Stepan Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
Stepan Company reported first-quarter 2024 results with net income at $13.9 million and adjusted net income at $14.7 million, down 11% year-over-year. EBITDA was $50.2 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $51.2 million, up 5% year-over-year. Global sales volume increased by 1%. The company is on track to achieve its $50 million cost reduction goal for 2024, recognizing $18 million in pre-tax savings in the first quarter.
Global sales volume increased by 1% year-over-year.
Adjusted EBITDA grew by 5% year-over-year.
The company recognized $18 million in pre-tax savings in the first quarter.
Expectations of sales volume improvement in Rigid Polyols and Surfactants.
Adjusted net income decreased by 11% year-over-year.
Net sales decreased by 15% year-over-year.
Operating income decreased by 4% year-over-year.
Earnings per diluted share decreased by 13% year-over-year.
Insights
First Quarter 2024 Highlights
- Reported net income was
. Adjusted net income(1) was$13.9 million , down$14.7 million 11% year-over-year, largely due to a higher effective tax rate in 2024. - EBITDA(2) was
. Adjusted EBITDA(2) was$50.2 million , up$51.2 million 5% year-over-year. - Global sales volume was up
1% year-over-year. Global sales volume, excluding declines in our Agricultural and commodity Phthalic Anhydride businesses, was up4% . - Cash from Operations was
during the quarter. Free cash flow(3) for the quarter was$41.6 million as capital expenditures returned to historical levels.$11.4 million - The Company is on track to deliver its
cost out goal for 2024 and recognized$50 million in pre-tax savings in the first quarter.$18 million
"We are encouraged by the first quarter volume growth in several of our core end markets. Surfactants experienced double-digit volume growth within the Personal Care and Oil Field end markets and with our Distribution partners. As expected, Latin America Surfactant volumes grew double digits as we recovered Consumer volumes in Mexico. Rigid and Specialty Polyols volume grew
Financial Summary
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) | 2024 | 2023 | % | |||||||||
Net Sales | $ | 551,418 | $ | 651,436 | (15) | % | ||||||
Operating Income | $ | 20,169 | $ | 21,057 | (4) | % | ||||||
Net Income | $ | 13,893 | $ | 16,142 | (14) | % | ||||||
Earnings per Diluted Share | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.70 | (13) | % | ||||||
Adjusted Net Income * | $ | 14,656 | $ | 16,419 | (11) | % | ||||||
Adjusted Earnings per | $ | 0.64 | $ | 0.71 | (10) | % |
* See Table II for reconciliations of non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share. |
Percentage Change in Net Sales
Net sales in the first quarter of 2024 decreased
Three Months Ended | ||||
Volume | 1 | % | ||
Selling Price & Mix | (18) | % | ||
Foreign Translation | 2 | % | ||
Total | (15) | % |
Segment Results
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | % | |||||||||
Net Sales | ||||||||||||
Surfactants | $ | 390,820 | $ | 467,828 | (16) | % | ||||||
Polymers | $ | 145,508 | $ | 161,127 | (10) | % | ||||||
Specialty Products | $ | 15,090 | $ | 22,481 | (33) | % | ||||||
Total Net Sales | $ | 551,418 | $ | 651,436 | (15) | % |
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
($ in thousands, all amounts pre-tax) | 2024 | 2023 | % | |||||||||
Operating Income | ||||||||||||
Surfactants | $ | 26,079 | $ | 27,056 | (4) | % | ||||||
Polymers | $ | 8,382 | $ | 10,004 | (16) | % | ||||||
Specialty Products | $ | 4,268 | $ | 2,530 | 69 | % | ||||||
Total Segment | $ | 38,729 | $ | 39,590 | (2) | % | ||||||
Corporate Expenses | $ | (18,560) | $ | (18,533) | 0 | % | ||||||
Consolidated | $ | 20,169 | $ | 21,057 | (4) | % |
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
($ in millions) | 2024 | 2023 | % | |||||||||
EBITDA | ||||||||||||
Surfactants | $ | 43.8 | $ | 42.4 | 3 | % | ||||||
Polymers | $ | 16.4 | $ | 18.3 | (10) | % | ||||||
Specialty Products | $ | 5.8 | $ | 3.9 | 49 | % | ||||||
Unallocated Corporate | $ | (15.8) | $ | (16.3) | (3) | % | ||||||
Consolidated EBITDA | $ | 50.2 | $ | 48.3 | 4 | % | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||||||
Surfactants | $ | 43.8 | $ | 42.3 | 4 | % | ||||||
Polymers | $ | 16.4 | $ | 18.3 | (10) | % | ||||||
Specialty Products | $ | 5.8 | $ | 3.9 | 49 | % | ||||||
Unallocated Corporate | $ | (14.8) | $ | (15.8) | (6) | % | ||||||
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 51.2 | $ | 48.7 | 5 | % |
Consolidated adjusted EBITDA increased
- Surfactant net sales were
for the quarter, a$390.8 million 16% decrease versus the prior year. Selling prices were down18% primarily due to the pass-through of lower raw material costs, less favorable product mix and competitive pricing pressures inLatin America . Sales volume was flat year-over-year as double digit growth within the Personal Care end markets, driven by prior year investments in Low 1,4 Dioxane, the Oil Field end markets and with our Distribution partners was offset by lower Agricultural demand due to continued customer and channel inventory destocking. Foreign currency translation positively impacted net sales by2% . Surfactant adjusted EBITDA(2) for the quarter increased , or$1.5 million 4% , versus the prior year. This increase was primarily driven by margin improvement that was partially offset by pre-operating expenses at the Company's new alkoxylation production facility being built inPasadena, Texas and higher expenses associated with operational interruptions at the Millsdale plant. - Polymer net sales were
