Helen of Troy Limited Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

Consolidated Net Sales Decline of 3.4%

GAAP Diluted EPS of $2.17; Adjusted Diluted EPS of $2.67

Gross Profit Margin Expansion of 90 Basis Points

Adjusted Operating Margin Expansion of 30 Basis Points

Adjusted EBITDA Margin Expansion of 40 Basis Points

Updates Fiscal 2025 Outlook; Includes Acquisition of Olive & June

Narrows Consolidated Net Sales to $1.888-$1.913 Billion

Lowers GAAP Diluted EPS to $4.60-$5.02; Narrows Adjusted Diluted EPS to $7.15-$7.40

Narrows Adjusted EBITDA to $292-$295 Million

Lowers Free Cash Flow⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ to $145-$155 Million

Updates Net Leverage Ratio⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾ to Between 2.85X and 2.75X by the End of Fiscal 2025

Project Pegasus On Track to Deliver Savings of $26 Million to $30 Million

Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ:HELE), designer, developer, and worldwide marketer of branded consumer home, outdoor, beauty, and wellness products, today reported results for the three-month period ended November 30, 2024.

Executive Summary – Third Quarter of Fiscal 2025 Compared to Fiscal 2024

• Consolidated net sales revenue of $530.7 million, a decrease of 3.4%
• Gross profit margin improvement of 90 basis points to 48.9% compared to 48.0%
• Operating margin of 14.2% compared to 19.5%
• Non-GAAP adjusted operating margin improvement of 30 basis points to 16.6% compared to 16.3%
• GAAP diluted EPS of $2.17 compared to $3.19
• Non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS of $2.67 compared to $2.79
• Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin improvement of 40 basis points to 18.2% compared to 17.8%

Ms. Noel M. Geoffroy, Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Our third quarter results were within our top and bottom-line expectations even as we continued to navigate a difficult consumer spending environment. We made progress on both our long-term strategic and near-term ‘Reset and Revitalize' objectives. Our efforts to improve the health of our brands and our operating performance delivered growth in Home & Outdoor and International. Beauty & Wellness was negatively impacted by a weak illness season globally, including the weakest in the U.S. in the past eight years (excluding the COVID anomaly year of 2020-2021) and continued softness in Beauty. Fiscal year to date through November, seven of our key categories grew or maintained market share in the U.S. and we improved market share in multiple "must win" international markets, driven by incremental distribution gains, innovation, improved marketing, and increased growth investment. Project Pegasus continues to be on track, driving significant gross margin expansion and generating fuel to increase investment in our brands and business. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, we enhanced our portfolio with the acquisition of Olive & June, a high growth and high margin leading nail care brand that we expect to be immediately accretive to Helen of Troy. Overall, I remain optimistic about the opportunities ahead of us. We believe we are building a stronger, more collaborative, data-driven, and disciplined Helen of Troy that is better positioned to maximize the potential of our brands globally and ultimately to deliver consistent long-term growth and increased value for our stakeholders."

Consolidated Results - Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Compared to Third Quarter Fiscal 2024

• Consolidated net sales revenue decreased $18.9 million, or 3.4%, to $530.7 million, compared to $549.6 million, driven by a decline in Beauty & Wellness, partially offset by an increase in Home & Outdoor driven by growth in all three brands and strength in international.

• Consolidated gross profit margin increased 90 basis points to 48.9%, compared to 48.0%. The increase in consolidated gross profit margin was primarily due to favorable inventory obsolescence expense year-over-year and lower commodity and product costs, partly driven by Project Pegasus initiatives.

• Consolidated selling, general and administrative expense ("SG&A") ratio increased 620 basis points to 34.0%, compared to 27.8%. The increase in the consolidated SG&A ratio was primarily due to the unfavorable comparative impact of a gain on the sale of the El Paso facility of $34.2 million recognized in the prior year period, higher marketing expense as the Company reinvested back into its brands, and the impact of unfavorable operating leverage. These factors were partially offset by lower overall personnel expense, primarily driven by lower annual incentive compensation expense.

• Consolidated operating income was $75.1 million, or 14.2% of net sales revenue, compared to $106.9 million, or 19.5% of net sales revenue. The 530 basis point decrease in consolidated operating margin was primarily due to an increase in the aforementioned consolidated SG&A ratio, partially offset by an increase in consolidated gross profit margin.

