Lydall Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2019


MANCHESTER, Conn., April 30, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LYDALL, INC. (NYSE: LDL) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.

HIGHLIGHTS - Q1 2019 vs. Q1 2018

GAAP Financials

  • Net sales of $218.0 million, up 13.8%
     – Acquisitions completed in Q3 2018 contributed growth of 17.6%
     – Unfavorable foreign currency translation of 3.3%
  • Gross margin of 19.3%, down 130 basis points
  • Operating margin of 4.2%, down 310 basis points
     – Incremental intangibles amortization of $3.9 million, or 180 basis points
  • Earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.22, compared to $0.64
     – Incremental intangibles amortization of $0.18 per share
     – Incremental interest expense of $0.14 per share
  • Cash generated from operations of $14.4 million, compared to cash usage of $4.0 million

Non-GAAP Financial Measures*

  • Organic sales growth of 1.1%
  • Adjusted gross margin of 19.5%, down 130 basis points
  • Adjusted operating margin of 4.7%, down 300 basis points
  • Adjusted EPS of $0.28, compared to adjusted $0.67 per share
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $21.8 million, compared to $21.5 million

    *Reconciliations of the Non-GAAP financial measures to Lydall’s GAAP financial results are included at the end of this release.  See also “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Dale G. Barnhart, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We reported consolidated sales growth of nearly 14%, driven by the acquired Interface business.  Organic sales growth was 1.1%, led by 3.6% from the Performance Materials segment.  The Interface business was accretive to the Performance Materials segment's gross margin, but weakness in Interface's sealing products end markets, combined with lower gross margin from the Thermal Acoustical Solutions and the Technical Nonwovens segments, resulted in consolidated adjusted EBITDA being modestly above the first quarter of 2018.  We are, however, pleased that the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment continued its trend of sequential quarterly improvement in parts gross margin.

"We had strong cash generation from operations of over $14 million during the quarter, a significant improvement from first quarter 2018, which allowed us to pay down $7 million of outstanding borrowings on our credit facility and fund capital investments."

Q1 2019 Results

Net sales increased by $26.4 million, or 13.8%, to $218.0 million, compared to $191.7 million in the first quarter of 2018 primarily from the acquisition of Interface Performance Materials ("Interface"), which increased Performance Materials ("PM") segment net sales by $32.9 million.  Organic sales growth was 3.6% in the PM segment driven primarily by improved sales of filtration products.  The Technical Nonwovens ("TNW") segment reported organic sales growth of 1.5% from improved demand for industrial filtration products, partially offset by lower advanced materials sales.  The Thermal Acoustical Solutions ("TAS") segment reported a 1.5% reduction in organic sales primarily from reduced parts sales in North America.

Gross margin was 19.3%, compared to 20.6% in the first quarter of 2018.  The PM segment favorably impacted consolidated gross margin by approximately 300 basis points due to higher gross margin Interface sales, which was offset primarily by the TAS segment, and to a lesser extent, the TNW segment.  The TAS segment gross margin was negatively impacted by increased material and labor expenses and unfavorable product mix.  The TNW segment gross margin was negatively impacted by product mix and commodity inflation, which was partially offset by improved customer pricing.

Operating margin was 4.2%, down 310 basis points, compared to the first quarter of 2018 due to incremental intangible assets amortization of 180 basis points and lower gross margin of 130 basis points.  Adjusted EBITDA margin was 10.0% compared to 11.2% in the first quarter of 2018.  Lower operating income of $3.1 million from the TAS segment, and to a lesser extent the TNW segment, led to the reduction in adjusted EBITDA margin in the quarter.

Interest expense increased by $3.1 million, compared to the first quarter of 2018, due to borrowings incurred to finance the Interface acquisition.

The effective tax rate in the first quarter was 22.0% compared to 16.1% in the first quarter of 2018.  Increased tax valuation allowance expenses and less tax benefits related to stock compensation primarily contributed to a higher tax rate in the first quarter of 2019.

