Full Press Release Details
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. REPORTS
THIRD QUARTER 2023 RESULTS
COLUMBUS, Ohio, USA - November 9, 2023 - Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE MTD) today announced third quarter results for 2023. Provided below are the highlights
Reported sales declined 4% compared with the prior-year. In local currency, sales decreased 5% in the quarter as currency increased sales growth by 1%.
Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $9.21, compared with $9.76 in the prior-year period. Adjusted EPS was $9.80, a decrease of 4% over the prior-year amount of $10.18. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to EPS is included on the last page of the attached schedules.
Third Quarter Results
Patrick Kaltenbach, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We delivered good earnings and cash flow performance in the third quarter, despite more challenging market conditions in China following very strong growth over the past couple of years and foreign currency headwinds."
EPS in the quarter was $9.21, compared with the prior-year amount of $9.76.
Compared with the prior-year, total reported sales declined 4% to $942.5 million. By region, reported sales increased 12% in Europe, decreased 3% in the Americas, and decreased 17% in Asia Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $251.2 million, compared with $275.9 million in the prior-year.
Adjusted EPS was $9.80, a decrease of 4% over the prior-year amount of $10.18.
Compared with the prior-year, total sales in local currency decreased 5% as currency increased sales growth by 1%. By region, local currency sales increased 4% in Europe, declined 3% in the Americas, and declined 14% in Asia Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $296.0 million, a 4% decrease from the prior-year amount of $307.2 million.
Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Profit are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.
EPS was $27.37, compared with the prior-year amount of $26.58.
Compared with the prior-year, total reported sales were flat at $2,853.3 million. By region, reported sales increased 5% in Europe, 1% in the Americas, and declined 6% in Asia Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $741.2 million, compared with $745.6 million in the prior-year.
Adjusted EPS was $28.63, an increase of 4% over the prior-year amount of $27.42.
Compared with the prior-year, total sales in local currency increased 1% as currency reduced sales growth by 1%. By region, local currency sales increased 4% in Europe and 1% in the Americas, and declined 1% in Asia Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $870.1 million, a 4% increase from the prior-year amount of $833.8 million.
The Company stated that forecasting remains difficult. Management cautions that market conditions are dynamic and changes to the business environment can occur quickly. There is increased uncertainty in the economic environment today, including the risk of recession in many countries.
Based on today's assessment of market conditions, management anticipates local currency sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 will decline approximately 7% to 8%, and Adjusted EPS is forecast to be $10.50 to $10.70, a decline of 12% to 13%. Included in the fourth quarter guidance is an estimated 1% headwind to Adjusted EPS growth due to adverse currency.
For the full year, management anticipates local currency sales in 2023 will decline approximately 1%, and Adjusted EPS is forecast to be in the range of $39.10 to $39.30, representing a decline of approximately 1%. This compares with previous local currency sales growth guidance of approximately 0% to 1% and Adjusted EPS guidance of $40.30 to $41.20. Included in the 2023 guidance is an estimated 3% to 4% headwind to Adjusted EPS growth due to adverse currency.
The Company stated that based on its assessment of market conditions today, management anticipates local currency sales in 2024 will be approximately flat. This is expected to result in Adjusted EPS in the range of $39.10 to $39.80, representing growth of approximately 0% to 2%. Included in the 2024 guidance is an estimated 2% headwind to Adjusted EPS growth due to adverse currency.
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.
Kaltenbach concluded, "Market conditions are expected to remain challenging in the near-term, especially in China, and we continue to face difficult sales growth comparisons. We will continue to focus on the strong execution of our proven corporate programs like Spinnaker to drive growth and capture market share, and SternDrive to manage our costs effectively. Our team has shown remarkable resilience and agility as we have adjusted quickly to changing market conditions, while continuing to invest in long-term strategic priorities like innovation."