• Interest expense was $12.2 million, compared to $12.9 million. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower average borrowings outstanding, partially offset by a higher average effective interest rate compared to the same period last year.

• Income tax expense as a percentage of income before income tax was 21.4% compared to 19.5%, primarily due to the impact of Barbados tax legislation enacted during the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and an increase in tax expense for discrete items, partially offset by the comparative impact of tax expense recognized during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 for the gain on the sale of the El Paso facility and shifts in the mix of income in various tax jurisdictions.

• Net income was $49.6 million, compared to $75.9 million. Diluted EPS was $2.17, compared to $3.19. Diluted EPS decreased primarily due to lower operating income and an increase in the effective income tax rate, partially offset by lower interest expense and lower weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

• Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $96.8 million, compared to $97.8 million. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.2% compared to 17.8%.

On an adjusted basis (non-GAAP) for the third quarters of fiscal 2025 and 2024, excluding gain on sale of distribution and office facilities, restructuring charges, amortization of intangible assets, and non-cash share-based compensation, as applicable:

• Adjusted operating income decreased $1.9 million, or 2.1%, to $87.9 million, or 16.6% of net sales revenue, compared to $89.8 million, or 16.3% of net sales revenue. The increase in adjusted operating margin was primarily driven by lower annual incentive compensation expense, favorable inventory obsolescence expense year-over-year, and lower commodity and product costs, partly driven by Project Pegasus initiatives. These factors were partially offset by higher marketing expense and the impact of unfavorable operating leverage.

• Adjusted income decreased $5.3 million, or 8.0%, to $61.1 million, compared to $66.4 million. Adjusted diluted EPS decreased 4.3% to $2.67 compared to $2.79. The decrease in adjusted diluted EPS was primarily due to lower adjusted operating income in Beauty & Wellness and an increase in the adjusted effective income tax rate, partially offset by higher adjusted operating income in Home & Outdoor, lower interest expense and lower weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

Segment Results - Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Compared to Third Quarter Fiscal 2024

Home & Outdoor net sales revenue increased $10.2 million, or 4.3%, to $246.1 million, compared to $235.9 million, with growth in all three brands. The increase was primarily driven by net gains in retailer distribution in the insulated beverageware and home categories, higher international sales due to new and expanded retailer distribution in the insulated beverageware category and strong demand for technical packs, and an increase in club channel sales in the insulated beverageware category. These factors were partially offset by softer overall consumer demand, lower replenishment orders from retail customers, a decrease in club channel sales in the home category, and continued competition in the insulated beverageware category.

Home & Outdoor operating income was $40.3 million, or 16.4% of segment net sales revenue, compared to $49.5 million, or 21.0% of segment net sales revenue. The decrease in segment operating margin was primarily due to the unfavorable comparative impact of a gain on the sale of the El Paso facility of $16.2 million recognized in the prior year period, and higher marketing expense as the segment reinvested back into its brands. These factors were partially offset by favorable inventory obsolescence expense year-over-year, lower annual incentive compensation expense, and lower commodity and product costs. Adjusted operating income increased 14.0% to $45.3 million, or 18.4% of segment net sales revenue, compared to $39.8 million, or 16.9% of segment net sales revenue.

Beauty & Wellness net sales revenue decreased $29.1 million, or 9.3%, to $284.6 million, compared to $313.7 million. The decrease was driven by the impact of the weak winter and illness season, a decline in sales of hair appliances due to softer consumer demand, increased competition, a net distribution decline year-over-year, and a decrease in water filtration due to the previously disclosed expiration of an out-license relationship and category softness. These factors were partially offset by prestige hair liquids and fan growth.

Beauty & Wellness operating income was $34.8 million, or 12.2% of segment net sales revenue, compared to $57.4 million, or 18.3% of segment net sales revenue. The decrease in segment operating margin was primarily due to the unfavorable comparative impact of a gain on the sale of the El Paso facility of $18.0 million recognized in the prior year period, higher marketing expense as the segment reinvested back into its brands, and the impact of unfavorable operating leverage. These factors were partially offset by lower annual incentive compensation expense, lower outbound freight, lower commodity and product costs, and favorable inventory obsolescence expense year-over-year. Adjusted operating income decreased 14.9% to $42.6 million, or 15.0% of segment net sales revenue, compared to $50.1 million, or 16.0% of segment net sales revenue.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Compared to Third Quarter Fiscal 2024

• Cash and cash equivalents totaled $40.8 million, compared to $25.2 million.
• Accounts receivable turnover⁽⁵⁾ was 72.3 days, compared to 68.6 days.
• Inventory was $450.7 million, compared to $426.0 million.
• Total short- and long-term debt was $733.9 million, compared to $735.6 million.
• Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of the fiscal year was $78.2 million, compared to $232.5 million for the same period last year.
• Free cash flow⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ for the first nine months of the fiscal year was $56.1 million, compared to $202.8 million for the same period last year.

