SPX FLOW Reports Strong Third Quarter Operating Results

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE:FLOW), a leading provider of process solutions for the nutrition, health and precision solutions markets, today reported results for the quarter ended October 2, 2021.

"SPX FLOW's strong performance in the first nine months of the year is a direct result of our strategic plan and the inspired work of our solution makers," said Marc Michael, SPX FLOW President and CEO. "Throughout the year, the team has overcome the unique challenges of the current environment and helped deliver better-than-expected operating results. Demand for our essential products remains strong and our value-based pricing strategy, combined with our supply chain and productivity initiatives, have enabled us to be price/cost positive for the year. In addition, we continue to invest our time and financial resources to create differentiated customer experiences for our key accounts, including rapid aftermarket support and accelerated new product development. When combined with our structural cost savings program, we expect to drive outsized gains in operating margins in 2021 and beyond." 

"During the quarter, our Board of Directors initiated a formal review of strategic alternatives, including a possible sale, merger, or the continued execution of our standalone strategy. This robust review is progressing as planned and we will update our shareholders at the conclusion of the process." 

"We continue to focus on accelerating customer outcomes and operating improvements by focusing on our strategic plan and 80/20 principles. We will remain disciplined as we focus on growing earnings allowing us to reinvest in the business, execute on strategic acquisitions and distribute excess cash to our shareholders." concluded Michael.

Outlook:

The company expects to deliver quarterly adjusted operating margins of approximately 14.5% in the fourth quarter and 12.5% for the full year. The fourth quarter and full year performance are well ahead of the company's previously announced guidance for the first year of its 3-year framework. In addition to an improved margin outlook, the company is raising expectations for organic revenue growth in 2021. Organic revenue growth for the full-year is now expected to be high-single digits versus a prior assumption of mid-single digits.

• Backlog increased 12.7%, or $67.4 million, primarily due to the positive impacts of foreign exchange rates and current year acquisitions. Organically, backlog increased 2.5% with a 9.6% increase in Precision Solutions segment backlog that was only partially offset by a 4.3% decline in the Nutrition & Health segment.
• Orders increased 9.3% organically, or $30.5 million, driven primarily by an 18.5% or $31.2 million increase in Precision Solutions segment orders, offset slightly by a 0.4% decrease in Nutrition & Health segment orders.
• Revenues increased 9.2%, or $32.7 million primarily driven by a 3.3% increase in organic revenues, with 4.5% organic growth in the Nutrition & Health segment and 2.3% organic growth in the Precision Solutions segment. Additionally, current year acquisitions increased revenue by 4.3%.
• Operating income was $39.2 million, or 10.1% of revenues. After excluding discrete, non-operational and non-cash items and reclassifying transitional services income, adjusted operating income* was $50.4 million, or 12.9% of revenues, representing an increase of approximately 160 basis points year-over-year on a comparable basis.
• Segment income was $56.0 million, up 6.1%, and segment margin decreased by 40 basis points to 14.4%. The increase in segment income was primarily driven by operating leverage related to meaningful volume recovery across both segments, price realization and structural SG&A cost savings, offset slightly by increased intangible amortization charges and the impact of fair value adjustments to inventory directly attributable to the company's acquisition strategy. Excluding the impact of higher intangible amortization charges and fair value adjustments, adjusted segment income* was $62.3 million, up 12.1% and adjusted segment margin* increased by 40 basis points to 16.0%.
• Adjusted free cash flow* from continuing operations was $6.7 million, including investments of $9.1 million on capital expenditures and excluding $4.5 million of discrete tax payments, $2.5 million on restructuring actions and $0.7 million on certain M&A activities.
• Nutrition & Health segment revenues increased 5.9% primarily driven by a 4.5% increase in organic revenues related to a higher shippable backlog entering the quarter and elevated short-cycle book and turn activity. Segment income was $24.6 million, up 1.7% from the prior year. Adjusted segment income* was $26.2 million, up 1.9%, and adjusted segment margin* decreased by 60 basis points to 15.4%. The increase in adjusted segment income* was primarily driven by higher revenue and SG&A cost reductions. Decreased margins were primarily the result of transitory supply chain conditions which offset the leverage we experienced on our structural cost reduction programs and organic revenue growth.
• Precision Solutions segment revenues increased 11.8%, primarily driven by a 7.9% increase related to current year acquisitions and a 2.3% increase in organic revenues related to an elevated level of short-cycle book-and-turn business, offset partially by project selectivity and timing of revenue conversion. Segment income was $31.4 million, up 9.8% from the prior-year. Adjusted segment income* was $36.1 million, up 20.7%, and adjusted segment margin* increased by 120 basis points to 16.4%, driven by improved mix and positive price/cost. The increase in adjusted segment income* was primarily driven by higher volume, increased price realization and SG&A cost reductions.

