HARVEY, Ill. — Atkore International Group Inc. announced earnings for its fiscal 2020 full year and fourth quarter ended September 30, 2020.
“Atkore delivered record earnings in the fourth quarter and for the full Fiscal Year 2020,” remarked Bill Waltz, Atkore President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our disciplined use of the Atkore Business System enabled us to effectively generate $249 million in cash from operations, strengthen our balance sheet through $40 million in debt repayment in the fourth quarter, and lower our net leverage ratio to 1.6. Despite a challenging environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Atkore’s excellent commercial and operational execution drove higher margins in the fourth quarter.”
Waltz continued, “I want to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication as well as diligence to working safely during these challenging times as they served customers with quality products and exceptional service. Atkore’s culture combined with our core values enables us to consistently deliver upon our commitments. We are focused on building better together with our employees, customers, shareholders and communities in order to create an even stronger business for the future.”
The Company reported double digit year-over-year improvements in net income, adjusted EBITDA, diluted EPS and adjusted EPS during its fourth quarter for the fiscal year ended 2020. Subsequent to the fiscal year close, the Company demonstrated its ability to effectively deploy capital by executing a share repurchase of $15 million, and completing the asset purchase of Queen City Plastics in order to help strengthen the company’s position in PVC conduit and other related categories, and increase its exposure to the growing residential market.
2020 Fourth Quarter Results
Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased to $477.4 million, a decrease of 4.8% compared to $501.7 million for the prior-year period, primarily due to lower sales volume of $47.5 million within both the Electrical Raceway and Mechanical Products and Solutions segments. The decrease in net sales was partially offset by an increase of $20.1 million resulting from higher average selling prices.
Gross profit increased by $3.3 million to $147.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to $143.7 million for the prior-year period. Gross margins increased from 28.6% in the prior year period to 30.8% in the fourth quarter fiscal 2020 due to lower material costs and operating efficiencies.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $14.1 million or 20.5%, to $54.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to $68.9 million for the prior-year period. The decrease was primarily due to cost savings as a result of COVID-19, in particular lower variable compensation of $2.7 million, reduced travel costs of $2.2 million and lower insurance costs of $2.0 million. The Company also had a gain on the sale of property and equipment of $3.8 million offsetting expenses during fiscal 2020.
Net income increased $8.2 million to $54.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to $46.0 million for the prior-year period, due to higher operating income of $18.0 million. The increase in net income was partially offset by lower other income of $7.7 million from the $7.4 million of income generated from a bargain purchase gain on the acquisition of Rocky Mountain Pipe (“Cor-Tek”) in fiscal 2019. Adjusted net income increased $8.0 million to $56.5 million compared to $48.5 million for the prior-year period.
Adjusted EBITDA increased $9.4 million, or 10.6%, to $98.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to $88.8 million for the prior-year period. Net income margin increased from 9.2% in the prior-year period to 11.4% and Adjusted EBITDA Margin increased 290 basis points from 17.7% to 20.6%.
Net income per diluted share was $1.11 for the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of $0.17 from the prior-year period. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $1.18 per share for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $1.01 for the prior-year period.
Segment Results
Electrical Raceway
Electrical Raceway net sales decreased $9.2 million, or 2.5%, to $364.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to $373.3 million for the prior-year period. The decrease in net sales is primarily driven by $35.3 million in lower volume attributed primarily to impacts of COVID-19 across most product categories in the fourth quarter. The decrease in volume is partially offset by volume gains in the PVC electrical conduit and fittings product category. The decrease in net sales was also partially offset by higher average selling prices resulting from higher input costs of resin and copper of $23.6 million.
Adjusted EBITDA increased $12.9 million, or 16.1%, to $92.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to $80.0 million for the prior-year period, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin increased from 21.4% to 25.5%. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was largely due to pricing strategies partially offset by lower volume period over period.
