Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) Reports First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

May 3, 2022 |

18 min read

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2022.

May 3, 2022 10:50 UTC

Highlights

Sales of $691 million grew 13% as reported and 16% in constant currency
Transformation on track with strong commercial momentum, operational performance, and innovation
Instrument sales grew 26% in constant currency, with strong growth across LC, MS and TA product lines
All end-markets grew, with pharmaceutical and industrial both up high-teens
Broad-based sales growth across all geographies, led by U.S. which grew 28% and China grew 17% in constant currency
GAAP EPS of $2.62; non-GAAP EPS of $2.80, a 22% increase from prior year

MILFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2022.

“Our teams continue to deliver excellent results despite the challenging environment. This was a record first quarter for Waters’ sales, led by instruments which grew 26% in constant currency, while our recurring revenues grew 9% in constant currency, reflecting continued demand across our geographies and end-markets,” said Dr. Udit Batra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waters Corporation. “Our non-GAAP operating income margin expanded by 170 basis points, demonstrating our team’s continued operational excellence and relentless focus on delivering innovative products to our customers.”

Dr. Batra continued, “Our portfolio rejuvenation is focused on large and small molecules, with Arc^TM HPLC, ACQUITY^TM Premier, and MaxPeak^TM Premier columns all providing a strong contribution to growth in the quarter. Customer response to the launches of our new mass spec products - SELECT SERIES^TM MRT, Xevo^TM TQ Absolute, and waters_connect^TM has been extremely positive as well.”

First Quarter 2022

Sales for the quarter were $691 million, an increase of 13% as reported and 16% in constant currency, compared to sales of $609 million for the first quarter of 2021.

On a GAAP basis, operating income margin for the first quarter of 2022 improved to 28.3% compared to 28.1% for the first quarter of 2021. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income margin improved to 30.3% compared to 28.6% for the first quarter of 2021.

On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the first quarter of 2022 increased to $2.62, compared to $2.37 for the first quarter of 2021. On a non-GAAP basis, EPS increased to $2.80, compared to $2.29 for the first quarter of 2021. A description and reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results appear in the tables below and can be found on the Company’s website www.waters.com in the Investor Relations section.

Other Highlights

During the first quarter of 2022, sales into the pharmaceutical market increased 15% as reported and 19% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market increased 14% as reported and 17% in constant currency and sales into the academic and government markets were flat as reported and increased 4% in constant currency.

Recurring revenues, which represent the combination of service and precision chemistries, increased 6% as reported and 9% in constant currency, while instrument system sales increased 24% as reported and 26% in constant currency.

Geographically, sales in Asia during the quarter increased 11% as reported and 14% in constant currency, sales in the Americas increased 26% (with U.S. sales growing 28%), and sales in Europe increased 3% as reported and 9% in constant currency. Sales in China increased 18% as reported and 17% in constant currency.

Unless otherwise noted, sales growth and decline percentages are presented on an as-reported basis and are the same as the sales growth and decline percentages presented on a constant currency basis as compared with the same period in the prior year, each of which is detailed in the reconciliation of sales growth rates to constant currency growth rates in the tables below.

Full-Year and Second Quarter 2022 Financial Guidance

The Company is raising its full-year 2022 guidance, and now expects constant currency sales growth in the range of 7.5% to 9%. Currency translation is expected to decrease full-year sales growth by approximately three percentage points. The Company is also raising its full-year 2022 non-GAAP EPS guidance to the range of $11.90 to $12.10. Please refer to the tables below for a reconciliation of the projected GAAP to non-GAAP financial outlook for the full-year.

The Company expects second quarter 2022 constant currency sales growth in the range of 6% to 8%. Currency translation is expected to decrease second quarter sales growth by approximately four percentage points. The Company expects second quarter 2022 non-GAAP EPS in the range of $2.55 to $2.65. Please refer to the tables below for a reconciliation of the projected GAAP to non-GAAP financial outlook for the second quarter.

Conference Call

Waters Corporation will webcast its first quarter 2022 financial results conference call today, May 3, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call and see the accompanying slide presentation, please visit www.waters.com, select “Investors” under the “About Waters” section, navigate to “Events & Presentations,” and click on the “Webcast.” A replay will be available through at least May 17, 2022 at midnight Eastern Time on the same website by webcast and also by phone at (866) 363-1809.

