Graco Inc: Form 10-Q for the period ended Jun 28, 2024

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

The Company supplies technology and expertise for the management of fluids and coatings in both industrial and commercial applications. It designs, manufactures and markets systems and equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluid and coating materials. Management classifies the Company’s business into three reportable segments: Contractor, Industrial and Process. Key strategies include developing and marketing new products, leveraging products and technologies into additional, growing end-user markets, expanding distribution globally and completing strategic acquisitions that provide additional channel and technologies.

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis reviews significant factors affecting the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

Consolidated Results

A summary of financial results follows (in millions except per share amounts):

(1) See below for a reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP.

Net sales for the second quarter decreased 1 percent from the comparable period last year. Sales growth in the Contractor segment was unable to offset declines in the Industrial and Process segments. Regionally, sales decreased in EMEA and Asia Pacific and increased in the Americas. Changes in currency translation rates decreased worldwide net sales by $3 million for the quarter and $4 million for the year to date.

Operating earnings for the second quarter increased 3 percent from the comparable period last year, as an improved gross profit margin rate offset lower sales volume and higher operating expenses.

Net earnings for the second quarter decreased 1 percent from the comparable period last year as higher operating earnings and lower interest expense were unable to offset the impact of a higher effective income tax rate. On an adjusted basis, net earnings increased 3 percent.

Excluding the impacts of excess tax benefits from stock option exercises presents a more consistent basis for comparison of financial results. A calculation of the non-GAAP adjusted measurements of income taxes, effective income tax rate, net earnings and diluted earnings per share follows (in millions except per share amounts):

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The following table presents an overview of components of net earnings as a percentage of net sales:

Net Sales

The following table presents net sales by geographic region (in millions):

(1) North, South and Central America, including the United States

(2) Europe, Middle East and Africa

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region:

Gross Profit

Gross profit margin rate improved 2 percentage points for the second quarter and 1 percentage point for the year to date from the comparable periods last year mostly due to lower product costs and realized price increases.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the second quarter were $5 million (4 percent) higher than the second quarter last year. The increase for the quarter included approximately $3 million of expenses associated with the relocation to a new distribution center and $2 million related to product development, growth initiatives and other corporate items. Year-to-date operating expenses increased $10 million (4 percent) compared to the first half last year. The increase included $5 million related to product development, growth initiatives and other corporate items, $3 million associated with the distribution center relocation, and $2 million of incremental share-based compensation. Operating expense rate-related increases of approximately 3 percent for both the quarter and year to date were mostly offset by reductions in sales and earnings-based expenses.

Interest and Other (Income) Expense

Interest expense was $1 million lower for the second quarter and $2 million lower for the year to date compared to the same periods last year as private placement debt was repaid in the third quarter of 2023. Other income was flat for the quarter and increased $6 million year to date from the comparable periods last year. The year-to-date increase was largely due to increased interest income.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was up 4 percentage points to 20 percent for the second quarter and down 1 percentage point to 16 percent for the year to date from the comparable periods last year due primarily to variations in excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises.

Segment Results

Certain measurements of segment operations compared to last year are summarized below:

Contractor Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Contractor segment

(dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Contractor segment:

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Favorable response from new product offerings led to a 5 percent increase in net sales for the second quarter. Net sales were flat for the year to date as favorable response from new product offerings offset softness in worldwide construction markets. The operating margin rate increased 4 percentage points for the quarter driven by lower product costs and price realization. For the year to date, lower product costs and price realization were partially offset by higher expenses, particularly in new product development, resulting in a 2 percentage point increase to the operating margin rate.

Industrial Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Industrial segment

(dollars in millions):

The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Industrial segment:

Industrial segment net sales decreased 5 percent for the second quarter and year to date, as growth in the Americas was more than offset by double-digit declines in Asia Pacific. The operating margin rate was flat for the quarter and decreased 2 percentage points for the year to date. The favorable effects of product and channel mix was able to offset higher expenses for the quarter, but unable to offset higher expenses for the year to date. Changes in foreign currency translation rates further reduced the operating margin rate for the year to date.

Process Segment

The following table presents net sales and operating earnings as a percentage of sales for the Process segment

(dollars in millions):

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The following table presents the components of net sales change by geographic region for the Process segment:

Process segment net sales decreased 9 percent for both the second quarter and year to date, as sales decreased in most product applications. Weakness in the semiconductor and industrial lubrication product applications was notable for both the quarter and year to date. The operating margin rate for this segment decreased approximately 2 percentage points for the quarter and year to date due primarily to unfavorable expense leverage on lower sales volume.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $258 million in the first six months of 2024 compared to $282 million in 2023. Lower net earnings and increased inventory purchases in 2024 drove most of the decrease. Inventory levels increased in 2024 primarily due to the effect of new product offerings. Significant uses of cash in the first half of 2024 included plant and equipment additions of $73 million and dividend payments of $86 million. Net proceeds from shares issued totaled $42 million, which were partially offset by share repurchases of $18 million.

In the first half of 2023, significant uses of cash included plant and equipment additions of $92 million and dividend payments of $79 million. Net proceeds from shares issued totaled $51 million, which was partially offset by share repurchases of $8 million.

As of June 28, 2024, the Company had available liquidity of $1,441 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $666 million, of which $226 million was held outside of the U.S., and available credit under existing committed credit facilities of $775 million.

Cash balances and unused financing sources are expected to provide the Company with the flexibility to meet its liquidity needs for the next 12 months and beyond, including its capital expenditure plan, planned dividends, share repurchases, acquisitions and operating requirements. Capital expenditures for 2024 are expected to be approximately $120 million, including $70 million in facility expansion projects. The Company may make opportunistic share repurchases going forward.

Outlook

Given the slow first half of the year in both the Industrial and Process segments, we lowered our full-year 2024 worldwide outlook to low single-digit sales decline on an organic, constant currency basis. While overall economic conditions are challenging, particularly in Asia Pacific, we continue to pursue our proven growth strategies and invest in our businesses.

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 2023 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, risks relating to the demand for our products and the level of commercial and industrial activity worldwide; changes in currency translation rates; international and domestic political instability; interest rate fluctuations and changes in credit markets; global sourcing of materials; interruptions of or intrusions into our information systems; intellectual property rights; the use of generative artificial intelligence; conducting business internationally; catastrophic events; our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel; public health crises; our growth strategies and acquisitions; potential goodwill impairment; our ability to compete effectively; our dependence on a few large customers; our dependence on cyclical industries; changes in laws and regulations; climate-related laws, regulations and accords; environmental, social and governance-related expectations and requirements; compliance with anti-corruption and trade laws; changes in tax rates or the adoption of new tax legislation; and costs associated with legal proceedings. Please refer to Item 1A of our 2023 Annual Report and Item 1A of this 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 (http://www.graco.com) and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov (http://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.

There have been no material changes related to market risk from the disclosures made in the Company's 2023 Annual Report.

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

As of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was done under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in internal controls

During the quarter, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART IIOTHER INFORMATION

There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report.