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.