LEGGETT & PLATT REPORTS RECORD 2Q SALES

CARTHAGE, Mo., Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

• 2Q sales¹ were a quarterly record $1.33 billion, a 5% increase vs 2Q21
• 2Q EBIT of $143 million, down $29 million vs 2Q21 and down $1 million vs 2Q21 adjusted² EBIT
• 2Q EPS of $.70, a decrease of $.12 vs 2Q21 and an increase of $.04 vs 2Q21 adjusted² EPS
• 2022 guidance lowered: sales of $5.2–$5.4 billion; EPS of $2.65–$2.80

Diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt reported record quarterly sales¹ in second quarter of $1.33 billion, a 5% increase versus second quarter last year.

• Organic sales³ were up 5%
• Volume was down 6%, primarily from demand softness in residential end markets, partially offset by growth in industrial end markets and Automotive
• Raw material-related selling price increases added 13% to sales
• Currency impact decreased sales 2%
• Acquisitions and divestitures offset

Second quarter EBIT was $143 million, down $29 million from second quarter 2021, and down $1 million from second quarter adjusted² EBIT.

• EBIT decreased primarily from the non-recurrence of last year's $28 million gain on the sale of real estate associated with our exited Fashion Bed business
• EBIT decreased versus prior year's adjusted² EBIT primarily from volume declines and lower overhead absorption as production and inventory levels were adjusted to meet reduced demand mostly in Bedding. These decreases were largely offset by metal margin expansion and pricing discipline in the Furniture, Flooring & Textile Products segment.
• EBIT margin was 10.7%, down from 13.5% in the second quarter of 2021 and down from an adjusted² second quarter 2021 EBIT margin of 11.3%

Second quarter EPS was $.70. EPS decreased $.12 versus second quarter 2021 primarily from the non-recurrence of last year's real estate gain ($.16/share) partially offset by lower tax rate ($.04/share).  EPS increased $.04 versus adjusted² second quarter 2021 primarily from lower tax rate.

CEO COMMENTS

President and CEO Mitch Dolloff commented, "We delivered quarterly record sales¹, solid earnings, and strong cash from operations. These results are attributable to the excellent work of our employees as they continue to effectively navigate a dynamic operating environment and reflects the value of the diversity of our portfolio.     

"We are lowering our full-year guidance to reflect macroeconomic uncertainties including impacts of inflation, tightening monetary policy, and softening consumer demand continuing through the back half of the year. We expect solid demand in our industrial and automotive end markets to partially offset softer consumer markets.

"The strength of our balance sheet supports our capital allocation discipline. We continue to invest in our businesses to capture near- and long-term growth opportunities, both organically and through strategic, bolt-on acquisitions. During the second quarter, we increased our dividend and marked 51 consecutive years of annual dividend increases. We also repurchased $35 million of our stock in the quarter. As we move through the remainder of the year, we will continue to evaluate our capital deployment options while monitoring the current macroeconomic uncertainties."

DEBT, CASH FLOW, AND LIQUIDITY

• Net Debt2 was 2.39x trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA²
• Operating cash flow was $90 million in the second quarter, an increase of $49 million versus second quarter 2021. Working capital increased significantly last year due to restocking efforts following inventory depletion in 2020 but increased to a lesser extent this year as we continue to return to levels of inventory more reflective of current demand.
• Capital expenditures were $22 million
• Total liquidity was $1.3 billion

DIVIDEND

• In May, Leggett & Platt's Board of Directors declared a $.44 per share second quarter dividend, two cents higher than last year's second quarter dividend
• At an annual indicated dividend of $1.76 per share, the yield is 4.4% based upon Friday's closing stock price of $39.64 per share

STOCK REPURCHASES

• Repurchased 1.0 million shares at an average price of $35.01
• Issued .1 million shares through employee benefit plans
• Shares outstanding at the end of the second quarter were 132.6 million

2022 GUIDANCE

• Full year 2022 sales and EPS guidance lowered
• Sales are expected to be $5.2–$5.4 billion, +2% to +6% versus 2021
• Volume is expected to be down low-to-mid single digits:
• Down low double digits in Bedding Products Segment
• Up low double digits in Specialized Products Segment
• Roughly flat in Furniture, Flooring & Textile Products Segment
• Raw material-related price increases, net of currency impact, expected to add sales growth
• Small acquisitions completed in 2021 are expected to mostly offset divestitures
• EPS is expected to be $2.65–$2.80
• Based on this framework, EBIT margin should be 10.5% to 10.7%
• Additional expectations:
• Depreciation and amortization $200 million
• Net interest expense $80 million
• Effective tax rate 23%
• Operating cash flow $550–600 million
• Capital expenditures $130 million
• Dividends $230 million
• Fully diluted shares 137 million
• Prior Guidance:
• Sales: $5.3–$5.6 billion
• EPS: $2.70–$3.00
• Operating cash flow approximately $600 million
• Capital expenditures $150 million

SEGMENT RESULTS – Second Quarter 2022 (versus 2Q 2021)

Bedding Products –

• Trade sales increased 1%
• Volume decreased 15%, primarily from demand softness in U.S. and European bedding markets partially offset by strong trade demand in our Steel Rod and Drawn Wire businesses
• Raw material-related selling price increases added 16%
• Currency impact decreased sales 1%
• Acquisitions, net of divestitures, added 1% to sales growth
• The Kayfoam acquisition completed in June 2021 contributed 2% to sales
• Divestitures of small operations in Drawn Wire and International Bedding decreased sales by 1%
• EBIT decreased $31 million, primarily from the non-recurrence of last year's $28 million gain on the sale of real estate associated with our exited Fashion Bed business. Additionally, lower volume and lower overhead absorption as production and inventory levels were adjusted to meet reduced demand were partially offset by higher metal margin.

