Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced third quarter results for 2018. Provided below are the highlights:

    --  Reported sales increased 5% compared with the prior year.  In local
        currency, sales increased 7% in the quarter as currency reduced sales
        growth by 2%.
    --  Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $4.93, compared
        with $3.99 in the prior-year period.  Adjusted EPS was $5.12, an
        increase of 17% over the prior-year amount of $4.36.  Adjusted EPS is a
        non-GAAP measure, and we have included a reconciliation to EPS on the
        last page of the attached schedules.

Third Quarter Results

Olivier Filliol, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We had very good sales growth with particularly strong results in our Laboratory products. In addition, China had very good growth despite a difficult comparison with excellent sales growth in the prior year. Earnings growth was again strong as we continue to benefit from our margin and productivity initiatives."

GAAP Results

EPS in the quarter was $4.93, compared with the prior-year amount of $3.99.

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales increased 5% to $734.8 million. By region, reported sales increased 5% in the Americas, 1% in Europe and 9% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before tax amounted to $160.4 million, compared with $139.6 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $5.12, an increase of 17% over the prior-year amount of $4.36.

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency increased 7% as currency reduced reported sales growth by 2%. By region, local currency sales increased 5% in the Americas, 3% in Europe and 11% in Asia/Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Income amounted to $182.0 million, a 13% increase from the prior-year amount of $161.7 million.

Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Income are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.

Nine Month Results

GAAP Results

EPS in the first nine months was $12.81, compared with the prior-year amount of $11.31.

Compared with the prior-year period, total reported sales increased 9% to $2.118 billion. By region, reported sales increased 5% in the Americas, 9% in Europe and 14% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before tax amounted to $421.4 million, compared with $380.3 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $13.50, an increase of 16% over the prior-year amount of $11.61.

Compared with the prior-year period, total sales in local currency increased 6% as currency benefited reported sales growth by 3%. By region, local currency sales increased 5% in the Americas, 3% in Europe and 10% in Asia/Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Income amounted to $490.8 million, a 13% increase from the prior-year amount of $435.7 million.

Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Income are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.

Share Repurchase Authorization

The Company has a $4.5 billion stock repurchase program of which $4.3 billion has been utilized. The Company announced that the Board of Directors authorized an additional $2.0 billion to the share repurchase program. Any amount remaining under the existing program will be incorporated into the new authorization. Filliol commented, "The additional authorization allows us to continue the share repurchase program which has provided strong returns for our shareholders over many years. We are confident in our future growth prospects and our balance sheet and cash flow generation remain very strong." The Company expects the additional authorization will be utilized over the next several years. The Company added that the repurchases will be made through open market transactions, and the amount and timing will depend on business and market conditions, stock price, trading restrictions, the level of acquisition activity and other factors.

Outlook

Based on today's assessment of market conditions, management anticipates that local currency sales growth in the fourth quarter 2018 will be approximately 6%, and Adjusted EPS is forecasted to be in the range of $6.72 to $6.77, an increase of 13%. Included in the fourth quarter guidance is an estimated 5% headwind to Adjusted EPS growth due to adverse currency and higher tariff costs.

For the full year 2018, local currency sales growth is expected to be approximately 6%. This sales growth is expected to result in Adjusted EPS in the range of $20.20 to $20.25, an increase of 15%. This compares with previous guidance of Adjusted EPS in the range of $20.10 to $20.25.

The Company said that based on its assessment of market conditions today, management anticipates local currency sales growth in 2019 will be approximately 5%. This sales growth is expected to result in Adjusted EPS in the range of $22.40 to $22.60. Using the mid-point of 2018 guidance, this would result in Adjusted EPS growth of 11% to 12%. The percentage headwind to Adjusted EPS growth in 2019 due to adverse currency and higher tariff costs will be similar to what we expect in the fourth quarter 2018.

While the Company has provided an outlook for local currency sales growth and Adjusted EPS, it has not provided an outlook for reported sales growth or EPS as it would require an estimate of currency exchange fluctuations and non-recurring items, which are not yet known. The Company noted in making its outlook that economic uncertainty remains in certain regions of the world and market conditions are subject to change.

