- - Excellent Sales Growth - -
- - Very Strong Margin Expansion and EPS Growth - -
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced first quarter results for 2017. Provided below are the highlights:
- Sales in local currency increased 12% in the quarter compared with the prior year. Reported sales increased 10% as currency reduced sales growth by 2% in the quarter.
- Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $3.48, compared with $2.40 in the prior-year period. Adjusted EPS was $3.34, an increase of 36% over the prior-year amount of $2.46. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure and we have included a reconciliation to EPS on the last page of the attached schedules.
First Quarter Results
Olivier Filliol, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Sales growth in the quarter was excellent with broad-based strength across all regions. Our productivity and margin initiatives continue to yield tangible results driving strong margin expansion and very good growth in EPS. Finally, cash flow generation in the quarter was quite strong.”
EPS in the quarter was $3.48, compared with the prior-year amount of $2.40. Adjusted EPS was $3.34, an increase of 36% over the prior-year amount of $2.46.
Sales were $594.6 million, a 12% increase in local currency sales, compared with $539.7 million in the prior-year quarter. Reported sales increased 10% as currency reduced sales growth by 2% in the quarter. As compared to the prior year, local currency sales increased 14% in the Americas, 13% in Europe and 9% in Asia / Rest of World. Adjusted operating income amounted to $127.3 million, a 25% increase from the prior-year amount of $102.0 million. Adjusted operating income is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to earnings before taxes is provided in the attached schedules.
Outlook
The Company said that based on its assessment of market conditions today, management anticipates local currency sales growth in 2017 will be approximately 7%. This sales growth is expected to result in Adjusted EPS in the range of $16.95 to $17.15, an increase of 15% to 16%. This compares to previous guidance of Adjusted EPS in the range of $16.55 to $16.75.
For the second quarter 2017, local currency sales growth is expected to be in the range of 8% to 9% and Adjusted EPS in the range of $3.85 to $3.90, an increase of 20% to 21%.
While the Company has provided an outlook for Adjusted EPS, it has not provided an outlook for EPS as it would require an estimate of non-recurring items, which are not yet known. The Company noted in making its outlook that economic uncertainty remains in certain regions of the world and market conditions are subject to change.
Conclusion
Filliol concluded, “We have a strong start to the year as we capitalize on favorable market conditions and continue to execute well. Our growth initiatives have good momentum and include our Field Turbo investments, Spinnaker sales and marketing initiatives and new product launches. We also continue to make good progress with our margin and productivity initiatives. While current market conditions are positive, we will face more challenging comparisons as the year progresses. With the promising start to the year, we are optimistic that we will deliver a strong performance in 2017.”
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