It's really not fair to expect a company like J.M. Smucker
Reported sales for the fourth quarter were down 3%, or down 1% if you exclude the divested industrial business. While the special markets segment showed a little growth (up 2% without the industrial business) on good results in beverages and food service, the U.S. retail business was down 1% on a very weak result for oils and baking products.
Adding injury to insult, margins slid at both the gross and operating levels, and income from continuing operations fell 12%. Even after adding expenses related to restructuring, acquisitions, and so forth, you still end up with a roughly 3% drop in earnings per share.
Though company management chattered about its success in the fall baking season, I think a couple of facts outweigh this optimistic assessment. First, a rough approximation of return on invested capital for the first nine months of the year comes up around 6.9% -- pretty darn pathetic, and possibly below the cost of capital. Second, guidance is going down yet again. Not by a lot, I'll grant, but still down.
There are plenty of things about this company that set me on edge. Not only do we have talk about long-term growth strategies amidst weak results, but also the company doesn't bother including a cash flow statement with its earnings release. I also haven't forgotten management's recent statement that acquisitions would be the top priority for cash -- a decision I question, unless or until current management can maximize the business they already have.
No, my Fools, there are just too many better ideas out there to give Smucker much consideration. ConAgra
Feed on further Foolishness:
- Steady Performance at Kellogg
- General Mills: Consistency Can Pay Off
- Is Smucker Jamming the Quarter?
Fool contributor Stephen Simpson has no financial interest in any stocks mentioned (that means he's neither long nor short the shares).
