The Toro Company Reports Fiscal 2023 Third-Quarter Results and Revises Full-Year Outlook

The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC), a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment, today reported results for its fiscal third quarter ended August 4, 2023. In a separate news release, the company also announced a new strategic partnership with Lowe's.

“During the third quarter, we experienced a sharp and accelerated reduction in homeowner demand for residential and professional segment lawn care products,” said Richard M. Olson, chairman and chief executive officer. “This drove the underperformance versus our expectations, and also led to the Intimidator Group non-cash impairment charges. Demand was strong across the rest of our end customer base, and with that, the other businesses in our diverse portfolio delivered excellent growth in the quarter.”

“The softness in homeowner demand was driven by a combination of macro factors, including economic uncertainty, higher interest rates, and consumer spending preferences following a period of exceptional demand during the pandemic, along with unusually unfavorable weather patterns. These factors led to significantly lower than expected shipments of lawn care solutions in both our residential and professional segments. Macro factors drove reduced demand from homeowners, including purchase deferrals and trade-downs, as well as a reduction in orders by our dealer channel and an acceleration of destocking by our mass channel. Dry conditions in key regions persisted throughout June and into July, which delayed replacement needs and slowed mid-season channel replenishment orders.

“On a positive note, the rest of the businesses in our diverse portfolio performed well. We continued to see exceptional demand within the professional segment for our underground and specialty construction, and golf and grounds solutions driven by infrastructure spending and support, sustained momentum in new golfers and rounds played, and the prioritization of public green spaces. Importantly, with improved supply and our team’s operational execution, volumes were up significantly for those businesses on a year-over-year basis, as lead times continued to improve.”

OUTLOOK

“As we look ahead, we have and are taking appropriate actions to further align costs and production to demand trends that we expect will continue into fiscal 2024,” continued Olson. "We believe the combination of macro dynamics and weather patterns this year has exacerbated the rebalancing of homeowner demand for lawn care solutions in both of our residential and professional segments, which has resulted in elevated dealer field inventories of those products, along with higher floorplanning expense than originally anticipated. At the same time, we expect continued strength in demand and substantial order backlog for our underground and specialty construction, and golf and grounds solutions. As the supply chain for those products further stabilizes, we intend to leverage our existing manufacturing footprint to implement incremental, flexible production capacity to better serve our customers and return backlog to more normal levels as soon as possible.

“In addition, we are excited about our new strategic partnership with Lowe’s, and this shared opportunity to leverage the Toro brand and further serve our customer base. Lowe’s leadership position in the zero-turn mower category and strong footprint in key customer markets complements our existing channel strategy and is expected to bolster market presence of our powerful 60V battery portfolio. Our full line-up of Toro-branded all-season outdoor power equipment will be available at Lowe’s nationwide for the spring 2024 selling season.

“We believe our market leadership and business fundamentals remain strong. We have a proven ability to manage through economic cycles and seasonal variations, as evidenced by our long history of delivering positive results. We continue to prioritize investments that we expect will drive long-term profitable growth, supported by our empowered and resilient team of employees and channel partners. We believe we remain well-positioned to grow share and profitability in each of our attractive end markets with our strong brands, innovative new product pipeline and extensive distribution networks,” concluded Olson.

For the fiscal year ending October 31, 2023, the company now expects net sales similar to slightly higher than the prior fiscal year, and adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $4.05 to $4.10. The updated full-year outlook is based on management’s current visibility, and assumes continued supply chain stabilization, incremental manufacturing inefficiencies as production is further aligned to demand, and a continuation of the macro factors that affected third quarter results.

THIRD-QUARTER FISCAL 2023 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

THIRD-QUARTER FISCAL 2023 SEGMENT RESULTS

Professional Segment

• Professional segment net sales for the third quarter were $896.3 million, up 1.1% from $886.2 million in the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by higher shipments of underground and specialty construction, and golf and grounds products, and net price realization, partially offset by lower shipments of lawn care equipment.

• Professional segment earnings for the third quarter were $13.0 million, down 92.1% from $166.2 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 1.5%, down from 18.8% in the prior-year period. The decrease was primarily due to gross non-cash impairment charges of $151.3 million, and higher material and manufacturing costs, partially offset by productivity improvements and net price realization.

Residential Segment

• Residential segment net sales for the third quarter were $175.3 million, down 35.1% from $270.0 million in the same period last year. The decrease was primarily driven by lower shipments of products broadly across the segment.

• Residential segment earnings for the third quarter were $3.8 million, down 85.4% from $26.3 million in the same period last year, and when expressed as a percentage of net sales, 2.2%, down from 9.8% in the prior-year period. The decrease was primarily driven by lower volume and unfavorable product mix, partially offset by lower material costs.

OPERATING RESULTS

Gross margin and *adjusted gross margin for the third quarter were both 34.4%, down slightly from 34.5% for both in the same prior-year period. The decrease was primarily driven by higher material costs, mostly offset by lower freight expense.

SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter was 22.2%, compared with 20.5% in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily due to lower net sales, higher marketing costs, and increased investment in research and engineering.

Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales were (1.8)% for the third quarter, compared with 14.0% in the same prior-year period. *Adjusted operating earnings as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter were 12.2%, compared with 14.1% in the same prior-year period.

Interest expense was $15.0 million for the third quarter, up $5.8 million from the same prior-year period. This increase was primarily driven by higher average interest rates.

