QUAKER HOUGHTON ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS

• Q1'24 net sales of $469.8 million, net income of $35.2 million and earnings per diluted share of $1.95
• Q1'24 non-GAAP net income of $37.7 million and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $2.09
• Delivered adjusted EBITDA of $83.3 million in Q1'24, a 6% increase compared to $78.8 million in Q1'23
• Gross margins improved 400 basis points compared to the prior year, the 7th consecutive quarterly year-over-year increase
• Generated $27.2 million of operating cash flow in Q1'24

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker Houghton ("the Company") (NYSE: KWR), the global leader in industrial process fluids, announced its first quarter 2024 results today. 

First Quarter 2024 Consolidated Results

Net sales in the first quarter of 2024 were $469.8 million, a decline of approximately 6% compared to $500.1 million in the first quarter of 2023.  This result was primarily due to a decrease in selling price and product mix of approximately 5%, and a decline in sales volumes of approximately 1%.  The decrease in selling price and product mix was primarily attributable to our index-based customer contracts.  The decline in sales volumes was primarily attributable to a continuation of softer end market conditions that persisted throughout 2023 and have continued into the current year and partially offset by an improvement in volumes in the Asia/Pacific segment and new business wins across all segments.

The Company reported net income in the first quarter of 2024 of $35.2 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, compared to net income of $29.5 million, or $1.64 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2023.  Excluding non-recurring and non-core items in each period, the Company's non-GAAP net income and earnings per diluted share were $37.7 million and $2.09 respectively in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $34.0 million and $1.89 respectively in the prior year quarter.  The Company generated adjusted EBITDA of $83.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 6% compared to $78.8 million in the first quarter of 2023, primarily driven by an improvement in gross margins in all segments compared to the prior year. 

Andy Tometich, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "Quaker Houghton started 2024 with strong results delivering another quarter of earnings growth and solid cash flow generation.  Our results reflect our ongoing ability to generate value for customers through our differentiated portfolio of services and solutions as well as the continued execution on our financial and operational priorities."

"While the global macroeconomic environment remains dynamic, we are well positioned and committed to delivering volume and earnings growth in 2024.  We are confident in our enterprise strategy.  The investments we are making are expected to enhance our team's ability to outperform our end markets.  Additionally, our balance sheet and cash flow generation capabilities remain strong and provide opportunities to accelerate our profitable growth initiatives and create long-term shareholder value."

First Quarter 2024 Segment Results

The Company's first quarter 2024 operating performance for each of its three reportable segments: (i) Americas; (ii) EMEA; and (iii) Asia/Pacific, is further described below. 

Net sales in the Americas and EMEA segments decreased in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to a decrease in sales volumes and selling price and product mix, partially offset by a favorable impact from foreign currency translation.  Net sales in the Asia/Pacific segment increased compared to the prior year as a result of a double-digit increase in sales volumes, partially offset by a decrease in selling price and product mix and an unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation. 

The decline in selling price and product mix in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year in all segments primarily reflects the impact of our index-based customer contracts.  The decline in sales volumes in the Americas and EMEA segments primarily reflects softer end market activity, especially for metalworking applications, compared to the prior year, partially offset by new business wins.  Sales volumes increased in the Asia/Pacific segment compared to the prior year due to a broad improvement in end market conditions and continued new business wins.

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, net sales increased 1% due to an increase in sales volumes of approximately 2% partially offset by a decline in selling price and product mix of approximately 1%.  Sales volumes in the Americas and EMEA segments increased compared to the prior quarter, whereas sales volumes declined in the Asia/Pacific segment.  Selling price and product mix was down modestly across all segments reflecting the impact of our index-based customer contracts. 

Once again, operating earnings increased in all three segments in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year driven by a further improvement in operating margins.  Operating earnings and operating margins also increased in the Americas and EMEA segments in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 and declined modestly in the Asia/Pacific segment reflecting the decrease in net sales mentioned above.

Cash Flow and Liquidity Highlights

Net cash provided by operating activities was $27.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $37.8 million for the same period in 2023.  The Company's operating cash flow primarily reflects a stronger operating performance when compared to the prior year period, partially offset by higher working capital requirements in the three months ended March 31, 2024. 

As of March 31, 2024, the Company's total gross debt was $769.6 million and its cash and cash equivalents was $195.8 million, which resulted in net debt of approximately $573.8 million.  The Company's net debt divided by its trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA was approximately 1.8x. 

Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations

The information included in this press release includes non-GAAP (unaudited) financial information that includes EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share.  The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information as they enhance a reader's understanding of the financial performance of the Company, are indicative of future operating performance of the Company, and facilitate a comparison among fiscal periods, as the non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that are not considered indicative of future operating performance or not considered core to the Company's operations.  Non-GAAP results are presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our definitions of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share as discussed and reconciled below to the most comparable respective GAAP measures, may not be comparable to similarly named measures reported by other companies. 

The Company presents EBITDA which is calculated as net income attributable to the Company before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, and taxes on income before equity in net income of associated companies.  The Company also presents adjusted EBITDA which is calculated as EBITDA plus or minus certain items that are not considered indicative of future operating performance or not considered core to the Company's operations. In addition, the Company presents non-GAAP operating income which is calculated as operating income plus or minus certain items that are not considered indicative of future operating performance or not considered core to the Company's operations.  Adjusted EBITDA margin and non-GAAP operating margin are calculated as the percentage of adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP operating income to consolidated net sales, respectively.  The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide transparent and useful information and are widely used by investors, analysts, and peers in our industry as well as by management in assessing the operating performance of the Company on a consistent basis. 

