Hormel Foods Corp. reported fiscal 2011 second quarter net earnings of $109.6 million, up 20 percent from adjusted net earnings of $91.3 million a year earlier. For the six months ended May 1, 2011, net earnings were $258.4 million, up 28 percent from adjusted net earnings of $202.5 million the same period last year. Diluted net earnings per share for the six months ended May 1, 2011 were $.95, up 27 percent from diluted adjusted net earnings per share of $.75 last year.

On a U.S. GAAP basis, the company’s fiscal 2011 second quarter net earnings of $109.6 million were up 41 percent from net earnings of $77.9 million a year earlier. Diluted U.S. GAAP earnings per share for the quarter were $.40 this year, up 38 percent compared to $.29 per share last year. U.S. GAAP segment operating profit for the quarter was $183.6 million, up 25 percent from a year ago. Grocery Products U.S. GAAP segment operating profit for the quarter was $39 million, up 18 percent from a year ago. For the six months ended May 1, 2011, U.S. GAAP net earnings were $258.4 million or $.95 per diluted share (up 37 percent and 36 percent, respectively) compared to U.S. GAAP net earnings of $189.1 million or $.70 per diluted share from the same period last year.

Sales for the quarter were $2 billion, up 15 percent from fiscal 2010. For the six months ended May 1, 2011, sales totaled $3.9 billion, up 13 percent from the same period last year.

“We are pleased to report double-digit growth in both earnings and sales for the quarter. Earnings growth was led by our Refrigerated Foods and Jennie-O Turkey Store segments, both of which had a strong quarter. We are also gratified to attain sales growth in all five of our segments,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and CEO.

“Our Refrigerated Foods segment generated excellent results, benefiting from strong pork operating margins, and our Jennie-O Turkey Store segment delivered another outstanding quarter, aided by stronger commodity meat prices and improved efficiencies. Our international business in our All Other segment also achieved impressive results, driven by strong export sales. Both our Grocery Products and Specialty Foods segments were pressured by higher commodity costs during the quarter,” remarked Ettinger.

The Grocery Products segment operating profit declined 9 percent from adjusted segment operating profit a year ago, due to higher input costs. Net sales exceeded last year by 1 percent. The Refrigerated Foods segment exceeded last year’s profitability by 27 percent, due primarily to higher pork operating margins. Net sales for the quarter increased 16 percent, with strong contributions from products such as Hormel party trays, Hormel Natural Choice deli meats and Hormel Cure 81 premium hams. Stronger commodity meat markets and improved efficiencies contributed to Jennie-O Turket Store's results. Net sales for the quarter rose 25 percent, and segment operating profit was up 45 percent from a year ago.

“Given our strong results in the second quarter, we are raising our full year guidance range to $1.67 to $1.73 per share from $1.62 to $1.68 per share. We anticipate seeing higher input costs during the remainder of the year, and our team will continue to drive efficiency gains and advance pricing to offset these higher costs. We believe our strong portfolio of brands and our balanced model will allow us to overcome those obstacles,” concluded Ettinger.

Source: Hormel Foods Corp.