Conclusion

Filliol concluded, "Demand remains solid in our markets and we are benefiting from our growth initiatives including investments in our field force, Spinnaker sales and marketing programs and new product launches. While global business activity remains good overall, we are more cautious on the global economy compared with earlier in the year. We will monitor closely and remain agile and adapt our plans if market conditions change. We are confident in our ability to execute on our growth initiatives and believe we are well positioned to continue to gain market share. Looking ahead to 2019, we assume current market conditions will remain largely unchanged. With the benefit of our margin and productivity initiatives, and despite greater headwinds due to currency and tariffs, we believe we can continue to deliver strong results for 2018 and 2019."

Other Matters

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results today (Thursday, Nov. 8) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To hear a live webcast or replay of the call, visit the investor relations page on the Company's website at www.mt.com/investors. The presentation referenced in the conference call will be located on the website prior to the call.

METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. We have strong leadership positions in all of our businesses and believe we hold global number-one market positions in most of them. We are recognized as an innovation leader and our solutions are critical in key R&D, quality control and manufacturing processes for customers in a wide range of industries including life sciences, food and chemicals. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. With proven growth strategies and a focus on execution, we have achieved a long-term track record of strong financial performance. For more information, please visit www.mt.com.

Statements in this press release which are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our businesses' actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see the discussion on forward-looking statements in our current report on Form 10-K. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under the caption "Factors affecting our future operating results" and in the "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recently completed fiscal year, which describe risks and factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in those forward-looking statements.


                                                                                                                                                                 
            
              METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.


                                                                                                                                                               
            
              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


                                                                                                                                                             
            
              (amounts in thousands except share data)


                                                                                                                                                                            
            
              (unaudited)






                                                                                                                   Three months ended

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Three months ended


                                                                                                                   September 30, 2018                                              % of sales                                     September 30, 2017 % of sales






        Net sales                                                                                                                                           $734,846                          
            (a)                                   100.0                         $698,799               100.0



        Cost of sales                                                                                                                                        315,592                                                                          42.9                          297,824   
        (b)     42.6




        Gross profit                                                                                                                                         419,254                                                                          57.1                          400,975                57.4





        Research and development                                                                                                                              34,838                                                                           4.7                           32,203   
        (b)      4.6



        Selling, general and administrative                                                                                                                  202,451                                                                          27.6                          207,033   
        (b)     29.6



        Amortization                                                                                                                                          11,856                                                                           1.6                           10,716                 1.5



        Interest expense                                                                                                                                       9,003                                                                           1.2                            8,248                 1.2



        Restructuring charges                                                                                                                                  2,222                                                                           0.3                            3,385                 0.5



        Other charges (income), net                                                                                                                          (1,479)                                                                        (0.1)                           (237)   
       (b)    (0.0)




        Earnings before taxes                                                                                                                                160,363                                                                          21.8                          139,627                20.0





        Provision for taxes                                                                                                                                   33,710                                                                           4.6                           34,677                 5.0



        Net earnings                                                                                                                                        $126,653                                                                          17.2                         $104,950                15.0






        Basic earnings per common share:



        Net earnings                                                                                                                                           $5.04                                                                                                         $4.10



        Weighted average number of common shares                                                                                                         25,126,061                                                                                                    25,613,433





        Diluted earnings per common share:



        Net earnings                                                                                                                                           $4.93                                                                                                         $3.99



        Weighted average number of common                                                                                                                 25,683,365                                                                                                    26,303,529



          and common equivalent shares





        Note:



        (a)  
            Local currency sales increased 7% as compared to the same period in 2017.



        (b)  
            In accordance with the new accounting rules that went into effect on January 1, 2018, the Company reclassified a net pension benefit
      of $1.2 million into other charges (income) from other income statement categories for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to
      be consistent with the 2018 presentation.