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About SPX FLOW, Inc.: Based in Charlotte, N.C., SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE:FLOW) improves the world through innovative and sustainable solutions. The company's product offering is concentrated in process technologies that perform mixing, blending, fluid handling, separation, thermal heat transfer and other activities that are integral to processes performed across a wide variety of nutrition, health and precision solutions markets. SPX FLOW had approximately $1.4 billion in 2020 annual revenues and has operations in more than 30 countries and sales in more than 140 countries. To learn more about SPX FLOW, please visit www.spxflow.com.

On July 26, 2021 we announced that our Board of Directors authorized a review of strategic alternatives, including a possible sale or merger of the Company and the continued execution of the Company's standalone strategy. No assurances can be given regarding the outcome or timing of the review process. Until completed or until we deem appropriate, we do not intend to make any further public comments around the process. 

*Non-GAAP measure. See attached schedules for reconciliation from most comparable GAAP measure. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are commonly used financial measures for investors to evaluate our operating performance for the periods presented, and when read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements, present a useful tool to evaluate continuing operations and provide investors with measures they can use to evaluate our management of the business from period to period. In addition, these are some of the factors we use in internal evaluations of the overall performance of our business. Management acknowledges that there are many items that impact a company's reported results and the adjustments reflected in these non-GAAP measures are not intended to present all items that may have impacted these results. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not necessarily comparable to similarly-titled measures used by other companies.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. The words "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "targets," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "should," "could," "would," "will," "may" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially because of market conditions or other factors, and forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Among other factors that may affect future performance are: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental and other actions taken in response, including impacts on economic activity, potential supply chain disruptions, impacts on labor cost and labor availability, and shipping constraints; cyclical changes and specific industry events in the company's markets; changes in anticipated capital investment and maintenance expenditures by customers; availability, limitations or cost increases of raw materials, component products and/or commodities that cannot be recovered in product pricing; overruns, the incurrence of delays, penalties or liquidated damages with respect to long-term fixed-price contracts; international economic, political, legal, accounting and business developments adversely affecting the company's ability to do business in emerging markets; ability to identify acceptable strategic acquisition targets; uncertainties surrounding timing, successful completion or integration of acquisitions and similar transactions; inadequate performance by third-party suppliers and subcontractors for outsourced products; defects or errors in current or planned products; potential labor disputes, extreme weather conditions and natural and other disasters; compliance costs associated with environmental laws and regulations; threats associated with and efforts to combat terrorism and cyber-security risks; global competitive market conditions, including global reactions to U.S. trade policies, and resulting effects on sales and pricing; and global economic factors, including currency exchange rates, difficulties entering new markets and general economic conditions such as inflation, deflation, interest rates and credit availability. These risk factors may not be exhaustive. Further, the company operates in a continually changing business environment and cannot predict new risk factors that may arise as a result of these and other changes. Statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and SPX FLOW disclaims any responsibility to update or revise such statements.

Investor Contact:

Scott Gaffner

VP, Investor Relations and Strategic Insights

704-752-4485

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Peter Smolowitz

External Communications Manager

704-341-2915

[email protected]