Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2020 Results

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced third quarter results for 2020.  Provided below are the highlights:

• Reported sales increased 7% compared with the prior year.  In local currency, sales increased 6% in the quarter as currency benefited reported sales growth by 1%. 
• Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $6.68, compared with $5.20 in the prior-year period.  Adjusted EPS was $7.02, an increase of 22% over the prior-year amount of $5.77.  Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to EPS is included on the last page of the attached schedules. 

Quarterly Results

Olivier Filliol, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Outstanding growth in China and strong growth in our Laboratory business resulted in excellent performance in the quarter despite negative impacts on our business from COVID-19. Our strong product portfolio combined with innovative sales and marketing strategies are yielding very good results despite the overall challenging environment. With the benefit of our temporary cost initiatives as well as ongoing margin and productivity initiatives, we had a strong increase in Adjusted Operating Profit margins and excellent growth in Adjusted EPS. Finally, cash flow generation was also very robust."

GAAP Results

EPS in the quarter was $6.68, compared with the prior-year amount of $5.20.  

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales increased 7% to $807.4 million.  By region, reported sales increased 2% in the Americas, 9% in Europe and 11% in Asia/Rest of World. Earnings before taxes amounted to $205.8 million, compared with $169.4 million in the prior year. 

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $7.02, an increase of 22% over the prior-year amount of $5.77.     

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency increased 6% as currency benefited sales growth by 1%.  By region, local currency sales increased 3% in the Americas, 4% in Europe and 10% in Asia/Rest of World.  Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $230.0 million, a 17% increase from the prior-year amount of $196.2 million. 

Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Profit are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.

Year-to-Date Results

GAAP Results

EPS was $15.92, compared with the prior-year amount of $14.67. 

Compared with the prior year, total reported sales decreased 1% to $2.147 billion.  By region, reported sales decreased 1% in the Americas and 1% in Europe and was constant in Asia/Rest of World.  Earnings before taxes amounted to $479.6 million, compared with $450.3 million in the prior year. 

Non-GAAP Results

Adjusted EPS was $16.30, compared with the prior-year amount of $15.02.     

Compared with the prior year, total sales in local currency was constant as currency reduced reported sales by 1%.  By region, local currency sales decreased 1% in the Americas and 2% in Europe and increased 1% in Asia/Rest of World.  Adjusted Operating Profit amounted to $547.9 million, a 5% increase from the prior-year amount of $521.8 million. 

Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Operating Profit are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the attached schedules.

Share Repurchase Authorization 

The Company has $0.9 billion remaining under the current authorization for the share repurchase program. The Company announced that the Board of Directors authorized an additional $2.5 billion to the share repurchase program.  Any amount remaining under the existing program will be incorporated into the new authorization.  Filliol commented, "The additional authorization allows us to continue the share repurchase program, which has provided strong returns for our shareholders over many years.  We are confident in our future growth prospects, and our balance sheet and cash flow generation remain very strong."  The Company expects the additional authorization will be utilized over the next several years.  The Company added that the repurchases will be made through open market transactions, and the amount and timing will depend on business and market conditions, stock price, trading restrictions, the level of acquisition activity and other factors. 

Outlook

The Company stated that forecasting continues to be challenging given the significant uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and ensuing impact to the global economic environment. While the Company is providing an estimate for sales growth and Adjusted EPS for 2020 and 2021, management cautions that market dynamics and impacts related to COVID-19 are fluid and changes to the business environment can happen quickly. The estimates include significant uncertainty and management acknowledges that market conditions are subject to change. 

Based on today's assessment of market conditions, management anticipates the local currency sales growth in the fourth quarter 2020 will be in the range of 4% to 5%, and Adjusted EPS is forecasted to be in the range of $8.60 to $8.70, an increase of 11% to 12%.

For the full year 2020, local currency sales growth is expected to be approximately 1% and Adjusted EPS is forecasted to be $24.87 to $24.97, a growth rate of 9% to 10%.  This compares with previous guidance for Adjusted EPS of $22.70 to $23.20.

The Company said that based on its assessment of market conditions today, management anticipates local currency sales growth in 2021 to be in the range of 4% to 6%. This sales growth is expected to result in Adjusted EPS in the range of $27.50 to $28.30.  Using the mid-point of 2020 guidance, this would result in Adjusted EPS growth of 10% to 14%.

While the Company has provided an outlook for local currency sales growth and Adjusted EPS, it has not provided an outlook for reported sales growth or EPS as it would require an estimate of currency exchange fluctuations and non-recurring items, which are not yet known. 

Conclusion

Filliol concluded, "The regional dynamics surrounding COVID-19 continue to change rapidly and the outlook for the global economy remains uncertain. We remain focused on factors we can control, namely ensuring the safety of our employees while serving our customers, the majority of which are in essential end markets including life sciences and food manufacturing. We continue to launch leading-edge instruments and services and have adapted our innovative digital sales and marketing approaches to ensure our go-to-market approach is highly effective given current market conditions. As we look to the remainder of 2020 and to 2021, we believe we will continue to gain share and deliver solid results. We will remain agile and adapt as necessary to changes in market conditions."

Other Matters

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results today (Thursday, Nov 5) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  To hear a live webcast or replay of the call, visit the investor relations page on the Company's website at www.mt.com/investors.  The presentation referenced in the conference call will be located on the website prior to the call.

METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. We have strong leadership positions in all of our businesses and believe we hold global number-one market positions in most of them. We are recognized as an innovation leader and our solutions are critical in key R&D, quality control and manufacturing processes for customers in a wide range of industries including life sciences, food and chemicals. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. With proven growth strategies and a focus on execution, we have achieved a long-term track record of strong financial performance. For more information, please visit www.mt.com.

Statements in this press release which are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You should not rely on forward-looking statements to predict our actual results. Our actual results or performance may be materially different than reflected in forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties, including statements about expected revenue growth and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue." We make forward-looking statements about future events or our future financial performance, including earnings and sales growth, earnings per share, strategic plans and contingency plans, growth opportunities or economic downturns, our ability to respond to changes in market conditions, customer demand, our competitive position, pricing, our supply chain, adequacy of our facilities, access to and the costs of raw materials, shipping and supplier costs, gross margins, planned research and development efforts and product introductions, capital expenditures, cash flow, tax-related matters, the impact of foreign currencies, compliance with laws, effects of acquisitions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our businesses. Our forward-looking statements may not be accurate or complete, and we do not intend to update or revise them in light of actual results. New risks also periodically arise. Please consider the risks and factors that could cause our results to differ materially from what is described in our forward-looking statements, including the uncertain duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. See in particular "Factors Affecting Our Future Operating Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and other reports filed with the SEC from time to time.

SOURCE Mettler-Toledo International Inc.