Generac Holdings (NYSE: GNRC) reported Q4 EPS of $1.42, $0.03 better than the analyst estimate of $1.39. Revenue for the quarter came in at $563.4 million versus the consensus estimate of $552.69 million.

Fourth Quarter 2018 Highlights

• Net sales increased 14.3% to $563.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2018 as compared to $493.0 million in the prior-year fourth quarter. Core sales growth, which excludes both the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency, was approximately 12%.
• Net income attributable to the Company during the fourth quarter was $75.6 million, or $1.20 per share, as compared to $80.9 million, or $1.29 per share, for the same period of 2017. The prior year quarter reflected $28.4 million of non-cash gains related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Reform Act”).
• Adjusted net income attributable to the Company, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $88.1 million, or $1.42 per share, as compared to $87.1 million, or $1.39 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2017.
• Adjusted EBITDA before deducting for non-controlling interests, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $126.1 million, or 22.4% of net sales, as compared to $112.4 million, or 22.8% of net sales, in the prior year.
• Cash flow from operations was $108.2 million as compared to $136.7 million in the prior year quarter. Free cash flow, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $87.3 million as compared to $121.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. The current-year quarter reflected increased working capital investment due to the strong organic growth, incremental inventory purchases ahead of expected tariff changes, and higher capital expenditure levels.

“Our strong fourth quarter results were an excellent finish to a record year for Generac in 2018 in terms of Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA profitability,” said Aaron Jagdfeld, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Growing the company 20% for the year and surpassing $2 billion in revenue takes an enormous team effort and I couldn’t be prouder of our employees and their high level of execution in achieving these milestones while also continuing to provide great customer service. Using our strategy as our roadmap, we have more than tripled the revenues of the company and quadrupled the size of our served market over the last decade through our intense focus on developing the residential home standby generator category and our aggressive efforts to gain share in the mobile and stationary commercial and industrial markets that we now serve globally.”

2019 Outlook

The Company is initiating guidance for 2019 with net sales expected to increase between 3 to 7% as compared to the prior year on an as-reported basis, and 2 to 6% on a core basis. Based on the strength of current end market conditions, we expect net sales in the first half of the year will grow approximately 10 to 12% on an as-reported basis, and 8 to 10% on a core basis. Net sales growth in the second half of 2019 could range from low single-digit declines to low single-digit increases, depending on the severity of power outages during the year.

Net income margins, before deducting for non-controlling interests, are expected to be between 11 to 12% for the full-year 2019, with adjusted EBITDA margins, also before deducting for non-controlling interests, expected to be between 20 to 21% for the year. Should there be a more active outage environment during 2019, we would expect margins to come in at the high end of the range.

Operating and free cash flow generation is expected to be strong, with the conversion of adjusted net income to free cash flow expected to be over 90%.

Mr. Jagdfeld concluded, “With this anticipated strong cash flow and available liquidity, we have tremendous flexibility with which to execute our long-term future strategic initiatives and drive shareholder value.”

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