Drives Quarter over Quarter Sequential Gross Margin Improvement In a Dynamic Operating Environment

• First-quarter net sales up 6.8% compared to the same prior year period, to $932.7 million; Professional segment net sales up 3.5%, Residential segment net sales up 17.3%
• First-quarter reported and *adjusted diluted EPS of $0.66
• Gross margin results improved sequentially from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, driven by increased net price realization and enhanced operational performance; comparisons to the same prior-year period were affected by increased inflationary pressures and product availability constraints

BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) today reported results for its fiscal first-quarter ended January 28, 2022.

“We achieved solid financial results for the quarter and continued to advance our strategic initiatives,” said Richard M. Olson, chairman and chief executive officer. “Demand across our businesses remained robust, while supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures continued. Our team kept a sharp focus on operational execution and serving our customers as they collaborated with suppliers and channel partners. This focus allowed us to drive productivity gains, achieve sequential margin improvement and fund investments for a sustainable future, all of which enabled us to extend our market leadership.

“We continued to invest in new products and acquisitions that align with our strategic priorities and bolster our reputation for best-in-class performance and technology. In January, our acquisition of the Intimidator Group added the complementary Spartan line of professional zero-turn mowers. Spartan is known for its exceptional performance, features, durability, and distinctive styling. The acquisition positions us to be an even stronger player in the large and rapidly growing zero-turn mower market, enhancing customer reach and geographic strength. More recently, at the GCSAA golf industry show, we introduced our GeoLink Solutions Autonomous Fairway Mower, which represents an important milestone in advancing our autonomous vision.”

FIRST-QUARTER FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Net sales of $932.7 million, up 6.8% from $873.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

• Net earnings of $69.5 million, down 37.5% from $111.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021; *adjusted net earnings of $69.7 million, down 25.3% from $93.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

• Reported EPS of $0.66 per diluted share versus $1.02 per diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal 2021; *adjusted EPS of $0.66 per diluted share versus $0.85 per diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

• Utilized cash on hand and existing credit facilities to acquire the Intimidator Group, and returned $106.5 million to shareholders through regular dividends of $31.5 million and share repurchases of $75.0 million.

OUTLOOK

“The Toro Company team worldwide continues to work diligently to advance our strategic priorities and fulfill our purpose of helping our customers enrich the beauty, productivity and sustainability of the land,” added Olson. “These efforts are rooted in our world-class innovation capabilities and enterprise-wide operational excellence, which together, will help drive our sales momentum, margin expansion, and enterprise value for all stakeholders. While we are seeing improvements in our manufacturing performance, as well as positive indicators in our supply chain, we acknowledge that the recent geopolitical events may create additional challenges. Our operational efficiency and market leadership position us well to manage through this environment and take our business to the next level.

“Our inspired team is focused on delivering results. The strength of our purpose and culture, founded upon our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and caring relationships, helps us attract top talent. The Toro Company's focus on accelerating profitable growth, driving productivity and operational excellence, and empowering people sets us up to emerge from the current cycle even stronger.”

The company is raising its full-year fiscal 2022 net sales guidance to incorporate the Intimidator Group acquisition, and now expects total net sales growth in the range of 12% to 14%. In light of the current geopolitical environment, the company is holding its *adjusted EPS guidance in the range of $3.90 to $4.10 per diluted share. This guidance is based on current visibility, and reflects expectations for continued strong demand and increasing net price realization.

FIRST-QUARTER FISCAL 2022 SEGMENT RESULTS

Professional Segment

• Professional segment net sales for the first quarter were $672.9 million, up 3.5% compared with $650.2 million in the same period last year. The increase was driven primarily by net price realization, partially offset by lower volume in certain key product categories due to product availability constraints.

• Professional segment earnings for the first quarter were $93.3 million, down 20.2% compared with $116.8 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 13.9%, down from 18.0% in the prior-year period. The decrease was largely due to higher material, freight and manufacturing costs, partially offset by increased net price realization.

Residential Segment

• Residential segment net sales for the first quarter were $255.4 million, up 17.3% compared with $217.7 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to net price realization and higher shipments of zero-turn riding and walk power mowers.

