American Vanguard Reports Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2020 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE: AVD) reported its financial results for Q4 and FY 2020. In Q4 2020, net sales increased to $141 million from $131 million in Q4 2019. Net income rose to $7.9 million, with earnings per diluted share of $0.26. For the full year, net sales were $459 million, down from $468 million in 2019, but net income increased to $15.2 million, yielding earnings per diluted share of $0.51. The company anticipates low double-digit revenue growth in 2021 due to an improved economic environment and strategic acquisitions.

Positive

• Q4 2020 net sales increased to $141 million, up from $131 million in Q4 2019.
• Q4 2020 net income rose to $7.9 million from $3.4 million in Q4 2019.
• Full year net income for 2020 was $15.2 million, compared to $13.6 million in 2019.
• Earnings per diluted share improved to $0.51 in 2020 from $0.46 in 2019.
• Company expects low double-digit revenue growth in 2021.

Negative

• Full year net sales decreased to $459 million in 2020, down from $468 million in 2019.
• EBITDA declined to $47.6 million in 2020 from $48.9 million in 2019.

American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE: AVD) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

Fiscal 2020 Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights – versus Fiscal 2019 Fourth Quarter:

• Net sales were $141 million in 2020, compared to $131 million in 2019
• Net income was $7.9 million in 2020, compared to $3.4 million in 2019
• Earnings per diluted share of $0.26 in 2020, compared to $0.12 in 2019
• EBITDA¹of $17.1 million in 2020, compared to $12.0 million in 2019

Fiscal 2020 Full Year Financial Highlights – versus Fiscal 2019 Full Year:

• Net sales were $459 million in 2020, compared to $468 million in 2019
• Net income was $15.2 million in 2020, compared to $13.6 million in 2019
• Earnings per diluted share of $0.51 in 2020, compared to $0.46 in 2019
• EBITDA¹ of $47.6 million in 2020, compared to $48.9 million in 2019

Eric Wintemute, Chairman and CEO of American Vanguard, stated: “2020 proved to be a very challenging year as the world coped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Global implementation of restrictive public health protocols resulted in conservative distribution channel procurement behavior, significant sales and marketing customer access limitations, and dramatic adaptation to remote work processes in many operational and administrative functions. Throughout the year, we maintained very strict health and safety regimens and thankfully have been able to keep AMVAC manufacturing facilities fully functioning and our workforce largely free of serious illness.”

Mr. Wintemute continued: “Despite a difficult and somewhat depressed revenue global environment, our 2020 year-over-year bottom-line performance has increased significantly. This resulted from pandemic restrictions affecting travel activities, lower interest expenses primarily due to reduced federal base lending rate, the benefit of securing a biological technology acquisition at a favorable purchase price, and other non-operating income. Recent product acquisitions continue to broaden our traditional portfolio and company acquisitions have expanded the footprint of our international business. This diversification along with our financial discipline allowed us to achieve reasonable revenue, strong profitability and a de-levered balance sheet despite the difficult business circumstances of this past year.”

Mr. Wintemute concluded: “Looking forward, we believe that our Company is situated well in both domestic and international markets and are consequently optimistic about the prospects for low double-digit revenue growth in 2021. This optimism is driven by the belief that global economies are poised to start re-opening, higher commodity prices will encourage crop protection procurement, the expectation of larger corn acreage in the U.S., continued steady supply availability of key raw and intermediate materials, greater AMVAC product participation in the soybean segment, and the continued expansion of our international business. Looking forward, we expect gross profit margins to remain strong and operating expenses will be tightly managed as we return to more normal operations during the middle to later part of 2021. Further, we will continue to develop our innovative Envance, biological and SIMPAS technologies which collectively represent an integrated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) platform. We look forward to giving you a more detailed presentation during our upcoming earnings call.”

