Kewaunee Scientific Reports Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025

STATESVILLE, N.C., March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kewaunee Scientific Corporation (NASDAQ: KEQU) today announced results for its third quarter ended January 31, 2025.

Sales during the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 were $67,167,000, an increase of 43.6% compared to sales of $46,778,000 from the prior year's third quarter. Pre-tax earnings for the quarter were $1,275,000 compared to $3,515,000 for the prior year quarter, a decrease of 63.7%. Net earnings were $1,354,000 compared to net earnings of $2,521,000 for the prior year quarter. EBITDA1 for the quarter was $3,734,000 compared to $4,414,000 for the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share were $0.45 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.85 in the prior year quarter.

Within the third quarter there were costs associated with the acquisition and integration of Nu Aire by Kewaunee Scientific Corporation. Additionally, results were impacted by transaction accounting related to the write-up of various assets on Nu Aire's books. We believe communicating these impacts and reporting adjusted financial metrics helps investors better understand our financial performance.

Consolidated Results Adjusted for Professional and Other Fees Related to the Nu Aire Transaction, Integration, and Purchase Accounting - Acquisition, integration and purchase accounting costs in the aggregate in quarter three were a $2,514,000 impact to pre-tax earnings and a $1,994,000 impact to EBITDA. After adjusting for these costs, adjusted pre-tax earnings for the quarter were $3,789,000 compared to $3,515,000 for the prior year quarter, an increase of 7.8%. Adjusted net earnings were $3,258,000 compared to net earnings of $2,521,000 for the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $5,728,000 compared to $4,414,000 for the prior year quarter. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.09 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.85 in the prior year quarter. Further details are presented in the Adjusted Consolidated Statement of Operations Reconciliation schedule.

The Company's order backlog was $221.6 million on January 31, 2025, as compared to $152.3 million on January 31, 2024, and $155.6 million on April 30, 2024.

Nu Aire Acquisition Update - Kewaunee successfully completed the acquisition of Nu Aire, Inc. on November 1, 2024, marking a significant milestone in our strategic growth initiatives. This quarter represents the first time Nu Aire's financial results will be integrated into Kewaunee's consolidated financial statements and order backlog, with its performance reported within the Company's Domestic segment.

Domestic Segment - Domestic sales for the quarter were $51,976,000, an increase of 63.6% from sales of $31,774,000 in the prior year quarter. Domestic segment net earnings were $2,876,000 compared to $2,633,000 in the prior year quarter. Domestic segment EBITDA was $5,249,000 compared to $3,832,000 for the prior year quarter. The increase in Domestic sales and earnings was driven by higher manufacturing volumes than the prior year period and the incorporation of Nu Aire's results.

International Segment - International sales for the quarter were $15,191,000, an increase of 1.2% from sales of $15,004,000 in the prior year quarter. International segment net earnings were $476,000 compared to $923,000 in the prior year quarter. International segment EBITDA was $760,000 compared to $1,676,000 for the prior year quarter. Kewaunee's International segment continues to be challenged by customer site delays impacting billings.

Corporate Segment – Corporate segment pre-tax net loss was $3,025,000 for the quarter, as compared to a pre-tax net loss of $1,069,000 in the prior year quarter. Corporate segment EBITDA for the quarter was ($2,275,000) compared to corporate segment EBITDA of ($1,094,000) for the prior year quarter. The change in EBITDA was primarily driven by an increase in professional service and other fees during the quarter related to the acquisition of Nu Aire, Inc., which closed on November 1, 2024, and costs incurred related to Sarbanes-Oxley 404(b) compliance readiness.

Total cash on hand on January 31, 2025, was $12,335,000, as compared to $25,938,000 on April 30, 2024. Working capital was $58,441,000, as compared to $54,014,000 at the end of the third quarter last year and $56,037,000 on April 30, 2024.

The Company had short-term debt of $1,131,000 as of January 31, 2025, as compared to $3,099,000 on April 30, 2024. Long-term debt was $65,819,000 on January 31, 2025, as compared to $28,479,000 on April 30, 2024. The building lease from the Company's December 2021 sale-leaseback transaction accounts for $27,604,000 of the long-term debt on January 31, 2025, and $28,133,000 of the long-term debt on April 30, 2024. Long-term debt, net of the sale-leaseback transaction, was $38,215,000 on January 31, 2025, as compared to $346,000 on April 30, 2024. The Company's debt-to-equity ratio on January 31, 2025, was 1.29-to-1, as compared to 0.70-to-1 on April 30, 2024. The Company's debt-to-equity ratio, net of the sale-leaseback transaction, on January 31, 2025, was 0.84-to-1, as compared to 0.20-to-1 on April 30, 2024.

"Kewaunee delivered another strong quarter, demonstrating once again our positive momentum in the marketplace and our continued operational performance improvement," said Thomas D. Hull III, Kewaunee's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our strategy to emphasize investments in our manufacturing assets, while strengthening our dealer and distribution relationships is working."

"In our Domestic segment, we achieved solid gains compared to the prior year. These gains were driven by sustained product demand in the U.S., where we leverage our market position as the industry's leader."

"In India, where our backlog is at a record high, revenue has been slowed due to construction site delays. We are working closely with our customers to ensure seamless execution when project sites are ready. This will result in favorable revenue and earnings for us."

