Company posts net sales of $200.1 million;

Third quarter net earnings totaled $0.64 per diluted share;

Company narrows 2016 full year sales and EPS guidance ranges

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC), a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing of solutions that help create a cleaner, safer, healthier world, today reported net earnings of $11.5 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, on net sales of $200.1 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016. On a “Constant Currency” basis (assuming no change in foreign exchange rates from the prior year), Tennant would have reported 2016 third quarter net earnings of $0.62 per diluted share. In the 2015 third quarter, Tennant reported a net loss of $1.0 million, or a loss of $0.05 per diluted share, on net sales of $204.8 million. The 2015 third quarter included two special items that reduced net earnings by a total of $0.73 per diluted share: a non-cash long-lived asset impairment of $11.5 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, and a restructuring charge of $1.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share. Excluding these special items, adjusted 2015 third quarter net earnings totaled $12.1 million, or $0.68 per diluted share. (See the Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Table.)

Commented Chris Killingstad, Tennant Company's president and chief executive officer: “Despite the slow growth environment for industrial manufacturers that led to lower sales in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions, our Americas region posted record revenues for a third quarter. We remain competitively well positioned and excited about our growth prospects. We expect to return to organic sales growth in the 2016 fourth quarter.”

Tennant continues to expect positive performance from its growth strategy. It is staying the course strategically with an unwavering focus on ensuring a robust new product and technology pipeline, developing an e-Commerce platform, and extending Tennant’s worldwide market coverage and customer base. Concurrently, the company remains focused on controlling costs.

During the 2016 third quarter, Tennant Company expanded its commercial floor coatings business with the acquisition of the Florock^® brand in Chicago. Tennant also acquired the assets of Dofesa Barrido Mecanizado, a long-time distributor based in central Mexico, to enhance Tennant’s sales and service capabilities in this growing region.

Third Quarter Operating Review

The company's 2016 third quarter consolidated net sales of $200.1 million was down 2.3 percent compared to the prior year quarter. The impact of foreign currency exchange on sales was neutral in the quarter, and the net impact of the Florock acquisition and the 2016 Green Machines™ divestiture decreased consolidated net sales by 0.1 percent. As a result, organic net sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency exchange, acquisitions and divestitures, decreased 2.2 percent.

Geographically, in its Americas region, Tennant posted record sales for a third quarter, as noted above. Sales rose 2.2 percent in the Americas, or grew 1.2 percent organically, excluding the impact of the Florock acquisition, led by higher sales to strategic accounts, demand for new products in North America and strong sales in Latin America. Sales in the 2016 third quarter were negatively impacted by productivity challenges in North America that resulted in a larger-than-normal order backlog at quarter end. Sales in EMEA decreased 15.1 percent and decreased approximately 7.6 percent organically, excluding the impact of the Green Machines divestiture of 5.0 percent and an unfavorable foreign currency exchange impact of about 2.5 percent. Positive organic sales growth through distribution in Western Europe was more than offset by organic sales declines elsewhere, particularly the U.K. where Brexit’s negative impact on the economy, and the related devaluation of the British Pound, was larger than anticipated. Sales in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region declined 13.1 percent versus strong year ago sales and decreased approximately 15.1 percent organically, excluding a favorable foreign currency exchange impact of about 2.0 percent. In the prior year third quarter, sales in the APAC region increased 7.3 percent, and grew approximately 21.3 percent organically, excluding an unfavorable foreign currency exchange impact of about 14.0 percent.

Tennant's gross margin in the 2016 third quarter was 42.6 percent compared to 43.3 percent in the prior year quarter. The 70 basis point decline was due primarily to productivity challenges in North America, as previously mentioned. The company continues to anticipate that gross margin for the 2016 full year will be in its target range of 43 percent to 44 percent.

Research and development (R&D) expense for the 2016 third quarter totaled $8.4 million, or 4.2 percent of sales, versus $8.2 million, or 4.0 percent of sales, a year ago. The company continued to invest in developing a robust pipeline of innovative new products and technologies.

Selling and administrative (S&A) expense in the 2016 third quarter decreased to $60.6 million, or 30.3 percent of sales, from $64.7 million, or 31.6 percent of sales, and $62.9 million, or 30.7 percent as adjusted, in the 2015 third quarter. Tennant continued to control spending while investing in its high-priority growth initiatives.

Tennant's 2016 third quarter operating profit was $16.3 million, or 8.1 percent of sales, versus an operating profit of $4.6 million, or 2.2 percent of sales, and $17.5 million, or 8.6 percent of sales as adjusted, in the year ago quarter. Tennant’s 2016 third quarter operating profit margin would have been 7.9 percent on a “Constant Currency” basis (excluding the impact of favorable foreign currency exchange).

