Littelfuse Reports Third Quarter Results for 2023

Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS), a diversified, industrial technology manufacturing company empowering a sustainable, connected, and safer world, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023:

• Net sales of $607.1 million were down 8% versus the prior year period, and down 11% organically
• GAAP diluted EPS was $2.30; adjusted diluted EPS was $2.97
• Cash flow from operations was $161.5 million and free cash flow was $139.8 million

“In the third quarter, sales and earnings exceeded our expectations, despite pockets of end market softness and ongoing inventory destocking,” said Dave Heinzmann, Littelfuse President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our year-to-date performance underscores the resilience of our business model, strong cash generation, and consistent execution. Looking ahead, while dynamic macro conditions likely persist, our improved cost structure, healthy balance sheet, and ability to optimize cash flow should position us well into 2024. Our experienced team will continue to leverage our competitive advantages across our evolving and diversified end markets.”

Fourth Quarter of 2023*

Based on current market conditions, for the fourth quarter the company expects,

• Net sales in the range of $520 to $550 million, adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $1.90 to $2.10 and an adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 18%

*Littelfuse provides guidance on a non-GAAP (adjusted) basis. GAAP items excluded from guidance may include the after-tax impact of items including acquisition and integration costs, restructuring, impairment and other charges, certain purchase accounting adjustments, non-operating foreign exchange adjustments and significant and unusual items. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could be material to results computed in accordance with GAAP. Littelfuse is not able to forecast the excluded items in order to provide the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure without unreasonable efforts.

Dividend

• The company will pay a cash dividend on its common stock of $0.65 per share on December 7, 2023, to shareholders of record as of November 23, 2023.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Littelfuse will host a conference call on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss the results. The call will be broadcast and available for replay at Littelfuse.com. A slide presentation is available in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at Littelfuse.com.

About Littelfuse

Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS) is a diversified, industrial technology manufacturing company empowering a sustainable, connected, and safer world. Across more than 20 countries, and with approximately 17,000 global associates, we partner with customers to design and deliver innovative, reliable solutions. Serving over 100,000 end customers, our products are found in a variety of industrial, transportation and electronics end markets – everywhere, every day. Learn more at Littelfuse.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are intended to constitute "forward-looking statements" entitled to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Such statements are based on Littelfuse, Inc.’s (“Littelfuse” or the “Company”) current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to general economic conditions; product demand and market acceptance; the impact of competitive products and pricing; product quality problems or product recalls; capacity and supply difficulties or constraints; coal mining exposures reserves; cybersecurity matters; failure of an indemnification for environmental liability; exchange rate fluctuations; commodity and other raw material price fluctuations; the effect of Littelfuse accounting policies; labor disputes; restructuring costs in excess of expectations; pension plan asset returns less than assumed; integration of acquisitions; uncertainties related to political or regulatory changes; and other risks which may be detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements. This release should be read in conjunction with information provided in the financial statements appearing in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Further discussion of the risk factors of the company can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in other filings and submissions with the SEC, each of which are available free of charge on the company’s investor relations website at investor.littelfuse.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof. The company does not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the availability of new information.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The information included in this press release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of organic net sales (decline) growth, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted income taxes, adjusted effective tax rate, free cash flow, net debt, consolidated EBITDA, and consolidated net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement). Many of these non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of certain expenses and income not related directly to the underlying performance of our fundamental business operations.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is set forth in the attached schedules.

The company believes that organic net sales (decline) growth, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted income taxes, and adjusted effective tax rate provide useful information to investors regarding its operational performance because they enhance an investor’s overall understanding of our core financial performance and facilitate comparisons to historical results of operations, by excluding items that are not related directly to the underlying performance of our fundamental business operations or were not part of our business operations during a comparable period. The company believes that free cash flow is a useful measure of its ability to generate cash. The company believes that net debt, consolidated EBITDA, and consolidated net leverage ratio are useful measures of its credit position. The company believes that all of these non-GAAP financial measures are commonly used by financial analysts and others in the industries in which we operate, and thus further provide useful information to investors. Management additionally uses these measures when assessing the performance of the business and for business planning purposes. Note that our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from those terms as defined or used by other companies.

