Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Waters CorporationWaters Corporation announced first quarter 2021 sales of $609 million, a 31% increase as reported, compared to sales of $465 million for the first quarter of 2020.

May 5, 2021 10:50 UTC
  • Sales of $609 million grew 31% as reported and 27% in constant currency
  • GAAP EPS of $2.37; non-GAAP EPS of $2.29, a 99% increase from prior year
  • Adjusted free cash flow of $193 million, a 60% increase from prior year
  • Double-digit sales growth across all end markets and product categories
  • Broad-based growth across all geographies, led by triple-digit growth in China

MILFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Waters CorporationWaters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced first quarter 2021 sales of $609 million, a 31% increase as reported, compared to sales of $465 million for the first quarter of 2020. Foreign currency translation benefited sales growth by approximately 4% for the quarter.

On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the first quarter of 2021 increased to $2.37, compared to $0.86 for the first quarter of 2020. On a non-GAAP basis, EPS increased to $2.29, compared to $1.15 for the first quarter of 2020. 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.

On a GAAP basis, net cash provided by operating activities was $218 million for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $152 million for the first quarter of 2020. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted free cash flow for the first quarter of 2021 was $193 million versus $121 million for the first quarter of 2020.

“I remain grateful to our colleagues for their continued hard work and commitment, especially to those who are experiencing the devastating effects of the pandemic,” said Dr. Udit Batra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waters Corporation. “There is much to be pleased about with our first quarter results, driven by strong growth across each of our major end markets, with pharma leading the way. Thanks to solid execution and instrument sales growing in double-digits, we saw revenue increases across every region, with China’s sales more than doubling. Our transformation plan is well underway, with commercial momentum and a strong leadership team in place, we now turn towards developing a new strategy as we work to more closely align our portfolio with higher growth areas of the market.”

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.

During the first quarter of 2021, sales into the pharmaceutical market increased 32% as reported and 28% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market increased 28% as reported and 24% in constant currency and sales into the academic and government markets increased 33% as reported and 29% in constant currency.

During the first quarter, recurring revenues, which represent the combination of service and precision chemistries revenues, increased 20% as reported and 15% in constant currency, while instrument system sales increased 49% as reported and 45% in constant currency.

Geographically, sales in Asia during the quarter increased 44% as reported and 41% in constant currency, sales in the Americas increased 15% as reported and 14% in constant currency (with U.S. sales growing 13%) and sales in Europe increased 36% as reported and 25% in constant currency.

Second Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Outlook

The Company expects full-year 2021 constant-currency sales growth in the range of 8% to 11%. Currency translation is expected to increase full-year sales growth by one to two percentage points. The Company also expects full-year 2021 non-GAAP EPS in the range of $9.85 to $10.05. 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 2021 constant-currency sales growth in the range of 14% to 16%. Currency translation is expected to increase second quarter sales growth by approximately three percentage points. The Company also expects second quarter 2021 non-GAAP EPS in the range of $2.15 to $2.25. 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 2021 financial results conference call today, May 5, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call, please visit www.waters.com, select “Investors” under the “About Waters” section, and click on the “Live Webcast.” A replay will be available through May 12, 2021 at midnight Eastern Time on the same website by webcast and also by phone at 866-485-4163.

About Waters Corporation

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), the world's leading specialty measurement company, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for more than 60 years. With more than 7,400 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, 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 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, 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, 2020, 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.

 

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

     
   

Three Months Ended

   

April 3, 2021

 

March 28, 2020

         
Net sales  

$

608,545

   

$

464,939

 
         
Costs and operating expenses:        
Cost of sales    

254,147

     

210,644

 
Selling and administrative expenses    

143,196

     

147,735

 
Research and development expenses    

38,092

     

34,989

 
Purchased intangibles amortization    

1,840

     

2,625

 
Litigation provision    

-

     

666

 
         
Operating income    

171,270

     

68,280

 
         
Other income (expense), net    

9,359

     

(374

)

Interest expense, net    

(6,845

)

   

(10,043

)

         
Income from operations before income taxes    

173,784

     

57,863

 
         
Provision for income taxes    

25,657

     

4,301

 
         
Net income  

$

148,127

   

$

53,562

 
         
