· Third quarter 2023 reported and adjusted operating income* grew 17% and 15%, respectively, compared to PY
· Third quarter 2023 reported and adjusted EPS* were $2.36 and $2.33, an increase of 48% and 35%, respectively
· The Company raises its full year adjusted EPS outlook to $9.05-$9.45, up from $8.80-$9.40 

WESTCHESTER, Ill., Nov 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to the food and beverage manufacturing industry, today reported results for the third quarter of 2023. The results, reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for the third quarter of 2023 and 2022, include items that are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures that the Company presents.

“We continued to successfully manage our business in the third quarter with our approach to product pricing and customer mix, while also driving operational excellence and productivity to mitigate the impact of cost inflation. This enabled us to deliver 15% adjusted operating income growth for the quarter,” said Jim Zallie, Ingredion’s president and chief executive officer.

“Our business continues to demonstrate resilience, evidenced by the diversity of our markets and product portfolio, and the strength of our business model. For example, our Food Systems business in Europe demonstrated mid-single-digit volume growth from greater penetration into private label. While lower corn costs around the globe contributed to lower net sales growth, we were encouraged by sequential quarterly improvement in sales volumes despite inventory rebalancing by customers that continued to work its way through the supply chain.”

“Our updated full-year guidance reflects our confidence to deliver revenue and profit growth above our four-year growth outlook. We continue to execute against our Driving Growth Roadmap creating long-term value for shareholders, and are committed to total shareholder return as evidenced by the increase in the dividend rate and shares repurchased during the quarter,” Zallie concluded.

^{*Adjusted diluted earnings per share (“adjusted EPS”), adjusted operating income and adjusted effective income tax rate are non-GAAP financial measures. See section II of the Supplemental Financial Information entitled “Non-GAAP Information” following the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this news release for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.} 

Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS)
 
Financial Highlights

· At September 30, 2023, total debt and cash, including short-term investments, were $2.4 billion and $341 million, respectively, versus $2.5 billion and $239 million, respectively, at December 31, 2022.
· Reported net financing costs for the third quarter were $26 million versus $24 million for the year-ago period.
· Reported and adjusted effective tax rates for the quarter were 13.5% and 17.3%, respectively, compared to 32.3% and 30.6%, respectively, in the year-ago period. The decrease in the reported effective tax rate was primarily driven by a recently issued IRS Notice 2023-55 allowing the Company to claim certain foreign tax credits against U.S. taxes, favorable country earnings mix primarily due to Brazil tax law developments, and a related increase in the Company’s foreign-derived intangible income deduction.
· Capital expenditures, net were $231 million, up $35 million from the year-ago period.

Business Review

Net Sales

·  Third quarter and year-to-date net sales were up from the year-ago period 1% and 5%, respectively. The increases were driven by both price mix and foreign exchange impacts, partially offset by volume declines. Excluding foreign exchange impacts, net sales were flat and up 6%, respectively, for the quarter and year-to-date.

Operating Income

·  Third quarter reported and adjusted operating income were $213 million and $219 million, an increase of 17% and 15%, respectively, versus the prior year. The increases were driven by favorable price mix, partially offset by higher input costs and lower volume. Excluding foreign exchange impacts, reported and adjusted operating income were up 16% and 14%, respectively, from the same periods last year.
·  Year-to-date reported and adjusted operating income were $755 million and $766 million, an increase of 25% and 24%, respectively, versus the year-ago period. The increases in reported and adjusted operating income were attributable to favorable price mix, partially offset by higher raw material and input costs and lower volume. Excluding foreign exchange impacts, reported and adjusted operating income were up 28% and 27%, respectively, from the same periods last year. 

North America

· Third quarter operating income for North America was $171 million, an increase of $45 million from the year-ago period, and year-to-date operating income was $575 million, an increase of $132 million from the year-ago period. The increases for both periods were driven by favorable price mix, partially offset by higher input costs and lower volume. 

