Worthington Enterprises Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Worthington Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:WOR) reported net sales of $257.3 million and net earnings from continuing operations of $24.3 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, for its fiscal 2025 first quarter ended August 31, 2024. This compares to net sales of $311.9 million and net earnings from continuing operations of $26.8 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net earnings from continuing operations totaled $25.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, or $0.50 per diluted share, compared to $37.2 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, in the prior year comparable quarter. Reported results reflect the controlling interest portion of continuing operations and were impacted by certain items, as summarized in the table below. (U.S. dollars in millions, except per share amounts) 1Q 2025     1Q 2024       After-Tax     Per Share     After-Tax     Per Share   Net earnings from continuing operations   $ 24.3     $ 0.48     $ 26.8     $ 0.54   Restructuring charges     0.8       0.02       -       -   Corporate costs eliminated at Separation (1)     -       -       7.4       0.15   Separation costs     -       -       1.8       0.04   Loss on extinguishment of debt     -       -       1.2       0.02   Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations   $ 25.1     $ 0.50     $ 37.2     $ 0.75   (1) References in this release to the "Separation" are to the Company's separation of its former steel processing business into Worthington Steel, Inc. on December 1, 2023. Financial highlights, on a continuing operations basis, for the current year and prior year quarters are as follows: (U.S. dollars in millions, except per share amounts)     1Q 2025     1Q 2024   Net sales   $ 257.3     $ 311.9   Operating loss     (4.7 )     (7.3 ) Adjusted operating income (loss)     (3.5 )     4.8   Net earnings from continuing operations     24.3       26.8   Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations     48.4       65.9   EPS from continuing operations - diluted     0.48       0.54   Adjusted EPS from continuing operations - diluted   $ 0.50     $ 0.75                     "We had another respectable quarter thanks to our team's focus on managing costs and serving our customers even as persistent higher interest rates and macroeconomic uncertainty continued to impact demand," said Worthington Enterprises President and CEO Andy Rose. "Consumer Products had a solid quarter delivering year over year earnings growth despite flat volumes. Building Products earnings were down on weak volumes in our heating and cooking business, combined with lower contributions from ClarkDietrich, which continued to face some margin compression. Our teams are navigating the current environment well with a focus on delivering value-added solutions and products for our customers."Consolidated Quarterly Results Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 were $257.3 million, a decrease of $54.6 million, or 17.5%, from the prior year quarter, driven by the impact of the deconsolidation of the former Sustainable Energy Solutions ("SES") segment during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 combined with lower volume in the Building Products segment. Net sales in the prior year first quarter included $28.6 million related to SES, which is now an unconsolidated joint venture, with the Company's share of SES joint venture results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 reported within equity income on the consolidated statement of earnings. The operating loss of $4.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was favorable by $2.6 million compared to the prior year quarter, which included $2.4 million of non-recurring Separation costs and $9.7 million of SG&A expense that was eliminated post-Separation. Excluding restructuring and the aforementioned effects of the Separation in the prior year quarter, the Company generated an operating loss of $3.5 million compared to operating income of $4.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The year-over-year decrease was driven by lower gross margin in Building Products partially offset by the lack of the operating loss generated by the former SES segment in the prior year quarter. Equity income decreased $9.9 million from the prior year quarter to $35.5 million, driven by lower contributions from ClarkDietrich, which was down $8.0 million from the prior year quarter combined with a $1.8 million loss generated from the newly formed SES joint venture. Income tax expense was $6.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to $9.0 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease was driven by lower pre-tax earnings from continuing operations. Tax expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 reflects an estimated annual effective rate of 24.5% compared to 25.1% in the prior year quarter. Balance Sheet Total debt of $300.0 million at first quarter end was consistent with the balance at May 31, 2024. The Company ended the quarter with cash of $178.5 million, down $65.7 million from May 31, 2024, primarily driven by the purchase of Hexagon Ragasco. Quarterly Segment Results Consumer Products generated net sales of $117.6 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2025, up $0.2 million, from the prior year quarter on marginally higher volume. Adjusted EBITDA of $17.8 million, was up $3.5 million from the prior year quarter, driven by improved gross margin. Building Products generated net sales of $139.7 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2025, down $26.2 million, or 15.8%, from the prior year quarter because of lower volume and an unfavorable shift in product mix, partially offset by contributions from Hexagon Ragasco. Adjusted EBITDA of $39.7 million decreased by $20.0 million from the prior year quarter, driven by the impact of lower volume and unfavorable mix combined with lower contributions of equity income, primarily from ClarkDietrich. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 includes $1.9 million of incremental expense related to the Hexagon Ragasco acquisition resulting primarily from the step up of inventory to fair value. Recent Developments On June 3, 2024, the Company acquired Hexagon Ragasco, a leading global manufacturer of composite propane cylinders. The purchase price was approximately $100.3 million, net of cash acquired, with a future earnout of up to approximately $14.0 million. