Spectrum Brands Holdings Reports Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter Results

• Net Sales Increased 22.6% and Organic Net Sales Increased 17.8%, with Double-Digit Growth Across All Business Units
• Net Income From Continuing Operations Increased $96.0 Million to $36.8 Million
• Adjusted EBITDA Increased 28.8% to $180.9 Million
• Maintained Strong Financial Flexibility with Over $860 million of Total Liquidity
• Raising 2021 Earnings Framework to Reflect Expected Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA Growth in the Mid Teens
• Raising Total Savings Gross Target from Global Productivity Improvement Program from $150 Million to $200 Million
• Board of Directors Authorized a New 3-Year, $1 Billion Stock Repurchase Program

MIDDLETON, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPB; “Spectrum Brands” or the “Company”), a leading global branded consumer products and home essentials company focused on driving innovation and providing exceptional customer service, today reported results from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 ended April 4, 2021.

“Our latest financial results for second quarter reflect another quarter of exceptional top line growth and operating leverage, with net sales growth of 23%, net income from continuing operations increased $96 million with adjusted EBITDA up 29% to $181 million. Our operating leverage also improved despite higher inflation and incremental investments in marketing and advertising. Higher re-investments continue to reignite the fly wheel of new product launches, improving our top line growth, expanding our margins and driving greater profitability and cash flow generation,” said David Maura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Brands.

“Our balance sheet this quarter also improved sequentially, ending the quarter with net leverage of 3.2 times and over $860 million in total liquidity. Going forward, we will continue to focus on disciplined execution of our winning playbook. Our stellar first half financial performance and continued organic growth give us confidence in again raising our earnings framework to reflect mid-teens net sales and adjusted EBITDA growth, as well as adjusted free cash flow of $260 million to $280 million. We are also raising our total gross savings target from our Global Productivity Improvement Program to $200 million by the end of fiscal 2022″ said Mr. Maura.

• Net sales increased 22.6%. Excluding the impact of $18.0 million of favorable foreign exchange rates and acquisition sales of $26.8 million, organic net sales increased 17.8%, with growth across all four business units.
• Gross profit margin was in-line with a year ago with higher volumes in all business units, improved efficiencies from our Global Productivity Improvement Program (GPIP) and favorable mix, offset by higher freight and input cost inflation and last year’s retrospective tariff exclusion benefits.
• Operating income growth was driven by higher volumes, improved productivity and lower restructuring costs, partially offset by higher freight and input cost inflation and marketing and advertising investments.
• Net income and diluted earnings per share increases were primarily driven by operating income growth and favorability from Energizer investments, offset by higher debt refinance costs.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 28.8% and adjusted EBITDA margins increased 70 basis points.
• Adjusted diluted EPS improved to $1.76 due to favorable volumes and improved productivity.
• The Company sold its remaining Energizer common stock shares during the quarter, for proceeds of $12.6 million. 

Fiscal 2021 Second Quarter Segment Level Data

Net sales were driven by growth across all categories during the quarter, with strong consumer demand and successful new product introductions. Security sales reflected growth across retail, e-commerce and new build channels. Organic net sales increased 17.4% excluding slightly favorable foreign exchange impacts.

Higher operating income and adjusted EBITDA were driven by positive volumes and productivity improvements, partially offset by last year’s benefit from retrospective tariff exclusions, higher freight and input cost inflation, distribution costs, COVID-19 related costs and higher marketing investments.

Net sales were driven by continued strength in the small kitchen appliances and the personal care categories, as well as growth across all regions. E-commerce sales, both in pure play and retailer.com channels continued to grow at a high rate. Excluding favorable foreign exchange impacts of $8.7 million, organic net sales grew 24.3%.

Improved operating income, adjusted EBITDA, and margins were driven by higher volumes and productivity improvements, partially offset by freight and input cost inflation and continued marketing investments.

Higher net sales were attributable to continued growth in the aquatics and companion animal categories, with broad-based demand across sub-categories and channel partners. Excluding favorable foreign exchange impacts of $6.1 million and acquisition sales of $26.8 million, organic net sales grew 10.0%.

Higher operating income, adjusted EBITDA, and improved margins were driven by existing and acquired volume growth and productivity improvements, partially offset by higher freight and input cost inflation and distribution costs, as well as advertisement and marketing investments. Operating income growth was also impacted by lower restructuring costs.

Net sales grew across all three categories – controls, household insecticides, and repellents. Performance was driven by strong early season orders across channels.

Improved operating income, adjusted EBITDA, and margins were driven by volume growth, favorable mix and productivity improvements, partially offset by advertisement and marketing investments and higher distribution expenses.