for the quarter, a$145.5 million 10% decrease versus the prior year. Selling prices decreased14% , primarily due to the pass-through of lower raw material costs. Sales volume increased1% in the quarter as a4% increase in global Rigid Polyols and higher demand within the Specialty Polyols business was mostly offset by lower Phthalic Anhydride volume. Rigid Polyols experienced growth in all global regions. Foreign currency translation positively impacted net sales by3% . Polymer adjusted EBITDA(2) decreased , or$1.9 million 10% , versus the prior year primarily due to higher costs incurred at the Millsdale plant site due to operational interruptions. - Specialty Product net sales were
for the quarter, a$15.1 million 33% decrease versus the prior year. Sales volume was up11% versus the prior year while adjusted EBITDA(2) increased , or$1.9 million 49% . The increase in adjusted EBITDA(2) was primarily due to both higher unit margins and sales volume within the MCT product line.
Outlook
"Looking forward, we believe sales volumes will continue to gradually improve due to ongoing recovery in Rigid Polyols and growth in Surfactant volumes including the expected recovery of the Agricultural business in the second half of the year," said Scott Behrens, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We remain focused on delivering
Notes
(1) | Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are non-GAAP measures which exclude deferred compensation income/expense, cash-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs) income/expense, certain environmental remediation-related costs as well as other significant and infrequent/non-recurring items. See Table II for reconciliations of non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share. |
(2) | EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See Table VI for calculations and GAAP reconciliations of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. |
(3) | Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure and reflects cash generated from operations minus capital expenditures. |
Conference Call
Stepan Company will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year results at 8:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. CT) on April 30, 2024. The call can be accessed by phone and webcast. To access the call by phone, please click on this Registration Link, complete the form and you will be provided with dial in details and a PIN. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call ten minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. The webcast can be accessed through the Investors/Conference Calls page at www.stepan.com. A webcast replay of the conference call will be available at the same location shortly after the call.
Supporting Slides
Slides supporting this press release will be made available at www.stepan.com through the Investors/Presentations page at approximately the same time as this press release is issued.
Corporate Profile
Stepan Company is a major manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a broad range of industries. Stepan is a leading merchant producer of surfactants, which are the key ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning and disinfection compounds and in agricultural and oilfield solutions. The Company is also a leading supplier of polyurethane polyols used in the expanding thermal insulation market, and CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers) industries.
Headquartered in
The Company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol SCL. For more information about Stepan Company please visit the Company online at www.stepan.com
More information about Stepan's sustainability program can be found on the Sustainability page at www.stepan.com
Certain information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements about Stepan Company's plans, objectives, strategies, financial performance and outlook, trends, the amount and timing of future cash distributions, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, Stepan Company's actual financial results, performance, achievements or prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "guidance," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would," "should," "illustrative" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Stepan Company and its management based on their knowledge and understanding of the business and industry, are inherently uncertain. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and stockholders should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond Stepan Company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among other factors, the risks, uncertainties and factors described in Stepan Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not limited to) risks and uncertainties related to accidents, unplanned production shutdowns or disruptions in manufacturing facilities; reduced demand due to customer product reformulations or new technologies; our inability to successfully develop or introduce new products; compliance with laws; our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates and successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; global competition; volatility of raw material and energy costs and supply; disruptions in transportation or significant changes in transportation costs; downturns in certain industries and general economic downturns; international business risks, including currency exchange rate fluctuations, legal restrictions and taxes; unfavorable resolution of litigation against us; maintaining and protecting intellectual property rights; our ability to access capital markets; global political, military, security or other instability; costs related to expansion or other capital projects; interruption or breaches of information technology systems; our ability to retain executive management and key personnel; and our debt covenants.
