Kennametal Announces Fiscal 2025 First Quarter Results

PRNewswire 6-Nov-2024 6:30 AM

• Strong cash from operations of $46 million compared to $26 million in the prior year; free operating cash flow of $21 million compared to negative $3 million in the prior year
• Earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.28 and adjusted EPS of $0.29
• Returned approximately $31 million to shareholders; $15 million in share repurchases and $16 million in dividends

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE:KMT) (the "Company") today reported results for its fiscal 2025 first quarter ended September 30, 2024, with sales of $482 million compared to $492 million in the prior year quarter, and earnings per diluted share (EPS) of $0.28 compared to $0.37 in the prior year quarter. The current quarter pre-tax results include a net benefit of $4 million, consisting of insurance proceeds offset by additional costs, related to the tornado that struck the Company's Rogers, Arkansas facility late in fiscal 2024, as well as certain tax-related items amounting to a benefit of approximately $3 million. Adjusted EPS was $0.29 in the current quarter compared to $0.41 in the prior year quarter.

"While we continue to generate strong cash flow from operations, softer market conditions in a number of our end markets have led sales to come in on the lower end of our expectations," said Sanjay Chowbey, President and CEO. "We do, however, anticipate second quarter results in line with our historical sequential performance and we remain focused on the continued execution of the Value Creation Pillars we outlined last quarter: Delivering Growth, Continuous Improvement and Portfolio Optimization."

Fiscal 2025 First Quarter Key Developments

Sales of $482 million decreased 2 percent from $492 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting an organic sales decline of 2 percent and an unfavorable currency exchange effect of 1 percent, partially offset by a favorable business days effect of 1 percent.

During the quarter, the Company achieved incremental year-over-year restructuring savings of approximately $5 million from the previously announced action to streamline its cost structure. This action has delivered annualized run rate pre-tax savings of approximately $35 million. Restructuring and related charges of $1 million were recognized during the quarter in connection with the execution of this initiative compared to $4 million in the prior year quarter.

Operating income was $36 million, or 7.5 percent margin, compared to $45 million, or 9.2 percent margin, in the prior year quarter. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to lower sales and production volumes within the Metal Cutting segment, higher wages and general inflation, and certain manufacturing costs within the Infrastructure segment, including temporary plant shutdowns for maintenance and process improvements. These factors were partially offset by lower raw material costs, incremental year-over-year restructuring savings of approximately $5 million, a net benefit of $4 million consisting of insurance recoveries of $5 million received during the quarter, offset by charges of $1 million related to the tornado that struck the Rogers, Arkansas facility late in fiscal 2024, lower restructuring charges of approximately $3 million compared to the prior year quarter and higher sales volumes within the Infrastructure segment. Adjusted operating income was $37 million, or 7.6 percent margin, in the current quarter, compared to $49 million, or 9.9 percent margin, in the prior year quarter.

The reported effective tax rate (ETR) for the quarter was 25.2 percent compared to 21.0 percent in the prior year quarter. The increase in the ETR year-over-year was primarily driven by prior year adjustments including a benefit of approximately $6 million from a change in unrecognized tax benefits that was partially offset by a $3 million settlement related to tax litigation in Italy. The current year quarter also includes a benefit of $1 million due to the favorable resolution of a tax dispute in India and geographical mix. Adjusted ETR was 25.1 percent in the current quarter, compared to 21.0 percent in the prior year quarter.

Year-to-date net cash flow from operating activities was $46 million compared to $26 million in the prior year period. The change in net cash flow from operating activities was driven primarily by working capital changes and $5 million received from the favorable resolution of a tax dispute in India, partially offset by lower net income compared to the prior year period. Year-to-date free operating cash flow (FOCF) was $21 million compared to negative $3 million in the prior year period. The increase in FOCF was driven primarily by working capital changes, $5 million received from the favorable resolution of a tax dispute in India and lower capital expenditures, partially offset by lower net income compared to the prior year period.

