Generac Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

WAUKESHA, Wis., May 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC) (“Generac” or the “Company”), a leading global designer and manufacturer of energy technology solutions and other power products, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2023 and provided an update on its outlook for the full year 2023.

First Quarter 2023 Highlights

• Net sales decreased 22% to $888 million during the first quarter of 2023 as compared to $1.14 billion in the prior-year first quarter. Core sales, which excludes both the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency, decreased approximately 24%.
  • Residential product sales declined 46% to $419 million as compared to $777 million last year.
  • Commercial & Industrial (“C&I”) product sales increased 30% to $363 million as compared to $279 million in the prior year.
• Net income attributable to the Company during the first quarter was $12 million, or $0.05 per share, as compared to $114 million, or $1.57 per share, for the same period of 2022.
• Adjusted net income attributable to the Company, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $39 million, or $0.63 per share, as compared to $128 million, or $1.98 per share, in the first quarter of 2022.
• Adjusted EBITDA before deducting for noncontrolling interests, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $100 million, or 11.3% of net sales, as compared to $196 million, or 17.3% of net sales, in the prior year.
• On February 1^st, the Company closed on the acquisition of REFU Storage Systems, a developer and supplier of battery storage hardware products, advanced software, and platform services for commercial and industrial applications, headquartered in Pfullingen, Germany.
• On March 8^th, the Company purchased the remaining 20% minority ownership interest in Pramac, bringing the Company’s total ownership to 100%. Headquartered in Italy, Pramac is a designer and manufacturer of stationary, mobile and portable generators along with energy storage solutions sold through a broad distribution network across the world. The Company’s initial majority ownership position was acquired in 2016.

“As expected, first quarter sales were down year-over-year due to a challenging prior year comparison related to the significant excess backlog for home standby products as we entered 2022,” said Aaron Jagdfeld, President and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, residential product sales in the current year quarter were impacted by elevated levels of field inventory for home standby generators and a decline in clean energy products as we continue to expand our distribution network. However, power outage activity in the quarter was well above the long-term average, helping drive significant year-over-year growth for home standby in-home consultations and a meaningful reduction in field inventory levels for these products. Our global C&I product sales were at all-time highs in the quarter and exceeded our expectations with strength across all channels domestically and most regions internationally. As a result of these factors, we are maintaining our full-year 2023 net sales and adjusted EBITDA margin guidance.”

Additional First Quarter 2023 Consolidated Highlights

Gross profit margin was 30.7% as compared to 31.8% in the prior-year first quarter. This margin performance was primarily due to the significant impact of unfavorable sales mix, partially offset by the realization of previously implemented pricing actions and lower input costs.

Operating expenses increased $22.0 million, or 10.7%, as compared to the first quarter of 2022 primarily driven by increased marketing, promotion, and employee costs, certain legal and regulatory expenses, and the impact of recurring operating expenses from recent acquisitions.

Provision for income taxes for the current year quarter was $7.9 million, or an effective tax rate of 35.7%, as compared to $28.6 million, or a 19.7% effective tax rate, for the prior year. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a lower benefit from equity compensation on a low pre-tax earnings base in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year.

Cash flow used in operations was $(18.6) million during the first quarter, as compared to $(10.1) million in the prior year. Free cash flow, as defined in the accompanying reconciliation schedules, was $(41.7) million as compared to $(36.8) million in the first quarter of 2022. The modest decline in free cash flow in the current year quarter was primarily due to lower operating earnings and a $36 million one-time cash tax payment for tax planning related to a recent acquisition, mostly offset by lower investment in working capital as compared to the prior year.

Business Segment Results

Domestic Segment

Domestic segment total sales (including inter-segment sales, as disclosed in the accompanying schedule) decreased 26% to $720.0 million as compared to $974.9 million in the prior year quarter, with the impact of acquisitions contributing approximately 3% revenue growth for the quarter. The decline in core sales was driven primarily by lower home standby and clean energy product shipments. This decline was partially offset by strong growth in C&I product sales across all channels, highlighted by national rental equipment, industrial distributors, telecom, and other direct customers for “beyond standby” applications.

Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $67.7 million, or 9.4% of total sales, as compared to $170.4 million in the prior year, or 17.5% of total sales. This margin performance was primarily driven by unfavorable sales mix and reduced operating leverage on lower shipments. Additionally, the impact of acquisitions and continued energy technology growth investments negatively affected margins during the quarter. These impacts were partially offset by previously implemented pricing actions and lower input costs.

International Segment

International segment total sales (including inter-segment sales, as disclosed in the accompanying schedule) increased 17% to $216.5 million as compared to $185.4 million in the prior year quarter, with the net impact of acquisitions and foreign currency contributing approximately 2% net headwind to revenue growth for the quarter. The core sales growth for the segment was driven primarily by strength in our European operations.

Adjusted EBITDA for the segment, before deducting for noncontrolling interests, was $32.4 million, or 15.0% of total sales, as compared to $26.0 million, or 14.0% of total sales, in the prior year. This strong margin performance was primarily driven by favorable price/cost dynamics and improved operating leverage on higher sales volumes.

Updated 2023 Outlook

Due to ongoing strength in leading indicators of demand for home standby generators and significant backlog for C&I products, the Company is maintaining its full-year 2023 net sales guidance. Consistent with the prior outlook, shipments of residential products are still expected to remain soft during the second quarter as home standby field inventory levels continue to normalize, with a return to year-over-year sales growth in the second half of the year partially offsetting the expected first half decline. In addition, our outlook for C&I product sales to grow at a mid to high-single digit rate during the year remains unchanged. Accordingly, the Company continues to expect full-year net sales to decline between -6 to -10% as compared to the prior year, which includes approximately 1 to 2% of net favorable impact from acquisitions and foreign currency.

Additionally, the Company continues to expect net income margin, before deducting for non-controlling interests, to be approximately 7.5 to 8.5% for the full-year 2023. The corresponding adjusted EBITDA margin is still expected to be approximately 17.0 to 18.0% and disproportionately weighted towards the second half of the year.

Operating and free cash flow generation is expected to return to strong levels for the full year, with conversion of adjusted net income to free cash flow expected to be well over 100%.

Conference Call and Webcast

Generac management will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 to discuss first quarter 2023 operating results. The conference call can be accessed at the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIff9bb98e6aa7405b94d6f836a70bd366. Individuals that wish to listen via telephone will be given dial-in information.

The conference call will also be webcast simultaneously on Generac’s website (http://www.generac.com), accessed under the Investor Relations link. The webcast link will be made available on the Company’s website prior to the start of the call within the Events section of the Investor Relations website.

Following the live webcast, a replay will be available on the Company’s website for 12 months.

About Generac

Generac is a leading energy technology company that provides backup and prime power systems for home and industrial applications, solar + battery storage solutions, smart home energy management devices and energy services, advanced power grid software platforms and engine- & battery-powered tools and equipment. Founded in 1959, Generac introduced the first affordable backup generator and later created the category of automatic home standby generator. The company is committed to sustainable, cleaner energy products poised to revolutionize the 21st century electrical grid.  

Forward-looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release, as well as other information provided from time to time by Generac Holdings Inc. or its employees, may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give Generac’s current expectations and projections relating to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "confident," "may," "should," "can have," "likely," "future," “optimistic” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events.

Any such forward looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results, and involve risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) and assumptions. Although Generac believes any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect Generac’s actual financial results and cause them to differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, including:

