WAUKESHA, Wis., Aug. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GNRC) (“Generac” or the “Company”), a leading global designer and manufacturer of power generation equipment and other engine powered products, today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2017.    

Second Quarter 2017 Highlights    

• Net sales increased 7.6% to $395.4 million during the second quarter of 2017 as compared to $367.4 million in the prior-year second quarter, including $9.5 million of contribution from the Motortech acquisition.
  
  
• Net income attributable to the Company during the second quarter of 2017 was $25.7 million, or $0.41 per share, as compared to $20.9 million, or $0.31 per share, for the same period of 2016.  The prior-year net income includes $3.4 million of pre-tax expense relating to the purchase accounting adjustment for the step-up in value of inventories relating to the Pramac acquisition. 
  
  
• Adjusted net income attributable to the Company, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $43.3 million, or $0.69 per share, as compared to $42.7 million, or $0.64 per share, in the second quarter of 2016.
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Company, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $68.7 million as compared to $62.3 million in the second quarter last year.   
  
  
• Cash flow from operations was $60.2 million as compared to $59.1 million in the prior year quarter.  Free cash flow, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $53.7 million as compared to $52.2 million in the second quarter of 2016.
  
  
• The Company repurchased 845,000 shares of its common stock during the second quarter for $30.0 million under its current share repurchase program.
  
  
• On May 11, 2017, the Company amended its Term Loan credit facility which, among other items, modified the pricing by favorably reducing the applicable margin rate to a fixed rate of 2.25%, resulting in a 50 basis point reduction in the overall interest rate from the level previously in effect, or approximately $4.5 million of annualized interest savings.

“We are pleased with our second quarter results with strong organic sales growth compared to the prior year leading to an improvement in overall operating earnings and cash flow,” said Aaron Jagdfeld, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Shipments of home standby generators in particular were very strong in the quarter as higher power outage activity and targeted marketing in the first half drove increased activations as every region in the US experienced solid double digit growth year over year.  Demand for our mobile products domestically also continued to be much stronger as compared to the prior-year, as our rental equipment customers further replaced and upgraded their fleets during the quarter.”   

Additional Second Quarter 2017 Consolidated Highlights

Residential product sales increased 9.0% to $198.1 million as compared to $181.7 million in the prior year.  Commercial & Industrial (C&I) product sales improved 8.9% to $170.8 million as compared to $156.7 million in the prior year.

Gross profit margin was 34.0% compared to 33.8% in the prior-year second quarter.  The prior year included $3.4 million of expense relating to the purchase accounting adjustment for the step-up in value of inventories relating to the Pramac acquisition.  Excluding the impact of these expenses, gross margin in the prior year was 34.7%.  The pro-forma decline in gross margin as compared to the prior year was due to a number of factors including higher commodity prices seen in prior quarters and, to a lesser extent, certain plant consolidation costs. 

Operating expenses increased $2.1 million, or 2.6%, as compared to the second quarter of 2016.  The increase was primarily driven by the addition of recurring operating expenses associated with the Motortech acquisition.

Cash flow from operations was $60.2 million as compared to $59.1 million in the prior year, and free cash flow was $53.7 million as compared to $52.2 million in the same period last year.  The increases in cash flow were primarily driven by higher operating earnings in the current-year quarter, partially offset by a smaller benefit from working capital reduction during the current year. 

Business Segment Results

Domestic Segment

Domestic segment sales increased 6.7% to $305.9 million as compared to $286.7 million in the prior-year quarter.  The current-year second quarter experienced strong growth in shipments of home standby generators and mobile products.  This strength was partially offset by a decline in residential portable sales due to excess levels of field inventory during the current-year quarter along with new product placement with certain retail customers in the prior-year quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $64.2 million, or 21.0% of net sales, as compared to $57.4 million in the prior year, or 20.0% of net sales.  Adjusted EBITDA margin in the current year was positively impacted by improved overall leverage of fixed operating expenses on the organic increase in sales, partially offset by unfavorable impact from higher commodity prices seen in prior quarters.

International Segment

International segment sales, primarily consisting of C&I products, increased 10.9% to $89.5 million as compared to $80.7 million in the prior-year quarter.  The increase was primarily due to the contribution from the recent acquisition of Motortech, which closed on January 1, 2017. 

Adjusted EBITDA for the segment, before deducting for non-controlling interests, was $6.0 million, or 6.7% of net sales, as compared to $6.6 million, or 8.2% of net sales, in the prior year.  The decline in adjusted EBITDA margin as compared to the prior year was primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency impacts and sales mix, along with higher commodity prices and increased overall operating expenses including the expansion of branch operations.  These impacts were partially offset by the addition of the Motortech acquisition. 

2017 Outlook Update

The Company is increasing its prior guidance for revenue growth for full-year 2017, which is primarily due to an improved outlook for domestic mobile products, as well as higher international segment sales from a stronger Euro relative to the U.S. dollar.  Full year net sales are now expected to increase between 6 to 8% as compared to the prior year, with core organic growth of between 2 to 3%.  As a result of an unfavorable shift in sales mix and foreign currency impacts, the Company is revising its prior guidance for net income and adjusted EBITDA margins for the full year 2017.  Net income margins, before deducting for non-controlling interests, are now expected to be between 7.0 to 7.5%, while adjusted EBITDA margins, also before deducting for non-controlling interests, are now expected to be approximately 18.5% for the full year 2017.

The top-line guidance assumes no material changes in the current macroeconomic environment and also assumes a power outage severity level for the remainder of the year similar to that experienced during 2016 excluding the impact of Hurricane Matthew.  Operating and free cash flow generation is expected to seasonally increase during the second half, with the conversion of adjusted net income expected to be over 90% for the full year.  

Conference Call and Webcast

Generac management will hold a conference call at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 to discuss highlights of the second quarter of 2017 operating results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (866) 415-3113 (domestic) or +1 (678) 509-7544 (international) and entering passcode 56163658.

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 website. A telephonic replay will also be available approximately two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or +1 (404) 537-3406 (international) and entering passcode 56163658. The telephonic replay will be available for 7 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, and industrial markets, Generac's power products are available globally through a broad network of independent dealers, distributors, 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," “optimistic” 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:

• frequency and duration of power outages impacting demand for Generac products;
• 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 and foreign currency exchange 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 or recalls; 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 the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q. 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 attributable to the Company is based on the definition of EBITDA contained in Generac's credit agreement dated as of May 31, 2013, as amended.  To supplement the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, Generac provides a summary to show the computation of adjusted EBITDA, which excludes the impact of non-controlling interests, 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 U.S. GAAP, the Company provides a summary to show the computation of adjusted net income attributable to the Company. Adjusted net income attributable to the Company is defined as net income before non-controlling interests and provision 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, business optimization expenses, certain other non-cash gains and losses, and adjusted net income attributable to non-controlling interests.

Free Cash Flow

In addition, we reference free cash flow to further supplement Generac's condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. 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 U.S. GAAP.  Please see our SEC filings for additional discussion of the basis for Generac's reporting of Non-GAAP financial measures, which includes why the Company believes these measures provide useful information to investors and the additional purposes for which management uses the non-GAAP financial information.

CONTACT:
Michael W. Harris
Vice President – Finance  
(262) 544-4811 x2675
Michael.Harris@Generac.com