Franklin Electric Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 and Full Year 2023 Results

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Consolidated net sales of $473.0 million, a decrease of 3% to the prior year
• Water Systems and Distribution net sales decreased by 1% each, while Fueling Systems net sales decreased 23%
• Operating income was $50.8 million with operating margin of 10.7%
• GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.82

Full Year 2023 Highlights

• Full Year record net sales of $2.1 billion, an increase of 1% over the prior year
• Water Systems and Distribution both set new net sales records with increases of 4% and 1%, respectively, while Fueling Systems net sales decreased 11%
• Operating income for 2023 was a record at $262.4 million with operating margin of 12.7%
• GAAP fully diluted EPS was a record at $4.11, an increase of 4% over the prior year
• Record cash flows from operating activities of $315.7 million increased $214.0 million over the prior year
  

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Electric Co., Inc. today announced its fourth quarter and full year financial results for fiscal year 2023.

Fourth quarter 2023 net sales were $473.0 million, compared to fourth quarter 2022 net sales of $489.4 million. Fourth quarter 2023 operating income was $50.8 million, compared to fourth quarter 2022 operating income of $56.2 million.   Fourth quarter 2023 EPS was $0.82, versus EPS in the fourth quarter 2022 of $0.84.

Full Year 2023 net sales were $2.1 billion, compared to full year 2022 net sales of $2.0 billion. Full year 2023 operating income was $262.4 million, compared to full year 2022 operating income of $257.2 million. Full year 2023 EPS was $4.11, versus EPS in 2022 of $3.97.

“The Franklin Electric team delivered another solid quarter to end a record year overall for the Company with new full year records for net sales, operating income, earnings per share, and operating cash flows. Strong execution drove healthy margins for both the quarter and year, led by record full-year operating income in our Water Systems segment while commodity price headwinds in our Distribution business and destocking activity in Fueling continued to weigh on our results,” commented Gregg Sengstack, Franklin Electric’s Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer.

“The breadth and durability of our global portfolio has proven resilient and positions us well entering 2024 where we expect demand to gain momentum as we move further into the year. I’m confident our healthy financial position and commitment to remain focused on meeting our customers’ growing requirements for water and energy solutions provides a solid foundation to enhance shareholder value”, concluded Mr. Sengstack.

Segment Summaries

Water Systems net sales were $279.6 million in the fourth quarter, a decrease of $1.7 million or 1 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2022. Sales decreases were driven by lower sales of groundwater pumping and water treatment products, partially offset by strong end market demand for large pumps. Water Systems operating income in the fourth quarter 2023 was $44.1 million. Fourth quarter 2022 Water Systems operating income was $44.6 million.

Distribution net sales were $148.0 million in the fourth quarter 2023, a decrease of $0.9 million or 1 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2022. The Distribution segment operating income was $1.0 million in the fourth quarter 2023 compared to fourth quarter 2022 operating income of $2.9 million. Distribution segment sales and operating income were negatively impacted by adverse weather and margin compression from declining pricing of commodity-based products sold through the business.

Fueling Systems net sales were $65.7 million in the fourth quarter 2023, a decrease of $19.8 million or 23 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2022. Sales decreases were driven by customer inventory destocking driving lower volumes and higher interest rates, labor constraints, and permitting delays causing some new station build plans to move into 2024. Fueling Systems operating income in the fourth quarter 2023 was $19.4 million. Fourth quarter 2022 Fueling Systems operating income was $24.3 million.

Cash Flow

Net cash flows from operating activities for 2023 were $315.7 million versus $101.7 million in the same period in 2022. The increase was primarily due to actions the Company took to improve working capital including inventory reductions as its supply chain resiliency and lead times improved during the back half of the year.

2024 Guidance

The Company expects its full year 2024 sales to be in the range of $2.10 billion to $2.17 billion and full year 2024 EPS to be in the range of $4.22 to $4.40.