Pegasus Restructuring Plan

The Company previously announced a global restructuring plan intended to expand operating margins through initiatives designed to improve efficiency and effectiveness and reduce costs (collectively referred to as "Project Pegasus"). Project Pegasus includes multiple workstreams to further optimize the Company's brand portfolio, streamline and simplify the organization, accelerate and amplify cost of goods savings projects, enhance the efficiency of its supply chain network, optimize its indirect spending and improve its cash flow and working capital, as well as other activities. The Company anticipates these initiatives will create operating efficiencies, as well as provide a platform to fund future growth investments.

As previously disclosed, the Company continues to have the following expectations regarding Project Pegasus charges:

• Total one-time pre-tax restructuring charges of approximately $50 million to $55 million over the duration of the plan, expected to be largely completed during fiscal 2025.
• Pre-tax restructuring charges to be comprised of approximately $15 million to $19 million of severance and employee related costs, $28 million of professional fees, $3 million to $4 million of contract termination costs, and $4 million of other exit and disposal costs.
• All of the Company's operating segments and shared services will be impacted by the plan and pre-tax restructuring charges include approximately $16 million to $17 million in Home & Outdoor and $34 million to $38 million in Beauty & Wellness.
• Pre-tax restructuring charges represent primarily cash expenditures, which are expected to be substantially paid by the end of fiscal 2025.

The Company also continues to have the following expectations regarding Project Pegasus savings:

• Targeted annualized pre-tax operating profit improvements of approximately $75 million to $85 million, which began in fiscal 2024 and are expected to be substantially achieved by the end of fiscal 2027.
• Estimated cadence of the recognition of the savings will be approximately 25% in fiscal 2024, which was achieved, approximately 35% in fiscal 2025, approximately 25% in fiscal 2026, and approximately 15% in fiscal 2027.
• Total profit improvements to be realized approximately 60% through reduced cost of goods sold and 40% through lower SG&A.

Subsequent Event

On December 16, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of Olive & June, LLC ("Olive & June"), an innovative, omni-channel nail care brand. The total purchase consideration consists of initial cash consideration of $229.4 million, net of cash acquired, which includes a preliminary net working capital adjustment and is subject to certain customary closing adjustments, and contingent cash consideration of up to $15.0 million subject to Olive & June's performance during calendar years 2025, 2026 and 2027, payable annually. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company's existing revolving credit facility.

Fiscal 2025 Annual Outlook Including Acquisition of Olive & June

The Company now expects consolidated net sales revenue in the range of $1.888 billion to $1.913 billion, which implies a decline of 5.8% to 4.6%, compared to the previous range of a decline of 6.0% to 3.5%. The consolidated net sales outlook now includes:

• an expected incremental net sales contribution of $17 million to $18 million from the Olive & June acquisition; and
• the unfavorable impact from the Company's revised expectations for a weak winter and illness season globally, well below historical averages, which is estimated to be $25 million to $30 million for the full fiscal year and $15 million to $20 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025.

The sales outlook continues to reflect the Company's view of lingering inflation and continued consumer spending softness, especially in certain discretionary categories, as well as its view of increased macro uncertainty, an increasingly stretched consumer, a more promotional environment, and retailers even more closely managing their inventory levels. The sales outlook reflects the impact of executional challenges in the Company's Tennessee distribution facility on sales that occurred during the first quarter of fiscal 2025. During the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the remediation efforts for the automation system were substantially completed, and the Company believes the impact on sales was minimal during the quarter. As a result of the remediation efforts performed, the automation system began to operate as designed during the third quarter of fiscal 2025 and the Company expects to achieve targeted efficiency levels by the end of fiscal 2025.

