Quanex Building Products Announces First Quarter 2023 Results and Provides Full Year 2023 Guidance

Balance Sheet and Liquidity Remain Strong 
Significant Improvement in Cash Provided by Operating Activities 
Revenue Growth in NA and EU Fenestration Segments, Excluding FX Impact 
Integration of LMI Custom Mixing Assets on Track 
Cautiously Optimistic on Second Half of 2023 
Positive Long-Term View on Residential Housing Market Remains Intact

HOUSTON, March 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quanex Building Products Corporation (NYSE:NX) (“Quanex” or the “Company”) today announced its results for the three months ended January 31, 2023.  

The Company reported the following selected financial results:

(See Non-GAAP Terminology Definitions and Disclaimers section, Non-GAAP Financial Measure Disclosure table, Selected Segment Data table and reconciliation tables for additional information)

George Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our results for the first quarter of 2023 were generally as expected with the only caveat being an elevated level of customer inventory re-balancing initiatives in our fenestration segments. We believe we are seeing a return to what is normal seasonality in our business.   In addition to lower market demand year-over-year, results for the quarter were impacted by higher stock-based compensation expense from the increase in our stock price, one-time transaction and advisory fees, increased interest expense related to rising rates on the debt we incurred to fund the acquisition of LMI Custom Mixing, LLC (“LMI”), and foreign exchange translation. While results in our legacy North American Fenestration segment were impacted by market volume declines and customer inventory rebalancing initiatives, the LMI business performed well and controllable operational performance in the legacy business continues to be strong. Results in our North American Cabinet Components segment were impacted by index related price decreases and soft market demand; however, margins were consistent compared to the same period of last year. Our European Fenestration business performed well despite additional macroeconomic headwinds, including the war in Ukraine and increased energy costs. In fact, after adjusting for the foreign exchange translation impact, we generated revenue growth in Europe and margins held up nicely. As we look ahead, it is important to note that while pricing for raw materials and related surcharges are declining, inflationary pressures still exist in many areas. We are focused on making sure our product pricing takes all factors into account.

“Notwithstanding some near-term macroeconomic challenges, our balance sheet remains strong even after accounting for the debt we borrowed to fund the acquisition of LMI. The integration of LMI is going well, and we have already started realizing synergies. Despite the overall softness compared to the same period of 2022, we were still able to pay down some debt towards the end of the first quarter and our leverage remains low.”

First Quarter 2023 Results Summary   

The Company reported net sales of $261.9 million during the three months ended January 31, 2023, which represents a decrease of 1.9% compared to $267.0 million for the same period of 2022. The decrease was mostly attributable to softer demand, customer inventory rebalancing initiatives and foreign exchange translation impact. Quanex realized net sales growth of 4.3% for the first quarter of 2023 in its North American Fenestration segment, which was driven by the contribution from LMI. Excluding LMI, net sales in the North American Fenestration segment would have declined by approximately 7% year-over-year. The Company reported a decline in net sales of 12.3% in its North American Cabinet Components segment and an increase of 3.9% in net sales in its European Fenestration segment, excluding foreign exchange impact. (See Sales Analysis table for additional information)

The decrease in earnings for the three months ended January 31, 2023 was largely due to lower volumes, one-time transaction and advisory fees, foreign exchange translation, higher interest expense and increased stock-based compensation expense, mostly due to stock price appreciation.

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Update

As of January 31, 2023, the Company had total debt of $155.1 million ($100.0 million excluding real-estate leases that are considered “finance” leases under U.S. GAAP) and Quanex’s leverage ratio of Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA was 0.8x (0.4x excluding these real-estate leases). As previously disclosed, the Company borrowed $92 million to acquire substantially all the assets of LMI on November 1, 2022. As of January 31, 2023, the Company’s LTM Adjusted EBITDA was $148.6 million and LTM Net Income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, was $79.0 million.   (See Non-GAAP Terminology Definitions and Disclaimers section, Net Debt Reconciliation table and Last Twelve Months Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation table for additional information)

Quanex’s liquidity was $263.0 million as of January 31, 2023, consisting of $43.0 million in cash on hand plus availability under its Amended and Restated Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility due 2027, less letters of credit outstanding.

Outlook        

Mr. Wilson commented, “While the near-term outlook for our business remains somewhat cautious, our long-term view has not changed, and we believe the underlying fundamentals for the residential housing market remain positive. Considering these strong market fundamentals, and our belief that we have returned to a more normalized seasonality pattern, we are cautiously optimistic that demand will improve in the second half of our fiscal year. That said, we are also proactively working to adjust our cost structure to protect margins in the event that second half improvement doesn’t materialize as currently expected. Overall, on a consolidated basis, and assuming fundamentals do not worsen materially, we estimate we will generate net sales of $1.12 billion to $1.16 billion, which we expect will yield approximately $130 million to $142 million in Adjusted EBITDA* in fiscal 2023.

