Stepan Reports Fourth Quarter Results and Record Full Year 2022 Earnings
Stepan Company (NYSE: SCL) reported $10.8 million in net income for Q4 2022, down from $17.0 million a year earlier. Adjusted net income also fell to $13.5 million from $22.5 million. Total sales volume decreased by 17%, primarily due to reduced global commodity laundry demand and inventory destocking. Surfactant operating income dropped to $21.8 million, while Polymer operating income fell to $3.0 million. Conversely, Specialty Products saw an increase in operating income to $6.6 million. Despite challenges, the company achieved a record full-year net income of $147.2 million. The outlook for 2023 foresees potential headwinds from high inflation and interest rates affecting demand.
- Record full-year net income of $147.2 million, up 7% year-over-year.
- Specialty Product segment operating income increased to $6.6 million.
- Total net sales for the year rose 18% to $2.77 billion.
- Q4 net income down 36% to $10.8 million due to lower sales volumes.
- Surfactant operating income decreased by 33% due to declining demand.
- Guidance for 2023 suggests challenges from high inflation and interest rates.
Fourth Quarter Highlights
- Reported net income was
, or$10.8 million per diluted share, versus$0.47 , or$17.0 million per diluted share, in the prior year. Adjusted net income* was$0.73 , or$13.5 million per diluted share versus$0.59 , or$22.5 million per diluted share, in the prior year.$0.97 Total Company sales volume decreased17% versus the prior year. - Surfactant operating income was
versus$21.8 million in the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a$32.4 million 15% decline in global sales volume that was partially offset by improved product and customer mix. The lower sales volume was mostly due to lower global commodity laundry demand, lower demand within the North American Personal Care end market and customer inventory destocking. Higher global demand in the Agricultural and Institutional Cleaning end markets partially offset the above. - Polymer operating income was
versus$3.0 million in the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a$12.9 million 23% decline in global sales volume, including a21% volume decline in Rigid Polyols and lower demand in the Specialty Polyols and Phthalic Anhydride businesses. The lower demand reflects customer inventory destocking, lower construction-related activities and general economic concerns. - Specialty Product operating income was
versus$6.6 million in the prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to improved margins and customer mix within the medium chain triglycerides (MCT) product line and order timing differences within the food and flavor business.$2.1 million - The effect of foreign currency translation negatively impacted net income by
, or$0.4 million per diluted share, versus the prior year.$0.02
Full Year Highlights
- Reported net income for full year 2022 was a record
, or$147.2 million per diluted share, versus$6.38 , or$137.8 million per diluted share, in the prior year. Adjusted net income* was a record$5.92 , or$153.5 million per diluted share, versus$6.65 , or$143.5 million per diluted share, in the prior year.$6.16 Total Company sales volume declined7% versus the prior year driven by a12% decline in the second half of 2022. - The Surfactant segment delivered operating income of
, down$162.7 million 2% versus the prior year. Surfactant global sales volume was down6% primarily due to lower global commodity laundry demand, raw material constraints and customer inventory destocking efforts. Higher demand for products sold into the Functional Products and Institutional Cleaning end markets partially offset the above. The Polymer segment delivered of operating income, up$82.9 million 13% versus the prior year. Global Polymer sales volume declined7% versus the prior year due to customer inventory destocking and lower construction-related activities, primarily in the second half of the year. Specialty Product operating income was versus$29.9 million in the prior year.$14.2 million - The effect of foreign currency translation negatively impacted net income by
, or$5.6 million per diluted share, versus the prior year.$0.24
* | Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are non-GAAP measures which exclude deferred compensation income/expense, cash-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs) income/expense, certain environmental remediation-related costs as well as other significant and infrequent/non-recurring items. See Table II for reconciliations of non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share. |
"The Company delivered record full year earnings in 2022 despite significant inflation across many cost elements, supply chain challenges, a slow down in demand across most end use markets and customer destocking efforts during the second half of the year. Both reported net income and adjusted net income were up
Financial Summary
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) | 2022 | 2021 | % | 2022 | 2021 | % | |||||||||||||||||
$ | 627,176 | $ | 610,027 | 3 | % | $ | 2,773,270 | $ | 2,345,966 | 18 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating Income | $ | 11,691 | $ | 19,997 | (42) | % | $ | 207,336 | $ | 170,781 | 21 | % | |||||||||||
Net Income Attributable to Stepan | $ | 10,834 | $ | 16,995 | (36) | % | $ | 147,153 | $ | 137,804 | 7 | % | |||||||||||
Earnings per Diluted Share | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.73 | (36) | % | $ | 6.38 | $ | 5.92 | 8 | % | |||||||||||
Adjusted Net Income * | $ | 13,456 | $ | 22,493 | (40) | % | $ | 153,473 | $ | 143,499 | 7 | % | |||||||||||
Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share * | $ | 0.59 | $ | 0.97 | (39) | % | $ | 6.65 | $ | 6.16 | 8 | % |
* See Table II for reconciliations of non-GAAP adjusted net income and earnings per diluted share. |
Summary of Fourth Quarter 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 2022 fourth quarter reported net income includes
of after-tax expense versus$2.0 million of after-tax expense in the prior year.$2.2 million - Cash-Settled SARs: These management incentive instruments provide cash to participants equal to the appreciation on the price of specified shares of Company stock over a specified period of time. Because income or expense is recognized merely on the movement in the price of Company stock it has been excluded, similar to deferred compensation, to arrive at adjusted net income. Reported net income in both the 2022 and 2021 fourth quarters include
of after-tax expense.$0.2 million - Business Restructuring and Asset Disposition: The 2022 fourth quarter reported net income includes
of after-tax decommissioning expense related to the Company's Canadian plant closure. The fourth quarter of 2021 includes a$0.1 million after-tax loss on the sale of one of the Company's corporate headquarters buildings and$2.0 million of after-tax decommissioning expense related to the Company's Canadian plant closure.$0.3 million - Environmental Remediation – The fourth quarter of 2022 reported net income includes
of after-tax expense versus$0.4 million of after-tax expense in the prior year.$0.8 million
Percentage Change in
Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2022 increased
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||
Volume | (17) | % | (7) | % | ||||
Selling Price & Mix | 24 | % | 30 | % | ||||
Foreign Translation | (4) | % | (5) | % | ||||
Total | 3 | % | 18 | % |
Segment Results
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | % | 2022 | 2021 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Surfactants | $ | 454,534 | $ | 420,123 | 8 | % | $ | 1,882,745 | $ | 1,562,795 | 20 | % | ||||||||||||
Polymers | $ | 148,309 | $ | 173,676 | (15) | % | $ | 789,080 | $ | 713,440 | 11 | % | ||||||||||||
Specialty Products | $ | 24,333 | $ | 16,228 | 50 | % | $ | 101,445 | $ | 69,731 | 45 | % | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 627,176 | $ | 610,027 | 3 | % | $ | 2,773,270 | $ | 2,345,966 | 18 | % | ||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, all amounts pre-tax) | 2022 | 2021 | % | 2022 | 2021 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Surfactants | $ | 21,752 | $ | 32,441 | (33) | % | $ | 162,746 | $ | 165,999 | (2) | % | ||||||||||||
Polymers | $ | 2,992 | $ | 12,862 | (77) | % | $ | 82,897 | $ | 73,591 | 13 | % | ||||||||||||
Specialty Products | $ | 6,649 | $ | 2,126 | 213 | % | $ | 29,895 | $ | 14,178 | 111 | % | ||||||||||||
Segment Operating Income | $ | 31,393 | $ | 47,429 | (34) | % | $ | 275,538 | $ | 253,768 | 9 | % | ||||||||||||
Corporate Expenses | $ | (19,702) | $ | (27,432) | (28) | % | $ | (68,202) | $ | (82,987) | (18) | % | ||||||||||||
Consolidated Operating Income | $ | 11,691 | $ | 19,997 | (42) | % | $ | 207,336 | $ | 170,781 | 21 | % |