New Product and Technology Pipeline

Tennant Company continues to execute against the strongest new product pipeline in its history. In 2016, the company plans to introduce 10 new products, including large industrial cleaning machines.

Among Tennant’s key new product launches in 2016:

• The next generation of three large, high-performance cleaning machines for the industrial market: the M20 and M30 Integrated Sweeper-Scrubbers, and the T20 Heavy-Duty Industrial Rider Scrubber. These new models incorporate Tennant’s latest technologies, including the Pro-Panel™ intuitive touch-screen.
• The M17 Battery-Powered Sweeper-Scrubber, Tennant’s largest battery-powered sweeper-scrubber. This versatile machine allows operators to choose between dry sweeping, scrubbing, or simultaneously sweeping and scrubbing. The fume-free sweeper-scrubber is engineered to be easy to operate and maintain, while providing big productivity gains through industry leading innovations.

Commented Killingstad: “Our new products have been well received by customers, with the M17 and our IRIS^® telemetry technology, in particular, exceeding our expectations. We remain committed to developing new products and technologies that fuel our revenue growth. We also aim to create new growth avenues, through our advanced product development efforts, that go beyond improving cleaning performance. We are looking at our customers’ needs holistically to address a broader array of customer needs, such as managing labor costs, productivity and machine maintenance information. We plan to expand our business through telemetry – with new and enhanced offerings for our IRIS Asset Manager – as well as robotics, battery technology and water recycling. We are excited about the impact of these innovations for Tennant’s future.”

Tennant is committed to being an industry innovation leader and raising the standard for sustainable cleaning around the world.

2016 First Nine Months Results

For the first ninth months ended September 30, 2016, Tennant’s net earnings totaled $31.2 million, or $1.74 per diluted share, on net sales of $596.8 million, compared to prior year net earnings of $18.9 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, on net sales of $605.9 million. On a “Constant Currency” basis, Tennant’s 2016 year-to-date net earnings totaled $1.80 per diluted share. Unfavorable foreign currency exchange reduced consolidated net sales by approximately 1.0 percent, and the net impact of the Florock acquisition and the Green Machines divestiture decreased consolidated net sales by 0.6 percent. Organic net sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency exchange, acquisitions and divestitures, increased approximately 0.1 percent.

Year-to-date 2016 gross margin was 43.2 percent and was equal to the prior year period. R&D expense in the 2016 first nine months was $24.7 million, or 4.1 percent of sales, compared to $24.3 million, or 4.0 percent of sales, in the 2015 first nine months. S&A expense in the 2016 first nine months was $187.3 million, or 31.4 percent of sales, versus $190.8 million, or 31.5 percent of sales, and $189.1 million, or 31.2 percent of sales as adjusted, in the year ago period.

Operating profit in the 2016 first nine months was $45.9 million, or 7.7 percent of sales, compared to $35.4 million, or 5.8 percent of sales, and $48.4 million or 8.0 percent of sales as adjusted, in the prior year first nine months.

Tennant generated $33.3 million in cash from operations in the first nine months versus $30.9 million in the year earlier period. Cash on the balance sheet at September 30, 2016, totaled $42.3 million, versus $56.8 million a year ago. The company's total debt was $36.2 million compared to $24.6 million at the end of the prior year period. Reflecting Tennant’s ongoing commitment to enhancing shareholder return, the company paid cash dividends to shareholders of $10.6 million in the 2016 first nine months and repurchased 246,474 shares of common stock at a cost of $12.8 million.

2016 Business Outlook

Killingstad stated: “For the remainder of 2016, we anticipate continued global economic uncertainty. We are narrowing our full year revenue and earnings guidance ranges, based on the company’s performance to date and our expectations for a return to organic sales growth in the 2016 fourth quarter. We remain committed to investing for growth, with disciplined spending.”

Tennant Company now anticipates 2016 net sales in the range of $805 million to $815 million, down 0.8 percent to up 0.4 percent, or approximately up 0.2 percent to up 1.4 percent organically, excluding an unfavorable foreign currency exchange impact, a sales decline from the Green Machines divestiture and a sales increase from the Florock acquisition. The company expects 2016 full year earnings in the range of $2.40 to $2.60 per diluted share. Previously, Tennant estimated 2016 full year net sales in the range of $800 million to $820 million and earnings in the range of $2.35 to $2.60 per diluted share.

