Hershey Announces 7.5 Percent Net Sales Increase In Third Quarter Results 2012

The Hershey Co. announced sales and earnings for the third quarter ended Sept.30, 2012. Consolidated net sales were $1,746,709,000 compared with $1,624,249,000 for the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 7.5 percent. Reported net income for the third quarter of 2012 was $176,716,000 or $0.77 per share-diluted, compared with $196,695,000 or $0.86 per share-diluted for the comparable period of 2011.

For the third quarter of 2012, these results, prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), included net pre-tax charges, as well as non-service-related pension expense (NSRPE). The majority of these charges, $25.8 million, or $0.07 per share-diluted, were related to the Project Next Century program. Additionally, acquisition and integration costs related to the Brookside Foods Ltd. (Brookside) acquisition were $4.8 million, or $0.02 per share-diluted, and NSRPE was $4.3 million, or $0.01 per share-diluted. For the third quarter of 2011, results included pre-tax charges for Project Next Century of $13.5 million, or $0.03 per share-diluted, and a pre-tax gain of $17.0 million, or $0.05 per share-diluted, on the sale of a non-core trademark license. Adjusted net income, which excludes these net charges, was $199,451,000, or $0.87 per share-diluted, in the third quarter of 2012, compared with $193,959,000, or $0.84 per share-diluted, in the third quarter of 2011, an increase of 3.6 percent in adjusted earnings per share-diluted. See the Note for a reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP items.

For the first nine months of 2012, consolidated net sales were $4,893,217,000, compared with $4,513,643,000 for the first nine months of 2011. Reported net income for the first nine months of 2012 was $511,052,000, or $2.23 per share-diluted, compared with $486,829,000 or $2.12 per share-diluted, for the first nine months of 2011. As described in the Note, for the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, these results, prepared in accordance with GAAP, included net pre-tax charges of $93.4 million and $6.3 million, or $0.27 and $0.01 per share-diluted, respectively. Charges associated with the Project Next Century program for the first nine months in 2012 and 2011 were $68.4 million and $21.4 million, or $0.19 and $0.06 per share-diluted, respectively. NSRPE for the first nine months in 2012 and 2011 were $13.0 million, or $0.04 per share-diluted, and $1.9 million, respectively. Additionally, for the first nine months of 2012, acquisition and integration costs related to the Brookside acquisition were $12.0 million, or $0.04 per share-diluted. Charges in 2011 include the previously mentioned pre-tax gain on the sale of non-core trademark licensing rights. As described in the Note, adjusted net income for the first nine months of 2012, which excludes these net charges, was $570,854,000, or $2.50 per share-diluted. Adjusted net income for the first nine months of 2011, which excludes these net charges and the gain on sale, was $490,381,000, or $2.13 per share-diluted in 2011.

In 2012, the company expects reported earnings per share-diluted of $2.87 to $2.92. These results, prepared in accordance with GAAP, include business realignment charges, NSRPE and acquisition and integration costs of $0.33 to $0.35 per share-diluted. The majority of these charges, $0.23 to $0.24 per share-diluted, are related to the Project Next Century program. NSRPE and acquisition and integration costs related to the Brookside acquisition are expected to be $0.06 per share-diluted and $0.04 to $0.05 per share-diluted, respectively. Despite the impact of these charges in 2012, reported gross margin is expected to increase 120 to 140 basis points. In 2013, the company expects reported earnings per share-diluted of $3.37 to $3.49. These results are expected to include business realignment charges, NSRPE and acquisition and integration costs of $0.09 to $0.11 per share-diluted.