AIT Applied Industrial Technologies Inc

• Net Sales of $1.1 Billion Up 0.3% YoY; Down 3.0% on an Organic Daily Basis
• Net Income of $92.1 Million, or $2.36 Per Share Down 1.0% YoY
• EBITDA of $129.0 Million Down 3.3% YoY
• Operating Cash Flow of $127.7 Million; Free Cash Flow of $122.2 Million
• Increasing FY25 EPS Guidance to $9.25 to $10.00
• Reiterate FY25 Sales and EBITDA Margin Guidance

Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT), a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies, today reported results for its fiscal 2025 first quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Net sales for the quarter of $1.1 billion increased 0.3% over the prior year. The change includes a 2.0% increase from acquisitions and a 1.6% benefit from one extra selling day, partially offset by a negative 0.3% impact from foreign currency translation. Excluding these factors, sales decreased 3.0% on an organic daily basis reflecting a 1.4% decrease in the Service Center segment and a 6.1% decrease in the Engineered Solutions segment. The Company reported net income of $­­­92.1 million, or $2.36 per share, and EBITDA of $129.0 million. On a pre-tax basis, results include $2.0 million ($0.04 after tax per share) of LIFO expense compared to $4.6 million ($0.09 after tax per share) of LIFO expense in the prior-year period.

Neil A. Schrimsher, Applied’s President & Chief Executive Officer, commented, “I’m encouraged by the start to fiscal 2025. While the demand backdrop remains mixed, first-quarter sales exceeded our expectations and strengthened during September. Positive trends are developing across our Engineered Solutions segment including stronger orders within our Automation operations and the technology sector, while Service Center segment sales held steady as the quarter progressed. As expected, margin trends were more modest against difficult comparisons, mix dynamics, and softer volumes early in the quarter. We remain prudent with cost measures but balanced considering firming demand the past couple of months, while protecting investments in key strategic growth initiatives during the quarter. Additionally, free cash flow nearly doubled over the prior year to record first quarter levels. Our cash flow growth potential remains significant as we continue to scale our differentiated industry position, benefit from working capital initiatives, and enhance our margin profile.”

Mr. Schrimsher added, “Looking ahead, we expect near-term sales to remain choppy as customers slowly reengage production and capital investments ahead of the upcoming U.S. Election and seasonally slower fall and winter months. Organic sales month to date in October are trending down by a mid single-digit percent year over year, though partially impacted by recent hurricane disruption in the Southeast. That said, we remain constructive on our setup with various self-help and secular tailwinds supporting above market growth and ongoing margin expansion. Combined with easing interest rates and easier comparisons, we see ongoing potential for stronger sales and earnings trends as the year progresses. Lastly, we expect greater capital deployment focused on growth investments including strategic bolt-on and mid-size acquisitions, as well as opportunistic share repurchases and dividend growth.”

Fiscal 2025 Guidance Today, the Company is modestly increasing fiscal 2025 EPS guidance to a range of $9.25 to $10.00 (prior $9.20 to $9.95) to primarily reflect updated assumptions for Interest and Other Income following fiscal 2025 first quarter results. The Company is maintaining guidance for sales of down 2.5% to up 2.5% including down 4.0% to up 1.0% on an organic daily basis, as well as EBITDA margins of 12.1% to 12.3%. Guidance incorporates ongoing economic uncertainty and potential margin pressures reflecting expense deleveraging on muted sales trends, ongoing inflationary headwinds, and growth investments. Guidance does not assume contribution from future acquisitions or share buybacks.

Dividend Today the Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.37 per common share, payable on November 29, 2024, to shareholders of record on November 15, 2024.

Conference Call Information The Company will host a conference call at 10 a.m. ET today to discuss the quarter’s results and outlook. A live audio webcast and supplemental presentation can be accessed on our Investor Relations site at https://ir.applied.com. To join by telephone, dial 800-715-9871 (toll free) or 646-307-1963 using conference ID 3459273. Replays of the call will be available via webcast, as well as by telephone for one week by dialing 800-770-2030 (toll free) using conference ID 3459273.

About Applied® Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies. Our leading brands, specialized services, and comprehensive knowledge serve MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) and OEM (original equipment manufacturing), and new system install applications in virtually all industrial markets through our multi-channel capabilities that provide choice, convenience, and expertise. For more information, visit www.applied.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. Applied intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are often identified by qualifiers such as “expect,” “will,” “guidance,” “assume,” “optimistic,” “believe,” and derivative or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors including trends and events in the industrial sector of the economy (such as the inflationary environment and supply chain strains), results of operations, and financial condition, and other risk factors identified in Applied's most recent periodic report and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by Applied or any other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved. Applied assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, or events, or otherwise.

  APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)   Three Months EndedSeptember 30,

 

2024

 

 

2023

Net Sales

$

1,098,944

 

$

1,095,188

Cost of sales

 

773,862

 

 

770,106

Gross Profit

 

325,082

 

 

325,082

Selling, distribution and administrative expense, including depreciation

 

211,910

 

 

204,402

Operating Income

 

113,172

 

 

120,680

Interest (income) expense, net

 

(627

)

 

1,320

Other (income) expense, net

 

(2,281

)

 

431

Income Before Income Taxes

 

116,080

 

 

118,929

Income tax expense

 

24,017

 

 

25,103

Net Income

$

92,063

 

$

93,826

Net Income Per Share - Basic

$

2.40

 

$

2.42

Net Income Per Share - Diluted

$

2.36

 

$

2.39

Average Shares Outstanding - Basic

 

38,398

 

 

38,700

Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted

 

38,944

 

 

39,310

  NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1) Applied uses the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of valuing U.S. inventory. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can only be made at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management's estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory determination.   APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (In thousands)     September 30,2024 June 30,2024     Assets Cash and cash equivalents

$

538,520

$

460,617

Accounts receivable, net

 

691,512

 

724,878

Inventories

 

497,568

 

488,258

Other current assets

 

81,950

 

96,148

Total current assets

 

1,809,550

 

1,769,901

Property, net

 

119,061

 

118,527

Operating lease assets, net

 

145,043

 

133,289

Intangibles, net

 

242,744

 

245,870

Goodwill

 

624,217

 

619,395

Other assets

 

62,596

 

64,928

Total Assets

$

3,003,211

$

2,951,910

  Liabilities Accounts payable

$

265,136

$

266,949

Current portion of long-term debt

 

25,003

 

25,055

Other accrued liabilities

 

188,161

 

209,096

Total current liabilities

 

478,300

 

501,100

Long-term debt

 

572,288

 

572,279

Other liabilities

 

200,546

 

189,750

Total Liabilities

 

1,251,134

 

1,263,129

Shareholders' Equity

 

1,752,077

 

1,688,781

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

$

3,003,211

$

2,951,910

    APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (In thousands)   Three Months EndedSeptember 30,  

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

  Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net income

$

92,063

 

$

93,826

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization of property

 

5,924

 

 

5,717

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

7,600

 

 

7,393

 

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

 

1,056

 

 

867

 

Amortization of stock appreciation rights and options

 

1,326

 

 

844

 

Other share-based compensation expense

 

1,675

 

 

1,976

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions

 

16,587

 

 

(45,245

)

Other, net

 

1,516

 

 

831

 

Net Cash provided by Operating Activities

 

127,747

 

 

66,209

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

 

(10,498

)

 

(21,440

)

Capital expenditures

 

(5,549

)

 

(4,340

)

Proceeds from property sales

 

831

 

 

123

 

Net Cash used in Investing Activities

 

(15,216

)

 

(25,657

)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities Long-term debt repayments

 

(63

)

 

(62

)

Interest rate swap settlement receipts

 

3,738

 

 

3,558

 

Purchases of treasury shares

 

(9,980

)

 

-

 

Dividends paid

 

(14,218

)

 

(13,551

)

Acquisition holdback payments

 

(1,210

)

 

(562

)

Taxes paid for shares withheld for equity awards

 

(12,314

)

 

(11,866

)

Net Cash used in Financing Activities

 

(34,047

)

 

(22,483

)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash

 

(581

)

 

(1,690

)

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

77,903

 

 

16,379

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 

460,617

 

 

344,036

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$

538,520

 

$

360,415

 

  APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATIONRECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

The Company supplemented the reporting of financial information determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with reporting of non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful information to assist shareholders in understanding financial results, assessing prospects for future performance, and provide a better baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported results. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of operations that, when viewed with GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of the business. The Company strongly encourages investors and shareholders to review company financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Reconciliation of Net Income, a GAAP financial measure, to EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure:   Three Months EndedSeptember 30,

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Net Income

$

92,063

 

$

93,826

 

Interest (income) expense, net

 

(627

)

 

1,320

 

Income tax expense

 

24,017

 

 

25,103

 

Depreciation and amortization of property

 

5,924

 

 

5,717

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

7,600

 

 

7,393

 

EBITDA

$

128,977

 

$

133,359

 

  The Company defines EBITDA as Earnings from operations before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, a non-GAAP financial measure. EBITDA excludes items that may not be indicative of core operating results.   Reconciliation of Net Cash provided by Operating activities, a GAAP financial measure, to Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure:   Three Months EndedSeptember 30,

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Net Cash provided by Operating Activities

$

127,747

 

$

66,209

 

Capital expenditures

 

(5,549

)

 

(4,340

)

Free Cash Flow

$

122,198

 

$

61,869

 

  Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, a non-GAAP financial measure.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241024779522/en/

Ryan D. Cieslak Director – Investor Relations & Treasury 216-426-4887 / rcieslak@applied.com