Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV (BMBOY) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Sales Amidst North ...

Yahoo

30-04-2025

Consolidated Sales: Record-breaking sales in the first quarter.
Mexico EBITDA Margin: 19%.
Latin America EBITDA Margin Increase: 50 basis points.
North America Sales Decrease: 4.9% excluding FX effect.
Canada EBITDA Margin Contraction: 130 basis points.
Latin America Net Sales Increase: 5.2% excluding FX effect.
Europe, Asia, and Africa Sales Increase: 4.5% excluding FX effect.
Europe, Asia, and Africa EBITDA Margin: 7.2% unchanged from Q1 2024.
CapEx: $260 million, 20% lower than Q1 2024.
Total Debt: MXN161 billion.
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio: 2.9 times.
Full-Year Guidance Adjustment: High single-digit sales growth, mid-single digit EBITDA growth.
Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with BMBOY.
Release Date: April 29, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV (BMBOY) achieved record-breaking sales in the first quarter, driven by exceptional diversification and global presence.
The company reported high single-digit growth in EBITDA, with Mexico reaching a 19% EBITDA margin, highlighting operational strength.
Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV (BMBOY) was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the ninth consecutive year, reflecting its commitment to ESG principles.
Sales in Latin America increased by 5.2%, with strong performance in Brazil, Argentina, and the Central America region, contributing to a 50 basis point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin.
The company is actively broadening its distribution footprint and leveraging channel-specific strategies to deliver compelling value across various markets.
Sales in North America decreased by 4.9% due to a soft consumption environment and the impact of last year's strategic exit from certain non-branded items.
Adjusted EBITDA margin in Canada contracted by 130 basis points, primarily due to soft top-line performance and strategic investments in transformation projects.
The company faces challenges in North America with a weak consumer environment and ongoing strategic investments impacting EBITDA margins.
In Europe, Asia, and Africa, the adjusted EBITDA margin remained unchanged due to the impact of minimum wage increases and the phase-out of wage subsidies in Romania.
Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV (BMBOY) revised its full-year guidance, anticipating a softer consumption environment in North America and a slight margin contraction compared to last year.
Q: Can you provide insights into the early benefits of your investments in the US and any changes in guidance due to the current global scenario? A: Mark Bendix, Deputy CEO, explained that Grupo Bimbo is optimizing its North American operations by integrating people, processes, technologies, and systems. This transformation is a multi-year plan aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and expanding customer base. Diego Gaxiola, CFO, added that current tariffs have minimal direct impact on Grupo Bimbo due to the USMCA framework. The guidance adjustments are based on the current US environment, with no additional tariff impacts assumed.
Q: What are the consumption trends in Mexico, and how do they compare to North America? A: Rafael Romero, Co-CEO, noted some softness in Mexican consumption, particularly in convenience channels, but highlighted resilience in retail and traditional channels. Despite a softer scenario, Grupo Bimbo sees opportunities to adapt its portfolio and expand in key locations and emerging channels in Mexico.
Q: Could you elaborate on the performance and challenges in North America and EAA regions? A: Diego Gaxiola mentioned that specific investment impacts in North America are not disclosed, but margins are sustainable with room for improvement. In the EAA region, labor expenses in Romania and the loss of subsidies have pressured margins, but the company is confident in managing these challenges and continuing margin improvements.
Q: How is Grupo Bimbo addressing competitive dynamics and consumer trends in the US? A: Mark Bendix explained that the US market is bifurcating, with economically stressed consumers opting for private labels and affluent consumers choosing premium products. Grupo Bimbo is expanding its value segment offerings and premium products to address these trends, while also adapting promotional strategies post-pandemic.
Q: What is the outlook for CapEx and working capital for the year? A: Diego Gaxiola stated that the company generated positive free cash flow in Q1 and is cautious with CapEx execution. While the initial CapEx guidance remains, it may be adjusted slightly lower. The company is focused on improving working capital and expects to generate cash from it, enhancing financial position.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.