UPDATE 3-Conagra tops profit, sales estimates even as consumers turn thrifty
(Adds analyst comment, details from conference call, updates shares)
By Mehr Bedi and Granth Vanaik
Oct 6 (Reuters) - Conagra Brands Inc beat quarterly sales and profit estimates on Thursday, boosted by higher prices for its Marie Callender's and Slim Jim brands even as consumer demand wanes under the weight of decades-high inflation.
Global food companies have been increasing prices over the past year to shield profit margins, which have been squeezed by elevated freight and labor expenses, and spiraling costs of raw ingredients like corn, wheat, proteins and edible oils.
However, signs of consumers becoming more price sensitive have begun to emerge and analysts have flagged concerns of Americans hunting for more affordable alternatives as persistent inflation erodes consumer spending power.
Conagra noted store label brands are gaining share in certain categories versus 2019 levels, echoing sentiments from peers Campbell Soup Co and J.M. Smucker Co.
Still, Conagra Chief Executive Sean Connolly announced further price hikes in the third quarter although he expects volumes to remain challenged in the second quarter.
"I think the operating environment for Conagra Brands as well as the entire package food industry is becoming a little bit more challenging and I say that ... because every dollar of additional price increases will be harder to come by," CFRA analyst Arun Sundaram said.
"That's just because the demand environment while still highly favorable is not as strong as it was over the past two years," Sundaram added.
Shares of Conagra, known for brands like Birds Eye and Chef Boyardee, fell about 2% as the company witnessed a 4.6% decline in sales volumes in the reported quarter that was offset by average selling prices rising 14.3%.
On an adjusted basis, the company earned 57 cents per share, beating estimates of 52 cents per share, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. (Reporting by Granth Vanaik and Mehr Bedi in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Maju Samuel)