• frequency and duration of power outages impacting demand for our products;
• fluctuations in cost and quality of raw materials required to manufacture our products;
• availability of both labor and key components from our manufacturing operations and global supply chain, including single-sourced components and contract manufacturers, needed in producing our products;  
• the possibility that the expected synergies, efficiencies and cost savings of our acquisitions will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period;
• the risk that our acquisitions will not be integrated successfully;
• the impact on our results of possible fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodities, product mix, logistics costs and regulatory tariffs;
• difficulties we may encounter as our business expands globally or into new markets;
• our dependence on our distribution network;
• our ability to remain competitive by investing in, developing or adapting to changing technologies and manufacturing techniques, as well as protecting our intellectual property rights;
• loss of our key management and employees;
• increase in product and other liability claims or recalls;
• failures or security breaches of our networks, information technology systems, or connected products;
• changes in laws and regulations regarding environmental, health and safety, product compliance, or international trade that affect our products, operations, or customer demand;
• significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or government investigations; and
• changes in durable goods spending by consumers and businesses or other macroeconomic conditions, impacting demand for our products.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, Generac’s actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in any forward-looking statements. In the current environment, some of the above factors have materialized and may cause actual results to vary from these forward-looking statements.  A detailed discussion of these and other factors that may affect future results is contained in Generac’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), particularly in the Risk Factors section of the 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q. Stockholders, potential investors and other readers should consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement made by Generac in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made.  Generac undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Metrics

Core Sales

The Company references core sales to further supplement Generac’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Core sales excludes the impact of acquisitions and fluctuations in foreign currency translation. Management believes that core sales facilitates easier and more meaningful comparison of net sales performance with prior and future periods.

Adjusted EBITDA

To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company provides the computation of Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Company, which is defined as net income before noncontrolling interest adjusted for the following items: interest expense, depreciation expense, amortization of intangible assets, income tax expense, certain non-cash gains and losses including purchase accounting and contingent consideration adjustments, share-based compensation expense, losses on extinguishment of debt, certain transaction costs and credit facility fees, business optimization expenses, certain specific provisions, and adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests, as set forth in the reconciliation table below.  

Adjusted Net Income

To further supplement Generac’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company provides a summary to show the computation of adjusted net income attributable to the Company. Adjusted net income attributable to the Company is defined as net income before noncontrolling interests adjusted for the following items: amortization of intangible assets, amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount related to the Company’s debt, intangible impairment charges, certain transaction costs and other purchase accounting adjustments, losses on extinguishment of debt, business optimization and other charges, certain specific provisions, certain other non-cash gains and losses, and adjusted net income attributable to non-controlling interests.

Free Cash Flow

In addition, we reference free cash flow to further supplement Generac’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, plus proceeds from beneficial interests in securitization transactions, less expenditures for property and equipment, and is intended to be a measure of operational cash flow taking into account additional capital expenditure investment into the business.

The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Please see the accompanying Reconciliation Schedules and our SEC filings for additional discussion of the basis for Generac’s reporting of Non-GAAP financial measures, which includes why the Company believes these measures provide useful information to investors and the additional purposes for which management uses the non-GAAP financial information.

SOURCE: Generac Holdings Inc.

Generac Holdings Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(U.S. Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
Net sales	$	887,910			$	1,135,856
Costs of goods sold		615,411				775,108
Gross profit		272,499				360,748
Operating expenses:
Selling and service		100,688				98,243
Research and development		41,820				39,744
General and administrative		59,685				41,972
Amortization of intangibles		25,823				26,054
Total operating expenses		228,016				206,013
Income from operations		44,483				154,735
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense		(22,995	)			(9,554	)
Investment income		688				77
Other, net		(166	)			246
Total other expense, net		(22,473	)			(9,231	)
Income before provision for income taxes		22,010				145,504
Provision for income taxes		7,849				28,608
Net income		14,161				116,896
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		1,731				3,038
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	12,430			$	113,858
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share – basic:	$	0.06			$	1.61
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic:		61,556,044				63,449,380
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share – diluted:	$	0.05			$	1.57
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted:		62,294,447				64,828,819
Comprehensive income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	35,362			$	122,365