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company repurchased a total of 150,000 of its common shares for $6.8 million, at an average purchase price of $45.35. On September 24, 2024, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per common share payable on December 27, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 13, 2024. Outlook "We have a positive long-term outlook especially with the recent recalibration of interest rates. Our market-leading products and brands are well-positioned to take advantage of long-term secular trends and should benefit when near-term headwinds subside and demand normalizes," Rose said. "We are also equipped with a strong balance sheet and the ability to drive long-term growth and reward shareholders as we leverage the Worthington Business System of transformation, innovation and M&A." Upcoming Investor Events CJS Securities Investor Briefings (Virtual Non-Deal Roadshow), October 9, 2024 Baird 2024 Global Industrial Conference, November 12, 2024 Conference Call The Company will review fiscal 2025 first quarter results during its quarterly conference call on September 25, 2024, at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time. Details regarding the conference call can be found on the Company website at www.WorthingtonEnterprises.com. About Worthington Enterprises  Worthington Enterprises (NYSE:WOR) is a designer and manufacturer of market-leading brands that help enable people to live safer, healthier and more expressive lives. The Company operates with two primary business segments: Building Products and Consumer Products. The Building Products segment includes cooking, heating, cooling and water solutions, architectural and acoustical grid ceilings and metal framing and accessories. The Consumer Products segment provides solutions for the tools, outdoor living and celebrations categories. Product brands within the Worthington Enterprises portfolio include Balloon Time®, Bernzomatic®, Coleman® (propane cylinders), CoMet®, Garden-Weasel®, General®, HALO™, Hawkeye™, Level5 Tools®, Mag Torch®, NEXI™, Pactool International®, PowerCore™, Well-X-Trol® and XLite™, among others. The Company also serves the growing global hydrogen ecosystem via a joint venture focused on on-board fueling systems and gas containment solutions. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Enterprises and its joint ventures employ approximately 6,000 people throughout North America and Europe. Founded in 1955 as Worthington Industries, Worthington Enterprises follows a people-first Philosophy with earning money for its shareholders as its first corporate goal. Worthington Enterprises achieves this outcome by empowering its employees to innovate, thrive and grow with leading brands in attractive markets that improve everyday life. The Company engages deeply with local communities where it has operations through volunteer efforts and The Worthington Companies Foundation, participates actively in workforce development programs and reports annually on its corporate citizenship and sustainability efforts. For more information, visit worthingtonenterprises.com. Safe Harbor Statement Selected statements contained in this release constitute "forward-looking statements," as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). The Company wishes to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions included in the Act. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events. These statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "may," "could," "should," "would," "intend," "plan," "will," "likely," "estimate," "project," "position," "strategy," "target," "aim," "seek," "foresee" and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: future or expected cash positions, liquidity and ability to access financial markets and capital; outlook, strategy or business plans; the anticipated benefits of the separation of the Company's Steel Processing business (the "Separation"); the expected financial and operational performance of, and future opportunities for, the Company following the Separation; the Company's performance on a pro forma basis to illustrate the estimated effects of the Separation on historical periods; the tax treatment of the Separation transaction; future or expected growth, growth potential, forward momentum, performance, competitive position, sales, volumes, cash flows, earnings, margins, balance sheet strengths, debt, financial condition or other financial measures; pricing trends for raw materials and finished goods and the impact of pricing changes; the ability to improve or maintain margins; expected demand or demand trends for the Company or its markets; additions to product lines and opportunities to participate in new markets; expected benefits from transformation and innovation efforts; the ability to improve performance and competitive position at the Company's operations; anticipated working capital needs, capital expenditures and asset sales; anticipated improvements and efficiencies in costs, operations, sales, inventory management, sourcing and the supply chain and the results thereof; projected profitability potential; the ability to make acquisitions and the projected timing, results, benefits, costs, charges and expenditures related to acquisitions, joint ventures, headcount reductions and facility dispositions, shutdowns and consolidations; projected capacity and the alignment of operations with demand; the ability to operate profitably and generate cash in down markets; the ability to capture and maintain market share and to develop or take advantage of future opportunities, customer initiatives, new businesses, new products and new markets; expectations for Company and customer inventories, jobs and orders; expectations for the economy and markets or improvements therein; expectations for generating improving and sustainable earnings, earnings potential, margins or shareholder value; effects of judicial rulings; the ever-changing effects of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and the various responses of governmental and nongovernmental authorities thereto on economies and markets, and on our customers, counterparties, employees and third-party service providers; and other non-historical matters. Because they are based on beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation, those that follow: the uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals in connection with the Separation, including rulings from the Internal Revenue Service; the Company's ability to successfully realize the anticipated benefits of the Separation; the risks, uncertainties and impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic – the duration, extent and severity of which are impossible to predict, including the possibility of future resurgence in the spread of COVID-19 or variants thereof – and the availability, effectiveness and acceptance of vaccines, and other actual or potential public health emergencies and actions taken by governmental authorities or others in connection therewith; the effect of national, regional and global economic conditions generally and within major product markets, including significant economic disruptions from COVID-19, the actions taken in connection therewith and the implementation of related fiscal stimulus packages; the effect of conditions in national and worldwide financial markets, including inflation, increases in interest rates and economic recession, and with respect to the ability of financial institutions to provide capital; the impact of tariffs, the adoption of trade restrictions affecting the Company's products or suppliers, a United States withdrawal from or significant renegotiation of trade agreements, the occurrence of trade wars, the