The Toro Company Reports Record Results for the Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2022

Rhea-AI Summary

The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) reported strong financial results for fiscal year 2022, with net sales of $4.51 billion, a 14% increase year-over-year, and diluted EPS of $4.20. The fourth quarter saw net sales of $1.17 billion, up 22% from the previous year, and a reported diluted EPS of $1.12, reflecting a 100% increase. Fiscal 2023 guidance anticipates adjusted diluted EPS between $4.70 and $4.90, driven by strong demand in professional markets and expected supply chain improvements. The company emphasizes its focus on innovation and operational excellence.

Positive

• Full-year net sales of $4.51 billion, up 14% year-over-year.
• Fourth-quarter diluted EPS reached $1.12, a 100% increase from last year.
• Strong demand in professional segment, with fourth-quarter net sales up 29%.
• Guidance for fiscal 2023 forecasts net sales growth of 7% to 10%.

Negative

• Residential segment net sales decreased by 0.8% in Q4.
• Higher material, freight, and manufacturing costs impacting overall margins.
• Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales declined to 12.8% in FY22 from 13.1% in FY21.

Driven by Strong Professional Segment Momentum and Disciplined Execution 

• Full-year net sales of $4.51 billion, up 14% year over year
• Full-year reported diluted EPS of $4.20; *adjusted diluted EPS of $4.20, up 16% year over year
• Fourth-quarter net sales of $1.17 billion, up 22.0% year over year
• Fourth-quarter reported diluted EPS of $1.12; *adjusted diluted EPS of $1.11, up 98% year over year
• Full-year fiscal 2023 guidance of *adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $4.70 to $4.90 per diluted share

BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) today reported results for its fiscal fourth-quarter ended October 31, 2022.

“We delivered record top and bottom line results in the quarter and for fiscal 2022, with full-year net sales exceeding four billion dollars for the first time in company history,” said Richard M. Olson, chairman and chief executive officer. “Demand for our innovative products remained strong throughout the year, especially in key professional markets. Our employees and channel partners collaborated to achieve outstanding results in what remained a very dynamic operating environment. Most importantly, we continued to advance our strategic priorities with a focus on driving value now and into the future for all stakeholders.

“In the fourth quarter, professional segment demand was broad-based. Our biggest constraint remained our ability to fulfill the heightened backlog of orders given the current supply chain environment. For the residential segment, retail demand continued to normalize, reflecting more typical seasonal trends and weather patterns. Notably, this demand normalization is building off the higher base we have established over the past few years with our refreshed product line-up, expanded channel, and enhanced brand marketing.”

FOURTH-QUARTER FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
		Reported									Adjusted*
(dollars in millions, except per share data)		FY22 Q4			FY21 Q4			% Change			FY22 Q4			FY21 Q4			% Change
Net Sales		$	1,172.0		$	960.7		22	%		$	1,172.0		$	960.7		22	%
Net Earnings		$	117.6		$	60.1		96	%		$	117.3		$	59.7		96	%
Diluted EPS		$	1.12		$	0.56		100	%		$	1.11		$	0.56		98	%

FULL-YEAR FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
		Reported									Adjusted*
(dollars in millions, except per share data)		FY22			FY21			% Change			FY22			FY21			% Change
Net Sales		$	4,514.7		$	3,959.6		14	%		$	4,514.7		$	3,959.6		14	%
Net Earnings		$	443.3		$	409.9		8	%		$	444.2		$	392.7		13	%
Diluted EPS		$	4.20		$	3.78		11	%		$	4.20		$	3.62		16	%

OUTLOOK

“We have started fiscal 2023 with great momentum, supported by substantial order backlogs for products in key professional end markets and expected benefits from our pricing and productivity initiatives,” continued Olson. “We believe we are in a strong position to capitalize on growth opportunities with our innovative product line-up, trusted brands, and our extensive distribution and service networks. While we acknowledge the heightened level of macroeconomic uncertainty, we expect to benefit from our well-established market leadership, along with the essential nature and regular replacement of our products.

“We have confidence in our ability to navigate the headwinds in today's macro environment. We will remain agile and flexible, guided by our enterprise strategic priorities of accelerating profitable growth, driving productivity and operational excellence, and empowering people. With this focus, we are prioritizing investments in the key technology areas of alternative power, smart-connected, and autonomous solutions for long-term sustainable growth, with the intent to leverage these investments across our extensive portfolio.”

