Nordson Corporation Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results and Updates Annual Guidance

WESTLAKE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nordson Corporation (Nasdaq: NDSN) today reported results for the fiscal first quarter ended January 31, 2023. Sales were $610 million, comparable to the prior year's first quarter sales of $609 million. The increase in first quarter 2023 sales includes an organic increase of 1% and a favorable acquisition impact of 3%, offset by unfavorable currency translation of 4%. The organic sales increase was driven by strong 9% combined growth in Europe and the Americas, partially offset by weakness in Asia Pacific, predominantly China.

Operating profit in the first quarter was $144 million. Adjusted operating profit, excluding transaction fees, severance and non-cash inventory charges associated with the CyberOptics acquisition, totaled $155 million, or 25% of sales, compared to prior year adjusted operating profit of $157 million. The operating profit, similar to sales, was comparable to the prior year as favorable organic and acquisitive growth was offset by an unfavorable 6% headwind from currency translation. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2023 totaled $181 million, or 30% of sales.

Net income was $104 million, or $1.81 earnings per diluted share. Adjusted net income was $112 million, a $9 million decrease from the prior year earnings of $122 million. The decrease was driven by increased interest expense and foreign currency losses. First quarter 2023 adjusted earnings per diluted share were $1.95, a 6% decrease over the prior year adjusted earnings per diluted share of $2.07.

"First quarter results were in line with our expectations. Our team delivered sales growth comparable to a record fiscal first quarter 2022 despite unfavorable currency headwinds, the timing of the Chinese New Year, and the unexpected negative impact from the spread of COVID-19 in China. Growth was driven by the benefits of our CyberOptics acquisition, as well as solid demand in industrial and medical interventional solutions product lines. The diversity of our geographies and product lines in Europe and Americas, as well as our steadfast dedication to advancing the NBS Next growth framework and responding to the needs of our customers, continues to deliver high quality business performance in dynamic market conditions," said Sundaram Nagarajan, president and chief executive officer.

First Quarter Segment Results

Industrial Precision Solutions sales of $312 million represents a constant currency growth of 1% over the prior year, offset by unfavorable currency translation impacts. The organic growth of 1% was driven primarily by steady demand across most product lines and regions, offset by softness in the Asia Pacific region due to labor shortages from the spread of COVID-19, as well as the timing of Chinese New Year. Operating profit in the quarter was $102 million, or 33% of sales, comparable to the prior year first quarter.

Medical and Fluid Solutions sales of $154 million decreased 3% compared to the prior year first quarter. Organic sales decreased 1% and currency had an unfavorable impact of 2%. The organic sales decrease was driven by significant softness in the medical fluid components product lines and fluid solutions product lines in China, offset by strong demand for medical interventional solutions product lines. Operating profit totaled $39 million, or 26% of sales, a decrease of 20% compared to the prior year first quarter operating profit. The decreased segment profitability resulted from meaningful sales mix changes within medical product lines and related individual factory inefficiencies due to reduced volumes.

Advanced Technology Solutions sales of $145 million increased 14% compared to the prior year first quarter. Sales benefited from the acquisition impact of 14% and an increase in organic sales of 5%, partially offset by an unfavorable currency impact of 4%. The organic sales increase was driven by test and inspection product lines. Operating profit totaled $17 million. Adjusted operating profit, excluding non-cash inventory and other acquisition-related charges, totaled $27 million, or 19% of sales, which was comparable to the prior year first quarter operating profit. Improvements in profit from the acquisition were offset by unfavorable changes in sales mix and a 5% currency translation headwind.

Outlook

While the backlog remains robust at approximately $1 billion, the backlog is not consistent across the different businesses and is heavily weighted toward systems and medical interventional solutions. Order entry in recent weeks has decreased from the previous run rate and several customers have been pushing delivery dates out into the second half of fiscal 2023. Based on our current visibility, the Company is updating its previously issued full-year revenue growth guidance to 0% to 3% over record fiscal 2022 and narrowing its adjusted earnings guidance to the range of $8.75 to $9.50.

Nordson management will provide additional commentary on these results and outlook during its previously announced webcast on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. eastern time, which can be accessed at https://investors.nordson.com. For persons unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available for 14 days after the event. Information about Nordson's investor relations and shareholder services is available from Lara Mahoney, vice president, investor relations and corporate communications at [phone] or [e-mail].

