The Toro Company Reports Solid First-Quarter Fiscal 2022 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) reported fiscal first-quarter net sales of $932.7 million, a 6.8% increase year-over-year. Professional segment sales rose 3.5%, while Residential segment sales surged 17.3%. However, net earnings dropped 37.5% to $69.5 million, with diluted EPS at $0.66, down from $1.02 last year. Gross margin declined to 32.2% due to increased costs. The company raised its full-year net sales growth guidance to 12% to 14% but maintained adjusted EPS guidance between $3.90 and $4.10.

Positive

• First-quarter net sales increased by 6.8% year-over-year to $932.7 million.
• Residential segment net sales grew 17.3%, driven by higher shipments.
• The acquisition of Intimidator Group enhances Toro's position in the zero-turn mower market.

Negative

• Net earnings fell 37.5% to $69.5 million compared to last year.
• Gross margin decreased to 32.2% from 36.1% due to higher costs.
• Professional segment earnings declined 20.2% year-over-year.

Drives Quarter over Quarter Sequential Gross Margin Improvement In a Dynamic Operating Environment

• First-quarter net sales up 6.8% compared to the same prior year period, to $932.7 million; Professional segment net sales up 3.5%, Residential segment net sales up 17.3%
• First-quarter reported and *adjusted diluted EPS of $0.66
• Gross margin results improved sequentially from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, driven by increased net price realization and enhanced operational performance; comparisons to the same prior-year period were affected by increased inflationary pressures and product availability constraints

 

BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) today reported results for its fiscal first-quarter ended January 28, 2022.

“We achieved solid financial results for the quarter and continued to advance our strategic initiatives,” said Richard M. Olson, chairman and chief executive officer. “Demand across our businesses remained robust, while supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures continued. Our team kept a sharp focus on operational execution and serving our customers as they collaborated with suppliers and channel partners. This focus allowed us to drive productivity gains, achieve sequential margin improvement and fund investments for a sustainable future, all of which enabled us to extend our market leadership.

“We continued to invest in new products and acquisitions that align with our strategic priorities and bolster our reputation for best-in-class performance and technology. In January, our acquisition of the Intimidator Group added the complementary Spartan line of professional zero-turn mowers. Spartan is known for its exceptional performance, features, durability, and distinctive styling. The acquisition positions us to be an even stronger player in the large and rapidly growing zero-turn mower market, enhancing customer reach and geographic strength. More recently, at the GCSAA golf industry show, we introduced our GeoLink Solutions Autonomous Fairway Mower, which represents an important milestone in advancing our autonomous vision.”

FIRST-QUARTER FISCAL 2022 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Net sales of $932.7 million, up 6.8% from $873.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

• Net earnings of $69.5 million, down 37.5% from $111.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021; *adjusted net earnings of $69.7 million, down 25.3% from $93.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

• Reported EPS of $0.66 per diluted share versus $1.02 per diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal 2021; *adjusted EPS of $0.66 per diluted share versus $0.85 per diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

• Utilized cash on hand and existing credit facilities to acquire the Intimidator Group, and returned $106.5 million to shareholders through regular dividends of $31.5 million and share repurchases of $75.0 million.

OUTLOOK

“The Toro Company team worldwide continues to work diligently to advance our strategic priorities and fulfill our purpose of helping our customers enrich the beauty, productivity and sustainability of the land,” added Olson. “These efforts are rooted in our world-class innovation capabilities and enterprise-wide operational excellence, which together, will help drive our sales momentum, margin expansion, and enterprise value for all stakeholders. While we are seeing improvements in our manufacturing performance, as well as positive indicators in our supply chain, we acknowledge that the recent geopolitical events may create additional challenges. Our operational efficiency and market leadership position us well to manage through this environment and take our business to the next level.

“Our inspired team is focused on delivering results. The strength of our purpose and culture, founded upon our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and caring relationships, helps us attract top talent. The Toro Company's focus on accelerating profitable growth, driving productivity and operational excellence, and empowering people sets us up to emerge from the current cycle even stronger.”