Hull continued, "Kewaunee's backlog stands at a robust $222 million, highlighting the strength, stability, and diversity of the markets we serve. Our products support a broad range of critical industries - including life sciences, industrial, healthcare, pharmacy, education, petrochemical, and government research. These sectors are foundational to economic progress, scientific discovery, and innovation, and they benefit from long-term structural growth trends fueled by both private and public investment. Our strong backlog is a testament to Kewaunee's ability to meet evolving customer needs and reinforces our position as a trusted partner in advancing global research and innovation."

"Over the past five years, we have taken deliberate steps to strengthen our supply chain and mitigate risks to ensure resiliency amid market fluctuations. As the largest U.S.-based manufacturer of laboratory products and technical furniture, Kewaunee is uniquely positioned to provide stability and certainty to customers requiring reliable, domestically produced solutions. Additionally, we have built a robust and diversified global supply chain, ensuring access to critical materials through multiple sourcing strategies. These strategic initiatives enhance our ability to consistently deliver high-quality products while mitigating against supply chain disruptions, tariffs, and other external challenges."

"To provide greater transparency into our financial performance, we have included an exhibit detailing the reconciliation from EBITDA to adjusted EBITDA. This analysis isolates transaction, integration, and other related costs, providing a clearer picture of Kewaunee's ongoing earnings power post-integration of the Nu Aire acquisition."

"Looking ahead, we are focused on delivering a strong finish to fiscal year 2025. Our teams remain committed to operational excellence, customer success, and driving sustainable growth. We continue to invest in our partnerships, ensuring our channel partners have the support they need to win in the marketplace. With strong fundamentals, a growing backlog, and a clear strategic vision, Kewaunee is well-positioned to capitalize on future opportunities and create lasting value for our shareholders."

About Non-GAAP Measures

The Company includes non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share, in the information provided with this press release as supplemental information relating to its operating results. Adjusted net earnings represents GAAP net earnings adjusted for professional and other fees related to the acquisition of Nu Aire, Inc. and the corresponding tax impact. This financial information is not in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP-compliant financial information and may be different from the operating or non-GAAP financial information used by other companies. The Company believes that this presentation of adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share provides useful information to investors regarding certain additional financial and business trends relating to its financial condition and results of operations.

EBITDA and Segment EBITDA are calculated as net earnings (loss), less interest expense and interest income, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Segment EBITDA are calculated as EBITDA or Segment EBITDA less the impact of the professional and other fees related to the Company's acquisition of Nu Aire, Inc., as discussed in more detail above. We believe EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Segment EBITDA allow management and investors to compare our performance to other companies on a consistent basis without regard to depreciation and amortization or the professional fees not related to our core business incurred during the current period, which can vary significantly between companies depending upon many factors. EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Segment EBITDA are not calculations based upon generally accepted accounting principles, and the method for calculating EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Segment EBITDA can vary among companies. The amounts included in the EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Segment EBITDA calculations, however, are derived from amounts included in the historical consolidated statements of operations. EBITDA, Segment EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Segment EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to net earnings (loss) or operating earnings (loss) as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, or as an alternative to operating cash flows as a measure of liquidity.

About Kewaunee Scientific

Founded in 1906, Kewaunee Scientific Corporation is a recognized global leader in the design, manufacture, and installation of laboratory, healthcare, and technical furniture products. The Company's products include steel and wood casework, fume hoods, adaptable modular systems, moveable workstations, stand-alone benches, biological safety cabinets, and epoxy resin work surfaces and sinks. The Company's corporate headquarters are located in Statesville, North Carolina. Sales offices are located in the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. Three manufacturing facilities are located in Statesville serving the domestic and international markets, and one manufacturing facility is located in Bangalore, India serving the local, Asian, and African markets.

Kewaunee Scientific's newly acquired subsidiary, Nu Aire, is a leading manufacturer of biological safety cabinets, CO2 incubators, ultralow freezers, and other essential laboratory products that complement the Kewaunee Scientific portfolio. Founded in 1971, Nu Aire's headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Plymouth, Minnesota, with additional manufacturing capabilities located in Long Lake, Minnesota. The Company also maintains a warehouse partnership in the Netherlands and OEM partnerships in China.

Learn more at the companies' websites, located at http://www.kewaunee.com and http://www.nuaire.com/.

This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, including statements regarding the Company's future financial condition, results of operations, business operations and business prospects, are forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "predict," "believe" and similar words, expressions and variations of these words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other important factors that could significantly impact results or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to: our ability to realize the benefits anticipated as a result of the Nu Aire acquisition; competitive and general economic conditions, including disruptions from government mandates, both domestically and internationally, as well as supplier constraints and other supply disruptions; changes in customer demands; technological changes in our operations or in our industry; dependence on customers' required delivery schedules; risks related to fluctuations in the Company's operating results from quarter to quarter; risks related to international operations, including foreign currency fluctuations; changes in the legal and regulatory environment; changes in raw materials and commodity costs; acts of terrorism, war, governmental action, and natural disasters and other Force Majeure events. The cautionary statements made pursuant to the Reform Act herein and elsewhere by us should not be construed as exhaustive. We cannot always predict what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Over time, our actual results, performance, or achievements will likely differ from the anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such difference might be significant and harmful to our stockholders' interest. Many important factors that could cause such a difference are described under the caption "Risk Factors," in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024, which you should review carefully, and in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. These reports are available on our investor relations website at www.kewaunee.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. The Company assumes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.