Total segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased
- Surfactant net sales were
for the quarter, an$454.5 million 8% increase versus the prior year. Selling prices were up26% primarily due to the pass-through of higher raw material and input costs as well as improved product and customer mix. Sales volume decreased15% year-over-year primarily due to lower global commodity laundry demand, lower demand within the North American Personal Care end market and customer inventory destocking. Higher global demand for products sold into the Agricultural and Institutional Cleaning end markets partially offset the above. The unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation negatively impacted net sales by3% . Surfactant operating income for the quarter decreased versus the prior year primarily due to the$10.7 million 15% decline in sales volume and higher expenses associated with the Company's transition to low 1,4 dioxane capabilities. - Polymer net sales were
for the quarter, a$148.3 million 15% decrease versus the prior year. Selling prices increased14% primarily due to the pass through of higher raw material and input costs. Sales volume decreased23% in the quarter primarily due to a21% decline in Rigid Polyols and lower demand in the Specialty Polyols and Phthalic Anhydride businesses. The lower demand reflects customer inventory destocking, lower construction-related activities and general economic concerns. The translation impact of a strongerU.S. dollar negatively impacted net sales by6% . Polymer operating income decreased versus the prior year primarily due to the$9.9 million 23% decrease in global sales volume and higher costs associated with planned maintenance activity at the Company's North American Phthalic Anhydride plant - Specialty Product net sales were
for the quarter, a$24.3 million 50% increase versus the prior year. Sales volume was down6% between years while operating income increased . The operating income increase was primarily attributable to improved margins and customer mix within the MCT product line and order timing differences within our food and flavor business.$4.5 million
Corporate Expenses
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | % | 2022 | 2021 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Total - Corporate Expenses | $ | 19,702 | $ | 27,432 | (28) | % | $ | 68,202 | $ | 82,987 | (18) | % | ||||||||||||
Less: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation Expense | $ | 3,645 | $ | 4,747 | (23) | % | $ | (9,393) | $ | 6,895 | (236) | % | ||||||||||||
Business Restructuring and Asset Disposition | $ | 83 | $ | 3,086 | (97) | % | $ | 308 | $ | 3,353 | (91) | % | ||||||||||||
Environmental Remediation Expense | $ | 481 | $ | 1,031 | (53) | % | $ | 11,483 | $ | 1,977 | 481 | % | ||||||||||||
Adjusted Corporate Expense | $ | 15,493 | $ | 18,568 | (17) | % | $ | 65,804 | $ | 70,762 | (7) | % |
* See Table III for a discussion of deferred compensation plan accounting. |
- Corporate expenses, excluding deferred compensation, business restructuring and environmental costs, decreased
, or$3.1 million 17% for the quarter. The decrease was primarily due to lower incentive-based compensation expenses, lower consulting expenses and the favorable impact of foreign currency translation.
Income Taxes
The Company's full year effective tax rate was
Shareholder Return
The Company paid
Selected Balance Sheet Information
The Company's total debt increased by
($ in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net Debt | |||||||||||||||||||
Total Debt | $ | 587.1 | $ | 564.9 | $ | 526.0 | $ | 537.1 | $ | 363.6 | |||||||||
Cash | 173.8 | 165.7 | 194.6 | 236.0 | 159.2 | ||||||||||||||
Net Debt | $ | 413.3 | $ | 399.2 | $ | 331.4 | $ | 301.1 | $ | 204.4 | |||||||||
Equity | 1,166.1 | 1,130.2 | 1,125.7 | 1,116.7 | 1,074.2 | ||||||||||||||
Net Debt + Equity | $ | 1,579.4 | $ | 1,529.4 | $ | 1,457.1 | $ | 1,417.8 | $ | 1,278.6 | |||||||||
Net Debt / (Net Debt + Equity) | 26 | % | 26 | % | 23 | % | 21 | % | 16 | % |
The major working capital components were:
($ in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net Receivables | $ | 436.9 | $ | 476.2 | $ | 518.8 | $ | 504.5 | $ | 419.5 | |||||||||
Inventories | 402.5 | 397.6 | 340.7 | 308.4 | 305.5 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts Payable | (375.7) | (350.1) | (366.2) | (350.8) | (323.4) | ||||||||||||||