Additionally, the Company presents non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share as additional performance measures.  Non-GAAP net income is calculated as adjusted EBITDA, defined above, less depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, and taxes on income before equity in net income of associated companies, in each case adjusted, as applicable, for any depreciation, amortization, interest or tax impacts resulting from the non-core items identified in the reconciliation of net income attributable to the Company to adjusted EBITDA.  Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share is calculated as non-GAAP net income per diluted share as accounted for under the "two-class share method."  The Company believes that non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share provide transparent and useful information and are widely used by investors, analysts, and peers in our industry as well as by management in assessing the operating performance of the Company on a consistent basis. 

As it relates to future projections for the Company as well as other forward-looking information contained in this press release, the Company has not provided guidance for comparable GAAP measures or a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure because it is unable to determine with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of certain significant items necessary to calculate such measures without unreasonable effort.  These items include, but are not limited to, certain non-recurring or non-core items the Company may record that could materially impact net income.  These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on the U.S. GAAP reported results for the guidance period. 

The Company's reference to trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA within this press release refers to the twelve month period ended March 31, 2024 adjusted EBITDA of $324.9 million, which includes (i) the three months ended March 31, 2024 adjusted EBITDA of $83.3 million, as presented in the non-GAAP reconciliations below, and (ii) the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 adjusted EBITDA of $320.4 million, as presented in the non-GAAP reconciliations included in the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2023 results press release dated February 29, 2024, less (iii) the three months ended March 31, 2023 adjusted EBITDA of $78.8 million, as presented in the non-GAAP reconciliations below. 

Certain of the prior period non-GAAP financial measures presented in the following tables have been adjusted to conform with current period presentation.  The following tables reconcile the Company's non-GAAP financial measures (unaudited) to their most directly comparable GAAP (unaudited) financial measures (dollars in thousands unless otherwise noted, except per share amounts):

Segment Measures and Reconciliations

Segment operating earnings for each of the Company's reportable segments are comprised of the segment's net sales less directly related Cost of goods sold ("COGS") and Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A").  Operating expenses not directly attributable to the net sales of each respective segment, such as certain corporate and administrative costs and Restructuring and related charges, net, are not included in segment operating earnings. Other items not specifically identified with the Company's reportable segments include Interest expense, net and Other income (expense), net. 

The following table presents information about the performance of the Company's reportable segments (dollars in thousands):

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that fall under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  We have based these forward-looking statements on assumptions, projections and expectations about future events that we believe are reasonable based on currently available information, including statements regarding the potential effects of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; inflation and global supply chain constraints on the Company's business, results of operations, and financial condition; our expectation that we will maintain sufficient liquidity and remain in compliance with the terms of the Company's credit facility; expectations about future demand and raw material costs; and statements regarding the impact of increased raw material costs and pricing initiatives.  These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, intentions, financial condition, results of operations, future performance, and business, which may differ materially from our actual results, including but not limited to the potential benefits of acquisitions and divestitures, the impacts on our business as a result of global supply chain constraints, and our current and future results and plans and statements that include the words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "outlook, "target", "possible", "potential", "plan" or similar expressions.  A major risk is that demand for the Company's products and services is largely derived from the demand for its customers' products, which subjects the Company to uncertainties related to downturns in a customer's business and unanticipated customer production slowdowns and shutdowns.  Other major risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to inflationary pressures, including the potential for continued significant increases in raw material costs; supply chain disruptions; customer financial instability; rising interest rates and the possibility of economic recession; economic and political disruptions, including the impacts of the military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas; tariffs, trade restrictions, and the economic and other sanctions imposed by other nations on Russia and/or other government organizations; suspensions of activities in Russia by many multinational companies and the potential expansion of military activity; foreign currency fluctuations; significant changes in applicable tax rates and regulations; future terrorist attacks and other acts of violence; the impacts of consolidation in our industry, including loss or consolidation of a major customer; and the potential occurrence of cyber-security breaches, cyber-security attacks and other security incidents. Furthermore, the Company is subject to the same business cycles as those experienced by our customers in the steel, automobile, aircraft, industrial equipment, aluminum and durable goods industries.  Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company and its operations that are subject to change based on various important factors, some of which are beyond our control.  These risks, uncertainties, and possible inaccurate assumptions relevant to our business could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results.  All forward-looking statements included in this press release, including expectations about business conditions during 2024 and future periods, are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this press release, which may change.  Therefore, we caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties as well as certain additional risks that we face, refer to the Risk Factors section, which appears in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in subsequent reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We do not intend to, and we disclaim any duty or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or for any other reason. This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company's investor conference call to discuss its first quarter of 2024 performance is scheduled for Friday, May 3, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET.  A live webcast of the conference call, together with supplemental information, can be accessed through the Company's Investor Relations website at investors.quakerhoughton.com.  You can also access the conference call by dialing 877-269-7756. 

About Quaker Houghton

Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids.  With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world's most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, container, mining, and metalworking companies.  Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services.  With approximately 4,400 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next.  Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States.  Visit quakerhoughton.com to learn more. 

SOURCE Quaker Chemical Corporation