Lincoln Electric Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results

CLEVELAND, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LECO) today reported third quarter 2022 net income of $109.2 million, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.87 which includes special item after-tax net charges of $10.3 million or $0.17 EPS. This compares with prior year period net income of $31.8 million, or $0.53 EPS, which included special item after-tax charges of $62.0 million, or $1.03 EPS. Excluding these items, third quarter 2022 Adjusted net income was $119.6 million, or $2.04 Adjusted EPS. This compares with Adjusted net income of $93.8 million, or $1.56 Adjusted EPS, in the prior year period.

Third quarter 2022 sales increased 16.0% to $935.2 million from a 21.3% increase in organic sales and a 1.3% benefit from acquisitions, partially offset by 6.6% unfavorable foreign exchange. Operating income for the third quarter 2022 was $142.1 million, or 15.2% of sales. This compares with operating income of $115.6 million, or 14.3% of sales, in the prior year period. Excluding special items, Adjusted operating income was $153.2 million, or 16.4% of sales, as compared with $122.7 million, or 15.2% of sales, in the prior year period.

“We achieved record third quarter sales, profitability, earnings and returns with outperformance led by Americas Welding and automation, stated Christopher L. Mapes, Lincoln’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “In the third quarter we returned to 2019 volume levels with considerably superior returns, which demonstrates the strong execution of our Higher Standard 2025 Strategy initiatives under challenging operating conditions. We generated solid cash flows and cash conversion in the quarter, which further strengthens our balance sheet profile as we invest in growth and increase returns to shareholders through the cycle.” Mapes continued, “We are also excited about our recently announced definitive agreement to acquire Fori Automation, Inc., which would accelerate our automation growth strategy with a combined annual revenue run rate of over $850 million and adds complementary automation engineering capabilities and an expanded geographic footprint to further service customers’ capital investment needs.”

Nine Months 2022 Summary

Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $363.1 million, or $6.17 EPS. This compares with $202.0 million, or $3.36 EPS, in the comparable 2021 period. Reported EPS includes special item after-tax net charges of $9.4 million or $0.16 EPS, as compared with special item after-tax net charges of $75.1 million, or $1.25 EPS in the prior year period. Excluding these items, adjusted net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased 34.4% to $372.4 million, or $6.33 EPS, compared with $277.1 million, or $4.61 EPS, in the comparable 2021 period.

Sales increased 18.4% to $2.8 billion in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from a 21.3% increase in organic sales and a 2.9% benefit from acquisitions, partially offset by 5.7% unfavorable foreign exchange. Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $470.8 million, or 16.6% of sales. This compares with operating income of $341.3 million, or 14.3% of sales, in the comparable 2021 period. Excluding special items, adjusted operating income was $484.4 million, or 17.1% of sales, as compared with $357.1 million, or 14.9% of sales, in the comparable 2021 period.

Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors declared a 14.3% increase in the quarterly cash dividend, from $0.56 per share to $0.64 per share, or $2.56 per share on an annual basis. The declared quarterly cash dividend of $0.64 per share is payable January 14, 2023 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2022.

Other Matters

On October 14, 2022, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Fori Automation, Inc. (the “contemplated acquisition”), a privately held, leading automation engineering firm specializing in the design and manufacture of complex, multi-armed automated welding systems, assembly systems, material handling solutions, large-scale, industrial guidance vehicles (AGVs) and end of line testing systems. The definitive agreement provides for a cash purchase price of $427 million, subject to a customary working capital adjustment. The Company intends to fund the transaction with cash on hand and arranged credit. The contemplated acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Webcast Information

A conference call to discuss third quarter 2022 financial results will be webcast live today, October 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. Those interested in participating via webcast in listen-only mode can access the event here or on the Company's Investor Relations home page at https://ir.lincolnelectric.com. For participants who would like to participate via telephone, please register here to receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that is required to access the call. A replay of the earnings call will be available via webcast on the Company's website.

About Lincoln Electric

Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the engineering, design, and manufacturing of advanced arc welding solutions, automated joining, assembly and cutting systems, plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment, and has a leading global position in brazing and soldering alloys. Lincoln is recognized as the Welding Expert™ for its leading materials science, software development, automation engineering, and application expertise, which advance customers’ fabrication capabilities to help them build a better world. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln has 56 manufacturing locations in 19 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices serving customers in over 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the Company’s website at https://www.lincolnelectric.com.