The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results tomorrow morning (Friday, November 10) at 8 30 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to 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 on 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. You should not rely on forward-looking statements to predict our actual results. Our actual results or performance may be materially different than reflected in forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties, including statements about expected revenue growth and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing developments in Ukraine. 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." We make forward-looking statements about future events or our future financial performance, including earnings and sales growth, earnings per share, strategic plans and contingency plans, growth opportunities or economic downturns, our ability to respond to changes in market conditions, customer demand, our competitive position, pricing, our supply chain, adequacy of our facilities, access to and the costs of raw materials, shipping and supplier costs, gross margins, planned research and development efforts and product introductions, capital expenditures, cash flow, tax-related matters, the impact of foreign currencies, compliance with laws, effects of acquisitions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing developments in Ukraine on our businesses. Our forward-looking statements may not be accurate or complete, and we do not intend to update or revise them in light of actual results. New risks also periodically arise. Please consider the risks and factors that could cause our results to differ materially from what is described in our forward-looking statements, including the uncertain duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing developments in Ukraine. See in particular "Factors Affecting Our Future Operating Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other reports filed with the SEC from time to time.
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(amounts in thousands except share data)
| Three months ended | Three months ended | ||||||||||
| September 30, 2023 | % of sales | September 30, 2022 | % of sales | ||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 942,462 | (a) | 100.0 | $ | 985,846 | 100.0 | ||||
| Cost of sales | 382,923 | 40.6 | 401,190 | 40.7 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 559,539 | 59.4 | 584,656 | 59.3 | |||||||
| Research and development | 46,127 | 4.9 | 44,129 | 4.5 | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 217,447 | 23.1 | 233,357 | 23.7 | |||||||
| Amortization | 18,314 | 1.9 | 16,728 | 1.7 | |||||||
| Interest expense | 20,278 | 2.2 | 14,484 | 1.5 | |||||||
| Restructuring charges | 7,385 | 0.8 | 2,022 | 0.2 | |||||||
| Other charges (income), net | (1,171) | (0.1) | (1,949) | (0.3) | |||||||
| Earnings before taxes | 251,159 | 26.6 | 275,885 | 28.0 | |||||||
| Provision for taxes | 49,528 | 5.2 | 55,288 | 5.6 | |||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 201,631 | 21.4 | $ | 220,597 | 22.4 | |||||
| Basic earnings per common share | |||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 9.26 | $ | 9.85 | |||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares | 21,776,944 | 22,403,393 | |||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | |||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 9.21 | $ | 9.76 | |||||||
| Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares | 21,886,482 | 22,610,027 | |||||||||
| Note | |||||||||||
| (a) | Local currency sales decreased 5% as compared to the same period in 2022. | ||||||||||
| RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT | |||||||||||
| Three months ended | Three months ended | ||||||||||
| September 30, 2023 | % of sales | September 30, 2022 | % of sales | ||||||||
| Earnings before taxes | $ | 251,159 | $ | 275,885 | |||||||
| Amortization | 18,314 | 16,728 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | 20,278 | 14,484 | |||||||||
| Restructuring charges | 7,385 | 2,022 | |||||||||
| Other charges (income), net | (1,171) | (1,949) | |||||||||
| Adjusted operating profit | $ | 295,965 | (b) | 31.4 | $ | 307,170 | 31.2 | ||||
| Note | |||||||||||
| (b) | Adjusted operating profit decreased 4% as compared to the same period in 2022. |
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(amounts in thousands except share data)
| Nine months ended | Nine months ended | ||||||||||
| September 30, 2023 | % of sales | September 30, 2022 | % of sales | ||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 2,853,317 | (a) | 100.0 | $ | 2,862,024 | 100.0 | ||||
| Cost of sales | 1,163,669 | 40.8 | 1,186,122 | 41.4 | |||||||
| Gross profit | 1,689,648 | 59.2 | 1,675,902 | 58.6 | |||||||
| Research and development | 138,849 | 4.9 | 131,180 | 4.6 | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 680,679 | 23.9 | 710,875 | 24.8 | |||||||