• Residential segment earnings for the first quarter were $31.8 million, down 1.1% compared with $32.1 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 12.4%, down from 14.7% in the prior-year period. The decrease was largely driven by higher material and freight costs, partially offset by increased net price realization and productivity improvements.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin for the first quarter was 32.2%, compared with 36.1% for the same prior-year period. The decrease was primarily due to higher material and freight costs, partially offset by increased net price realization.

SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales for the first quarter was 22.4% compared with 19.9% in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to the favorable impact of a one-time legal settlement in the prior year that did not reoccur, as well as increased investments in research, engineering and marketing in the current-year period.

Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales were 9.8% for the first quarter, compared with 16.2% in the same prior-year period. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales for the first quarter were 9.9%, compared with 14.2% in the same prior-year period.

Interest expense was down $0.5 million for the first quarter to $7.0 million, driven by lower average debt levels and decreased interest rates.

The reported effective tax rate for the first quarter was 20.2%, compared with 18.1% for the same prior-year period. The reported effective tax rate increase was primarily due to lower tax benefits recorded as excess tax deductions for stock compensation. The *adjusted effective tax rate for the first quarter was 20.9%, compared with 21.5% in the first quarter of 2021.

*Non-GAAP financial measure. Please see the tables provided for a reconciliation of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures.

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL
March 3, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. CST
www.thetorocompany.com/invest

The Toro Company will conduct its earnings call and webcast for investors beginning at 10:00 a.m. CST on March 3, 2022. The webcast will be available at www.thetorocompany.com/invest. Webcast participants will need to complete a brief registration form and should allocate extra time before the webcast begins to register and, if necessary, install audio software.

About The Toro Company

The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. With sales of $4.0 billion in fiscal 2021, The Toro Company’s global presence extends to more than 125 countries through a family of brands that includes Toro, Ditch Witch, Exmark, Spartan Mowers, BOSS Snowplow, Ventrac, American Augers, Trencor, Pope, Subsite Electronics, HammerHead, Radius HDD, Perrot, Hayter, Unique Lighting Systems, Irritrol, and Lawn-Boy. Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and integrity, The Toro Company and its family of brands have built a legacy of excellence by helping customers work on golf courses, sports fields, construction sites, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties and agricultural operations. For more information, visit www.thetorocompany.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release and our related earnings call reference certain non-GAAP financial measures, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as information supplemental and in addition to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures included within this press release and our related earnings call that are utilized as measures of our operating performance consist of operating earnings, earnings before income taxes, net earnings, net earnings per diluted share, and the effective tax rate, each as adjusted. The non-GAAP financial measures included within this press release and our related earnings call that are utilized as measures of our liquidity consist of free cash flow and free cash flow conversion percentage.

The Toro Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making operating decisions and assessing liquidity because it believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding core operational performance and cash flows, as a measure of the company's liquidity, and provide the company with a better understanding of how to allocate resources to both ongoing and prospective business initiatives. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures facilitate the company's internal comparisons for both historical operating results and competitors' operating results by factoring out potential differences caused by charges and benefits not related to its regular, ongoing business, including, without limitation, certain non-cash, large, and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions and dispositions; legal judgments, settlements, or other matters; and tax positions. The company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered in conjunction with the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, provide investors with useful supplemental financial information to better understand its core operational performance and cash flows.

Reconciliations of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures are included in the financial tables contained in this press release. These non-GAAP financial measures, however, should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the U.S. GAAP financial measures included within this press release and the company’s related earnings call. These non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similar measures used by other companies.

