Donaldson Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 Sales and Earnings

First quarter sales were $846.3 million compared with $847.3 million in fiscal 2023

EPS of $0.75, up 6.8% versus 2023 GAAP EPS of $0.70, flat versus 2023 adjusted EPS of $0.75

Fiscal 2024 sales and EPS projected at record levels, consistent with previous guidance

Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE:DCI) (Donaldson or the Company), a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, today reported first quarter fiscal 2024 generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net earnings of $92.1 million, compared with $87.2 million in fiscal 2023. First quarter 2023 earnings include restructuring and other charges of $7.6 million largely related to the Company's organizational redesign. First quarter 2024 GAAP earnings per share (EPS)¹ were $0.75 compared with 2023 GAAP and adjusted earnings per share of $0.70 and $0.75, respectively. The tables attached to this press release include a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.

"I am pleased with our first quarter earnings results which reflect gross margin strength driven by robust operational performance," said Tod Carpenter, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We have begun fiscal 2024 on solid footing, delivering our technology-led filtration products and services to our customers globally. Industrial Solutions performance in the quarter was a particular area of strength, with our focused growth initiatives driving outstanding results."

"We continue to expect record sales and earnings in fiscal 2024 while investing for long-term profitable growth across our diversified portfolio. Ongoing investments in our Life Sciences business, R&D and the scaling of our acquisitions enable us to execute our balanced growth strategy and pave the way to achieving our fiscal 2026 Investor Day targets."

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¹ All EPS figures refer to diluted EPS.

First Quarter Operating Results

Sales of $846.3 million were approximately flat compared with 2023, driven by volume declines offset by pricing benefits.

Mobile Solutions segment (Mobile) sales decreased 2.7% from volume declines partially offset by pricing benefits. Off-Road sales decreased 8.6% due to weakening global end-market conditions, including in China. Aftermarket sales declined 1.9% as a result of continued OEM destocking. On-Road sales increased 4.8% driven by elevated levels of on-highway equipment production, particularly in China.

Industrial Solutions segment (Industrial) sales increased 7.2% as strong demand in most geographies drove volume growth. Industrial Filtration Solutions (IFS) sales grew 7.4% from ongoing strength in Power Generation and dust collection sales. Aerospace and Defense sales increased 5.9% driven by robust Defense sales.

Life Sciences segment sales declined 4.1% year over year resulting primarily from continued Disk Drive market-related sales weakness.

Gross margin was 35.6%, up 170 basis points from 33.9% in 2023 driven by pricing benefits, deflation in freight and select material costs, and mix.

Operating expenses as a percentage of sales were 20.8%, 100 basis points above 19.8% in the prior year, due to increased hiring and acquisition-related expenses. First quarter 2023 adjusted operating expenses as a percentage of sales, which exclude restructuring and other charges, were 18.9%.

Operating income as a percentage of sales (operating margin) of 14.7%, increased 60 basis points year over year from 14.1% in 2023 as gross margin improvement more than offset operating expense deleveraging. Adjusted operating margin was 15.0% in the prior year.

Interest expense was $5.5 million versus $4.5 million in the prior year due to higher interest rates. Other income, net was $3.8 million compared with $1.8 million in 2023 as a result foreign exchange losses in the prior year period. The Company's effective tax rate was 25.1% versus 25.2% a year ago.

Donaldson paid $30.2 million in dividends and repurchased 0.7% of its outstanding shares for $53.7 million.

Fiscal 2024 Outlook

Consistent with the prior outlook, full-year EPS is forecast to be between $3.14 and $3.30, compared with fiscal 2023 GAAP and adjusted EPS of $2.90 and $3.04, respectively. Sales are expected to increase between 3% and 7% year over year, with a pricing benefit of approximately 2% and a currency translation tailwind of roughly 1%.

Mobile sales are forecast to increase between 1% and 5% versus 2023. Softening end-market conditions, including in China, are expected to drive a mid-single digit decline in Off-Road sales and flat On-Road sales versus prior year. Aftermarket sales are projected to increase mid-single digits as a result of higher vehicle utilization rates and market share gains.

Industrial sales are expected to increase between 3% and 7% compared with prior year. Strength in Power Generation and dust collection sales is forecast to drive mid-single digit growth in IFS. Aerospace and Defense sales are projected to increase mid-single digits due to robust end-market conditions and market share gains.

Life Sciences sales are forecast to grow approximately 20% compared with 2023 benefitting from increases across all businesses including Food & Beverage, Bioprocessing Equipment and Consumables, and Disk Drive.

Operating margin is expected to be between 14.7% and 15.3% versus 14.0%, or 14.6% on an adjusted basis, in 2023 with year-over-year gross margin improvement partially offset by investments in the Life Sciences segment.

Interest expense is forecast to be approximately $23 million and other income is expected to be between $7 million and $11 million. Donaldson projects a fiscal 2024 effective income tax rate of between 24% and 26%.

Capital expenditures are forecast to be between $95 million and $115 million and free cash flow conversion is expected to be between 95% and 105%. For the full year, Donaldson anticipates repurchasing approximately 2% of its shares outstanding.

Miscellaneous

The Company will webcast its first quarter fiscal 2024 earnings conference call today at 9:00 a.m. CT. To listen to the webcast, visit the "Events & Presentations" section of Donaldson's Investor Relations website (IR.Donaldson.com), and click on the "listen to webcast" option. The webcast replay will be available at approximately 12:00 p.m. CT today. Also available on the website is the Company's supplemental quarterly earnings presentation.

Statements in this release regarding future events and expectations, such as forecasts, plans, trends and projections relating to the Company's business and financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are identified by words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "will allow," "estimate," "project," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "forecast," "plan" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date such statements are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed. These factors include, but are not limited to, challenges in global operations; impacts of global economic, industrial and political conditions on product demand; impacts from unexpected events, including natural disasters; effects of unavailable raw materials or material cost inflation; inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; inability to meet customer demand; inability to maintain competitive advantages; threats from disruptive technologies; effects of highly competitive markets with pricing pressure; exposure to customer concentration in certain cyclical industries; inability to manage productivity improvements; inability to achieve commitments to ESG; results of execution of any acquisition, divestiture and other strategic transactions; vulnerabilities associated with information technology systems and security; inability to protect and enforce intellectual property rights; costs associated with governmental laws and regulations; impacts of foreign currency fluctuations; and effects of changes in capital and credit markets. These and other factors are described in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. The results presented herein are preliminary, unaudited and subject to revision until the Company files its results with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-Q.

About Donaldson Company, Inc.

Founded in 1915, Donaldson (NYSE:DCI) is a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, serving a broad range of industries and advanced markets. Diverse, skilled employees at over 140 locations on six continents partner with customers—from small business owners to R&D organizations and the world's biggest OEM brands. Donaldson solves complex filtration challenges through three primary segments: Mobile Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Life Sciences. Additional information is available at www.Donaldson.com.

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