Calavo Growers reports fiscal Q1 net earnings of US$4M, up 47% from year-ago period as revenues rise 21% to US$168.2M

Nevin Barich

SANTA PAULA, California , March 5, 2014 (press release) – First Quarter Highlights Include:

Net Income Climbs 47 Percent to $4.0 Million from Last Year’s $2.7 Million (Which Included $800,000 in After-Tax Effect of Contingent Consideration)

Diluted EPS Equals $0.25 Versus $0.18 (Which Included Contingent Consideration Impact Approximating $0.06 Per Diluted Share) One Year Ago

Revenues Grow 21 Percent to Record $168.2 Million, Eclipsing $139.5 Million in Year-Earlier First Period, the Previous Historic High

Gross Margin Edges Higher to $13.7 Million from $13.1 Million Last Year

RFG Business Segment Revenues Jump to $55.6 Million, a 31 Percent Increase from $42.5 Million; Gross Margin Grows 110 Basis Points Year Over Year

Calavo Growers, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: CVGW) today reported that fiscal 2014 first quarter net income rose 47 percent on a 21 percent increase in revenues from the first quarter last year. Strong sales gains in each of its three principal business units paced top-line growth, said the company, the global avocado-industry leader and an expanding provider of value-added fresh foods.

For the three months ended January 31, 2014, net income climbed to $4.0 million, equal to $0.25 per diluted share, from $2.7 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Prior-year results include approximately $1.2 million in contingent consideration related to Calavo’s 2011 purchase of Renaissance Food Group, LLC (RFG). The after-tax impact of that contingent consideration reduced fiscal 2013 first quarter net income by approximately $800,000, equal to $0.06 per diluted share.

Revenues advanced to $168.2 million, a new first quarter record, eclipsing last year’s first quarter revenue of $139.5 million which had been the previous all-time period high. Gross margin expanded to $13.7 million, equal to 8.1 percent of total revenues, up from $13.1 million, or 9.4 percent of total revenues, in the fiscal 2013 first quarter. Operating income vaulted 26 percent in the most recent quarter to $5.4 million, which compares with $4.3 million in the year-earlier first quarter.

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lee E. Cole stated: “Calavo registered outstanding operating results in the first quarter to begin fiscal 2014 on a strong note. Our performance was in line with plan and we are executing very well against the internal growth targets management sets for the company.”

Cole continued: “The continued, upward revenue trend line in each of Calavo’s three business segments validates our focused strategic blueprint. In our Fresh business segment, we packed nearly 3.3 million avocado units—predominantly Mexican-sourced fruit—to keep pace with robust consumer demand, and which were augmented by solid tomato, papaya and pineapple sales.

“In addition to its exceptional revenue growth, our RFG operating unit experienced a solid uptick in gross margin, as the subsidiary continues to fine-tune its formidable business model and realize economies of scale. And quarter after quarter, the Calavo Foods segment continues to post steady growth and deliver incremental contribution to results,” the Calavo CEO added.

First-quarter revenues in Calavo’s Fresh business segment increased 17 percent to $99.7 million from $85.1 million in the corresponding period last year. Year-over-year sales growth principally reflects higher fresh avocado prices for fruit sourced from Mexico. Total Fresh segment volume totaled 4.2 million units in the most recent quarter versus 4.5 million units packed in the fiscal 2013 initial period. The modest year-over-year decline in total units reflects fewer fresh California avocados and tomatoes packed. Fresh segment gross margin in the most recent quarter totaled $6.2 million, equal to 6.2 percent of segment sales. This compares with Fresh segment gross margin of $6.8 million, or 8.0 percent of segment sales, in the fiscal 2013 first quarter.

Calavo Foods business segment revenues expanded 8 percent to $12.9 million from $11.9 million in the initial quarter of fiscal 2013. Top-line growth was paced by expanded sales of both refrigerated and frozen avocado products. Gross margin in the Calavo Foods business segment equaled $2.6 million, or 20.2 percent of segment sales, versus $3.1 million, equal to 25.9 percent of segment sales, in the year-earlier first quarter. The decline in year-over-year Calavo Foods segment gross margin is primarily attributable to higher fruit costs. The company has said those prices have begun to moderate, which is expected to have a beneficial impact on gross margin in coming quarters.

