Franklin Electric Reports Second Quarter 2017 Sales and Earnings - Franklin Electric (NASDAQ:FELE)

FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Electric Co., Inc. FELE reported second quarter 2017 GAAP fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.64, versus a GAAP fully diluted EPS in the second quarter 2016 of $0.50, an increase of 28 percent. Second quarter 2017 sales were $305.3 million, an increase of 21 percent compared to 2016 second quarter sales of $252.1 million.

Gregg Sengstack, Franklin Electric's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"We're pleased with the overall performance of our Company in the second quarter in which we achieved solid organic sales growth in both our Water and Fueling Systems segments, led by a 10 percent Water Systems sales growth in the United States and Canada. The Distribution companies that we acquired in the quarter, reported in a new segment, started off with a strong second quarter achieving higher than expected operating income margins and exceeding our earnings expectation. Although our reported earnings per share of $0.64 were a record for any second quarter in our history, about six cents of this amount was related to a one-time gain. We are optimistic about the second half of 2017 and are raising our full year 2017 earnings per share guidance range to $1.87 to $1.97."

Key Performance Indicators:


	Net Sales
	United States			Latin			Europe, Middle			Asia			Total
(in millions)	& Canada			America			East & Africa			Pacific			Water			Fueling			Distribution	Other/Elims		Consolidated

Q2 2016	$96.0			$31.2			$43.7			$23.7			$194.6			$57.5			$0.0	$0.0		$252.1
Q2 2017	$105.4			$31.3			$45.1			$21.6			$203.4			$61.4			$59.1	($18.6	)	$305.3
Change	$9.4			$0.1			$1.4			($2.1		)	$8.8			$3.9			$59.1	($18.6	)	$53.2
% Change		10	%		0	%		3	%		-9	%		5	%		7	%					21	%

Foreign currency translation	($0.8		)	$1.3			($2.3		)	$0.0			($1.8		)	($0.7		)
% Change		-1	%		4	%		-5	%		0%			-1	%		-1	%

Volume/Price	$10.2			($1.2		)	$3.7			($2.1		)	$10.6			$4.6
% Change		11	%		-4	%		8	%		-9	%		6	%		8	%

Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)	For the Second Quarter 2017
	Water			Fueling			Distribution			Other/Elims			Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)	$	32.8		$	14.9		$	3.7		$	(17.2	)	$	34.2
% Operating Income To Net Sales		16.1	%		24.3	%		6.3	%					11.2	%


Operating Income and Margins
(in millions)	For the Second Quarter 2016
	Water			Fueling			Distribution			Other/Elims			Consolidated
Operating Income / (Loss)	$	31.5		$	15.5		$	-		$	(14.3	)	$	32.7
% Operating Income To Net Sales		16.2	%		27.0	%								13.0	%

Water Systems

Water Systems sales were $203.4 million in the second quarter 2017, an increase of $8.8 million or about 5 percent versus the second quarter 2016 sales of $194.6 million. Water Systems sales decreased by $1.8 million or about 1 percent in the quarter due to foreign currency translation. Water Systems organic sales were up about 6 percent compared to the second quarter 2016.

Water Systems sales in the U.S. and Canada were up about 10 percent compared to the prior year second quarter. Sales of dewatering equipment increased by 25 percent in the second quarter when compared to the prior year resulting from the continued diversification of customers and new channel development for Pioneer branded equipment. Sales of other surface pumping equipment increased by 8 percent in part due to wet weather conditions in the upper Midwest and Canada. Sales of groundwater pumping equipment increased about 5 percent.

Water Systems sales in markets outside the U.S. and Canada overall declined by about 1 percent, due primarily to the impact of foreign currency translation. International Water Systems sales were led by improved sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but were offset by lower sales volumes in the Latin American and Asia Pacific markets in the quarter compared to last year.