South America

· Third quarter operating income for South America was $32 million, a decrease of $16 million from the year-ago period, and year-to-date operating income was $96 million, a decrease of $29 million from the year-ago period. The decrease in both periods was driven primarily by lower volume and higher energy costs. Excluding foreign exchange impacts, segment operating income was down -40% and -22%, respectively, for the third quarter and year-to-date. 

Asia-Pacific

· Third quarter operating income for Asia-Pacific was $33 million, up $6 million from the year-ago period, and year-to-date operating income was $88 million, an increase of $18 million from the year-ago period. The change in both periods was driven by favorable price mix, partially offset by higher input costs and lower volumes. Excluding foreign exchange impacts, segment operating income was up 22% and 29%, respectively, for the third quarter and year-to-date. 

 Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)

· Third quarter operating income for EMEA was $32 million, up $2 million from the year-ago period, and year-to-date operating income was $131 million, an increase of $41 million from the year-ago period. The changes were driven by favorable price mix, partially offset by lower volume, higher raw material costs and foreign exchange impacts. Excluding foreign exchange impacts, segment operating income was up 13% and 58%, respectively, for the third quarter and year-to-date. 

Dividends and Share Repurchases
In the first nine months of 2023, the Company paid $143 million in dividends to shareholders. The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share that was paid on October 24, 2023, which represented a 10% increase from the prior quarterly dividend rate, for the ninth consecutive annual increase. During the quarter, the Company repurchased $101 million of outstanding shares of common stock. To support total shareholder return as an important element of its capital allocation strategy, the Company is dedicated to returning value to shareholders through cash dividends and share repurchases.

Updated 2023 Full-Year Outlook
The Company expects its outlook for full-year 2023 reported and adjusted EPS to be in the range of $9.25 to $9.65 and $9.05 to $9.45, respectively. This expectation excludes acquisition-related integration and restructuring costs, as well as any potential impairment costs.

The Company now expects full-year 2023 net sales to be up mid-single-digits reflecting softer volume demand. Reported and adjusted operating income are both expected to be up high double-digits.

Compared to last year, the 2023 full-year outlook now assumes the following: North America operating income is expected to be up 20% to 25%, with price mix continuing to outpace lower volume and cost increases; South America operating income is expected to be down mid to high-teens, with higher input costs more than offsetting favorable price mix; Asia-Pacific operating income is expected to be up high double-digits, driven by favorable price mix and PureCircle growth, partially offset by higher input costs; and EMEA operating income is expected to be up 40% to 45% driven by favorable price mix. Corporate costs are expected to be up high single-digits.

For full-year 2023, the Company expects a reported and adjusted effective tax rate of 22.5% to 23.5% and 25.0% to 26.0%, respectively.

Cash from operations for full-year 2023 is now expected to be in the range of $650 million to $750 million. Capital expenditures for the full year are expected to be approximately $310 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Details
Ingredion will host a conference call on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 8 a.m. CT/9 a.m. ET, hosted by Jim Zallie, president and chief executive officer, and Jim Gray, executive vice president and chief financial officer. The call will be webcast in real-time and can be accessed at 
https://ir.ingredionincorporated.com/events-and-presentations. A presentation containing additional financial and operating information will be accessible through the Company’s website and available to download a few hours prior to the start of the call. A replay will be available for a limited time at https://ir.ingredionincorporated.com/financial-information/quarterly-results.

About the Company

Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in more than 120 countries. With 2022 annual net sales of nearly $8 billion, the Company turns grains, fruits, vegetables and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition and industrial markets. With Ingredion’s Idea Labs^® innovation centers around the world and approximately 12,000 employees, the Company co-creates with customers and fulfills its purpose of bringing the potential of people, nature and technology together to make life better. Visit ingredion.com for more information and the latest Company news.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for such statements.

