Marfrig Global Foods SA

BOVESPA:MRFG3

Earnings Call Transcript 2022-Q1

[Operator]

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for waiting. Welcome to Marfrig Global Foods S. A. First Quarter of 2022 Conference Call.

With us here today, we have Mr. Marcos Molina, Founder and Chairman; Tim Klein, Chief Executive Officer of North America operations; [ Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer]; Mr. Paulo Pianez, Sustainability and Communication Director; and Mr. Eduardo Puzziello, Investor Relations Director.

This event is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] This event is also being broadcast live via webcast and may be accessed through Marfrig website at https://ri.marfrig.com.br where the presentation is also available. Participants may [indiscernible] the slides in any other order they wish. The replay will be available shortly after the [indiscernible] conclude. Those following the presentation via the webcast, please post their question on our website. They will be answered by the IR team after the conference is finished.

Before proceeding, let me mention that [ forward ] statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Marfrig Global Foods SA management and on information currently available to the company. They involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to future events and therefore depend on circumstances that may or may not occur. Investors and analysts should understand the conditions related to macroeconomic conditions, industry and other factors could also cause results to differ material from those expressed in such forward-looking statements.

Now I will turn the conference over to Mr. Marcos Molina. Mr. Molina, you may proceed.

[Marcos Molina, executive]

Thank you all for participating in Marfrig's Conference Call on the results for the first quarter of 2022. As always, first of all, I want to thank and congratulate our more than 30,000 employees. Each 1 of them contributed with hard work and dedication for the excellent results we will present here.

Traditionally, the first months of the year are the most challenging for our industry. Even so, Marfrig has just had the best first quarter in its history. To get there, we had to deal in with a high level of return. Once again, Marfrig simplified management structure brought agility and efficiency to our business model. This was reinforced by strategic investments. With this, we improved the efficiency of our operations and ensured greater exposure to value-added products. In this first quarter, we invested around BRL 460 million in CapEx. We invest BRL 77 million of Marfrig shares and also followed the important capital increase in BRF by investing another BRL 1.8 billion. All of that totaled BRL 2.8 billion in the first quarter.

All this progress happened while the company improved its leverage ratio, which reached 1.36x at the end of the first quarter. This demonstrates our commitment to sustainable growth, cash generation and excellent capital allocation while maintaining a low level of indebtedness. This was recently recognized by the international rating agency, S&P, which upgraded Marfrig's risk rating to BB+. Now we're just one notch away from investment grade. We will continue our work to generate value to all of our partners and shareholders.

Now I will turn it over to Tim Klein, the CEO of our North American operation.

[Timothy Klein, executive]

Thank you, Marcos.

Let's begin on Slide 4, where I will comment on the results for the first quarter. Starting on the left. Sales volume in the quarter was 2.9% higher than the same quarter of last year. Net revenue, however, was 30.6% higher than the previous year, driven by higher prices for beef and beef byproducts. This resulted in a significant improvement in gross profit, which was almost 60% above that of last year. Finally, we achieved EBITDA of $453 million, 47.5% higher than last year with an EBITDA margin of 15%, a record for our first quarter. The key driver of our performance was continued strong demand for U.S. beef products, combined with ample availability of [ fed ] cattle. All other business units posted improved results versus last year as well.

Please now move to Slide 5, where I will talk about U.S. market data. Starting on the left, industry slaughter levels decreased 0.7% from the same quarter of last year. Cattle prices as reported by the USDA averaged $138.46 per hundredweight, up 22.5% year-over-year on strong demand from packers. The USDA comprehensive cutout averaged $273.59 per hundredweight, up 21.8%, while the drop credit increased 43.6% to an average of $13.81 per hundredweight led by increases in [ towel ] and hide values. The cutout ratio was 1.98 versus 1.99 last year. Note that despite the slightly lower cutout ratio, unit margin dollars were higher as the components of the ratio, cattle prices and box beef values were meaningfully higher. Drop credit values also contributed to the higher margin.