For fiscal 2023, management expects net sales growth in the range of 7% to 10% and *adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $4.70 to $4.90. The estimated *adjusted diluted EPS range excludes the tax benefits recorded as excess tax deductions for stock compensation. The company's guidance is based on current visibility in this evolving and dynamic macro environment, and reflects expectations for strong demand across key professional markets, normalized seasonal demand patterns for residential and landscape contractor solutions, and continued operational execution. This guidance also assumes steady supply chain improvement throughout the year, with a return to a more typical distribution of quarterly sales.

FOURTH-QUARTER FISCAL 2022 SEGMENT RESULTS

Professional Segment

• Professional segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $944.7 million, up 29.0% from $732.5 million in the same period last year. The increase was driven primarily by net price realization, incremental revenue from the Intimidator Group acquisition in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, and higher shipments of zero-turn mowers, golf and grounds equipment, and snow and ice management solutions.

• Full-year fiscal 2022 professional segment net sales were $3.43 billion, up 17.1% from $2.93 billion last year. The increase was primarily due to net price realization and the Intimidator Group acquisition.

• Professional segment earnings for the fourth quarter were $159.2 million, up 57.5% from $101.0 million in the same period last year, and, when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 16.8%, up from 13.8% in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to net price realization, net sales leverage, and productivity improvements, partially offset by higher material, freight, and manufacturing costs, and the addition of the Intimidator Group at a lower initial margin than the segment average.

• Full-year fiscal 2022 professional segment earnings were $584.0 million, up 15.1% compared with $507.3 million in the prior fiscal year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 17.0%, down slightly from 17.3% last year. The decrease was primarily driven by higher material, freight, and manufacturing costs, and the addition of the Intimidator Group at a lower initial margin than the segment average, partially offset by net price realization and productivity improvements.

Residential Segment

• Residential segment net sales for the fourth quarter were $223.5 million, down 0.8% from $225.2 million in the same period last year. The decrease was primarily driven by lower sales of walk-power and zero-turn riding mowers and portable-power products, largely offset by net price realization and increased shipments of snow products.

• Full-year fiscal 2022 residential segment net sales were $1.07 billion, up 5.8% from $1.01 billion last year. The increase was primarily due to net price realization and increased shipments of zero-turn riding mowers and snow products, partially offset by lower sales of walk-power mowers and portable-power products.

• Residential segment earnings for the fourth quarter were $17.5 million, up 47.6% from $11.9 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 7.8%, up from 5.3% in the prior-year period. The increase was largely driven by net price realization, productivity improvements, and favorable product mix, partially offset by higher material, freight, and manufacturing costs.

• Full-year fiscal 2022 residential segment earnings were $112.7 million, down 7.2% from $121.5 million in the prior fiscal year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 10.5%, down from 12.0% last year. The decrease was mainly attributable to higher material, freight, and manufacturing costs, partially offset by net price realization and productivity improvements.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin for the fourth quarter was 34.0%, compared with 30.1% for the same prior-year period. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to net price realization, productivity improvements, and favorable mix, partially offset by higher material, freight and manufacturing costs, as well as the addition of the Intimidator Group at a lower initial gross margin than the company average.

For fiscal 2022, gross margin was 33.3%, compared to 33.8% for fiscal 2021. *Adjusted gross margin for fiscal 2022 was 33.4%, compared with 33.8% in fiscal 2021. The decreases in reported and *adjusted gross margin were primarily due to higher material, freight, and manufacturing costs, and the Intimidator Group acquisition, partially offset by net price realization and productivity improvements.

SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales for the fourth quarter was 21.2%, compared with 22.4% in the prior-year period. The improvement was primarily due to net sales leverage and lower incentive costs.

For fiscal 2022, SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales was 20.5%, compared with 20.7% for fiscal 2021. The improvement was mainly due to net sales leverage, partially offset by net favorable fiscal 2021 legal settlements which did not reoccur in fiscal 2022.

Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales were 12.8% for the fourth quarter, compared with 7.7% in the same prior-year period. For fiscal 2022, operating earnings as a percentage of net sales were 12.8%, compared with 13.1% in fiscal 2021. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales for fiscal 2022 were 12.8%, unchanged on a year-over-year basis.

Interest expense was up $4.5 million for the fourth quarter to $11.5 million, and up $7.1 million for the full year to $35.7 million. The increases were driven by incremental borrowing to fund the Intimidator Group acquisition, and higher average interest rates.