Forward-looking statements include, among others, any statements regarding the Company’s expectations for full-year 2023 reported and adjusted EPS, net sales, reported and adjusted operating income, segment operating income, corporate costs, reported and adjusted effective tax rate, cash from operations, capital expenditures, and any other statements regarding the Company’s prospects and its future operations, financial condition, volumes, cash flows, expenses or other financial items, including management’s plans or strategies and objectives for any of the foregoing and any assumptions, expectations or beliefs underlying any of the foregoing.

These statements can sometimes be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “plan,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “continue,” “pro forma,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “propels,” “opportunities,” “potential,” “provisional,” or other similar expressions or the negative thereof. All statements other than statements of historical facts therein are “forward-looking statements.”

These statements are based on current circumstances or expectations, but are subject to certain inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control. Although we believe our expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, investors are cautioned that no assurance can be given that our expectations will prove correct.

Actual results and developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in or implied by these statements, based on various risks and uncertainties, including effects of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the impacts on the availability and prices of raw materials and energy supplies and volatility in foreign exchange and interest rates; changing consumption preferences relating to high fructose corn syrup and other products we make; the effects of global economic conditions and the general political, economic, business, and market conditions that affect customers and consumers in the various geographic regions and countries in which we buy our raw materials or manufacture or sell our products, and the impact these factors may have on our sales volumes, the pricing of our products and our ability to collect our receivables from customers; future purchases of our products by major industries which we serve and from which we derive a significant portion of our sales, including, without limitation, the food, beverage, animal nutrition; the impact of COVID-19 on our business, the demand for our products and our financial results; the uncertainty of acceptance of products developed through genetic modification and biotechnology; our ability to develop or acquire new products and services at rates or of qualities sufficient to gain market acceptance; increased competitive and/or customer pressure in the corn-refining industry and related industries, including with respect to the markets and prices for our primary products and our co-products, particularly corn oil; price fluctuations, supply chain disruptions, and shortages affecting inputs to our production processes and delivery channels, including raw materials, energy costs and availability and freight and logistics; our ability to contain costs, achieve budgets and realize expected synergies, including with respect to our ability to complete planned maintenance and investment projects on time and on budget as well as with respect to freight and shipping costs; operating difficulties at our manufacturing facilities and liabilities relating to product safety and quality; the effects of climate change and legal, regulatory, and market measures to address climate change; our ability to successfully identify and complete acquisitions or strategic alliances on favorable terms as well as our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses or implement and maintain strategic alliances and achieve anticipated synergies with respect to all of the foregoing; economic, political and other risks inherent in conducting operations in foreign countries and in foreign currencies; the behavior of financial and capital markets, including with respect to foreign currency fluctuations, fluctuations in interest and exchange rates and market volatility and the associated risks of hedging against such fluctuations; the failure to maintain satisfactory labor relations; our ability to attract, develop, motivate, and maintain good relationships with our workforce; the impact on our business of natural disasters, war, threats or acts of terrorism, the outbreak or continuation of pandemics such as COVID-19, or the occurrence of other significant events beyond our control; the impact of impairment charges on our goodwill or long-lived assets; changes in government policy, law, or regulation and costs of legal compliance, including compliance with environmental regulation; changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liability; increases in our borrowing costs that could result from increased interest rates; our ability to raise funds at reasonable rates and other factors affecting our access to sufficient funds for future growth and expansion; security breaches with respect to information technology systems, processes, and sites; volatility in the stock market and other factors that could adversely affect our stock price; risks affecting the continuation of our dividend policy; and our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting.

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. If we do update or correct one or more of these statements, investors and others should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections. For a further description of these and other risks, see “Risk Factors” and other information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ingredion Incorporated Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

Ingredion Incorporated Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets

Ingredion Incorporated Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

Ingredion Incorporated Supplemental
Financial Information
(Unaudited)
 
II. Non-GAAP Information

To supplement the consolidated financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we use non-GAAP historical financial measures, which exclude certain GAAP items such as acquisition and integration costs, restructuring and impairment charges, Mexico tax items, and other specified items. We generally use the term “adjusted” when referring to these non-GAAP amounts.

Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for strategic decision making, forecasting future results and evaluating current performance. By disclosing non-GAAP financial measures, management intends to provide investors with a more meaningful, consistent comparison of our operating results and trends for the periods presented. These non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. These non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP; so our non-GAAP information is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. A reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP measure is provided in the tables below.

Ingredion Incorporated Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income attributable
to Ingredion and Diluted Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) to 
Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income attributable to Ingredion
and Adjusted Diluted EPS
(Unaudited)
 
Net income and EPS may not foot or recalculate due to rounding.

Notes
(i) During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we recorded pre-tax acquisition and integration charges of $1 million for our acquisition and integration of KaTech, as well as our investment in the Argentina joint venture.

(ii) During the three months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded a $10 million pre-tax other-than-temporary impairment charge on our equity method investments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we recorded $4 million of remaining pre-tax restructuring-related charges for the Cost Smart program.

(iii) During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded pre-tax charges of $5 million primarily related to the impacts of a U.S.-based work stoppage. This was partially offset by $4 million of insurance recoveries recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2023.

During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we recorded pre-tax charges of $9 million primarily related to the impacts of a U.S.-based work stoppage.

(iv) We recorded tax benefits of $1 million and $15 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and tax benefits of $1 million and $2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, as a result of the movement of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar and its impact on the remeasurement of our Mexico financial statements during the periods.

(v) This item relates to net prior year tax liabilities and contingencies, impacts from the Pakistan Super Tax, IRS Notice 2023-55, and tax results of the above non-GAAP addbacks. These were offset by interest on previously recognized tax benefits for certain Brazilian local incentives which were previously taxable. 

Ingredion Incorporated Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to
Non-GAAP Adjusted Operating Income (Unaudited)

For notes (i) through (iii), see notes (i) through (iii) included in the Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income attributable to Ingredion and Diluted EPS to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income attributable to Ingredion and Adjusted Diluted EPS.
Ingredion Incorporated Reconciliation of GAAP Effective Income Tax Rate
to Non-GAAP Adjusted Effective Income Tax Rate (Unaudited)

For notes (i) through (v), see notes (i) through (v) included in the Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income attributable to Ingredion and Diluted EPS to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income attributable to Ingredion and Adjusted Diluted EPS.
Ingredion Incorporated Reconciliation of Expected
GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share (“GAAP EPS”) to Expected
Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share (“Adjusted EPS”) (Unaudited)

Above is a reconciliation of our expected full-year 2023 diluted EPS to our expected full-year 2023 adjusted diluted EPS. The amounts above may not reflect certain future charges, costs and/or gains that are inherently difficult to predict and estimate due to their unknown timing, effect and/or significance. These amounts include, but are not limited to, adjustments to GAAP EPS for impairment and restructuring charges, other matters and certain other tax items. We generally exclude these adjustments from our adjusted EPS guidance. For these reasons, we are more confident in our ability to forecast adjusted EPS than we are in our ability to forecast GAAP EPS.

These adjustments to GAAP EPS for 2023 include the following:
 
Ingredion Incorporated Reconciliation of Expected GAAP
Effective Tax Rate (“GAAP ETR”)
to Expected Adjusted Effective
Tax Rate (“Adjusted ETR”) (Unaudited)

Above is a reconciliation of our expected full-year 2023 GAAP ETR to our expected full-year 2023 adjusted ETR. The amounts above may not reflect certain future charges, costs and/or gains that are inherently difficult to predict and estimate due to their unknown timing, effect and/or significance. These amounts include, but are not limited to, adjustments to GAAP ETR for restructuring/impairment charges, other matters and certain other tax items. We generally exclude these adjustments from our adjusted ETR guidance. For these reasons, we are more confident in our ability to forecast adjusted ETR than we are in our ability to forecast GAAP ETR.

These adjustments to GAAP ETR for 2023 include the following:
 

CONTACTS:
Investors: Noah Weiss, 773-896-5242
Media: Becca Hary, 708-551-2602

SOURCE: Ingredion Incorporated

--BERNAMA