect during the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, rather than at the actual average monthly exchange rates in effect during the current period of the current fiscal year.  As a result, the foreign currency impact is equal to the current year results in local currencies multiplied by the change in average foreign currency exchange rate between the current fiscal period and the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

A reconciliation between reported net sales growth rates and (i) constant currency net sales growth rates and (ii) organic constant currency net sales growth rates is provided below:

Appendix I

Details of the charges included in GAAP results, as summarized in the press release (above), are as follows:

Derivative Mark-to-Market (Gains) Losses:  The mark-to-market (gains) losses on commodity derivatives are recorded as unallocated and excluded from adjusted results until such time as the related inventory is sold, at which time the corresponding (gains) losses are reclassified from unallocated to segment income.  Since we often purchase commodity contracts to price inventory requirements in future years, we make this adjustment to facilitate the year-over-year comparison of cost of sales on a basis that matches the derivative gains and losses with the underlying economic exposure being hedged for the period.

Business Realignment Activities:  We periodically undertake restructuring and cost reduction activities as part of ongoing efforts to enhance long-term profitability.  During the fourth quarter of 2020, we commenced the International Optimization Program to streamline resources and investments in select international markets, including the optimization of our China operating model to improve efficiencies and provide a more sustainable and simplified base going forward. During the first quarter of 2017, we commenced the Margin for Growth Program to improve global efficiency and effectiveness, optimize the company's supply chain, streamline the company's operating model and reduce administrative expenses to generate long-term savings.  During the three- and 12-month periods of 2021 and 2020, business realignment charges related primarily to severance expenses and other third-party costs related to these programs.

Acquisition-Related Activities:  During the three- and 12-month periods of 2021, we incurred costs to effectuate the acquisitions of Lily's, Dot's and Pretzels, as well as costs related to the integration of Lily's.  During the fourth quarter of 2020, we recognized benefits related to the integration of the 2019 acquisition of ONE Brands, while for the full-year 2020 we incurred costs related to this integration. 

Pension Settlement Charges Relating to Company-Directed Initiatives:  During the three- and 12-month periods of 2020, settlement charges in our salary and hourly defined benefit plans were triggered as a result of lump sum withdrawals by employees retiring or leaving the Company under a voluntary separation plan included within our Margin for Growth Program.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges:  During the 12-month period of 2020, we recorded impairment charges to adjust long-lived asset values associated with our Lotte Shanghai Foods Co., Ltd. ("LSFC") disposal group. Additionally, in connection with a previous sale, the company wrote-down certain receivables deemed uncollectible.

Noncontrolling Interest Share of Business Realignment and Impairment Charges:  Certain of the business realignment and impairment charges recorded related to the divestiture of LSFC, a joint venture in which we previously owned a 50% controlling interest.  Therefore, we have also adjusted for the portion of these charges included within the income (loss) attributed to the noncontrolling interest.

Other Miscellaneous Benefits:  In 2021, we recorded a gain on the divestiture of LSFC, as well as a gain on a receivable previously deemed uncollectible. In 2020, we recognized a positive adjustment due to a change in a prior year reserve associated with a facility closure.

Tax Effect of All Adjustments:  This line item reflects the aggregate tax effect of all pre-tax adjustments reflected in the preceding line items of the applicable table.  The tax effect for each adjustment is determined by calculating the tax impact of the adjustment on the company's quarterly effective tax rate, unless the nature of the item and/or the tax jurisdiction in which the item has been recorded requires application of a specific tax rate or tax treatment, in which case the tax effect of such item is estimated by applying such specific tax rate or tax treatment.

Safe Harbor Statement

This This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Many of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "future," "intend," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "strategy," "target" and similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like "could," "may," "might," "should," "will" and "would," among others. These statements are made based upon current expectations that are subject to risk and uncertainty. Because actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements when deciding whether to buy, sell or hold the company's securities. Factors that could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: risks related to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on our business, suppliers, distributors, consumers, customers, and employees; the scope and duration of the pandemic; government actions and restrictive measures implemented in response to the pandemic, including the distribution of vaccinations and continuation of social distancing guidelines and stay at home orders; disruptions or inefficiencies in our supply chain due to the loss or disruption of essential manufacturing or supply elements or other factors; issues or concerns related to the quality and safety of our products, ingredients or packaging, human and workplace rights, and other environmental, social or governance matters; changes in raw material and other costs, along with the availability of adequate supplies of raw materials; the company's ability to successfully execute business continuity plans to address the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting changes in consumer preferences and the broader economic and operating environment; selling price increases, including volume declines associated with pricing elasticity; market demand for our new and existing products; increased marketplace competition; failure to successfully execute and integrate acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures; changes in governmental laws and regulations, including taxes; political, economic, and/or financial market conditions; risks and uncertainties related to our international operations; disruptions, failures or security breaches of our information technology infrastructure; our ability to hire, engage and retain a talented global workforce, our ability to realize expected cost savings and operating efficiencies associated with strategic initiatives or restructuring programs; complications with the design or implementation of our new enterprise resource planning system; and such other matters as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and from time to time our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company's expectations.

SOURCE The Hershey Company