Ashland reports preliminary financial results1 for third quarter of fiscal year 2021

Rhea-AI Summary

Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ASH) reported preliminary financial results for Q3 of fiscal 2021, achieving sales of $637 million, an 11% increase year-over-year. Net income rose to $80 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, up from $37 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA reached $148 million, driven by strong demand, despite challenges from supply-chain disruptions and raw material costs. Cash flows from operations totaled $233 million, with free cash flows at $210 million. The company reaffirmed its full-year expectations amidst ongoing market challenges.

Positive

• Sales increased by 11% year-over-year, reaching $637 million.
• Net income rose to $80 million, improving from $37 million in the previous year.
• Adjusted EBITDA was up to $148 million from $143 million year-over-year.
• Free cash flows were significantly higher at $210 million compared to $112 million in the prior-year quarter.

Negative

• Continued supply chain disruptions affected sales and costs.
• Soft pharma sales and weaknesses in personal care markets due to hand-sanitizer ingredient declines.

• Sales of $637 million, up eleven percent from the prior-year quarter
• Net income of $80 million, or $1.29 per diluted share
• Income from continuing operations of $87 million, or $1.40 per diluted share
• Adjusted income from continuing operations excluding intangibles amortization expense of $75 million, or $1.22 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $148 million
• Cash flows provided by operating activities of $233 million; free cash flows of $210 million

WILMINGTON, Del., July 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today announced preliminary¹ financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, which ended June 30, 2021. The global specialty materials company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets.

Sales were $637 million, up eleven percent compared to the prior-year period. Strong demand was partially offset by continued weakness in hand-sanitizer ingredients and Avoca. Global supply-chain and logistics disruptions also limited the company’s ability to meet all customer demand. Foreign currency favorably impacted sales by three percent.

Net income was $80 million compared to $37 million in the prior-year quarter. Income from continuing operations was $87 million compared to $50 million in the prior-year quarter, or $1.40 per diluted share compared to $0.81 in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted income from continuing operations excluding intangibles amortization expense was $75 million compared to $68 million in the prior-year quarter, or $1.22 per diluted share, up from $1.12 in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $148 million, up from $143 million in the prior-year quarter. Global supply-chain disruptions and raw-material cost escalation in Performance Adhesives contributed to higher-than-expected costs during the quarter.

Cash flows provided by operating activities totaled $233 million compared to $140 million in the prior-year quarter. Free cash flows totaled $210 million compared to $112 million in the prior-year quarter. The current-year period included $90 million of cash inflows from the new U.S. Accounts Receivables Sales Program.

“As we indicated during our earnings update on June 10, overall demand during the quarter was strong, though global supply-chain challenges continued to impact both sales and costs,” said Guillermo Novo, chairman and chief executive officer, Ashland. “Sales for our industrial businesses reached pre-pandemic levels and the demand for core consumer products demonstrated continued resilience.”

“I am pleased with the progress our team has made executing our strategy, especially in the context of a difficult operating environment,” continued Novo. “The persistence of the global pandemic continues to impact consumer behavior, delaying recovery of some key global markets. In addition, challenges related to raw-material and supply-chain logistics are realities we continued to face during the quarter. We are working to capitalize on the strong demand environment and satisfy incremental demand from our customers. As such, our expectations for Ashland’s full-year results have not changed,” added Novo.

“Finally, I am pleased that we closed the Schülke & Mayr personal care transaction during the quarter and we welcomed our new colleagues to the Ashland team. Our well-experienced teams are working diligently to integrate the acquisition into our existing portfolio for consumer products. We are establishing a center-of-excellence at the Hamburg, Germany location, and we are excited by the opportunity to reach a broader group of customers with new technology that is crucial to our strategy of growth through sustainable innovation,” concluded Novo.

Reportable Segment Performance
To aid in the understanding of Ashland’s ongoing business performance, the results of Ashland’s reportable segments are described below on an adjusted basis. In addition, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are reconciled to operating income in Table 4. Free cash flow and adjusted operating income are reconciled in Table 6 and adjusted income from continuing operations, adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted diluted earnings per share excluding intangible amortization expense are reconciled in Table 7 of this news release. These adjusted results are considered non-GAAP financial measures.  For a full description of the non-GAAP financial measures used, see the “Use of Non-GAAP Measures” section that further describes these adjustments below.

