'We continued to deliver on our strategic business priorities of accelerating profitable growth, driving productivity and operational excellence, and empowering people,' said
'We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary efforts and resiliency of our entire team, which enabled us to deliver these results. Our dedicated people continue to live our brand promise and provide innovative solutions that meet our customers' needs,' concluded Olson.
THIRD-QUARTER AND YEAR-TO-DATE FISCAL 2020 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Net sales of
Net earnings of
Year-to-date fiscal 2020 net earnings of
Reported EPS of
Year-to-date fiscal 2020 reported EPS of
As of
*Please see the tables provided for a reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP net earnings and adjusted non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to the comparable GAAP measures.
OUTLOOK
'Our diverse portfolio of businesses positions us to drive growth as end markets normalize. We are delivering on our long-standing principles of innovation, strong customer relationships, and sustained value creation through disciplined capital allocation. We are enthusiastic about the future given our innovation pipeline and the proven ability of the team to adapt and perform successfully in these dynamic times,' concluded Olson.
The company previously withdrew its financial guidance, which it is not reinstating at this time. However, based on current visibility, and with an understanding of the uncertain nature of the economic environment, it is providing the following assumptions for the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter. Continued year-over-year growth in the residential market is expected, but at a more moderate level. Professional markets should benefit from the gradual return to more normal buying patterns as customers' confidence in the economy increases. These positive trends will likely be somewhat offset by remaining COVID-19 headwinds, such as budget constraints, the effects of social distancing restrictions and regional variations in economic recovery. Although precision is difficult in this environment, if these assumptions hold true, the company anticipates that fiscal 2020 fourth-quarter adjusted EPS would be similar to that of its fiscal 2019 fourth quarter, on higher net sales.
THIRD-QUARTER SEGMENT RESULTS
Professional Segment
Professional segment net sales for the third quarter were
For the first nine months of fiscal 2020, professional segment net sales were
Professional segment earnings for the third quarter were
Year to date, professional segment earnings were
Residential Segment
Residential segment net sales for the third quarter were
For the first nine months of fiscal 2020, residential segment net sales were
Residential segment earnings for the third quarter were
OPERATING RESULTS
Gross margin for the third-quarter was 35.0%, up 330 basis points compared with 31.7% for the same prior-year period, primarily driven by the decrease in acquisition-related charges as compared to the prior-year period, favorable net price realization in the company's professional segment and productivity and synergy initiatives. *Adjusted gross margin for the third quarter was 35.2%, down 70 basis points compared with 35.9% for the same prior-year period. The decrease in adjusted gross margin was primarily driven by COVID-19 related manufacturing inefficiencies, unfavorable mix due to higher sales of residential products and increased inventory reserves in one of the company's professional segment businesses. This decrease was partially offset by favorable net price realization in the company's professional segment, and productivity and synergy initiatives.
For the first nine months of fiscal 2020, gross margin was 35.0%, up 160 basis points compared with 33.4% for the same prior-year period. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by the decrease in acquisition-related charges as compared to the prior-year period, productivity and synergy initiatives, and favorable net price realization in the professional segment. This increase was partially offset by unfavorable mix due to higher sales of residential products and COVID-19 related manufacturing inefficiencies. *Adjusted gross margin for the first nine months was 35.2%, down 10 basis points compared with 35.3% for the same prior-year period.
The decrease in adjusted gross margin was primarily driven by unfavorable mix due to higher sales of residential products and COVID-19 related manufacturing inefficiencies. This decrease was partially offset by productivity and synergy initiatives, and favorable net price realization in the professional segment.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense as a percentage of sales for the third quarter decreased 170 basis points to 21.2% from 22.9% in the prior-year period. The decrease in SG&A expense as a percentage of sales was primarily due to lower travel and meeting expenses, acquisition-related costs, and employee salaries. This was partially offset by increased incentive compensation expense. For the first nine months of fiscal 2020, SG&A expense as a percentage of sales was 21.9%, up 20 basis points from 21.7% in the prior-year period.
Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales increased 500 basis points to 13.8% for the third quarter. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales increased 50 basis points to 13.9% for the third quarter. For the first nine months of fiscal 2020, operating earnings as a percentage of net sales were 13.1% compared with 11.7% in the year-ago period. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 were 13.4% compared with 14.2% in the year-ago period.
Interest expense decreased
The effective tax rate for the third quarter was 19.8% compared with 14.9% for the third quarter of fiscal 2019, driven by a lower tax benefit related to the excess tax deduction for share-based compensation. The *adjusted effective tax rate for the third quarter was 20.9% compared with 18.1% for the third quarter of fiscal 2019, driven by one-time discrete items. For the first nine months of fiscal 2020, the effective tax rate was 19.2% compared with 15.3% for the first nine months of fiscal 2019. The *adjusted effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 was 20.6% versus 19.5% in the first nine months of fiscal 2019.
Working capital at the end of the third quarter was up compared with the end of the third-quarter of the prior fiscal year, primarily driven by an increase in inventory and a reduction in accounts payable, partially offset by a reduction in accounts receivable.
*Please see the tables provided for a reconciliation of adjusted non-GAAP gross margin, adjusted non-GAAP operating earnings and adjusted non-GAAP effective tax rate to the comparable GAAP measures.
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About
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release and our related earnings call references certain non-GAAP financial measures, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with
Reconciliations of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events, and often can be identified by words such as 'expect,' 'strive,' 'looking ahead,' 'outlook,' 'guidance,' 'forecast,' 'goal,' 'optimistic,' 'anticipate,' 'continue,' 'plan,' 'estimate,' 'project,' 'believe,' 'should,' 'could,' 'will,' 'would,' 'possible,' 'may,' 'likely,' 'intend,' 'can,' 'seek,' 'potential,' 'pro forma,' or the negative thereof or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Particular risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operating results or financial position include: COVID-19 related factors, risks and challenges, including among others, the severity of COVID-19, its effect on the demand for the company's products and services, the ability of dealers, retailers, and other channel partners that sell the company's products to remain open, availability of employees and their ability to conduct work away from normal working locations and/or under revised protocols, and the ability to receive commodities, components, parts, and accessories on a timely basis through its supply chain and at anticipated costs, and the ability of the company to continue its production operations; adverse worldwide economic conditions, including weakened consumer confidence; disruption at or in proximity to its facilities or in its manufacturing or other operations, or those in its distribution channel customers, mass retailers or home centers where its products are sold, or suppliers; fluctuations in the cost and availability of commodities, components, parts, and accessories, including steel, engines, hydraulics and resins; the effect of abnormal weather patterns; the effect of natural disasters, social unrest, and global pandemics; the level of growth or contraction in its key markets; customer, government and municipal revenue, budget, spending levels and cash conservation efforts; loss of any substantial customer; inventory adjustments or changes in purchasing patterns by customers; the company's ability to develop and achieve market acceptance for new products; increased competition; the risks attendant to international relations, operations and markets, including political, economic and/or social instability and conflict, tax and trade policies, trade regulation and/or antidumping and countervailing duties petitions; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; financial viability of and/or relationships with the company's distribution channel partners; risks associated with acquisitions, including those related to the recent acquisitions of
Investor Relations
Managing Director, Investor Relations
(952) 887-8865, nicholas.rhoads@toro.com
Media Relations
Senior Manager, Public Relations
(952) 887-8930, branden.happel@toro.com
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