Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) today announced third quarter results for 2023. Provided below are the highlights:

• Reported sales declined 4% compared with the prior year. In local currency, sales decreased 5% in the quarter as currency increased sales growth by 1%.
• Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $9.21, compared with $9.76 in the prior-year period. Adjusted EPS was $9.80, a decrease of 4% over the prior-year amount of $10.18. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to EPS is included on the last page of the attached schedules.

Third Quarter Results

Patrick Kaltenbach, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We delivered good earnings and cash flow performance in the third quarter, despite more challenging market conditions in China following very strong growth over the past couple of years and foreign currency headwinds."

GAAP Results

EPS in the quarter was $9.21, compared with the prior-year amount of $9.76.

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales declined 4% to $942.5 million. By region, reported sales increased 12% in Europe, decreased 3% in the Americas, and decreased 17% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $251.2 million, compared with $275.9 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $9.80, a decrease of 4% over the prior-year amount of $10.18.

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency decreased 5% as currency increased sales growth by 1%. By region, local currency sales increased 4% in Europe, declined 3% in the Americas, and declined 14% in Asia/Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $296.0 million, a 4% decrease from the prior-year amount of $307.2 million.

Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Profit are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.

Nine Month Results

GAAP Results

EPS was $27.37, compared with the prior-year amount of $26.58.

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales were flat at $2,853.3 million. By region, reported sales increased 5% in Europe and 1% in the Americas, and declined 6% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $741.2 million, compared with $745.6 million in the prior year.

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $28.63, an increase of 4% over the prior-year amount of $27.42.

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency increased 1% as currency reduced sales growth by 1%. By region, local currency sales increased 4% in Europe and 1% in the Americas, and declined 1% in Asia/Rest of World. Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $870.1 million, a 4% increase from the prior-year amount of $833.8 million.

Outlook

The Company stated that forecasting remains difficult. Management cautions that market conditions are dynamic and changes to the business environment can occur quickly. There is increased uncertainty in the economic environment today, including the risk of recession in many countries.

Based on today's assessment of market conditions, management anticipates local currency sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 will decline approximately 7% to 8%, and Adjusted EPS is forecast to be $10.50 to $10.70, a decline of 12% to 13%. Included in the fourth quarter guidance is an estimated 1% headwind to Adjusted EPS growth due to adverse currency.

For the full year, management anticipates local currency sales in 2023 will decline approximately 1%, and Adjusted EPS is forecast to be in the range of $39.10 to $39.30, representing a decline of approximately 1%. This compares with previous local currency sales growth guidance of approximately 0% to 1% and Adjusted EPS guidance of $40.30 to $41.20. Included in the 2023 guidance is an estimated 3% to 4% headwind to Adjusted EPS growth due to adverse currency.

The Company stated that based on its assessment of market conditions today, management anticipates local currency sales in 2024 will be approximately flat. This is expected to result in Adjusted EPS in the range of $39.10 to $39.80, representing growth of approximately 0% to 2%. Included in the 2024 guidance is an estimated 2% headwind to Adjusted EPS growth due to adverse currency.

While the Company has provided an outlook for local currency sales growth and Adjusted EPS, it has not provided an outlook for reported sales growth or EPS as it would require an estimate of currency exchange fluctuations and non-recurring items, which are not yet known.

Conclusion

Kaltenbach concluded, "Market conditions are expected to remain challenging in the near term, especially in China, and we continue to face difficult sales growth comparisons. We will continue to focus on the strong execution of our proven corporate programs such as Spinnaker to drive growth and capture market share and SternDrive to manage our costs effectively. Our team has shown remarkable resilience and agility as we have adjusted quickly to changing market conditions, while continuing to invest in long-term strategic priorities like innovation."

Other Matters

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results tomorrow morning (Friday, November 10) at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to a live webcast or replay of the call, visit the investor relations page on the Company's website at www.mt.com/investors. The presentation referenced on the conference call will be located on the website prior to the call.

METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE:MTD) is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. We have strong leadership positions in all of our businesses and believe we hold global number-one market positions in most of them. We are recognized as an innovation leader and our solutions are critical in key R&D, quality control, and manufacturing processes for customers in a wide range of industries including life sciences, food, and chemicals. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. With proven growth strategies and a focus on execution, we have achieved a long-term track record of strong financial performance. For more information, please visit www.mt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

You should not rely on forward-looking statements to predict our actual results. Our actual results or performance may be materially different than reflected in forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties, including statements about expected revenue growth, inflation, and ongoing developments related to Ukraine. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," or "continue."

We make forward-looking statements about future events or our future financial performance, including earnings and sales growth, earnings per share, strategic plans and contingency plans, growth opportunities or economic downturns, our ability to respond to changes in market conditions, planned research and development efforts and product introductions, adequacy of facilities, access to and the costs of raw materials, shipping and supplier costs, gross margins, customer demand, our competitive position, pricing, capital expenditures, cash flow, tax-related matters, the impact of foreign currencies, compliance with laws, effects of acquisitions, and the impact of inflation and ongoing developments related to Ukraine on our business.

Our forward-looking statements may not be accurate or complete, and we do not intend to update or revise them in light of actual results. New risks also periodically arise. Please consider the risks and factors that could cause our results to differ materially from what is described in our forward-looking statements, including inflation and the ongoing developments related to Ukraine. See in particular "Factors Affecting Our Future Operating Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other reports filed with the SEC from time to time.

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