Fourth Quarter and Annual Sales Growth in All Segments and Regions
Graco Inc. (NYSE: GGG) today announced results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2021.
- Sales for the quarter increased in all segments and regions. There were 14 weeks in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2021, compared to 13 weeks in 2020.
- Gross profit margin rate for the quarter weakened mainly due to higher product costs.
- Higher sales and earnings-based expenses contributed to the 15 percent increase in total operating expenses for the quarter.
- Other non-operating expenses for the quarter included a non-cash pension settlement loss of $12 million in connection with the transfer of certain pension obligations to an insurance company.
- The effective income tax rate for the quarter of 7 percent was 4 percentage points lower than the fourth quarter rate last year primarily due to non-recurring foreign-related tax benefits, partially offset by a decrease in excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises.
“We finished the year strong; posting records for quarterly and annual sales and operating earnings in 2021,” said Mark Sheahan, Graco’s President and CEO. “Robust order rates continued in the fourth quarter and we ended the year with record backlog in all three segments. While we still face supply chain, logistical and inflationary challenges, we are managing these headwinds and Graco is positioned well entering the new year. Thank you to our employees, suppliers and distributors whose hard work and dedication made this year so successful.”
Consolidated Results
Net sales for the quarter increased 15 percent from the comparable period last year. Sales increased 13 percent in the Americas, 4 percent in EMEA (8 percent at consistent translation rates) and 34 percent in Asia Pacific (33 percent at consistent translation rates). Sales for the year increased 20 percent from last year (19 percent at consistent translation rates). Sales increased 15 percent in the Americas, 25 percent in EMEA (22 percent at consistent translation rates) and 33 percent in Asia Pacific (28 percent at consistent translation rates). Changes in currency translation rates did not have a meaningful impact on worldwide sales for the quarter, but did increase worldwide sales $26 million for the year.
The fourth quarter gross profit margin rate decreased 1 percentage point from the comparable period last year as favorable product and channel mix, realized pricing and increased production volume were unable to offset higher product costs caused by ongoing supply chain and inflationary challenges. For the year, the gross profit margin rate was up slightly as increased volume, realized pricing and favorable changes in currency translation rates were able to offset higher product costs.
Total operating expenses for the quarter increased $17 million (15 percent) compared to the fourth quarter last year, including approximately $4 million (3 percentage points) of increases in sales and earnings-based expenses. Operating expenses for the year increased $39 million (9 percent) compared to last year. The increase includes $29 million (6 percentage points) of increases in sales and earnings-based expenses and $5 million (1 percentage point) related to foreign currency translation.
Other non-operating expenses for the quarter included a non-cash pension settlement loss of $12 million in connection with the transfer of certain pension obligations to an insurance company. Other non-operating expenses increased $7 million for the year as favorable market valuation changes on investments held to fund certain retirement benefits liabilities partially offset the pension settlement loss.
The effective income tax rate was 7 percent for the quarter and 13 percent for the year. Adjusted to exclude the impacts of excess tax benefits from stock option exercises and non-recurring foreign-related tax benefits (see Financial Results Adjusted for Comparability below), the adjusted effective income tax rate was 18 percent for the quarter and year.
Segment Results
Management assesses performance of segments by reference to operating earnings excluding unallocated corporate expenses. For a reconciliation of segment operating earnings to consolidated operating earnings, refer to the segment information table included in the financial statement section of this release. Certain measurements of segment operations are summarized below:
Components of net sales change by geographic region for the Industrial segment were as follows:
Improved worldwide economic activity drove Industrial segment sales higher for the quarter and year. Organic sales declined in EMEA for the quarter due to timing of finishing system sales and other project activity. The operating margin rate for the quarter was flat compared to the prior year as favorable product and channel mix, increased production volume and realized pricing offset the impacts of higher product costs and increased sales and earnings-based expenses. For the year, the operating margin rate increased mostly due to higher production volume, favorable product and channel mix and realized pricing.
Components of net sales change by geographic region for the Process segment were as follows:
The Process segment had organic sales growth in all divisions and regions for the quarter and year. Operating margin rates for this segment improved by 1 percentage point for the quarter and 3 percentage points for the year, as increased production volume and expense leverage more than offset the adverse effects of higher product costs and increased sales and earnings-based expenses.