                                                                                                                                               
            
              RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Three months ended

                                                                                                                   Three months ended


                                                                                                                   September 30, 2018                                              % of sales                                     September 30, 2017 % of sales






        Earnings before taxes                                                                                                                               $160,363                                                                                                      $139,627



         Amortization                                                                                                                                         11,856                                                                                                        10,716



         Interest expense                                                                                                                                      9,003                                                                                                         8,248



         Restructuring charges                                                                                                                                 2,222                                                                                                         3,385



         Other charges (income), net                                                                                                                         (1,479)                                                                                                        (237)   
       (b)



        Adjusted operating income                                                                                                                           $181,965                          
            (c)                                    24.8                         $161,739                23.1






        Note:



        (c)  
            Adjusted operating income increased 13% as compared to the same period in 2017.


                                                                                                                                                                     
          
                METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.


                                                                                                                                                                   
          
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


                                                                                                                                                                  
          
                (amounts in thousands except share data)


                                                                                                                                                                            
              
                (unaudited)






                                                                                                                      Nine months ended                                                                                                                                      Nine months ended


                                                                                                                     September 30, 2018                                            % of sales                                         September 30, 2017                    % of sales






          Net sales                                                                                                                                         $2,117,663                                   (a)                                     100.0                                                                            $1,947,022                                               100.0



          Cost of sales                                                                                                                                        910,851                                                                            43.0                                                                               827,046               (b)                    42.5




          Gross profit                                                                                                                                       1,206,812                                                                            57.0                                                                             1,119,976                                                57.5





          Research and development                                                                                                                             104,866                                                                             5.0                                                                                95,985               (b)                     4.9



          Selling, general and administrative                                                                                                                  611,149                                                                            28.9                                                                               588,313               (b)                    30.2



          Amortization                                                                                                                                          35,561                                                                             1.7                                                                                31,010                                                 1.6



          Interest expense                                                                                                                                      25,671                                                                             1.2                                                                                24,160                                                 1.2



          Restructuring charges                                                                                                                                 13,956                                                                             0.6                                                                                 8,840                                                 0.5



          Other charges (income), net                                                                                                                          (5,795)                                                                          (0.3)                                                                              (8,654)              (b)(c)                (0.4)




          Earnings before taxes                                                                                                                                421,404                                                                            19.9                                                                               380,322                                                19.5





          Provision for taxes                                                                                                                                   89,979                                                                             4.2                                                                                81,326                                                 4.1



          Net earnings                                                                                                                                        $331,425                                                                            15.7                                                                              $298,996                                                15.4






          Basic earnings per common share:



          Net earnings                                                                                                                                          $13.10                                                                                                                                                               $11.60



          Weighted average number of common shares                                                                                                         25,296,680                                                                                                                                                           25,764,472





          Diluted earnings per common share:



          Net earnings                                                                                                                                          $12.81                                                                                                                                                               $11.31



          Weighted average number of common                                                                                                                 25,877,979                                                                                                                                                           26,446,677



            and common equivalent shares





          Note:



          (a)  
              Local currency sales increased 6% as compared to the same period in 2017.



          (b)  
              In accordance with the new accounting rules that went into effect on January 1, 2018, the Company reclassified a net pension benefit of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         $3.1 million into other charges (income) from other income statement categories for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to be
      consistent with the 2018 presentation.



          (c)  
              Other charges (income), net includes a one-time gain of $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 relating to the sale
      of a facility in Switzerland in connection with our initiative to consolidate certain Swiss operations into a new facility.




                                                                                                                                                    
              
            RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME






                                                                                                                      Nine months ended                                                                                                                                      Nine months ended


                                                                                                                     September 30, 2018                                            % of sales                                         September 30, 2017                    % of sales






          Earnings before taxes                                                                                                                               $421,404                                                                                                                                                             $380,322



           Amortization                                                                                                                                         35,561                                                                                                                                                               31,010



           Interest expense                                                                                                                                     25,671                                                                                                                                                               24,160



           Restructuring charges                                                                                                                                13,956                                                                                                                                                                8,840



           Other charges (income), net                                                                                                                         (5,795)                                                                                                                                                             (8,654)              (b)(c)



          Adjusted operating income                                                                                                                           $490,797           (d)                              23.2                                                                            $435,678                                                                        22.4






          Note:



          (d)  
              Adjusted operating income increased 13% as compared to the same period in 2017.


