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Laird Superfood Inc (LSF) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Growth in E-commerce and …

Laird Superfood Inc (LSF) reports a 30% net sales increase and a remarkable 80% growth in Amazon sales, marking its best quarter yet. Read More...
  • Net Sales Growth: 30% increase to $10.0 million compared to $7.7 million in the prior year period.

  • E-commerce Growth: 47% year-over-year increase, accounting for 61% of total net sales.

  • Amazon Sales Growth: 80% growth, marking the best quarter in the company’s history.

  • DTC Growth: 32% increase, driven by higher subscribers and repeat orders.

  • Wholesale Net Sales Growth: 9% year-over-year increase, contributing 39% of total net sales.

  • Gross Margin: Achieved 42%, a 17-point improvement year-over-year.

  • Operating Expenses: Decreased by $1.0 million compared to the same period last year.

  • Net Loss: $0.2 million, a 93% improvement from the prior year period.

  • Cash Flow: Delivered $0.5 million positive cash flow for the quarter.

  • Cash Position: $7.8 million in cash with no debt.

  • Full Year 2024 Guidance: Net sales expected to be $40 million to $44 million, with gross margin expanding to 40% to 41%.

Release Date: August 07, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Laird Superfood Inc (LSF) reported a 30% increase in net sales for the second quarter compared to the same period last year, marking an 8-point acceleration from the first quarter.

  • The e-commerce segment led the company’s growth with a 47% year-over-year increase, and Amazon sales grew by an impressive 80%.

  • The company achieved a gross margin of 41.8%, surpassing their target of 40%, indicating strong operational efficiency.

  • Laird Superfood Inc (LSF) settled a legal claim related to a supplier issue, resulting in a $475,000 cash recovery over the next six months.

  • The company reported a positive cash flow of $0.5 million for the quarter, reflecting improved performance and effective management of working capital.

Negative Points

  • Despite the growth, the wholesale net sales only increased by 9% year-over-year, narrowly missing double-digit growth.

  • There is continued inflation in some key commodities, which could impact future margins if not managed properly.

  • The company is still in the early stages of expanding product placement across natural and conventional channels, indicating potential challenges in market penetration.

  • Laird Superfood Inc (LSF) has not yet fully explored the food service channel, which could limit immediate growth opportunities.

  • The company remains cautious with marketing spend, which may slow down the pace of brand awareness and consumer reach.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you discuss the confidence behind raising the revenue guidance and any potential risks? A: Jason Vieth, President and CEO, explained that the company anticipates a positive impact from seasonal events like back-to-school and holiday shopping, which typically boost sales. The company is also seeing strong performance from Amazon and expects continued growth in e-commerce. Anya Hamill, Interim CFO, added that increased marketing efforts in the latter half of the year will further support sales growth.

Q: Is there room for further gross margin improvement, or have we reached a temporary ceiling? A: Jason Vieth noted that while the company has achieved a 42% gross margin, there are still opportunities for further improvement through their total margin management program. However, they are also mindful of potential inflationary pressures and are prepared to adjust pricing if necessary.

Q: What are the long-term growth strategies and marketing plans? A: Jason Vieth emphasized that Laird Superfood is in the early stages of growth, with significant potential in expanding product awareness and distribution. The company plans to leverage its founders, Laird and Gabby, in marketing efforts and explore new channels like food service, colleges, and corporate campuses. They aim to grow strategically without overspending on marketing.

Q: How does the company plan to manage marketing spend effectively? A: Jason Vieth stated that the company is focused on achieving strong ROI from marketing investments. They are cautious with spending and aim to build brand awareness efficiently, leveraging the founders’ influence and targeting the right retail partners.

Q: Are there any new product innovations on the horizon? A: Jason Vieth hinted at upcoming product innovations that will be shared in future quarters, indicating ongoing efforts to expand the product portfolio and capture consumer interest.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

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