The Company paid $16 million in cash dividends to Kennametal shareholders during the quarter. The Company has a long history of consistently paying dividends to shareholders since its listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 1967.

During the quarter, the Company repurchased 600 thousand shares of Kennametal common stock for $15 million under its current $200 million, three-year share repurchase program.

Outlook

The Company's expectations for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 and the full year are as follows:

Quarterly Outlook:

• Sales expected to be $480 - $500 million; foreign exchange anticipated to be neutral compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2024
• Adjusted ETR is expected to be approximately 27.5 percent
• Adjusted EPS is expected to be $0.20 - $0.30

Annual Outlook:

• Sales expected to be $2.0 - $2.1 billion
• Adjusted EPS is expected to be $1.30 - $1.70
• At the midpoint, improved operating performance offset by higher ETR and currency headwinds
• Pricing actions expected to cover raw material costs, wages and general inflation
• Interest expense is expected to be approximately $27 million
• Adjusted ETR is expected to be approximately 27.5 percent
• Free operating cash flow of greater than 125 percent of adjusted net income
• Primary working capital as a percent of sales at approximately 30 percent by fiscal year-end
• Capital spending expected to be approximately $110 million

The Company will provide more details regarding its Outlook during its quarterly earnings conference call.

Segment Results

Metal Cutting sales of $297 million decreased 4 percent from $308 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting an organic sales decline of 4 percent and an unfavorable currency exchange effect of 2 percent, partially offset by a favorable business days effect of 2 percent. Operating income was $24 million, or 8.0 percent margin, compared to $32 million, or 10.4 percent margin, in the prior year quarter. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to lower sales and production volumes, higher wages and general inflation, and unfavorable foreign currency exchange of approximately $2 million. These factors were partially offset by lower raw material costs, incremental year-over-year restructuring savings of approximately $4 million, lower restructuring charges of approximately $2 million compared to the prior year quarter and pricing. Adjusted operating income was $24 million, or 8.2 percent margin, in the current quarter, compared to $35 million, or 11.2 percent margin, in the prior year quarter.

Infrastructure sales of $185 million increased 0.4 percent from $184 million in the prior year quarter, driven by organic sales growth of 1 percent, partially offset by an unfavorable business days effect of 1 percent. Operating income was $13 million, or 6.9 percent margin, compared to $14 million, or 7.4 percent margin, in the prior year quarter. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to certain manufacturing costs, including temporary plant shutdowns for maintenance and process improvements, and higher wages and general inflation. These factors were partially offset by a net benefit of $4 million consisting of insurance recoveries of $5 million received during the quarter, offset by charges of $1 million related to the tornado that struck the Rogers, Arkansas facility late in fiscal 2024, the favorable timing of pricing compared to raw material costs, incremental year-over-year restructuring savings of approximately $1 million, lower restructuring charges of approximately $1 million compared to the prior year quarter and higher sales volumes. Adjusted operating income was $13 million, or 6.9 percent margin, in the current quarter, compared to $15 million, or 8.0 percent margin, in the prior year quarter.

Dividend Declared

Kennametal announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share. The dividend is payable on November 26, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 12, 2024.

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter fiscal 2025 results on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be broadcast via real-time audio on Kennametal's investor relations website at https://investors.kennametal.com/ - click "Event" (located in the blue Quarterly Earnings block).

This earnings release contains non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations and descriptions of all non-GAAP financial measures are set forth in the tables that follow.