Net income was $3.9 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to $11.1 million, or $0.64 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2018.  Adjusted earnings per share were $0.28, including incremental intangibles amortization of $0.18 per share, compared to $0.67 per share in the first quarter of 2018.

Liquidity

Cash was $47.9 million at March 31, 2019, compared to $49.2 million at December 31, 2018.  Net cash provided by operations was $14.4 million in the first quarter of 2019 compared to cash used in operations of $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2018 as improved tooling collections and accounts payable timing led to improvement.  As of March 31, 2019, there was approximately $108 million of availability under the Company's credit facility.

Outlook

Mr. Barnhart concluded, "As we enter the second quarter, demand remains generally steady in the Thermal Acoustical Solutions and the Technical Nonwovens segments.  In the Performance Materials segment, we are continuing to experience stable conditions in filtration markets, but we expect weakness to persist in the sealing products end markets during the quarter.  EBITDA will be favorably impacted by the Interface acquisition, and we anticipate continued operational improvements in Thermal Acoustical Solutions and seasonally higher sales in Technical Nonwovens to drive incremental EBITDA compared to the first quarter.  We remain focused on cost control and margin improvement plans across the businesses as well as working capital initiatives to enhance cash flow generation."

Conference Call

Lydall will host a conference call on May 1, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2019 as well as general matters related to its businesses and markets.  The call may be accessed at (888) 338-7142, from within the U.S., or (412) 902-4181, internationally.  In addition, the audio of the call will be webcast live and will be available for replay on the Company's website at www.lydall.com in the Investor Relations' Section.  A recording of the call will be available from 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 1, 2019 through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 8, 2019 at (877) 344-7529, from within the U.S., or (412) 317-0088, internationally, pass code 10130798.  Additional information, including a presentation outlining key financial data supporting the conference call, can be found on the Company’s website www.lydall.com under the Investors Relations’ section.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including organic sales, adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross margin, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted earnings per share, consolidated and segment EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA.  The attached financial tables address the non-GAAP measures used in this press release and reconcile non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.  The Company believes that the use of non-GAAP measures helps investors gain a better understanding of our core operating results and future prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts the Company's performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasts.  Adjusted segment EBITDA is used as a basis to internally evaluate the financial performance of the Company's segments because the Company believes it reflects current core operating performance and provides an indicator of the segment's ability to generate cash.  Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for or superior to, the corresponding GAAP measures, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about the outlook for second quarter of 2019, the Company's ability to successfully integrate the Interface businesses and improve margins and cash flow generation across the Company may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  All such forward-looking statements are intended to provide management’s current expectations for the future operating and financial performance of the Company based on current expectations and assumptions relating to the Company’s business, the economy and other future conditions.  Forward-looking statements generally can be identified through the use of words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “plans,” “projects,” “expects,” “expectations,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “targets,” “prospects,” “strategy,” “signs,” and other words of similar meaning in connection with the discussion of future operating or financial performance.  Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict.  Such risks and uncertainties which include, among others, worldwide economic or political changes that affect the markets that the Company’s businesses serve which could have an effect on demand for the Company’s products and impact the Company’s profitability, challenges encountered by the Company in the execution of restructuring programs, disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, including diminished liquidity and credit availability, changes in international trade agreements, including tariffs and trade restrictions, foreign currency volatility, swings in consumer confidence and spending, unstable economic growth, raw material pricing and supply issues, fluctuations in unemployment rates, retention of key employees, increases in fuel prices, and outcomes of legal proceedings, claims and investigations.  Accordingly, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements.  Investors, therefore, are cautioned against relying on any of these forward-looking statements.  They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance.  Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in Lydall’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks and uncertainties identified in Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors of Lydall’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Lydall does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement made in this press release or that may from time to time be made by or on behalf of the Company.