         
Net income per basic common share  

$

2.38

   

$

0.86

 
         
Weighted-average number of basic common shares    

62,260

     

62,232

 
         
         
Net income per diluted common share  

$

2.37

   

$

0.86

 
         
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents    

62,632

     

62,626

 
                 

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP

Net Sales by Operating Segment, Products & Services, Geography and Markets

Three Months Ended April 3, 2021 and March 28, 2020

(In thousands)

 
                   

Current

   
                   

Period

 

Constant

   

Three Months Ended

 

Percent

 

Currency

 

Currency

    April 3, 2021  

March 28, 2020

 

Change

 

Impact

 

Growth Rate (a)

                           
NET SALES - OPERATING SEGMENT                    
                           
Waters   $

541,878

  $

414,211

 

31

%

  $

18,021

 

26

%

TA    

66,667

   

50,728

 

31

%

   

1,817

 

28

%

                           
Total   $

608,545

  $

464,939

 

31

%

  $

19,838

 

27

%

                           
                           
NET SALES - PRODUCTS & SERVICES                          
                           
Instruments   $

263,048

  $

176,938

 

49

%

  $

6,934

 

45

%

                           
Service    

226,523

   

190,756

 

19

%

   

8,724

 

14

%

Chemistry    

118,974

   

97,245

 

22

%

   

4,180

 

18

%

Total Recurring    

345,497

   

288,001

 

20

%

   

12,904

 

15

%

                           
Total   $

608,545

  $

464,939

 

31

%

  $

19,838

 

27

%

                           
                           
NET SALES - GEOGRAPHY                          
                           
Asia   $

229,542

  $

159,080

 

44

%

  $

5,097

 

41

%

Americas    

197,357

   

172,176

 

15

%

   

457

 

14

%

Europe    

181,646

   

133,683

 

36

%

   

14,284

 

25

%

                           
Total   $

608,545

  $

464,939

 

31

%

  $

19,838

 

27

%

                           
                           
NET SALES - MARKETS                          
                           
Pharmaceutical   $

360,148

  $

272,563

 

32

%

  $

11,790

 

28

%

Industrial    

183,273

   

143,354

 

28

%

   

5,976

 

24

%

Academic & Government    

65,124

   

49,022

 

33

%

   

2,072

 

29

%

                           
Total   $

608,545

  $

464,939

 

31

%

  $

19,838

 

27

%

                           
                           
NET SALES - EXCLUDING CHINA                          
                           
Total Net Sales   $

608,545

  $

464,939

 

31

%

  $

19,838

 

27

%

China Net Sales    

102,919

   

47,231

 

118

%

   

4,026

 

109

%

                           
Total Net Sales Excluding China   $

505,626

  $

417,708

 

21

%

  $

15,812

 

17

%

(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 3, 2021 and March 28, 2020

(In thousands, except per share data)

                                               
     

Selling &
Administrative
Expenses(a)

   

Operating
Income

 

Operating
Income
Percentage

   

Other
Income
(Expense)

   

Income from
Operations
before
Income
Taxes

   

Provision for
Income
Taxes

   

Net
Income

   

Diluted
Earnings
per Share

Three Months Ended April 3, 2021                                              
GAAP   $

145,036

  $

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 (c)    

(870)

   

870

 

0.1%

   

(9,707)

   

(8,837)

   

(2,120)

   

(6,717)

   

(0.11)

Certain income tax items (d)    

-

   

-

 

-

   

-

   

-

   

(550)

   

550

   

0.01

Adjusted Non-GAAP   $

142,326

  $

173,980

 

28.6%

  $

(348)

  $

166,787

  $

23,401

  $

143,386

  $

2.29

                                               
Three Months Ended March 28, 2020                                              
GAAP   $

151,026

  $

68,280

 

14.7%

  $

(374)

  $

57,863

  $

4,301

  $

53,562

  $

0.86

Adjustments:                                              
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)    

(2,625)

   

2,625

 

0.6%

   

-

   

2,625

   

522

   

2,103

   

0.03

Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)    

(20,520)

   

20,520

 

4.4%

   

(309)

   

20,211

   

4,597

   

15,614

   

0.25

Litigation provision (e)    

(666)

   

666

 

0.1%

   

-

   

666

   

160

   

506

   

0.01

Certain income tax items (d)    

-

   

-

 

-

   

-

   

-

   

(375)

   

375

   

0.01

Adjusted Non-GAAP   $

127,215

  $

92,091

 

19.8%

  $

(683)

  $

81,365

  $

9,205

  $

72,160

  $

1.15

(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)

 

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.

