Applied Industrial Technologies Reports Fiscal 2024 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results; Issues Guidance for Fiscal 2025

Business Wire 15-Aug-2024 6:30 AM

• Fourth Quarter Net Sales of $1.2 Billion Up 0.2% YoY; Down 2.0% on an Organic Daily Basis
• Fourth Quarter Net Income of $103.5 Million, or $2.64 Per Share Up 12.6% YoY
• Fourth Quarter EBITDA of $153.5 Million Up 9.6% YoY
• Full-Year Net Sales of $4.5 Billion Up 1.5% YoY; Up 0.4% on an Organic Daily Basis
• Full-Year Net Income of $385.8 Million, or $9.83 Per Share
• Full-Year Adjusted Net Income of $382.7 Million, or $9.75 Per Share Up 11.4% YoY
• Full-Year EBITDA of $553.3 Million Up 5.5% YoY
• Establishes Fiscal 2025 Guidance Including Total Sales -2.5% to +2.5%, EPS of $9.20 to $9.95
• Announces Two Bolt-On Acquisitions in Service Center and Fluid Power Operations

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT), a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies, today reported results for its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter and full year ended June 30, 2024.

Net sales for the quarter increased 0.2% to $1.2 billion. The change includes a 1.5% increase from acquisitions and a positive 0.8% selling day impact, offset by a negative 0.1% impact from foreign currency translation. Excluding these factors, sales declined 2.0% on an organic daily basis reflecting a 0.7% decrease in the Service Center segment and a 4.6% decrease in the Engineered Solutions segment. The Company reported net income of $­­­103.5 million, or $2.64 per share, and EBITDA of $153.5 million. On a pre-tax basis, results include $0.3 million ($0.01 after tax per share) of LIFO expense compared to $8.1 million ($0.15 after tax per share) of LIFO expense in the prior-year period.

For the twelve months ended June 30, 2024, sales of $4.5 billion increased 1.5% compared with the prior year, or 0.4% on an organic daily basis. Net income was $385.8 million, or $9.83 per share, and EBITDA was $553.3 million. Non-GAAP adjusted net income was $382.7 million, or $9.75 per share. On a pre-tax basis, full-year results include $13.0 million ($0.25 after tax per share) of LIFO expense compared to $34.2 million ($0.66 after tax per share) of LIFO expense in the prior-year period.

Neil A. Schrimsher, Applied's President & Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our fiscal fourth quarter reflects strong execution and positive margin momentum within an ongoing muted demand backdrop. EBITDA and EPS increased a respective 10% and 13% over the prior year on total sales that were relatively unchanged. Gross margins exceeded 30% and EBITDA margins exceeded 13% for the first time, both significant milestones. These results provide further evidence of the benefits our strategy, ongoing evolution, and operational discipline can deliver in any environment, as well as the margin improvement potential ahead as we continue to leverage our differentiated industry position and internal initiatives. I want to thank our entire Applied team for their ongoing commitment to our strategy focused on creating industry-leading value for our customers and all stakeholders."

Mr. Schrimsher continued, "Consistent with broader industrial datapoints in recent months, we saw a greater than expected slowdown in end-market demand as the quarter played out. Similar to last quarter, organic sales declines were greatest within the Fluid Power operations of our Engineered Solutions segment reflecting ongoing inventory destocking and reduced production across OEM customers. In addition, billing activity within our Service Center segment was more mixed as customers conservatively managed MRO spending within the uncertain business environment. Softer demand conditions have sustained into early fiscal 2025 with organic sales through mid-August trending down by a mid single-digit percent compared to prior-year levels."

Mr. Schrimsher added, "While end-market demand remains mixed, we understand our requirements and we remain constructive on our setup. We see several potential catalysts on the horizon including a possible re-acceleration in industrial production following subdued activity the past 18 months, as well as ongoing benefits from various secular tailwinds and our initiatives. In addition, demand across our technology vertical and Automation operations is poised to rebound with early positive signs emerging. We are also developing a strong flow control business funnel related to customers' decarbonization initiatives and other high-profile market verticals. Combined with easing comparisons and our M&A pipeline, we see a path for year-over-year sales trends to gradually improve through fiscal 2025."

