Hershey Announces Record Third Quarter and Nine-Months Results from Operations

HERSHEY, Pa., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hershey Company today announced record sales and record earnings from operations for the third quarter ended October 2, 2005. Consolidated net sales for the third quarter were $1,368,240,000 compared with $1,254,508,000 for the third quarter of 2004, an increase of 9.1 percent. Net income for the third quarter of 2005 was $119,475,000, or $.48 per share-diluted, compared with $166,229,000, or $.66 per share-diluted, for the comparable period of 2004.

For the third quarter of 2005, these results include pre-tax charges of $101.4 million, or $.27 per share-diluted, associated with the previously announced business realignment program to advance the Company's value-enhancing strategy. Net income from operations, which excludes these charges, for the third quarter of 2005 was $185,283,000, or $.75 per share-diluted, compared with $166,229,000 or $.66 per share-diluted, an increase of 13.6%.

Record Nine-Months Results from Operations

For the first nine months of 2005, consolidated net sales were $3,483,101,000 compared with $3,161,285,000 for the first nine months of 2004. Net income for the first nine months of 2005 was $335,057,000, or $1.34 per share-diluted, compared with $420,593,000, or $1.62 per share-diluted, for the first nine months of 2004.

Net income for the first nine months of 2005 includes the charges mentioned above. Net income for the first nine months of 2004 includes the benefit of a $61.1 million, or $.23 per share-diluted, non-cash reduction of income tax expense resulting from second quarter adjustments to income tax contingency reserves following the completion of prior years' tax audits. Net income from operations, which excludes these items, for the first nine months of 2005 was $400,865,000, or $1.61 per share-diluted, compared with $359,512,000, or $1.39 per share-diluted, an increase of 15.8%.

Third-Quarter Performance

"Our results for the third quarter continued the momentum from the first half behind new product innovation, strong seasonal sales, and net price realization," said Richard H. Lenny, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Sales growth, excluding the impact of business acquisitions, of 6.5 percent was broad-based with solid gains in both our core confectionery business and our new snack platforms. Acquisitions contributed 2.6 percent to the total top-line growth. The combination of strong top-line growth and tight expense control, despite higher input costs, resulted in record profitability. Excluding the one-time charges, diluted earnings per share from operations increased 13.6 percent.

"Performance for the first nine months has been excellent with strong gains in net sales, market share, and profitability. We're anticipating a solid fourth quarter given the good start to the important seasonal period and the upcoming introduction of several new products, most notably Hershey's Kissables and Hershey's Kisses filled with peanut butter. In addition, we

expect to maintain effective cost controls across the business system, thereby yielding a gain in operating margins.

"Therefore, for 2005 we expect net sales to increase at a rate above our long-term goal of 3-4 percent and diluted earnings per share from operations should increase at a rate greater than our long-term range of 9-11 percent.

"As we look to 2006, our goal is to build upon the marketplace momentum established over the past several quarters. The strategy of benefit-driven innovation continues to resonate with consumers. Our plans reflect a step-up in new product innovation while capitalizing on key growth opportunities with the more profitable classes of trade.

"Against this backdrop of strong performance are broadly higher input costs. We're now developing plans to address these cost pressures. These plans will include both productivity initiatives as well as the benefit of our previously announced business realignment program. We're confident in our ability to achieve organic sales growth in 2006 somewhat above our 3-4 percent long-term goal with an increase in diluted earnings per share, excluding business realignment charges, slightly above 9-11 percent."

Based on current estimates, the cost to implement the business realignment program will result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $140 million to $150 million, or $.41 to $.44 per share-diluted on an after-tax basis. Approximately 90 percent of the charge will be recorded in the second half of 2005, with the remainder recorded in the first half of 2006.

Note: In this sales and earnings release, Hershey has provided income measures excluding certain items described above, in addition to net income determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures, as shown in the attached pro forma income statements, are used in evaluating results of operations for internal purposes. These non-GAAP measures are not intended to replace the presentation of financial results in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the Company believes exclusion of such items provides additional information to investors to facilitate the comparison of past and present operations.

Live Webcast

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call with analysts today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be webcast live via Hershey's corporate Website http://www.hersheys.com/. Please go to the Investor Relations Section of the Website for further details.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains statements which are forward-looking. These statements are made based upon current expectations which are subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to implement and generate expected ongoing annual savings from the program to advance its value-enhancing strategy; changes in the Company's business environment, including actions of competitors and changes in consumer preferences; customer and consumer response to selling price increases; changes in governmental laws and regulations, including taxes; market demand for new and existing products; changes in raw material and other costs; pension cost factors such as actuarial assumptions, market performance, and employee retirement decisions; changes in the value of the Company's Common Stock; and the Company's ability to implement improvements to and reduce costs associated with its supply chain, as discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2004.

