Stanley Black & Decker Reports Record 3Q 2020 Results

10/27/20

Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) today announced third quarter 2020 financial results.

  • 3Q'20 Revenues Totaled $3.9 Billion, Up 6% Versus Prior Year Led By 11% Organic Growth In Tools & Storage
  • The Gross Margin Rate Was 35.7%; Excluding Charges, The Gross Margin Rate Was 35.9% Up 160 Basis Points Versus Prior Year
  • The Operating Margin Rate Was 16.6%; Excluding Charges, The Operating Margin Rate Was A Record 17.7%, Up 320 Basis Points Versus Prior Year, Aided By Cost Control, The Margin Resiliency Initiatives, Volume Leverage And Price Realization
  • 3Q'20 Diluted GAAP EPS Was $2.44; Excluding Charges, 3Q'20 Diluted EPS Was A Record $2.89, Up 36% Versus 3Q'19
  • Free Cash Flow In the Quarter Was $615 Million Bringing The Year To Date Total To $391 Million, Up $412 Million Versus Prior Year
  • The Company Expects Continued Strong Operating Results In 4Q'20 And Will Share Its Scenario Planning Framework On Today's Earnings Call

3Q'20 Key Points:

  • Net sales for the quarter were $3.9 billion, up 6% versus prior year, with volume (+3%), acquisitions (+2%) and price (+1%) contributing to the growth. Approximately $100-$125M of promotional shipments in Tools & Storage shifted into October from September, impacting the segment for the quarter vs 3Q'20 revenue planning assumptions communicated in late August by 4-5pts.
  • The gross margin rate for the quarter was 35.7%. Excluding charges, the rate was 35.9%, up 160 basis points versus prior year as volume, productivity, cost management and price more than offset higher currency and operating costs related to the pandemic.
  • SG&A expenses were 19.2% of sales. Excluding charges, SG&A expenses were 18.3% of sales compared to 19.8% in 3Q'19, reflecting the benefits of previously announced cost management programs.
  • The tax rate was 16.7%. Excluding charges, the tax rate was 17.8% versus 21.5% in 3Q'19.
  • Working capital turns for the quarter were 7.0, up 1.1 turns from prior year.

Stanley Black & Decker's President and CEO, James M. Loree, commented, "The third quarter was one of the most remarkable and memorable quarters in my 20+ years with the company. In the third quarter we successfully pivoted to organic growth, capturing the strong demand trends in Tools & Storage while leveraging our swift and effective cost actions to deliver record operating margins and earnings per share as well as impressive free cash flow. The agility of our team and its ability to navigate, collaborate and shift key areas of focus during this period was truly a differentiator for us, and I want to thank our 54,000 employees around the globe for their efforts.

"Our critical priorities to guide our decision making since the onset of the pandemic remain unchanged: (1) ensuring the health and safety of our employees and supply chain partners; (2) maintaining business continuity and financial strength and stability; (3) serving our customers as they provide essential products and services to the world; and (4) doing our part to mitigate the impact of the virus across the globe. It's critical for us to sustain this focus which has helped us ensure strong financial performance during this challenging period as we continue to face uncertainty associated with COVID-19. In that regard, we will retain discipline on costs and the cost savings programs put in place earlier this year, while we simultaneously make investments in key growth areas associated with society's nesting and reconnecting with the home and outdoors, e-Commerce and health and safety."

  • Tools & Storage net sales increased 11% versus 3Q'19 from the benefit of volume (+10%) and price (+1%). Organic revenues across all regions were positive benefitting from consumers reconnecting with the home and positive e-Commerce trends that have emerged during the pandemic, with North America +11%, Europe +12% and emerging markets +11%. This strong growth occurred even as certain shipments planned for September shifted into October. North America organic growth was driven by strong DIY and professional demand in retail and e-Commerce channels which was partially offset by declines in industrial-focused customers. Exceptionally strong point-of-sale demand in U.S. retail continued through the end of 3Q'20 as we observed only modest improvement in retailer inventory levels. Europe benefitted from similar trends. Emerging markets enjoyed a Latin America-led recovery that began in August. Overall the Tools & Storage segment profit rate, excluding charges, was a record 21.5%, up 490 basis points versus 3Q'19, with volume, productivity, cost control and price all contributing.
  • Industrial net sales declined 7% versus 3Q'19 as the CAM acquisition (+10%) and currency (+1%) was offset by volume (-18%). Gradual market recoveries continued across many of the businesses with automotive end markets showing the largest sequential improvement. Engineered Fastening organic revenues were down 14% due to lower global automotive light vehicle and general industrial production. Infrastructure organic revenues were down 25% from lower volumes in Attachment Tools and a sharp reduction in oil & gas pipeline construction. The overall Industrial segment profit rate, excluding charges, was 12.3%, down from the 3Q'19 rate, as the unfavorable impact from market driven volume declines was partially mitigated by effective cost control. However, the rate increased 350 basis points sequentially and the segment is positioned well from a cost perspective as markets continue to improve and should eventually demonstrate growth.
  • Security net sales declined 1% versus 3Q'19 as currency (+2%) and price (+1%) was offset by lower volume (-4%) related to market driven declines. North America declined 3% primarily due to lower installations in commercial electronic security and healthcare due to the pandemic. Europe was down 2% organically as growth within France and the Nordics was offset by lower volume in the UK. Order rates in electronic security have gained momentum since the trough and the backlog remains in a healthy position. The overall Security segment profit rate, excluding charges, was 11.0%, which was approximately flat with the 3Q'19 rate of 10.9%, as price and cost control more than offset the impact from lower volume and growth investments. Gross margin rate in Security expanded 90 basis points versus 3Q'19.

2020 Outlook

The Company withdrew its full year guidance in April as a result of the uncertain macro environment and will continue to refrain from providing such guidance at this time. Management will discuss its 2020 scenario planning assumptions on today's earnings call.

The cost reduction program announced on April 2 is expected to deliver $500 million in cost savings in 2020. During the third quarter, $175 million of savings were realized, bringing the year-to-date total to $350 million. Currently, the carryover benefit into 2021 is $125 million.

Donald Allan Jr., Executive Vice President and CFO, commented, "The effort and execution by the organization in the third quarter resulted in a historically strong financial performance, considering the operating environment. Our Security and Industrial businesses are on track to preserve a significant amount of earnings potential during the downturn and Tools & Storage is now set up to reset margin rates to new higher levels.

"As we close out this year and prepare for 2021, we are preserving operational flexibility to serve the strengthening demand in many of our businesses while executing on our cost reduction and margin resiliency programs. While the demand environment remains uncertain, our visibility is improving, and we are investing in growth and efficiency programs to position our businesses to capitalize on improved markets, deliver share gain and support margin expansion. We remain focused on maintaining a strong operational foundation and balance sheet and we are confident in our ability to generate significant future shareholder value."

Merger And Acquisition ("M&A") Related And Other Charges

Total pre-tax M&A related and other charges in 3Q'20 were $89.0 million, primarily related to the cost reduction program, Security business transformation and margin resiliency initiatives, and non-cash inventory step-up charges. Gross margin included $7.0 million of these charges while SG&A included $36.0 million. Other, net and Restructuring included $3.2 million and $42.8 million of these charges, respectively.

Share of net earnings of equity method investment included $2.7 million of charges.

The Company will host a conference call with investors today, October 27, 2020, at 8:00 am ET. A slide presentation which will accompany the call will be available at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com and will remain available after the call.

Stanley Black & Decker, an S&P 500 company, is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, electronic security solutions, healthcare solutions, engineered fastening systems, and more. Learn more at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.

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