Water Systems operating income was $32.8 million in the second quarter 2017, up $1.3 million or 4 percent versus the second quarter 2016 and operating income margin was 16.1 percent compared to the 16.2 percent in the second quarter 2016.

Fueling Systems

Fueling Systems sales were $61.4 million in the second quarter 2017, an increase of $3.9 million or about 7 percent versus the second quarter 2016 sales of $57.5 million. Fueling Systems sales decreased by $0.7 million or about 1 percent in the quarter due to foreign currency translation. Fueling Systems organic sales increased about 8 percent compared to the second quarter of 2016.

Fueling Systems sales in the U.S. and Canada grew by about 4 percent during the quarter. The increase was primarily in pumping systems. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, Fueling Systems revenues grew by about 18 percent, led by stronger sales in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Fueling Systems operating income was $14.9 million in the second quarter of 2017, down $0.6 million or about 4 percent compared to $15.5 million in the second quarter of 2016 and the second quarter operating income margin was 24.3 percent, a decrease of 270 basis points from the 27.0 percent of net sales in the second quarter of 2016. The decline in operating income was primarily due to adverse product and geography sales mix shifts.

Distribution

Distribution sales were $59.1 million in the second quarter 2017. Based on the information provided for second quarter 2016 sales, management estimates second quarter Distribution sales declined by about 2 percent from the second quarter of 2016 primarily driven by adverse weather conditions in the Western portion of the United States.

Distribution operating income was $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2017 and the second quarter operating income margin was 6.3 percent.

Overall

The Company's consolidated gross profit was $102.8 million for the second quarter of 2017, an increase of $12.1 million, or about 13 percent, from the second quarter of 2016 gross profit of $90.7 million. The gross profit as a percent of net sales was 33.7 percent in the second quarter of 2017 and decreased about 230 basis points versus 36.0 percent during the second quarter 2016. The gross profit increase was primarily due to higher sales. The decline in gross profit margin percentage is primarily due to the lower gross profit margin of the Distribution segment. Excluding the Distribution segment, gross profit margin was 34.5 percent.

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $68.3 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared to $58.0 million in the second quarter of the prior year, an increase of $10.3 million or about 18 percent. The increase in SG&A expenses from acquired businesses were $13.0 million. Excluding the acquired entities, the Company's SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2017 decreased by $2.7 million or about 5 percent.

The Company's second quarter 2017 earnings include a gain on the previously held equity investments in the three Distribution entities as indicated in the announcement made on April 10, 2017 regarding the acquisition of the controlling interests of these entities. This gain, included in "Other Income" in the Company's Income Statement, represents about $4.8 million of pre-tax earnings or $0.06 of earnings per share.

The Company ended the second quarter of 2017 with a cash balance of about $55 million versus about $104 million at the end of 2016, down primarily due to acquisitions and increased working capital needs. Inventory levels at the end of the second quarter 2017 were $297 million versus year end 2016 of $203 million. About $60 million of the inventory increase is due to the Distribution segment acquisitions.

Commenting on the outlook, Mr. Sengstack said:

"As we look forward to the back half of 2017, we are encouraged by the start we've had in our new Distribution segment and the strength of our Water Systems businesses in North America. However, we remain mindful of continued weakness in many of the international Water Systems end markets that we serve. We expect our Fueling Systems segment to have a strong top and bottom line in the second half. As a result of this outlook for the rest of the year, and the six-cent gain that was taken on the Distribution segment minority investments in the second quarter, we are increasing our full year 2017 earnings per share guidance from a range of $1.77 to $1.87 to a range of $1.87 to $1.97."

A conference call to review earnings and other developments in the business will commence at 9:00 am EDT. The second quarter 2017 earnings call will be available via a live webcast. The webcast will be available in a listen only mode by going to:

http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/wpkekoqj

If you intend to ask questions during the call, please dial in using 877.643.7158 for domestic calls and 914.495.8565 for international calls. The conference ID is: 50852283.

