Summary
Kraft Foods Inc. reported a 6.5% decrease in net revenues for the first quarter of 2009, totaling $9.4 billion, compared to $10.0 billion in the prior year. This decline was primarily attributed to unfavorable foreign currency movements, which significantly impacted international sales, and a slight decrease in volume/mix. However, the company demonstrated strong pricing power, with higher net pricing contributing to partially offset the revenue decline. Despite lower revenues, operating income saw a substantial 18.8% increase, driven by higher pricing, lower restructuring costs compared to the prior year, and favorable hedging activities. Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) rose by 15.4% to $0.45, indicating improved profitability on a per-share basis. The company also announced a change in its U.S. inventory valuation method from LIFO to average cost, effective January 1, 2009, which they believe will better align costs with revenues and with competitors. While the Post cereals business has been divested and is reported as discontinued operations, the core business is showing resilience through effective pricing strategies and cost management amidst a challenging economic environment and currency headwinds.
Financial Highlights
25 data pointsKey Highlights
- 1Net revenues decreased by 6.5% to $9.4 billion in Q1 2009, primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency movements (-7.9 pp) and volume/mix (-3.4 pp), partially offset by higher net pricing (5.7 pp).
- 2Operating income increased by 18.8% to $1.3 billion, driven by higher pricing, lower restructuring costs compared to Q1 2008, and gains from hedging activities.
- 3Diluted EPS increased by 15.4% to $0.45, reflecting improved profitability.
- 4Kraft Foods adopted the average cost method for U.S. inventories, replacing the LIFO method, effective January 1, 2009.
- 5The Post cereals business was divested in August 2008 and is reported as discontinued operations.
- 6The company's $5.0 billion share repurchase authority expired on March 30, 2009, with no shares repurchased in Q1 2009.
- 7Kraft Foods Europe and Kraft Foods Developing Markets segments experienced significant revenue declines, largely due to unfavorable foreign currency impacts.