Now I'll pass to Miguel.

[Miguel Gularte, executive]

Thank you very much, Tim.

We will now move on to Slide #6, where I will explain the performance of the South American operation in the first quarter of 2022. As you can see in the chart on the left, total sales volume had a growth Of 11% compared to sales in the first quarter of 2021, justified by the combination of a strong resumption of sales to China, which returned to normal at the end of last year and the recovery of demand in the domestic market. We now move on to the central graph on this slide, net revenue. We can see that we reached in the first quarter of 2022, referring to the evolution of exports, we can notice a significant variation in the main export destinations. This movement was caused by the restriction in exports from Brazil to China during almost the entire last quarter of 2021.

In this scenario, the company has the ability to change the sales destinations of the Brazilian operations to markets such as Europe and North America which minimized the impact of the restrictions to the Chinese market. After this period of limitation, there was a return to normalization with a strong resumption of exports to China, which needed to rebuild part of the emergency stock used during the period without any parts from Brazil. As a consequence, prices and volumes went up significantly in the first quarter of this year benefiting Marfrig's results, which currently has the largest number of plants in South America certified to export to that country, a total of 13 units.

I now turn to Tang, who will comment on the consolidated results and the financial highlights of the operation.

[Tang David, executive]

Thank you, Miguel. In the next slides, we will present Marfrig's consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2022. Starting with Slide 9. In the graph on the left, in the first quarter of 2022, we generated a consolidated net revenue of BRL 22.4 billion, an increase of 29.6% compared to the first quarter of 2021. I'd like to point out that more than 93% of our revenue is generated in currencies other than the real with more than 90% generated in dollars. In the graph on the right, this quarter, we generated BRL 2.8 billion in adjusted EBITDA, with a margin of 12.3%, a nominal growth of 60.9% and 240 basis points versus the EBITDA of the first quarter of 2021. And of this total EBITDA, 85% was generated in North America. As presented in the previous slides at the beginning of our presentation, the strong performance of North America, combined with a gradual improvement of margins in South America are the main drivers of this growth.

We now move on to Slide #10. On this slide, we will comment on the financial results in the first quarter of 2022, which was an expense of BRL 1.2 billion. The mark-to-market of the investment in BRF shares of BRL 795 million was the main driver of the expense in the quarter. In the quarter, interest expenses were BRL 526 million, an increase of BRL 35 million compared to Q4 2021, explained by the increase in the basic interest rate in Brazil, given the new debt profile with greater exposure to that in the local market. The exchange variation was positive by BRL 166 million caused by the difference between the final [ fee ] tax of the period in Q1 2022, BRL 4.74 versus BRL 5.58 in Q4 2021.

On the next slide, #11, we will show the net result for the first quarter of 2022. In the first quarter, the net result before taxes was BRL 1.3 billion, discount in taxes, which were BRL 763 million and other BRL 384 million of minority interest. The net result was BRL 109 million. After the ordinary general cents per share, still referring to the results earned in 2021. In the second graph below, we show the net result accumulated in the last 12 months. Due to the excellent operational performance, we obtained a net profit generation of more than BRL 4.2 billion.

On the next slide, #12, BRF shares acquired in the follow-on process promoted by the company in January of 2022. In the first quarter of 2022, we paid BRL 357 million to National Beef minority shareholders. As a result, our leverage stood at 1.53x when measured in dollars and 1.36x when measured in reals.

