Louisville, Ky., Jun 05, 2007 - Brown-Forman Corporation reported record earnings of $3.22 per share from continuing operations for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2007, driven by continued volume growth and margin improvement from the company's premium brands. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the full year were up 1% on a reported basis and 11% on an underlying basis.
Underlying earnings per share represent diluted reported earnings per share in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for certain items. A reconciliation from reported to underlying earnings per share (a non-GAAP measure) for the full year, and the reasons why management believes these adjustments to be useful to the reader, are included in Schedule A and the Notes to this press release.
The company exceeded previously provided earnings guidance for continuing operations as detailed below:
Fiscal 2007 Diluted
Earnings Per Share
March Outlook Actual
----------------- -------
Base Continuing Operations $3.20 - $3.30 $3.35
Casa Herradura(2) Impact ($0.18) - ($0.14) ($0.13)
Projected / Reported $3.02 - $3.16 $3.22
(2) References to Casa Herradura include all brands (el Jimador,
Herradura, New Mix, Antiguo, Suave 35 and other brands) and
operations acquired in January, 2007.
Fiscal 2007 revenues and gross profit were up 16% and 13%, respectively. Gross profit grew $173 million, reflecting double-digit gains for Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, and the company's Jack Daniel's & Cola ready-to-drink product sold primarily in Australia. The improvement in gross profit for these brands was due to volume growth, margin expansion, and favorable foreign currency fluctuations. The fiscal 2007 acquisitions of Chambord liqueur and the Casa Herradura brands also contributed to the year-over-year increases in revenues and gross profit.
Advertising expenses increased 12% for the year due to incremental investments behind the company's premium global brands and spending on the recently acquired Chambord and Casa Herradura family of brands. SG&A grew 14% for the year, due in large part to the company's global distribution initiatives. Operating income from continuing operations increased $39 million, up 7% for the year.
Reported results from continuing operations in the current and prior year included several items that management believes were not representative of underlying earnings growth. Consistent with past practice, the company excludes these items to provide an informative measure of underlying growth