METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER 2021 RESULTS

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Mettler-Toledo International announced impressive fourth-quarter results for 2021, reporting an 11% increase in both sales and local currency sales compared to the prior year, totaling $1.037 billion. Net earnings per diluted share (EPS) reached $9.94, up from $9.03, while adjusted EPS grew 14% to $10.53. Despite global supply chain challenges, the company achieved a solid operating profit increase. For 2022, management anticipates local currency sales growth of about 7% with adjusted EPS projected between $38.15 and $38.50.

Positive

• Fourth quarter sales increased by 11% to $1.037 billion.
• Net EPS rose to $9.94, compared to $9.03 in the previous year.
• Adjusted EPS grew 14% to $10.53.
• Operating profit increased to $319.1 million, a 9% rise from $292.8 million.

Negative

• Forecasting remains challenging due to dynamic market conditions and COVID-19 uncertainties.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced fourth quarter results for 2021. Provided below are the highlights:

• Reported sales and local currency sales both increased 11% in the quarter compared with the prior year.
• Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $9.94, compared with $9.03 in the prior-year period. Adjusted EPS was $10.53, an increase of 14% over the prior-year amount of $9.26. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to EPS is included on the last page of the attached schedules.

Fourth Quarter Results

Patrick Kaltenbach, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We had a great finish to the year as we capitalized on strong customer demand and executed very well. Growth was particularly strong in the Americas and Asia/Rest of World, and our Laboratory and Industrial product lines had robust growth. Despite higher costs associated with challenges in the global supply chain, we had a very solid increase in operating profit and strong earnings growth. We had excellent cash flow generation in 2021."

GAAP Results

EPS in the quarter was $9.94, compared with the prior-year amount of $9.03. 

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales increased 11% to $1.037 billion. By region, reported sales increased 16% in the Americas, 1% in Europe and 14% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $286.0 million, compared with $269.2 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $10.53, an increase of 14% over the prior-year amount of $9.26.

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency increased 11%. By region, local currency sales increased 16% in the Americas, 4% in Europe and 14% in Asia/Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $319.1 million, a 9% increase from the prior-year amount of $292.8 million.

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

Full Year Results

GAAP Results

EPS was $32.78, compared with the prior-year amount of $24.91.

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales increased 21% to $3.718 billion. By region, reported sales increased 20% in the Americas, 15% in Europe and 26% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $949.4 million, compared with $748.7 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $34.01, an increase of 32% over the prior-year amount of $25.72.

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency increased 18% as currency benefited sales growth by 3%. By region, local currency sales increased 20% in the Americas, 12% in Europe and 21% in Asia/Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $1.058 billion, a 26% increase from the prior-year amount of $840.7 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 stated 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 and the challenges in the global supply chain on the economic environment. The estimates include uncertainty and management acknowledges that market conditions are subject to change.

The Company said that based on its assessment of market conditions today, management anticipates local currency sales growth in 2022 will be approximately 7%. This sales growth is expected to result in Adjusted EPS in the range of $38.15 to $38.50, which represents a growth rate of 12% to 13%.  This compares with previous local currency sales guidance of approximately 6% and Adjusted EPS guidance of $37.25 to $37.65.

Based on today's assessment of market conditions, management anticipates local currency sales growth for the first quarter of 2022 will be approximately 10%, and Adjusted EPS is forecasted to be $7.25 to $7.35, a growth rate of 11% to 12%.

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, "We continued to strengthen our competitive position in 2021. Innovation nourished our excellent product portfolio and comprehensive services offering, and combined with our Spinnaker sales and marketing strategies, helped us to capture growth opportunities.  We successfully navigated challenges in the global supply chain to meet customer demands. Our culture of agility and execution further reinforced our brand while our strong results allowed us to make important investments for future growth. We also furthered our great track record on Environment, Social, and Governance initiatives by committing to establish science-based targets to drive greater reductions in our impact on the environment. While market conditions are currently good, challenges remain in the global supply chain and we remain cautious about COVID-19 and its ultimate impact on the global economy. We are confident in our strategic growth and margin initiatives and our ability to gain market share. We believe we are well positioned to deliver strong results in 2022 and beyond."

Other Matters

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results today (Thursday, February 10) 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
		December 31, 2021					% of sales				December 31, 2020					% of sales
Net sales				$1,037,239		(a)		100.0					$937,985				100.0
Cost of sales				430,106				41.5					378,941				40.4
Gross profit				607,133				58.5					559,044				59.6
Research and development				45,615				4.4					39,866				4.3
Selling, general and administrative				242,445				23.4					226,369				24.1
Amortization				16,934				1.6					14,657				1.6
Interest expense				11,541				1.1					9,505				1.0
Restructuring charges				2,520				0.2					3,181				0.3
Other charges (income), net				2,102		(b)		0.2					(3,714)				(0.4)
Earnings before taxes				285,976				27.6					269,180				28.7
Provision for taxes				55,105				5.3					52,885				5.6
Net earnings				$230,871				22.3					$216,295				23.1
Basic earnings per common share:
Net earnings				$10.08									$9.15
Weighted average number of common shares				22,912,071									23,642,415
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net earnings				$9.94									$9.03
Weighted average number of common				23,220,331									23,965,853
and common equivalent shares
Note:
(a)	Local currency sales increased 11% as compared to the same period in 2020.
RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT
		Three months ended									Three months ended
		December 31, 2021					% of sales				December 31, 2020					% of sales
Earnings before taxes				$285,976									$269,180
Amortization				16,934									14,657
Interest expense				11,541									9,505
Restructuring charges				2,520									3,181
Other charges (income), net				2,102		(b)							(3,714)
Adjusted operating profit				$319,073		(c)		30.8					$292,809				31.2
Notes:
(b)	Other charges (income), net for the three months ended December 31, 2021 includes a $6.8 million charge to increase the PendoTECH acquisition contingent consideration and related obligations, and $0.6 million of acquisition transaction costs.
(c)	Adjusted operating profit increased 9% as compared to the same period in 2020.

 

METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(amounts in thousands except share data)
(unaudited)
		Twelve months ended									Twelve months ended
		December 31, 2021					% of sales				December 31, 2020					% of sales
Net sales				$3,717,930		(a)		100.0					$3,085,177				100.0
Cost of sales				1,546,377				41.6					1,284,146				41.6
Gross profit				2,171,553				58.4					1,801,031				58.4
Research and development				169,766				4.6					140,102				4.5
Selling, general and administrative				943,976				25.4					820,221				26.6
Amortization				63,075				1.7					56,665				1.8
Interest expense				43,242				1.2					38,616				1.3
Restructuring charges				5,239				0.1					10,516				0.3
Other charges (income), net				(3,106)		(b)		(0.1)					(13,832)				(0.4)
Earnings before taxes				949,361				25.5					748,743				24.3
Provision for taxes				180,376				4.8					146,004				4.8
Net earnings				$768,985				20.7					$602,739				19.5
Basic earnings per common share:
Net earnings				$33.25									$25.24
Weighted average number of common shares				23,129,862									23,882,648
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net earnings				$32.78									$24.91
Weighted average number of common				23,457,630									24,199,230
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
		Twelve months ended									Twelve months ended
		December 31, 2021					% of sales				December 31, 2020					% of sales
Earnings before taxes				$949,361									$748,743
Amortization				63,075									56,665
Interest expense				43,242									38,616
Restructuring charges				5,239									10,516
Other charges (income), net				(3,106)		(b)							(13,832)
Adjusted operating profit				$1,057,811		(c)		28.5					$840,708				27.2
Notes:
(b)	Other charges (income), net for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 includes a $6.8 million charge to increase the PendoTECH acquisition contingent consideration and related obligations, and $3.4 million of acquisition transaction costs.
(c)	Adjusted operating profit increased 26% as compared to the same period in 2020.

 

	METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
	(amounts in thousands)
	(unaudited)
		December 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents				$98,564					$94,254
Accounts receivable, net				647,335					593,809
Inventories				414,543					297,611
Other current assets and prepaid expenses				108,916					71,230
Total current assets				1,269,358					1,056,904
Property, plant and equipment, net				799,365					798,868
Goodwill and other intangibles assets, net				956,072					747,055
Other non-current assets				302,003					211,722
Total assets				$3,326,798					$2,814,549
Short-term borrowings and maturities of long-term debt				$101,134					$50,317
Trade accounts payable				272,911					175,801
Accrued and other current liabilities				772,493					614,209
Total current liabilities				1,146,538					840,327
Long-term debt				1,580,808					1,284,174
Other non-current liabilities				428,031					407,373
Total liabilities				3,155,377					2,531,874
Shareholders' equity				171,421					282,675
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity				$3,326,798					$2,814,549

 

METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
		Three months ended				Twelve months ended
		December 31,				December 31,
		2021		2020		2021		2020
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net earnings		$230,871		$216,295		$768,985		$602,739
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		11,542		11,095		44,982		42,044
Amortization		16,934		14,657		63,075		56,665
Deferred tax expense (benefit)		6,635		(5,794)		563		(12,784)
Share-based compensation		5,702		5,439		19,595		18,687
Increase in acquisition contingent consideration		6,849		-		6,849		-
Other		381		(2,399)		381		(2,399)
Increase in cash resulting from changes in
operating assets and liabilities		(37,808)		11,576		4,395		19,747
Net cash provided by operating activities		241,106		250,869		908,825		724,699
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		253		60		3,652		3,106
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(37,784)		(35,066)		(107,580)		(92,494)
Acquisitions		(27,475)		-		(220,862)		(6,242)
Other investing activities		2,123		4,691		10,682		(4,730)
Net cash used in investing activities		(62,883)		(30,315)		(314,108)		(100,360)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings		789,198		340,680		2,427,519		1,489,040
Repayments of borrowings		(786,369)		(252,678)		(2,035,546)		(1,483,869)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		5,549		525		20,463		26,719
Repurchases of common stock		(272,500)		(374,999)		(999,998)		(774,998)
Other financing activities		(123)		-		(2,987)		(800)
Net cash used in financing activities		(264,245)		(286,472)		(590,549)		(743,908)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		914		6,486		142		6,038
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(85,108)		(59,432)		4,310		(113,531)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period		183,672		153,686		94,254		207,785
End of period		$98,564		$94,254		$98,564		$94,254
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW
Net cash provided by operating activities		$241,106		$250,869		$908,825		$724,699
Payments in respect of restructuring activities		2,607		2,280		10,029		8,541
Payments for acquisition costs		462		-		2,706		-
Transition tax payment		-		-		4,288		4,264
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		253		60		3,652		3,106
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(37,784)		(35,066)		(107,580)		(92,494)
Adjusted free cash flow		$206,644		$218,143		$821,920		$648,116

 

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 December 31, 2021			1%		16%		14%		11%
	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021			15%		20%		26%		21%
Local Currency Sales Growth
	Three Months Ended December 31, 2021			4%		16%		14%		11%
	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021			12%		20%		21%		18%
RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EPS AS REPORTED TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS
(unaudited)
		Three months ended						Twelve months ended
		December 31,						December 31,
		2021		2020		% Growth		2021		2020		% Growth
EPS as reported, diluted		$9.94		$9.03		10%		$32.78		$24.91		32%
Purchased intangible amortization, net of tax		0.21	(a)	0.12	(a)			0.70	(a)	0.46	(a)
Restructuring charges, net of tax		0.09	(b)	0.11	(b)			0.18	(b)	0.35	(b)
Income tax expense		0.03	(c)	-	(c)			-		-
Acquisition costs, net of tax		0.26	(d)	-				0.35	(d)	-
Adjusted EPS, diluted		$10.53		$9.26		14%		$34.01		$25.72		32%
Notes:
(a)	Represents the EPS impact of purchased intangibles amortization of $6.3 million ($4.8 million net of tax) and $3.7 million ($2.8 million net of tax) for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and of $21.6 million ($16.3 million net of tax) and $14.9 million ($11.2 million net of tax) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(b)	Represents the EPS impact of restructuring charges of $2.5 million ($2.0 million after tax) and $3.2 million ($2.6 million after tax) for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, and $5.2 million ($4.2 million after tax) and $10.5 million ($8.5 million after tax) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which primarily include employee related costs.
(c)	Represents the EPS impact of the difference between our reported and annual tax rate before non-recurring discrete items due to the timing of excess tax benefits associated with stock option exercises. Also includes a $0.14 EPS benefit for the three months ended December 31, 2021 for the reduction in our annualized effective tax rate to 19.0% for the first three quarters of 2021 and a $0.20 EPS benefit for the three months ended December 31, 2020 for the reduction in our annualized effective tax rate to 19.5% for the first three quarters of 2020.
(d)	Represents a $6.8 million charge ($5.5 million after tax) to increase the PendoTECH acquisition contingent consideration and related obligations for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021. Also includes the EPS impact of acquisition transaction costs of $0.6 million ($0.4 million after tax) and $3.4 million ($2.7 million after tax) for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021, respectively.

 

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SOURCE Mettler-Toledo International Inc.