AAON REPORTS SALES, EARNINGS & BACKLOG FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2023
- Record sales, EBITDA, and earnings for AAON, INC. in Q4 2023.
- Gross profit margin increased to 36.4% from 30.8% year-over-year.
- Net sales surged by 20.4% to $306.6 million in Q4 2023.
- Earnings per diluted share rose by 19.1% to $0.56 in Q4 2023.
- Backlog at the end of Q4 2023 stood at $510.0 million.
- None.
Insights
The financial results reported by AAON, INC. indicate a robust performance in the fourth quarter of 2023, with net sales increasing by 20.4% and gross profit up by 42.3%. The gross profit margin improvement to 36.4% from 30.8% is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests significant operational efficiency gains and effective pricing strategies. The reported earnings per diluted share growth of 19.1% reflects a strong bottom-line performance. These figures are critical for investors as they provide a snapshot of the company's profitability and operational success.
From a financial perspective, the year-over-year organic volume growth of approximately 9.3% is indicative of a healthy demand for AAON's products. The backlog decrease of 6.9% year over year might typically be a concern, suggesting a potential slowdown in future revenue. However, the sequential increase in backlog from the previous quarter could mitigate this concern, indicating a short-term uptick in demand. The company's cash flow growth outpacing earnings is a positive sign of efficient capital management and the strong balance sheet with a current ratio of 3.2 and a leverage ratio of 0.15 suggests financial stability and low debt levels, which are important for investor confidence.
AAON's performance in the HVAC industry, marked by record sales and earnings, demonstrates a competitive edge, particularly with its advanced position in new refrigerant equipment and cold climate air-source heat pumps. This technological advantage is likely to be a key driver in the company's market share growth, even in the face of a potentially slowing nonresidential construction sector. The company's proactive approach to offering a majority of its product portfolio with the new refrigerant positions it favorably against competitors, who may be slower to adapt to industry changes.
Moreover, the company's focus on productivity enhancements across operations suggests a commitment to continuous improvement and efficiency, which is essential in maintaining profitability in a competitive market. The strategic investments in capital expenditures reflect confidence in future growth opportunities, which is a positive signal to investors about the company's growth prospects. However, the mention of uncertainties surrounding the new refrigerant transition and a potentially slower market environment suggests that investors should monitor industry trends closely, as these factors could impact future performance.
AAON's financial results must be contextualized within the broader economic landscape, particularly the nonresidential construction sector. The company's cautious optimism in the face of signs of a market slowdown reflects a realistic approach to potential macroeconomic headwinds. The ability to drive growth despite these headwinds can be attributed to strategic product offerings and market positioning. For the broader HVAC industry, AAON's results could be a bellwether for the sector's health and resilience against economic fluctuations.
Additionally, the company's capital expenditure plans, despite a slowing market, indicate an anticipation of long-term growth and may contribute to economic activity in the sector. The focus on earnings to cash flow conversion rates suggests an emphasis on operational liquidity, which is crucial for sustaining investments and weathering periods of economic uncertainty. The company's financial health can have a ripple effect on suppliers, distributors and the overall industry supply chain, reinforcing the importance of AAON's performance in the wider economic context.