Conference Call

Eric Wintemute, Chairman & CEO, Bob Trogele, EVP & COO and David T. Johnson, VP & CFO, will conduct a conference call focusing on the financial results and strategic themes…at 4:30 pm ET on March 11, 2020. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing (201) 493-6744. Please call in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and ask for the American Vanguard call. The conference call will also be webcast live via the News and Media section of the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com. To listen to the live webcast, go to the web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call will be archived on the Company’s web site.

About American Vanguard

American Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets products for crop protection and management, turf and ornamentals management and public and animal health. American Vanguard is included on the Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes and the Standard & Poor’s Small Cap 600 Index. To learn more about American Vanguard, please reference the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com.

The Company, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s SEC reports and filings. All forward-looking statements, if any, in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS December 31, 2020 and 2019 (In thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
		2020				2019
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	15,923			$	6,581
Receivables:
Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,297 and $2,300, respectively			119,071				136,075
Other			8,444				16,949
Total receivables, net			127,515				153,024
Inventories, net			163,784				163,313
Prepaid expenses			11,112				10,457
Income taxes receivable			3,046				2,824
Total current assets			321,380				336,199
Property, plant and equipment, net			65,382				56,521
Operating lease right-of-use assets			12,198				11,258
Intangible assets, net of amortization			197,514				198,261
Goodwill			52,108				46,673
Other assets			18,602				21,186
Total assets		$	667,184			$	670,098
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Current installments of other liabilities		$	2,647			$	1,513
Accounts payable			59,254				64,881
Deferred revenue			32,652				6,826
Accrued program costs			45,441				47,699
Accrued expenses and other payables			16,797				12,815
Operating lease liabilities, current			4,188				4,904
Total current liabilities			160,979				138,638
Long-term debt, net of deferred loan fees			107,442				148,766
Other liabilities, excluding current installments			9,054				12,890
Operating lease liabilities, long-term			8,177				6,503
Deferred income tax liabilities, net			20,796				19,145
Total liabilities			306,448				325,942
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 400,000 shares; none issued			—				—
Common stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued 33,922,433 shares in 2020 and 33,233,614 shares in 2019			3,394				3,324
Additional paid-in capital			96,642				90,572
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(9,322	)			(5,698	)
Retained earnings			288,182				274,118
			378,896				362,316
Less treasury stock at cost, 3,061,040 shares in 2020 and 2019			(18,160	)			(18,160	)
Total stockholders’ equity			360,736				344,156
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	667,184			$	670,098

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the years and quarters ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
	For the quarters ended December 31,							For the years ended December 31,
	2020			2019				2020			2019
Net sales	$	140,747		$	130,521			$	458,704		$	468,186
Cost of sales		90,109			83,985				286,114			290,832
Gross profit		50,638			46,536				172,590			177,354
Operating expenses		44,740			40,279				153,622			151,133
Bargain purchase gain on business acquisition		(4,657	)		—				(4,657	)		—
Operating income		10,555			6,257				23,625			26,221
Interest expense, net		1,374			1,605				5,178			7,209
Income before provision for income taxes and loss on equity method investment		9,181			4,652				18,447			19,012
Provision for income taxes		1,228			1,155				3,080			5,202
Income before loss on equity method investment		7,953			3,497				15,367			13,810
Less net loss from equity method investment		45			61				125			209
Net income	$	7,908		$	3,436			$	15,242		$	13,601
Earnings per common share—basic	$	0.27		$	0.12			$	0.52		$	0.47
Earnings per common share—assuming dilution	$	0.26		$	0.12			$	0.51		$	0.46
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic		29,598			29,081				29,450			29,030
Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution		30,194			29,853				29,993			29,656

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES ANALYSIS OF SALES For the years and quarters ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (Unaudited)
	For the quarters ended December 31,							For the years ended December 31,
	2020			2019				2020			2019
Net sales:
U.S. crop	$	74,537		$	62,567			$	223,167		$	220,635
U.S. non-crop		10,675			19,521				48,557			61,590
Total U.S.		85,212			82,088				271,724			282,225
International		55,535			48,433				186,980			185,961
Total net sales	$	140,747		$	130,521			$	458,704		$	468,186
Gross profit:
U.S. crop	$	30,221		$	26,370			$	98,340		$	95,429
U.S. non-crop		3,690			8,269				22,225			29,713
Total U.S.		33,911			34,639				120,565			125,142
International		16,727			11,897				52,025			52,212
Total gross profit	$	50,638		$	46,536			$	172,590		$	177,354