Lydall, Inc. is a New York Stock Exchange listed company, headquartered in Manchester, Connecticut with global manufacturing operations producing specialty engineered products for the thermal/acoustical and filtration/separation markets. For more information, visit http://www.lydall.com. Lydall® is a registered trademark of Lydall, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. 


Summary of Operations   
In thousands except per share data   
(Unaudited)   
 Quarters Ended
 March 31,
 2019 2018
    
Net sales$218,025  $191,660 
Cost of sales175,969  152,153 
Gross profit42,056  39,507 
    
Selling, product development and administrative expenses33,006  25,471 
Operating income9,050  14,036 
    
Interest expense3,628  540 
Other expense, net399  315 
Income before income taxes5,023  13,181 
    
Income tax expense1,106  2,123 
Loss from equity method investment27  4 
Net income$3,890  $11,054 
    
Earnings per share:   
Basic$0.23  $0.64 
Diluted$0.22  $0.64 
    
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding17,254  17,164 
Weighted average number of common shares and equivalents outstanding17,318  17,339 


Summary of Segment Information   
and Corporate Office Expenses   
In thousands   
(Unaudited)   
 Quarters Ended
 March 31,
 2019 2018
Net Sales   
    
Performance Materials Segment (1)$64,580  $30,693 
Technical Nonwovens Segment (2)65,606  67,541 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions94,313  101,437 
Eliminations and Other (2)(6,474) (8,011)
Consolidated Net Sales$218,025  $191,660 
    
Operating Income   
    
Performance Materials Segment (1)$1,459  $2,641 
Technical Nonwovens Segment4,734  5,006 
Thermal Acoustical Solutions9,491  12,614 
Corporate Office Expenses(6,634) (6,225)
Consolidated Operating Income$9,050  $14,036 

(1) The Performance Materials segment reports results of Interface and PCC for the periods following the dates of acquisitions of August 31, 2018 and July 12, 2018, respectively, and included $4.0 million of incremental intangible assets amortization for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. 

(2) Included in the Technical Nonwovens segment and Eliminations and Other is $4.7 million and $7.1 million in intercompany sales to the Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.


Financial Position   
In thousands except ratio data   
(Unaudited)   
 March 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
    
Cash and cash equivalents$47,874  $49,237 
Working capital$191,664  $195,732 
Total debt$317,767  $324,813 
Stockholders' equity$373,214  $369,275 
Total capitalization$690,981  $694,088 
Total debt to total capitalization46.0% 46.8%


Cash Flows   
In thousandsQuarters Ended
(Unaudited)March 31,
 2019 2018
    
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities$14,370  $(3,962)
Net cash used for investing activities$(8,983) $(7,676)
Net cash used for financing activities$(7,110) $(214)
Depreciation and amortization$11,935  $7,220 
Capital expenditures$(9,239) $(7,676)


Common Stock Data   
 Quarters Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
    
High$31.71  $51.85 
Low$19.96  $42.51 
Close$23.46  $48.25 

During the first quarter of 2019, 8,665,659 shares of Lydall common stock (LDL) were traded on the New York Stock Exchange.


Non-GAAP Measures
In thousands except ratio and per share data
(Unaudited)

The following tables address the non-GAAP measures used in this press release and reconcile the non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures:

 Quarters Ended
March 31,
 2019 2018
    
Net sales$218,025  $191,660 
    
Gross Profit, as reported$42,056  $39,507 
TNW restructuring expenses351  449 
Gross Profit, adjusted$42,407  $39,956 
    
Gross Margin, as reported19.3% 20.6%
Gross Margin, adjusted19.5% 20.8%
    
Operating income, as reported$9,050  $14,036 
Strategic initiatives expenses841  122 
TNW restructuring expenses376  534 
Operating income, adjusted$10,267  $14,692 
    
Operating margin, as reported4.2% 7.3%
Operating margin, adjusted4.7% 7.7%
    
Diluted earnings per share, reported$0.22  $0.64 
Strategic initiatives expenses$0.05  $0.01 
TNW restructuring expenses$0.02  $0.03 
Tax effect of above adjustments$(0.01) $(0.01)
Diluted earnings per share, adjusted$0.28  $0.67 

This press release reports adjusted results for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, which excludes strategic initiatives expenses and restructuring expenses in the Technical Nonwovens segment.