The Company's fiscal year net sales outlook now reflects the following expectations by segment:

• Home & Outdoor net sales decline of 0.7% to growth of 0.6%, compared to the prior expectation of a decline of 2.3% to growth of 1.4%, which includes the previously disclosed unfavorable impact of shipping disruption in the Company's Tennessee distribution facility of approximately $5 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2025; and
• Beauty & Wellness net sales decline of 10.3% to 9.0%, compared to the prior expectation of a decline of 9.0% to 7.5%, both of which include a year-over-year headwind of approximately 1.0% related to the expiration of an out-license relationship in Wellness and the previously disclosed unfavorable impact from the Curlsmith ERP integration challenges of approximately $3 million. The Beauty & Wellness outlook now includes our revised expectations for a global winter and illness season well below historical averages, compared to the prior expectation of a season in line with historical averages, and the incremental contribution from the Olive & June acquisition.

The Company now expects GAAP diluted EPS of $4.60 to $5.02, compared to the previous range of $4.69 to $5.45, and non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $7.15 to $7.40, which implies an adjusted diluted EPS decline of 19.8% to 16.9%, compared to the previous range of $7.00 to $7.50. The outlook now includes adjusted EPS accretion from the Olive & June acquisition in the range of $0.05 to $0.07 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 for the partial period subsequent to transaction closing on December 16, 2024 through the end of the fiscal year.

The Company now expects adjusted EBITDA of $292 million to $295 million, compared to the previous range of $287 million to $297 million, which implies a decline of 13.2% to 12.3%, as benefits from Project Pegasus are reinvested for growth. The outlook now includes estimated adjusted EBITDA in the range of $3 million to $4 million from the Olive & June acquisition. The Company's outlook also reflects:

• a year-over-year increase in growth investment spending of approximately 120 to 130 basis points, compared to the prior expectation of 100 basis points;
• a year-over-year headwind of approximately 50 basis points from the expiration of an out-license relationship in Wellness;
• margin compression of approximately 50 basis points from incremental operating expense and lost efficiency related to automation startup issues at its Tennessee distribution facility; and
• margin compression from its view of a more promotional environment, a less favorable mix, and lower operating leverage due to the decline in revenue.

The Company continues to expect these factors to be partially offset by profit improvement actions implemented in the second quarter.

The Company now expects free cash flow⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾ in the range of $145 million to $155 million, compared to the previous range of $180 million to $200 million, and now expects its net leverage ratio⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾, as defined in its credit agreement, to end fiscal 2025 at 2.85x to 2.75x, compared to the previous range of 1.90x to 1.80x.

The Company's consolidated net sales and EPS outlook also reflects the following assumptions:

• December 2024 foreign currency exchange rates will remain constant for the remainder of the fiscal year;
• expected interest expense in the range of $50.3 million to $51.7 million;
• a reported GAAP effective tax rate range of 25.8% to 27.6% for the full fiscal year 2025 and an adjusted effective tax rate range of 18.6% to 19.4%; and
• an estimated weighted average diluted shares outstanding of 23.1 million for the full year.

The likelihood, timing and potential impact of a significant or prolonged recession, any fiscal 2025 acquisitions, other than the Olive & June transaction, and divestitures, future asset impairment charges, future foreign currency fluctuations, additional interest rate changes, or share repurchases are unknown and cannot be reasonably estimated; therefore, they are not included in the Company's outlook.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will conduct a teleconference in conjunction with today's earnings release. The teleconference begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time today, Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Institutional investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 407-3982 approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be webcast live on the Events & Presentations page at: http://investor.helenoftroy.com/. A telephone replay of this call will be available at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 8, 2025, until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 22, 2025, and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 and entering replay pin number 13750606. A replay of the webcast will remain available on the website for one year.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports and discusses its operating results using financial measures consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). To supplement its presentation, the Company discloses certain financial measures that may be considered non-GAAP such as Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Effective Tax Rate, Adjusted Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share ("EPS"), EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Free Cash Flow, and Net Leverage Ratio, which are presented in accompanying tables to this press release along with a reconciliation of these financial measures to their corresponding GAAP-based financial measures presented in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows. For additional information see Note 1 to the accompanying tables to this press release.

About Helen of Troy Limited

Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ:HELE) is a leading global consumer products company offering creative products and solutions for its customers through a diversified portfolio of well-recognized and widely-trusted brands, including OXO, Hydro Flask, Osprey, Vicks, Braun, Honeywell, PUR, Hot Tools, Drybar, Curlsmith, Revlon, and Olive & June. All trademarks herein belong to Helen of Troy Limited (or its subsidiaries) and/or are used under license from their respective licensors.