As always, we will stay focused on the things we can control. Our capital allocation priorities are generating cash, paying down debt, evaluating growth opportunities and opportunistically buying back our stock.”

*When Quanex provides expectations for Adjusted EBITDA on a forward-looking basis, a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP expectations and corresponding GAAP measures is generally not available without unreasonable effort. Certain items required for such a reconciliation are outside of the Company’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted or estimated, such as the provision for income taxes.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company has also scheduled a conference call for Friday, March 10, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. ET (10:00 a.m. CT) to discuss the release. A link to the live audio webcast will be available on Quanex’s website at http://www.quanex.com in the Investors section under Presentations & Events.

Participants can pre-register for the conference call using the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIc7e66b8a6c024100847adde656098b34

Registered participants will receive an email containing conference call details for dial-in options. To avoid delays, it is recommended that participants dial into the conference call ten minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay will be available for a limited time on the Company’s website at http://www.quanex.com in the Investors section under Presentations & Events.

About Quanex

Quanex is a global manufacturer with core capabilities and broad applications across various end markets. The Company currently collaborates and partners with leading OEMs to provide innovative solutions in the window, door, vinyl fencing, solar, refrigeration and cabinetry markets.  Looking ahead, Quanex plans to leverage its material science expertise and process engineering to expand into adjacent markets.

For more information contact Scott Zuehlke, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, at 713-877-5327 or scott.zuehlke@quanex.com.

Non-GAAP Terminology Definitions and Disclaimers

Adjusted Net Income (defined as net income further adjusted to exclude purchase price accounting inventory step-ups, transaction costs, certain severance charges, gain/loss on the sale of certain fixed assets, restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, other net adjustments related to foreign currency transaction gain/loss and effective tax rates reflecting impacts of adjustments on a with and without basis) and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that Quanex believes provide a consistent basis for comparison between periods and more accurately reflects operational performance, as they are not influenced by certain income or expense items not affecting ongoing operations. EBITDA (defined as net income or loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and other, net) and Adjusted EBITDA (defined as EBITDA further adjusted to exclude purchase price accounting inventory step-ups, transaction costs, certain severance charges, gain/loss on the sale of certain fixed assets, restructuring charges and asset impairment charges) are non-GAAP financial measures that the Company uses to measure operational performance and assist with financial decision-making.  Net Debt is defined as total debt (outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility plus financial lease obligations) less cash and cash equivalents. The leverage ratio of Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors and financial analysts in evaluating Quanex’s leverage. In addition, with certain limited adjustments, this leverage ratio is the basis for a key covenant in the Company’s credit agreement. Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure calculated using cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Quanex uses the Free Cash Flow metric to measure operational and cash management performance and assist with financial decision-making.   Free Cash Flow is measured before application of certain contractual commitments (including capital lease obligations), and accordingly is not a true measure of the Company’s residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Quanex believes Free Cash Flow is useful to investors in understanding and evaluating the Company’s financial and cash management performance. Quanex believes that the presented non-GAAP measures provide a consistent basis for comparison between periods and will assist investors in understanding the Company’s financial performance when comparing results to other investment opportunities.  The presented non-GAAP measures may not be the same as those used by other companies. Quanex does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements that use the words “estimated,” “expect,” “could,” “should,” “believe,” “will,” “might,” or similar words reflecting future expectations or beliefs are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: impacts from public health issues (including pandemics, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic) on the economy and the demand for Quanex’s products, the Company’s future operating results, future financial condition, future uses of cash and other expenditures, expenses and tax rates, expectations relating to Quanex’s industry, and the Company’s future growth, including any guidance discussed in this press release. The statements and guidance set forth in this release are based on current expectations. Actual results or events may differ materially from this release. For a complete discussion of factors that may affect Quanex’s future performance, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the sections entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors”. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and Quanex undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
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QUANEX BUILDING PRODUCTS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
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FREE CASH FLOW AND NET DEBT RECONCILIATION
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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE DISCLOSURE
LAST TWELVE MONTHS ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION
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QUANEX BUILDING PRODUCTS CORPORATION
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE DISCLOSURE
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SELECTED SEGMENT DATA
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SALES ANALYSIS
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