• Franklin Electric Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 29 Oct 2024 07:00:41   America/Chicago

    Third Quarter 2024 Highlights

    • Consolidated net sales of $531.4 million, a decrease of 1% to the prior year
    • Water Systems and Distribution net sales increased 2% and 1%, respectively, while Fueling Systems net sales decreased 10%
    • Operating income was $73.5 million with operating margin of 13.8%
    • GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.17

    FORT WAYNE, Ind., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Electric Co., Inc. today announced its third quarter financial results for fiscal year 2024.

    Third quarter 2024 net sales were $531.4 million, compared to third quarter 2023 net sales of $538.4 million. Third quarter 2024 operating income was $73.5 million, compared to third quarter 2023 operating income of $78.1 million. Third quarter 2024 EPS was $1.17, versus EPS in the third quarter 2023 of $1.23.

    “Our third quarter results were softer than expected due to continued macro pressure from lower home sales and starts, along with weather being wetter than normal. However, the demand environment remains healthy across our key end markets, which has normalized following record levels of sales in recent years. Margins remained stable due to our disciplined cost management, and we are actively pursuing opportunities to further reduce expenses across the enterprise,” commented Joe Ruzynski, Franklin Electric’s CEO.

    “As we close out the year, we expect tempered order activity in-line with seasonal patterns. That said, having spent time with our incredible global team members over the past few months, I am energized by the potential of Franklin Electric. With our wide range of capabilities, strategic footprint, and flexible balance sheet, we have the ability to drive differentiated growth and accelerate productivity for years to come,” concluded Mr. Ruzynski.

    Segment Summaries

    Water Systems net sales were $302.2 million, a new third quarter record, an increase of $6.4 million or 2 percent compared to the third quarter 2023. The sales increase was driven by higher sales of groundwater products, all other surface products and water treatment products. The sales increase was partially offset by lower sales of large dewatering pumps, which had a record quarter last year. Water Systems operating income in the third quarter 2024 was $52.8 million, a new third quarter record. Third quarter 2023 Water Systems operating income was $52.7 million.

    Distribution net sales were $190.8 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 1 percent compared to the third quarter 2023. Sales increases were driven by sales from a recent acquisition. The Distribution segment operating income in the third quarter 2024 was $12.2 million. Third quarter 2023 Distribution operating income was $10.7 million.

    Fueling Systems net sales were $69.7 million in the third quarter 2024, a decrease of $8.0 million or 10 percent compared to the third quarter 2023. Sales decreases were driven by lower volumes. Fueling Systems operating income in the third quarter 2024 was $24.1 million. Third quarter 2023 Fueling Systems operating income was $25.8 million.

    2024 Guidance

    The Company is lowering its sales guidance for full year 2024 to be approximately $2.00 billion and reducing its EPS guidance for full year 2024 to be in the range of $3.75 to $3.85 which incorporates the Company’s first nine months performance and its outlook for the fourth quarter.

    Earnings Conference Call

    A conference call to review earnings and other developments in the business will commence at 9:00 am ET. The third quarter 2024 earnings call will be available via a live webcast. The webcast will be available in a listen only mode by going to:

    https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/cp5pmtx9

    For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer portion of the call, please register for the call at the link below.

    https://register.vevent.com/register/BIa5e3e952cc2d47c28144fef8683c97e0

    All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the event start (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).

    A replay of the conference call will be available from Tuesday, October 29, 2024, through 9:00 am ET on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, by visiting the listen-only webcast link above.

    Forward Looking Statements

    "Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases,  raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    About Franklin Electric

    Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be named in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies and Most Trustworthy Companies for 2023 and America’s Climate Leaders 2023 by USA Today.

    Franklin Electric Contact:

    Jeffery L. Taylor
    Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
    InvestorRelations@fele.com 

     
     
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Unaudited)
            
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)       
            
     Third Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
     September 30, 2024September 30, 2023 September 30, 2024September 30, 2023
            
    Net sales$531,438  $538,431  $1,535,596  $1,592,163 
            
    Cost of sales 341,775   352,178   982,556   1,055,164 
            
    Gross profit 189,663   186,253   553,040   536,999 
            
    Selling, general, and administrative expenses 115,998   107,687   352,290   324,651 
            
    Restructuring expense 139   462   139   735 
            
    Operating income 73,526   78,104   200,611   211,613 
            
    Interest expense (1,556)  (2,984)  (4,980)  (10,309)
    Other (expense) income, net (181)  277   709   1,865 
    Foreign exchange income (expense), net 88   (2,483)  (5,228)  (8,098)
            
    Income before income taxes 71,877   72,914   191,112   195,071 
            
    Income tax expense 16,983   14,746   43,795   39,167 
            
    Net income$54,894  $58,168  $147,317  $155,904 
            
    Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (298)  (370)  (663)  (1,181)
            
    Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.$54,596  $57,798  $146,654  $154,723 
            
    Earnings per share:       
    Basic$1.19  $1.25  $3.18  $3.34 
    Diluted$1.17  $1.23  $3.14  $3.29 


