HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced net sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2022.

"In 2022, the Hershey Company delivered one of its strongest years in history despite record inflation, continued supply chain disruptions and macroeconomic uncertainty for many consumers," said Michele Buck, The Hershey Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "It took tremendous hard work, perseverance, and agility from every one of our employees and partners, and I couldn't be prouder of what we have accomplished or more excited for what lies ahead.  We expect to deliver another year of strong sales and earnings growth in 2023 as we invest in our amazing portfolio of brands, additional capacity and capabilities."

Fourth-Quarter 2022 Financial Results Summary¹

• Consolidated net sales of $2,652.3 million, an increase of 14.0%.

• Organic, constant currency net sales increased 10.7%.

• The impact of acquisitions on net sales was a 3.6-point benefit² while foreign currency exchange was a 0.3-point headwind.

• Reported net income of $396.3 million, or $1.92 per share-diluted, an increase of 18.5%.

• Adjusted earnings per share-diluted of $2.02, an increase of 19.5%.

2022 Full-Year Financial Results Summary³

• Consolidated net sales of $10,419.3 million, an increase of 16.1%.

• Organic, constant currency net sales increased 12.0%.

• The net impact of acquisitions on net sales was a 4.3-point benefit⁴ while foreign currency exchange was a 0.2-point headwind.

• Reported net income of $1,644.8 million, or $7.96 per share-diluted, an increase of 12.0%.

• Adjusted earnings per share-diluted of $8.52, an increase of 18.5%.

2023 Full-Year Financial Outlook Summary

The company expects net sales growth of 6% to 8% driven primarily by net price realization as consumer demand remains steady behind higher advertising levels and increased capacity.  Sales growth and gross margin expansion are expected to more than offset increased brand, capability and technology investments, as well as higher pension and interest expenses, to drive projected reported earnings per share growth of 11% to 15% and adjusted earnings per share growth of 9% to 11%.

The company also expects:

• A reported and adjusted effective tax rate in the range of 15% to 16%;

• Other expense, which primarily reflects the write-down of equity investments that qualify for a tax credit, of approximately $190 million to $210 million;

• Interest expense of approximately $145 million to $155 million, reflecting a higher interest rate environment; and

• Capital expenditures of approximately $800 million to $900 million, driven by core confection capacity expansion and continued investments in a digital infrastructure including the build and upgrade of a new ERP system across the enterprise.

Below is a reconciliation of projected 2023 and full-year 2022 and 2021 earnings per share-diluted calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share-diluted:

2023 projected earnings per share-diluted, as presented above, does not include the impact of mark-to-market gains and losses on our commodity derivative contracts that are reflected within corporate unallocated expense in segment results until the related inventory is sold since we are not able to forecast the impact of the market changes.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Components of Net Sales Growth

A reconciliation between reported net sales growth rates and organic constant currency net sales growth rates, along with the contribution from net price realization and volume, is provided below:

The company presents certain percentage changes in net sales on a constant currency basis, which excludes the impact of foreign currency exchange.  To present this information for historical periods, current period net sales for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average monthly exchange rates in effect during the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, rather than at the actual average monthly exchange rates in effect during the current period of the current fiscal year.  As a result, the foreign currency impact is equal to the current year results in local currencies multiplied by the change in the average foreign currency exchange rate between the current fiscal period and the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Fourth-Quarter 2022 Results

Consolidated net sales increased 14.0% to $2,652.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, including a 3.6-point benefit from the acquisition of Dot's and Pretzels.  Organic, constant currency net sales increased 10.7%, driven primarily by net price realization of 8.5 points.  Consumer demand continued to grow across segments driving an additional 2.2 points of volume gains.

Reported gross margin decreased 30 basis points to 43.2% in the fourth quarter of 2022.  This decrease was driven by broad-based cost of goods inflation, including commodity mark-to-market losses, higher manufacturing costs and labor investments, and unfavorable portfolio mix, which was partially offset by higher organic net sales growth.  Adjusted gross margin increased 20 basis points to 43.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022.  Net price realization and volume gains drove gross margin expansion, which was partially offset by raw material and packaging inflation, higher labor costs, increased manufacturing costs related to higher-than-anticipated demand, and unfavorable portfolio mix.

Selling, marketing and administrative expenses increased 11.5% in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus the prior-year period, primarily driven by higher corporate expenses.  Advertising and related consumer marketing expenses increased by 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022 versus the same period last year.  Higher levels of advertising were driven by Reese's and Jolly Rancher brands in response to incremental capacity, which was partially offset by cost efficiencies related to new media partners.  Selling, marketing and administrative expenses, excluding advertising and related consumer marketing, increased 15.4% versus the fourth quarter of 2021.  This increase was driven by incremental capability and technology investments, increased non-income tax reserves and favorable benefit accrual in the prior-year period.

Fourth-quarter 2022 reported operating profit of $526.6 million increased 14.7%, resulting in an operating profit margin of 19.9%, an increase of 20 basis points versus the prior-year period.  Adjusted operating profit of $555.3 million increased 16.7% versus the fourth quarter of 2021, resulting in adjusted operating profit margin of 20.9%, an increase of 40 basis points.  Profit increases in both reported and adjusted operating profit were driven by price realization gains, higher volume and operating cost leverage.  In addition, reported operating profit was partially offset by derivative mark-to-market losses and higher integration costs related to recent acquisitions.

