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Hershey Announces Record Second Quarter Results From Operations and Reaffirms Expectations for 2006
       - Net Sales increase 6.4%
       - Reported Earnings per share $0.41 diluted
       - Earnings per share from operations $0.42 diluted, up 13.5%

HERSHEY, Pa., July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced sales and earnings for the second quarter ended July 2, 2006. Consolidated net sales were $1,052,067,000, up 6.4 percent compared with $988,447,000 for the second quarter of 2005. Net income for the second quarter of 2006 was $98,440,000, or $0.41 per share-diluted, compared with $93,223,000 or $0.37 per share-diluted, for the comparable period of 2005.

The results reflect the expensing of employee stock options and other share-based compensation for all periods presented in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, under the modified retrospective application method. Under the modified retrospective application method, the results for 2005 were adjusted and are reported as though stock options granted by the Company had been expensed beginning January 1, 2005.

For the second quarter of 2006, these results, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), include a net pre-tax charge of $2.6 million associated with the previously announced business realignment initiatives to advance the Company's value-enhancing strategy. Net income from operations, which excludes the net charge for the second quarter of 2006, was $100,250,000, or $0.42 per share-diluted, compared with $93,223,000 or $0.37 per share-diluted in 2005, an increase of 13.5 percent.

Record Second-Quarter Performance

"Hershey's second quarter results were encouraging," said Richard H. Lenny, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, "as strong sales growth of 6.4 percent combined with overall solid cost controls delivered a 13.5 percent increase in diluted earnings per share from operations. Hershey's new product innovation, particularly in the areas of dark chocolate, refreshment, and Kissables, was the major contributor to this sales performance. Seasonal shipments also positively impacted sales during the quarter."

First Half Results

For the first six months of 2006, consolidated net sales were $2,184,795,000, compared with $2,114,861,000 for the first half of 2005. Net income for the first six months of 2006 was $219,408,000, or $.91 per share- diluted, compared with $206,245,000, or $0.83 per share-diluted, for the first half of 2005. Excluding a first half pre-tax net charge of $4.4 million related to the Company's business realignment initiatives, net income for the first six months of 2006 was $222,433,000, or $0.92 per share-diluted.

"Our first half results showed an improvement in net sales trends, a strengthening of Hershey's marketplace leadership behind our new product platforms and excellent retail execution, and strong profitability," Lenny continued.

"As we enter the second half of 2006, we're encouraged by our prospects. A combination of new product innovation, solid seasonal programming, and good visibility into our total cost structure will enable us to deliver our full- year objectives. Therefore, we anticipate net sales growth for 2006 to be somewhat above our long-term range of 3-4 percent, and the increase in diluted earnings per share from operations should slightly exceed our long-term expectations of 9-11 percent," Lenny concluded.

Note: In this sales and earnings release, Hershey has provided income measures excluding certain items described above, in addition to net income determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures, as shown in the attached pro forma income statements, are used in evaluating results of operations for internal purposes. These non-GAAP measures 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.

During the second half of 2005, the Company recorded pre-tax charges associated with business realignment initiatives of $119.0 million or $0.29 per share-diluted. Net pre-tax charges for business realignment initiatives of $4.4 million or $0.01 per share-diluted were recorded during the first half of 2006. Based on our current estimates, the total cost to implement the business realignment initiatives is expected to be approximately $125 million to $135 million before tax or $0.30 to $0.32 per share-diluted. The business realignment program is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2006.

Live Web Cast

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call with analysts today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be web cast live via Hershey's corporate Website http://www.hersheys.com. Please go to the Investor Relations Section of the Website for further details.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains statements which are forward-looking. These statements are made based upon current expectations which are subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: our ability to implement and generate expected ongoing annual savings from the initiatives to advance our value-enhancing strategy; changes in raw material and other costs and selling price increases; our ability to implement improvements to and reduce costs associated with our supply chain; pension cost factors, such as actuarial assumptions, market performance and employee retirement decisions; changes in our stock price, and resulting impacts on our expenses for incentive compensation, stock options and certain employee benefits; market demand for our new and existing products; changes in our business environment, including actions of competitors and changes in consumer preferences; changes in governmental laws and regulations, including taxes; risks and uncertainties related to our international operations; and such other matters as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2005.