                                                               
         
         METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.


                                                             
         
         CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                                                 
         
             (amounts in thousands)


                                                                     
       
                (unaudited)






                                                                                      September 30, 2018                  December 31, 2017






     Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                  $137,448                     $148,687



     Accounts receivable, net                                                                                    494,887                      528,615



     Inventories                                                                                                 277,266                      255,390



     Other current assets and prepaid expenses                                                                    61,898                       74,031




     Total current assets                                                                                        971,499                    1,006,723





     Property, plant and equipment, net                                                                          697,689                      668,271



     Goodwill and other intangibles assets, net                                                                  758,766                      766,556



     Other non-current assets                                                                                    129,710                      108,255



     Total assets                                                                                             $2,557,664                   $2,549,805






     Short-term borrowings and maturities of long-term debt                                                    $55,753                      $19,677



     Trade accounts payable                                                                                      156,447                      167,627



     Accrued and other current liabilities                                                                       485,269                      502,369




     Total current liabilities                                                                                   697,469                      689,673





     Long-term debt                                                                                              988,894                      960,170



     Other non-current liabilities                                                                               339,686                      352,682




     Total liabilities                                                                                         2,026,049                    2,002,525





     Shareholders' equity                                                                                        531,615                      547,280



     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                                               $2,557,664                   $2,549,805


                                                                                               
         
             METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.


                                                                                             
       
          CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


                                                                                                  
        
                 (amounts in thousands)


                                                                                                    
           
                 (unaudited)




                                                                                                                             Three months ended           Nine months ended


                                                                                                                     
              September 30,           
       September 30,



                                                                                                                                           2018                         2017        2018         2017






     Cash flow from operating activities:



         Net earnings                                                                                                                 $126,653                     $104,950    $331,425     $298,996



         Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to



           net cash provided by operating activities:



        Depreciation                                                                                                                     9,283                        8,502      27,889       24,421



        Amortization                                                                                                                    11,856                       10,716      35,561       31,010



        Deferred tax benefit                                                                                                           (1,792)                     (3,914)   (11,901)     (7,754)



        Other                                                                                                                            2,763                        4,027       9,799        8,656



      Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in



       operating assets and liabilities                                                                                                    911                       21,577    (26,340)     (4,094)



                     Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                         149,674                      145,858     366,433      351,235






     Cash flows from investing activities:



         Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment                                                                             3,279                          228       7,809       10,437



         Purchase of property, plant and equipment                                                                                    (35,079)                    (37,297)   (96,665)    (85,826)



         Acquisitions                                                                                                                  (4,462)                   (107,748)    (4,962)   (108,445)



         Net hedging settlements on intercompany loans                                                                                 (7,822)                       4,749       (780)       3,716



                     Net cash used in investing activities                                                                            (44,084)                   (140,068)   (94,598)   (180,118)






     Cash flows from financing activities:



         Proceeds from borrowings                                                                                                      169,094                      312,773     772,274      985,694



         Repayments of borrowings                                                                                                    (201,180)                   (218,899)  (703,704)   (834,061)



         Proceeds from exercise of stock options                                                                                         4,817                        6,380      14,777       23,315



         Repurchases of common stock                                                                                                 (118,750)                    (85,049)  (356,249)   (334,998)



         Other financing activities                                                                                                       (29)                                (1,664)     (7,205)



                     Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                                                             (146,048)                      15,205   (274,566)   (167,255)






     Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                                                                      (5,284)                       1,757     (8,508)       6,550





     Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                                                                             (45,742)                      22,752    (11,239)      10,412





     Cash and cash equivalents:



         Beginning of period                                                                                                           183,190                      146,334     148,687      158,674



         End of period                                                                                                                $137,448                     $169,086    $137,448     $169,086








     RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW





     Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                                        $149,674                     $145,858    $366,433     $351,235



         Payments in respect of restructuring activities                                                                                 3,292                        2,375      16,701        7,701



         Payments for acquisition costs                                                                                                    140                          764         140          764



         Transition tax payment                                                                                                              -                                  4,200



         Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment                                                                             3,279                          228       7,809       10,437



         Purchase of property, plant and equipment                                                                                    (35,079)                    (37,297)   (96,665)    (85,826)



     Adjusted free cash flow                                                                                                          $121,306                     $111,928    $298,618     $284,311


                                                                                                                            
              
                METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.


                                                                                                                               
              
                OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS






                                                                                                                               
              
                SALES GROWTH BY DESTINATION


                                                                                                                                       
              
                (unaudited)




                                                                                                                                                                           
              Europe                   
          Americas                  Asia/RoW   
      Total






     U.S. Dollar Sales Growth


                                                    
              Three Months Ended September 30, 2018                                                                                                      1%                             5%                      9%               5%


                                                    
              Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018                                                                                                       9%                             5%                     14%               9%





     Local Currency Sales Growth


                                                    
              Three Months Ended September 30, 2018                                                                                                      3%                             5%                     11%               7%


                                                    
              Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018                                                                                                       3%                             5%                     10%               6%






                                                                                                            
              
                RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EPS AS REPORTED TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS


                                                                                                                                       
              
                (unaudited)




                                                                                                                                                      
              Three months ended                                
              Nine months ended


                                                                                                                                                         
              September 30,                                    
              September 30,



                                                                                                                                            2018                                         2017                    
          % Growth                      2018                2017           
     % Growth






     EPS as reported, diluted                                                                                                                                   $4.93                                $3.99                             24%                  $12.81            $11.31               13%





     Restructuring charges, net of tax                                                                                                     0.07               (a)                       0.10              (a)                                        0.42       (a)      0.26       (a)



     Purchased intangible amortization, net of tax                                                                                         0.10               (b)                       0.07              (b)                                        0.29       (b)      0.18       (b)



     Income tax expense                                                                                                                    0.02               (c)                       0.15              (c)                                      (0.02)      (c)    (0.09)      (c)



     Acquisition costs, net of tax                                                                                                                                                     0.05              (d)                                                           0.05       (d)



     Gain on facility sale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (0.10)      (e)






     Adjusted EPS, diluted                                                                                                                                      $5.12                                $4.36                             17%                  $13.50            $11.61               16%






     Notes:


                           (a)                                 Represents the EPS impact of restructuring charges of $2.2 million ($1.7 million after tax) and $3.4 million ($2.6
                                                                million after tax) for the three
                                                     months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and $14.0 million ($10.9 million after tax) and $8.8 million ($6.9 million
                                                     after tax) for the nine
                                                     months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Restructuring charges in 2018 primarily relates to employee and
                                                     other costs
                                                    associated with the consolidation of facilities.


                           (b)                                 Represents the EPS impact of purchased intangibles amortization, net of tax, of $3.4 million ($2.5 million after tax)
                                                                and $2.6 million ($1.7 million
                                                     after tax) for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and $10.0 million ($7.5 million after tax) and $7.2
                                                     million ($4.7 million after
                                                    tax) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.


                           (c)                                 Represents the EPS impact on our reported tax rate during the three and nine months ending September 30, 2018 and 2017,
                                                                respectively, due
                                                    to excess tax benefits associated with stock option exercises.


                           (d)                                 Represents the EPS impact of acquisition costs of $1.7 million ($1.3 million after tax) for the three and nine months
                                                                ended September 30, 2017.


                           (e)                                 Represents the EPS impact of a one-time gain of $3.4 million ($2.7 million after tax) for the nine months ended
                                                                September 30, 2017 relating to
                                                     the sale of a facility in Switzerland in connection with our initiative to consolidate certain Swiss operations into a
                                                     new facility.

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SOURCE Mettler-Toledo International Inc.