Generac Holdings Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(U.S. Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)
	March 31,				December 31,
		2023				2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	137,365			$	132,723
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $28,660 and $27,664 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		490,384				522,458
Inventories		1,438,296				1,405,384
Prepaid expenses and other assets		119,729				121,783
Total current assets		2,185,774				2,182,348
Property and equipment, net		490,143				467,604
Customer lists, net		202,556				206,987
Patents and technology, net		445,333				454,757
Other intangible assets, net		37,633				41,719
Tradenames, net		225,198				227,251
Goodwill		1,426,332				1,400,880
Deferred income taxes		8,320				12,746
Operating lease and other assets		189,843				175,170
Total assets	$	5,211,132			$	5,169,462
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	$	64,093			$	48,990
Accounts payable		426,191				446,050
Accrued wages and employee benefits		48,088				45,741
Accrued product warranty		80,902				89,141
Other accrued liabilities		273,039				349,389
Current portion of long-term borrowings and finance lease obligations		18,029				12,733
Total current liabilities		910,342				992,044
Long-term borrowings and finance lease obligations		1,527,355				1,369,085
Deferred income taxes		110,447				125,691
Operating lease and other long-term liabilities		317,795				312,916
Total liabilities		2,865,939				2,799,736
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		3,814				110,471
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 73,052,760 and 72,701,275 shares issued at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		731				728
Additional paid-in capital		1,042,786				1,016,138
Treasury stock, at cost, 10,855,203 and 11,284,350 shares at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		(779,533	)			(808,491	)
Excess purchase price over predecessor basis		(202,116	)			(202,116	)
Retained earnings		2,319,638				2,316,224
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(42,343	)			(65,102	)
Stockholders’ equity attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.		2,339,163				2,257,381
Noncontrolling interests		2,216				1,874
Total stockholders’ equity		2,341,379				2,259,255
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	5,211,132			$	5,169,462

Generac Holdings Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(U.S. Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023				2022
Operating activities
Net income	$	14,161			$	116,896
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation		14,128				12,407
Amortization of intangible assets		25,823				26,054
Amortization of original issue discount and deferred financing costs		954				637
Deferred income taxes		(10,712	)			(49,156	)
Share-based compensation expense		10,334				8,827
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets		30				(571	)
Other noncash charges		(160	)			(6,446	)
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable		33,925				(66,510	)
Inventories		(23,820	)			(147,250	)
Other assets		(5,576	)			2,253
Accounts payable		(24,488	)			26,363
Accrued wages and employee benefits		1,630				(21,558	)
Other accrued liabilities		(53,790	)			102,015
Excess tax benefits from equity awards		(998	)			(14,103	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(18,559	)			(10,142	)
Investing activities
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		84				1,864
Proceeds from sale of investment		–				1,308
Proceeds from beneficial interests in securitization transactions		795				1,573
Contribution to equity method investment		–				(2,921	)
Expenditures for property and equipment		(23,977	)			(28,200	)
Purchase of long-term investment		(2,000	)			–
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(16,188	)			(999	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(41,286	)			(27,375	)
Financing activities
Proceeds from short-term borrowings		19,515				136,664
Proceeds from long-term borrowings		267,869				110,000
Repayments of short-term borrowings		(5,080	)			(124,609	)
Repayments of long-term borrowings and finance lease obligations		(113,573	)			(1,737	)
Payment of contingent consideration		(479	)			–
Purchase of additional ownership interest		(104,844	)			–
Taxes paid related to equity awards		(4,710	)			(34,620	)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		4,975				9,903
Net cash provided by financing activities		63,673				95,601
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		814				600
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		4,642				58,684
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		132,723				147,339
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	137,365			$	206,023

Generac Holdings Inc.
Segment Reporting and Product Class Information
(U.S. Dollars in Thousands)
(Unaudited)
	Total Sales by Reportable Segment
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2023											Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
	External Net Sales			Intersegment Sales				Total Sales				External Net Sales			Intersegment Sales				Total Sales
Domestic	$	704,386		$	15,607			$	719,993			$	964,674		$	10,270			$	974,944
International		183,524			32,942				216,466				171,182			14,250				185,432
Intercompany elimination		–			(48,549	)			(48,549	)						(24,520	)			(24,520	)
Total net sales	$	887,910		$	–			$	887,910			$	1,135,856		$	–			$	1,135,856
	External Net Sales by Product Class
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023			2022
Residential products	$	418,863		$	776,944
Commercial & industrial products		362,990			278,728
Other		106,057			80,184
Total net sales	$	887,910		$	1,135,856
	Adjusted EBITDA
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023			2022
Domestic	$	67,662		$	170,421
International		32,413			25,992
Total adjusted EBITDA (1)	$	100,075		$	196,413
(1) See reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc. on the following reconciliation schedule.

