WD-40 Company Reports First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WD-40 Company (NASDAQ:WDFC), a global marketing organization dedicated to creating positive lasting memories by developing and selling products that solve problems in workshops, factories and homes around the world, today reported financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2019.

Financial Highlights and Summary

• Total net sales for the first quarter were $98.6 million, a decrease of 3 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter.
• Translation of the Company's foreign subsidiary results from their functional currencies to U.S. dollars had an unfavorable impact on sales for the first quarter. On a constant currency basis, total net sales for the first quarter would have been $100.8 million, relatively constant compared to the prior year fiscal quarter.
• Net income for the first quarter was $12.2 million, a decrease of 8 percent from the prior year fiscal quarter.
• Diluted earnings per share were $0.88 compared to $0.95 in the prior year fiscal quarter.
• Gross margin percentage was 54.3 percent compared to 55.1 percent in the prior year fiscal quarter.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses were down $0.1 million in the first quarter to $32.6 million compared to the prior year fiscal quarter.
• Advertising and sales promotion expenses were down 6 percent to $5.6 million compared to the prior year fiscal quarter.

"If you follow us quarter to quarter, you may not like our results this quarter," said Garry Ridge, WD-40 Company's chairman and chief executive officer. "Our business is one in which fluctuations in the performance of our markets from quarter to quarter are not unusual.  That's why we don't issue quarterly guidance and why we frequently caution investors not to follow us too closely quarter to quarter."

"We are playing the infinite game which is why it's more important for investors to understand that our long-term strategic drivers are performing in-line with our expectations, than it is for them to be concerned about the performance of a particular market or segment in a finite period." 

"Overall, we acknowledge that our first quarter does not reflect the revenue growth we would like to see in our business.  However, we expect a solid, steady year ahead as we continue to put our efforts behind the strategic initiatives we believe will help us achieve our 'probably wrong and roughly right' long-term revenue objectives," Ridge concluded. 

• Net sales by segment as a percent of total net sales for the first quarter were as follows: for the Americas, 47 percent; for EMEA, 40 percent; for Asia-Pacific, 13 percent.
• Net sales in the Americas decreased 2 percent in the first quarter primarily due to lower sales of maintenance products in the United States which decreased 2 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. This sales decrease was primarily due to lower sales of WD-40 Specialist as a result of a lower level of promotional activities from period to period. Sales of maintenance products in Canada and Latin America remained relatively constant from period to period.
• Net sales in EMEA increased 1 percent in the first quarter primarily due to strong sales of 1001 Carpet Fresh in the United Kingdom which increased 30 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. This sales increase was primarily driven by the impacts of digital marketing associated with the brand. Sales in EMEA also increased due to higher sales of WD-40 Specialist in the segment which increased 10 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on sales for the EMEA segment. On a constant currency basis, sales in EMEA would have increased by 6 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter.
• Net sales in Asia-Pacific decreased 15 percent in the first quarter due to a 21 percent decrease in sales in the Asia-Pacific distributor markets and a 23 percent decrease in sales in China. The decline in sales in both regions was attributable to the timing of customer orders from period to period. These declines were partially offset by higher sales in Australia which increased 5 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on sales for the Asia-Pacific segment. On a constant currency basis, Asia-Pacific would have decreased by 13 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter.

• Net sales of maintenance products, which are considered the primary growth focus for the Company, decreased 3 percent in the first quarter when compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. This decrease was due primarily to lower sales of WD-40 Multi-Use Product within the Asia-Pacific segment.
• Net sales of homecare and cleaning products increased 1 percent in the first quarter compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Many of the Company's homecare and cleaning products, particularly those in the U.S., are considered harvest brands providing healthy profit returns to the Company but are becoming a smaller part of the business as net sales of maintenance products grow in line with the execution of the Company's strategic initiatives.

Dividend and Share Repurchase
As previously announced, WD-40 Company's board of directors declared on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 a quarterly dividend of $0.67 per share reflecting an increase of 10 percent over the previous quarter's dividend. The quarterly dividend is payable on January 31, 2020 to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 17, 2020.

On June 19, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share buy-back plan. Under the plan, which became effective on September 1, 2018, the Company is authorized to acquire up to $75.0 million of its outstanding shares through August 31, 2020. The timing and amount of repurchases are based on terms and conditions as may be acceptable to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and in compliance with all laws and regulations applicable thereto. During the period from September 1, 2018 through November 30, 2019, the Company repurchased 202,755 shares at a total cost of $34.6 million under this $75.0 million plan.

Fiscal Year 2020 Guidance
The Company reiterates the following guidance for fiscal year 2020:

• Net sales growth is projected to be between 3 and 7 percent with net sales expected to be between $436 million and $453 million.
• Gross margin percentage for the full year is expected to be between 54 and 55 percent. 
• Advertising and promotion investments are projected to be between 5.5 and 6.0 percent of net sales.
• The provision for income tax is expected to be between 20 and 22 percent.
• Net income is projected to be between $65.0 million and $66.2 million.
• Diluted earnings per share is expected to be between $4.74 and $4.83 based on an estimated 13.7 million weighted average shares outstanding.

This guidance is expressed in good faith and is believed by the Company to have a reasonable basis; however, it is not possible to predict with any reasonable degree of certainty the actual impact that fluctuating crude oil prices or foreign currency exchange rates may have on the Company's fiscal year 2020 guidance.  This guidance does not include any future acquisitions or divestitures.

"Our guidance reflects the Company's current view of the business," said Jay Rembolt, WD-40 Company's vice president and chief financial officer.  "The revenue softness we experienced in the first quarter was primarily driven by the timing of customer orders and we expect that sales activity will shift into later quarters.  We remain comfortable with our current guidance range and are reiterating it today."

Webcast Information
As previously announced, WD-40 Company management will host a live webcast at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT today to discuss these results. Other forward-looking and material information may also be discussed during this call.  Please visit http://investor.wd40company.comfor more information and to view supporting materials. 

About WD-40 Company
WD-40 Company is a global marketing organization dedicated to creating positive lasting memories by developing and selling products that solve problems in workshops, factories and homes around the world. The Company markets its maintenance products and homecare and cleaning products under the following well-known brands: WD-40®, 3-IN-ONE®, GT85®, X-14®, 2000 Flushes®, Carpet Fresh®, no vac®, Spot Shot®, 1001®, Lava® and Solvol®.  

Headquartered in San Diego, WD-40 Company recorded net sales of $423.4 million in fiscal year 2019 and its products are currently available in more than 176 countries and territories worldwide. WD-40 Company is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select market under the ticker symbol "WDFC." For additional information about WD-40 Company please visit http://www.wd40company.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect the Company's current expectations with respect to currently available operating, financial and economic information.  These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, discussions about future financial and operating results, including:  growth expectations for maintenance products; expected levels of promotional and advertising spending; anticipated input costs for manufacturing and the costs associated with distribution of our products; plans for and success of product innovation, the impact of new product introductions on the growth of sales; anticipated results from product line extension sales; expected tax rates and the impact of tax legislation and regulatory action; and forecasted foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Our forward-looking statements are generally identified with words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "could," "may," "aim," "anticipate," "target," "estimate" and similar expressions. 

The Company's expectations, beliefs and forecasts are expressed in good faith and are believed by the Company to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the Company's expectations, beliefs or forecasts will be achieved or accomplished.

Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified in Part I―Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019, and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended November 30, 2019 which the Company expects to file with the SEC on January 9, 2020.

All forward-looking statements included in this press release should be considered in the context of these risks. All forward-looking statements speak only as of January 9, 2020, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE WD-40 Company