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "projects," "forecasts," "outlook," "guidance," "continue," "target," or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. These statements reflect management's current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, U.S. and international economic conditions; financial and market conditions; currency exchange rates and devaluations; possible acquisitions, including the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; the Company's ability to successfully divest or dispose of businesses that are deemed not to fit with its strategic plan; the effects of changes in U.S. trade policy and trade agreements; the effects of changes in tax law; and the possible effects of events beyond our control, such as political unrest, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, acts of terror, natural disasters and pandemics, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the other factors discussed in Item 1A (Risk Factors) in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in its Forms 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which should be reviewed carefully. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release.

Nordson Corporation is an innovative precision technology company that leverages a scalable growth framework through an entrepreneurial, division-led organization to deliver top tier growth with leading margins and returns. The Company's direct sales model and applications expertise serves global customers through a wide variety of critical applications. Its diverse end market exposure includes consumer non-durable, medical, electronics and industrial end markets. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, the Company has operations and support offices in over 35 countries. Visit Nordson on the web at www.nordson.com, www.twitter.com/Nordson_Corp or www.facebook.com/nordson.

NORDSON CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands except for per-share amounts)
	Three Months Ended
	January 31, 2023				January 31, 2022
Sales	$	610,477			$	609,166
Cost of sales		281,610				269,032
Gross profit		328,867				340,134
Gross margin %		53.9	%			55.8	%
Selling & administrative expenses		184,648				184,274
Operating profit		144,219				155,860
Interest expense - net		(9,943	)			(5,185	)
Other income (expense) - net		(3,196	)			1,292
Income before income taxes		131,080				151,967
Income taxes		26,819				31,558
Net income	$	104,261			$	120,409
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic		57,170				58,152
Diluted		57,762				58,819
Earnings per share:
Basic earnings	$	1.82			$	2.07
Diluted earnings	$	1.81			$	2.05

NORDSON CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	January 31, 2023			October 31, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents	$	121,994		$	163,457
Receivables - net		546,649			537,313
Inventories - net		447,727			383,398
Other current assets		62,046			48,803
Total current assets		1,178,416			1,132,971
Property, plant & equipment - net		361,447			353,442
Goodwill		2,107,113			1,804,693
Other assets		590,447			529,269
	$	4,237,423		$	3,820,375
Current maturities of long-term debt and notes payable	$	420,947		$	392,537
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		404,514			441,666
Total current liabilities		825,461			834,203
Long-term debt		595,166			345,320
Other liabilities		370,111			346,477
Total shareholders' equity		2,446,685			2,294,375
	$	4,237,423		$	3,820,375

NORDSON CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	January 31, 2023				January 31, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	104,261			$	120,409
Depreciation and amortization		26,434				25,390
Other non-cash items		6,224				11,023
Changes in working capital		(58,371	)			(29,217	)
Other		44,789				(9,518	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		123,337				118,087
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(9,302	)			(12,491	)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(377,843	)			(171,613	)
Other - net		9				7
Net cash used in investing activities		(387,136	)			(184,097	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance (repayment) of long-term debt		252,278				(1,257	)
Repayment of finance lease obligations		(1,318	)			(1,640	)
Dividends paid		(37,199	)			(29,724	)
Issuance of common shares		8,807				5,721
Purchase of treasury shares		(6,875	)			(35,002	)
Net cash provided (used) in financing activities		215,693				(61,902	)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash:		6,643				(1,521	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(41,463	)			(129,433	)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period		163,457				299,972
End of period	$	121,994			$	170,539

NORDSON CORPORATION SALES BY GEOGRAPHIC SEGMENT (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended						Sales Variance
	January 31, 2023			January 31, 2022			Organic			Acquisitions			Currency			Total
SALES BY SEGMENT
Industrial precision solutions	$	311,546		$	323,933		1.2	%		-	%		(5.0	) %		(3.8	) %
Medical and fluid solutions		154,287			158,784		(0.8	) %		-	%		(2.0	) %		(2.8	) %
Advanced technology solutions		144,644			126,449		4.6	%		13.5	%		(3.7	) %		14.4	%
Total sales	$	610,477		$	609,166		1.4	%		2.8	%		(4.0	) %		0.2	%
SALES BY GEOGRAPHIC REGION
Americas	$	264,878		$	239,901		8.6	%		2.1	%		(0.3	) %		10.4	%
Europe		162,939			155,985		10.7	%		1.3	%		(7.5	) %		4.5	%
Asia Pacific		182,660			213,280		(13.3	) %		4.7	%		(5.8	) %		(14.4	) %
Total sales	$	610,477		$	609,166		1.4	%		2.8	%		(4.0	) %		0.2	%

