Post Holdings acquires Potato Products of Idaho to enter potato market. The deal aims to enhance supply chain and operational capabilities. Recent acquisitions include Perfection Pet Foods and Deeside Cereals. POST shares gained 31.3% year-to-date, outperforming industry decline. Further acquisitions may include Lamb Weston, indicating strategic growth.
POST's Q4 adjusted earnings of $1.53 exceeded estimates of $1.19. Net sales grew 3.3% YoY to $2,010.1 million, beating $1,961 million estimate. Acquired Perfection Pet Foods contributed $67 million to sales in Q4. SG&A expenses rose 10.4%, impacting overall profitability. Management forecasts FY25 adjusted EBITDA between $1,410-$1,460 million.
Post Holdings has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) indicating strong investor interest. The VGM Score for POST is A, suggesting attractiveness across multiple metrics. Momentum Style Score for POST is B, with shares up 4.9% recently. Earnings estimate for fiscal 2024 increased to $5.71 per share, a 41% surprise. Investment focus on stocks with Rank #1 or #2 enhances upside potential.
Post is expanding through M&A in the pet food sector. Influenza outbreak affects short-term profitability but long-term outlook remains positive. The stock is attractively priced with a fair value estimate 44% above current price. A consistent growth strategy from M&A has led to impressive revenue growth. Short-term issues arising from inflation pressure consumer spending on branded products.
Summary: - POST benefitting from strategic acquisitions, with net sales and earnings surpassing estimates. - Higher average net selling prices driving performance in Post Consumer Brands and Weetabix segments. - Persistent inflationary pressures and reduced consumer benefit support might strain spending power. Price Impact Rating: bullish Impact Horizon Rating: long-term Type: Corporate Developments