Stepan Reports First Quarter Earnings
First Quarter Highlights
- Reported net income was
$30.7 million , or$1.31 per diluted share versus prior year record net income of$31.9 million , or$1.37 per diluted share. Adjusted net income* was$32.0 million , or$1.37 per diluted share versus$31.7 million , or$1.36 per diluted share, in the prior year.
- Consolidated net sales were
$499.3 million , up 7% versus the prior year. This increase was attributable to 3% local currency growth and a 4% translation benefit.
- Surfactant operating income was a record
$40.3 million versus$38.4 million in the prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to growth in key global markets, principally inNorth America andEurope , and improved internal efficiencies. Global Surfactant sales volume increased 4% versus the prior year.
- Polymer operating income was
$16.9 million versus$21.4 million in the prior year. This decrease was primarily attributable to lower North American rigid polyol margins and lower volumes inNorth America and Europe. Global Polymer sales volume was down 9% versus the prior year.
- Specialty Product operating income was down
$1.6 million versus the prior year. This decrease was primarily attributable to order timing differences within our pharmaceutical and flavor business.
- On
March 26, 2018 , the Company closed on the acquisition ofBASF's Mexicana, S.A. DE C.V.'s surfactant production facility inEcatepec, Mexico and a portion of the associated surfactants business. The Company believes this acquisition significantly enhances Stepan's market position and supply capabilities for surfactants inMexico and positions the Company to grow in both the Consumer and Functional markets for surfactants.
- The effect of foreign currency translation positively impacted net income by
$0.8 million , or$0.04 per diluted share, versus prior year.
* Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP measure which excludes deferred compensation income/expense as well as other significant and infrequent/non-recurring items. See Table II for reconciliations of non-GAAP adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share.
"The Company had a good start to the year driven by record Surfactant results," said
Financial Summary
Three Months Ended March 31 |
||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) |
2018 |
2017 |
% Change |
|||||||||
Net Sales |
$ |
499,335 |
$ |
468,269 |
7 |
% |
||||||
Operating Income |
$ |
39,655 |
$ |
46,230 |
-14 |
% |
||||||
Net Income |
$ |
30,723 |
$ |
31,913 |
-4 |
% |
||||||
Earnings per Diluted Share |
$ |
1.31 |
$ |
1.37 |
-4 |
% |
||||||
Adjusted Net Income * |
$ |
32,030 |
$ |
31,700 |
1 |
% |
||||||
Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share * |
$ |
1.37 |
$ |
1.36 |
1 |
% |
* See Table II for reconciliations of non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share. |
Summary of First Quarter Adjusted Net Income Items
Adjusted net income excludes non-operational deferred compensation income/expense and other significant and infrequent or non-recurring items.
- Deferred Compensation: The current year quarter includes
$1.0 million of after-tax expense versus$0.8 million of after-tax income in the prior year.
- Business Restructuring: The current year quarter includes
$0.3 million of after-tax expense attributable to decommissioning costs related to the Canadian plant closure versus$0.6 million of after-tax expense in the prior year.