Gary Fields, CEO, stated, "I am extremely pleased with our overall results for 2023. We finished another year with record sales, EBITDA and earnings. The fourth quarter was also another strong quarter for AAON. In what typically is a seasonally soft period for the Company, we achieved comparable sales and earnings to what we reported in the third quarter, which was a record quarter for AAON. On a year-over-year perspective, improved productivity was a key factor to both production output and margin expansion. Our manufacturing teams did an excellent job of improving the efficiency of our operations, a trend we expect will continue in 2024. Gross profit margin of
Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased
Gross profit for the quarter increased
Earnings per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased
Financial Highlights: | Three Months Ended | % | Years Ended December 31, | % | |||||||||
2023 | 2022 | Change | 2023 | 2022 | Change | ||||||||
(in thousands, except share and per share | (in thousands, except share and per share | ||||||||||||
GAAP Measures | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ 306,638 | $ 254,598 | 20.4 % | $ 888,788 | 31.5 % | ||||||||
Gross profit | $ 111,739 | $ 78,541 | 42.3 % | $ 399,020 | $ 237,572 | 68.0 % | |||||||
Gross profit margin | 36.4 % | 30.8 % | 34.1 % | 26.7 % | |||||||||
Operating income | $ 63,884 | $ 46,598 | 37.1 % | $ 227,494 | $ 126,761 | 79.5 % | |||||||
Operating margin | 20.8 % | 18.3 % | 19.5 % | 14.3 % | |||||||||
Net income | $ 47,049 | $ 38,898 | 21.0 % | $ 177,623 | $ 100,376 | 77.0 % | |||||||
Earnings per diluted share | $ 0.56 | $ 0.47 | 19.1 % | $ 2.13 | $ 1.24 | 71.8 % | |||||||
Diluted average shares | 83,446,051 | 82,211,418 | 1.5 % | 83,295,290 | 81,145,610 | 2.6 % | |||||||
Non-GAAP Measures | |||||||||||||
EBITDA1 | $ 77,046 | $ 56,184 | 37.1 % | $ 274,465 | $ 162,266 | 69.1 % | |||||||
EBITDA margin1 | 25.1 % | 22.1 % | 23.5 % | 18.3 % | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA1 | $ 77,046 | $ 56,184 | 37.1 % | $ 281,215 | $ 162,266 | 73.3 % | |||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin1 | 25.1 % | 22.1 % | 24.1 % | 18.3 % | |||||||||
1These are non-GAAP measures. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for reconciliation to GAAP measures. | |||||||||||||
Backlog | |||||
December 31, | September 31, | December 31, | |||
Backlog | $ 510,028 | $ 490,591 | 548,022 | ||
Year over year change | (6.9) % | (4.7) % | 110.6 % |
Bookings in the fourth quarter increased sequentially for a second straight quarter and were up on a year-over-year basis. Bookings in the quarter also outpaced production, resulting in a quarter-over-quarter increase in backlog. Backlog at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023 was
Mr. Fields concluded, "As we progress through the early months of 2024, we are cautiously optimistic with the outlook for the current year. While increasingly there are signs of slowing in the nonresidential construction sector, along with uncertainties surrounding the new refrigerant transition, we continue to anticipate sales and earnings growth for the year, albeit at slower growth rates than recent years. We are also confident we will continue to take market share due to our advanced position in both new refrigerant equipment and cold climate air-source heat pumps. We currently have a majority of our product portfolio offered with the new refrigerant in our electronic catalog as well as a full line of packaged rooftop equipment configurable with heat pumps designed to operate down to zero degrees Fahrenheit, both of which provide us an advantage against most of our competition. At the same time, we see more opportunity for enhancements in productivity across our operations in 2024. Recently announced changes to Company leadership will help leverage these opportunities, best positioning AAON for growth. Therefore, while there are external factors that could result in a slower market environment, we are optimistic we will continue to drive growth this year and create more value for all of our stakeholders."
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of
Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its financial results and outlook on February 28, 2024 at 5:15 P.M. ET. The conference call will be accessible via a dial-in for those who wish to participate in Q&A as well as a listen-only webcast. The accessible dial-in is accessible at 1-800-836-8184. To access the listen-only webcast, please register at https://app.webinar.net/b6rzgxE5JyM. On the next business day following the call, a replay of the call will be available on the Company's website at https://aaon.com/Investors.
About AAON
Founded in 1988, AAON is a global leader in HVAC solutions for commercial and industrial indoor environments. The Company's industry-leading approach to designing and manufacturing highly configurable and custom-made equipment to meet exact needs creates a premier ownership experience with greater efficiency, performance and long-term value. AAON is headquartered in
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "should", "will", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligations to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include (1) the timing and extent of changes in raw material and component prices, (2) the effects of fluctuations in the commercial/industrial new construction market, (3) the timing and extent of changes in interest rates, as well as other competitive factors during the year, and (4) general economic, market or business conditions.