On Slide 14, we will present the details of our debt profile. Starting with the chart on the left, the debt schedule. We ended March with cash on the order of $2.4 billion, a 60% growth compared to cash at the end of 2021. This increase is explained by the term loan made for $800 million whose objective is liability management and the management of financial expenses since its cost is lower than that of current debt. Additionally we have [Audio Gap]

Thank you, Tang. Just as Marfrig closed 2021 with robust results in sustainability, this first quarter of 2022 was no different confirming its real commitment to developing innovative, low-carbon deforestation-free cattle farming. In line with this strategy to establish a low-carbon meat production supply chain, Marfrig, the company is the only 1 in the beef protein sector in the Americas to have its targets approved and to commit to limiting the increase in global temperature to up to 1.5 degree C. Marfrig's targets are in Scopes 1 and 2 to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 68%, base year 2019 by the year [ emissions ] by 33% by 2035 base year also 2019. This scope includes methane gas emitted from enteric fermentation of cattle and also increase the use of renewable energy, which is today 27% to 100% by 2030.

In order to make the monitoring system even more robust, Marfrig has been working to incorporate maps into the control layers of its geo-monitoring system. This is within the scope of the Marfrig Verde+ Plan launched in July 2020, and that is based on the produce, conserve and include strategy. This program brings us much closer to the producers and has been showing very positive results in the first quarter of 2022, mainly on the inclusion and [ taxability ] front. On the inclusion front, the company supported and reincluded more than 2,200 farms in its supply chain which represents more than 770,000 animals. This is a clear example that the inclusion strategy is the most effective solution to reconcile production and conservation.

On the supply side of the B3 Carbon Efficiency Index, the ICO2, and also in the preview published recently by B3, the ISE Corporate Sustainability Index. These efforts and results obtained with the Marfrig Verde+ Plan as well as international evaluations, prove our commitment to generating positive impacts contributing to the [Audio Gap]

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] And our first question comes from Ben Theurer with Barclays.

[Benjamin Theurer, analyst]

Yes. Congrats on the very good results for the first quarter. First question is actually for Tim. Can you share an outlook on what you're seeing and what your expectation is for the coming 2 quarters, just given that those tend to be the strong quarters over summer? Obviously, you have a very tough comp to deal with on a year-over-year basis. We've seen some of the cutout come down a little bit recently, but sometimes the data we're seeing might not properly reflect what you're seeing. So any comments you have on what you're seeing in 2Q so far? And what your expectation is over the next coming months, that would be much appreciated.

[Timothy Klein, executive]

Great, Ben. What we see, to your point, comping against last year is not possible given the impacts COVID has actually on last year and the year before. So we kind of look back at 2019 as a base year, and our expectations are we'll have very strong quarters, stronger in the second and third quarter than we had in 2019. Demand continues to be very good. Of course, we're watching the inflation trends and 1 up in the cutout due to the weather -- cold and wet weather we've had here in the U.S. But all in all, we're still confident in our outlook.

[Benjamin Theurer, analyst]

Okay. Perfect. And then my next question is for Miguel. I'll speak slowly so we can get the translation through. Miguel, in the Brazilian operation, well, the South American operation, we saw a significant improvement on a year-over-year basis and particularly a reacceleration in exports over to Asia, particularly China, Hong Kong. Now can you give us the latest on what you're seeing on the export side, given the more strict lockdowns in China in particularly over the last couple of weeks? And do you expect this to impact somehow second quarter exports given all the backlog at the ports.

[Miguel Gularte, executive]

Good morning. Thank you for your question. What we see right now is a situation where the logistics has been -- was the reason for concern 10 days ago, but now it's going back to normal. The bottlenecks we saw at Chinese ports are beginning to disappear and vessels are being unloaded without any problems. And that can be explained because Chinese ports are highly automated. So once operations go back to normal, products flow quite easily.

In terms of the market, what we see is if we compare the market to 2021, it's looking much more promising because in the first quarter 2021, there was low cattle supply, and that's not the case this year. There was an increase in slaughter supply in Brazil of 10%. And at Marfrig, that was 25% in the first quarter. Now if we consider the fourth quarter of 2021, so that we compare that to 2022, the fourth quarter in 2021, Brazil didn't take part in the exports because it was delisted. We hope that won't happen in 2022.