Liquidity and Debt

As of the end of the quarter, the Company had a cash balance of $290 million and approximately $2,610 million of debt outstanding, consisting of approximately $2,051 million of senior unsecured notes, $400 million of term loans and approximately $159 million of capital leases and other obligations.

Net leverage at the end of the second quarter was 3.2 times, compared to 3.4 times at the end of the previous quarter.

Fiscal 2021 Earnings Framework

Spectrum Brands now expects mid-teens reported net sales growth (previously high single-digit growth), with foreign exchange expected to have a positive impact based upon current rates.

Adjusted EBITDA is also expected to increase mid-teens (previously high single-digit growth) with the backdrop of continued transportation and commodity related inflation. Adjusted free cash flow is now expected to be between $260 million and $280 million (previously $250 million-$270 million), with plans for incremental investments in inventory levels.

Conference Call/Webcast Scheduled for 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time Today

Spectrum Brands will host an earnings conference call and webcast at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time today, May 7, 2021. To access the live conference call, U.S. participants may call 877-604-7329 and international participants may call 602-563-8688. The conference ID number is 5384608. A live webcast and related presentation slides will be available by visiting the Event Calendar page in the Investor Relations section of Spectrum Brands’ website at www.spectrumbrands.com.

A replay of the live webcast also will be accessible through the Event Calendar page in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website. A telephone replay of the conference call will be available through May 21. To access this replay, participants may call 855-859-2056 and use the same conference ID number.

About Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

Spectrum Brands Holdings is a home-essentials company with a mission to make living better at home. We focus on delivering innovative products and solutions to consumers for use in and around the home through our trusted brands. We are a leading supplier of residential locksets, residential builders’ hardware, plumbing, shaving and grooming products, personal care products, small household appliances, specialty pet supplies, lawn and garden and home pest control products, and personal insect repellents. Helping to meet the needs of consumers worldwide, Spectrum Brands offers a broad portfolio of market-leading, well-known and widely trusted brands including Kwikset®, Weiser®, Baldwin®, National Hardware®, Pfister®, Remington®, George Foreman®, Russell Hobbs®, Black+Decker®, Tetra®, Marineland®, Nature’s Miracle®, Dingo®, 8-in-1®, FURminator®, IAMS® and Eukanuba® (Europe only), Digest-eeze™, Healthy-Hide®, Littermaid®, Good Boy®, Meowee!® , Wildbird®, Wafcol®, OmegaOne®, OmegaSea®, Spectracide®, Cutter®, Repel®, Hot Shot®, Black Flag®, and Liquid Fence®. Spectrum Brands, a member of the Russell 1000 index, generated fiscal 2020 net sales of approximately $4.0 billion.

Non-GAAP Measurements

Management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures may be useful in providing additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior periods. Management believes that organic net sales provide for a more complete understanding of underlying business trends of regional and segment performance by excluding the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations and the impact of acquisitions. In addition, within this release, including the supplemental information attached hereto, reference is made to adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted free cash flow. Adjusted EBITDA is a metric used by management to evaluate segment performance and frequently used by the financial community which provides insight into an organization’s operating trends and facilitates comparisons between peer companies, since interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization can differ greatly between organizations as a result of differing capital structures and tax strategies. Adjusted EBITDA also is one of the measures used for determining compliance with the Company’s debt covenants. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain items that are unusual in nature or not comparable from period to period. Adjusted EBITDA margin reflects adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales of the Company. The Company’s management uses adjusted diluted EPS as one means of analyzing the Company’s current and future financial performance and identifying trends in its financial condition and results of operations. Management believes that adjusted diluted EPS is a useful measure for providing further insight into our operating performance because it eliminates the effects of certain items that are not comparable from one period to the next. An income tax adjustment is included in adjusted diluted EPS to exclude the impact of the valuation allowance against deferred taxes and other tax-related items in order to reflect a normalized ongoing effective tax rate. Adjusted free cash flow provides useful information to investors regarding our ability to generate cash flow from business operations that is available for acquisitions and other investments, service of debt principal, dividends and share repurchases and meet its working capital requirements. Our definition of adjusted free cash flow takes into consideration capital investments required to maintain operations of our businesses and execute our strategy. The Company provides this information to investors to assist in comparisons of past, present and future operating results and to assist in highlighting the results of on-going operations. While the Company’s management believes that non-GAAP measurements are useful supplemental information, such adjusted results are not intended to replace the Company’s GAAP financial results and should be read in conjunction with those GAAP results. Other Supplemental Information has been provided to demonstrate reconciliation of non-GAAP measurements discussed above to most relevant GAAP financial measurements.