About Waters Corporation

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), a global leader in analytical instruments and software, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for more than 60 years. With more than 7,800 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 14 manufacturing facilities, and with products available in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.waters.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial measures, such as constant currency growth rate, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per diluted share and adjusted free cash flow, among others, which are considered “non-GAAP” financial measures under applicable U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to, and not a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company’s definitions of these non-GAAP measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by others. The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release adjust for specified items that can be highly variable or difficult to predict. The Company generally uses these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate management’s financial and operational decision-making, including evaluation of the Company’s historical operating results, comparison to competitors’ operating results and determination of management incentive compensation. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company’s operations that, when viewed with GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, may provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting the Company’s business. Because non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of items that will increase or decrease the Company’s reported results of operations, management strongly encourages investors to review the Company’s consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables accompanying this release.

Cautionary Statement

This release contains “forward-looking” statements regarding future results and events. For this purpose, any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “feels”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “suggests”, “appears”, “estimates”, “projects” and similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual future results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements within this release for a variety of reasons, including and without limitation, risks related to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, including: portions of our global workforce being unable to work fully and/or effectively due to working remotely, illness, quarantines, government actions, facility closures or other reasons related to the pandemic, increased risks of cyber-attacks resulting from our temporary remote working model, disruptions in our manufacturing capabilities or to our supply chain and distribution network, volatility and uncertainty in global capital markets limiting our ability to access capital, customers being unable to make timely payments for purchases and volatility in demand for our products; foreign exchange rate fluctuations potentially affecting translation of the Company’s future non-U.S. operating results; the impact on demand for the Company’s products, including delays or disruptions to our distribution network, among the Company’s various market sectors or geographies from economic, sovereign and political uncertainties, particularly regarding the effect of new or proposed tariff or trade regulations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing regulations; the effect on the Company’s financial results from the United Kingdom exiting the European Union; fluctuations in expenditures by the Company’s customers, in particular large pharmaceutical companies; introduction of competing products by other companies and loss of market share; pressures on prices from competitors and/or customers; regulatory, economic and competitive obstacles to new product introductions; other changes in demand for the Company’s products from the effect of mergers and acquisitions by the Company’s customers; increased regulatory burdens as the Company’s business evolves, especially with respect to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others; shifts in taxable income in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates; the outcome of tax examinations or changes in respective country legislation affecting the Company’s effective tax rate; the effect of the adoption of new accounting standards; the ability to access capital, maintain liquidity and service the Company’s debt in volatile market conditions, including any potential impact on the Company’s operations stemming from sustained inflation, particularly in the U.S., as a large portion of the Company’s cash is held and operating cash flows are generated outside the U.S.; environmental and logistical obstacles affecting the distribution of products and risks associated with lawsuits and other legal actions, particularly involving claims for infringement of patents and other intellectual property rights. Such factors and others are discussed more fully in the sections entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which discussions are incorporated by reference in this release, as updated by the Company’s future filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this release represent the Company’s estimates or views as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Arc, ACQUITY, MaxPeak, SELECT SERIES, Xevo, and waters_connect are trademarks of Waters Corporation.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	April 2, 2022			April 3, 2021

Net sales	$	690,572		$	608,545

Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales		285,685			254,147
Selling and administrative expenses		157,475			143,196
Research and development expenses		40,472			38,092
Purchased intangibles amortization		1,673			1,840
Acquired in-process research and development		9,797			-

Operating income		195,470			171,270

Other income, net ^(a)		170			9,359
Interest expense, net		(8,945	)		(6,845	)

Income from operations before income taxes		186,695			173,784

Provision for income taxes		26,864			25,657

Net income	$	159,831		$	148,127


Net income per basic common share	$	2.64		$	2.38

Weighted-average number of basic common shares		60,580			62,260


Net income per diluted common share	$	2.62		$	2.37

Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents		60,952			62,632

(a) During the three months ended April 3, 2021, the Company recorded an unrealized gain of $10 million due to an observable change in the fair value of an existing investment the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP
Net Sales by Operating Segments, Products & Services, Geography and Markets
Three Months Ended April 2, 2022 and April 3, 2021
(In thousands)

							Current
							Period			Constant
	Three Months Ended				Percent		Currency			Currency
	April 2, 2022		April 3, 2021		Change		Impact			Growth Rate ^(a)