$ | 463.7 | $ | 523.7 | $ | 493.3 | $ | 462.1 | $ | 401.6 |
The Company had full year capital expenditures of
2023 Outlook
"The Company delivered record income in 2022 and I want to thank all our employees for their excellent work. We have now delivered three consecutive years of record earnings," said
Conference 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
Headquartered in
The Company's common stock is traded on the
More information about Stepan's sustainability program can be found on the Sustainability page at www.stepan.com
Contact:
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
There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond
These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and
Table I | ||||||||||||||||
STEPAN COMPANY | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
$ | 627,176 | $ | 610,027 | $ | 2,773,270 | $ | 2,345,966 | |||||||||
Cost of Sales | 559,416 | 526,774 | 2,346,201 | 1,950,156 | ||||||||||||
Gross Profit | 67,760 | 83,253 | 427,069 | 395,810 | ||||||||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Selling | 13,122 | 14,906 | 59,030 | 59,186 | ||||||||||||
Administrative | 22,678 | 23,466 | 102,177 | 92,906 | ||||||||||||
Research, Development and Technical Services | 16,541 | 17,051 | 66,633 | 62,689 | ||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation Expense | 3,645 | 4,747 | (9,393) | 6,895 | ||||||||||||
55,986 | 60,170 | 218,447 | 221,676 | |||||||||||||
Goodwill Impairment | - | - | 978 | - | ||||||||||||
Business Restructuring and Asset Disposition | 83 | 3,086 | 308 | 3,353 | ||||||||||||
Operating Income | 11,691 | 19,997 | 207,336 | 170,781 | ||||||||||||
Other Income (Expense): | ||||||||||||||||
Interest, Net | (2,555) | (1,063) | (9,809) | (5,753) | ||||||||||||
Other, Net | 175 | 3,303 | (8,824) | 7,509 | ||||||||||||
(2,380) | 2,240 | (18,633) | 1,756 | |||||||||||||
Income Before Income Taxes | 9,311 | 22,237 | 188,703 | 172,537 | ||||||||||||
Provision for Income Taxes | (1,523) | 5,179 | 41,550 | 34,642 | ||||||||||||
Net Income | 10,834 | 17,058 | 147,153 | 137,895 | ||||||||||||
Net (Income) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | - | (63) | - | (91) | ||||||||||||
Net Income Attributable to | $ | 10,834 | $ | 16,995 | $ | 147,153 | $ | 137,804 | ||||||||
Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to | ||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.74 | $ | 6.46 | $ | 6.01 | ||||||||
Diluted | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.73 | $ | 6.38 | $ | 5.92 | ||||||||
Shares Used to Compute Net Income Per Common | ||||||||||||||||
Basic | 22,685 | 22,868 | 22,781 | 22,922 | ||||||||||||
Diluted | 22,994 | 23,254 | 23,064 | 23,287 | ||||||||||||
Table II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Income and Earnings per Diluted Share * | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2022 | EPS | 2021 | EPS | 2022 | EPS | 2021 | EPS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income Reported | $ | 10,834 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 16,995 | $ | 0.73 | $ | 147,153 | $ | 6.38 | $ | 137,804 | $ | 5.92 | ||||||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation (Income) Expense | $ | 2,000 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 2,168 | $ | 0.09 | $ | (2,369) | $ | (0.10) | $ | 1,484 | $ | 0.06 | ||||||||||||||||
Business Restructuring/Asset Disposition Exp. | $ | 62 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 2,343 | $ | 0.10 | $ | 231 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 2,543 | $ | 0.11 | ||||||||||||||||
Cash-Settled SARs (Income) Expense | $ | 194 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 203 | $ | 0.01 | $ | (270) | $ | (0.01) | $ | 165 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||
Environmental Remediation Expense | $ | 366 | $ | 0.02 | $ | 784 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 8,728 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 1,503 | $ | 0.06 | ||||||||||||||||
Adjusted Net Income | $ | 13,456 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 22,493 | $ | 0.97 | $ | 153,473 | $ | 6.65 | $ | 143,499 | $ | 6.16 |
* | All amounts in this table are presented after-tax |