The company is raising its full-year fiscal 2022 net sales guidance to incorporate the Intimidator Group acquisition, and now expects total net sales growth in the range of 12% to 14%. In light of the current geopolitical environment, the company is holding its *adjusted EPS guidance in the range of $3.90 to $4.10 per diluted share. This guidance is based on current visibility, and reflects expectations for continued strong demand and increasing net price realization.

FIRST-QUARTER FISCAL 2022 SEGMENT RESULTS

Professional Segment

• Professional segment net sales for the first quarter were $672.9 million, up 3.5% compared with $650.2 million in the same period last year. The increase was driven primarily by net price realization, partially offset by lower volume in certain key product categories due to product availability constraints.

• Professional segment earnings for the first quarter were $93.3 million, down 20.2% compared with $116.8 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 13.9%, down from 18.0% in the prior-year period. The decrease was largely due to higher material, freight and manufacturing costs, partially offset by increased net price realization.

Residential Segment

• Residential segment net sales for the first quarter were $255.4 million, up 17.3% compared with $217.7 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to net price realization and higher shipments of zero-turn riding and walk power mowers.

• Residential segment earnings for the first quarter were $31.8 million, down 1.1% compared with $32.1 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 12.4%, down from 14.7% in the prior-year period. The decrease was largely driven by higher material and freight costs, partially offset by increased net price realization and productivity improvements.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin for the first quarter was 32.2%, compared with 36.1% for the same prior-year period. The decrease was primarily due to higher material and freight costs, partially offset by increased net price realization.

SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales for the first quarter was 22.4% compared with 19.9% in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to the favorable impact of a one-time legal settlement in the prior year that did not reoccur, as well as increased investments in research, engineering and marketing in the current-year period.

Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales were 9.8% for the first quarter, compared with 16.2% in the same prior-year period. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales for the first quarter were 9.9%, compared with 14.2% in the same prior-year period.

Interest expense was down $0.5 million for the first quarter to $7.0 million, driven by lower average debt levels and decreased interest rates.

The reported effective tax rate for the first quarter was 20.2%, compared with 18.1% for the same prior-year period. The reported effective tax rate increase was primarily due to lower tax benefits recorded as excess tax deductions for stock compensation. The *adjusted effective tax rate for the first quarter was 20.9%, compared with 21.5% in the first quarter of 2021.

*Non-GAAP financial measure. Please see the tables provided for a reconciliation of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures.

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL
March 3, 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 March 3, 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 sales of $4.0 billion in fiscal 2021, 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 operating earnings, earnings before income taxes, net earnings, net earnings per diluted share, 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 cannot provide quantitative reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided herein or in its related earnings call without unreasonable effort because the combined effect and timing of recognition of potential charges or gains is inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. In addition, since any adjustments could have a substantial effect on U.S. GAAP measures of financial performance, such quantitative reconciliations would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors. From a qualitative perspective, it is anticipated that the differences between the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure 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.

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 2022 financial guidance, expectations that supply chain and inflationary pressures will normalize over time, and for continued strong demand and increasing net price realization and slight improvement in the operating environment in the second half of the year. Particular risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operating results or financial position include: COVID-19 related factors, risks, and challenges; 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; 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 recent 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, or current reports on Form 8-K, 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
		January 28, 2022				January 29, 2021
Net sales		$	932,650			$	872,986
Cost of sales			632,174				557,950
Gross profit			300,476				315,036
Gross margin			32.2	%			36.1	%
Selling, general and administrative expense			208,850				173,571
Operating earnings			91,626				141,465
Interest expense			(7,013	)			(7,522	)
Other income, net			2,534				1,883
Earnings before income taxes			87,147				135,826
Provision for income taxes			17,637				24,545
Net earnings		$	69,510			$	111,281
Basic net earnings per share of common stock		$	0.66			$	1.03
Diluted net earnings per share of common stock		$	0.66			$	1.02
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding — Basic			105,037				108,122
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding — Diluted			106,048				109,194