The reported effective tax rate for the third quarter was 47.6%, compared with 20.3% in the same prior year period. The change was primarily due to the tax benefit from non-cash impairment charges in the current-year period. The *adjusted effective tax rate for the third quarter was 19.0% compared with 20.7% in the same prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to an increased benefit from the geographic mix of earnings in the current-year period.

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL
September 7, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. CDT
www.thetorocompany.com/invest

The Toro Company will conduct its earnings call and webcast for investors beginning at 10:00 a.m. CDT on September 7, 2023. The webcast will be available at www.thetorocompany.com/invest. Webcast participants will need to complete a brief registration form and should allocate extra time before the webcast begins to register and, if necessary, install audio software.

About The Toro Company

The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf and landscape maintenance, snow and ice management, underground utility construction, rental and specialty construction, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. With net sales of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2022, The Toro Company’s global presence extends to more than 125 countries through a family of brands that includes Toro, Ditch Witch, Exmark, Spartan, BOSS, Ventrac, American Augers, Trencor, Pope, Subsite, HammerHead, Radius, Perrot, Hayter, Unique Lighting Systems, Irritrol, and Lawn-Boy. Through constant innovation and caring relationships built on trust and integrity, The Toro Company and its family of brands have built a legacy of excellence by helping customers work on golf courses, sports fields, construction sites, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties and agricultural operations. For more information, visit www.thetorocompany.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release and our related earnings call reference certain non-GAAP financial measures, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as information supplemental and in addition to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures included within this press release and our related earnings call that are utilized as measures of our operating performance consist of gross profit, gross margin, operating earnings, earnings before income taxes, net earnings, diluted EPS, and the effective tax rate, each as adjusted. The non-GAAP financial measures included within this press release and our related earnings call that are utilized as measures of our liquidity consist of free cash flow and free cash flow conversion percentage.

The Toro Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making operating decisions and assessing liquidity because it believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding core operational performance and cash flows, as a measure of the company's liquidity, and provide the company with a better understanding of how to allocate resources to both ongoing and prospective business initiatives. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures facilitate the company's internal comparisons for both historical operating results and competitors' operating results by factoring out potential differences caused by charges and benefits not related to its regular, ongoing business, including, without limitation, certain non-cash, large, and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions and dispositions; legal judgments, settlements, or other matters; and tax positions. The company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered in conjunction with the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, provide investors with useful supplemental financial information to better understand its core operational performance and cash flows.

Reconciliations of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures are included in the financial tables contained in this press release. These non-GAAP financial measures, however, should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the U.S. GAAP financial measures included within this press release and the company’s related earnings call. These non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similar measures used by other companies.

The Toro Company does not provide a quantitative reconciliation of the company’s projected range for adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2023 to diluted EPS, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception provided under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. The company’s adjusted diluted EPS guidance for fiscal 2023 excludes certain items that are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict, including certain non-cash, large and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions and dispositions; legal judgments, settlements, or other matters; and tax positions. Due to the uncertainty of the amount or timing of these future excluded items, management does not forecast them for internal use and therefore cannot create a quantitative adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2023 to diluted EPS reconciliation without unreasonable efforts. A quantitative reconciliation of adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2023 to diluted EPS would imply a degree of precision and certainty as to these future items that does not exist and could be confusing to investors. From a qualitative perspective, it is anticipated that the differences between adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2023 to diluted EPS will consist of items similar to those described in the financial tables later in this release, including, for example and without limitation, certain non-cash, large, and/or unpredictable charges and benefits; acquisitions and dispositions; legal judgments, settlements, or other matters; and tax positions. The timing and amount of any of these excluded items could significantly impact the company’s diluted EPS for a particular period.

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,” “encourage,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “improve,” “believe,” “become,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “possible,” “promise,” “may,” “likely,” “intend,” “can,” “seek,” “pursue,” “potential,” “pro forma,” variations of such words or the negative thereof, and similar expressions or future dates. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Forward-looking statements in this release include the company’s fiscal 2023 financial guidance, expectations regarding demand trends and supply chain stabilization, and other statements made under the "Outlook" section of this release. Particular risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operating results or financial position or cause actual events and results to differ materially from those projected or implied include: adverse worldwide economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and higher interest rates; the effect of abnormal weather patterns; 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; fluctuations in the cost and availability of commodities, components, parts, and accessories, including steel, engines, hydraulics, and resins; 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; risks associated with acquisitions and dispositions, including the company's acquisition of the Intimidator Group and possible future impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets; impacts of any future restructuring activities or cost savings initiatives; COVID-19 related factors, risks and challenges; the effect of natural disasters, social unrest, war and global pandemics; the level of growth or contraction in its key markets; the company’s ability to develop and achieve market acceptance for new products; increased competition; the risks attendant to international relations, operations and markets; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; financial viability of and/or relationships with the company’s distribution channel partners; management of strategic partnerships, key customer relationships, alliances or joint ventures, including Red Iron Acceptance, LLC; impact of laws, regulations and standards, consumer product safety, accounting, taxation, trade, tariffs and/or antidumping and countervailing duties petitions, healthcare, and environmental, health and safety matters; unforeseen product quality problems; loss of or changes in executive management or key employees; the occurrence of litigation or claims, including those involving intellectual property or product liability matters; impact of increased scrutiny on its environmental, social, and governance practices; and other risks and uncertainties described in the company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company makes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances occurring or existing after the date any forward-looking statement is made.

(Financial tables follow)