| Amortization | 54,135 | 1.9 | 49,697 | 1.7 | |||||||
| Interest expense | 57,711 | 2.0 | 38,587 | 1.3 | |||||||
| Restructuring charges | 19,680 | 0.7 | 7,803 | 0.3 | |||||||
| Other charges (income), net | (2,578) | (0.2) | (7,818) | (0.2) | |||||||
| Earnings before taxes | 741,172 | 26.0 | 745,578 | 26.1 | |||||||
| Provision for taxes | 137,188 | 4.8 | 138,910 | 4.9 | |||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 603,984 | 21.2 | $ | 606,668 | 21.2 | |||||
| Basic earnings per common share | |||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 27.54 | $ | 26.86 | |||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares | 21,933,889 | 22,587,026 | |||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | |||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 27.37 | $ | 26.58 | |||||||
| Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares | 22,067,398 | 22,821,408 | |||||||||
| Note | |||||||||||
| (a) | Local currency sales increased 1% as compared to the same period in 2022. | ||||||||||
| RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT | |||||||||||
| Nine months ended | Nine months ended | ||||||||||
| September 30, 2023 | % of sales | September 30, 2022 | % of sales | ||||||||
| Earnings before taxes | $ | 741,172 | $ | 745,578 | |||||||
| Amortization | 54,135 | 49,697 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | 57,711 | 38,587 | |||||||||
| Restructuring charges | 19,680 | 7,803 | |||||||||
| Other charges (income), net | (2,578) | (7,818) | |||||||||
| Adjusted operating profit | $ | 870,120 | (b) | 30.5 | $ | 833,847 | 29.1 | ||||
| Note | |||||||||||
| (b) | Adjusted operating profit increased 4% as compared to the same period in 2022. |
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts in thousands)
| September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 69,675 | $ | 95,966 | |||
| Accounts receivable, net | 634,967 | 709,321 | |||||
| Inventories | 375,959 | 441,694 | |||||
| Other current assets and prepaid expenses | 116,311 | 128,108 | |||||
| Total current assets | 1,196,912 | 1,375,089 | |||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 763,209 | 778,600 | |||||
| Goodwill and other intangible assets, net | 947,835 | 966,224 | |||||
| Other non-current assets | 380,774 | 372,482 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 3,288,730 | $ | 3,492,395 | |||
| Short-term borrowings and maturities of long-term debt | $ | 179,083 | $ | 106,054 | |||
| Trade accounts payable | 173,970 | 252,538 | |||||
| Accrued and other current liabilities | 717,370 | 789,139 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 1,070,423 | 1,147,731 | |||||
| Long-term debt | 1,929,401 | 1,908,480 | |||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 394,778 | 411,391 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 3,394,602 | 3,467,602 | |||||
| Shareholders' equity | (105,872) | 24,793 | |||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 3,288,730 | $ | 3,492,395 |
METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts in thousands)
| Three months ended | Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Cash flow from operating activities | |||||||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 201,631 | $ | 220,597 | $ | 603,984 | $ | 606,668 | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to | |||||||||||||||
| net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 12,189 | 11,674 | 36,406 | 35,001 | |||||||||||
| Amortization | 18,314 | 16,728 | 54,135 | 49,697 | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax benefit | (2,689) | (1,644) | (4,455) | (4,881) | |||||||||||
| Other | 4,228 | 4,731 | 12,450 | 13,931 | |||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in | |||||||||||||||
| operating assets and liabilities | 30,623 | (6,655) | (18,151) | (144,992) | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 264,296 | 245,431 | 684,369 | 555,424 | |||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment | 256 | 118 | 668 | 236 | |||||||||||
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (20,960) | (26,822) | (72,907) | (89,213) | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from government funding (a) | 1,332 | 3,657 | 2,596 | 28,670 | |||||||||||
| Acquisitions | - | (14,823) | (613) | (25,588) | |||||||||||
| Other investing activities | (11,523) | (10,835) | (25,937) | (3,463) | |||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (30,895) | (48,705) | (96,193) | (89,358) | |||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from borrowings | 489,052 | 492,356 | 1,569,973 | 1,732,169 | |||||||||||
| Repayments of borrowings | (508,497) | (395,593) | (1,467,228) | (1,348,152) | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 147 | 1,750 | 19,234 | 19,460 | |||||||||||
| Repurchases of common stock | (223,999) | (275,000) | (723,998) | (824,999) | |||||||||||
| Acquisition contingent consideration payment | (2,141) | - | (7,767) | (7,912) | |||||||||||