Foreign currency exchange headwinds in 2016 are estimated to negatively impact operating profit in the range of $2 million to $3 million, or a negative impact of approximately $0.08 to $0.12 per diluted share. On a “Constant Currency” basis (assuming no change in foreign exchange rates from the prior year), 2016 full year earnings are anticipated to be in the range of $2.52 to $2.68 per diluted share. The estimated slightly higher effective tax rate in 2016 is also anticipated to negatively impact earnings per share by approximately $0.05. For the 2015 full year, adjusted diluted earnings per share totaled $2.49. (See the Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Table.)

Tennant’s 2016 annual financial outlook includes the following assumptions:

• Continued slow economic growth in North America, modest improvement in Europe and growth in emerging markets;
• Unfavorable foreign currency impact on sales for the full year of approximately 1 percent, with a $2 million to $3 million negative effect on operating profit;

• Decline in sales of approximately 1 percent from the Green Machines divestiture, and an immaterial impact on earnings;
• Increase in sales of approximately 1 percent from the Florock acquisition, and an immaterial impact on earnings;
• Gross margin performance in the range of 43 percent to 44 percent;
• R&D expense of approximately 4 percent of sales, as the company continues to invest in its core products and in water-based cleaning technologies;
• Capital expenditures in the range of $25 million to $30 million; and
• An effective tax rate of approximately 31 percent.

Commented Killingstad: “We continue to believe that Tennant is competitively advantaged with attractive growth prospects in a stronger global economy. In the short term, we remain vigilant on controlling costs and enhancing productivity across the organization, while making targeted investments to reach our goal of $1 billion in organic sales and a 12 percent operating profit margin.”

Conference Call

Tennant will host a conference call to discuss the 2016 third quarter results today, October 25, 2016, at 10 a.m. Central Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time). The conference call and accompanying slides will be available via webcast on Tennant's investor website. To listen to the call live and view the slide presentation, go to investors.tennantco.com and click on the link at the bottom of the Home page. A taped replay of the conference call with slides will be available at investors.tennantco.com for approximately three months after the call.

Company Profile

Minneapolis-based Tennant Company (TNC) is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that empower customers to achieve quality cleaning performance, significantly reduce their environmental impact and help create a cleaner, safer, healthier world. Its products include equipment for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments; detergent-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies; and coatings for protecting, repairing and upgrading surfaces. Tennant's global field service network is the most extensive in the industry. Tennant has manufacturing operations in Minneapolis, MN; Holland, MI; Louisville, KY; Chicago, IL; Uden, The Netherlands; São Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China; and sells products directly in 15 countries and through distributors in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit www.tennantco.com. The Tennant Company logo and other trademarks designated with the symbol “®” are trademarks of Tennant Company registered in the United States and/or other countries.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this document, as well as other written and oral statements made by us from time to time, are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements do not relate to strictly historical or current facts and provide current expectations or forecasts of future events. Any such expectations or forecasts of future events are subject to a variety of factors. These include factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market as well as matters specific to us and the markets we serve. Particular risks and uncertainties presently facing us include: geopolitical and economic uncertainty throughout the world; the competition in our business; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, particularly the relative strength of the U.S. dollar against other major currencies; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; our ability to successfully upgrade, evolve and protect our information technology systems; fluctuations in the cost, quality, or availability of raw materials and purchased components; our ability to effectively manage organizational changes; our ability to develop and commercialize new innovative products and services; unforeseen product liability claims or product quality issues; the occurrence of a disruption to the value chain process, such as sourcing, distribution, logistics or customer support; the occurrence of a significant business interruption; and our ability to comply with laws and regulations.

We caution that forward-looking statements must be considered carefully and that actual results may differ in material ways due to risks and uncertainties both known and unknown. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For additional information about factors that could materially affect Tennant's results, please see our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including disclosures under “Risk Factors.”

We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, and investors are advised to consult any further disclosures by us on this matter in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other written statements we make from time to time. It is not possible to anticipate or foresee all risk factors, and investors should not consider any list of such factors to be an exhaustive or complete list of all risks or uncertainties.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release and the related conference call include presentations of non-GAAP measures that include or exclude special items. Management believes that the non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors regarding the company's results of operations and financial condition because they permit a more meaningful comparison and understanding of Tennant Company's operating performance for the current, past or future periods. Management uses these non-GAAP measures to monitor and evaluate ongoing operating results and trends, and to gain an understanding of the comparative operating performance of the company. See the Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Table. In addition, this news release and related conference call include a discussion of sales, sales growth, gross margin, operating profit margin and net earnings per diluted share on a “Constant Currency” basis, which are non-GAAP measures. For the purpose of comparison, financial performance on a “Constant Currency” basis uses the prior year exchange rates for the comparative period to enhance the visibility of the underlying business trends, excluding the impact arising from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161025005286/en/

Source: Tennant Company