Ingredion (NYSE: INGR) reported Q1 EPS of $1.85, $0.23 better than the analyst estimate of $1.62. Revenue for the quarter came in at $1.61 billion versus the consensus estimate of $1.58 billion.

“We delivered an outstanding first quarter with significant net sales and adjusted operating income growth, our best quarter since 2018. Operating income grew across all four regions, and our results reflect exceptionally strong performance in South America and Asia-Pacific,” said Jim Zallie, Ingredion’s president and chief executive officer.

“We continued to execute on our Driving Growth Roadmap, delivering specialty ingredients growth that was underpinned by double-digit growth in Asia-Pacific and South America. As a result of our unwavering determination to expand our consumer preferred specialty offerings, our sugar reduction sales were up over 200 percent versus prior year. Additionally, we recently broadened our Food Systems platform with the acquisition of KaTech, an innovative supplier of customized ingredient blends which enhance texture and provide stabilization. KaTech adds a European hub to complement our existing U.S. and Asia food systems’ operations,” continued Zallie.

“We are actively engaged in new product development through our strong customer partnerships with robust project pipelines to meet resurging consumer demand. We remain focused on delivering consumer preferred innovation through customer co-creation. As we re-imagine the future of work for our employees, we are doing so with customer centricity, speed and agility,” Zallie concluded.

2021 Second Quarter Outlook and Full-Year Perspective

For the second quarter, the Company expects net sales to increase 20 to 30 percent and operating income growth to be slightly better than net sales growth, when both are compared to the prior year.

In light of anticipated first half performance, the Company expects full-year net sales to be up low double-digits, driven by the pass through of higher corn costs, strong price mix and volume recovery. For the full-year, the Company expects adjusted operating income to be up mid-single-digits, driven by specialty ingredients growth, other volume recovery and Cost Smart savings, partially offset by anticipated higher corn costs in the second half of the year. Due to the continued uncertain environment, the Company is not currently providing guidance for full-year 2021 EPS and cash flow from operations.

Full year corporate costs are expected to be flat. The Company expects the reported effective tax rate of 70 percent to 75 percent and adjusted effective tax rate of 28.0 percent to 29.0 percent. With the expected close of the Arcor joint venture, the Company anticipates the South America segment performance, financing costs, and tax rate reporting will be updated in the second half of the year.

Capital investment commitments are expected to be between $330 million and $350 million.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Ingredion (INGR) click here.