(d)

 

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.

(e)

 

Litigation provisions and settlement gains were excluded as these items are isolated, unpredictable and not expected to recur regularly.

     

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Preliminary Condensed Unclassified Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands and unaudited)

         
   

April 3, 2021

 

December 31, 2020

         
Cash, cash equivalents and investments  

$

809,769

 

$

443,146

Accounts receivable    

550,677

   

573,316

Inventories    

327,967

   

304,281

Property, plant and equipment, net    

513,719

   

494,003

Intangible assets, net    

240,853

   

258,645

Goodwill    

438,139

   

444,362

Other assets    

330,439

   

322,167

Total assets  

$

3,211,563

 

$

2,839,920

         
         
Notes payable and debt  

$

1,703,090

 

$

1,356,515

Other liabilities    

1,277,511

   

1,251,261

Total liabilities    

2,980,601

   

2,607,776

         
Total stockholders' equity    

230,962

   

232,144

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  

$

3,211,563

 

$

2,839,920

             

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries

Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended April 3, 2021 and March 28, 2020

(In thousands and unaudited)

         
   

Three Months Ended

   

April 3, 2021

 

March 28, 2020

     
Cash flows from operating activities:        
Net income  

$

148,127

   

$

53,562

 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Stock-based compensation    

8,305

     

9,196

 
Depreciation and amortization    

31,356

     

29,188

 
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net    

30,616

     

59,689

 
Net cash provided by operating activities    

218,404

     

151,635

 
         
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization    

(39,503

)

   

(51,130

)

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired    

-

     

(76,664

)

Net change in investments    

(119,501

)

   

(2,381

)

Net cash used in investing activities    

(159,004

)

   

(130,175

)

         
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Net change in debt    

346,363

     

214,634

 
Proceeds from stock plans    

16,295

     

11,743

 
Purchases of treasury shares    

(173,305

)

   

(196,226

)

Other cash flow from financing activities, net    

(578

)

   

2,767

 
Net cash provided by financing activities    

188,775

     

32,918

 
         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents    

(1,087

)

   

(32

)

Increase in cash and cash equivalents    

247,088

     

54,346

 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period    

436,695

     

335,715

 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  

$

683,783

   

$

390,061

 
         
         

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

         
Net cash provided by operating activities - GAAP  

$

218,404

   

$

151,635

 
         
Adjustments:        
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization    

(39,503

)

   

(51,130

)

Major facility renovations    

14,490

     

20,543

 
Free Cash Flow - Adjusted Non-GAAP  

$

193,391

   

$

121,048

 

(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 3, 2021

 

December 31, 2021

   

Range

 

Range

Projected Sales                
                 
Projected constant-currency sales growth rate (a)    

14

%

-

 

16

%

   

8

%

-

 

11

%

                 
Projected currency impact    

2

%

-

 

4

%

   

1

%

-

 

2

%

                 
Projected sales growth rate as reported    

16

%

-

 

20

%

   

9

%

-

 

13

%

                 
                 
Projected Earnings Per Diluted Share  

Range

 

Range

                 
                 
Projected GAAP earnings per diluted share  

$

2.10

 

-

$

2.20

   

$

9.65

 

-

$

9.85

 
Adjustments:                
Purchased intangibles amortization  

$

0.04

 

-

$

0.04

   

$

0.16

 

-

$

0.16

 
Certain income tax items  

$

0.01

 

-

$

0.01

   

$

0.04

 

-

$

0.04

 
Projected adjusted non-GAAP earnings per diluted share  

$

2.15

 

-

$

2.25

   

$

9.85

 

-

$

10.05

 

(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/20210505005130/en/

Contacts

Bryan Brokmeier, CFA, Senior Director, Investor Relations, 508-482-3448

Source: Waters Corporation

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