A replay of the conference call will be available Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 12:00 noon EDT through noon EDT on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, by dialing 855.859.2056 for domestic calls and 404.537.3406 for international calls. The replay passcode is: 50852283.

Franklin Electric is a global leader in the production and marketing of systems and components for the movement of water and fuel. Recognized as a technical leader in its products and services, Franklin Electric serves customers around the world in residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, municipal, and fueling applications.

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

	Second Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,			July 2,			June 30,			July 2,
		2017			2016			2017			2016

Net sales	$	305,349		$	252,081		$	525,601		$	470,511

Cost of sales		202,596			161,403			347,032			305,597

Gross profit		102,753			90,678			178,569			164,914

Selling, general, and administrative expenses		68,298			57,954			125,289			110,299

Restructuring expense		251			45			566			865

Operating income		34,204			32,679			52,714			53,750

Interest expense		(2,244	)		(2,221	)		(5,758	)		(4,648	)
Other income, net		5,573			1,373			6,240			1,341
Foreign exchange income/(expense)		(372	)		315			103			238

Income before income taxes		37,161			32,146			53,299			50,681

Income tax expense		6,917			7,959			7,121			12,914

Net income	$	30,244		$	24,187		$	46,178		$	37,767

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(335	)		(205	)		(539	)		(328	)

Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$	29,909		$	23,982		$	45,639		$	37,439

Income per share:
Basic	$	0.64		$	0.51		$	0.97		$	0.79
Diluted	$	0.64		$	0.50		$	0.97		$	0.78

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	June 30,		December 31,
		2017		2016
ASSETS

Cash and equivalents	$	55,095	$	104,331
Receivables		190,650		145,999
Inventories		296,687		203,471
Other current assets		37,194		30,018
Total current assets		579,626		483,819

Property, plant, and equipment, net		214,652		196,137
Goodwill and other assets		385,832		359,949
Total assets	$	1,180,110	$	1,039,905


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Accounts payable	$	73,266	$	63,927
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		60,870		60,119
Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings		145,381		33,715
Total current liabilities		279,517		157,761

Long-term debt		126,030		156,544
Deferred income taxes		40,842		40,460
Employee benefit plans		42,705		45,307
Other long-term liabilities		17,635		17,093

Redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,948		7,652

Total equity		671,433		615,088
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,180,110	$	1,039,905

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
	Six Months Ended
(In thousands)
	June 30,			July 2,
		2017			2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	46,178		$	37,767
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		18,412			17,633
Share-based compensation		4,546			4,155
Gain on equity investment		(4,788	)		-
Other		(3,286	)		4,404
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(9,289	)		(31,221	)
Inventory		(31,792	)		(10,982	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(24,712	)		3,091
Other		(7,774	)		4,464

Net cash flows from operating activities		(12,505	)		29,311

Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, and equipment		(18,621	)		(19,490	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment		109			2,166
Acquisitions and investments		(52,255	)		-
Other investing activities		153			178

Net cash flows from investing activities		(70,614	)		(17,146	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Change in debt		47,196			(7,851	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		2,047			610
Purchases of common stock		(2,374	)		(4,736	)
Dividends paid		(10,199	)		(9,821	)
Purchase of redeemable non-controlling shares		(5,047	)		-
Net cash flows from financing activities		31,623			(21,798	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		2,260			(346	)
Net change in cash and equivalents		(49,236	)		(9,979	)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period		104,331			81,561
Cash and equivalents at end of period	$	55,095		$	71,582

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company's financial results, costs, expenses or expense reductions, profit margins, inventory levels, foreign currency translation rates, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company's business and industry, weather conditions, new housing starts, market demand, competitive factors, changes in distribution channels, supply constraints, effect of price increases, raw material costs, technology factors, integration of acquisitions, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company's accounting policies, future trends, and other risks which are detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, included in Item 1A of Part I of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, Exhibit 99.1 attached thereto and in Item 1A of Part II of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contact:	
John J. Haines
Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
260-824-2900

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