Is Diageo Headed for a Slowdown?
Liquor giant Diageo recently unveiled its year-end financial results. Though they were positive, the U.K.-spirits maker indicated that it's facing challenges, especially in the all-important emerging economies where Diageo relies on a great deal of its incremental growth. Here's what investors need to know.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Cheers to another good year
The London-based maker of Johnnie Walker scotch whiskey and Smirnoff vodka reported that net sales rose 5% in the fiscal year ending June 30. Diageo also saw an 8% increase in operating profit. The spirits maker reaffirmed that it's on track to meet its medium-term sales target. Shares were up immediately following the announcement.
Despite increased marketing spending, weakness in emerging markets challenged the liquor maker. To capture wallet share of a bourgeoning Asian middle class, Diageo significantly ramped up spending on super- and ultra-premium-price-point Johnnie Walker labels in that region last year. Organic sales in Asia Pacific were up 3% for the year, but this was a bit of a slowdown versus the 4% reported in the first nine months. Chinese government restrictions on extravagant spending and gifting stifled sales of premium drinks in the region.
Emerging market growth is softening, but diversification helps
Diageo seeks to generate half its revenue from faster-growing economies by 2015. Yet, a slowdown in emerging markets will force the company to look elsewhere for top-line growth. Good thing for Diageo, its strength lies is in its geographic breadth, which significantly lessens the impact of individual market challenges. Diageo currently derives about 58% of sales from developed markets, and 42% from emerging markets. Overall, the year was helped by the company's broad geographic diversity, as U.S. drinkers' demand for pricey whiskey and other spirits offset slowing growth in emerging markets.
The world's largest distiller also boasts an extremely diverse product portfolio.Spirits account for more than 70% of net sales, yet no individual spirits category makes up more than 29% of company sales. The company holds industry-leading brands at every price point, giving it the ability to capture dollars as consumers trade up or down.
Foolish takeaway
Despite expected slowing in emerging markets, Diageo still represents a great opportunity to buy a company with broad diversification and solid developing market presence. Its stock may not perform as well as it has in recent years, but it still trades at 18 times forward earnings, a discount compared to its alcoholic beverage rivals.
Do you love a steady dividend check? Dividend stocks like Diageo don't garner the notoriety of high-flying growth stocks, but they're less likely to crash and burn. And over the long term, the compounding effect of the quarterly payouts, as well as their growth, adds up faster than you'd imagine. With this in mind, our analysts sat down to identify the absolute best of the best when it comes to rock-solid dividend stocks, drawing up a list in this free report of the only nine that fit the bill. To discover the identities of these companies before the rest of the market catches on, you can download this valuable free report by simply clicking here now.
The article Is Diageo Headed for a Slowdown? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Nicole Seghetti has no position in any stocks mentioned. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleSeghetti. The Motley Fool recommends Diageo plc (ADR). Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