Percentage Change in Net Sales
The 7% increase in quarterly net sales was primarily due to the positive impact of foreign currency translation, mostly related to stronger European currencies versus the U.S. dollar. Current quarter net sales also benefited from a 2% increase in selling prices, mostly attributable to the pass through of certain higher raw material costs, and higher volume.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 |
||||
Volume |
1 |
% |
||
Selling Price |
2 |
% |
||
Foreign Currency Translation |
4 |
% |
||
Total |
7 |
% |
Segment Results
Three Months Ended March 31 |
|||||||||||
($ in thousands) |
2018 |
2017 |
% Change |
||||||||
Net Sales |
|||||||||||
Surfactants |
$ |
358,940 |
$ |
322,603 |
11 |
% |
|||||
Polymers |
$ |
121,933 |
$ |
126,610 |
(4) |
% |
|||||
Specialty Products |
$ |
18,462 |
$ |
19,056 |
(3) |
% |
|||||
Total Net Sales |
$ |
499,335 |
$ |
468,269 |
7 |
% |
Three Months Ended March 31 |
||||||||||||
($ in thousands, all amounts pre-tax) |
2018 |
2017 |
% Change |
|||||||||
Operating Income |
||||||||||||
Surfactants |
$ |
40,251 |
$ |
38,371 |
5 |
% |
||||||
Polymers |
$ |
16,894 |
$ |
21,425 |
(21) |
% |
||||||
Specialty Products |
$ |
(350) |
$ |
1,286 |
(127) |
% |
||||||
Segment Operating Income |
$ |
56,795 |
$ |
61,082 |
(7) |
% |
||||||
Corporate Expenses |
$ |
(17,140) |
$ |
(14,852) |
15 |
% |
||||||
Consolidated Operating Income |
$ |
39,655 |
$ |
46,230 |
(14) |
% |
Total segment operating income decreased
- Surfactant net sales were
$358.9 million for the quarter, an 11% increase versus prior year. Sales volume increased 4% mostly due to higher North American and European consumer product, oilfield, and agricultural volumes. Higher sales volume to our distribution partners inNorth America also contributed to this increase. Selling prices were up 4% primarily due to the pass-through of higher raw material costs. The translation impact of a weaker U.S. dollar increased net sales by 3%. Surfactant operating income increased$1.9 million versus the prior year, primarily due to higher volumes, a more favorable product mix and improved internal efficiencies.
- Polymer net sales were
$121.9 million in the first quarter, a 4% decrease versus prior year. Sales volume decreased 9% in the quarter primarily due to lower North American and European polyol volumes used in rigid foam insulation and insulated metal panels. This volume shortfall reflects lower customer demand due to adverse winter weather that delayed project starts, lost share inNorth America and the lingering effects of the 2017 MDI shortfall in Europe. The Company believes that, fundamentally, the market for insulation materials remains strong due to continued global energy conservation efforts. The translation impact of a weaker U.S. dollar favorably impacted net sales by 5% while selling prices did not change significantly. Polymer operating income decreased$4.5 million versus the prior year due to lower volumes and margins that were partially offset by proceeds received from a class action settlement.
- Specialty Products net sales were
$18.5 million for the quarter, a 3% decrease versus prior year. Sales volume increased 2% for the quarter while selling prices declined. Operating income decreased$1.6 million versus the prior year primarily due to recurring fluctuations in the timing of orders in our pharmaceutical and flavor businesses.
Corporate Expenses
Three Months Ended March 31 |
|||||||||||
($ in thousands) |
2018 |
2017 |
% Change |
||||||||
Total - Corporate Expenses |
$ |
17,140 |
$ |
14,852 |
15 |
% |
|||||
Deferred Compensation Expense/(Income) * |
$ |
1,614 |
$ |
376 |
329 |
% |
|||||
Business Restructuring Expense |
$ |
358 |
$ |
786 |
(54) |
% |
|||||
Adjusted Corporate Expenses |
$ |
15,168 |
$ |
13,690 |
11 |
% |
* See Table III for a discussion of deferred compensation plan accounting. |
- Corporate expenses, excluding deferred compensation and business restructuring expense, increased
$1.5 million , or 11%, for the quarter. This increase was mostly attributable to higher legal expenses, partially driven by the Company's first quarter acquisition in Mexico.