closing of border crossings, and other changes in trade regulations or relationships; changing oil prices and/or supply; product demand and pricing; changes in product mix, product substitution and market acceptance of the Company's products; volatility or fluctuations in the pricing, quality or availability of raw materials (particularly steel), supplies, transportation, utilities, labor and other items required by operations (especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine); effects of sourcing and supply chain constraints; the outcome of adverse claims experience with respect to workers' compensation, product recalls or product liability, casualty events or other matters; effects of facility closures and the consolidation of operations; the effect of financial difficulties, consolidation and other changes within the steel, automotive, construction and other industries in which the Company participates; failure to maintain appropriate levels of inventories; financial difficulties (including bankruptcy filings) of original equipment manufacturers, end-users and customers, suppliers, joint venture partners and others with whom the Company does business; the ability to realize targeted expense reductions from headcount reductions, facility closures and other cost reduction efforts; the ability to realize cost savings and operational, sales and sourcing improvements and efficiencies, and other expected benefits from transformation initiatives, on a timely basis; the overall success of, and the ability to integrate, newly-acquired businesses and joint ventures, maintain and develop their customers, and achieve synergies and other expected benefits and cost savings therefrom; capacity levels and efficiencies, within facilities, within major product markets and within the industries in which the Company participates as a whole; the effect of disruption in the business of suppliers, customers, facilities and shipping operations due to adverse weather, casualty events, equipment breakdowns, labor shortages, interruption in utility services, civil unrest, international conflicts (especially in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine), terrorist activities or other causes; changes in customer demand, inventories, spending patterns, product choices, and supplier choices; risks associated with doing business internationally, including economic, political and social instability (especially in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine), foreign currency exchange rate exposure and the acceptance of the Company's products in global markets; the ability to improve and maintain processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological environment; the effect of inflation, interest rate increases and economic recession, which may negatively impact the Company's operations and financial results; deviation of actual results from estimates and/or assumptions used by the Company in the application of its significant accounting policies; the level of imports and import prices in the Company's markets; the impact of environmental laws and regulations or the actions of the United States Environmental Protection Agency or similar regulators which increase costs or limit the Company's ability to use or sell certain products; the impact of increasing environmental, greenhouse gas emission and sustainability regulations and considerations; the impact of judicial rulings and governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad, including those adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other governmental agencies as contemplated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; the effect of healthcare laws in the United States and potential changes for such laws, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may increase the Company's healthcare and other costs and negatively impact the Company's operations and financial results; the effects of tax laws in the United States and potential changes for such laws, which may increase the Company's costs and negatively impact the Company's operations and financial results; cyber security risks; the effects of privacy and information security laws and standards; and other risks described from time to time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in "Part I – Item 1A. – Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024. Forward-looking statements should be construed in the light of such risks. The Company notes these factors for investors as contemplated by the Act. It is impossible to predict or identify all potential risk factors. Consequently, readers should not consider the foregoing list to be a complete set of all potential risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake, and hereby disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. WORTHINGTON ENTERPRISES, INC.CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS(In thousands, except per share amounts)             Three Months Ended       August 31,       2024     2023   Net sales   $ 257,308     $ 311,918   Cost of goods sold     194,813       242,288   Gross profit     62,495       69,630   Selling, general and administrative expense     66,036       74,544   Restructuring and other expense, net     1,158       -   Separation costs     -       2,410   Operating loss     (4,699 )     (7,324 ) Other income (expense):             Miscellaneous income, net     486       299   Loss on extinguishment of debt     -       (1,534 ) Interest expense, net     (489 )     (1,074 ) Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates     35,492       45,424   Earnings before income taxes     30,790       35,791   Income tax expense     6,782       8,960   Net earnings from continuing operations     24,008       26,831   Net earnings from discontinued operations     -       72,872   Net earnings     24,008       99,703   Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests     (245 )     3,597   Net earnings attributable to controlling interest   $ 24,253     $ 96,106                 Amounts attributable to controlling interest:             Net earnings from continuing operations   $ 24,253     $ 26,831   Net earnings from discontinued operations     -       69,275   Net earnings attributable to controlling interest   $ 24,253     $ 96,106                 Earnings per share from continuing operations - basic   $ 0.49     $ 0.55   Earnings per share from discontinued operations - basic     -       1.42   Net earnings per share attributable to controlling interest - basic   $ 0.49     $ 1.97                 Earnings per share from continuing operations - diluted   $ 0.48     $ 0.54   Earnings per share from discontinued operations - diluted     -       1.39   Net earnings per share attributable to controlling interest - diluted   $ 0.48     $ 1.93                 Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic     49,487       48,842   Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted     50,365       49,886                 Cash dividends declared per share   $ 0.17     $ 0.32   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETSWORTHINGTON ENTERPRISES, INC.(In thousands)