Earnings Conference Call

A conference call to review earnings and other developments in the business will commence at 9:00 am ET. The fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023 earnings call will be available via a live webcast. The webcast will be available in a listen only mode by going to:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/y88zfrpv

For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer portion of the call, please register for the call at the link below.

https://register.vevent.com/register/BI7028d9118f904de0860c8fee5c50244 ...

All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the event start (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).

A replay of the conference call will be available from Tuesday, February 13, 2024, through 9:00 am ET on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, by visiting the listen-only webcast link above.

Forward Looking Statements

"Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company’s financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company’s business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases,  raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company’s accounting policies, future trends, epidemics and pandemics, and other risks which are detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

About Franklin Electric

Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and energy. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications. Franklin Electric is proud to be named in Newsweek’s lists of America’s Most Responsible Companies and Most Trustworthy Companies for 2023 and America’s Climate Leaders 2023 by USA Today.

Franklin Electric Contact:

Sandy Statzer
Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
[e-mail]

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
	Fourth Quarter Ended								Fiscal Year End
	December 31,				December 31,				December 31,				December 31,
	2023				2022				2023				2022
Net sales	$	472,970			$	489,431			$	2,065,133			$	2,043,711
Cost of sales		312,961				323,213				1,368,125				1,352,276
Gross profit		160,009				166,218				697,008				691,435
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		108,825				109,724				433,476				432,076
Restructuring expense		356				272				1,091				2,170
Operating income		50,828				56,222				262,441				257,189
Interest expense		(1,481	)			(4,033	)			(11,790	)			(11,525	)
Other income/(expense), net		1,831				(414	)			3,696				(3,201	)
Foreign exchange expense		(4,026	)			(2,946	)			(12,124	)			(7,236	)
Income before income taxes		47,152				48,829				242,223				235,227
Income tax expense		8,322				8,872				47,489				46,416
Net income	$	38,830			$	39,957			$	194,734			$	188,811
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(281	)			(378	)			(1,462	)			(1,479	)
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$	38,549			$	39,579			$	193,272			$	187,332
Income per share:
Basic	$	0.83			$	0.85			$	4.17			$	4.02
Diluted	$	0.82			$	0.84			$	4.11			$	3.97

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
	December 31,			December 31,
	2023			2022
ASSETS
Cash and equivalents	$	84,963		$	45,790
Receivables (net)		222,418			230,404
Inventories		508,696			544,980
Other current assets		37,718			36,916
Total current assets		853,795			858,090
Property, plant, and equipment, net		229,739			215,154
Lease right-of-use assets, net		57,014			48,948
Goodwill and other assets		587,574			572,009
Total assets	$	1,728,122		$	1,694,201
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	$	152,419		$	139,266
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		104,949			123,788
Current lease liability		17,316			15,959
Current maturities of long-term debt and
short-term borrowings		12,355			126,756
Total current liabilities		287,039			405,769
Long-term debt		88,056			89,271
Long-term lease liability		38,549			32,858
Income taxes payable non-current		4,837			8,707
Deferred income taxes		29,461			29,744
Employee benefit plans		35,973			31,889
Other long-term liabilities		33,914			25,209
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,145			620
Total equity		1,209,148			1,070,134
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,728,122		$	1,694,201

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
	December 31,				December 31,
	2023				2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		194,734			$	188,811
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		52,260				50,374
Non-cash lease expense		18,852				17,406
Share-based compensation		10,133				10,973
Other		10,259				7,291
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables		19,150				(44,800	)
Inventory		48,176				(101,080	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(23,085	)			(12,283	)
Operating leases		(18,874	)			(17,406	)
Income taxes-U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act		(2,902	)			(355	)
Other		7,007				2,743
Net cash flows from operating activities		315,710				101,674
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		(41,415	)			(41,903	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment		1,494				6
Acquisitions and investments		(34,831	)			(1,186	)
Other investing activities		463				9
Net cash flows from investing activities		(74,289	)			(43,074	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in debt		(115,529	)			28,936
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		9,193				3,859
Purchases of common stock		(43,332	)			(40,490	)
Dividends paid		(41,723	)			(36,991	)
Deferred payments for acquisitions		(802	)			(3,786	)
Net cash flows from financing activities		(192,193	)			(48,472	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(10,055	)			(4,874	)
Net change in cash and equivalents		39,173				5,254
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period		45,790				40,536
Cash and equivalents at end of period	$	84,963			$	45,790

