Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Mettler-Toledo International reported a strong start to 2021, with 24% increase in sales compared to last year, totaling $804.4 million. The company achieved an EPS of $6.32, up from $4.03 last year, and an adjusted EPS of $6.56, a 64% increase. Sales growth was driven by robust demand across regions, particularly in China, with local currency sales growth projected at 10%-12% for 2021. Despite this, management cautioned about ongoing uncertainties affecting market conditions due to COVID-19.

Positive

• Sales increased 24% to $804.4 million.
• Net earnings per diluted share rose to $6.32 from $4.03.
• Adjusted EPS was $6.56, a 64% increase over the prior year.
• Adjusted Operating Profit grew 49% to $210.7 million.
• Sales growth projected at 10%-12% for 2021.

Negative

• Management notes ongoing uncertainty due to COVID-19 impact on market conditions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced first quarter results for 2021.  Provided below are the highlights:

• Reported sales increased 24% compared with the prior year.  In local currency, sales increased 18% in the quarter as currency benefited reported sales growth by 6%. 
• Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $6.32, compared with $4.03 in the prior-year period.  Adjusted EPS was $6.56, an increase of 64% over the prior-year amount of $4.00.  Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to EPS is included on the last page of the attached schedules. 

First Quarter Results

Patrick Kaltenbach, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We have had an excellent start to the year with strong broad-based sales growth in all regions. China in particular had outstanding performance, and our results in the Americas and Europe were also better than expected. We capitalized on robust market demand and executed well to meet customer needs. Outstanding sales growth, combined with continued good cost control and the execution of our margin and productivity initiatives, resulted in excellent growth in Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted EPS and cash flow generation."

GAAP Results
EPS in the quarter was $6.32, compared with the prior-year amount of $4.03.  

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales increased 24% to $804.4 million.  By region, reported sales increased 15% in the Americas, 24% in Europe and 37% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $185.4 million, compared with $118.5 million in the prior year. 

Non-GAAP Results
Adjusted EPS was $6.56, an increase of 64% over the prior-year amount of $4.00.     

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency increased 18% as currency benefited sales growth by 6%.  By region, local currency sales increased 14% in the Americas, 14% in Europe and 29% in Asia/Rest of World.  Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $210.7 million, a 49% increase from the prior-year amount of $141.3 million. 

Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Profit are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.

Outlook

The Company emphasized that forecasting continues to be challenging. Management cautions that market conditions are dynamic and changes to the business environment can happen quickly. Uncertainty remains surrounding the impact of COVID-19 on the global economic environment. The estimates include uncertainty and management acknowledges that market conditions are subject to change. 

Based on today's assessment of market conditions, management anticipates local currency sales growth in 2021 will be in the range of 10% to 12%, and Adjusted EPS is forecasted to be in the range of $31.45 to $31.90, an increase of 22% to 24%.  This compares with previous guidance of Adjusted EPS in the range of $29.20 to $29.80.

For the second quarter of 2021, based on current market conditions, the Company anticipates that local currency sales growth will be in the range of 19% to 21%, and Adjusted EPS is forecasted to be $7.50 to $7.65, a growth rate of 42% to 45%.

While the Company has provided an outlook for local currency sales growth and Adjusted EPS, it has not provided an outlook for reported sales growth or EPS as it would require an estimate of currency exchange fluctuations and non-recurring items, which are not yet known. 

Conclusion

Kaltenbach concluded, "Our end markets have good momentum, and we are ideally positioned to capitalize on this growth potential by leveraging our Spinnaker sales and marketing initiatives, excellent product portfolio and outstanding service offering. The organization continues to demonstrate utmost resilience and agility in reacting and adapting to rapidly changing market conditions. Our focus remains serving our customer needs and gaining market share. We also continue to diligently implement our margin and productivity initiatives, which are important contributors to our results. Execution has always been a competitive advantage, and it is particularly important now given current market dynamics. We believe we can deliver very strong results in 2021."

Other Matters

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results today (Thursday, May 6) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  To hear a live webcast or replay of the call, visit the investor relations page on the Company's website at www.mt.com/investors.  The presentation referenced in the conference call will be located on the website prior to the call.

METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. We have strong leadership positions in all of our businesses and believe we hold global number-one market positions in most of them. We are recognized as an innovation leader and our solutions are critical in key R&D, quality control and manufacturing processes for customers in a wide range of industries including life sciences, food and chemicals. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. With proven growth strategies and a focus on execution, we have achieved a long-term track record of strong financial performance. For more information, please visit www.mt.com.

Statements in this press release which are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You should not rely on forward-looking statements to predict our actual results. Our actual results or performance may be materially different than reflected in forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties, including statements about expected revenue growth and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue." We make forward-looking statements about future events or our future financial performance, including earnings and sales growth, earnings per share, strategic plans and contingency plans, growth opportunities or economic downturns, our ability to respond to changes in market conditions, customer demand, our competitive position, pricing, our supply chain, adequacy of our facilities, access to and the costs of raw materials, shipping and supplier costs, gross margins, planned research and development efforts and product introductions, capital expenditures, cash flow, tax-related matters, the impact of foreign currencies, compliance with laws, effects of acquisitions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our businesses. Our forward-looking statements may not be accurate or complete, and we do not intend to update or revise them in light of actual results. New risks also periodically arise. Please consider the risks and factors that could cause our results to differ materially from what is described in our forward-looking statements, including the uncertain duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. See in particular "Factors Affecting Our Future Operating Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other reports filed with the SEC from time to time.