Specialized Products –

• Trade sales increased 8%
• Volume was up 11%, driven by sales growth in Automotive, Aerospace, and Hydraulic Cylinders
• Raw material-related price increases added 3%
• Currency impact decreased sales 6%
• EBIT decreased $6 million, primarily from higher raw material and transportation costs, labor inefficiencies, and currency impact, partially offset by higher volume

Furniture, Flooring & Textile Products –

• Trade sales increased 10%
• Volume was down 2% with declines in Home Furniture, Textiles, and Flooring partially offset by growth in Work Furniture
• Raw material-related selling price increases added 13%
• Currency impact decreased sales 1%
• EBIT increased $7 million, primarily from pricing discipline partially offset by lower volume

SLIDES AND CONFERENCE CALL

A set of slides containing summary financial information is available from the Investor Relations section of Leggett's website at www.leggett.com. Management will host a conference call at 7:30 a.m. Central (8:30 a.m. Eastern) on Tuesday, August 2. The webcast can be accessed from Leggett's website. The dial-in number is (201) 689-8341; there is no passcode. 

Third quarter results will be released after the market closes on Monday, October 31, 2022, with a conference call the next morning.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit Leggett's website at www.leggett.com.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION: Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG) is a diversified manufacturer that designs and produces a broad variety of engineered components and products that can be found in most homes and automobiles. The 139-year-old Company is comprised of 15 business units, approximately 20,000 employees, and 130 manufacturing facilities located in 17 countries. 

Leggett & Platt is the leading U.S.-based manufacturer of: a) bedding components; b) automotive seat support and lumbar systems; c) specialty bedding foams and private label finished mattresses; d) components for home furniture and work furniture; e) flooring underlayment; f) adjustable beds; and g) bedding industry machinery.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including, but not limited to, volume growth; acquisition and divestiture activity; the amount of sales, EPS, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, fully diluted shares, operating cash flow; our EBIT margin, effective tax rate, amount of dividends, raw material-related price increases, consumer demand, volume in each of the Company's segments, and demand in industrial and automotive end markets. Such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements described in this provision and reflect only the beliefs of Leggett or its management at the time the statement is made. Because all forward-looking statements deal with the future, they are subject to risks, uncertainties and developments which might cause actual events or results to differ materially from those envisioned or reflected in any forward-looking statement. Moreover, we do not have, and do not undertake, any duty to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement was made. Some of these risks and uncertainties include: the adverse impact on our sales, earnings, liquidity, cash flow, costs, and financial condition caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which has had, and depending on the length and severity of the pandemic and the percentage of the population vaccinated and effectiveness of any vaccines, could, in varying degrees, negatively impact (a) the demand for our products and our customers' products, growth rates in the industries in which we participate, and opportunities in those industries, (b) our manufacturing facilities' ability to remain open and fully operational, obtain necessary raw materials and parts, maintain appropriate labor levels and ship finished products to customers, (c) impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, (d) restructuring-related costs, and (e) our ability to access the commercial paper market or borrow under our revolving credit facility, including compliance with restrictive covenants that may limit our operational flexibility and our ability to timely pay our debt; adverse impact from Russia's invasion of Ukraine; adverse impact from supply chain disruptions; our ability to deleverage; our ability to manage working capital; increases or decreases in our capital needs, which may vary depending on acquisition or divestiture activity, our working capital needs and capital expenditures; market conditions; price and product competition from foreign and domestic competitors; cost and availability of raw materials (including semiconductors and chemicals) due to supply chain disruptions or otherwise, labor, and energy costs; inflationary impacts; cash generation sufficient to pay the dividend; cash repatriation from foreign accounts; our ability to pass along raw material cost increases through increased selling prices; changing tax rates; increased trade costs; cybersecurity breaches; customer losses and insolvencies; disruption to our steel rod mill; foreign currency fluctuation; the imposition or continuation of anti-dumping duties on innersprings, steel wire rod and mattresses; data privacy; climate change compliance costs and market, technological and reputational impacts, and ESG obligations; litigation risks; and risk factors in the "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" sections in Leggett's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports filed with the SEC.

CONTACT:   Investor Relations, (417) 358-8131 or [email protected]
Susan R. McCoy, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
Cassie J. Branscum, Senior Director, Investor Relations

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¹ Sales from continuing operations
² Please refer to attached tables for Non-GAAP Reconciliations
³ Trade sales excluding acquisitions/divestitures in the last 12 months

SOURCE Leggett & Platt