Applied Industrial Technologies Reports Fiscal 2017 Third Quarter Results and Declares Dividend


  • EPS of $0.75 on 7.3% Sales Gain    
  • Raises Full-Year Guidance

CLEVELAND, April 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) today reported sales and earnings for the third quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2017.

Net sales for the quarter were $679.3 million, an increase of 7.3% compared with $633.2 million in the same quarter a year ago. The overall sales increase for the quarter reflects a 0.4% increase from acquisition-related volume and favorable foreign currency translation of 0.1%. Excluding these factors, organic growth was up 6.8%, which includes a 0.8% benefit from a higher number of selling days in the quarter. Net income for the quarter was $29.5 million, or $0.75 per share, compared with a net loss of $44.7 million, or $1.14 per share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2017, sales increased 1.4% to $1.91 billion from $1.88 billion in the same period last year. Net income increased to $80.9 million from $3.5 million, and earnings per share increased to $2.06 per share from $0.09 per share, last year. Prior year results for both the quarter and year to date include a non-cash charge of $1.62 per share for goodwill impairment and a charge of $0.13 per share for restructuring activities.

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Applied’s President & Chief Executive Officer Neil A. Schrimsher said, “Our results reflect a solid third quarter with continued sales per day improvements across our core operations and ongoing operational excellence activities throughout the business. We are well-positioned to build on this momentum and deliver a strong finish to our fiscal 2017.”

Outlook

“Entering the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, we are increasing our sales and earnings per share guidance,” he added. “We expect fourth quarter sales to increase 6.0% to 8.0% over the prior year quarter and earnings per share for our final quarter to be in the range of $0.68 to $0.78 per share. This results in full-year EPS guidance of $2.74 to $2.84 per share, higher than our previous guidance range of $2.50 to $2.60 per share. We remain focused on serving new and existing customers, expanding our capabilities and generating value for all Applied stakeholders.”

Dividend

Mr. Schrimsher announced that the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.29 per common share, payable on May 31, 2017, to shareholders of record on May 15, 2017.

Share Repurchases

During the quarter, the Company purchased 45,000 shares of its common stock in open market transactions for $2.8 million. Fiscal year to date, the Company has purchased 162,500 shares for a total of $8.2 million. At March 31, 2017, the Company had remaining authorization to purchase 1,450,000 additional shares.

Conference Call Information

Applied will host its quarterly conference call for investors and analysts at 10 a.m. ET on April 27, 2017. Neil A. Schrimsher – President & CEO, and Mark O. Eisele – CFO will discuss the Company's performance. To join the call, dial 1-800-931-6429 or 1-212-231-2931 (for International callers). A live audio webcast can be accessed online through the investor relations portion of the Company's website at www.applied.com. A replay of the call will be available for two weeks by dialing 1-800-633-8284 or 1-402-977-9140 (International) using passcode 21849778.

About Applied Industrial Technologies

Founded in 1923, Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading industrial distributor serving MRO and OEM customers in virtually every industry. In addition, Applied provides engineering, design and systems integration for industrial and fluid power applications, as well as customized mechanical, fabricated rubber and fluid power shop services. Applied also offers maintenance training and inventory management solutions that provide added value to its customers. For more information, visit www.applied.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. Applied intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are often identified by qualifiers such as “guidance,” “expect,” “will” and derivative or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors including trends in the industrial sector of the economy, and other risk factors identified in Applied's most recent periodic report and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by Applied or any other person that the results expressed therein will be achieved. Applied assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, or events, or otherwise. 