Mechanical Products & Solutions
MP&S net sales decreased $14.8 million, or 11.5%, to $113.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to $128.7 million for the prior-year period. The decrease is attributed to lower volume of $12.2 million primarily attributed to the impacts of COVID-19 across all product categories. Additionally, net sales decreased due to lower average selling prices resulting from the lower input cost of steel of $3.5 million.
Adjusted EBITDA decreased $5.0 million, or 23.8%, to $16.1 million for the fourth quarter 2020, as compared to $21.1 million for the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA Margin decreased to 14.1% from 16.4%. The Adjusted EBITDA decrease is primarily due to the lower volume, partially offset by cost control measures in response to COVID-19.
Fiscal 2020 Full-Year Results
Net sales for fiscal 2020 decreased $151.1 million to $1,765.4 million, a decrease of 7.9%, compared to $1,916.5 million for fiscal 2019. The decrease is primarily attributed to lower volume of $140.3 million predominantly due to the impacts of COVID-19. The Company experienced volume declines in most of its product categories with the exception of the PVC electrical conduit and fittings product category within the Electrical Raceway segment and the mechanical pipe product category within the MP&S segment. Additionally, net sales decreased $37.7 million due to lower average selling prices resulting from lower input costs of steel, which was partially offset by higher average selling prices resulting from higher input costs of resin and copper. The decrease in net sales was partially offset by $28.5 million of sales from the 2019 acquisitions.
Gross profit for fiscal 2020 decreased $5.9 million to $491.3 million, a decrease of 1.2%, compared to $497.2 million for fiscal 2019. Gross margin increased to 27.8% in fiscal 2020 compared to 25.9% in fiscal 2019 due to lower material costs and operating efficiencies.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $21.2 million, or 8.8%, to $219.5 million for fiscal 2020 compared to $240.7 million for fiscal 2019. The decrease was primarily due to cost savings as a result of COVID-19, in particular lower variable compensation of $6.0 million, reduced travel costs of $5.1 million and lower insurance costs of $3.0 million. Additionally, due to sales volume declines associated with COVID-19, commissions expense decreased $2.4 million. Lastly, the Company had a gain on the sale of property and equipment of $3.8 million offsetting expenses during fiscal 2020.
Net income increased $13.3 million to $152.3 million for fiscal 2020, as compared to $139.1 million for fiscal 2019. Adjusted net income increased $8.6 million to $181.5 million for fiscal 2020 compared to $172.9 million for fiscal 2019. The increase in both net income and adjusted net income was primarily driven by higher operating income of $15.9 million.
Adjusted EBITDA increased $2.2 million or 0.7%, to $326.6 million for fiscal 2020, as compared to $324.4 million for fiscal 2019. The increase was primarily due higher operating income.
Net income per diluted share on a GAAP basis was $3.10 for fiscal 2020, an increase of $0.27 from fiscal 2019. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $3.78 for fiscal 2020 compared to $3.62 for fiscal 2019.
Liquidity & Capital Resources
During fiscal 2020, operating activities provided $248.8 million of cash, compared to $209.7 million during fiscal year 2019. Free cash flow increased to $215.0 million for fiscal 2020 from $174.8 million in fiscal year 2019. The increase in cash provided by operating activities and free cash flow was primarily due to lower spending on working capital of $19.2 million driven by improved collections and reduced purchases of inventory at lower prices as well as improved operating income of $15.9 million.
During the year ended September 30, 2020, the Company made a voluntary prepayment of $40.0 million of principal on the First Lien Loan. The principal repayment combined with the increases in cash on hand and Adjusted EBITDA resulted in a reduction in the net debt leverage ratio to 1.6 as of September 30, 2020 from 2.2 as of September 30, 2019.
Full Year 2021 Outlook
The Company expects fiscal year 2021 Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $340-$360 million and Adjusted net income per diluted share to be in the range of $3.95 – $4.25.
Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Outlook
The Company expects the first quarter of fiscal 2020 Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $95 – $105 million and Adjusted net income per diluted share to be in the range of $1.15 – $1.30.
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