The reported effective tax rate for the fourth quarter and full year were 17.9% and 19.8%, respectively, compared with 13.3% and 18.0% in fiscal 2021. The *adjusted effective tax rate for the fourth quarter and full year were 18.5% and 20.2%, respectively, compared with 13.9% and 19.6% in fiscal 2021. The increases were primarily due to less favorable one-time adjustments in the current-year periods. The reported effective tax rate increases were also driven by lower tax benefits recorded as excess tax deductions for stock compensation in the current-year periods.

*Non-GAAP financial measure. Please refer to the “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” for details regarding these measures, as well as the tables provided for a reconciliation of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures.

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL
December 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. CST
www.thetorocompany.com/invest

The Toro Company will conduct its earnings call and webcast for investors beginning at 10:00 a.m. CST on December 21, 2022. The webcast will be available at www.thetorocompany.com/invest. Webcast participants will need to complete a brief registration form and should allocate extra time before the webcast begins to register and, if necessary, install audio software.

About The Toro Company

The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. With net sales of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2022, The Toro Company’s global presence extends to more than 125 countries through a family of brands that includes Toro, Ditch Witch, Exmark, Spartan Mowers, BOSS Snowplow, Ventrac, American Augers, Trencor, Pope, Subsite Electronics, HammerHead, Radius HDD, Perrot, Hayter, Unique Lighting Systems, Irritrol, and Lawn-Boy. Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and integrity, The Toro Company and its family of brands have built a legacy of excellence by helping customers work on golf courses, sports fields, construction sites, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties and agricultural operations. For more information, visit www.thetorocompany.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release and our related earnings call reference certain non-GAAP financial measures, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as information supplemental and in addition to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures included within this press release and our related earnings call that are utilized as measures of our operating performance consist of gross profit, gross margin, operating earnings, earnings before income taxes, net earnings, diluted EPS, and the effective tax rate, each as adjusted. The non-GAAP financial measures included within this press release and our related earnings call that are utilized as measures of our liquidity consist of free cash flow and free cash flow conversion percentage.

The Toro Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making operating decisions and assessing liquidity because it believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding core operational performance and cash flows, as a measure of the company's liquidity, and provide the company with a better understanding of how to allocate resources to both ongoing and prospective business initiatives. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures facilitate the company's internal comparisons for both historical operating results and competitors' operating results by factoring out potential differences caused by charges and benefits not related to its regular, ongoing business, including, without limitation, certain non-cash, large, and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions and dispositions; legal judgments, settlements, or other matters; and tax positions. The company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered in conjunction with the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, provide investors with useful supplemental financial information to better understand its core operational performance and cash flows.

Reconciliations of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures are included in the financial tables contained in this press release. These non-GAAP financial measures, however, should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the U.S. GAAP financial measures included within this press release and the company’s related earnings call. These non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similar measures used by other companies.

