Edgewell Personal Care Company (NYSE:EPC) reported strong financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, with net sales of $599.4 million and adjusted earnings per share of $0.88. The company's performance was driven by robust international growth, strategic pricing actions, and continued operational excellence, leading it to raise its full-year adjusted EBITDA and EPS guidance.
Edgewell is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of personal care products, operating in the wet shave, sun and skin care, and feminine care categories. The company's portfolio includes well-known brands such as Schick, Wilkinson Sword, Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, and Playtex.
Business Overview
Edgewell's operations are organized into three reportable segments: Wet Shave, Sun and Skin Care, and Feminine Care. The Wet Shave segment includes products sold under the Schick, Wilkinson Sword, Edge, Skintimate, and Billie brands, as well as non-branded products. The Sun and Skin Care segment consists of Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sun care products, as well as Jack Black, Bulldog, Cremo, and Billie grooming products. The Feminine Care segment includes tampons, pads, and liners sold under the Playtex, Stayfree, Carefree, and o.b. brands.In fiscal 2023, Edgewell generated annual net sales of $2,251.6 million, annual net income of $114.7 million, and annual operating cash flow of $216.1 million. The company's free cash flow for the year was $166.6 million.
Second Quarter 2024 Results
For the second quarter of fiscal 2024, Edgewell reported net sales of $599.4 million, a 0.2% increase compared to the prior-year period. Organic net sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency, increased 0.1%. The company's strong international performance, with 5.8% organic growth, was partially offset by a 2.8% decline in North America.Adjusted gross margin expanded by 320 basis points to 43.7%, driven by productivity savings and the benefits of strategic pricing actions, which more than offset inflationary pressures. Adjusted operating income increased 28% to $80.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA grew 19% to $99.7 million.
Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter were $0.88, a 57% increase compared to the prior-year period. This strong performance was enabled by the company's focus on operational efficiency, strategic revenue management, and disciplined cost control.
Segment Performance
Wet Shave net sales decreased 5.0% in the quarter, with a 4.5% decline in organic sales. This was primarily due to a 14.0% decline in North America, which was partially offset by a 5.3% increase in international markets. The segment's profitability, however, improved significantly, with organic segment profit increasing 19.2% due to higher gross margins.The Sun and Skin Care segment delivered impressive results, with organic net sales increasing 11.5%, driven by double-digit growth in both Sun Care and Grooming. Segment profit for the division grew 36.0% organically, reflecting the strong top-line performance and margin expansion.
In the Feminine Care segment, organic net sales declined 12.0%, primarily due to lower sales of tampons and pads. Segment profit decreased 28.7% organically, as the lower sales volume impacted gross profit.
Liquidity and Capital Allocation
Edgewell ended the second quarter with $196 million in cash and access to $309 million in undrawn credit facility capacity. The company's net debt leverage ratio was 3.4x at the end of the quarter.During the quarter, Edgewell repurchased $15 million worth of its common stock and paid $15.8 million in dividends to shareholders. The company remains committed to a balanced capital allocation strategy, focusing on investing in the business, maintaining a strong balance sheet, and returning capital to shareholders.
Outlook
Based on its strong first-half performance, Edgewell has raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $348 million to $360 million, up from the previous range of $340 million to $355 million. The company also increased its adjusted earnings per share outlook to a range of $2.80 to $3.00, up from the prior range of $2.70 to $2.90.The company now expects full-year organic net sales growth to be at the lower end of its previously provided range of 2% to 4%, primarily due to the softer-than-expected performance in the second quarter. However, Edgewell remains confident in its ability to deliver strong profitability through continued operational excellence and strategic revenue management.