Campbell Soup tops analysts’ estimates for earnings and revenue in Q4

Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) published its quarterly financial results on Thursday that came in stronger than what the analysts had anticipated. The American processed food company had also topped experts’ forecasts for earnings and revenue in the prior quarter (Q3).

Shares of the company are currently 2% down on Thursday after having opened about 5% down. Including the price action, Campbell Soup Company is now exchanging hands at £36.39 per share that almost matched its per-share price at the start of the year. In March, when COVID-19 restrictions were the strictest, the stock had tanked to as low as £31.23 per share. Here’s what you need to know about the financial analysis of a company.

Campbell’s Q4 financial results versus analysts’ estimates

Campbell said that its net income in the fiscal fourth quarter came in at £64.86 million that translates to 21.12 pence a share. In the same quarter last year, its had recorded £6.03 million of loss or 2.26 pence per share.

Adjusted for one-time items, the processed food company earned 47.51 pence per share in the fourth quarter versus the year-ago figure of 31.67 pence. According to FactSet, experts had forecast the company to see 45.25 pence of adjusted earnings per share in Q4.

In terms of sales, Campbell reported £1.59 billion in the recent quarter that represents an 18% increase on a year over year basis. Its revenue was also stronger than £1.55 billion that analysts had forecast. In related news, Campbell’s competitor, Blue Apron, in August reported £830 million of net income in Q2.

As per Campbell, it generated £770 million of sales from meals and beverages. Sales from this segment were 28% higher on an annualised and topped analysts’ estimate of £724.20 million. Sales from snacks, on the other hand, came in 11% higher in the fourth quarter at £820 million versus £810 million expected.

Campbell’s guidance for the fiscal first quarter

The Camden-based company said on Thursday that its adjusted per-share earnings in the fiscal first quarter are likely to lie in the range of 66.36 pence and 69.38 pence. For sales in Q1, it forecasts a 5% to 7% growth in Q1. In comparison, experts have predicted the company to see a 4.9% growth in sales in the first quarter and 67.12 pence of earnings per share.

At the time of writing, Campbell Soup Company has a market cap of £10.97 billion and a price to earnings ratio of 9.54.