The reported effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2022 was (9.1)% compared to 0.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021, a decrease of 1,000 basis points.  The adjusted effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2022 was (6.5)% compared to 2.2% in the fourth quarter of 2021, a decrease of 870 basis points.  Both the reported and adjusted effective tax rate decreases were driven by higher renewable energy tax credits versus the prior-year period.

The company's fourth-quarter 2022 results, as prepared in accordance with GAAP, included items positively impacting comparability of $28.7 million, or $0.10 per share-diluted.  For the fourth quarter of 2021, items positively impacting comparability totaled $20.8 million, or $0.07 per share-diluted.

The following table presents a summary of items impacting comparability in each period (see Appendix I for additional information):

The following are comments about segment performance for the fourth quarter of 2022 versus the prior-year period. See the schedule of supplementary information within this press release for additional information on segment net sales and profit.

North America Confectionery 

Hershey's North America Confectionery segment net sales were $2,174.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of 9.7% versus the same period last year.  Organic, constant currency net sales increased 10.2% primarily driven by net price realization, along with modest volume gains from strong consumer demand.

Hershey's U.S. candy, mint and gum (CMG) retail takeaway for the twelve-week period ended January 1, 2023 in the multi-outlet combined plus convenience store channels (MULO+C) increased 10.7%.  Unit pricing was the primary driver of retail sales growth, while consumer demand remained resilient with volumes declining modestly.  Growth was strong across segments, with chocolate retail sales growth of 10.6%, sweets retail sales growth of 12.8% and refreshment retail sales growth of 10.8%.  Strong consumer engagement for the Halloween and Holiday seasons also contributed to this growth.  CMG share declined by 54 basis points due to category mix headwinds and capacity constraints on seasonal products.

North America Confectionery segment income was $703.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, reflecting an increase of 12.9% versus the prior-year period.  This resulted in segment margin of 32.3%, an increase of 90 basis points.  Net price realization, volume gains and media cost efficiencies more than offset broad-based inflation, increased manufacturing and labor costs, and higher levels of brand and capability investments to drive segment income and margin expansion in the fourth quarter.

North America Salty Snacks

Hershey's North America Salty Snacks segment net sales were $272.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of 71.4% versus the same period last year.  Sales from the acquisitions of Dot's and Pretzels were a 52.7-point benefit.  Organic, constant currency net sales growth was 18.7% with nearly equal contribution from volume gains and net price realization.

Hershey's U.S. salty snack retail takeaway in MULO+C increased 19.2% in the 12-week period ended January 1, 2023, resulting in a salty snack share gain of 10 basis points in the period.  SkinnyPop products retail sales increased 19.7%, gaining 130 basis points of ready-to-eat popcorn share in the fourth quarter.  Consumer demand and unit velocities for the SkinnyPop brand grew through incremental consumer occasions, while unit pricing also contributed to retail growth.  Pirate's Booty products declined 3.0% due to lower promotional levels as the company seeks to reduce supply chain complexity and improve profitability.  Dot's Homestyle Pretzels brand reported strong retail sales growth of 32.3% as the brand continued to gain distribution and acquire new buyers in the fourth quarter.  This growth significantly outpaced the category, driving 130 basis points of pretzel share gain.

The North America Salty Snacks segment income was $56.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, reflecting an increase of 187.5% versus the prior-year period.  This resulted in a segment margin of 20.8%, an increase of 840 basis points versus the prior-year period.  Profit and margin expansion were driven by volume, price realization and acquisitions, along with lower levels of advertising versus the prior-year period, which more than offset inflation, unfavorable mix and acquisition-related costs.

International

Fourth-quarter 2022 net sales for Hershey's International segment increased 11.1% versus the same period last year to $205.6 million.  Organic, constant currency net sales increased 9.3% driven by strong consumer demand across geographies, along with modest net price realization.

The International segment reported a $0.1 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2022, reflecting a 63.2% increase versus the prior year period, resulting in segment margin of (0.1)%, an increase of 10 basis points.  Volume gains and net price realization more than offset broad-based inflation and incremental capability and technology investments, to drive the profit increase and margin expansion in the fourth quarter.

Unallocated Corporate Expense

Hershey's unallocated corporate expense in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $204.7 million, an increase of $37.9 million, or 22.7% versus the same period of 2021.  This increase was driven by higher technology costs related to building a digital infrastructure, including the company's ERP system and related amortization, incremental capability investments, increased non-income tax reserve and a favorable benefit accrual in the prior-year period.

Live Webcast

At approximately 7:00 a.m. (Eastern time) today, Hershey will post a pre-recorded management discussion of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 results and business update to its website at www.thehersheycompany.com/investors.  In addition, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern time) today, the company will host a live question and answer session with investors and financial analysts.  Details to access this call are available on the company's website.

Note:  In this release, for the fourth-quarter of and full-year 2022, Hershey references income measures that are not in accordance with GAAP because they exclude certain items impacting comparability, including gains and losses associated with mark-to-market commodity derivatives, business realignment activities, acquisition and integration-related activities and other miscellaneous losses and benefits. The company refers to these income measures as "adjusted" or "non-GAAP" financial measures throughout this release. These non-GAAP financial measures are used in evaluating results of operations for internal purposes and 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. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this release to their nearest comparable GAAP financial measures as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income is provided below.

In the assessment of our results, we review and discuss the following financial metrics that are derived from the reported and non-GAAP financial measures presented above: