Littelfuse Reports First Quarter Results for 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS) reported Q1 net sales of $535 million, down 12% YoY, with GAAP diluted EPS at $1.93. The company expects Q2 net sales of $525-$555 million with adjusted diluted EPS at $1.65-$1.85. Littelfuse approved a $300 million stock repurchase program and a $0.65 cash dividend per share. The company remains confident in a return to growth in 2024.

Positive

• Solid Q1 sales above expectations with Q1 net sales of $535 million and GAAP diluted EPS of $1.93.

• Management expects a return to growth in 2024 with Q2 net sales projected to be between $525-$555 million.

• Littelfuse approved a new $300 million stock repurchase program and a $0.65 cash dividend per share.

Negative

• Q1 net sales down 12% YoY, reflecting a decrease in sales compared to the prior year period.

• Adjusted diluted EPS for Q1 was $1.76, slightly lower than the GAAP diluted EPS of $1.93.

• The company may incur uncertain costs related to various factors that are excluded from the guidance, potentially affecting financial results.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Littelfuse's Q1 report demonstrates a 12% year-over-year decline in net sales, an important figure as it indicates a significant reduction in revenue, although the decline was anticipated and the company managed to meet their earnings per share (EPS) guidance. The sales figures suggest potential headwinds in the market or sector-specific issues, which require further scrutiny into customer demand and competitive landscape. Their robust cash flow, standing at $57 million and free cash flow at $42 million, are indicative of strong operational efficiency, with free cash flow being particularly important as it reflects the actual cash the company is able to generate after capital expenditures. This is a vital marker of financial health and sustainability that investors should monitor closely. Their forward-looking statements hint at a confident stance for a return to growth in 2024, which will hinge on market conditions and the company's strategic initiatives.

Market Research Analyst

With Littelfuse's diversified end-market exposure and technology offerings, investors should take note of the company's potential resistance to sector-specific downturns, a factor that could provide resilience in volatile markets. However, the mentioned inventory destocking could point to a broader industry trend of adjusting to post-pandemic demand normalization, which may affect short-term growth but could also be a strategic move to manage working capital more effectively. The guidance for Q2 indicates stable expectations, but the forecasted range for net sales and EPS warrants attention from investors as it provides insight into management's confidence and the potential direction of the company's performance in the near term.

Investment Strategist

The new stock repurchase authorization replacing the expiring program indicates a shareholder-friendly capital allocation policy, signaling confidence by the Board in the intrinsic value of the company's shares. While buybacks can be accretive to EPS, they also reflect management's belief that investing in the company's own stock is a good use of capital. The stable dividend payout is another signal of financial health, providing a tangible return to shareholders. Both actions are key considerations for investors looking for companies with a track record of returning value to shareholders. However, investors must balance these positives with the broader market outlook and company-specific growth prospects when considering their investment strategy.

Solid execution drives Q1 sales above, and EPS in-line with guidance

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS), a diversified, industrial technology manufacturing company empowering a sustainable, connected, and safer world, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2024:

• Net sales of $535 million were down 12% versus the prior year period, and down 12% organically
• GAAP diluted EPS was $1.93 and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.76
• Cash flow from operations was $57 million and free cash flow was $42 million

“Our global team delivered solid first quarter results, with sales above and earnings in-line with our expectations, as our increasingly diversified end market exposures, robust technology offering, and portfolio optimization initiatives helped to offset ongoing inventory destocking,” said Dave Heinzmann, Littelfuse President and Chief Executive Officer. “Further, our strong cash generation reflects disciplined execution, while our well-positioned balance sheet will continue to allow us to capitalize on growth opportunities. Looking forward, we remain confident in an expected return to growth during 2024, and believe our experienced team, agile operations and unwavering long-term strategic focus will drive top-tier value for our stakeholders.”

Second Quarter of 2024*

Based on current market conditions, for the second quarter the company expects,

• Net sales in the range of $525 - $555 million, adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $1.65 - $1.85 and an adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 23%

*Littelfuse provides guidance on a non-GAAP (adjusted) basis. GAAP items excluded from guidance may include the after-tax impact of items including acquisition and integration costs, restructuring, impairment and other charges, certain purchase accounting adjustments, non-operating foreign exchange adjustments and significant and unusual items. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could be material to results computed in accordance with GAAP. Littelfuse is not able to forecast the excluded items in order to provide the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure without unreasonable efforts.

Dividend and Share Repurchase Authorization

• The company’s Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase authorization to replace its expiring previous 3-year program. The company may repurchase up to $300 million in the aggregate of shares of the company’s common stock for the period May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2027.
• The company will pay a cash dividend on its common stock of $0.65 per share on June 6, 2024, to shareholders of record as of May 23, 2024

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Littelfuse will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss the results. The call will be broadcast and available for replay at Littelfuse.com. A slide presentation is available in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at Littelfuse.com.

About Littelfuse

Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS) is a diversified, industrial technology manufacturing company empowering a sustainable, connected, and safer world. Across more than 20 countries, and with approximately 17,000 global associates, we partner with customers to design and deliver innovative, reliable solutions. Serving over 100,000 end customers, our products are found in a variety of industrial, transportation and electronics end markets – everywhere, every day. Learn more at Littelfuse.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are intended to constitute "forward-looking statements" entitled to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Such statements are based on Littelfuse, Inc.’s (“Littelfuse” or the “Company”) current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to general economic conditions; product demand and market acceptance; the impact of competitive products and pricing; product quality problems or product recalls; capacity and supply difficulties or constraints; coal mining exposures reserves; cybersecurity matters; failure of an indemnification for environmental liability; exchange rate fluctuations; commodity and other raw material price fluctuations; the effect of Littelfuse accounting policies; labor disputes; restructuring costs in excess of expectations; pension plan asset returns less than assumed; integration of acquisitions; uncertainties related to political or regulatory changes; and other risks which may be detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements. This release should be read in conjunction with information provided in the financial statements appearing in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023.

Further discussion of the risk factors of the company can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023, and in other filings and submissions with the SEC, each of which are available free of charge on the company’s investor relations website at investor.littelfuse.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof. The company does not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the availability of new information.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The information included in this press release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of organic net sales (decline) growth, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted income taxes, adjusted effective tax rate, free cash flow, net debt, consolidated EBITDA, and consolidated net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement). Many of these non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of certain expenses and income not related directly to the underlying performance of our fundamental business operations.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is set forth in the attached schedules.

The company believes that organic net sales (decline) growth, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted income taxes, and adjusted effective tax rate provide useful information to investors regarding its operational performance because they enhance an investor’s overall understanding of our core financial performance and facilitate comparisons to historical results of operations, by excluding items that are not related directly to the underlying performance of our fundamental business operations or were not part of our business operations during a comparable period. The company believes that free cash flow is a useful measure of its ability to generate cash. The company believes that net debt, consolidated EBITDA, and consolidated net leverage ratio are useful measures of its credit position. The company believes that all of these non-GAAP financial measures are commonly used by financial analysts and others in the industries in which we operate, and thus further provide useful information to investors. Management additionally uses these measures when assessing the performance of the business and for business planning purposes. Note that our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from those terms as defined or used by other companies.

LFUS-F

LITTELFUSE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
		(Unaudited)
(in thousands)		March 30, 2024			December 30, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	562,153		$	555,513
Short-term investments			231			235
Trade receivables, less allowances of $76,496 and $84,696 at March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively			295,876			287,018
Inventories			456,135			474,607
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable			8,574			8,701
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			121,142			82,526
Total current assets			1,444,111			1,408,600
Net property, plant, and equipment			479,435			493,153
Intangible assets, net of amortization			584,631			606,136
Goodwill			1,294,737			1,309,998
Investments			24,204			24,821
Deferred income taxes			10,798			10,486
Right of use lease assets			63,718			62,370
Other long-term assets			41,827			79,711
Total assets		$	3,943,461		$	3,995,275
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	172,809		$	173,535
Accrued liabilities			124,288			149,214
Accrued income taxes			42,051			38,725
Current portion of long-term debt			65,824			14,020
Total current liabilities			404,972			375,494
Long-term debt, less current portion			800,849			857,915
Deferred income taxes			100,755			110,820
Accrued post-retirement benefits			34,049			34,422
Non-current lease liabilities			50,791			49,472
Other long-term liabilities			80,752			86,671
Total equity			2,471,293			2,480,481
Total liabilities and equity		$	3,943,461		$	3,995,275

LITTELFUSE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended
(in thousands, except per share data)		March 30, 2024				April 1, 2023
Net sales		$	535,385			$	609,782
Cost of sales			347,577				364,825
Gross profit			187,808				244,957
Selling, general, and administrative expenses			86,127				88,310
Research and development expenses			27,667				27,290
Amortization of intangibles			15,825				16,866
Restructuring, impairment, and other charges			3,237				1,850
Total operating expenses			132,856				134,316
Operating income			54,952				110,641
Interest expense			9,611				9,646
Foreign exchange gain			(5,042	)			(1,675	)
Other income, net			(5,321	)			(6,233	)
Income before income taxes			55,704				108,903
Income taxes			7,252				20,158
Net income		$	48,452			$	88,745
Earnings per share:
Basic		$	1.95			$	3.58
Diluted		$	1.93			$	3.54
Weighted-average shares and equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic			24,911				24,782
Diluted			25,124				25,062
Comprehensive income		$	18,161			$	102,028

LITTELFUSE, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended
(in thousands)		March 30, 2024				April 1, 2023
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income		$	48,452			$	88,745
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:			28,729				32,558
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables			(12,723	)			(13,176	)
Inventories			16,179				(1,535	)
Accounts payable			345				(16,246	)
Accrued liabilities and income taxes			(28,042	)			(43,578	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets			4,210				6,639
Net cash provided by operating activities			57,150				53,407
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			—				(158,260	)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment			(15,547	)			(25,665	)
Net proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, and other			7,064				737
Net cash used in investing activities			(8,483	)			(183,188	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net payments of credit facility			(1,875	)			(1,875	)
Repurchases of common stock			(16,131	)			—
Cash dividends paid			(16,200	)			(14,880	)
All other cash provided by financing activities			686				4,551
Net cash used in financing activities			(33,520	)			(12,204	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash			(8,550	)			4,571
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash			6,597				(137,414	)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period			557,123				564,939
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period		$	563,720			$	427,525

LITTELFUSE, INC. NET SALES AND OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT (Unaudited)
		First Quarter
(in thousands)			2024				2023			% (Decline) / Growth
Net sales
Electronics		$	291,105			$	358,593			(18.8	)%
Transportation			170,367				166,641			2.2	%
Industrial			73,913				84,548			(12.6	)%
Total net sales		$	535,385			$	609,782			(12.2	)%
Operating income
Electronics		$	37,803			$	90,162			(58.1	)%
Transportation			16,206				8,532			89.9	%
Industrial			4,796				17,141			(72.0	)%
Other(a)			(3,853	)			(5,194	)		N.M.
Total operating income		$	54,952			$	110,641			(50.3	)%
Operating Margin			10.3	%			18.1	%
Interest expense			9,611				9,646
Foreign exchange gain			(5,042	)			(1,675	)
Other income, net			(5,321	)			(6,233	)
Income before income taxes		$	55,704			$	108,903			(48.8	)%
(a) "other" typically includes non-GAAP adjustments such as acquisition-related and integration costs, purchase accounting inventory adjustments and restructuring and impairment charges. (See Supplemental Financial Information for details.)   N.M. - Not meaningful

		First Quarter
(in thousands)		2024			2023			% (Decline)/ Growth
Operating Margin
Electronics		13.0	%		25.1	%		(12.1	)%
Transportation		9.5	%		5.1	%		4.4	%
Industrial		6.5	%		20.3	%		(13.8	)%

LITTELFUSE, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (In millions of USD except per share amounts - unaudited)
Non-GAAP EPS reconciliation
		Q1-24				Q1-23
GAAP diluted EPS		$	1.93			$	3.54
EPS impact of Non-GAAP adjustments (below)			(0.17	)			0.10
Adjusted diluted EPS		$	1.76			$	3.64

Non-GAAP adjustments - (income) / expense
		Q1-24				Q1-23
Acquisition-related and integration costs (a)		$	0.9			$	3.3
Restructuring, impairment and other charges (b)			3.2				1.9
Gain on sale of fixed assets (c)			(0.3	)			—
Non-GAAP adjustments to operating income			3.8				5.2
Other loss (income), net (d)			0.2				(0.2	)
Non-operating foreign exchange gain			(5.0	)			(1.7	)
Non-GAAP adjustments to income before income taxes			(1.0	)			3.3
Income taxes (e)			3.3				0.9
Non-GAAP adjustments to net income		$	(4.3	)		$	2.4
Total EPS impact		$	(0.17	)		$	0.10

Adjusted operating margin / Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation
		Q1-24				Q1-23
Net income		$	48.5			$	88.7
Add:
Income taxes			7.3				20.2
Interest expense			9.6				9.6
Foreign exchange gain			(5.0	)			(1.7	)
Other income, net			(5.3	)			(6.2	)
GAAP operating income		$	55.0			$	110.6
Non-GAAP adjustments to operating income			3.8				5.2
Adjusted operating income		$	58.8			$	115.8
Amortization of intangibles			15.8				16.9
Depreciation expenses			16.7				17.6
Adjusted EBITDA		$	91.3			$	150.3
Net sales		$	535.4			$	609.8
Net income as a percentage of net sales			9.1	%			14.5	%
Operating margin			10.3	%			18.1	%
Adjusted operating margin			11.0	%			19.0	%
Adjusted EBITDA margin			17.1	%			24.6	%

