Franklin Electric Reports Record First Quarter 2023 Results

First Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Sales of $484.6 million, an increase of 7% over the prior year, a first quarter record
• Record first quarter sales in all three segments; Water Systems increased 12%, Distribution increased 6%, and Fueling Systems increased less than 1%
• Operating income was a first quarter record at $52.6 million, an increase of 32% over the prior year
• GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.79, an increase of $0.16 over the prior year

FORT WAYNE, Ind., May 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Electric Co. Inc. today announced first quarter financial results for fiscal year 2023.

First quarter 2023 sales were $484.6 million, compared to first quarter 2022 sales of $451.5 million. First quarter 2023 operating income was $52.6 million, compared to first quarter operating income in 2022 of $39.9 million. First quarter 2023 GAAP fully diluted EPS was $0.79, versus GAAP fully diluted EPS in the first quarter 2022 of $0.63.

“The Franklin Electric team delivered a strong start to 2023 with records for first quarter sales, operating income and earnings per share. Overall, demand remains seasonally robust, and we continue to make progress with managing and improving our supply chain. Strong shipments during the quarter drove top-line sales and operating leverage resulting in year-over-year operating margin expansion and a more normal backlog which decreased sequentially by $30 million,” commented Gregg Sengstack, Franklin Electric’s Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer.

“While the demand environment remains healthy across each of our businesses, we are mindful of the ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures that are expected to persist throughout 2023. Our strong first quarter results give us confidence as we move to the busy season for our business,” concluded Mr. Sengstack.

Segment Summaries

Water Systems sales, a new first quarter record, were $306.6 million in the first quarter 2023, an increase of $34.0 million compared to the first quarter 2022. Sales increases were led by pricing actions and strong end market demand across most major product lines led by surface pumping, especially in large dewatering pumps, and groundwater. Water Systems operating income in the first quarter was $49.0 million, a new first quarter record, driven by higher sales and operating leverage. First quarter 2022 Water Systems operating income was $33.2 million.

Distribution sales, a new first quarter record, were $143.0 million in the first quarter 2023, an increase of $8.1 million compared to the first quarter 2022. The Distribution segment operating income was $4.7 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to first quarter 2022 operating income of $9.4 million. Distribution segment sales and operating income were negatively impacted by weather, seasonality, and margin compression from unfavorable pricing of commodity-based products sold through the business.

Fueling Systems sales, a new first quarter record, were $72.7 million in the first quarter 2023, an increase of $0.2 million compared to the first quarter 2022. Sales increases in the U.S. and Canada of 4 percent were offset by sales declines outside the U.S. and Canada. Fueling Systems operating income in the first quarter was $20.8 million, a new first quarter record, driven by a favorable product and geographic mix of sales. First quarter 2022 Fueling Systems operating income was $17.7 million.

2023 Guidance

The Company is updating and raising its guidance for full year 2023 sales to be in the range of $2.15 billion to $2.25 billion and full year 2023 EPS to be in the range of $4.25 to $4.45.

Earnings Conference Call

A conference call to review earnings and other developments in the business will commence at 9:00 am ET. The first quarter 2023 earnings call will be available via a live webcast. The webcast will be available in a listen only mode by going to:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/p6ddvija

For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer portion of the call, please register for the call at the link below.

https://register.vevent.com/register/BI23ed60aedc6f4b01aabdd0f5a51dbaba

All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the start of the event (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).

A replay of the conference call will be available from Tuesday, May 2, 2023, through 9AM ET on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, by visiting the listen-only webcast link above.

Forward Looking Statements

"Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases,  raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

About Franklin Electric

Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and fuel. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications.