Consumer Specialties

Sales were $340 million, down one percent from the prior-year quarter. Pharma sales were softer than the strong prior-year period, and supply-chain challenges constrained our ability to deliver products globally. Nutrition and nutraceuticals sales reflected an improved demand environment. Sales in personal care and household end markets were down primarily due to weakness in hand-sanitizer ingredients and Avoca when compared to the prior year. These impacts were partially offset by the addition of sales from the recently acquired Schülke & Mayr personal care business. Foreign currency favorably impacted sales by three percent.

Operating income was $53 million, compared to $56 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $92 million, up two percent from the prior-year quarter, primarily reflecting favorable foreign currency and improved costs.

Industrial Specialties

Sales were $263 million, up 28 percent from the prior-year quarter when pandemic-related lockdowns were in effect across much of the globe. Improved demand was realized across all end markets and regions of the world, except for global energy markets, which remain challenged. Foreign currency favorably impacted sales by four percent.

Operating income was $28 million, consistent with the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $55 million, up two percent from the prior-year quarter, as strong sales growth was offset by increased manufacturing and shipping costs in addition to unfavorable price versus raw-material costs within Performance Adhesives.

Intermediates & Solvents

Sales were $49 million, up 32 percent from the prior-year quarter, driven by higher pricing for both merchant and captive sales.

Operating income was $11 million, up from $7 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $15 million, up from $11 million in the prior-year quarter, reflecting the higher pricing.

Unallocated & Other

Unallocated and Other expense was $30 million, compared to $43 million in the prior-year quarter which included $14 million of restructuring costs. Adjusted Unallocated and Other expense was $14 million, compared to $12 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily due to higher deferred-compensation accruals in the current-year period.

Conference Call Webcast
Ashland will host a live webcast of its third-quarter conference call with securities analysts at 9:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. The webcast will be accessible through Ashland’s website at http://investor.ashland.com and will include a slide presentation. Following the live event, an archived version of the webcast and supporting materials will be available for 12 months on http://investor.ashland.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures
Ashland believes that by removing the impact of depreciation and amortization and excluding certain non-cash charges, amounts spent on interest and taxes and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA margin and adjusted EBITDA margin provide Ashland’s investors with performance measures that reflect the impact to operations from trends in changes in sales, margin and operating expenses, providing a perspective not immediately apparent from net income, operating income, net income margin and operating income margin. The adjustments Ashland makes to derive the non-GAAP measures of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA margin and adjusted EBITDA margin exclude items which may cause short-term fluctuations in net income and operating income and which Ashland does not consider to be the fundamental attributes or primary drivers of its business. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA margin and adjusted EBITDA margin provide disclosure on the same basis as that used by Ashland’s management to evaluate financial performance on a consolidated and reportable segment basis and provide consistency in our financial reporting, facilitate internal and external comparisons of Ashland’s historical operating performance and its business units and provide continuity to investors for comparability purposes. EBITDA margin and adjusted EBITDA margin are defined as EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA divided by sales for the corresponding period.

Key items, which are set forth on Table 7 of this release, are defined as financial effects from significant transactions that, either by their nature or amount, have caused short-term fluctuations in net income and/or operating income which Ashland does not consider to most accurately reflect Ashland’s underlying business performance and trends.  Further, Ashland believes that providing supplemental information that excludes the financial effects of these items in the financial results will enhance the investor’s ability to compare financial performance between reporting periods.

Tax-specific key items, which are set forth on Table 7 of this release, are defined as financial transactions, tax law changes or other matters that fall within the definition of key items as described above.  These items relate solely to tax matters and would only be recorded within the income tax caption of the Statement of Consolidated Income.  As with all key items, due to their nature, Ashland does not consider the financial effects of these tax-specific key items on net income to be the most accurate reflection of Ashland’s underlying business performance and trends.

