Kadant Reports 2015 Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Results

Kadant Inc. (NYSE:KAI) reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 2, 2016.

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2015 Financial Highlights

• GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations increased 15% to $0.94 in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $0.82 in the fourth quarter of 2014. The fourth quarter of 2015 included a $0.10 unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Guidance was $0.79 to $0.82.
• Adjusted diluted EPS increased 17% to a record $0.95 in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $0.81 in the fourth quarter of 2014.
• GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations increased 21% to a record $3.09 in 2015 compared to $2.56 in 2014. The 2015 period included a $0.34 unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 13% to a record $3.13 in 2015 compared to $2.78 in 2014.
• Net income from continuing operations increased 14% to $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $9 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 and increased 20% to a record $34 million in 2015 compared to $29 million in 2014.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 16% to a record $17 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the fourth quarter of 2014 and increased 9% to a record $62 million in 2015 compared to 2014.
• Revenue increased 2% to a record $108 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $105 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, including an $8 million, or 8%, decrease from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. Excluding the foreign currency translation effect, revenue increased 10% in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.
• For 2015, revenue decreased 3% to $390 million compared to a record $402 million in 2014, including a 2% increase from an acquisition and a $32 million, or 8%, decrease from the unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. Excluding the acquisition and foreign currency translation effect, revenue increased 3% in 2015 compared to 2014.
• Bookings were $76 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, which included new orders of $92 million and a booking reversal of $16 million due to uncertainty regarding financing for a project in China that was originally recorded in 2014. Bookings in the fourth quarter of 2015 also included a $7 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation. Excluding the booking reversal and foreign currency translation effect, bookings decreased 4% in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.
• For 2015, bookings were $376 million, which included new orders of $392 million and a booking reversal of $16 million. Bookings in 2015 also included a $34 million unfavorable effect of foreign currency translation and $7 million from an acquisition. Excluding the acquisition, booking reversal, and foreign currency translation effect, bookings decreased 3% in 2015 compared to 2014.
• Cash flows from continuing operations decreased 33% to $12 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $18 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, and decreased 22% to $38 million in 2015 compared to a record $49 million in 2014. Net cash (cash less debt) was $36 million at the end of 2015.

Note: Revenue excluding acquisitions and the effect of foreign currency translation, adjusted diluted EPS, and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures that exclude certain items as detailed later in this press release under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and in the reconciliation tables below. The fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014 included an additional week compared with the comparable periods in fiscal 2015.

Management Commentary

“We ended 2015 on a high note with record-setting fourth quarter performances in revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted diluted EPS,” said Jonathan W. Painter, president and chief executive officer of Kadant. “Our record results for the fourth quarter of 2015 were largely driven by our Stock-Preparation product line in China and were achieved despite the negative effects of foreign currency translation due to a stronger U.S. dollar, which reduced diluted EPS by $0.10 compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.

“2015 was an excellent year for Kadant with record performances in gross margins, operating income, net income, adjusted EBITDA, and diluted EPS, which were achieved despite the significant negative foreign currency translation effects. Outstanding results in our Stock-Preparation product line in North America and China as well as in our Wood Processing Systems segment contributed to our strong performance.”

Fourth Quarter 2015

Operating income from continuing operations was $14.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $12.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Operating income included restructuring costs of $0.2 million and a restructuring benefit of $0.1 million in the fourth quarters of 2015 and 2014, respectively. Adjusted operating income, a non-GAAP measure, was $14.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $12.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Net income from continuing operations was $10.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, or $0.94 per diluted share, compared to $9.1 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2014. Net income from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2015 included a $0.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, after-tax restructuring cost. Net income from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2014 included a $0.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, after-tax restructuring benefit. Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, was $10.5 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $9.0 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Fiscal Year 2015

Operating income from continuing operations was $50.1 million in 2015 compared to $42.1 million in 2014. Operating income in 2015 included $0.2 million of expense related to acquired inventory and backlog and $0.5 million of restructuring costs. Operating income in 2014 included $2.6 million of expense related to acquired inventory and backlog and $0.8 million of restructuring costs. Adjusted operating income, a non-GAAP measure, was $50.8 million in 2015 compared to $45.5 million in 2014.

Net income from continuing operations was $34.3 million in 2015, or $3.09 per diluted share, compared to $28.7 million, or $2.56 per diluted share, in 2014. Net income from continuing operations in 2015 included after-tax expense related to acquired inventory and backlog of $0.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, and after-tax restructuring costs of $0.4 million, or $0.03 per diluted share. Net income from continuing operations in 2014 included after-tax expense related to acquired inventory and backlog of $1.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, and after-tax restructuring costs of $0.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. Adjusted net income, a non-GAAP measure, was $34.8 million, or $3.13 per diluted share, in 2015 compared to $31.2 million, or $2.78 per diluted share, in 2014.