And the price overall material was much more competitive for exporting packing houses such as ours, if you compare 2022 to 2021. So raw material prices are more competitive. We have more supply in the export market. The exchange rate is very favorable towards the BRL. And in China, which is our main destination, and that's very, very positive for Marfrig because we have the largest number of qualified plans to export to China from South America. The Chinese market has much higher prices now than the previous year. We're talking about $2,000 per ton comparing year-on-year and month-on-month. So it looks like we're going to have a great export year with lots of raw material at very reasonable prices.

[Benjamin Theurer, analyst]

Okay. Perfect. And then last question, if I may. That one is actually then for Tang. So we go all through here. On the financing side and leverage. So net debt as of the first quarter, depending on how we want to express it, but it's been somewhat stable in dollars. I mean, obviously, because of BRL depreciation -- appreciation, it came down in BRL. But if we look forward and the need to consolidate Brazil Foods, any initial thoughts you can share in regards to where you think the leverage is going once you consolidate the higher levered BRF stake within your financials? And also given, obviously, the expectation of EBITDA over summer being less than last year, your leverage is likely to continue to go slightly up given the tough comp base from last year. So how should we think of leverage over the coming quarters as we start seeing the consolidation.

[Tang David, executive]

Okay. Leveraging considering BRF's share in Marfrig will only be considered as of the second quarter. So that's the first important point. The second point is, as in my answer about capital allocation, that's liability management and also reducing the service of the debt. So Marfrig's leveraging should not go up. It won't go up. Okay?

[Operator]

Our next question comes from Rob Dickerson with Jefferies.

[Robert Dickerson, analyst]

Tim, just kind of a broad question for you. I think you had said in response to earlier question, the demand seems to be still very good, right? I mean, obviously, pricing is [ good a roof to certain end ]. As we enter the grilling season, you start to think about maybe some competitive activity, there's a lot of conversation around elasticities and trade down risk throughout the entire food industry. Do you have kind of any feel or a kind of guess personally as to what might happen if you just like a look back in the prior period that might not be exactly the same, but somewhat similar in terms of price inflation, consumer strength, what have you. And I really just asked too because, obviously, demand has been strong for over 2 years and pricing continues to get stronger. So just trying to think about kind of what could happen if we get through the back half of the year and how you think about those puts and takes?

[Timothy Klein, executive]

Yes, great question. We are watching price trends on all food products and other products as consumer spending may change. However, what we do normally see on beef is a trade-off between different cuts. So in normal recessionary time periods, for example, we see consumers buying more of the less expensive beef cuts and walking away from the more expensive. But all in all, when you put it back together, the overall cutout value remains relatively stable even through that environment. We do not see very much trading away from beef to pork or poultry or less expensive forms of protein. So we're watching it, but we're not overly concerned that we're going to see a change in consumer demand for beef.

[Robert Dickerson, analyst]

Okay. Super. And then maybe -- if you could excuse my ignorance before I asked this question, but I ask you if it's always good to hear from you, Tim, again. It's just live cattle prices are down a little bit over the past few months. But obviously, there's a lot going on, I assume, on the feed side. So maybe just kind of the brief explanation as to why you think those prices have moved down and kind of if you have any kind of perspective as to where you think they settle out as you get through the year? That's it.

[Timothy Klein, executive]

Well, live cattle actually since the first of the year have been relatively stable and have actually moved up a little bit. We would expect a normal seasonal decline from now until the summer months and then probably back up again in the fourth quarter. The shorter supplies and the highest prices will be up in Q4 from what we can see here. But all in all, the industry continues to run at full capacity and there are still at least through the first quarter, enough cattle for everybody to run it at full capacity. That will continue for at least another quarter, and then we'll see fewer numbers as we go out into Q3 and particularly in Q4.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] This concludes today's question-and-answer session, and this concludes Marfrig Global Foods S.A. conference call for today. Thank you very much for your participation and have a nice day.