The Toro Company does not provide a quantitative reconciliation of the company’s projected range for adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2022 to diluted EPS, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception provided under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. The company’s adjusted diluted EPS guidance for fiscal 2023 excludes certain items that are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict, including certain non-cash, large and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions and dispositions; legal judgments, settlements, or other matters; and tax positions. Due to the uncertainty of the amount or timing of these future excluded items, management does not forecast them for internal use and therefore cannot create a quantitative adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2023 to diluted EPS reconciliation without unreasonable efforts. A quantitative reconciliation of adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2023 to diluted EPS would imply a degree of precision and certainty as to these future items that does not exist and could be confusing to investors. From a qualitative perspective, it is anticipated that the differences between adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2023 to diluted EPS will consist of items similar to those described in the financial tables later in this release, including, for example and without limitation, certain non-cash, large, and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions and dispositions; legal judgments, settlements, or other matters; and tax positions. The timing and amount of any of these excluded items could significantly impact the company’s diluted EPS for a particular period.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current assumptions and expectations of future events, and often can be identified by words such as “expect,” “strive,” “looking ahead,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “forecast,” “goal,” “optimistic,” “encourage,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “improve,” “believe,” “become,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “possible,” “promise,” “may,” “likely,” “intend,” “can,” “seek,” “pursue,” “potential,” “pro forma,” variations of such words or the negative thereof, and similar expressions or future dates. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Forward-looking statements in this release include the company’s fiscal 2023 financial guidance, and expectations for strong demand across key professional markets, normalized seasonal demand patterns for residential and landscape contractor solutions and continued operational execution, as well as supply chain improvement throughout the year, with a return to a more typical distribution of quarterly sales. Particular risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operating results or financial position include: adverse worldwide economic conditions, including inflationary pressures; disruption at or in proximity to its facilities or in its manufacturing or other operations, or those in its distribution channel customers, mass retailers or home centers where its products are sold, or suppliers; fluctuations in the cost and availability of commodities, components, parts, and accessories, including steel, engines, hydraulics and resins; COVID-19 related factors, risks and challenges; the effect of abnormal weather patterns; the effect of natural disasters, social unrest, war and global pandemics; the level of growth or contraction in its key markets; customer, government and municipal revenue, budget, spending levels and cash conservation efforts; loss of any substantial customer; inventory adjustments or changes in purchasing patterns by customers; the company’s ability to develop and achieve market acceptance for new products; increased competition; the risks attendant to international relations, operations and markets; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; financial viability of and/or relationships with the company’s distribution channel partners; risks associated with acquisitions and dispositions, including the company's acquisition of Intimidator Group; impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets; impacts of any restructuring activities; management of alliances or joint ventures, including Red Iron Acceptance, LLC; impact of laws, regulations and standards, consumer product safety, accounting, taxation, trade, tariffs and/or antidumping and countervailing duties petitions, healthcare, and environmental, health and safety matters; unforeseen product quality problems; loss of or changes in executive management or key employees; the occurrence of litigation or claims, including those involving intellectual property or product liability matters; impact of increased scrutiny on its environmental, social, and governance practices; and other risks and uncertainties described in the company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company makes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances occurring or existing after the date any forward-looking statement is made.

(Financial tables follow)

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per-share data)
		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
		October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021				October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021
Net sales		$	1,171,984			$	960,655			$	4,514,662			$	3,959,584
Cost of sales			773,139				671,269				3,010,066				2,621,092
Gross profit			398,845				289,386				1,504,596				1,338,492
Gross margin			34.0	%			30.1	%			33.3	%			33.8	%
Selling, general and administrative expense			248,433				215,226				928,933				820,212
Operating earnings			150,412				74,160				575,663				518,280
Interest expense			(11,519	)			(6,997	)			(35,738	)			(28,659	)
Other income, net			4,359				2,135				12,621				10,197
Earnings before income taxes			143,252				69,298				552,546				499,818
Provision for income taxes			25,695				9,190				109,204				89,938
Net earnings		$	117,557			$	60,108			$	443,342			$	409,880
Basic net earnings per share of common stock		$	1.13			$	0.56			$	4.23			$	3.82
Diluted net earnings per share of common stock		$	1.12			$	0.56			$	4.20			$	3.78
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding — Basic			104,488				106,388				104,822				107,341
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding — Diluted			105,325				107,534				105,649				108,473

Segment Data (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
Segment net sales		October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021				October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021
Professional		$	944,680			$	732,542			$	3,429,607			$	2,929,600
Residential			223,526				225,225				1,068,565				1,010,077
Other			3,778				2,888				16,490				19,907
Total net sales*		$	1,171,984			$	960,655			$	4,514,662			$	3,959,584
*Includes international net sales of:		$	222,367			$	188,709			$	879,166			$	827,630

		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
Segment earnings (loss) before income taxes		October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021				October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021
Professional		$	159,160			$	101,048			$	583,993			$	507,327
Residential			17,525				11,874				112,728				121,516
Other			(33,433	)			(43,624	)			(144,175	)			(129,025	)
Total segment earnings before income taxes		$	143,252			$	69,298			$	552,546			$	499,818

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
		October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$	188,250			$	405,612
Receivables, net			332,713				310,279
Inventories, net			1,051,109				738,170
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			103,279				35,124
Total current assets			1,675,351				1,489,185
Property, plant, and equipment, net			571,661				487,731
Goodwill			583,297				421,680
Other intangible assets, net			585,832				420,041
Right-of-use assets			76,121				66,990
Investment in finance affiliate			39,349				20,671
Deferred income taxes			5,310				5,800
Other assets			19,077				24,042
Total assets		$	3,555,998			$	2,936,140
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable		$	578,624			$	503,116
Accrued liabilities			469,242				419,620
Short-term lease liabilities			15,747				14,283
Total current liabilities			1,063,613				937,019
Long-term debt			990,768				691,242
Long-term lease liabilities			63,604				55,752
Deferred income taxes			44,272				50,397
Other long-term liabilities			42,040				50,598
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock			—				—
Common stock			103,970				105,206
Retained earnings			1,280,856				1,071,922
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(33,125	)			(25,996	)
Total stockholders’ equity			1,351,701				1,151,132
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	3,555,998			$	2,936,140