Forward-Looking Statements

We have made, implied or incorporated by reference certain forward-looking statements in this document including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s recently adopted share repurchase program, for which the manner of purchase, the number of shares to be purchased and the timing of purchases will be based on a number of factors including the price of the Company’s common stock, general business and market conditions and applicable legal requirements, and is subject to the discretion of the Company’s management and may be commenced, suspended or discontinued at any time. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included or incorporated by reference in this document, without limitation, statements or expectations regarding our Global Productivity Improvement Program, our business strategy, future operations, financial condition, estimated revenues, projected costs, projected synergies, prospects, plans and objectives of management, information concerning expected actions of third parties, retention and future compensation of key personnel, our ability to meet environmental, social, and governance goals, the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic, social, and political conditions or civil unrest in the U.S. and other countries, and other statements regarding the Company’s ability to meet its expectations for its fiscal 2021 are forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words future, anticipate, pro forma, seeks, intend, plan, envision, estimate, believe, belief, expect, project, forecast, outlook, goal, target, could, would, will, can, should, may and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.

Since these forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations of future events and projections and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and some of which may change rapidly, actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those expressed or implied herein, and you should not place undue reliance on these statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein include, without limitation: (1) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers, employees, manufacturing facilities, suppliers, the capital markets and our financial condition, and results of operations, all of which tend to aggravate the other risks and uncertainties we face; (2) the impact of our indebtedness on our business, financial condition and results of operations; (3) the impact of restrictions in our debt instruments on our ability to operate our business, finance our capital needs or pursue or expand business strategies; (4) any failure to comply with financial covenants and other provisions and restrictions of our debt instruments; (5) the effects of general economic conditions, including the impact of, and changes to tariffs and trade policies, inflation, recession or fears of a recession, depression or fears of a depression, labor costs and stock market volatility or monetary or fiscal policies in the countries where we do business; (6) the impact of fluctuations in transportation and shipment costs, commodity prices, costs or availability of raw materials or terms and conditions available from suppliers, including suppliers’ willingness to advance credit; (7) interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations; (8) the loss of, significant reduction in, or dependence upon, sales to any significant retail customer(s); (9) competitive promotional activity or spending by competitors, or price reductions by competitors; (10) the introduction of new product features or technological developments by competitors and/or the development of new competitors or competitive brands; (11) the impact of actions taken by significant stockholders; (12) changes in consumer spending preferences and demand for our products, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic stress; (13) our ability to develop and successfully introduce new products, protect our intellectual property and avoid infringing the intellectual property of third parties; (14) our ability to successfully identify, implement, achieve and sustain productivity improvements (including our Global Productivity Improvement Program), cost efficiencies (including at our manufacturing and distribution operations) and cost savings; (15) the seasonal nature of sales of certain of our products; (16) the effects of climate change and unusual weather activity, as well as further natural disasters and pandemics; (17) the cost and effect of unanticipated legal, tax or regulatory proceedings or new laws or regulations (including environmental, public health and consumer protection regulations); (18) our discretion to conduct, suspend or discontinue our share repurchase program (including our discretion to conduct purchases, if any, in a variety of manners including open-market purchases or privately negotiated transactions); (19) public perception regarding the safety of products that we manufacture and sell, including the potential for environmental liabilities, product liability claims, litigation and other claims related to products manufactured by us and third parties; (20) the impact of existing, pending or threatened litigation, government regulations or other requirements or operating standards applicable to our business; (21) the impact of cybersecurity breaches or our actual or perceived failure to protect company and personal data, including our failure to comply with new and increasingly complex global data privacy regulations; (22) changes in accounting policies applicable to our business; (23) our ability to utilize net operating loss carry-forwards to offset tax liabilities from future taxable income; (24) the impact of expenses resulting from the implementation of new business strategies, divestitures or current and proposed restructuring activities; (25) our ability to successfully implement further acquisitions or dispositions and the impact of any such transactions on our financial performance; (26) the unanticipated loss of key members of senior management and the transition of new members of our management teams to their new roles; (27) the impact of economic, social and political conditions or civil unrest in the U.S. and other countries; (28) the effects of political or economic conditions, terrorist attacks, acts of war, natural disasters, public health concerns or other unrest in international markets; (29) our ability to achieve our goals regarding environmental, social and governance practices; (30) our increased reliance on third party partners, suppliers, and distributors to achieve our business objectives; and (31) the other risk factors set forth in the securities filings of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. and SB/RH Holdings, LLC, including the 2020 Annual Report and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Some of the above-mentioned factors are described in further detail in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in our annual and quarterly reports, as applicable. You should assume the information appearing in this document is accurate only as of the date hereof, or as otherwise specified, as our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such date. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements.

Contacts

Investor/Media Contact:
Kevin Kim 608-278-6148

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