NET SALES - OPERATING SEGMENTS

Waters	$	613,156	$	541,878	13	%	$	(15,856	)	16	%
TA		77,416		66,667	16	%		(1,581	)	18	%

Total	$	690,572	$	608,545	13	%	$	(17,437	)	16	%


NET SALES - PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Instruments	$	325,222	$	263,048	24	%	$	(6,288	)	26	%

Service		239,732		226,523	6	%		(8,163	)	9	%
Chemistry		125,618		118,974	6	%		(2,986	)	8	%
Total Recurring		365,350		345,497	6	%		(11,149	)	9	%

Total	$	690,572	$	608,545	13	%	$	(17,437	)	16	%


NET SALES - GEOGRAPHY

Asia	$	254,334	$	229,542	11	%	$	(7,571	)	14	%
Americas		248,837		197,357	26	%		(1	)	26	%
Europe		187,401		181,646	3	%		(9,865	)	9	%

Total	$	690,572	$	608,545	13	%	$	(17,437	)	16	%


NET SALES - MARKETS

Pharmaceutical	$	415,772	$	360,148	15	%	$	(11,158	)	19	%
Industrial		209,397		183,273	14	%		(4,153	)	17	%
Academic & Government		65,403		65,124	-			(2,126	)	4	%

Total	$	690,572	$	608,545	13	%	$	(17,437	)	16	%


NET SALES - EXCLUDING CHINA

Total Net Sales	$	690,572	$	608,545	13	%	$	(17,437	)	16	%
China Net Sales		121,032		102,919	18	%		850		17	%

Total Net Sales Excluding China	$	569,540	$	505,626	13	%	$	(18,287	)	16	%

(a)

The Company believes that referring to comparable constant currency growth rates is a useful way to evaluate the underlying performance of Waters Corporation's net sales. Constant currency growth rate, a non-GAAP financial measure, measures the change in net sales between current and prior year periods, ignoring the impact of foreign currency exchange rates during the current period. See description of non-GAAP financial measures contained in this release.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP Financials
Three Months Ended April 2, 2022 and April 3, 2021
(In thousands, except per share data)

					Acquired										Income from
					IPR&D and										Operations
		Selling &			Research &				Operating			Other			before			Provision for						Diluted
		Administrative			Development			Operating	Income			Income			Income			Income			Net			Earnings
		Expenses^(a)			Expenses			Income	Percentage			(Expense)			Taxes			Taxes			Income			per Share
Three Months Ended April 2, 2022
GAAP	$	159,148		$	50,269		$	195,470	28.3	%	$	170		$	186,695		$	26,864		$	159,831		$	2.62
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization ^(b)		(1,673	)		-			1,673	0.2	%		-			1,673			383			1,290			0.02
Acquired in-process research and development^(c)		-			(9,797	)		9,797	1.4	%		-			9,797			2,351			7,446			0.12
Restructuring costs and certain other items ^(d)		(2,375	)		-			2,375	0.3	%		(416	)		1,959			461			1,498			0.02
Certain income tax items ^(e)		-			-			-	-			-			-			(488	)		488			0.01
Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	155,100		$	40,472		$	209,315	30.3	%	$	(246	)	$	200,124		$	29,571		$	170,553		$	2.80

Three Months Ended April 3, 2021
GAAP	$	145,036		$	38,092		$	171,270	28.1	%	$	9,359		$	173,784		$	25,657		$	148,127		$	2.37
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization ^(b)		(1,840	)		-			1,840	0.3	%		-			1,840			414			1,426			0.02
Restructuring costs and certain other items ^(d)		(870	)		-			870	0.1	%		(9,707	)		(8,837	)		(2,120	)		(6,717	)		(0.11	)
Certain income tax items ^(e)		-			-			-	-			-			-			(550	)		550			0.01
Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	142,326		$	38,092		$	173,980	28.6	%	$	(348	)	$	166,787		$	23,401		$	143,386		$	2.29

(a)

Selling & administrative expenses include purchased intangibles amortization, litigation provisions and settlements and asset impairments.

(b)

The purchased intangibles amortization, a non-cash expense, was excluded to be consistent with how management evaluates the performance of its core business against historical operating results and the operating results of competitors over periods of time.

(c)

Acquired in-process research and development was excluded as it relates to the cost of a licensing arrangement for charge detection mass spectrometry that the Company believes is unusual and not indicative of its normal business operations.