Components of net sales change by geographic region for the Contractor segment were as follows:
Contractor segment sales increased for the quarter and year due to continued strength in North American construction markets and improved demand in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions. Higher product costs due to ongoing supply chain and inflationary challenges led to a 4 percentage point decrease in the operating margin rate for the quarter and a 2 percentage point decrease for the year.
Outlook
“We are initiating an outlook for the full-year 2022 of high single-digit sales growth on an organic, constant currency basis, with positive expectations in every region and reportable segment,” said Sheahan. “Our pricing actions coupled with strong demand levels across all major end markets and product categories should set us up for another strong year.”
2022 Change in Organizational Structure
As previously announced, effective Jan. 1, 2022, our high performance coatings and foam product offerings within the Applied Fluid Technologies division of the Industrial segment were realigned and are now managed under the Contractor segment. High performance coatings and foam equipment consists of two-component proportioning systems to spray foam for insulating building walls, roofs, water heaters, refrigerators, hot tubs and other items and polyurea coatings applied on storage tanks, pipes, roofs, truck beds, concrete and other items. These product offerings also include equipment that sprays specialty coatings for protection and fireproofing and vapor-abrasive blasting equipment. The change will allow segment leadership to address overlap of markets, products, end users and distributors between the contractor-focused businesses.
Segment operating results will be reported under the new organizational structure in the first quarter of 2022, in connection with the effective date of the realignment. Historic segment information restated to conform to the new organizational structure is available as supplemental financial information on the Company’s website at www.graco.com.
Financial Results Adjusted for Comparability
Excluding the impact of the pension settlement loss, prior year impairment, excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises and certain tax provision adjustments presents a more consistent basis for comparison of financial results. A calculation of the non-GAAP measurements of adjusted operating earnings, earnings before income taxes, income taxes, effective income tax rates, net earnings and diluted earnings per share follows (in millions except per share amounts):
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The Company desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions regarding forward-looking statements of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is filing this Cautionary Statement in order to do so. From time to time various forms filed by our Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks, and other disclosures, including our overview report, press releases, earnings releases, analyst briefings, conference calls and other written documents or oral statements released by our Company, may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally use words such as “expect,” “foresee,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “should,” “estimate,” “will,” and similar expressions, and reflect our Company’s expectations concerning the future. All forecasts and projections are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon currently available information, but various risks and uncertainties may cause our Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements in light of new information or future events.
Future results could differ materially from those expressed due to the impact of changes in various factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; economic conditions in the United States and other major world economies; our Company’s growth strategies, which include making acquisitions, investing in new products, expanding geographically and targeting new industries; changes in currency translation rates; the ability to meet our customers’ needs and changes in product demand; supply interruptions or delays; security breaches; new entrants who copy our products or infringe on our intellectual property; risks incident to conducting business internationally; catastrophic events; changes in laws and regulations; compliance with anti-corruption and trade laws; changes in tax rates or the adoption of new tax legislation; the possibility of asset impairments if acquired businesses do not meet performance expectations; political instability; results of and costs associated with litigation, administrative proceedings and regulatory reviews incident to our business; our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel; the possibility of decline in purchases from a few large customers of the Contractor segment; variations in activity in the construction, automotive, mining and oil and natural gas industries; and the impact of declines in interest rates, asset values and investment returns on pension costs and required pension contributions. Please refer to Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2020 (and most recent Form 10-Q) for a more comprehensive discussion of these and other risk factors. These reports are available on the Company’s website at www.graco.com and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Investors should realize that factors other than those identified above and in Item 1A might prove important to the Company’s future results. It is not possible for management to identify each and every factor that may have an impact on the Company’s operations in the future as new factors can develop from time to time.
Conference Call
Graco management will hold a conference call, including slides via webcast, with analysts and institutional investors on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, at 11 a.m. ET, 10 a.m. CT, to discuss Graco’s fourth quarter results.
A real-time listen-only webcast of the conference call will be broadcast by Nasdaq. Individuals can access the call and view the slides on the Company’s website at www.graco.com. Listeners should go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the live conference call to install any necessary audio software.
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