Certain statements in this release may be forward-looking in nature, or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. For example, statements about Kennametal's outlook for sales, interest expense, adjusted EPS, FOCF, primary working capital, capital expenditures and adjusted effective tax rate for the second quarter and full year of fiscal 2025 and our expectations regarding future growth and financial performance are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are based on current knowledge, expectations and estimates that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, our actual results could vary materially from our current expectations. There are a number of factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. They include: uncertainties related to changes in macroeconomic and/or global conditions, including as a result of increased inflation and Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on Russia; the conflict in the Middle East; other economic recession; our ability to achieve all anticipated benefits of restructuring, simplification and modernization initiatives; Commercial Excellence growth initiatives, Operational Excellence initiatives, our foreign operations and international markets, such as currency exchange rates, different regulatory environments, trade barriers, exchange controls, and social and political instability, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, including environmental, health and safety regulations; potential for future goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges; our ability to protect and defend our intellectual property; continuity of information technology infrastructure; competition; our ability to retain our management and employees; demands on management resources; availability and cost of the raw materials we use to manufacture our products; product liability claims; integrating acquisitions and achieving the expected savings and synergies; global or regional catastrophic events; demand for and market acceptance of our products; business divestitures; energy costs; commodity prices; labor relations; and implementation of environmental remediation matters. Many of these risks and other risks are more fully described in Kennametal's latest annual report on Form 10-K and its other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We can give no assurance that any goal or plan set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.

About Kennametal

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day approximately 8,400 employees are helping customers in nearly 100 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated $2 billion in revenues in fiscal 2024. Learn more at www.kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS (UNAUDITED)

In addition to reported results under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), the following financial highlight tables include, where appropriate, a reconciliation of adjusted results including: operating income and margin; ETR; net income attributable to Kennametal; diluted EPS; Metal Cutting operating income and margin; Infrastructure operating income and margin; FOCF; and consolidated and segment organic sales growth (all of which are non-GAAP financial measures), to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Adjustments for the three months ended September 30, 2024 include restructuring and related charges and differences in projected annual tax rates. Adjustments for the three months ended September 30, 2023 include restructuring and related charges and differences in projected annual tax rates. For those adjustments that are presented 'net of tax', the tax effect of the adjustment can be derived by calculating the difference between the pre-tax and the post-tax adjustments presented. The tax effect on adjustments is calculated by preparing an overall tax calculation including the adjustments and then a tax calculation excluding the adjustments. The difference between these calculations results in the tax impact of the adjustments.

Management believes that presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information about the results of operations of the Company for the current and past periods. Management believes that investors should have available the same information that management uses to assess operating performance, determine compensation and assess the capital structure of the Company. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most comparable GAAP financial measures. Investors are cautioned that non-GAAP financial measures used by management may not be comparable to non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Reconciliations and descriptions of all non-GAAP financial measures are set forth in the disclosures below.

Reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for the following forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures for the second quarter and full fiscal year of 2025 have not been provided, including but not limited to: FOCF, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, adjusted ETR and primary working capital. The most comparable GAAP financial measures are net cash flow from operating activities, operating income, net income attributable to Kennametal, EPS, ETR and working capital (defined as current assets less current liabilities), respectively. Primary working capital is defined as accounts receivable, net plus inventories, net minus accounts payable. Because the non-GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis are subject to uncertainty and variability as they are dependent on many factors - including, but not limited to, the effect of foreign currency exchange fluctuations, impacts from potential acquisitions or divestitures, gains or losses on the potential sale of businesses or other assets, restructuring costs, asset impairment charges, gains or losses from early extinguishment of debt, the tax impact of the items above and the impact of tax law changes or other tax matters - reconciliations to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures are not available without unreasonable effort.

Free Operating Cash Flow (FOCF)

FOCF is a non-GAAP financial measure and is defined by the Company as net cash flow provided by operating activities (which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure) less capital expenditures plus proceeds from disposals of fixed assets. Management considers FOCF to be an important indicator of the Company's cash generating capability because it better represents cash generated from operations that can be used for dividends, debt repayment, strategic initiatives (such as acquisitions) and other investing and financing activities.

Organic Sales Growth (Decline)

Organic sales growth (decline) is a non-GAAP financial measure of sales growth (decline) (which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure) excluding the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, business days and foreign currency exchange from year-over-year comparisons. Management believes this measure provides investors with a supplemental understanding of underlying sales trends by providing sales growth on a consistent basis. Management reports organic sales growth (decline) at the consolidated and segment levels.

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SOURCE Kennametal Inc.