For more information about Helen of Troy, please visit http://investor.helenoftroy.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain written and oral statements made by the Company and subsidiaries of the Company may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes statements made in this press release, in other filings with the SEC, and in certain other oral and written presentations. Generally, the words "anticipates", "assumes", "believes", "expects", "plans", "may", "will", "might", "would", "should", "seeks", "estimates", "project", "predict", "potential", "currently", "continue", "intends", "outlook", "forecasts", "targets", "reflects", "could", and other similar words identify forward-looking statements. All statements that address operating results, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future, including statements related to sales, expenses, EPS results, and statements expressing general expectations about future operating results, are forward-looking statements and are based upon its current expectations and various assumptions. The Company believes there is a reasonable basis for these expectations and assumptions, but there can be no assurance that the Company will realize these expectations or that these assumptions will prove correct. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made and are subject to risks that could cause them to differ materially from actual results. Accordingly, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release should be read in conjunction with, and are subject to and qualified by, the risks described in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended February 29, 2024, and in the Company's other filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to refer to the risk factors referred to above for a description of these risks. Such risks include, among others, the geographic concentration of certain United States ("U.S.") distribution facilities which increases its risk to disruptions that could affect the Company's ability to deliver products in a timely manner, the occurrence of cyber incidents or failure by the Company or its third-party service providers to maintain cybersecurity and the integrity of confidential internal or customer data, a cybersecurity breach, obsolescence or interruptions in the operation of the Company's central global Enterprise Resource Planning systems and other peripheral information systems, the Company's ability to develop and introduce a continuing stream of innovative new products to meet changing consumer preferences, actions taken by large customers that may adversely affect the Company's gross profit and operating results, the Company's dependence on sales to several large customers and the risks associated with any loss of, or substantial decline in, sales to top customers, the Company's dependence on third-party manufacturers, most of which are located in Asia, and any inability to obtain products from such manufacturers, the Company's ability to deliver products to its customers in a timely manner and according to their fulfillment standards, the risks associated with trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriations, and other risks associated with domestic and foreign operations including uncertainty and business interruptions resulting from political changes and events in the U.S. and abroad, and volatility in the global credit and financial markets and economy, the Company's dependence on the strength of retail economies and vulnerabilities to any prolonged economic downturn, including a downturn from the effects of macroeconomic conditions, any public health crises or similar conditions, risks associated with weather conditions, the duration and severity of the cold and flu season and other related factors, the Company's reliance on its Chief Executive Officer and a limited number of other key senior officers to operate its business, risks associated with the use of licensed trademarks from or to third parties, the Company's ability to execute and realize expected synergies from strategic business initiatives such as acquisitions, including Olive & June, divestitures and global restructuring plans, including Project Pegasus, the risks of potential changes in laws and regulations, including environmental, employment and health and safety and tax laws, and the costs and complexities of compliance with such laws, the risks associated with increased focus and expectations on climate change and other environmental, social and governance matters, the risks associated with significant changes in or the Company's compliance with regulations, interpretations or product certification requirements, the risks associated with global legal developments regarding privacy and data security that could result in changes to its business practices, penalties, increased cost of operations, or otherwise harm the business, the risks of significant tariffs or other restrictions being placed on imports from China, Mexico or Vietnam or any retaliatory trade measures taken by China, Mexico or Vietnam, the Company's dependence on whether it is classified as a "controlled foreign corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes which impacts the tax treatment of its non-U.S. income, the risks associated with legislation enacted in Bermuda and Barbados in response to the European Union's review of harmful tax competition, the risks associated with accounting for tax positions and the resolution of tax disputes, the risks associated with product recalls, product liability and other claims against the Company, and associated financial risks including but not limited to, increased costs of raw materials, energy and transportation, significant impairment of the Company's goodwill, indefinite-lived and definite-lived intangible assets or other long-lived assets, risks associated with foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the risks to the Company's liquidity or cost of capital which may be materially adversely affected by constraints or changes in the capital and credit markets, interest rates and limitations under its financing arrangements, and projections of product demand, sales and net income, which are highly subjective in nature, and from which future sales and net income could vary by a material amount. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.