These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Stepan Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
* * * * *
Tables follow
Table I | ||||||||
STEPAN COMPANY For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited – in 000's, except per share data) | ||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||
Net Sales | $ | 551,418 | $ | 651,436 | ||||
Cost of Sales | 481,137 | 577,876 | ||||||
Gross Profit | 70,281 | 73,560 | ||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||
Selling | 11,388 | 13,067 | ||||||
Administrative | 22,690 | 22,639 | ||||||
Research, Development and Technical Services | 14,256 | 15,138 | ||||||
Deferred Compensation Expense | 1,778 | 1,502 | ||||||
50,112 | 52,346 | |||||||
Business Restructuring Expense | - | 157 | ||||||
Operating Income | 20,169 | 21,057 | ||||||
Other Income (Expense): | ||||||||
Interest, Net | (3,071) | (2,822) | ||||||
Other, Net | 2,362 | 1,668 | ||||||
(709) | (1,154) | |||||||
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes | 19,460 | 19,903 | ||||||
Provision for Income Taxes | 5,567 | 3,761 | ||||||
Net Income | 13,893 | 16,142 | ||||||
Net Income Per Common Share | ||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.71 | ||||
Diluted | $ | 0.61 | $ | 0.70 | ||||
Shares Used to Compute Net Income Per | ||||||||
Basic | 22,824 | 22,757 | ||||||
Diluted | 22,948 | 22,994 |
Table II | ||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Income and Earnings per Diluted Share* | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2024 | EPS | 2023 | EPS | ||||||||||||
Net Income Reported | $ | 13,893 | $ | 0.61 | $ | 16,142 | $ | 0.70 | ||||||||
Deferred Compensation | $ | (388) | $ | (0.02) | $ | (104) | $ | - | ||||||||
Business Restructuring Expense | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 115 | $ | - | ||||||||
Cash-Settled SARs (Income) Expense | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (40) | $ | - | ||||||||
Environmental Remediation | $ | 1,151 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 306 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||
Adjusted Net Income | $ | 14,656 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 16,419 | $ | 0.71 |
* All amounts in this table are presented after-tax |
The Company believes that certain non-GAAP measures, in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, are useful for evaluating the Company's operating performance and financial condition. The Company uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance and evaluates management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information because they exclude non-operational items that affect comparability between years. These measures should be considered in addition to, not as substitutes for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and may differ from similarly titled measures presented by other companies. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 contains additional information regarding the use of non-GAAP financial measures.
Summary of First Quarter 2024 Adjusted Net Income Items
Adjusted net income excludes non-operational deferred compensation income/expense, cash-settled SARs income/expense, certain environmental remediation costs and other significant and infrequent or non-recurring items.
- Deferred Compensation: The first quarter of 2024 reported net income includes
of after-tax income versus$0.4 million of after-tax income in the prior year.$0.1 million - Environmental Remediation – The first quarter of 2024 reported net income includes
of after-tax expense versus$1.2 million of after-tax expense in the prior year. The higher current year expense primarily reflects a reserve adjustment for environmental costs related to the property formerly owned and operated by the Company in$0.3 million Wilmington, Massachusetts .
Table III | ||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of Pre-Tax to After-Tax Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||
Management uses the non-GAAP adjusted net income metric to evaluate the Company's operating performance. | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2024 | EPS | 2023 | EPS | ||||||||||||
Pre-Tax Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation | $ | (517) | $ | (137) | ||||||||||||
Business Restructuring Expense | $ | - | $ | 157 | ||||||||||||
Cash-Settled SARs Income | $ | - | $ | (53) | ||||||||||||
Environmental Remediation | $ | 1,534 | $ | 409 | ||||||||||||
Total Pre-Tax Adjustments | $ | 1,017 | $ | 376 | ||||||||||||
Cumulative Tax Effect | $ | (254) | $ | (99) | ||||||||||||
After-Tax Adjustments | $ | 763 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 277 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||
Table IV | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation Plans | ||||||||||||||||||||
The full effect of the deferred compensation plans on quarterly pre-tax income was | ||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
3/31 | 12/31 | 9/30 | 6/30 | 3/31 | ||||||||||||||||
Stepan Company | $ | 90.04 | $ | 94.55 | $ | 74.97 | $ | 95.56 | $ | 103.03 | ||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