LFUS-F

LITTELFUSE, INC.   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
		(Unaudited)
(in thousands)		September 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	560,056			$	562,588
Short-term investments			229				84
Trade receivables, less allowances of $88,440 and $83,562 at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively			327,500				306,578
Inventories			483,075				547,690
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable			3,776				7,215
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			83,684				87,641
Total current assets			1,458,320				1,511,796
Net property, plant, and equipment			478,906				481,110
Intangible assets, net of amortization			612,366				593,970
Goodwill			1,284,343				1,186,922
Investments			23,371				24,121
Deferred income taxes			13,598				14,367
Right of use lease assets, net			51,755				57,382
Other long-term assets			80,267				34,066
Total assets		$	4,002,926			$	3,903,734
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	166,725			$	208,571
Accrued liabilities			143,540				187,057
Accrued income taxes			35,762				41,793
Current portion of long-term debt			135,619				134,874
Total current liabilities			481,646				572,295
Long-term debt, less current portion			857,006				866,623
Deferred income taxes			106,656				100,230
Accrued post-retirement benefits			29,445				28,037
Non-current operating lease liabilities			39,818				45,661
Other long-term liabilities			83,496				79,510
Total equity			2,404,859				2,211,378
Total liabilities and equity		$	4,002,926			$	3,903,734

LITTELFUSE, INC.   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME   (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
(in thousands, except per share data)		September 30, 2023				October 1, 2022				September 30, 2023				October 1, 2022
Net sales		$	607,071			$	658,880			$	1,828,850			$	1,900,646
Cost of sales			380,200				402,059				1,122,190				1,122,258
Gross profit			226,871				256,821				706,660				778,388
Selling, general, and administrative expenses			87,204				90,219				270,057				258,820
Research and development expenses			25,484				25,752				77,270				68,796
Amortization of intangibles			16,022				15,567				49,773				39,883
Restructuring, impairment, and other charges			4,516				3,413				13,221				4,265
Total operating expenses			133,226				134,951				410,321				371,764
Operating income			93,645				121,870				296,339				406,624
Interest expense			10,101				8,399				29,803				17,069
Foreign exchange loss			11,776				18,191				8,697				40,051
Other (income) expense, net			(3,527	)			(698	)			(11,810	)			9,789
Income before income taxes			75,295				95,978				269,649				339,715
Income taxes			17,507				20,510				53,045				59,713
Net income		$	57,788			$	75,468			$	216,604			$	280,002
Earnings per share:
Basic		$	2.32			$	3.05			$	8.72			$	11.32
Diluted		$	2.30			$	3.02			$	8.63			$	11.21
Weighted-average shares and equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic			24,893				24,755				24,838				24,726
Diluted			25,143				24,988				25,100				24,986
Comprehensive income		$	55,654			$	47,280			$	212,842			$	218,262

LITTELFUSE, INC.   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS   (Unaudited)
		Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)		September 30, 2023				October 1, 2022
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income		$	216,604			$	280,002
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:			137,988				183,942
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables			(21,752	)			(56,431	)
Inventories			66,456				(83,803	)
Accounts payable			(38,475	)			(3,838	)
Accrued liabilities and income taxes			(61,359	)			(4,399	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets			13,678				(2,034	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			313,140				313,439
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(198,810	)			(532,772	)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment			(63,166	)			(77,773	)
Net proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, and other			597				565
Net cash used in investing activities			(261,379	)			(609,980	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net payments of credit facility			(5,625	)			373,125
Cash dividends paid			(45,973	)			(41,055	)
All other cash provided by (used in) financing activities			4,454				(10,147	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(47,144	)			321,923
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash			(7,965	)			(31,963	)
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash			(3,348	)			(6,581	)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period			564,939				482,836
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period		$	561,591			$	476,255

LITTELFUSE, INC.   NET SALES AND OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT   (Unaudited)
		Third Quarter											Year-to-Date
(in thousands)		2023				2022				% Growth / (Decline)			2023				2022				% Growth / (Decline)
Net sales
Electronics		$	343,933			$	397,629			(13.5	)%		$	1,052,673			$	1,121,626			(6.1	)%
Transportation			177,019				181,735			(2.6	)%			515,708				548,266			(5.9	)%
Industrial			86,119				79,516			8.3	%			260,469				230,754			12.9	%
Total net sales		$	607,071			$	658,880			(7.9	)%		$	1,828,850			$	1,900,646			(3.8	)%
Operating income
Electronics		$	77,022			$	113,140			(31.9	)%		$	247,028			$	339,675			(27.3	)%
Transportation			9,694				12,987			(25.4	)%			26,015				57,604			(54.8	)%
Industrial			13,201				12,178			8.4	%			45,450				39,968			13.7	%
Other(a)			(6,272	)			(16,435	)		N.M.				(22,154	)			(30,623	)		N.M.
Total operating income		$	93,645			$	121,870			(23.2	)%		$	296,339			$	406,624			(27.1	)%
Operating Margin			15.4	%			18.5	%						16.2	%			21.4	%
Interest expense			10,101				8,399							29,803				17,069
Foreign exchange loss			11,776				18,191							8,697				40,051
Other (income) expense, net			(3,527	)			(698	)						(11,810	)			9,789
Income before income taxes		$	75,295			$	95,978			(21.5	)%		$	269,649			$	339,715			(20.6	)%
(a) "other" typically includes non-GAAP adjustments such as acquisition-related and integration costs, purchase accounting inventory adjustments and restructuring and impairment charges. (See Supplemental Financial Information for details.)
N.M. - Not meaningful