Franklin Electric Contact:

Jeffery L. Taylor
Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
260-824-2900
Email: jeffery.taylor@fele.com

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
	First Quarter Ended
	March 31, 2023				March 31, 2022
Net sales	$	484,551			$	451,470
Cost of sales		322,286				306,136
Gross profit		162,265				145,334
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		109,535				104,673
Restructuring expense		124				720
Operating income		52,606				39,941
Interest expense		(3,147	)			(1,494	)
Other income/(expense), net		409				(378	)
Foreign exchange income/(expense)		(2,044	)			(585	)
Income before income taxes		47,824				37,484
Income tax expense		10,248				7,365
Net income	$	37,576			$	30,119
Less: Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(251	)			(354	)
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$	37,325			$	29,765
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.81			$	0.64
Diluted	$	0.79			$	0.63

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
	March 31, 2023			December 31, 2022
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	$	51,873		$	45,790
Receivables (net)		276,503			230,404
Inventories		600,651			544,980
Other current assets		39,018			36,916
Total current assets		968,045			858,090
Property, plant, and equipment, net		220,592			215,154
Lease right-of-use assets, net		45,622			48,948
Goodwill and other assets		569,187			572,009
Total assets	$	1,803,446		$	1,694,201
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	$	187,985		$	139,266
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		98,452			123,788
Current lease liability		15,144			15,959
Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings		185,280			126,756
Total current liabilities		486,861			405,769
Long-term debt		88,766			89,271
Long-term lease liability		30,346			32,858
Income taxes payable non-current		8,707			8,707
Deferred income taxes		30,893			29,744
Employee benefit plans		32,303			31,889
Other long-term liabilities		29,969			25,209
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		633			620
Total equity		1,094,968			1,070,134
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,803,446		$	1,694,201

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
(In thousands)
	March 31, 2023				March 31, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	37,576			$	30,119
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		12,837				12,078
Non-cash lease expense		4,239				4,181
Share-based compensation		3,912				3,985
Other		3,250				2,473
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(43,408	)			(34,119	)
Inventory		(50,725	)			(74,690	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		13,163				(2,753	)
Operating leases		(4,239	)			(4,181	)
Other		11,376				1,596
Net cash flows from operating activities		(12,019	)			(61,311	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		(9,563	)			(9,456	)
Acquisitions and investments		(4,990	)			553
Net cash flows from investing activities		(14,553	)			(8,903	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in debt		57,733				96,851
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		2,938				343
Purchases of common stock		(17,133	)			(19,319	)
Dividends paid		(10,440	)			(9,130	)
Net cash flows from financing activities		33,098				68,745
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(443	)			(486	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		6,083				(1,955	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		45,790				40,536
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	51,873			$	38,581

Key Performance Indicators: Net Sales Summary

	Net Sales
	United States			Latin			Europe, Middle			Asia			Total
(in millions)	& Canada			America			East & Africa			Pacific			Water			Fueling			Distribution			Other/Elims			Consolidated
Q1 2022	$163.2			$37.9			$51.0			$20.5			$272.6			$72.5			$134.9			($28.5		)	$451.5
Q1 2023	$197.1			$40.3			$50.4			$18.8			$306.6			$72.7			$143.0			($37.7		)	$484.6
Change	$33.9			$2.4			($0.6		)	($1.7		)	$34.0			$0.2			$8.1			($9.2		)	$33.1
% Change		21	%		6	%		-1	%		-8	%		12	%		0	%		6	%					7	%
Foreign currency translation	($1.4		)	($4.2		)	($7.1		)	($1.5		)	($14.2		)	($0.8		)	$0.0						($15.0		)
% Change		-1	%		-11	%		-14	%		-7	%		-5	%		-1	%		0	%					-3	%
Volume/Price	$35.3			$6.6			$6.5			($0.2		)	$48.2			$1.0			$8.1			($9.2		)	$48.1
% Change		22	%		17	%		13	%		-1	%		18	%		1	%		6	%		32	%		11	%

Key Performance Indicators: Operating Income and Margin Summary

Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)		For the First Quarter 2023
		Water			Fueling			Distribution			Other/Elims			Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)		$	49.0		$	20.8		$	4.7		$	(21.9	)	$	52.6
% Operating Income To Net Sales			16.0	%		28.6	%		3.3	%					10.9	%
Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)		For the First Quarter 2022
		Water			Fueling			Distribution			Other/Elims			Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)		$	33.2		$	17.7		$	9.4		$	(20.4	)	$	39.9
% Operating Income To Net Sales			12.2	%		24.4	%		7.0	%					8.8	%