CONSOLIDATED AND SEGMENT EBITDA/ADJUSTED EBITDA
In thousands except ratio data
(Unaudited)

The following tables report consolidated and segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and adjusted EBITDA for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.  The Company uses segment operating income (loss) for the purpose of calculating segment EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA.  Adjusted EBITDA excludes strategic initiatives expenses and restructuring expenses.

  For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2019
  Segments    
  Performance
Materials
 Technical
Nonwovens
 Thermal
Acoustical
Solutions
 Total Corporate
Office
 Consolidated
Lydall
             
Net Income           $3,890 
Interest expense           3,628 
Income tax expense           1,106 
Other expense, net           399 
Loss from equity method investment           27 
Operating income $1,459  $4,734  $9,491  $15,684  $(6,634) $9,050 
Depreciation and amortization 6,170  3,143  2,432  11,745  173  11,918 
Other expense, net         399  399 
Loss from equity method investment   27    27    27 
EBITDA $7,629  $7,850  $11,923  $27,402  $(6,860) $20,542 
% of net sales 11.8% 12.0% 12.6% 12.2%   9.4%
             
Strategic initiatives expenses $  $  $  $  $841  $841 
TNW restructuring expenses   376    376    376 
EBITDA, adjusted $7,629  $8,226  $11,923  $27,778  $(6,019) $21,759 
% of net sales 11.8% 12.5% 12.6% 12.4%   10.0%


  For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2018
  Segments    
  Performance
Materials
 Technical
Nonwovens
 Thermal
Acoustical
Solutions
 Total Corporate
Office
 Consolidated
Lydall
             
Net Income           $11,054 
Interest expense           540 
Income tax expense           2,123 
Other expense, net           315 
Loss from equity method investment           4 
Operating income $2,641  $5,006  $12,614  $20,261  $(6,225) $14,036 
Depreciation and amortization 1,022  3,622  2,336  6,980  161  7,141 
Other expense, net         315  315 
Loss from equity method investment   4    4    4 
EBITDA $3,663  $8,624  $14,950  $27,237  $(6,379) $20,858 
% of net sales 11.9% 12.8% 14.7% 13.6%   10.9%
             
Strategic initiatives expenses $  $  $  $  $122  $122 
TNW restructuring expenses   534    534    534 
EBITDA, adjusted $3,663  $9,158  $14,950  $27,771  $(6,257) $21,514 
% of net sales 11.9% 13.6% 14.7% 13.9%   11.2%


Organic Sales
(Unaudited)

  Quarter Ended March 31, 2019
  Performance
Materials
 Technical
Nonwovens
 Thermal
Acoustical
Solutions
 Consolidated
Sales growth, as reported 110.4% (2.9)% (7.0)% 13.8%
  Acquisitions 109.9% % % 17.6%
  Change in tooling sales % % (3.1)% (1.6)%
  Foreign currency translation (3.1)% (4.4)% (2.4)% (3.3)%
Organic sales growth 3.6% 1.5% (1.5)% 1.1%

This press release provides information regarding organic sales change, defined as net sales change excluding (1) sales from acquired businesses (2) the impact of foreign currency translation and (3) tooling sales.  Management believes that the presentation of organic sales change is useful to investors because it enables them to assess, on a consistent basis, sales trends related to the Company selling products to customers, without the impact of foreign currency rate changes that are not under management's control and do not reflect the performance of the Company and management.  Tooling sales are excluded because tooling revenue is not generated from selling the Company's products to customers, but rather is reimbursement from our customers for the design and production of tools used by the Company in our manufacturing processes.  Tooling sales can be sporadic and may mask underlying business conditions and obscure business trends.



            

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