Brady Corporation Reports Fiscal 2017 Third Quarter Results and Tightens its Fiscal 2017 EPS Guidance


  • Earnings per diluted Class A Nonvoting Common Share were $0.43 in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to $0.42 in the same quarter of the prior year. 
  • Organic revenue declined 1.9 percent for the quarter ended April 30, 2017.
  • Net debt was $8.9 million at April 30, 2017 compared to $100.9 million at April 30, 2016, providing flexibility for future investments.
  • Earnings per diluted Class A Common Share guidance for the full year ending July 31, 2017 tightened from a range of $1.75 to $1.85 to a range of $1.80 to $1.85.

MILWAUKEE, May 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brady Corporation (NYSE:BRC) (“Brady” or “Company”), a world leader in identification solutions, today reported its financial results for its fiscal 2017 third quarter ended April 30, 2017. 

Quarter Ended April 30, 2017 Financial Results:  

Net earnings for the quarter ended April 30, 2017, were $22.6 million compared to $21.0 million in the same quarter last year.

Earnings per diluted Class A Nonvoting Common Share were $0.43 for the quarter ended April 30, 2017, compared to $0.42 in the same quarter last year.

Sales for the quarter ended April 30, 2017, decreased 3.8 percent to $275.9 million compared to $286.8 million in the same quarter last year.  Total organic sales decreased 1.9 percent and the impact of foreign currency translation decreased sales by 1.9 percent.  By segment, organic sales decreased 0.8 percent in Identification Solutions and decreased 4.6 percent in Workplace Safety.

Nine-Month Period Ended April 30, 2017 Financial Results:

Net earnings for the nine-month period ended April 30, 2017, were $70.4 million compared to $55.0 million in the same period last year.

Earnings per diluted Class A Nonvoting Common Share were $1.36 for the nine-month period ended April 30, 2017, compared to $1.08 in the same period last year.

Sales for the nine-month period ended April 30, 2017, decreased 1.7 percent to $824.1 million compared to $838.5 million in the same period last year.  Total organic sales decreased 0.3 percent and foreign currency translation decreased sales by 1.4 percent.  By segment, organic sales increased 0.6 percent in Identification Solutions and decreased 2.5 percent in Workplace Safety.

Commentary:

“Our consistent focus on developing high-quality products, providing excellent customer service, pushing for efficiencies throughout our SG&A structure, and empowering the Brady team with local ownership and accountability are the primary drivers of our improved financial results.  This quarter marks our seventh consecutive quarter of year-over-year earnings growth,” said Brady’s President and Chief Executive Officer, J. Michael Nauman.  “We believe that our focus on driving efficiencies combined with our organic sales initiatives and our new product pipeline is beginning to generate improved organic sales trends, and will continue to drive future profit improvements.  That said, challenges in the distribution channel will impact our Workplace Safety business while we are more optimistic about growth in the fourth quarter in Identification Solutions.  Looking forward, our priorities remain unchanged, which are to grow our pipeline of innovative new products, provide excellent customer service and deliver operational efficiencies.  We are pleased with our ability to improve our financial performance while maintaining our focus on our long-term strategy.”

“Third quarter revenues were approximately in line with our expectations coming into the quarter, finishing with an organic sales decline of 1.9 percent.  Our third quarter was impacted by fewer billing days compared to the same quarter in the prior year.  Organic sales were up 0.7% on a per day basis.  Our ability to drive operational efficiencies and actively reduce our general and administrative structure provided financial benefits this quarter,” said Brady’s Chief Financial Officer, Aaron Pearce.  “Cash generation for the quarter ended April 30, 2017 continued to be strong, as we finished with net cash provided by operating activities of $37.8 million while reducing our net debt by $28.8 million this quarter.  Our strong balance sheet provides significant flexibility for future investments in new products and returning funds to our shareholders.”

Fiscal 2017 Guidance:

The Company is tightening its earnings per diluted Class A Common Share guidance from a range of $1.75 to $1.85 to a range of $1.80 to $1.85 for the full year ending July 31, 2017.  Included in this guidance are organic sales ranging from a low single-digit decline to slightly positive growth for the year ending July 31, 2017.  Offsetting this challenging revenue environment are ongoing efficiency gains in the Company’s manufacturing facilities and selling, general, and administrative expenses.  This guidance is based upon foreign currency exchange rates as of April 30, 2017, a full-year income tax rate in the mid-20 percent range, depreciation and amortization expense of $28 million, and capital expenditures approximating $17 million.

A webcast regarding Brady’s fiscal 2017 third quarter financial results will be available at www.bradycorp.com beginning at 9:30 a.m. Central Time today.

Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect people, products and places.  Brady’s products help customers increase safety, security, productivity and performance and include high-performance labels, signs, safety devices, printing systems and software.  Founded in 1914, the Company has a diverse customer base in electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, medical, aerospace and a variety of other industries.  Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and as of July 31, 2016, employed approximately 6,500 people in its worldwide businesses.  Brady’s fiscal 2016 sales were approximately $1.12 billion.  Brady stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BRC.  More information is available on the Internet at www.bradycorp.com.

In this news release, statements that are not reported financial results or other historic information are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company's future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations.

The use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain and are subject to risks, assumptions, and other factors, some of which are beyond Brady’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  For Brady, uncertainties arise from:  our ability to compete effectively or to successfully execute our strategy; Brady’s ability to develop technologically advanced products that meet customer demands; difficulties in protecting our websites, networks, and systems against security breaches; deterioration or instability in the global economy and financial markets; decreased demand for our products; Brady’s ability to retain large customers; risks associated with the loss of key employees; changes in tax legislation and tax rates; Brady’s ability to execute facility consolidations and maintain acceptable operational service metrics; extensive regulations by U.S. and non-U.S. governmental and self-regulatory entities; litigation, including product liability claims; divestitures and contingent liabilities from divestitures; Brady’s ability to properly identify, integrate, and grow acquired companies; foreign currency fluctuations; potential write-offs of Brady’s substantial intangible assets; differing interests of voting and non-voting shareholders; Brady’s ability to meet certain financial covenants required by our debt agreements; numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive, and regulatory nature contained from time to time in Brady’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, those factors listed in the “Risk Factors” section within Item 1A of Part I of Brady’s Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2016.

These uncertainties may cause Brady's actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in its forward-looking statements. Brady does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law.

BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES        
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS        
(Unaudited; Dollars in thousands, except per share data)        
         
 Three months ended April 30, Nine months ended April 30, 
  2017   2016   2017   2016  
Net sales$  275,927  $  286,816  $  824,104  $  838,519  
Cost of products sold  136,018    141,373    409,679    420,835  
Gross margin  139,909    145,443    414,425    417,684  
Operating expenses:        
Research and development  9,950    8,865    28,577    26,531  
Selling, general and administrative  98,409    105,794    291,128    306,678  
Total operating expenses  108,359    114,659    319,705    333,209  
         
Operating income   31,550    30,784    94,720    84,475  
         
Other income (expense):        
Investment and other income (expense)   453    721    560    (1,030) 
Interest expense  (1,375)   (1,838)   (4,565)   (6,119) 
         
Earnings before income taxes  30,628    29,667    90,715    77,326  
         
Income tax expense  8,075    8,686    20,312    22,352  
         
Net earnings$  22,553  $  20,981  $  70,403  $  54,974  
         
Net earnings per Class A Nonvoting Common Share:        
Basic $  0.44  $  0.42  $  1.38  $  1.09  
Diluted $  0.43  $  0.42  $  1.36  $  1.08  
Dividends$  0.21  $  0.20  $  0.62  $  0.61  
         
Net earnings per Class B Voting Common Share:        
Basic $  0.44  $  0.42  $  1.37  $  1.07  
Diluted $  0.43  $  0.42  $  1.34  $  1.07  
Dividends$  0.21  $  0.20  $  0.60  $  0.59  
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):        
Basic  51,227    50,251    50,972    50,602  
Diluted  52,201    50,505    51,882    50,747  
         

 

BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES   
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS   
(Unaudited; Dollars in thousands)   
    
 April 30, 2017 July 31, 2016
ASSETS   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$  129,077  $  141,228 
Accounts receivable—net  145,755    147,333 
Inventories:   
Finished products  61,025    64,313 
Work-in-process  17,326    16,678 
Raw materials and supplies  19,126    18,436 
Total inventories  97,477    99,427 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  20,343    19,436 
Total current assets  392,652    407,424 
Other assets:   
Goodwill  425,935    429,871 
Other intangible assets  54,107    59,806 
Deferred income taxes  26,228    27,238 
Other  18,152    17,181 
Property, plant and equipment:   
Cost:   
Land  7,271    5,809 
Buildings and improvements  95,662    95,355 
Machinery and equipment  257,465    256,549 
Construction in progress  4,362    2,842 
   364,760    360,555 
Less accumulated depreciation  268,586    258,111 
Property, plant and equipment—net  96,174    102,444 
Total$  1,013,248  $  1,043,964 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT   
Current liabilities:   
Notes payable$  4,072  $  4,928 
Accounts payable  60,144    62,245 
Wages and amounts withheld from employees  45,079    45,998 
Taxes, other than income taxes  7,109    7,403 
Accrued income taxes  2,706    6,136 
Other current liabilities  39,022    40,017 
Total current liabilities  158,132    166,727 
Long-term obligations, less current maturities  133,894    211,982 
Other liabilities  57,159    61,657 
Total liabilities  349,185    440,366 
Stockholders’ investment:   
Common stock:   
Class A nonvoting common stock—Issued 51,261,487 and 51,261,487 shares, respectively and outstanding 47,738,671 and 46,920,974 shares, respectively  513    513 
Class B voting common stock—Issued and outstanding, 3,538,628 shares  35    35 
Additional paid-in capital  321,936    317,001 
Earnings retained in the business  492,411    453,371 
Treasury stock—3,522,816 and 4,340,513 shares, respectively of Class A nonvoting common stock, at cost  (87,493)   (108,714)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (63,339)   (54,745)
Other  —    (3,863)
Total stockholders’ investment  664,063    603,598 
Total$  1,013,248  $  1,043,964 
    