Key Performance Indicators: Net Sales Summary

	Net Sales For the Fourth Quarter
	United States		Latin		Europe, Middle		Asia		Total
(in millions)	& Canada		America		East & Africa		Pacific		Water		Fueling		Distribution		Other/Elims		Consolidated
Q4 2022	$171.0		$38.4		$46.0		$25.9		$281.3		$85.5		$148.9		($26.3	)	$489.4
Q4 2023	$161.2		$46.6		$45.5		$26.3		$279.6		$65.7		$148.0		($20.3	)	$473.0
Change	($9.8	)	$8.2		($0.5	)	$0.4		($1.7	)	($19.8	)	($0.9	)	$6.0		($16.4	)
% Change	-6	%	21	%	-1	%	2	%	-1	%	-23	%	-1	%			-3	%
Foreign currency translation	($0.1	)	($6.9	)	($5.8	)	($0.1	)	($12.9	)	$0.1		$0.0				($12.8	)
% Change	0	%	-18	%	-13	%	0	%	-5	%	0	%	0	%			-3	%
Volume/Price	($9.7	)	$15.1		$5.3		$0.5		$11.2		($19.9	)	($0.9	)	$6.0		($3.6	)
% Change	-6	%	39	%	12	%	2	%	4	%	-23	%	-1	%	-23	%	-1	%

	Net Sales For the Full Year
	United States		Latin		Europe, Middle		Asia		Total
(in millions)	& Canada		America		East & Africa		Pacific		Water		Fueling		Distribution		Other/Elims		Consolidated
FY 2022	$712.9		$159.3		$192.8		$92.5		$1,157.5		$334.1		$668.1		($116.0	)	$2,043.7
FY 2023	$744.4		$174.2		$198.3		$86.8		$1,203.7		$296.5		$673.3		($108.4	)	$2,065.1
Change	$31.5		$14.9		$5.5		($5.7	)	$46.2		($37.6	)	$5.2		$7.6		$21.4
% Change	4	%	9	%	3	%	-6	%	4	%	-11	%	1	%			1	%
Foreign currency translation	($3.3	)	($22.1	)	($23.6	)	($3.3	)	($52.3	)	($0.8	)	$0.0				($53.1	)
% Change	0	%	-14	%	-12	%	-4	%	-5	%	0	%	0	%			-3	%
Volume/Price	$34.8		$37.0		$29.1		($2.4	)	$98.5		($36.8	)	$5.2		$7.6		$74.5
% Change	5	%	23	%	15	%	-3	%	9	%	-11	%	1	%	-7	%	4	%

Key Performance Indicators: Operating Income and Margin Summary

Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)	For the Fourth Quarter 2023
	Water		Fueling		Distribution		Other/Elims		Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)	$	44.1	$	19.4	$	1.0	$	(13.7)	$	50.8
% Operating Income To Net Sales		15.8%		29.5%		0.7%				10.7%
Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)	For the Fourth Quarter 2022
	Water		Fueling		Distribution		Other/Elims		Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)	$	44.6	$	24.3	$	2.9	$	(15.6)	$	56.2
% Operating Income To Net Sales		15.9%		28.4%		1.9%				11.5%
Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)	For the Full Year of 2023
	Water		Fueling		Distribution		Other/Elims		Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)	$	196.6	$	92.7	$	34.3	$	(61.2)	$	262.4
% Operating Income To Net Sales		16.3%		31.3%		5.1%				12.7%
Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)	For the Full Year of 2022
	Water		Fueling		Distribution		Other/Elims		Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)	$	172.3	$	96.8	$	54.5	$	(66.4)	$	257.2
% Operating Income To Net Sales		14.9%		29.0%		8.2%				12.6%