Income Taxes
The Company's effective tax rate was 18.4% for the first quarter of 2018 versus 28.0% for the first quarter of 2017. The decrease was primarily attributable to: (a) higher excess tax benefits derived from stock based compensation awards exercised or distributed in the first quarter of 2018 versus 2017, and (b) the net impact of the lower U.S. statutory tax rate of 21% in the first quarter of 2018 versus 35% in the first quarter of 2017. The 2017 U.S. Tax Reform Act favorably benefited the current year quarter by
Selected Balance Sheet Information
The Company's net debt level increased
($ in millions) |
March 31, 2018 |
December 31, 2017 |
||||||
Net Debt |
||||||||
Total Debt |
$ |
290.8 |
$ |
290.8 |
||||
Cash |
244.6 |
298.9 |
||||||
Net Debt |
$ |
46.2 |
$ |
(8.1) |
||||
Equity |
774.6 |
740.1 |
||||||
Net Debt + Equity |
$ |
820.8 |
$ |
732.0 |
||||
Net Debt / (Net Debt + Equity) |
6 |
% |
-1 |
% |
The major working capital components were:
($ in millions) |
March 31, 2018 |
December 31, 2017 |
|||||
Net Receivables |
$ |
325.3 |
$ |
293.5 |
|||
Inventories |
187.7 |
172.7 |
|||||
Accounts Payable |
(202.4) |
(205.0) |
|||||
Net Total |
$ |
310.6 |
$ |
261.2 |
Capital spending was
Outlook
"Looking forward, we believe our Surfactant business will continue to build upon its strong start and benefit from our diversification efforts into functional products, new technologies, improved internal efficiencies and expanded sales into our broad customer base globally," said
Conference Call
Supporting Slides
Slides supporting this press release will be made available at www.stepan.com under the Investor Relations center at approximately the same time as this press release is issued.
Corporate Profile
Headquartered in
The Company's common stock is traded on the
Contact:
Tables follow
Certain information in this presentation consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements about
There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond
These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and
STEPAN COMPANY |
||||||||
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 |
||||||||
(Unaudited – '000s Omitted) |
||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31 |
||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||
Net Sales |
$ |
499,335 |
$ |
468,269 |
||||
Cost of Sales * |
409,765 |
376,150 |
||||||
Gross Profit * |
89,570 |
92,119 |
||||||
Operating Expenses: |
||||||||
Selling * |
14,890 |
13,456 |
||||||
Administrative * |
19,439 |
17,892 |
||||||
Research, Development and Technical Services * |
13,614 |
13,379 |
||||||
Deferred Compensation Expense |
1,614 |
376 |
||||||
49,557 |
45,103 |
|||||||
Business Restructuring |
358 |
786 |
||||||
Operating Income * |
39,655 |
46,230 |
||||||
Other Income (Expense): |
||||||||
Interest, Net |
(3,151) |
(2,992) |
||||||
Other, Net * |
1,160 |
1,092 |
||||||
(1,991) |
(1,900) |
|||||||
Income Before Income Taxes |
37,664 |
44,330 |
||||||
Provision for Income Taxes |
6,948 |
12,418 |
||||||
Net Income |
30,716 |
31,912 |
||||||
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests |
7 |
1 |
||||||
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company |
$ |
30,723 |
$ |
31,913 |
||||
Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company |
||||||||
Basic |
$ |
1.33 |
$ |
1.39 |
||||
Diluted |
$ |
1.31 |
$ |
1.37 |
||||
Shares Used to Compute Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company |
||||||||
Basic |
23,082 |
22,901 |
||||||
Diluted |
23,389 |
23,331 |
* The 2017 amounts for the noted line items have been immaterially changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company's 1st quarter 2018 adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715). The changes reflect line item reclassifications only and have no impact to pre-tax income or net income.
Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Net Income and Earnings per Diluted Share* |
|||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31 |
|||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share amounts) |
2018 |
EPS |
2017 |
EPS |
|||||||||||
Net Income Reported |
$ |
30,723 |
$ |
1.31 |
$ |
31,913 |
$ |
1.37 |
|||||||
Deferred Compensation (Income) Expense |
$ |
1,038 |
$ |
0.05 |
$ |
(802) |
$ |
(0.03) |
|||||||
Business Restructuring |
269 |
$ |
0.01 |
589 |
$ |
0.02 |
|||||||||
Adjusted Net Income |
$ |
32,030 |
$ |
1.37 |
$ |
31,700 |
$ |
1.36 |
* All amounts in this table are presented after-tax
The Company believes that certain measures that are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, are useful for evaluating the Company's operating performance and provide better clarity on the impact of non-operational items. Internally, the Company uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance, and evaluates management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. These measures should be considered in addition to, and are neither a substitute for, nor superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Three Months Ended March 31 |
|||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share amounts) |
2018 |
EPS |
2017 |
EPS |
|||||||||||
Pre-Tax Adjustments |
|||||||||||||||
Deferred Compensation (Income) |
$ |
1,365 |
$ |
(1,293) |
|||||||||||
Business Restructuring |
358 |
786 |
|||||||||||||
Total Pre-Tax Adjustments |
$ |
1,723 |
$ |
(507) |
|||||||||||
Cumulative Tax Effect on Adjustments |
$ |
(416) |
$ |
294 |
|||||||||||
After-Tax Adjustments |
$ |
1,307 |
$ |
0.06 |
$ |
(213) |
$ |
(0.01) |
Deferred Compensation Plan
The full effect of the deferred compensation plan on quarterly pre-tax income was
2018 |
2017 |
|||||||||||||||||
3/31 |
12/31 |
9/30 |
6/30 |
3/31 |
||||||||||||||
Stepan Company |
$ |
83.18 |
$ |
78.97 |
$ |
83.66 |
$ |
87.14 |
$ |
78.81 |
||||||||
The deferred compensation income statement impact is summarized below:
Three Months Ended March 31 |
|||||||
($ in thousands) |
2018 |
2017 |
|||||
Deferred Compensation |
|||||||
Operating Expense |
$ |
(1,614) |
$ |
(376) |
|||
Other, net – Mutual Fund Gain (Loss) |
249 |
1,669 |
|||||
Total Pre-Tax |
$ |
(1,365) |
$ |
1,293 |
|||
Total After Tax |
$ |
(1,038) |
$ |
802 |
Effects of Foreign Currency Translation
The Company's foreign subsidiaries transact business and report financial results in their respective local currencies. As a result, foreign subsidiary income statements are translated into U.S. dollars at average foreign exchange rates appropriate for the reporting period. Because foreign exchange rates fluctuate against the U.S. dollar over time, foreign currency translation affects period-to-period comparisons of financial statement items (i.e., because foreign exchange rates fluctuate, similar period-to-period local currency results for a foreign subsidiary may translate into different U.S. dollar results). Below is a table that presents the impact that foreign currency translation had on the changes in consolidated net sales and various income line items for the three month period ending
($ in millions) |
Three Months Ended March 31 |
Increase (Decrease) |
Increase Due to Foreign Currency Translation |
||||||||||
2018 |
2017 |
||||||||||||
Net Sales |
$ |
499.3 |
$ |
468.3 |
$ |
31.0 |
$ |
17.6 |
|||||
Gross Profit |
89.6 |
92.1 |
(2.5) |
2.1 |
|||||||||
Operating Income |
39.7 |
46.2 |
(6.5) |
1.0 |
|||||||||
Pretax Income |
37.7 |
44.3 |
(6.6) |
1.1 |
Stepan Company |
||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
||||||||
March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 |
||||||||
March 31, 2018 |
December 31, 2017 |
|||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current Assets |
$ |
782,010 |
788,736 |
|||||
Property, Plant & Equipment, Net |
616,051 |
598,443 |
||||||
Other Assets |
82,572 |
83,682 |
||||||
Total Assets |
$ |
1,480,633 |
1,470,861 |
|||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
||||||||
Current Liabilities |
$ |
299,554 |
320,253 |
|||||
Deferred Income Taxes |
11,932 |
10,962 |
||||||
Long-term Debt |
268,173 |
268,299 |
||||||
Other Non-current Liabilities |
125,548 |
130,433 |
||||||
Total Stepan Company Stockholders' Equity |
774,583 |
740,096 |
||||||
Noncontrolling Interest |
843 |
818 |
||||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
$ |
1,480,633 |
1,470,861 |
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