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
		Twelve Months Ended
		October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$	443,342			$	409,880
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Non-cash income from finance affiliate			(8,801	)			(5,704	)
(Contributions to)/Distributions from finance affiliate, net			(9,877	)			4,779
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment			74,922				75,468
Amortization of other intangible assets			33,887				23,848
Fair value step-up adjustment to acquired inventory			535				—
Stock-based compensation expense			22,116				21,809
Deferred income taxes			(12,264	)			(22,899	)
Other			(682	)			457
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions:
Receivables, net			(19,301	)			(52,260	)
Inventories, net			(285,891	)			(98,266	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets			(30,297	)			2,953
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and other liabilities			89,483				195,404
Net cash provided by operating activities			297,172				555,469
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment			(143,478	)			(104,012	)
Business combinations, net of cash acquired			(402,386	)			(24,883	)
Asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(7,225	)			(27,176	)
Proceeds from asset disposals			237				1,035
Proceeds from sale of a business			4,605				26,584
Net cash used in investing activities			(548,247	)			(128,452	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt arrangements			700,000				270,000
Repayments under debt arrangements			(400,000	)			(370,000	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			10,339				13,100
Payments of withholding taxes for stock awards			(2,397	)			(2,037	)
Purchases of TTC common stock			(139,993	)			(302,274	)
Dividends paid on TTC common stock			(125,709	)			(112,440	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			42,240				(503,651	)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents			(8,527	)			2,354
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(217,362	)			(74,280	)
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the fiscal period			405,612				479,892
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the fiscal period		$	188,250			$	405,612

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per-share data)
The following table provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial performance measures used in this press release and our related earnings call to the most directly comparable measures calculated and reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the three and twelve month periods ended October 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021:
		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
		October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021				October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021
Gross profit		$	398,845			$	289,386			$	1,504,596			$	1,338,492
Acquisition-related costs1			225				—				1,650				—
Adjusted gross profit		$	399,070			$	289,386			$	1,506,246			$	1,338,492
Gross margin			34.0	%			30.1	%			33.3	%			33.8	%
Acquisition-related costs1			0.1	%			—	%			0.1	%			—	%
Adjusted gross margin			34.1	%			30.1	%			33.4	%			33.8	%
Operating earnings		$	150,412			$	74,160			$	575,663			$	518,280
Acquisition-related costs1			544				—				4,000				—
Litigation settlement, net2			—				—				—				(11,325	)
Adjusted operating earnings		$	150,956			$	74,160			$	579,663			$	506,955
Operating earnings margin			12.8	%			7.7	%			12.8	%			13.1	%
Acquisition-related costs1			0.1	%			—	%			—	%			—	%
Litigation settlement, net2			—	%			—	%			—	%			(0.3	) %
Adjusted operating earnings margin			12.9	%			7.7	%			12.8	%			12.8	%
Earnings before income taxes		$	143,252			$	69,298			$	552,546			$	499,818
Acquisition-related costs1			544				—				4,000				—
Litigation settlement, net2			—				—				—				(11,325	)
Adjusted earnings before income taxes		$	143,796			$	69,298			$	556,546			$	488,493
Net earnings		$	117,557			$	60,108			$	443,342			$	409,880
Acquisition-related costs1			437				—				3,177				—
Litigation settlement, net2			—				(75	)			—				(9,022	)
Tax impact of stock-based compensation3			(734	)			(339	)			(2,303	)			(8,185	)
Adjusted net earnings		$	117,260			$	59,694			$	444,216			$	392,673
Diluted EPS		$	1.12			$	0.56			$	4.20			$	3.78
Acquisition-related costs1			—				—				0.03				—
Litigation settlement, net2			—				—				—				(0.08	)
Tax impact of stock-based compensation3			(0.01	)			—				(0.03	)			(0.08	)
Adjusted diluted EPS		$	1.11			$	0.56			$	4.20			$	3.62
Effective tax rate			17.9	%			13.3	%			19.8	%			18.0	%
Tax impact of stock-based compensation3			0.6	%			0.6	%			0.4	%			1.6	%
Adjusted effective tax rate			18.5	%			13.9	%			20.2	%			19.6	%