| Other financing activities | (112) | (790) | (826) | (1,172) | |||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (245,550) | (177,277) | (610,612) | (430,606) | |||||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (1,750) | (6,761) | (3,855) | (11,888) | |||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (13,899) | (7,500) | (26,291) | 10,885 | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | |||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | 83,574 | 109,448 | 95,966 | 98,564 | |||||||||||
| End of period | $ | 69,675 | $ | 122,136 | $ | 69,675 | $ | 122,136 | |||||||
| RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 264,296 | $ | 245,431 | $ | 684,369 | $ | 555,424 | |||||||
| Payments in respect of restructuring activities | 7,544 | 2,271 | 14,942 | 6,516 | |||||||||||
| Transition tax payment | - | - | 8,042 | 4,289 | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment | 255 | 118 | 667 | 236 | |||||||||||
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net (a) | (20,362) | (23,130) | (65,177) | (60,656) | |||||||||||
| Acquisition payments (b) | - | 28 | 4,775 | 2,607 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted free cash flow | $ | 251,733 | $ | 224,718 | $ | 647,618 | $ | 508,416 | |||||||
| Notes | |||||||||||||||
| (a) In September 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense to increase the domestic production capacity of pipette tips and enhance manufacturing automation and logistics. The Company will receive funding of $35.8 million, which will offset future capital expenditures. Funding proceeds of $1.3 million and $3.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively and the related purchase of property, plant and equipment of $0.6 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are excluded from Adjusted free cash flow. Funding proceeds of $2.6 million and $28.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively and the related purchase of property, plant and equipment of $7.7 million and $28.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are excluded from Adjusted free cash flow. | |||||||||||||||
| (b) Includes $4.4 million and $2.1 million of the PendoTECH contingent consideration payment that was reported in net cash provided by operating activities as required by U.S. GAAP for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. |
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, 2023 | 12% | (3)% | (17)% | (4)% | |||||||||||||||
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | 5% | 1% | (6)% | -% | |||||||||||||||
| Local Currency Sales Growth | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 | 4% | (3)% | (14)% | (5)% | |||||||||||||||
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | 4% | 1% | (1)% | 1% | |||||||||||||||
| RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EPS AS REPORTED TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS | |||||||||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three months ended | Nine months ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | % Growth | 2023 | 2022 | % Growth | ||||||||||||||
| EPS as reported, diluted | $ | 9.21 | $ | 9.76 | (6)% | $ | 27.37 | $ | 26.58 | 3% | |||||||||
| Purchased intangible amortization, net of tax | 0.24 | (a) | 0.22 | (a) | 0.70 | (a) | 0.66 | (a) | |||||||||||
| Restructuring charges, net of tax | 0.27 | (b) | 0.07 | (b) | 0.72 | (b) | 0.28 | (b) | |||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 0.08 | (c) | 0.13 | (c) | (0.16) | (c) | (0.12) | (c) | |||||||||||
| Acquisition costs, net of tax | - | - | - | (d) | 0.02 | (d) | |||||||||||||
| Adjusted EPS, diluted | $ | 9.80 | $ | 10.18 | (4)% | $ | 28.63 | $ | 27.42 | 4% | |||||||||
| Notes | |||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Represents the EPS impact of purchased intangibles amortization of $6.7 million ($5.2 million net of tax) and $6.4 million ($5.0 million net of tax) for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, and of $20.0 million ($15.4 million net of tax) and $19.4 million ($15.0 million net of tax) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. | ||||||||||||||||||
| (b) | Represents the EPS impact of restructuring charges of $7.4 million ($6.0 million after tax) and $2.0 million ($1.6 million after tax) for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, and $19.7 million ($15.9 million after tax) and $7.8 million ($6.3 million after tax) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which primarily include employee related costs. | ||||||||||||||||||
| (c) | Represents the EPS impact of the difference between our quarterly and estimated annual tax rate before non-recurring discrete items during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 due to the timing of excess tax benefits associated with stock option exercises. | ||||||||||||||||||
| (d) | Represents the EPS impact of acquisition costs of $0.7 million ($0.5 million after tax) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. |