"Lastly, we are increasingly confident in the opportunity developing beyond our intermediate-term annual objectives of $5.5 billion in sales and 13% EBITDA margins considering fiscal 2024 margin performance, nearly $2 billion of current balance sheet capacity, and the increasing critical role we are playing across the North American industrial sector. Our track record over the past five years highlights the power of our strategy and value creation potential. This includes respective EBITDA and EPS compounded annual growth of 11% and 17%, EBITDA margin expansion of nearly 300 basis points, more than $1.3 billion in free cash generation, and a meaningful increase in our returns on capital. We look forward to expanding on this progress in fiscal 2025 and years to come."

Acquisition of Total Machine Solutions and Stanley Proctor The Company today also announced the acquisitions of Total Machine Solutions (TMS) and Stanley Proctor. Based in Fairfield, NJ, TMS is a provider of electrical and mechanical power transmission products and solutions including bearings, drives, motors, conveyor components, and related repair services. TMS will be integrated into Applied's U.S. Service Center operations. Stanley Proctor provides hydraulic, pneumatic, measurement, control, and instrumentation components, as well as fluid power engineered systems. The Company is based in Twinsburg, OH and will join Applied's Fluid Power operations. Combined, the Companies are expected to generate annual sales of approximately $17 million in the first year.

Mr. Schrimsher commented, "We welcome TMS and Stanley Proctor to Applied. Both companies bring strong technical knowledge, service capabilities, and aligned supplier relationships in their regional markets that will enhance our competitive position. Of note, TMS will supplement our growth potential in the U.S. Upper Northeast with local customer focus and capabilities across the Food & Beverage vertical. Stanley Proctor brings specialization and capabilities in the design and assembly of Hydraulic Power Units, as well as fluid power rebuild and repair services. We look forward to their contribution to Applied's performance."

Fiscal 2025 Guidance and Outlook Today the Company is introducing fiscal 2025 EPS guidance in the range of $9.20 to $9.95 based on assumptions for total sales of down 2.5% to up 2.5% including down 4.0% to up 1.0% on an organic daily basis, as well as EBITDA margins of 12.1% to 12.3%. Guidance incorporates current economic uncertainty and assumes end-market demand slows further through the first half of the year, followed by stabilization in the second half of the year. Guidance also incorporates potential margin pressures early in the year reflecting some expense deleveraging on sales declines, ongoing inflationary headwinds, and growth positioning. Guidance does not assume contribution from future acquisitions or share buybacks.

Mr. Schrimsher concluded, "While we remain optimistic on our potential, we are taking a prudent approach to our initial 2025 outlook. We believe industrial activity could remain muted near term as customers await clarity on interest rates and the upcoming U.S. Election. In addition, we remain focused on our long-term growth potential and investing accordingly, particularly considering our industry position and exposure to meaningful secular tailwinds. That said, as our recent results show, we know how to operate in any environment with various self-help opportunities, active cost controls, and a track record of operational discipline that provides support if a softer demand backdrop continues."

Conference Call Information The Company will host a conference call at 10 a.m. ET today to discuss the quarter's results and outlook. A live audio webcast and supplemental presentation can be accessed on our Investor Relations site at https://ir.applied.com. To join by telephone, dial 800-715-9871 (toll free) or 646-307-1963 using conference ID 1462541. Replays of the call will be available via webcast, as well as by telephone for one week by dialing 800-770-2030 (toll free) or 609-800-9909 using conference ID 1462541.

About Applied^® Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies. Our leading brands, specialized services, and comprehensive knowledge serve MRO and OEM end users in virtually all industrial markets through our multi-channel capabilities that provide choice, convenience, and expertise. For more information, visit www.applied.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. Applied intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are often identified by qualifiers such as "expect," "will," "guidance," "assume," "optimistic," "believe," and derivative or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors including trends and events in the industrial sector of the economy (such as the inflationary environment and supply chain strains), results of operations, and financial condition, and other risk factors identified in Applied's most recent periodic report and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by Applied or any other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved. Applied assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, or events, or otherwise.

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