Positive signals but challenges remain
PGG Wrightson (PGW) chief executive Stephen Guerin says that while there are positive signals within the market, there are also challenges.
The company released its half-year results last week, marking yet another softening in profit and revenue. Operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) was $36.6 million, down 24%, and its net profit after tax (NPAT) slumped 40% to $12.7 million. Also down was the company’s revenue, at $560.9 million.
Guerin says that the results are a reflection of the ongoing pressures felt by those on-farm.
“It’s been a tough environment and, in that context, we’ve produced a result that’s softer than in prior years, but having said that, our team have worked hard and I think they’ve done well in the context of what’s going on in the market,” Guerin told Dairy News.
He says one of the biggest factors in this softer result are softer commodity returns across all parts of the primary sector.
“If we look across the sector… there’s been a bit of positive news in the dairy sector but that’s only been in recent times, all sectors are showing returns to customers below or at the cost of function,” Guerin says.
Also impacting the company is the flow-on effects of Cyclone Gabrielle for many of its North Island customers.
The storm hit New Zealand in February 2023 and Guerin says many of the retailer’s customers across the North Island are still focused on “recovery and remediation of properties”.
“That has cashflow impacts for them,” he explains.
Guerin says the third factor is the cost of funding operations. He says that high interest rates, plus the taking on of additional debt due to the impacts of the cyclone and lower commodity returns have meant farmers are taking on more costs.
However, there have still been some highlights for the company.
“For us, we’re pleased about our improvements around our cashflow. We are still seeing customers paying their bills… and our market shares still continue to increase in our retail business,” Guerin says.
“So, they tell you we’re doing something right for the customer.”
“Of course, that doesn’t always flow through to the bottom line,” he adds.
Looking to the future, PGG Wrightson has softened its forecast from $52 million to approximately $50 million, so Guerin says that the next six months.
He says retail is likely to have a better six months than the previous half-year, and there is some optimism for the dairy and wool sectors and likely some stability for the red meat sector.
However, the real estate business looks to be challenged, says Guerin. He says this is the bi-product of higher interest rates and lower farmer confidence.
“There is some interest out there, but interest is not sales,” he says.
“If we think in the medium-to-long term, we are more confident in that space because of the improving commodities and good harvests,” Guerin concludes.