NORDSON CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES - ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT AND EBITDA (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	January 31, 2023							January 31, 2022
SALES BY SEGMENT
Industrial precision solutions	$	311,546						$	323,933
Medical and fluid solutions		154,287							158,784
Advanced technology solutions		144,644							126,449
Total sales	$	610,477						$	609,166
OPERATING PROFIT
Industrial precision solutions	$	102,319						$	102,187
Medical and fluid solutions		39,384							49,093
Advanced technology solutions		16,963							27,234
Corporate		(14,447	)						(22,654	)
Total operating profit	$	144,219						$	155,860
OPERATING PROFIT ADJUSTMENTS (1)
Industrial precision solutions	$	-						$	1,563
Advanced technology solutions		10,295							-
Total adjustments	$	10,295						$	1,563
ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT (NON-GAAP) (2)					% of Sales							% of Sales
Industrial precision solutions	$	102,319			33	%		$	103,750			32	%
Medical and fluid solutions		39,384			26	%			49,093			31	%
Advanced technology solutions		27,258			19	%			27,234			22	%
Corporate		(14,447	)						(22,654	)
Total operating profit - adjusted	$	154,514			25	%		$	157,423			26	%
DEPRECIATION & AMORTIZATION
Industrial precision solutions	$	6,845						$	7,442
Medical and fluid solutions		13,625							13,547
Advanced technology solutions		3,812							2,263
Corporate		2,152							2,138
Total depreciation & amortization	$	26,434						$	25,390
EBITDA (NON-GAAP) (2)
Industrial precision solutions	$	109,164			35	%		$	111,192			34	%
Medical and fluid solutions		53,009			34	%			62,640			39	%
Advanced technology solutions		31,070			21	%			29,497			23	%
Corporate		(12,295	)						(20,516	)
Total EBITDA	$	180,948			30	%		$	182,813			30	%

(1)		Represents fees, severance and non-cash inventory charges associated with acquisitions.
(2)		Adjusted operating profit and EBITDA are non-GAAP measures used by management to evaluate the Company's ongoing operations. Adjusted operating profit is defined as operating profit plus certain adjustments, such as fees, severance and non-cash inventory charges associated with acquisitions. EBITDA is defined as adjusted operating profit plus depreciation and amortization.

NORDSON CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES - PROFITABILITY (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	January 31, 2023				January 31, 2022
GAAP AS REPORTED
Operating profit	$	144,219			$	155,860
Other / interest expense - net		(13,139	)			(3,893	)
Net income		104,261				120,409
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.81			$	2.05
Shares outstanding - diluted		57,762				58,819
OPERATING PROFIT ADJUSTMENTS
Inventory step-up amortization	$	4,306			$	1,563
Severance and other		5,989				-
Total adjustments	$	10,295			$	1,563
Adjustments net of tax	$	8,189			$	1,238
EPS effect of adjustments and other discrete tax items	$	0.14			$	0.02
NON-GAAP MEASURES-ADJUSTED PROFITABILITY
Operating profit (1)	$	154,514			$	157,423
Operating profit % of sales		25.3	%			25.8	%
Net income (2)	$	112,450			$	121,647
Diluted earnings per share (3)	$	1.95			$	2.07

(1)		Adjusted operating profit is defined as operating profit plus certain adjustments, such as fees, severance, and non-cash inventory charges related to acquisitions. Adjusted operating profit as a percentage of sales is defined as adjusted operating profit divided by sales.
(2)		Adjusted net income is defined as net income plus tax effected adjustments and other discrete tax items.
(3)		Adjusted earnings per share is defined as GAAP EPS adjusted for tax effected adjustments and other discrete tax items.

The Company also uses the non-GAAP financial measure "constant currency" sales or sales "on a constant currency basis" to show changes in our revenue without giving effect to period-to-period currency fluctuations. Constant currency is defined as sales growth excluding the impacts of changes in foreign currencies. We express period over period revenue variances that are calculated in constant currency as a percentage. Because the reconciliation is inherent in the disclosure, we believe that a separate reconciliation would not provide any benefit.

Management uses these non-GAAP measures internally to make strategic decisions, forecast future results, and evaluate the Company's current performance. Given management's use of these non-GAAP measures, the Company believes these measures are important to investors in understanding the Company's current and future operating results as seen through the eyes of management. In addition, management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in enabling them to better assess changes in the Company's core business across different time periods. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures to other companies' non-GAAP financial measures, even if they have similar names. Amounts may not add due to rounding.

Contacts

Lara Mahoney
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
440.204.9985
[e-mail]