The Company believes that certain measures that are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, are useful for evaluating the Company's operating performance and provide better clarity on the impact of non-operational items. Internally, the Company uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance and evaluates management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. These measures should be considered in addition to, neither a substitute for, nor superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Reconciliation of Pre-Tax to After-Tax Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share amounts) | 2022 | EPS | 2021 | EPS | 2022 | EPS | 2021 | EPS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pre-Tax Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation (Income) Expense | $ | 2,631 | $ | 2,853 | $ | (3,117) | $ | 1,952 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Business Restructuring/Asset Disposition Exp. | $ | 83 | $ | 3,086 | $ | 308 | $ | 3,353 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash-Settled SARs (Income) Expense | $ | 255 | $ | 267 | $ | (354) | $ | 217 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Environmental Remediation Expense | $ | 481 | $ | 1,031 | $ | 11,483 | $ | 1,977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Pre-Tax Adjustments | $ | 3,450 | $ | 7,237 | $ | 8,320 | $ | 7,499 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative Tax Effect on Adjustments | $ | (828) | $ | (1,739) | $ | (2,000) | $ | (1,804) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
After-Tax Adjustments | $ | 2,622 | $ | 0.12 | $ | 5,498 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 6,320 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 5,695 | $ | 0.24 | ||||||||||||||||
Table III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation Plans | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The full effect of the deferred compensation plans on quarterly pre-tax income was | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12/31 | 9/30 | 6/30 | 3/31 | 12/31 | 9/30 | 6/30 | 3/31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 106.46 | $ | 93.67 | $ | 101.35 | $ | 98.81 | $ | 124.29 | $ | 112.94 | $ | 120.27 | $ | 127.11 | |||||||||||||||||
The deferred compensation income statement impact is summarized below:
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation | ||||||||||||||||
Operating Income (Expense) | $ | (3,645) | $ | (4,747) | $ | 9,393 | $ | (6,895) | ||||||||
Other, net – Mutual Fund Gain (Loss) | 1,014 | 1,894 | (6,276) | 4,943 | ||||||||||||
Total Pretax | $ | (2,631) | $ | (2,853) | $ | 3,117 | $ | (1,952) | ||||||||
Total After Tax | $ | (2,000) | $ | (2,168) | $ | 2,369 | $ | (1,484) |
Table IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Effects of Foreign Currency Translation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Company's foreign subsidiaries transact business and report financial results in their respective local currencies. As a result, foreign subsidiary income statements are translated into | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
($ in millions) | Three Months Ended | Increase (Decrease) | Change Due to Foreign Currency Translation | Twelve Months Ended | Increase (Decrease) | Change Due to Foreign Currency Translation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 627.2 | $ | 610.0 | $ | 17.2 | $ | (22.5) | $ | 2,773.3 | $ | 2,346.0 | $ | 427.3 | $ | (95.4) | |||||||||||||||||
Gross Profit | 67.8 | 83.3 | (15.5) | (1.4) | 427.1 | 395.8 | 31.3 | (11.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating Income | 11.7 | 20.0 | (8.3) | (0.7) | 207.3 | 170.8 | 36.5 | (7.4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pretax Income | 9.3 | 22.2 | (12.9) | (0.4) | 188.7 | 172.5 | 16.2 | (7.2) |
Table V | ||||||||
Stepan Company | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current Assets | $ | 1,044,802 | $ | 913,368 | ||||
Property, Plant & Equipment, Net | 1,073,297 | 850,604 | ||||||
Other Assets | 315,073 | 301,640 | ||||||
Total Assets | $ | 2,433,172 | $ | 2,065,612 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
Current Liabilities | $ | 670,649 | $ | 500,476 | ||||
Deferred Income Taxes | 10,179 | 12,491 | ||||||
Long-term Debt | 455,029 | 322,862 | ||||||
Other Non-current Liabilities | 131,250 | 155,590 | ||||||
Total Stepan Company Stockholders' Equity | 1,166,065 | 1,074,193 | ||||||
Noncontrolling Interest | - | - | ||||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | $ | 2,433,172 | $ | 2,065,612 |
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