Strong home standby shipments drive sequential sales improvement in residential products as increased sales from C&I products further diversifies business

WAUKESHA, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 31, 2014-- Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC) (the “Company”), a leading designer and manufacturer of power generation equipment and other engine powered products, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2014.

Second Quarter 2014 Highlights

• Net sales increased over the prior year by 4.6% to $362.6 million as compared to $346.7 million in the second quarter of 2013.
  • Commercial & Industrial (C&I) product sales increased 22.5% to $163.5 million as compared $133.4 million in the prior-year second quarter, primarily due to the contribution of recent acquisitions and continued strength in the oil & gas market.
  • Residential product sales were $179.6 million during the second quarter of 2014 as compared to $196.6 million in the prior year quarter. The prior year second quarter benefited from approximately $40 million in shipments due to Superstorm Sandy. Excluding this prior year benefit, residential product sales increased approximately 15% primarily as a result of strong home standby generator shipments.
• Net income during the second quarter of 2014 was $54.0 million, or $0.77 per share, as compared to $28.3 million, or $0.40 per share, for the same period of 2013.
• Adjusted net income, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $57.1 million, or $0.82 per share, as compared to $66.6 million, or $0.95 per share, in the second quarter of 2013.
• Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $84.5 million as compared to $90.1 million in the second quarter last year.
• Cash flow from operations in the second quarter of 2014 was $48.9 million as compared to $36.1 million in the prior year quarter. Free cash flow, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $40.5 million as compared to $30.3 million in the second quarter of 2013.
• For the trailing four quarters, including the second quarter of 2014, net sales were $1.444 billion; net income was $184.3 million; adjusted EBITDA was $365.7 million; cash flow from operations was $270.9 million; and free cash flow was $236.9 million.

“Our second quarter results for residential products were seasonally higher as we saw shipments increase as compared to the first quarter of 2014 due to strength in home standby generators. We remain focused on a number of key initiatives to continue to grow the market, further building on our leadership position in this product category,” said Aaron Jagdfeld, President and Chief Executive Officer. “C&I products continue to represent a growing portion of our sales as we have recently increased our exposure to new markets such as oil & gas, broadened our industrial product line, and strengthened our industrial distribution network to further diversify our business. We also continue to convert a significant amount of our earnings to free cash flow, providing us with the flexibility to drive our Powering Ahead strategic plan forward.”

Additional Second quarter 2014 Highlights

Residential product sales for the second quarter of 2014 were $179.6 million as compared to $164.0 million in the first quarter of 2014, and as compared to $196.6 million for the second quarter of 2013. Sales of residential products during the prior-year second quarter were positively impacted by approximately $40 million in incremental shipments as a result of satisfying the extended lead times that resulted from Superstorm Sandy, which did not repeat during the second quarter of 2014. Excluding this benefit in the prior year quarter, residential product revenue increased approximately 15% during the current year quarter, driven by strong shipments of home standby generators. In addition, increased revenue from power washer products contributed to this year-over-year sales growth in residential products.

C&I product sales for the second quarter of 2014 increased 22.5% to $163.5 million from $133.4 million for the comparable period in 2013. The improvement was driven primarily by contributions from recent acquisitions and strength in oil & gas end markets, along with increased sales of natural gas generators used in light commercial and retail applications. Partially offsetting this strength was a year-over-year decline in sales within Latin America driven by the combination of a difficult prior-year comparison related to certain large projects which did not repeat, as well as overall economic softness in the region.

Gross profit margin for the second quarter of 2014 was 35.3% compared to 37.8% in the prior-year second quarter. Gross margin was impacted over the prior year due to the addition of recent acquisitions along with a return to regular promotional activities consistent with a period of normal seasonality.

Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2014 declined $4.7 million, or 8.6%, as compared to the second quarter of 2013, primarily driven by a $4.9 million gain recorded in the current year quarter relating to a remeasurement of a contingent earn-out obligation from a recent acquisition. Excluding this gain, operating expenses were approximately flat relative to prior year despite the addition of SG&A costs associated with recent acquisitions.

Interest expense in the second quarter of 2014 declined to $11.4 million compared to $14.3 million in the same period last year, resulting from a reduction in interest rate from the credit agreement refinancing completed in May 2013. In conjunction with the May 2013 refinancing and other debt prepayments made in the prior year quarter, a $13.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt was recorded during the second quarter of 2013.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2014, there was a further 25 basis point reduction in borrowing costs as a result of the leverage ratio as defined in the credit agreement falling below 3.0 times, resulting in a $16.0 million non-cash gain being recorded in the current year quarter.