1		On January 13, 2022, the company completed the acquisition of Intimidator. Acquisition-related costs for the three month period ended October 31, 2022 represent integration costs and acquisition-related costs for the twelve month period ended October 31, 2022 represent transaction and integration costs incurred in connection with the acquisition. No acquisition-related costs were incurred during the three and twelve month periods ended October 31, 2021.
2		On November 19, 2020, Exmark Manufacturing Company Incorporated ("Exmark"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of TTC, and Briggs & Stratton Corporation ("BGG") entered into a settlement agreement ("Settlement Agreement") relating to the decade-long patent infringement litigation that Exmark originally filed in May 2010 against Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group, LLC ("BSPPG"), a former wholly-owned subsidiary of BGG (Case No. 8:10CV187, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska) (the "Infringement Action"). The Settlement Agreement provided, among other things, that upon approval by the bankruptcy court, and such approval becoming final and nonappealable, BGG agreed to pay Exmark $33.65 million ("Settlement Amount"). During January 2021, the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Settlement Amount was received by Exmark in connection with the settlement of the Infringement Action and at such time, the underlying events and contingencies associated with the gain contingency related to the Infringement Action were satisfied. As such, the company recognized in SG&A expense within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 (i) the gain associated with the Infringement Action and (ii) a corresponding expense related to the contingent fee arrangement with the company's external legal counsel customary in patent infringement cases equal to approximately 50 percent of the Settlement Amount. Additionally, during the third quarter of fiscal 2021, the company recorded a charge related to a legal settlement for a series of ongoing patent infringement disputes within SG&A expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Accordingly, litigation settlements, net represents the charge incurred for the settlement of the patent infringement disputes for the three month period ended October 31, 2021. Litigation settlements, net for the twelve month period ended October 31, 2021 represents the net amount recorded for the settlement of the Infringement Action, as well as the charge incurred for the settlement of the patent infringement disputes. No amounts were recorded for litigation settlement, net during the three and twelve month periods ended October 31, 2022.
3		The accounting standards codification guidance governing employee stock-based compensation requires that any excess tax deduction for stock-based compensation be immediately recorded within income tax expense. Employee stock-based compensation activity, including the exercise of stock options, can be unpredictable and can significantly impact our net earnings, net earnings per diluted share, and effective tax rate. These amounts represent the discrete tax benefits recorded as excess tax deductions for stock-based compensation during the three and twelve month periods ended October 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Liquidity Measures

The company defines free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. Free cash flow conversion percentage represents free cash flow as a percentage of net earnings. The company considers free cash flow and free cash flow conversion percentage to be non-GAAP liquidity measures that provide useful information to management and investors about the company's ability to convert net earnings into cash resources that can be used to pursue opportunities to enhance shareholder value, fund ongoing and prospective business initiatives, and strengthen the company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, after reinvesting in necessary capital expenditures required to maintain and grow the company's business.

The following table provides a reconciliation of non-GAAP free cash flow and free cash flow conversion percentage to net cash provided by operating activities, which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, for the twelve month periods ended October 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021:

		Twelve Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)		October 31, 2022				October 31, 2021
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	297,172			$	555,469
Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment			143,478				104,012
Free cash flow			153,694				451,457
Net earnings		$	443,342			$	409,880
Free cash flow conversion percentage			34.7	%			110.1	%

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221221005078/en/

Investor Relations

Jeremy Steffan

Director, Investor Relations

(952) 887-7962, jeremy.steffan@toro.com

Media Relations

Branden Happel

Senior Manager, Public Relations

(952) 887-8930, branden.happel@toro.com

Source: The Toro Company

FAQ

What were Toro's net sales for fiscal year 2022?

Toro reported net sales of $4.51 billion for fiscal year 2022, a 14% increase year-over-year.

What is the diluted EPS for Toro in the fourth quarter?

The diluted EPS for Toro in the fourth quarter was $1.12, reflecting a 100% increase year-over-year.

What is Toro's guidance for adjusted diluted EPS in fiscal 2023?

Toro expects adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2023 to be in the range of $4.70 to $4.90.

How did the professional and residential segments perform in Q4?

The professional segment net sales increased by 29%, while the residential segment saw a decrease of 0.8%.

What challenges is Toro facing with its supply chain?

Toro has highlighted challenges in fulfilling heightened order backlogs due to the current supply chain environment.