     
  APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
    
 Three Months Ended 
March 31,
Nine Months Ended 
March 31,
  2017  2016  2017  2016
Net Sales$  679,304 $  633,172 $  1,912,275 $  1,885,422
Cost of sales   488,502    458,379    1,370,687    1,356,450
Gross Profit   190,802    174,793    541,588    528,972
Selling, distribution and administrative,    
  including depreciation   145,335    143,031    415,247    417,822
Goodwill impairment   -     64,794    -     64,794
Operating Income (Loss)   45,467    (33,032)   126,341    46,356
Interest expense, net   2,165    2,359    6,411    6,704
Other (income) expense, net   (47)   65    (656)   1,124
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes   43,349    (35,456)   120,586    38,528
Income Tax Expense   13,855    9,272    39,636    35,018
Net Income (Loss)$  29,494 $  (44,728)$  80,950 $  3,510
Net Income (Loss) Per Share - Basic$  0.76 $  (1.14)$  2.08 $  0.09
Net Income (Loss) Per Share - Diluted$  0.75 $  (1.14)$  2.06 $  0.09
Average Shares Outstanding - Basic   38,999    39,107    39,009    39,328
Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted       39,462    39,107    39,384    39,548
    

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1)  Applied uses the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of valuing U.S. inventory.  An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can only be made at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time.  Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management's estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs and are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory determination.

(2) During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, we early adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. As part of this adoption, the condensed statement of consolidated cash flows for the nine months ended March 31, 2016 has been restated resulting in an increase in net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used in financing activities of $0.9 million.

(3) During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, simplifying the presentation of debt issue costs. The retrospective adoption of this standard resulted in the reclassification as of June 30, 2016 of unamortized debt issue costs of $0.1 million from other current assets to a reduction of current portion of long-term debt and $0.4 million from other assets to a reduction of long-term debt on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets.

        
APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(Amounts in thousands) 
        
        
    March 31, 
2017
 June 30, 
2016
 
      
        
Assets  
  Cash and cash equivalents $  67,313 $  59,861 
  Accounts receivable, less allowances of $10,470 and $11,034       390,874    347,857 
  Inventories    344,743    338,221 
  Other current assets     33,181    35,582 
       Total current assets    836,111    781,521 
  Property, net    106,773    107,765 
  Goodwill     205,341    202,700 
  Intangibles, net    168,404    191,240 
  Deferred tax assets    12,652    12,277 
  Other assets     17,410    16,522 
Total Assets  $  1,346,691 $  1,312,025 
     
Liabilities     
  Accounts payable $  150,255 $  148,543 
  Current portion of long-term debt    4,012    3,247 
  Other accrued liabilities    116,298    122,493 
       Total current liabilities    270,565    274,283 
  Long-term debt     317,382    324,583 
  Other liabilities     52,874    55,243 
Total Liabilities     640,821    654,109 
Shareholders' Equity    705,870    657,916 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity$  1,346,691 $  1,312,025 
   


      
APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS 
 (In thousands) 
      
 
 Nine Months Ended 
March 31,
 
  
   2017   2016  
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities 
Net income $  80,950  $  3,510  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided 
  by operating activities: 
  Goodwill impairment    -      64,794  
  Depreciation and amortization of property    11,364     12,041  
  Amortization of intangibles    18,387     19,065  
  Amortization of stock appreciation rights and options    1,533     1,241  
  (Gain) loss on sale of property    (1,540)    275  
  Other share-based compensation expense    2,836     2,073  
  Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions    (36,375)    (15,294) 
  Other, net    1,351     3,591  
Net Cash provided by Operating Activities    78,506     91,296  
Cash Flows from Investing Activities 
  Property purchases    (11,787)    (9,441) 
  Proceeds from property sales    2,724     372  
  Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired    (2,778)    (56,142) 
Net Cash used in Investing Activities  (11,841)  (65,211) 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities 
  Net (repayments) borrowings under revolving credit facility      (4,000)  23,000  
  Long-term debt borrowings    -    125,000  
  Long-term debt repayments  (2,514)  (97,826) 
  Purchases of treasury shares  (8,242)  (37,464) 
  Dividends paid  (33,236)  (32,342) 
  Acquisition holdback payments    (7,694)    (10,658) 
  Taxes paid for shares withheld for equity awards    (3,373)    (937) 
  Exercise of stock appreciation rights and options    306     413  
  Other, net    -      778  
Net Cash used in Financing Activities  (58,753)  (30,036) 
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash  (460)  (2,587) 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents    7,452     (6,538) 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period    59,861     69,470  
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $  67,313  $  62,932  
          



            

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