Saputo Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2025 Ended December 31, 2024

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Saputo Inc.
Saputo Inc.

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saputo Inc. (TSX: SAP) (we, Saputo or the Company) reported today its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, which ended on December 31, 2024. All amounts in this news release are in millions of Canadian dollars (CDN), except per share amounts, unless otherwise indicated, and are presented according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

“In the third quarter, our strong execution resulted in our highest adjusted EBITDA1 performance since 2023, with $417 million, reflecting a 13% year-over-year increase,” said Carl Colizza, President and CEO. “We made significant strides in executing our strategic playbook and controlling costs, and benefited from accelerated contributions from our recently completed capital projects. Our solid cash generation also enabled us to return additional cash to shareholders through our share buyback program. We're confident in our ability to continue generating steady cash flows and we intend to focus our capital allocation strategy on share repurchases. As a result, we increased the total number of shares that can be purchased under our NCIB from 2% to 5% of shares outstanding.”

Fiscal 2025 Third Quarter Financial Highlights

  • Revenues amounted to $4.994 billion, up $727 million or 17.0%.

  • Net loss totalled $518 million.

    • A non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $674 million after tax was recorded in relation to the Dairy Division (UK) in our Europe Sector.

  • Net loss per share (EPS) (basic and diluted) were $1.22, compared to $0.29.

  • Adjusted EBITDA1 amounted to $417 million, up $47 million or 12.7%.

  • Adjusted net earnings1 totalled $167 million, up from $163 million, and adjusted EPS1 (basic and diluted) were stable at $0.39.

(unaudited)

For the three-month periods
ended December 31

 

For the nine-month periods
ended December 31

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Revenues

4,994

 

4,267

 

14,308

 

12,797

 

Adjusted EBITDA1

417

 

370

 

1,189

 

1,130

 

Net earnings (loss)

(518

)

(124

)

(250

)

173

 

Adjusted net earnings1

167

 

163

 

491

 

498

 

Earnings (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted

(1.22

)

(0.29

)

(0.59

)

0.41

 

Adjusted EPS1

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted

0.39

 

0.38

 

1.16

 

1.18

 

 

  • Results reflected the following:

    • Revenue and adjusted EBITDA1 growth of 17.0% and 12.7%, respectively;

    • Revenues were up in all our sectors;

    • Our Canada Sector had a strong performance with adjusted EBITDA of $175 million, up 16.7%;

    • Our USA Sector continued to deliver benefits from operational improvements, contributing to a 20.3% growth in adjusted EBITDA;

    • USA Market Factors2 had a negative impact due to the unfavourable milk-cheese Spread2. Pricing protocols for our dairy food products mitigated the impact of fluctuations of the average butter market price2;

    • In our International Sector, we benefited from lower milk costs in Australia, while in Argentina, the peso devaluation did not keep pace with inflation, which has led to higher costs of production, including higher milk costs;

    • In our Europe Sector, adjusted EBITDA increased as our Dairy Division (UK) margins continued to recover from the prior year, when we were selling off high-cost excess inventory. However, a non-cash goodwill and intangible assets impairment charge was recorded due to ongoing challenging market conditions in the United Kingdom leading to a slower-than-expected cadence of margin recovery for our Dairy Division (UK); and

    • Solid cash generation from operating activities of $382 million.

  • Normal course issuer bid (NCIB):

    • Saputo increased from 2% to 5% the number of common shares that may be purchased under the NCIB, allowing for the purchase of up to 21,217,922 common shares of its 424,358,459 issued and outstanding common shares as of November 8, 2024.

    • During the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company purchased approximately 1.2 million common shares for a total purchase price of approximately $32 million.

  • Dividend:

    • The Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.19 per share payable on March 14, 2025, to shareholders of record on March 4, 2025.