Generac Holdings Inc.
Reconciliation Schedules
(U.S. Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)
Net income to Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023				2022
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	12,430			$	113,858
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		1,731				3,038
Net income		14,161				116,896
Interest expense		22,995				9,554
Depreciation and amortization		39,951				38,461
Provision for income taxes		7,849				28,608
Non-cash write-down and other adjustments (1)		(3,160	)			(7,792	)
Non-cash share-based compensation expense (2)		10,334				8,827
Transaction costs and credit facility fees (3)		1,091				989
Business optimization and other charges (4)		1,100				1,159
Provision for regulatory charges (5)		5,800				–
Other		(46	)			(289	)
Adjusted EBITDA		100,075				196,413
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests		3,133				3,425
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	96,942			$	192,988
(1) Includes gains/losses on disposals of assets and sales of certain investments, unrealized mark-to-market adjustments on commodity contracts, certain foreign currency related adjustments, and certain purchase accounting and contingent consideration adjustments. A full description of these and the other reconciliation adjustments contained in these schedules is included in Generac’s SEC filings.
(2) Represents share-based compensation expense to account for stock options, restricted stock and other stock awards over their respective vesting periods.
(3) Represents transaction costs incurred directly in connection with any investment, as defined in our credit agreement, equity issuance or debt issuance or refinancing, together with certain fees relating to our senior secured credit facilities.
(4) Represents severance and other non-recurring restructuring charges.
(5) The amount recorded in the first quarter 2023 represents a provision of $5.8 million for a pending matter with the Consumer Product Safety Commission concerning the imposition of penalty fines for allegedly failing to timely submit a report under the Consumer Product Safety Act in relation to certain portable generators that were subject to a voluntary recall previously announced on July 29, 2021.
Net income to Adjusted net income reconciliation
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023				2022
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	12,430			$	113,858
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		1,731				3,038
Net income		14,161				116,896
Amortization of intangible assets		25,823				26,054
Amortization of deferred finance costs and original issue discount		954				637
Transaction costs and other purchase accounting adjustments (6)		718				(5,756	)
(Gain)/loss attributable to business or asset dispositions (7)		(119	)			(229	)
Business optimization and other charges (4)		1,100				1,159
Provision for regulatory charges (5)		5,800				–
Tax effect of add backs (8)		(7,131	)			(9,256	)
Adjusted net income		41,306				129,505
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		1,861				1,355
Adjusted net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	39,445			$	128,150
Adjusted net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc. per
common share – diluted:	$	0.63			$	1.98
Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted:		62,294,447				64,828,819
(6) Represents transaction costs incurred directly in connection with any investment, as defined in our credit agreement, equity issuance or debt issuance or refinancing, and certain purchase accounting and contingent consideration adjustments.
(7) Represents gains and losses attributable to the disposition of a business or assets occurring in other than ordinary course, as defined in our credit agreement.
(8) In the third quarter of 2022, management determined that certain add-backs in 2022 should be reported net of tax. Add-backs in the first quarter of 2022 were not reported net of tax, and we reported adjusted net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc. for the first quarter ended 2022 of $135,271 or $2.09. Taking into account the tax effect on certain add-backs, the revised reported adjusted net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc. for the first quarter ended 2022 is $128,150 or $1.98.
Free Cash Flow Reconciliation
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023				2022
Net cash used in operating activities	$	(18,559	)		$	(10,142	)
Proceeds from beneficial interests in securitization transactions		795				1,573
Expenditures for property and equipment		(23,977	)			(28,200	)
Free cash flow	$	(41,741	)		$	(36,769	)