                             The Hershey Company
                   Summary of Consolidated Statements of Income
               for the periods ended July 2, 2006 and July 3, 2005
                     (in thousands except per share amounts)

                                  Second Quarter           Six Months

                                2006       2005        2006        2005

    Net Sales               $1,052,067   $988,447  $2,184,795  $2,114,861

    Costs and Expenses:
      Cost of Sales            643,375    595,152   1,346,253   1,290,736
      Selling, Marketing and
       Administrative          221,478    226,658     438,272     459,816
      Business Realignment
       Charge, net               4,240        ---       7,571         ---

      Total Costs and
       Expenses                869,093    821,810   1,792,096   1,750,552

    Income Before Interest
     and Income Taxes (EBIT)   182,974    166,637     392,699     364,309
    Interest Expense, net       27,490     20,625      52,693      40,029

    Income Before Income
     Taxes                     155,484    146,012     340,006     324,280
    Provision for Income Taxes  57,044     52,789     120,598     118,035

    Net Income                 $98,440    $93,223    $219,408    $206,245

    Net Income Per Share
        - Basic - Common         $0.43      $0.39       $0.95       $0.86
        - Basic - Class B        $0.38      $0.35       $0.85       $0.78
        - Diluted                $0.41      $0.37       $0.91       $0.83

    Shares Outstanding
        - Basic - Common       175,779    184,362     177,344     185,047
        - Basic - Class B       60,817     60,818      60,818      60,824
        - Diluted              240,124    248,993     241,644     249,666

    Key Margins:
      Gross Margin               38.8%      39.8%       38.4%       39.0%
      EBIT Margin                17.4%      16.9%       18.0%       17.2%
      Net Margin                  9.4%       9.4%       10.0%        9.8%



                               The Hershey Company
              Pro Forma Summary of Consolidated Statements of Income
               for the periods ended July 2, 2006 and July 3, 2005
                     (in thousands except per share amounts)

                                 Second Quarter            Six Months

                                2006        2005        2006         2005

    Net Sales               $1,052,067    $988,447  $2,184,795   $2,114,861

    Costs and Expenses:
      Cost of Sales            644,975(a)  595,152   1,349,452(a) 1,290,736
      Selling, Marketing
       and Administrative      221,478     226,658     438,272      459,816
      Business Realignment
       Charge, net                 ---(b)      ---         ---(b)       ---

      Total Costs and
       Expenses                866,453     821,810   1,787,724    1,750,552

    Income Before Interest
     and Income Taxes (EBIT)   185,614     166,637     397,071      364,309
    Interest Expense, net       27,490      20,625      52,693       40,029

    Income Before Income
     Taxes                     158,124     146,012     344,378      324,280
    Provision for Income Taxes  57,874      52,789     121,945      118,035

    Net Income                $100,250     $93,223    $222,433     $206,245

    Net Income Per Share
        - Basic - Common         $0.43       $0.39       $0.96        $0.86
        - Basic - Class B        $0.39       $0.35       $0.86        $0.78
        - Diluted                $0.42       $0.37       $0.92        $0.83

    Shares Outstanding
        - Basic - Common       175,779     184,362     177,344      185,047
        - Basic - Class B       60,817      60,818      60,818       60,824
        - Diluted              240,124     248,993     241,644      249,666

    Key Margins:
      Adjusted Gross Margin      38.7%       39.8%       38.2%        39.0%
      Adjusted EBIT Margin       17.6%       16.9%       18.2%        17.2%
      Adjusted Net Margin         9.5%        9.4%       10.2%         9.8%

    (a) Excludes business realignment credit of $(1.6) million pre-tax or
        $(1.0) million after-tax for the second quarter and $(3.2) million
        pre-tax or $(2.0) million after-tax for the six months.
    (b) Excludes business realignment charge of $4.2 million pre-tax or $2.8
        million after-tax for the second quarter and $7.6 million pre-tax or
        $5.0 million after-tax for the six months.


                               The Hershey Company
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets
                     as of July 2, 2006 and December 31, 2005
                            (in thousands of dollars)

    Assets                                            2006           2005

    Cash and Cash Equivalents                        $23,485        $67,183
    Accounts Receivable - Trade (Net)                369,436        559,289
    Deferred Income Taxes                             62,638         78,196
    Inventories                                      857,861        610,284
    Prepaid Expenses and Other                       131,629         93,988

    Total Current Assets                           1,445,049      1,408,940

    Net Plant and Property                         1,647,220      1,659,138
    Goodwill                                         489,383        487,338
    Other Intangibles                                140,004        142,626
    Other Assets                                     590,604        597,194

    Total Assets                                  $4,312,260     $4,295,236

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

    Loans Payable                                 $1,323,749       $819,115
    Accounts Payable                                 156,423        167,812
    Accrued Liabilities                              415,528        507,843
    Taxes Payable                                      2,638         23,453

    Total Current Liabilities                      1,898,338      1,518,223

    Long-Term Debt                                   752,654        942,755
    Other Long-Term Liabilities                      409,729        412,929
    Deferred Income Taxes                            400,718        400,253

    Total Liabilities                              3,461,439      3,274,160

    Total Stockholders' Equity                       850,821      1,021,076

    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    $4,312,260     $4,295,236

SOURCE The Hershey Company
07/20/2006
CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT: Kirk Saville, +1-717-534-7641, or FINANCIAL
CONTACT: Mark Pogharian, +1-717-534-7556, both of The Hershey Company
Web site: http://www.hersheys.com
(HSY)

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