		Third Quarter									Year-to-Date
(in thousands)		2023			2022			% (Decline)			2023			2022			% Growth / (Decline)
Operating Margin
Electronics		22.4	%		28.5	%		(6.1	)%		23.5	%		30.3	%		(6.8	)%
Transportation		5.5	%		7.1	%		(1.6	)%		5.0	%		10.5	%		(5.5	)%
Industrial		15.3	%		15.3	%		—	%		17.4	%		17.3	%		0.1	%

LITTELFUSE, INC.   SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION   (In millions of USD except per share amounts - unaudited)
Non-GAAP EPS reconciliation
		Q3-23				Q3-22				YTD-23				YTD-22
GAAP diluted EPS		$	2.30			$	3.02			$	8.63			$	11.21
EPS impact of Non-GAAP adjustments (below)			0.67				1.26				1.09				2.32
Adjusted diluted EPS		$	2.97			$	4.28			$	9.72			$	13.53

Non-GAAP adjustments - (income) / expense
		Q3-23				Q3-22				YTD-23				YTD-22
Acquisition-related and integration costs (a)		$	1.8			$	6.2			$	9.0			$	14.8
Purchase accounting inventory adjustments (b)			—				6.8				—				11.6
Restructuring, impairment and other charges (c)			4.5				3.4				13.2				4.3
Non-GAAP adjustments to operating income			6.3				16.4				22.2				30.7
Other income, net (d)			—				—				(0.2	)			(0.5	)
Non-operating foreign exchange loss			11.8				18.2				8.7				40.1
Non-GAAP adjustments to income before income taxes			18.1				34.6				30.7				70.3
Income taxes (e)			1.2				3.0				3.2				12.2
Non-GAAP adjustments to net income		$	16.9			$	31.6			$	27.5			$	58.1
Total EPS impact		$	0.67			$	1.26			$	1.09			$	2.32

Adjusted operating margin / Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation
		Q3-23				Q3-22				YTD-23				YTD-22
Net income		$	57.8			$	75.5			$	216.6			$	280.0
Add:
Income taxes			17.5				20.5				53.0				59.7
Interest expense			10.1				8.4				29.8				17.1
Foreign exchange loss			11.8				18.2				8.7				40.1
Other (income) expense, net			(3.5	)			(0.7	)			(11.8	)			9.8
GAAP operating income		$	93.6			$	121.9			$	296.3			$	406.6
Non-GAAP adjustments to operating income			6.3				16.4				22.2				30.7
Adjusted operating income		$	99.9			$	138.3			$	318.5			$	437.3
Amortization of intangibles			16.0				15.6				49.8				39.9
Depreciation expenses			17.9				17.0				53.5				48.3
Adjusted EBITDA		$	133.8			$	170.9			$	421.8			$	525.5
Net sales		$	607.1			$	658.9			$	1,828.9			$	1,900.6
Net income as a percentage of net sales			9.5	%			11.5	%			11.8	%			14.7	%
Operating margin			15.4	%			18.5	%			16.2	%			21.4	%
Adjusted operating margin			16.5	%			21.0	%			17.4	%			23.0	%
Adjusted EBITDA margin			22.0	%			25.9	%			23.1	%			27.6	%

Adjusted EBITDA by Segment		Q3-23												Q3-22
		Electronics				Transportation				Industrial				Electronics				Transportation				Industrial
GAAP operating income		$	77.0			$	9.7			$	13.2			$	113.1			$	13.0			$	12.2
Add:
Add back amortization			9.8				3.6				2.6				9.7				4.7				1.2
Add back depreciation			9.8				6.6				1.5				9.4				6.7				1.0
Adjusted EBITDA		$	96.6			$	19.9			$	17.3			$	132.2			$	24.4			$	14.4
Adjusted EBITDA Margin			28.1	%			11.2	%			20.1	%			33.3	%			13.4	%			18.1	%