The Hershey Company Summary of Consolidated Statements of Income for the periods ended October 2, 2005 and October 3, 2004 (in thousands except per share amounts) Third Quarter Nine Months 2005 2004 2005 2004 Net Sales $1,368,240 $1,254,508 $3,483,101 $3,161,285 Costs and Expenses: Cost of Sales 849,486 756,408 2,139,316 1,915,244 Selling, Marketing and Administrative 220,252 216,696 666,288 630,390 Business Realignment Charge 84,843 --- 84,843 --- Total Costs and Expenses 1,154,581 973,104 2,890,447 2,545,634 Income Before Interest and Income Taxes (EBIT) 213,659 281,404 592,654 615,651 Interest Expense, net 23,701 18,252 63,730 48,594 Income Before Income Taxes 189,958 263,152 528,924 567,057 Provision for Income Taxes 70,483 96,923 193,867 146,464 Net Income $119,475 $166,229 $335,057 $420,593 Net Income Per Share - Basic - Common $0.50 $0.68 $1.39 $1.68 - Basic - Class B $0.45 $0.62 $1.27 $1.53 - Diluted $0.48 $0.66 $1.34 $1.62 Shares Outstanding - Basic - Common 183,853 188,726 184,648 195,288 - Basic - Class B 60,818 60,843 60,822 60,844 - Diluted 248,117 252,683 249,122 258,866 Key Margins: Gross Margin 37.9% 39.7% 38.6% 39.4% EBIT Margin 15.6% 22.4% 17.0% 19.5% Net Margin 8.7% 13.3% 9.6% 13.3% The Hershey Company Pro Forma Summary of Consolidated Statements of Income for the periods ended October 2, 2005 and October 3, 2004 (in thousands except per share amounts) Third Quarter Nine Months 2005 2004 2005 2004 Net Sales $1,368,240 $1,254,508 $3,483,101 $3,161,285 Costs and Expenses: Cost of Sales 832,965(a) 756,408 2,122,795(a) 1,915,244 Selling, Marketing and Administrative 220,252 216,696 666,288 630,390 Business Realignment Charge ---(b) --- ---(b) --- Total Costs and Expenses 1,053,217 973,104 2,789,083 2,545,634 Income Before Interest and Income Taxes (EBIT) 315,023 281,404 694,018 615,651 Interest Expense, net 23,701 18,252 63,730 48,594 Income Before Income Taxes 291,322 263,152 630,288 567,057 Provision for Income Taxes 106,039 96,923 229,423 207,545(c) Net Income $185,283 $166,229 $400,865 $359,512 Net Income Per Share - Basic - Common $0.77 $0.68 $1.67 $1.44 - Basic - Class B $0.70 $0.62 $1.52 $1.31 - Diluted $0.75 $0.66 $1.61 $1.39 Shares Outstanding - Basic - Common 183,853 188,726 184,648 195,288 - Basic - Class B 60,818 60,843 60,822 60,844 - Diluted 248,117 252,683 249,122 258,866 Key Margins: Adjusted Gross Margin 39.1% 39.7% 39.1% 39.4% Adjusted EBIT Margin 23.0% 22.4% 19.9% 19.5% Adjusted Net Margin 13.5% 13.3% 11.5% 11.4% (a) Excludes business realignment charge of $16.6 million pre-tax or $14.0 million after-tax for the third quarter and the nine months. (b) Excludes business realignment charge of $84.8 million pre-tax or $51.8 million after-tax for the third quarter and the nine months. (c) Excludes adjustment to income tax contingency reserves of ($61.1) million for the nine months. The Hershey Company Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 2, 2005 and December 31, 2004 (in thousands of dollars) Assets 2005 2004 Cash and Cash Equivalents $37,898 $54,837 Accounts Receivable - Trade (Net) 642,701 408,930 Deferred Income Taxes 42,728 46,503 Inventories 752,340 557,180 Prepaid Expenses and Other 130,536 114,991 Total Current Assets 1,606,203 1,182,441 Net Plant and Property 1,679,688 1,682,698 Goodwill 496,392 463,947 Other Intangibles 143,213 125,233 Other Assets 584,947 343,212 Total Assets $4,510,443 $3,797,531 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Loans Payable $1,052,521 $622,320 Accounts Payable 203,151 148,686 Accrued Liabilities 494,901 472,096 Taxes Payable 206 42,280 Total Current Liabilities 1,750,779 1,285,382 Long-Term Debt 943,104 690,602 Other Long-Term Liabilities 451,192 403,356 Deferred Income Taxes 409,435 328,889 Total Liabilities 3,554,510 2,708,229 Total Stockholders' Equity 955,933 1,089,302 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $4,510,443 $3,797,531