Revenues in the RFG business segment jumped 31 percent to $55.6 million from $42.5 million in the first quarter one year ago. This growth is paced by the addition of new customers, as well as increased points of sale with existing customers, and “the popular appeal of a continually evolving and expanding product portfolio.” RFG segment gross margin in the most recent period was $4.9 million, equal to 8.8 percent of segment sales, versus $3.3 million, or 7.7 percent of segment sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The 110 basis point improvement in gross margin percentage is attributable to sales growth, as well as the economies of scale referenced in the CEO’s comments above.

Selling, general and administration (SG&A) expense was pared by about $500,000 in the most recent quarter to $8.3 million from $8.8 million in the fiscal 2013 initial period even while supporting an additional $28.7 million in revenues year over year. The decline in SG&A from fiscal 2013’s first quarter is attributable primarily to the absence of the above-referenced contingent consideration charge and, to a more modest extent, productivity gains resulting from improved systems and information-technology programs, the company stated. SG&A as a percentage of total revenues improved by 140 basis points to 4.9 percent in the fiscal 2014 first quarter from 6.3 percent in the year-earlier first quarter. SG&A as a percentage of gross margin equaled 60.4 percent in the first quarter, a nearly 700 basis point improvement from 67.2 percent in the fiscal 2013 first quarter.

Outlook
“We have begun fiscal 2014 on a stellar note,” said CEO Cole, “and anticipate Calavo’s operating performance momentum to continue strengthening as the year progresses.

“As fresh avocado consumption continues to tick upward, with our multiple sourcing platforms, the company is in a prime position to keep in lockstep with this growing demand. Specifically, the industry is facing a cyclically smaller California avocado crop this year—possibly only half the size of 2013. Owing to our vast Mexican avocado sourcing and packing capabilities to fill this expected California volume vacuum, Calavo anticipates not missing a beat to satisfy consumption, which is expected to grow again this year.

Cole continued: “Diversified fresh produce are anticipated to provide solid incremental unit volume to supplement our core avocados.

“RFG continues to execute at an exceptional level. By all available indicators, we are still in the early stages of the RFG and fresh-food industry growth curve. The country is undergoing a dramatic shift toward more and more fresh food as part of American diets. RFG is well positioned as an emerging leader in the fresh-packaged-food category,” Cole said.

The CEO continued, “With respect to Calavo Foods, we have experienced a steadily rising revenue trend line over the past six or seven quarters that reflects strong, expanding customer relationships on the retail-grocery and foodservice levels. It also is indicative of outstanding products—notable for their great taste and excellent quality. Those two hallmarks have been fundamental in this growth and, with anticipated segment gross margin improvement toward historic levels, will propel the segment still further upward.

“Beta testing in our majority-owned FreshRealm, LLC subsidiary began successfully in the first quarter. We are enthusiastic about the potential of opening up an entirely new distribution channel for our fresh-food-products portfolio. In addition, FreshRealm reflects Calavo’s ability to innovate, as well as to draw upon our vast resources and expertise to build promising, sustainable businesses from the ground up.

“We are executing against plan very effectively and anticipate that to translate to another strong year for Calavo in fiscal 2014. I am optimistic and confident about the company’s prospects and, the cyclically lower California crop aside, things are shaping up quite nicely. I look forward to communicating Calavo’s progress as the fiscal year advances,” Cole concluded.

About Calavo
Calavo Growers, Inc. is a global avocado-industry leader. The company also procures and markets diversified fresh produce items, ranging from tomatoes to tropical produce. An expanding provider of value-added fresh food, the company’s Calavo Foods business segment manufactures and distributes guacamole, guacamole hummus, salsa and tortilla chips under the respected Calavo brand name. Calavo Foods’ wholly owned subsidiary, Renaissance Food Group, LLC, creates, markets and distributes a portfolio of healthy, high-quality lifestyle products for consumers through fast-growing brands that include Garden Highway and Chef Essentials. Founded in 1924, Calavo serves food distributors, produce wholesalers, supermarket retailers and restaurant chains worldwide.

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