Contact Information
Joseph Mondillo
Director of Investor Relations
Phone: (617) 877-6346
Email: joseph.mondillo@aaon.com
AAON, Inc. and Subsidiaries | |||||||
Consolidated Statements of Income | |||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
(in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
Net sales | $ 306,638 | $ 254,598 | $ 1,168,518 | $ 888,788 | |||
Cost of sales | 194,899 | 176,057 | 769,498 | 651,216 | |||
Gross profit | 111,739 | 78,541 | 399,020 | 237,572 | |||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 47,855 | 31,943 | 171,539 | 110,823 | |||
Gain on disposal of assets | — | — | (13) | (12) | |||
Income from operations | 63,884 | 46,598 | 227,494 | 126,761 | |||
Interest expense, net | (884) | (933) | (4,843) | (2,627) | |||
Other income, net | 133 | 104 | 503 | 399 | |||
Income before taxes | 63,133 | 45,769 | 223,154 | 124,533 | |||
Income tax provision | 16,084 | 6,871 | 45,531 | 24,157 | |||
Net income | $ 47,049 | $ 38,898 | $ 177,623 | $ 100,376 | |||
Earnings per share: | |||||||
Basic | $ 0.58 | $ 0.49 | $ 2.19 | $ 1.26 | |||
Diluted | $ 0.56 | $ 0.47 | $ 2.13 | $ 1.24 | |||
Cash dividends declared per common share: | $ 0.08 | $ 0.16 | $ 0.32 | $ 0.29 | |||
Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||
Basic | 81,293,549 | 79,975,517 | 81,156,114 | 79,582,480 | |||
Diluted | 83,446,051 | 82,211,418 | 83,295,290 | 81,145,610 | |||
AAON, Inc. and Subsidiaries | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||
(Unaudited) | |||
December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||
Assets | (in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||
Current assets: | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 287 | $ 5,451 | |
Restricted cash | 8,736 | 498 | |
Accounts receivable, net | 138,108 | 127,158 | |
Inventories, net | 213,532 | 198,939 | |
Contract assets | 45,194 | 15,151 | |
Prepaid expenses and other | 3,097 | 1,919 | |
Total current assets | 408,954 | 349,116 | |
Property, plant and equipment: | |||
Land | 15,438 | 8,537 | |
Buildings | 205,841 | 169,156 | |
Machinery and equipment | 391,366 | 342,045 | |
Furniture and fixtures | 40,787 | 30,033 | |
Total property, plant and equipment | 653,432 | 549,771 | |
Less: Accumulated depreciation | 283,485 | 245,026 | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 369,947 | 304,745 | |
Intangible assets, net | 68,053 | 64,606 | |
Goodwill | 81,892 | 81,892 | |
Right of use assets | 11,774 | 7,123 | |
Other long-term assets | 816 | 6,421 | |
Total assets | $ 941,436 | $ 813,903 | |
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | |||
Current liabilities: | |||
Accounts payable | 27,484 | 45,513 | |
Accrued liabilities | 85,508 | 78,630 | |
Contract liabilities | 13,757 | 21,424 | |
Total current liabilities | 126,749 | 145,567 | |
Revolving credit facility, long-term | 38,328 | 71,004 | |
Deferred tax liabilities | 12,134 | 18,661 | |
Other long-term liabilities | 16,807 | 11,508 | |
New market tax credit obligation | 12,194 | 6,449 | |
Commitments and contingencies | |||
Stockholders' equity: | |||
Preferred stock, | — | — | |
Common stock, | 326 | 322 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 122,063 | 98,735 | |
Retained earnings | 612,835 | 461,657 | |
Total stockholders' equity | 735,224 | 560,714 | |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ 941,436 | $ 813,903 | |
AAON, Inc. and Subsidiaries | |||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | |||
(Unaudited) | |||
Years Ended | |||
2023 | 2022 | ||
Operating Activities | (in thousands) | ||
Net income | $ 177,623 | $ 100,376 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 46,468 | 35,106 | |
Amortization of debt issuance cost | 82 | 43 | |
Amortization of right of use assets | 324 | 324 | |
(Recoveries of) provision for accounts receivable, net of adjustments | (154) | (72) | |
Provision for excess and obsolete inventories, net of write-offs | 1,633 | 2,740 | |
Share-based compensation | 16,384 | 13,700 | |
Gain on disposition of assets | (13) | (12) | |
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss | (10) | 41 | |
Interest income on note receivable | (21) | (22) | |
Deferred income taxes | (6,527) | (13,332) | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||
Accounts receivable | (9,978) | (56,306) | |
Income taxes | (11,302) | 18,195 | |
Inventories | (16,226) | (71,409) | |
Contract assets | (30,043) | (9,402) | |
Prepaid expenses and other long-term assets | (1,048) | (2,367) | |
Accounts payable | (18,316) | 11,574 | |
Contract liabilities | (7,667) | 13,882 | |
Extended warranties | 2,600 | 1,314 | |
Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities | 15,086 | 16,945 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 158,895 | 61,318 | |
Investing Activities | |||
Capital expenditures | (104,294) | (54,024) | |
Cash paid for building | — | (22,000) | |
Cash paid in business combination, net of cash acquired | — | (249) | |
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment | 129 | 12 | |
Acquisition of intangible assets | (5,197) | — | |
Principal payments from note receivable | 51 | 48 | |