Adjusted EBITDA by Segment		YTD-23												YTD-22
		Electronics				Transportation				Industrial				Electronics				Transportation				Industrial
GAAP operating income		$	247.0			$	26.0			$	45.5			$	339.7			$	57.6			$	40.0
Add:
Add back amortization			30.1				12.2				7.5				22.5				13.7				3.7
Add back depreciation			29.1				20.4				4.0				26.5				19.0				2.9
Adjusted EBITDA		$	306.2			$	58.6			$	57.0			$	388.7			$	90.3			$	46.5
Adjusted EBITDA Margin			29.1	%			11.4	%			21.9	%			34.7	%			16.5	%			20.1	%

Net sales reconciliation		Q3-23 vs. Q3-22
		Electronics			Transportation			Industrial			Total
Net sales (decline) growth		(14	)%		(3	)%		8	%		(8	)%
Less:
Acquisitions		2	%		—	%		3	%		2	%
FX impact		1	%		1	%		—	%		1	%
Organic net sales (decline) growth		(17	)%		(4	)%		5	%		(11	)%

Net sales reconciliation		YTD-23 vs. YTD-22
		Electronics			Transportation			Industrial			Total
Net sales (decline) growth		(6	)%		(6	)%		13	%		(4	)%
Less:
Acquisitions		8	%		—	%		4	%		5	%
FX impact		—	%		—	%		—	%		—	%
Organic net sales (decline) growth		(14	)%		(6	)%		9	%		(9	)%

Income tax reconciliation
		Q3-23				Q3-22				YTD-23				YTD-22
Income taxes		$	17.5			$	20.5			$	53.0			$	59.7
Effective rate			23.3	%			21.4	%			19.7	%			17.6	%
Non-GAAP adjustments - income taxes			1.2				3.0				3.2				12.2
Adjusted income taxes		$	18.7			$	23.4			$	56.2			$	71.9
Adjusted effective rate			20.0	%			18.0	%			18.7	%			17.5	%
Free cash flow reconciliation
		Q3-23				Q3-22				YTD-23				YTD-22
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	161.5			$	148.1			$	313.1			$	313.4
Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment			(21.7	)			(21.7	)			(63.2	)			(77.8	)
Free cash flow		$	139.8			$	126.5			$	250.0			$	235.7

Consolidated Total Debt		As of September 30, 2023
Consolidated Total Debt		$	992.6
Unamortized debt issuance costs			4.0
Consolidated funded indebtedness			996.6
Cash held in U.S. (up to $400 million)			155.6
Net debt		$	841.0
Consolidated EBITDA		Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2023
Net Income		$	309.7
Interest expense			38.9
Income taxes			63.1
Depreciation			70.2
Amortization			65.6
Non-cash additions:
Stock-based compensation expense			24.0
Purchase accounting inventory step-up charge			4.1
Unrealized loss on investments			1.2
Impairment charges			9.2
Other			(3.7	)
Consolidated EBITDA (1)		$	582.3
Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) *			1.4	x
* Our Credit Agreement and Private Placement Note with maturities ranging from 2023 to 2032, contain financial ratio covenants providing that if, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, the Consolidated Net Leverage ratio at such time for the then most recently concluded period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company exceeds 3.50:1.00, an Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement and Private Placement Senior Notes) is triggered.
The Credit Agreement and Private Placement Senior Notes were amended in Q2 2022 and now allow for the addition of acquisition and integration costs up to 15% of Consolidated EBITDA and the netting of up to $400M of Available Cash (Cash held by US Subsidiaries).
(1) Represents Consolidated EBITDA as defined in our Credit Agreement and Private Placement Senior Notes and is calculated using the most recently concluded period of four consecutive quarters.
Note: Total will not always foot due to rounding.
(a) reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A").
(b) reflected in cost of sales.
(c) reflected in restructuring, impairment and other charges.
(d) reflected YTD gain of $0.2 million from the sale of a building within the Electronics segment in the first quarter of 2023. 2022 amount included $0.5 million gain from the sale of a building within Transportation segment.
(e) reflected the tax impact associated with the non-GAAP adjustments, and 2022 year-to-date amount includes the one-time net benefit of $7.2 million that resulted from the dissolution of one of the Company’s affiliates.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231031799481/en/

The Littelfuse Stock at the time of publication of the news with a raise of +0,58 % to 216,7EUR on Nasdaq stock exchange (31. Oktober 2023, 21:30 Uhr).