 

BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES    
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS    
(Unaudited; Dollars in thousands)    
 Nine months ended April 30, 
  2017   2016  
Operating activities:    
Net earnings$  70,403  $  54,974  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization  20,789    24,896  
Stock-based compensation expense  7,445    6,247  
Deferred income taxes  (2,707)   3,169  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Accounts receivable  (931)   4,679  
Inventories  666    4,556  
Prepaid expenses and other assets  (1,987)   (734) 
Accounts payable and other liabilities  754    3,432  
Income taxes  (3,270)   (2,669) 
Net cash provided by operating activities  91,162    98,550  
     
Investing activities:    
Purchases of property, plant and equipment  (10,856)   (7,468) 
Other  38    1,987  
Net cash used in investing activities  (10,818)   (5,481) 
     
Financing activities:    
Payment of dividends  (31,362)   (30,603) 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options  18,674    663  
Purchase of treasury stock  —    (23,552) 
(Repayments) proceeds from borrowing on credit facilities  (60,415)   28,819  
Principal payments on debt  (16,371)   (42,514) 
Debt issuance costs  —    (803) 
Income tax on equity-based compensation, and other  (512)   (1,238) 
Net cash used in financing activities  (89,986)   (69,228) 
     
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  (2,509)   3,263  
     
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents  (12,151)   27,104  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period  141,228    114,492  
     
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$  129,077  $  141,596  
     

 

BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES        
SEGMENT INFORMATION        
(Unaudited; Dollars in thousands)        
         
 Three Months Ended April 30, Nine months Ended April 30, 
  2017   2016   2017   2016  
SALES TO EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS        
ID Solutions$  196,880  $  201,482  $  589,106  $  592,282  
Workplace Safety   79,047     85,334     234,998     246,237  
Total$  275,927  $  286,816  $  824,104  $  838,519  
         
SALES INFORMATION        
ID Solutions        
Organic (0.8)%  (0.9)%  0.6%  (0.8)% 
Currency (1.5)%  (1.1)%  (1.1)%  (3.7)% 
Total (2.3)%  (2.0)%  (0.5)%  (4.5)% 
Workplace Safety        
Organic (4.6)%  1.7%  (2.5)%  (0.4)% 
Currency (2.9)%  (0.9)%  (2.1)%  (6.0)% 
Total (7.5)%  0.8%  (4.6)%  (6.4)% 
Total Company        
Organic  (1.9)%  (0.1)%  (0.3)%  (0.7)% 
Currency (1.9)%  (1.1)%  (1.4)%  (4.3)% 
Total (3.8)%  (1.2)%  (1.7)%  (5.0)% 
         
SEGMENT PROFIT        
ID Solutions$  32,633  $  31,898  $  94,676  $  80,385  
Workplace Safety   5,120     6,012     17,615     21,690  
Total$  37,753  $  37,910  $  112,291  $  102,075  
SEGMENT PROFIT AS A PERCENT OF SALES        
ID Solutions 16.6%  15.8%  16.1%  13.6% 
Workplace Safety 6.5%  7.0%  7.5%  8.8% 
Total 13.7%  13.2%  13.6%  12.2% 
         
         
 Three Months Ended April 30, Nine months Ended April 30, 
  2017   2016   2017   2016  
Total segment profit$  37,753  $  37,910  $  112,291  $  102,075  
Unallocated amounts:        
Administrative costs   (6,203)    (7,126)    (17,571)    (17,600) 
Investment and other income (expense)   453     721     560     (1,030) 
Interest expense   (1,375)    (1,838)    (4,565)    (6,119) 
Earnings before income taxes$  30,628  $  29,667  $  90,715  $  77,326  
         

 


            

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