The Toro Company cannot provide quantitative reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided herein or in its related earnings call without unreasonable effort because the combined effect and timing of recognition of potential charges or gains is inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. In addition, since any adjustments could have a substantial effect on U.S. GAAP measures of financial performance, such quantitative reconciliations would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors. From a qualitative perspective, it is anticipated that the differences between the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure will consist of items similar to those described in the financial tables later in this release, including, for example and without limitation, certain non-cash, large, and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions and dispositions; legal judgments, settlements, or other matters; and tax positions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current assumptions and expectations of future events, and often can be identified by words such as “expect,” “strive,” “looking ahead,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “forecast,” “goal,” “optimistic,” “encourage,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “improve,” “believe,” “become,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “possible,” “promise,” “may,” “likely,” “intend,” “can,” “seek,” “pursue,” “potential,” “pro forma,” variations of such words or the negative thereof, and similar expressions or future dates. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Forward-looking statements in this release include the company’s fiscal 2022 financial guidance, expectations that supply chain and inflationary pressures will normalize over time, and for continued strong demand and increasing net price realization and slight improvement in the operating environment in the second half of the year. Particular risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operating results or financial position include: COVID-19 related factors, risks, and challenges; adverse worldwide economic conditions, including inflationary pressures; disruption at or in proximity to its facilities or in its manufacturing or other operations, or those in its distribution channel customers, mass retailers or home centers where its products are sold, or suppliers; fluctuations in the cost and availability of commodities, components, parts, and accessories, including steel, engines, hydraulics and resins; the effect of abnormal weather patterns; the effect of natural disasters, social unrest, war and global pandemics; the level of growth or contraction in its key markets; customer, government and municipal revenue, budget, spending levels and cash conservation efforts; loss of any substantial customer; inventory adjustments or changes in purchasing patterns by customers; the company’s ability to develop and achieve market acceptance for new products; increased competition; the risks attendant to international relations, operations and markets; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; financial viability of and/or relationships with the company’s distribution channel partners; risks associated with acquisitions and dispositions, including the company's recent acquisition of Intimidator Group; impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets; impacts of any restructuring activities; management of alliances or joint ventures, including Red Iron Acceptance, LLC; impact of laws, regulations and standards, consumer product safety, accounting, taxation, trade, tariffs and/or antidumping and countervailing duties petitions, healthcare, and environmental, health and safety matters; unforeseen product quality problems; loss of or changes in executive management or key employees; the occurrence of litigation or claims, including those involving intellectual property or product liability matters; impact of increased scrutiny on its environmental, social, and governance practices; and other risks and uncertainties described in the company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or current reports on Form 8-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company makes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances occurring or existing after the date any forward-looking statement is made.

(Financial tables follow)

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per-share data)

The company has provided financial measures that are not calculated or presented in accordance with United States ("U.S.") generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") ("non-GAAP financial measures"), as information supplemental and in addition to the most directly comparable financial measures presented in the accompanying press release that are calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making operating decisions and assessing liquidity because the company believes they provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the company's core operational performance and cash flows, as a measure of the company's liquidity, and provide the company with a better understanding of how to allocate resources to both ongoing and prospective business initiatives. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures facilitate management's internal comparisons to both the company's historical operating results and to the company's competitors' operating results by factoring out potential differences caused by charges and benefits not related to the company's regular, ongoing business, including, without limitation, certain non-cash, large, and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions or dispositions; legal judgments, settlements or other matters; and tax positions. The company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when considered in conjunction with the company's financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, provide investors with useful supplemental financial information to better understand the company's core operational performance and cash flows. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures presented in the accompanying press release. The non-GAAP financial measures presented in the accompanying press release may differ from similar measures used by other companies.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures

The following table provides a reconciliation of financial performance measures calculated and reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP to the most directly comparable non-GAAP financial performance measures included within the accompanying press release for the three month periods ended January 28, 2022 and January 29, 2021:

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Liquidity Measures

The company defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. Non-GAAP free cash flow conversion percentage represents non-GAAP free cash flow as a percentage of net earnings. The company considers non-GAAP free cash flow and non-GAAP free cash flow conversion percentage to be liquidity measures that provide useful information to management and investors about the company's ability to convert net earnings into cash resources that can be used to pursue opportunities to enhance shareholder value, fund ongoing and prospective business initiatives, and strengthen the company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, after reinvesting in necessary capital expenditures required to maintain and grow the company's business. The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to non-GAAP free cash flow for the three month periods ended January 28, 2022 and January 29, 2021:

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Investor Relations

Julie Kerekes

Treasurer and Sr. Managing Director, Global Tax

and Investor Relations

(952) 887-8846, [email protected]

Media Relations

Branden Happel

Senior Manager, Public Relations

(952) 887-8930, [email protected]

Source: The Toro Company