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (In thousands) (Unaudited)
		2020				2019
Increase cash
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	15,242			$	13,601
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets			19,902				18,643
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment			119				—
Amortization of other long-term assets			4,246				4,207
Amortization of discounted liabilities			9				72
Provision for bad debts			1,002				1,035
Revision of contingent consideration			—				(4,120	)
Stock-based compensation			6,561				7,160
Increase (decrease) in deferred income taxes			969				2,616
Changes in liabilities for uncertain tax positions			(2,092	)			263
Change in investment fair value			(717	)			—
Loss from equity method investment			125				209
Bargain purchase gain			(4,657	)			—
Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations, net of business combinations:
(Increase) decrease in net receivables			26,517				(11,383	)
(Increase) decrease in inventories			7,421				3,817
(Increase) decrease in income tax receivable, net			(287	)			(6,855	)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets			(474	)			(876	)
Increase in net operating lease liability			18				149
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable			(8,124	)			(7,977	)
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue			25,845				(13,355	)
Increase (decrease) in accrued program costs			(2,517	)			5,797
Increase (decrease) in other payables and accrued expenses			89				(3,434	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			89,197				9,569
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(11,249	)			(12,985	)
Investments			(1,190	)			—
Acquisitions of businesses and product lines, and intangible assets additions			(23,356	)			(41,852	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(35,795	)			(54,837	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net (payments) borrowings under line of credit agreement			(41,623	)			51,900
Cash paid to acquire non-controlling interest			—				—
Payment on deferred consideration			—				(850	)
Net receipt (payment) from the issuance of common stock (sale of stock under ESPP, exercise of stock options and shares purchased for tax withholding)			(421	)			283
Repurchase of common stock			—				(2,604	)
Payment of cash dividends			(1,168	)			(2,323	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(43,212	)			46,406
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			10,190				1,138
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(848	)			(725	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			6,581				6,168
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		$	15,923			$	6,581
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest		$	5,313			$	7,121
Income taxes, net		$	3,881			$	9,276

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA Quarters ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
	2020				2019
Net income attributable to American Vanguard	$	7,908			$	3,436
Provision for income taxes		1,396				1,143
Interest expense, net		1,374				1,603
Depreciation and amortization		6,418				5,726
EBITDA2	$	17,096			$	11,908

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA Years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
	2020				2019
Net income attributable to American Vanguard	$	15,242			$	13,601
Provision for income taxes		3,080				5,202
Interest expense, net		5,178				7,209
Depreciation and amortization		23,968				22,626
EBITDA2	$	47,468			$	48,638

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¹ Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other financial measure so calculated and presented, nor as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The items excluded from EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define EBITDA differently.

² EBITDA is not a financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other financial measures so calculated and presented, nor as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The items excluded from EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define EBITDA differently.

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FAQ

What were American Vanguard's Q4 2020 financial results?

In Q4 2020, American Vanguard reported net sales of $141 million and net income of $7.9 million.

How did American Vanguard perform in FY 2020 compared to FY 2019?

American Vanguard's FY 2020 net sales were $459 million, down from $468 million in FY 2019, while net income increased to $15.2 million.

What is the expected revenue growth for American Vanguard in 2021?

American Vanguard expects low double-digit revenue growth in 2021.

What was American Vanguard's earnings per share in 2020?

Earnings per diluted share for American Vanguard in 2020 were $0.51.

What are the key drivers for American Vanguard's projected growth in 2021?

Key drivers include higher commodity prices, increased U.S. corn acreage, and expanded international business.