Net cash used in investing activities | (109,311) | (76,213) | |
Financing Activities | |||
Borrowings under revolving credit facility | 597,111 | 225,758 | |
Payments under revolving credit facility | (629,787) | (194,754) | |
Proceeds from financing obligation, net of issuance costs | 6,061 | — | |
Payments related to financing costs | (398) | — | |
Principal payments on financing lease | — | (115) | |
Stock options exercised | 33,259 | 23,140 | |
Repurchase of stock | (25,009) | (12,737) | |
Employee taxes paid by withholding shares | (1,302) | (1,018) | |
Dividends paid to stockholders | (26,445) | (22,917) | |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (46,510) | 17,357 | |
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 3,074 | 2,462 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period | 5,949 | 3,487 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | $ 9,023 | $ 5,949 | |
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the Company's consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), additional non-GAAP financial measures are provided and reconciled in the following tables. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results. The Company believes that this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the ability of investors to analyze the Company's business trends and operating performance as they are used by management to better understand operating performance. Since adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP measures and are susceptible to varying calculations, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin, as presented, may not be directly comparable with other similarly titled measures used by other companies.
Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income
The Company defines non-GAAP adjusted net income as net income adjusted for any infrequent events, such as litigation settlements, net of profit sharing and tax effect, in the periods presented.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (GAAP) to non-GAAP adjusted net income for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Net income, a GAAP measure | $ 47,049 | $ 38,898 | $ 177,623 | $ 100,376 | ||||
Litigation Settlement | — | — | 7,500 | — | ||||
Profit sharing effect1 | — | — | (750) | — | ||||
Tax effect | — | — | (1,242) | — | ||||
Non-GAAP adjusted net income | 47,049 | 38,898 | 183,131 | 100,376 | ||||
Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share2 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.47 | $ 2.20 | $ 1.24 | ||||
1Profit sharing effect of litigation settlement in the respective period. | ||||||||
2Reflects three-for-two stock split effective August 16, 2023. | ||||||||
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA (as defined below) is presented herein and reconciled from the GAAP measure of net income because of its wide acceptance by the investment community as a financial indicator of a company's ability to internally fund operations. The Company defines EBITDA as net income, plus (1) depreciation and amortization, (2) interest expense (income), net and (3) income tax expense. EBITDA is not a measure of net income or cash flows as determined by GAAP. EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA as a percentage of net sales.
The Company's EBITDA measure provides additional information which may be used to better understand the Company's operations. EBITDA is one of several metrics that the Company uses as a supplemental financial measurement in the evaluation of its business and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, as an indicator of operating performance. Certain items excluded from EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance. EBITDA, as used by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company believes that EBITDA is a widely followed measure of operating performance and is one of many metrics used by the Company's management team and by other users of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as EBITDA adjusted by items in non-GAAP adjusted net income, above, except for taxes, as taxes are already excluded from EBITDA.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (GAAP) to EBITDA (non-GAAP) and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Net income, a GAAP measure | $ 47,049 | $ 38,898 | $ 177,623 | $ 100,376 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 13,029 | 9,482 | 46,468 | 35,106 | ||||
Interest expense | 884 | 933 | 4,843 | 2,627 | ||||
Income tax expense | 16,084 | 6,871 | 45,531 | 24,157 | ||||
EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure | 77,046 | 56,184 | 274,465 | 162,266 | ||||
Litigation Settlement | — | — | 7,500 | — | ||||
Profit sharing effect1 | — | — | (750) | — | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure | $ 77,046 | $ 56,184 | $ 281,215 | $ 162,266 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin | 25.1 % | 22.1 % | 24.1 % | 18.3 % | ||||
1Profit sharing effect of litigation settlement in the respective period. | ||||||||
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SOURCE AAON
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