Segment Data (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
		Three Months Ended
Segment Net Sales		January 28, 2022				January 29, 2021
Professional		$	672,885			$	650,223
Residential			255,402				217,700
Other			4,363				5,063
Total net sales*		$	932,650			$	872,986
*Includes international net sales of:		$	194,986			$	191,681

		Three Months Ended
Segment Earnings (Loss)		January 28, 2022				January 29, 2021
Professional		$	93,272			$	116,816
Residential			31,760				32,108
Other			(37,885	)			(13,098	)
Total segment earnings		$	87,147			$	135,826

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
		January 28, 2022				January 29, 2021				October 31, 2021
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$	192,959			$	433,394			$	405,612
Receivables, net			366,270				306,865				310,279
Inventories, net			832,072				675,307				738,170
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			45,962				41,177				35,124
Total current assets			1,437,263				1,456,743				1,489,185
Property, plant, and equipment, net			507,549				457,147				487,731
Goodwill			576,940				422,163				421,680
Other intangible assets, net			600,797				410,587				420,041
Right-of-use assets			78,306				75,467				66,990
Investment in finance affiliate			24,119				22,955				20,671
Deferred income taxes			3,938				9,658				5,800
Other assets			24,133				20,418				24,042
Total assets		$	3,253,045			$	2,875,138			$	2,936,140
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current portion of long-term debt		$	100,000			$	9,992			$	—
Accounts payable			474,483				364,361				503,116
Accrued liabilities			395,739				429,820				419,620
Short-term lease liabilities			15,842				15,368				14,283
Total current liabilities			986,064				819,541				937,019
Long-term debt, less current portion			991,354				691,356				691,242
Long-term lease liabilities			65,760				63,469				55,752
Deferred income taxes			50,382				71,970				50,397
Other long-term liabilities			39,936				49,080				50,598
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock			—				—				—
Common stock			104,529				107,613				105,206
Retained earnings			1,040,634				1,104,285				1,071,922
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(25,614	)			(32,176	)			(25,996	)
Total stockholders’ equity			1,119,549				1,179,722				1,151,132
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	3,253,045			$	2,875,138			$	2,936,140

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
		Three Months Ended
		January 28, 2022				January 29, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$	69,510			$	111,281
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Non-cash income from finance affiliate			(1,398	)			(1,283	)
Contributions to finance affiliate, net			(2,050	)			(1,927	)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment			18,487				19,173
Amortization of other intangible assets			6,456				4,894
Compensation cost for stock-based compensation awards			5,225				4,516
Deferred income taxes			—				1,232
Other			146				1,080
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effect of acquisitions:
Receivables, net			(50,599	)			(46,159	)
Inventories, net			(59,171	)			(25,594	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets			(4,187	)			(2,794	)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and other liabilities			(72,462	)			30,606
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(90,043	)			95,025
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment			(11,903	)			(10,504	)
Business combinations, net of cash acquired			(401,494	)			—
Asset acquisition, net of cash acquired			—				(4,542	)
Proceeds from asset disposals			26				74
Proceeds from sale of a business			—				12,886
Net cash used in investing activities			(413,371	)			(2,086	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt arrangements			400,000				—
Repayments under debt arrangements			—				(90,000	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			1,150				7,714
Payments of withholding taxes for stock awards			(1,381	)			(941	)
Purchases of TTC common stock			(75,000	)			(31,351	)
Dividends paid on TTC common stock			(31,469	)			(28,411	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			293,300				(142,989	)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents			(2,539	)			3,552
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(212,653	)			(46,498	)
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		$	192,959			$	433,394

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per-share data)

The company has provided financial measures that are not calculated or presented in accordance with United States ("U.S.") generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") ("non-GAAP financial measures"), as information supplemental and in addition to the most directly comparable financial measures presented in the accompanying press release that are calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making operating decisions and assessing liquidity because the company believes they provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the company's 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 management's internal comparisons to both the company's historical operating results and to the company's competitors' operating results by factoring out potential differences caused by charges and benefits not related to the company's regular, ongoing business, including, without limitation, certain non-cash, large, and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions or dispositions; legal judgments, settlements or other matters; and tax positions. The company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when considered in conjunction with the company's financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, provide investors with useful supplemental financial information to better understand the company's core operational performance and cash flows. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures presented in the accompanying press release. The non-GAAP financial measures presented in the accompanying press release may differ from similar measures used by other companies.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures

The following table provides a reconciliation of financial performance measures calculated and reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP to the most directly comparable non-GAAP financial performance measures included within the accompanying press release for the three month periods ended January 28, 2022 and January 29, 2021:

		Three Months Ended
		January 28, 2022				January 29, 2021
Operating earnings		$	91,626			$	141,465
Acquisition-related costs1			1,016				—
Litigation settlement, net2			—				(17,075	)
Non-GAAP operating earnings		$	92,642			$	124,390
Earnings before income taxes		$	87,147			$	135,826
Acquisition-related costs1			1,016				—
Litigation settlement, net2			—				(17,075	)
Non-GAAP earnings before income taxes		$	88,163			$	118,751
Net earnings		$	69,510			$	111,281
Acquisition-related costs1			804				—
Litigation settlement, net2			—				(13,455	)
Tax impact of stock-based compensation3			(620	)			(4,578	)
Non-GAAP net earnings		$	69,694			$	93,248
Net earnings per diluted share		$	0.66			$	1.02
Acquisition-related costs1			0.01				—
Litigation settlement, net2			—				(0.13	)
Tax impact of stock-based compensation3			(0.01	)			(0.04	)
Non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share		$	0.66			$	0.85
Effective tax rate			20.2	%			18.1	%
Tax impact of stock-based compensation3			0.7	%			3.4	%
Non-GAAP effective tax rate			20.9	%			21.5	%

1		On January 13, 2022, the company completed the acquisition of Intimidator Group. Acquisition-related costs for the three month period ended January 28, 2022 represent transaction and integration costs incurred for the company's acquisition of Intimidator Group. No acquisition-related costs were incurred during the three month period ended January 29, 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 selling, general and administrative 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. Accordingly, litigation settlement, net represents the net amount recorded within selling, general and administrative expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the settlement of the Infringement Action during the three month period ended January 29, 2021. No amounts were recorded for litigation settlement, net during the three month period ended January 28, 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 under The Toro Company Amended and Restated 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan, as amended, can be unpredictable and can significantly impact the company's 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 month periods ended January 28, 2022 and January 29, 2021.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Liquidity Measures

The company defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. Non-GAAP free cash flow conversion percentage represents non-GAAP free cash flow as a percentage of net earnings. The company considers non-GAAP free cash flow and non-GAAP free cash flow conversion percentage to be 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 net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to non-GAAP free cash flow for the three month periods ended January 28, 2022 and January 29, 2021:

		Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands)		January 28, 2022				January 29, 2021
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		$	(90,043	)		$	95,025
Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment			11,903				10,504
Non-GAAP free cash flow			(101,946	)			84,521
Net earnings		$	69,510			$	111,281
Non-GAAP free cash flow conversion percentage			(146.7	) %			76.0	%

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220303005206/en/

Investor Relations

Julie Kerekes

Treasurer and Sr. Managing Director, Global Tax

and Investor Relations

(952) 887-8846, julie.kerekes@toro.com

Media Relations

Branden Happel

Senior Manager, Public Relations

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

Source: The Toro Company

FAQ

What were The Toro Company's first-quarter 2022 net sales?

The Toro Company's first-quarter net sales were $932.7 million, a 6.8% increase compared to the previous year.

How much did The Toro Company's adjusted EPS decline in the first quarter of 2022?

The adjusted EPS for The Toro Company in the first quarter of 2022 was $0.66, down from $0.85 in the same period last year.

What is the guidance for The Toro Company's net sales growth for fiscal 2022?

The Toro Company raised its full-year fiscal 2022 net sales growth guidance to 12% to 14%.

What factors impacted The Toro Company's gross margin in the first quarter of 2022?

The decrease in gross margin to 32.2% was primarily due to higher material and freight costs.

What significant acquisition did The Toro Company make recently?

The Toro Company acquired the Intimidator Group, enhancing its offerings in the professional zero-turn mower market.