Deferred Compensation | ||||||||
Operating Expense | $ | (1,778) | $ | (1,502) | ||||
Other, net – Mutual Fund Gain | 2,295 | 1,639 | ||||||
Total Pre-Tax | $ | 517 | $ | 137 | ||||
Total After-Tax | $ | 388 | $ | 104 |
Effects of Foreign Currency Translation | ||||||||||||||||
The Company's foreign subsidiaries transact business and report financial results in their | ||||||||||||||||
($ in millions) | Three Months Ended | Decrease | Change | |||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
Net Sales | $ | 551.4 | $ | 651.4 | $ | (100.0) | $ | 11.8 | ||||||||
Gross Profit | 70.3 | 73.6 | $ | (3.3) | 1.3 | |||||||||||
Operating Income | 20.2 | 21.1 | $ | (0.9) | 0.7 | |||||||||||
Pretax Income | 19.5 | 19.9 | $ | (0.4) | 0.6 |
Corporate Expenses | ||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | % | |||||||||
Total Corporate Expenses | $ | 18,560 | $ | 18,533 | 0 | % | ||||||
Less: | ||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation Expense | $ | 1,778 | $ | 1,502 | 18 | % | ||||||
Business Restructuring Expense | $ | - | $ | 157 | (100) | % | ||||||
Environmental Remediation | $ | 1,534 | $ | 409 | NM | |||||||
Adjusted Corporate Expenses | $ | 15,248 | $ | 16,465 | (7) | % |
Adjusted Corporate expenses decreased
Table V | ||||||||
Stepan Company Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current Assets | $ | 869,806 | $ | 851,883 | ||||
Property, Plant & Equipment, Net | 1,205,634 | 1,206,665 | ||||||
Other Assets | 297,707 | 304,806 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 2,373,147 | $ | 2,363,354 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
Current Liabilities | $ | 628,853 | $ | 607,870 | ||||
Deferred Income Taxes | 10,257 | 10,373 | ||||||
Long-term Debt | 400,121 | 401,248 | ||||||
Other Non-current Liabilities | 119,394 | 127,373 | ||||||
Total Stepan Company Stockholders' Equity | 1,214,522 | 1,216,490 | ||||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 2,373,147 | $ | 2,363,354 |
Selected Balance Sheet Information | |||||||
The Company's total debt decreased by | |||||||
($ in millions) | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
Net Debt | |||||||
Total Debt | $ | 646.0 | $ | 654.1 | |||
Cash | 125.8 | 129.8 | |||||
Net Debt | $ | 520.2 | $ | 524.3 | |||
Equity | 1,214.5 | 1,216.5 | |||||
Net Debt + Equity | $ | 1,734.7 | $ | 1,740.8 | |||
Net Debt / (Net Debt + Equity) | 30 | % | 30 | % |
The major working capital components were:
($ in millions) | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
Net Receivables | $ | 446.6 | $ | 422.1 | |||
Inventories | 257.1 | 265.6 | |||||
Accounts Payable | (256.9) | (233.0) | |||||
$ | 446.8 | $ | 454.7 |
Table VI | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Operating Income | ||||||||||||||||||||
Management uses the non-GAAP EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA metrics to evaluate the Company's operating performance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
($ in millions) | Surfactants | Polymers | Specialty | Unallocated | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
Operating Income | $ | 26.1 | $ | 8.4 | $ | 4.3 | $ | (18.6) | $ | 20.2 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and Amortization | $ | 17.7 | $ | 8.0 | $ | 1.5 | $ | 0.4 | $ | 27.6 | ||||||||||
Other, Net Income | $ | 2.4 | $ | 2.4 | ||||||||||||||||
EBITDA | $ | 43.8 | $ | 16.4 | $ | 5.8 | $ | (15.8) | $ | 50.2 | ||||||||||
Deferred Compensation | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (0.5) | $ | (0.5) | ||||||||||
Environmental Remediation | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1.5 | $ | 1.5 | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 43.8 | $ | 16.4 | $ | 5.8 | $ | (14.8) | $ | 51.2 | ||||||||||
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
($ in millions) | Surfactants | Polymers | Specialty | Unallocated | Consolidated | |||||||||||||||
Operating Income | $ | 27.1 | $ | 10.0 | $ | 2.5 | $ | (18.5) | $ | 21.1 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and Amortization | $ | 15.3 | $ | 8.3 | $ | 1.4 | $ | 0.5 | $ | 25.5 | ||||||||||
Other, Net Income | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 1.7 | $ | 1.7 | ||||||||||
EBITDA | $ | 42.4 | $ | 18.3 | $ | 3.9 | $ | (16.3) | $ | 48.3 | ||||||||||
Deferred Compensation | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (0.1) | $ | (0.1) | ||||||||||
Cash Settled SARs | $ | (0.1) | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (0.1) | ||||||||||
Business Restructuring | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 0.2 | $ | 0.2 | ||||||||||
Environmental Remediation | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 0.4 | $ | 0.4 | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 42.3 | $ | 18.3 | $ | 3.9 | $ | (15.8) | $ | 48.7 | ||||||||||
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stepan-reports-first-quarter-2024-results-302131125.html
SOURCE Stepan Company
FAQ
What was Stepan Company's net income for the first quarter of 2024?
What was the adjusted EBITDA for Stepan Company in the first quarter of 2024?
What was the percentage change in net sales for Stepan Company in the first quarter of 2024?