The free cash flow metric enables Ashland to provide a better indication of the ongoing cash being generated that is ultimately available for both debt and equity holders as well as other investment opportunities. Unlike cash flow provided by operating activities, free cash flow includes the impact of capital expenditures from continuing operations, providing a more complete picture of cash generation. Free cash flow has certain limitations, including that it does not reflect adjustment for certain non-discretionary cash flows such as mandatory debt repayments. The amount of mandatory versus discretionary expenditures can vary significantly between periods.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share is a performance measure used by Ashland and is defined by Ashland as earnings (loss) from continuing operations, adjusted for identified key items and divided by the number of outstanding diluted shares of common stock.  Ashland believes this measure provides investors additional insights into operational performance by providing earnings and diluted earnings per share metrics that exclude the effect of the identified key items and tax specific key items.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share, excluding intangibles amortization expense metric enables Ashland to demonstrate the impact of non-cash intangibles amortization expense on earnings per share, in addition to key items previously mentioned. Ashland’s management believes this presentation is helpful to illustrate how previous acquisitions impact applicable period results.

About Ashland 
Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a premier specialty materials company with a conscious and proactive mindset for sustainability. The company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including adhesives, architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, nutraceuticals, personal care and pharmaceutical. Approximately 4,200 passionate, tenacious solvers – from renowned scientists and research chemists to talented engineers and plant operators – thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com and Ashland | Sustainability Overview to learn more. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Ashland has identified some of these forward-looking statements with words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “is likely,” “predicts,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “objectives,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “plans” and “intends” and the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. Ashland may from time to time make forward-looking statements in its annual reports, quarterly reports and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), news releases and other written and oral communications. These forward-looking statements are based on Ashland’s expectations and assumptions, as of the date such statements are made, regarding Ashland’s future operating performance, financial condition, and expected effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ashland’s business, as well as the economy and other future events or circumstances. These statements include but may not be limited to Ashland’s expectations regarding its ability to drive sales and earnings growth and realize further cost reductions.

Ashland’s expectations and assumptions include, without limitation, internal forecasts and analyses of current and future market conditions and trends, management plans and strategies, operating efficiencies and economic conditions (such as prices, supply and demand, cost of raw materials, and the ability to recover raw-material cost increases through price increases), and risks and uncertainties associated with the following: the impact of acquisitions and/or divestitures Ashland has made or may make (including the possibility that Ashland may not realize the anticipated benefits from such transactions); Ashland’s substantial indebtedness (including the possibility that such indebtedness and related restrictive covenants may adversely affect Ashland’s future cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and its ability to repay debt); severe weather, natural disasters, public-health crises (including the current COVID-19 pandemic), cyber events and legal proceedings and claims (including product recalls, environmental and asbestos matters); the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the geographies in which we operate, the end markets we serve and on our supply chain and customers, and without limitation, risks and uncertainties affecting Ashland that are described in Ashland’s most recent Form 10-K (including Item 1A Risk Factors) filed with the SEC, which is available on Ashland’s website at http://investor.ashland.com or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Various risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, projected or implied by any forward-looking statements. The extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations is uncertain. Factors that will influence the impact on our business and operations include the duration and extent of the pandemic, the extent of imposed or recommended containment and mitigation measures, and the general economic consequences of the pandemic. Ashland believes its expectations and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance that the expectations reflected herein will be achieved. Unless legally required, Ashland undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

¹Financial results are preliminary until Ashland’s Form 10-Q is filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

™ Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Investor Relations:                                                     Media Relations:
Seth A. Mrozek                                                          Carolmarie C. Brown
+1 (302) 594-5010                                                      +1 (302) 995-3158
samrozek@ashland.com                                         ccbrown@ashland.com

Attachment

• Q3 2021 Earnings Release with Tables - vFINAL

FAQ

What were Ashland's Q3 2021 sales figures?

Ashland reported sales of $637 million for Q3 2021, an 11% increase from the previous year.

What is Ashland's net income for Q3 2021?

The net income for Ashland in Q3 2021 was $80 million, or $1.29 per diluted share.

How did supply chain issues impact Ashland's performance?

Supply chain disruptions limited Ashland's ability to meet customer demand, negatively affecting sales and costs.

What are Ashland's cash flow figures for Q3 2021?

Ashland reported cash flows from operating activities of $233 million and free cash flows of $210 million.

What guidance did Ashland provide for the full fiscal year 2021?

Ashland reaffirmed its full-year expectations despite ongoing market challenges.