(d)

Restructuring costs, mergers and acquisition costs and certain other items were excluded as the Company believes that the cost to consolidate operations, reduce overhead, acquire companies and certain other income or expense items are not normal and do not represent future ongoing business expenses of a specific function or geographic location of the Company.

(e)

Certain income tax items were excluded as these non-cash expenses and benefits represent updates in management's assessment of ongoing examinations or other tax items that are not indicative of the Company’s normal or future income tax expense.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Preliminary Condensed Unclassified Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands and unaudited)



	April 2, 2022		December 31, 2021

Cash, cash equivalents and investments	$	503,095	$	569,285
Accounts receivable		607,262		612,648
Inventories		381,902		356,095
Property, plant and equipment, net		547,199		547,913
Intangible assets, net		236,408		242,401
Goodwill		435,807		437,865
Other assets		329,596		328,725
Total assets	$	3,041,269	$	3,094,932


Notes payable and debt	$	1,444,122	$	1,513,870
Other liabilities		1,222,210		1,213,508
Total liabilities		2,666,332		2,727,378

Total stockholders' equity		374,937		367,554
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	3,041,269	$	3,094,932

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended April 2, 2022 and April 3, 2021
(In thousands and unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	April 2, 2022			April 3, 2021

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	159,831		$	148,127
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation		10,933			8,305
Depreciation and amortization		32,664			31,356
Change in operating assets and liabilities and other, net		(5,468	)		30,616
Net cash provided by operating activities		197,960			218,404

Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization		(27,751	)		(39,503	)
Proceeds from sale of equity investment		6,785			-
Payments for intellectual property licenses		(4,897	)		-
Net change in investments		44,855			(119,501	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		18,992			(159,004	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in debt		(70,000	)		346,363
Proceeds from stock plans		12,832			16,295
Purchases of treasury shares		(170,136	)		(173,305	)
Other cash flow from financing activities, net		(107	)		(578	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(227,411	)		188,775

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(10,705	)		(1,087	)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(21,164	)		247,088

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		501,234			436,695
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	480,070		$	683,783




Reconciliation of GAAP Cash Flows from Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow ^(a)



Net cash provided by operating activities - GAAP	$	197,960		$	218,404

Adjustments:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization		(27,751	)		(39,503	)
Litigation settlements paid, net		(584	)		-
Major facility renovations		5,927			14,490
Free Cash Flow - Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	175,552		$	193,391

(a) The Company defines free cash flow as net cash flow from operations accounted for under GAAP less capital expenditures and software capitalizations plus or minus any unusual and non recurring items. Free cash flow is not a GAAP measurement and may not be comparable to free cash flow reported by other companies.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Projected GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP Financial Outlook


	Three Months Ended					Twelve Months Ended
	July 2, 2022					December 31, 2022
	Range					Range
Projected Sales

Projected constant currency sales growth rate ^(a)	6.0%		-	8.0%		7.5%		-	9.0%

Projected currency impact	(4.0%)		-	(4.0%)		(3.0%)		-	(3.0%)

Projected sales growth rate as reported	2.0%		-	4.0%		4.5%		-	6.0%


Projected Earnings Per Diluted Share	Range					Range


Projected GAAP earnings per diluted share	$	2.52	-	$	2.62	$	11.68	-	$	11.88
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization	$	0.02	-	$	0.02	$	0.08	-	$	0.08
Acquired in-process research and development	$	-		$	-	$	0.12		$	0.12
Certain income tax items	$	0.01	-	$	0.01	$	0.02	-	$	0.02
Projected adjusted non-GAAP earnings per diluted share	$	2.55	-	$	2.65	$	11.90	-	$	12.10

(a) Constant currency growth rates are a non-GAAP financial measure that measures the change in net sales between current and prior year periods, ignoring the impact of foreign currency exchange rates during the current period. These amounts are estimated at the current foreign currency exchange rates and based on the forecasted geographical sales in local currency, as well as an assessment of market conditions as of today, and may differ significantly from actual results.

These forward-looking adjustment estimates do not reflect future gains and charges that are inherently difficult to predict and estimate due to their unknown timing, effect and/or significance.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220502005753/en/

Contacts

Caspar Tudor, Director, Investor Relations – (508) 482-2429

Source: Waters Corporation

View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220502005753/en

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