Adjusted EBITDA by Segment		Q1-24												Q1-23
		Electronics				Transportation				Industrial				Electronics				Transportation				Industrial
GAAP operating income		$	37.8			$	16.2			$	4.8			$	90.2			$	8.5			$	17.1
Add:
Add back amortization			9.8				3.4				2.6				10.2				4.5				2.2
Add back depreciation			10.0				5.3				1.4				9.6				6.8				1.2
Adjusted EBITDA		$	57.6			$	24.9			$	8.8			$	110.0			$	19.8			$	20.5
Adjusted EBITDA Margin			19.8	%			14.6	%			11.9	%			30.7	%			11.9	%			24.3	%

Net sales reconciliation		Q1-24 vs. Q1-23
		Electronics			Transportation			Industrial			Total
Net sales (decline) growth		(19	)%		2	%		(13	)%		(12	)%
Less:
Acquisitions		—	%		—	%		1	%		—	%
FX impact		—	%		(1	)%		—	%		—	%
Organic net sales (decline) growth		(19	)%		3	%		(14	)%		(12	)%

Income tax reconciliation
		Q1-24				Q1-23
Income taxes		$	7.3			$	20.2
Effective rate			13.0	%			18.5	%
Non-GAAP adjustments - income taxes			3.3				0.9
Adjusted income taxes		$	10.6			$	21.1
Adjusted effective rate			19.3	%			18.8	%
Free cash flow reconciliation
		Q1-24				Q1-23
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	57.1			$	53.4
Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment			(15.5	)			(25.7	)
Free cash flow		$	41.6			$	27.7

Consolidated Total Debt		As of March 30, 2024
Consolidated Total Debt		$	866.7
Unamortized debt issuance costs			3.5
Finance lease liability			0.6
Consolidated funded indebtedness			870.8
Cash held in U.S. (up to $400 million)			157.9
Net debt		$	712.9
Consolidated EBITDA		Twelve Months Ended March 30, 2024
Net Income		$	219.1
Interest expense			39.8
Income taxes			56.2
Depreciation			70.7
Amortization			64.8
Non-cash additions:
Stock-based compensation expense			23.8
Purchase accounting inventory step-up charge			—
Unrealized loss on investments			2.5
Impairment charges			5.8
Other			18.3
Consolidated EBITDA (1)		$	501.0
Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) *		1.4x

* Our Credit Agreement and Private Placement Note with maturities ranging from 2024 to 2032, contain financial ratio covenants providing that if, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Net Leverage ratio at such time for the then most recently concluded period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company exceeds 3.50:1.00, an Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement and Private Placement Senior Notes) is triggered.

The Credit Agreement and Private Placement Senior Notes were amended in Q2 2022 and now allow for the addition of acquisition and integration costs up to 15% of Consolidated EBITDA and the netting of up to $400M of Available Cash (Cash held by US Subsidiaries).

(1) Represents Consolidated EBITDA as defined in our Credit Agreement and Private Placement Senior Notes and is calculated using the most recently concluded period of four consecutive quarters.

Note: Total will not always foot due to rounding.

(a) reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A").

(b) reflected in restructuring, impairment and other charges.

(c) 2024 amount included $0.3 million gain from the sale of a building within the Transportation segment.

(d) 2024 amount reflected $0.2 million increase in coal mining reserves, while 2023 amount included $0.2 million gain from the sale of a building within the Electronics segment.

(e) reflected the tax impact associated with the non-GAAP adjustments.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240430281892/en/

David Kelley

224-727-2535

dkelley@littelfuse.com

Source: Littelfuse, Inc.

FAQ

<p>What were Littelfuse's Q1 2024 net sales?</p>

Littelfuse reported Q1 2024 net sales of $535 million, down 12% versus the prior year period.

<p>What is the expected range for Littelfuse's Q2 2024 net sales?</p>

Littelfuse expects Q2 2024 net sales in the range of $525-$555 million.

<p>What was Littelfuse's approved stock repurchase program amount?</p>

Littelfuse approved a new stock repurchase authorization of up to $300 million for the period May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2027.

<p>When will Littelfuse pay its next cash dividend?</p>

Littelfuse will pay a cash dividend on its common stock of $0.65 per share on June 6, 2024.