Guidance

“We had an outstanding performance in 2015 with a number of financial records,” Mr. Painter continued. “As we look to 2016, we expect another strong year, although 2015 will be a challenging comparison. We anticipate that a reduction in capital activity, as well as foreign currency translation, will have a negative effect on our results in 2016. As a result, we expect to achieve GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations of $2.80 to $2.90 in 2016 on revenue of $370 to $380 million. The 2016 guidance incudes an unfavorable foreign currency translation effect of $10 million on revenue and $0.11 on diluted EPS compared to 2015. Similar to 2015, we expect the first quarter of 2016 to be weaker with stronger successive quarterly operating results for the remainder of the year. For the first quarter of 2016, we expect to achieve GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.55 to $0.58 on revenue of $89 to $91 million.”

Conference Call

Kadant will hold a webcast with a slide presentation for investors on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 11 a.m. eastern time to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal year performance, as well as future expectations. To access the webcast, including the slideshow and accompanying audio, go to www.kadant.com and click on the “Investors” tab. To listen to the webcast via teleconference, call 877-703-6107 within the U.S., or +1-857-244-7306 outside the U.S., and reference participant passcode 83375884. Prior to the call, our earnings release and the slides used in the webcast presentation will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will be available at www.sec.gov. An archive of the webcast presentation will be available on our Web site until March 25, 2016.

Shortly after the webcast, Kadant will post its updated general investor presentation incorporating the fourth quarter and fiscal year results on its Web site at www.kadant.com under the “Investors” tab.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, including increases or decreases in revenue excluding acquisitions and the effect of foreign currency translation, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted EPS, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), and adjusted EBITDA.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our core business, operating results, or future outlook. We believe that the inclusion of such measures helps investors to gain an understanding of our underlying operating performance and future prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts our performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasts and to the performance of our competitors. Such measures are also used by us in our financial and operating decision-making and for compensation purposes. We also believe this information is responsive to investors' requests and gives them additional measures of our performance.

The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for the results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release have limitations associated with their use as compared to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, in that they may be different from, and therefore not comparable to, similar measures used by other companies.

Revenue included $8.5 million and $32.3 million of unfavorable foreign currency translation effects in the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2015, respectively. Revenue in 2015 also included $6.7 million from an acquisition. We present increases or decreases in revenue excluding the effects of acquisitions and foreign currency translation to provide investors insight into underlying revenue trends.

Adjusted operating income, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted EPS exclude expense related to acquired inventory and backlog, and restructuring costs (benefit). These items are excluded as they are not indicative of our core operating results and not comparable to other periods, which have differing levels of incremental costs or other income or none at all.

Adjusted operating income and adjusted EBITDA exclude:

• Pre-tax restructuring costs of $0.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and pre-tax restructuring benefit of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Pre-tax restructuring costs of $0.5 million and $0.8 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
• Pre-tax expense of $0.2 million and $2.6 million related to acquired inventory and backlog in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS exclude:

• Restructuring costs of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 ($0.2 million net of tax of $0.1 million) and restructuring benefit of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Restructuring costs of $0.4 million ($0.5 million net of tax of $ 0.1 million) in 2015 and restructuring costs of $0.6 million ($0.8 million net of tax of $0.2 million) in 2014.
• Expense related to acquired inventory and backlog of $0.1 million ($0.2 million net of tax of $0.1 million) and $1.9 million ($2.6 million net of tax of $0.7 million) in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Adjusted diluted EPS in the three-month and twelve-month periods ended January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015 was calculated using the reported weighted average diluted shares for each period.

Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in this press release.

(a)Represents the increase (decrease) resulting from the conversion of current period amounts reported in local currencies into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of the prior period compared to the U.S. dollar amount reported in the prior period.

(b)Represents a non-GAAP financial measure.

(c)Geographic revenues are attributed to regions based on customer location.

(d)Represents intangible amortization expense associated with acquired backlog.

(e)Represents expense within cost of revenues associated with acquired profit in inventory.

(f)See reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure under "Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation."

About Kadant

Kadant Inc. is a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used in process industries worldwide. The Company’s products, technologies, and services play an integral role in enhancing process efficiency, optimizing energy utilization, and maximizing productivity in resource-intensive industries. Kadant is based in Westford, Massachusetts, with revenue of $390 million in fiscal year 2015 and 1,800 employees in 18 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.kadant.com.

The following constitutes a “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including forward-looking statements about our expected future financial and operating performance, demand for our products, and economic and industry outlook. Our actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in Kadant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2015 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These include risks and uncertainties relating to adverse changes in global and local economic conditions; the variability and difficulty in accurately predicting revenue from large capital equipment and systems projects; the variability and uncertainties in sales of capital equipment in China; the effect of currency fluctuations on our financial results; our customers’ ability to obtain financing for capital equipment projects; changes in government regulations and policies; the oriented strand board market and levels of residential construction activity; development and use of digital media; price increases or shortages of raw materials; dependence on certain suppliers; international sales and operations; disruption in production; our acquisition strategy; our internal growth strategy; competition; soundness of suppliers and customers; our effective tax rate; future restructurings; soundness of financial institutions; our debt obligations; restrictions in our credit agreement; loss of key personnel; reliance on third-party research; protection of patents and proprietary rights; failure of our information systems or breaches of data security; fluctuations in our share price; and anti-takeover provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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