Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE:BERY), a leading supplier of sustainable packaging solutions for consumer goods and industrial products, today reported its second fiscal quarter 2021 results, referred to in the following as the March 2021 quarter.
Second Quarter Highlights (all comparisons made to the March 2020 quarter)
*Net sales of $3.4 billion, a 13 percent increase
*5 percent organic volume growth
*Operating income up 17 percent to $333 million
*Operating EBITDA up 9 percent to $590 million
*Net income per diluted share up 40 percent to $1.32
*Adjusted net income per diluted share increase of 34 percent to $1.59
*Raising fiscal 2021 operating EBITDA guidance from prior mid-point by $50 million to $2.25 billion
*Increasing fiscal 2021 organic volume growth assumption from 4 percent to now 5 percent
Berry’s Chairman and CEO Tom Salmon said, “The Company’s performance in our second fiscal quarter was solid as adjusted earnings per share and revenue grew by 34 percent and 13 percent, respectively, from prior year results. Consumer demand for our products remains robust and certain markets, which previously experienced COVID-19 headwinds, are rebounding nicely. All segments delivered volume growth, collectively finishing the quarter with 5 percent organic volume growth, while operating EBITDA increased 9 percent in the quarter.
“The organically driven outperformance in this second fiscal quarter gives us confidence to raise our fiscal year 2021 outlook for operating EBITDA by $50 million from the mid-point of our previous range. Our businesses, across the globe, are clearly capitalizing on our strategy to drive profitable and sustainable organic volume growth. The continued positive momentum from our investments in areas such as health and wellness, e-commerce, and food safety along with the focus on growing our emerging market exposure and driving more sustainable packaging, provide us the path to realize long-term consistent volume growth.
“We have a clear line-of-site to being within our leverage range by the end of fiscal 2021. As we stated last quarter, once within our targeted leverage range of 3.0 to 3.9 times, we believe our consistent and growing cash flow will provide substantial capacity to create shareholder value with a capital allocation approach that includes: reinvesting in the business to support continued organic growth, further debt reductions, pursuing bolt-on acquisitions, and returning capital to shareholders while staying within our committed range.”
Consolidated Overview
The net sales growth is primarily attributed to increased selling prices of $192 million due to the pass through of higher resin costs, organic volume growth of 5 percent, and a $92 million favorable impact from foreign currency changes. These increases were partially offset by prior quarter divestiture sales of $53 million. The organic volume growth was primarily due to organic growth investments, modest recovery of certain markets that had previously been facing COVID-19 headwinds, and higher demand in our advantaged health and hygiene products as the result of COVID-19.
The operating income increase is primarily attributed to a $35 million increase from the organic volume growth, a $19 million inventory step-up in the prior quarter related to the RPC acquisition, a $16 million favorable impact from price cost spread including synergies and product mix, and a $16 million favorable impact from foreign currency, partially offset by a $21 million increase in business integration expense, and a $15 million increase in selling, general, and administrative expense.
further details at: https://ir.berryglobal.com/news-releases/news-release-details/berry-global-group-inc-reports-strong-second-quarter-2021