Non-GAAP Information

Adjusted operating income, Adjusted net income, Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted effective tax rate, Adjusted diluted earnings per share (“Adjusted EPS”), Organic sales, Cash conversion, Adjusted net operating profit after taxes and Adjusted return on invested capital (“Adjusted ROIC”) are non-GAAP financial measures. Management uses non-GAAP measures to assess the Company's operating performance by excluding certain disclosed special items that management believes are not representative of the Company's core business. Management believes that excluding these special items enables them to make better period-over-period comparisons and benchmark the Company's operational performance against other companies in its industry more meaningfully. Furthermore, management believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with meaningful information that provides a more complete understanding of Company operating results and enables investors to analyze financial and business trends more thoroughly. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation, are not a substitute for GAAP measures and have limitations including, but not limited to, their usefulness as comparative measures as other companies may define their non-GAAP measures differently.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company’s expectations and beliefs concerning the future contained in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect management’s current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “guidance” or words of similar meaning. Actual results may differ materially from such statements due to a variety of factors that could adversely affect the Company’s operating results. The factors include, but are not limited to: general economic, financial and market conditions; the effectiveness of operating initiatives; completion of planned divestitures; interest rates; disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit markets that may limit our access to capital; currency exchange rates and devaluations; adverse outcome of pending or potential litigation; actual costs of the Company’s rationalization plans; possible acquisitions, including the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; market risks and price fluctuations related to the purchase of commodities and energy; global regulatory complexity; the effects of changes in tax law; tariff rates in the countries where the Company conducts business; and the possible effects of events beyond our control, such as the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, political unrest, acts of terror, natural disasters and pandemics, including the current coronavirus disease ("COVID-19") pandemic, on the Company or its customers, suppliers and the economy in general. For additional discussion, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Financial Highlights
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Consolidated Statements of Income

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
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Balance Sheet Highlights

(1) Includes current portion of long-term debt.

(2) Average operating working capital to Net sales is defined as the sum of Accounts receivable, Inventories and contract assets less Trade accounts payable and contract liabilities as of period end divided by annualized rolling three months of Net sales.

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(1) Adjusted operating income, Adjusted net income, Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted effective tax rate and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to Non-GAAP Information section.

(2) 2022 charges are primarily related to non-cash asset impairment charges. 2021 charges are primarily related to severance, gains or losses on the disposal of assets.

(3) Related to the contemplated acquisition and are included in Selling, general & administrative expenses.

(4) Related to acquisitions and are included in Cost of goods sold.

(5) Pension settlement charges due to lump sum pension payments and other net gains primarily due to the final settlement associated with the termination of a pension plan and are included in Other income (expense).

(6) Includes the net tax impact of Special items recorded during the respective periods. The tax effect of Special items impacting pre-tax income was calculated as the pre-tax amount multiplied by the applicable tax rate. The applicable tax rates reflect the taxable jurisdiction and nature of each Special item.

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Financial Highlights
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(1) Adjusted net operating profit after taxes and Adjusted ROIC are non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to Non-GAAP Information section.

(2) Includes the net tax impact of Special items recorded during the respective periods. The tax effect of Special items impacting pre-tax income was calculated as the pre-tax amount multiplied by the applicable tax rate. The applicable tax rates reflect the taxable jurisdiction and nature of each Special item.

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Segment Highlights (1)
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(1) EBIT is defined as Operating income plus Other income (expense).

(2) The primary profit measure used by management to assess segment performance is Adjusted EBIT. EBIT for each operating segment is adjusted for special items to derive Adjusted EBIT.

(3) Special items in 2022 primarily reflect an adjustment to the amortization of step up in value of acquired inventories of $353 in Americas Welding related to an acquisition, Rationalization and asset impairment charges of $8,364 in International Welding and acquisition transaction costs of $3,068 in Corporate/Eliminations related to the contemplated acquisition.

(4) Special items in 2021 reflect Rationalization and asset impairment charges of $3,484 primarily in International Welding, pension settlement charges of $73,562 in Americas Welding and amortization of step up in value of acquired inventories of $3,143 and $547 in International Welding and The Harris Products Group, respectively, related to acquisitions.

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Segment Highlights (1)
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(1) EBIT is defined as Operating income plus Other income (expense).

(2) The primary profit measure used by management to assess segment performance is Adjusted EBIT. EBIT for each operating segment is adjusted for special items to derive Adjusted EBIT.

(3) Special items in 2022 primarily reflect amortization of step up in value of acquired inventories of $1,106 in Americas Welding related to an acquisition, acquisition transaction costs of $3,068 in Corporate/Eliminations related to the contemplated acquisition and a $3,735 net gain related to the final settlement associated with the termination of a pension plan in Americas Welding. Special items in 2022 also include Rationalization and asset impairment charges of $10,403 in International Welding and net gains of $998 in Americas Welding.

(4) Special items in 2021 reflect pension settlement charges of $79,652 and $446 in Americas Welding and International Welding, respectively, Rationalization and asset impairment charges of $8,277 primarily in International Welding, amortization of step up in value of acquired inventories of $4,984 and $547 in International Welding and The Harris Products Group, respectively, and acquisition transaction costs of $1,923 in Corporate/Eliminations related to acquisitions.

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
Change in Net Sales by Segment
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Three Months Ended September 30th Change in Net Sales by Segment

Nine Months Ended September 30th Change in Net Sales by Segment

Contact Amanda Butler Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications Tel: 216.383.2534 Email: Amanda_Butler@lincolnelectric.com