• Net Sales: $3.2 billion for fiscal year 2024, a decrease of 3% compared to the prior year.
• Organic Net Sales: Declined 4%, excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestitures.
• Non-GAAP Gross Profit: $960 million, with a gross margin expansion of 110 basis points to 30%.
• Non-GAAP SG&A: $737 million, 1% above the prior year, with SG&A as a percentage of sales increasing 100 basis points to 23%.
• Non-GAAP Operating Income: $223 million, with an operating margin of 7%.
• Non-GAAP Net Income: $142 million, resulting in non-GAAP EPS of $2.13.
• GAAP EPS: $1.62.
• Adjusted EBITDA: $334 million for the year.
• Fourth Quarter Net Sales: $669 million, down 11% versus the prior year.
• Fourth Quarter Non-GAAP Gross Profit: $174 million, with a gross margin contraction of 60 basis points to 26%.
• Fourth Quarter Non-GAAP Operating Loss: $11 million, with an operating margin of negative 1.7%.
• Pet Segment Net Sales: $435 million for the fourth quarter, a decrease of 10%.
• Garden Segment Net Sales: $234 million for the fourth quarter, down 12%.
• Cash Provided by Operations: $395 million, an all-time high for fiscal 2024.
• Total Debt: $1.2 billion, with a gross leverage ratio of 3.1%.
• Cash and Equivalents: $754 million at year-end.
• Fiscal 2025 Non-GAAP EPS Guidance: $2.20 or higher.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Sign with CENT.

Release Date: November 25, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Central Garden & Pet Co (NASDAQ:CENT) achieved growth in non-GAAP EPS and continued gross margin expansion despite a challenging environment.
• The company reported strong profits in its Pet segment and a record year of operating cash flow.
• CENT made significant progress on its Cost and Simplicity program, including consolidating operations and optimizing transportation.
• E-commerce sales reached a record high, with a notable increase in the Pet segment, demonstrating resilience and market share gains.
• The company is well-positioned for future growth with a strong balance sheet and a focus on strategic M&A opportunities.

Negative Points

• Net sales decreased by 3% compared to the prior year, with organic net sales declining by 4%.
• The Garden segment faced challenges, including a significant impairment of grass seed inventory, impacting gross margins.
• CENT anticipates a difficult consumer and competitive landscape in fiscal 2025, with continued pressure on pricing.
• The company expects significant headwinds in the brick-and-mortar retail sector and challenges from extreme weather conditions.
• CENT's durable pet products continue to experience soft demand, impacting overall sales performance.

Q & A Highlights

Q: A year ago, you mentioned that the Pet segment would face challenges due to a pandemic hangover. Has the situation improved, and do you expect growth in the Pet category? A: John Hanson, President - Pet Consumer Products: The consumables segment outperformed, but durables continued to decline. We expect consumables to grow in low to mid-single digits, while durables may decline mid-single digits. Our business is over 80% consumables, which is a positive indicator for future growth.

Q: Are you planning on price increases for both Pet and Garden segments in 2025? A: Niko Lahanas, CEO: Pricing will be tough next year due to moderated commodity prices and a value-driven consumer market. We anticipate net negative pricing, making our Cost and Simplicity program crucial to maintaining margins.

Q: How are you preparing for the spring sell-in for the Garden segment, especially after a poor spring last year? A: J.D. Walker, President - Garden Consumer Products: We are cautiously optimistic. Customers are signaling aggressive store loading for the season. We've taken steps to reduce costs and limit downside risks in live goods, despite potential weather impacts.

Q: What is your exposure to tariffs, and how might the current administration's policies affect your M&A strategy? A: Niko Lahanas, CEO: Our exposure to China tariffs is now below 5% of our cost of goods. We anticipate reduced regulatory pressures and increased M&A activity, positioning us well for potential acquisitions in 2025.

Q: Can you elaborate on your digital strategy to offset pressures in brick-and-mortar sales? A: Niko Lahanas, CEO: We are enhancing our e-commerce capabilities with improved content, inventory management, and fulfillment processes. Our focus is on omnichannel strategies, optimizing search engine performance, and increasing conversion rates.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.