     
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited)
        
    (In thousands)   
        
     September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
    ASSETS   
        
    Cash and cash equivalents$106,273  $84,963 
    Receivables (net) 272,003   222,418 
    Inventories 524,647   508,696 
    Other current assets 39,560   37,718 
    Total current assets 942,483   853,795 
        
    Property, plant, and equipment, net 226,072   229,739 
    Lease right-of-use assets, net 62,694   57,014 
    Goodwill and other assets 575,994   587,574 
    Total assets$1,807,243  $1,728,122 
        
        
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY   
        
    Accounts payable$173,935  $152,419 
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 124,865   104,949 
    Current lease liability 17,963   17,316 
    Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings 76,402   12,355 
    Total current liabilities 393,165   287,039 
        
    Long-term debt 11,581   88,056 
    Long-term lease liability 43,484   38,549 
    Income taxes payable non-current -   4,837 
    Deferred income taxes 31,128   29,461 
    Employee benefit plans 30,781   35,973 
    Other long-term liabilities 23,219   33,914 
     
    Redeemable noncontrolling interest 1,179   1,145 
        
    Total equity 1,272,706   1,209,148 
    Total liabilities and equity$1,807,243  $1,728,122 


     
    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (Unaudited)
     Nine Months Ended
    (In thousands)   
     September 30, 2024September 30, 2023
    Cash flows from operating activities:   
    Net income$147,317  $155,904 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:   
    Depreciation and amortization 41,825   39,582 
    Non-cash lease expense 15,223   12,664 
    Share-based compensation 10,127   8,449 
    Other 5,178   10,894 
    Changes in assets and liabilities:   
    Receivables (51,440)  (20,427)
    Inventory (18,760)  2,537 
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses 17,218   4,376 
    Operating leases (15,700)  (12,847)
    Income taxes-U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (3,870)  (2,902)
    Other 3,968   399 
        
    Net cash flows from operating activities 151,086   198,629 
        
    Cash flows from investing activities:   
    Additions to property, plant, and equipment (28,897)  (30,155)
    Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment 704   - 
    Acquisitions and investments (1,151)  (6,641)
    Other investing activities 37   26 
        
    Net cash flows from investing activities (29,307)  (36,770)
        
    Cash flows from financing activities:   
    Net change in debt (12,477)  (87,653)
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock 5,269   9,010 
    Purchases of common stock (56,989)  (29,888)
    Dividends paid (35,442)  (31,315)
    Deferred payments for acquisitions (348)  (448)
        
    Net cash flows from financing activities (99,987)  (140,294)
        
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (482)  (4,848)
    Net change in cash and cash equivalents 21,310   16,717 
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 84,963   45,790 
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$106,273  $62,507 


    Key Performance Indicators:     Net Sales Summary

              
     Net Sales
     United StatesLatinEurope, MiddleAsiaTotal    
    (in millions)& CanadaAmericaEast & AfricaPacificWaterFuelingDistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
              
    Q3 2023 $182.0  $45.5  $48.7  $19.6  $295.8  $77.7  $189.2  ($24.3) $538.4 
    Q3 2024 $183.6  $43.5  $53.4  $21.7  $302.2  $69.7  $190.8  ($31.3) $531.4 
    Change $1.6  ($2.0) $4.7  $2.1  $6.4  ($8.0) $1.6  ($7.0) ($7.0)
    % Change 1% -4% 10% 11% 2% -10% 1%  -1%
              
    Foreign currency translation * ($0.3) ($4.4) ($0.3) $0.0  ($5.0) $0.1  $0.0   ($4.9)
    % Change 0% -10% -1% 0% -2% 0% 0%  -1%
              
    Acquisitions $4.5  $0.0  $0.0  $0.0  $4.5  $0.0  $4.7   $9.2 
    % Change 2% 0% 0% 0% 2% 0% 2%  2%
              
    Volume/Price ($2.6) $2.4  $5.0  $2.1  $6.9  ($8.1) ($3.1) ($7.0) ($11.3)
    % Change -1% 5% 10% 11% 2% -10% -2% 29% -2%
              
    *The Company has presented local currency price increases used to offset currency devaluation in the Argentina and Turkey hyperinflationary economies within the foreign currency translation, net row above.


    Key Performance Indicators:     Operating Income and Margin Summary

          
    Operating Income and Margins      
    (in millions)For the Third Quarter 2024
     WaterFuelingDistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss)$52.8 $24.1 $12.2 $(15.6)$73.5 
    % Operating Income To Net Sales 17.5% 34.6% 6.4%  13.8%
          
          
    Operating Income and Margins      
    (in millions)For the Third Quarter 2023
     WaterFuelingDistributionOther/ElimsConsolidated
    Operating Income / (Loss)$52.7 $25.8 $10.7 $(11.1)$78.1 
    % Operating Income To Net Sales 17.8% 33.2% 5.7%  14.5%
          

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