2014 Outlook

The Company is reaffirming its prior guidance for 2014 in terms of revenue growth, EBITDA margins and cash flows. For the full-year 2014, the Company still expects net sales to increase in the mid-single digit range as compared to the prior year. This sales outlook assumes an increased level of power outage severity in the second half of 2014 as compared to recent quarters, returning to a more normalized annual baseline level. Adjusted EBITDA margins are expected to remain in the mid-20% range as previously guided, which are consistent with the average levels seen during the past four years. Free cash flow is still expected to be approximately 90% of full year 2014 adjusted net income.

“We remain excited about the compelling penetration opportunities for our residential and light commercial standby generators as we continue to focus our efforts on several high impact initiatives to increase the adoption for these products,” continued Mr. Jagdfeld. “These initiatives are targeted at improving the awareness, availability and affordability of standby generators and are highlighted by our innovative sales and marketing processes, our efforts to increase and develop distribution, and our introduction of new products. In addition, we have several initiatives aimed at increasing our share of the C&I market by leveraging our recently expanded product offering. We also believe the overall secular trends toward natural gas generators, rental of mobile power equipment, and the penetration of certain end markets such as telecommunications and oil & gas will continue to drive additional growth. Through the execution of our Powering Ahead strategic plan, we expect to capitalize on these long-term opportunities, while also becoming a more balanced company as we further implement our diversification and international expansion strategies.”

Conference Call and Webcast

Generac management will hold a conference call at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 31, 2014 to discuss highlights of the second quarter operating results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 703-6103 (domestic) or +1 (857) 244-7302 (international) and entering passcode 50076462.

The conference call will also be webcast simultaneously on Generac's website (http://www.generac.com), under the Investor Relations link. The webcast link will be made available on the Company’s website prior to the start of the call within the Events section of the Investor Relations website.

Following the live webcast, a replay will be available on the Company's web site. A telephonic replay will also be available approximately one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 (domestic) or +1 (617) 801-6888 (international) and entering passcode 19346995. The telephonic replay will be available for 30 days.

About Generac

Since 1959, Generac has been a leading designer and manufacturer of a wide range of power generation equipment and other engine powered products. As a leader in power equipment serving residential, light commercial, industrial and construction markets, Generac's power products are available globally through a broad network of independent dealers, retailers, wholesalers and equipment rental companies, as well as sold direct to certain end user customers.

Forward-looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release, as well as other information provided from time to time by Generac Holdings Inc. or its employees, may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements give Generac's current expectations and projections relating to the Company's financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "confident," "may," "should," "can have," "likely," "future" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events.

Any such forward looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and involve risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company's control) and assumptions. Although Generac believes any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect Generac's actual financial results and cause them to differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, including:

• demand for Generac products;
• frequency and duration of power outages;
• availability, cost and quality of raw materials and key components used in producing Generac products;
• the impact on our results of possible fluctuations in interest rates;
• the possibility that the expected synergies, efficiencies and cost savings of our acquisitions will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period;
• the risk that our acquisitions will not be integrated successfully;
• difficulties Generac may encounter as its business expands globally;
• competitive factors in the industry in which Generac operates;
• Generac's dependence on its distribution network;
• Generac's ability to invest in, develop or adapt to changing technologies and manufacturing techniques;
• loss of key management and employees;
• increase in product and other liability claims; and
• changes in environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, Generac's actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in any forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of these and other factors that may affect future results is contained in Generac's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), particularly in the Risk Factors section of our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10K and in its periodic reports on Form 10Q. Stockholders, potential investors and other readers should consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement made by Generac in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Generac undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Reconciliations to GAAP Financial Metrics

Adjusted EBITDA

The computation of adjusted EBITDA is based on the definition of EBITDA contained in Generac's credit agreement, dated as of May 31, 2013, which is substantially the same definition that was contained in the Company’s previous credit agreements. To supplement the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with US GAAP, Generac provides a summary to show the computation of adjusted EBITDA, taking into account certain charges and gains that were recognized during the periods presented.

Adjusted Net Income

To further supplement Generac's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with US GAAP, the Company provides a summary to show the computation of adjusted net income. Adjusted net income is defined as net income before provision (benefit) for income taxes adjusted for the following items: cash income tax expense, amortization of intangible assets, amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount related to the Company's debt, intangible impairment charges, certain transaction costs and other purchase accounting adjustments, losses on extinguishment of debt, and certain other non-cash gains and losses.

Free Cash Flow

In addition, we reference free cash flow to further supplement Generac's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with US GAAP. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less expenditures for property and equipment and is intended to be a measure of operational cash flow taking into account additional capital expenditure investment into the business.

The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, results prepared in accordance with US GAAP. Please see our SEC filings for additional discussion of the basis for Generac's reporting of Non-GAAP financial measures.

SOURCE: Generac Holdings Inc.

Source: Generac Holdings Inc.

Generac Holdings Inc.
Michael W. Harris
Vice President – Finance and Investor Relations
(262) 544-4811 x2675
Michael.Harris@Generac.com