 

 

METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(amounts in thousands except share data)
(unaudited)
		Three months ended									Three months ended
		March 31, 2021					% of sales				March 31, 2020					% of sales
Net sales				$804,390	(a)			100.0					$649,162				100.0
Cost of sales				332,694				41.4					274,753				42.3
Gross profit				471,696				58.6					374,409				57.7
Research and development				39,272				4.9					34,387				5.3
Selling, general and administrative				221,752				27.6					198,744				30.6
Amortization				13,884				1.7					13,998				2.2
Interest expense				9,471				1.2					10,219				1.6
Restructuring charges				1,193				0.1					1,905				0.3
Other charges (income), net				710				0.1					(3,343)				(0.5)
Earnings before taxes				185,414				23.0					118,499				18.2
Provision for taxes				35,751				4.4					20,384				3.1
Net earnings				$149,663				18.6					$98,115				15.1
Basic earnings per common share:
Net earnings				$6.41									$4.08
Weighted average number of common shares				23,365,077									24,027,833
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net earnings				$6.32									$4.03
Weighted average number of common				23,685,665									24,353,477
and common equivalent shares
Note:
(a) Local currency sales increased 18% as compared to the same period in 2020.
RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT
		Three months ended									Three months ended
		March 31, 2021					% of sales				March 31, 2020					% of sales
Earnings before taxes				$185,414									$118,499
Amortization				13,884									13,998
Interest expense				9,471									10,219
Restructuring charges				1,193									1,905
Other charges (income), net				710									(3,343)
Adjusted operating profit				$210,672	(b)			26.2					$141,278				21.8
Note:
(b) Adjusted operating profit increased 49% as compared to the same period in 2020.

 

 

	METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
	(amounts in thousands)
	(unaudited)
		March 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents				$106,654					$94,254
Accounts receivable, net				574,418					593,809
Inventories				321,341					297,611
Other current assets and prepaid expenses				77,795					71,230
Total current assets				1,080,208					1,056,904
Property, plant and equipment, net				780,166					798,868
Goodwill and other intangibles assets, net				939,332					747,055
Other non-current assets				228,662					211,722
Total assets				$3,028,368					$2,814,549
Short-term borrowings and maturities of long-term debt				$52,505					$50,317
Trade accounts payable				189,289					175,801
Accrued and other current liabilities				600,015					614,209
Total current liabilities				841,809					840,327
Long-term debt				1,561,054					1,284,174
Other non-current liabilities				422,862					407,373
Total liabilities				2,825,725					2,531,874
Shareholders' equity				202,643					282,675
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity				$3,028,368					$2,814,549

 

METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
				Three months ended
				March 31,
				2021		2020
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings				$149,663		$98,115
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation				10,943		10,133
Amortization				13,884		13,998
Deferred tax benefit				(5,068)		(3,718)
Other				4,575		4,395
Decrease in cash resulting from changes in
operating assets and liabilities				(15,120)		(57,408)
Net cash provided by operating activities				158,877		65,515
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property, plant and equipment				(24,605)		(18,835)
Acquisitions				(185,074)		(5,610)
Net hedging settlements on intercompany loans				18,226		(10,008)
Net cash used in investing activities				(191,453)		(34,453)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings				827,991		832,268
Repayments of borrowings				(523,146)		(551,319)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options				5,049		7,135
Repurchases of common stock				(262,500)		(200,000)
Other financing activities				(714)		(800)
Net cash provided by financing activities				46,680		87,284
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents				(1,704)		(2,546)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents				12,400		115,800
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period				94,254		207,785
End of period				$106,654		$323,585
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW
Net cash provided by operating activities				$158,877		$65,515
Payments in respect of restructuring activities				4,573		1,626
Payments for acquisition costs				117		-
Purchase of property, plant and equipment				(24,605)		(18,835)
Adjusted free cash flow				$138,962		$48,306

 

METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.

OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS

SALES GROWTH BY DESTINATION

(unaudited)

Europe

Americas

Asia/RoW

Total

U.S. Dollar Sales Growth

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

24%

15%

37%

24%

Local Currency Sales Growth

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

14%

14%

29%

18%

RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EPS AS REPORTED TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS

(unaudited)

Three months ended

March 31,

2021

2020

% Growth

EPS as reported, diluted

$6.32

$4.03

57%

Purchased intangible amortization, net of tax

0.12

(a)

0.12

(a)

Restructuring charges, net of tax

0.04

(b)

0.06

(b)

Acquisition costs, net of tax

0.10

(c)

-

Income tax expense

(0.02)

(d)

(0.21)

(d)

Adjusted EPS, diluted

$6.56

$4.00

64%

Notes:

(a)

Represents the EPS impact of purchased intangibles amortization of $3.8 million ($2.9 million after tax) and $3.7 million ($2.8 million after tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

(b)

Represents the EPS impact of restructuring charges of $1.2 million ($1.0 million after tax) and $1.9 million ($1.5 million after tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which primarily include employee related costs.

(c)

Represents the EPS impact of acquisition costs of $2.8 million ($2.3 million after tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

(d)

Represents the EPS impact of the difference between our quarterly and estimated annual tax rate before non-recurring discrete items during the three months ended March 31, 2021 due to the timing of excess tax benefits associated with stock option exercises.

 

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SOURCE Mettler-Toledo International Inc.