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Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

November 8, 2018 4:10 PM

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.

Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mettler-toledo-international-inc-reports-third-quarter-2018-results-300747089.html

SOURCE Mettler-Toledo International Inc.

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