Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

• Sales of $577 million were flat as reported and grew 1% in constant currency
• Pharmaceutical growth of 3%, partially offset by other end markets
• Continued growth in Asia, with weakness in the Americas
• GAAP EPS of $2.07; non-GAAP EPS of $2.13, an 11% increase from prior year

MILFORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced third quarter 2019 sales of $577 million, which were flat as reported, compared to sales of $578 million for the third quarter of 2018. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales growth by approximately 1% for the quarter.

On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter of 2019 increased to $2.07, compared to $1.83 for the third quarter of 2018. On a non-GAAP basis, EPS increased to $2.13, compared to $1.92 for the third quarter of 2018. A description and reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results appear in the tables below and can be found on the Company’s website at http://www.waters.com under the caption “Investors.”

On a GAAP basis, net cash provided by operating activities was $148 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared to $146 million for the third quarter of 2018. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted free cash flow for the third quarter of 2019 was $124 million versus $136 million for the third quarter of 2018.

For the first nine months of 2019, the Company’s sales were $1,690 million, a decrease of 1% as reported, compared to sales of $1,705 million for the first nine months of 2018. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales growth by approximately 2% for the nine months of 2019.

On a GAAP basis, EPS for the first nine months of 2019 increased to $5.63, compared to $5.21 for the first nine months of 2018. On a non-GAAP basis, EPS increased to $5.85, compared to $5.45 in the first nine months of 2018.

On a GAAP basis, net cash provided by operating activities was $451 million for the first nine months of 2019, compared to $423 million for the first nine months of 2018. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted free cash flow for the first nine months of 2019 was $418 million versus $439 million for the first nine months of 2018.

“Third quarter revenue came in lighter than we expected due to unanticipated late-quarter softness in the U.S., while the rest of our business performed largely as planned,” commented Chris O’Connell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Waters Corporation. “Despite the macro challenges we’ve faced, 2019 has been an important year for new product launches that we expect will provide increasing sales contributions over the coming quarters and years.”

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 third quarter of 2019, sales into the pharmaceutical market increased 1% as reported and 3% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market were flat, and sales into the academic and governmental markets declined 4% as reported and 3% in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2019, sales into the pharmaceutical market were flat as reported and grew 3% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market declined 3% as reported and 2% in constant currency, and sales into the academic and governmental markets declined 2% as reported and were flat in constant currency.

During the third quarter, recurring revenues, which represent the combination of service and precision chemistries revenues, grew 4% as reported and 5% in constant currency, while instrument system sales declined 4% as reported and 3% in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2019, recurring revenues grew 2% as reported and 4% in constant currency, while instrument system sales declined 4% as reported and 3% in constant currency.

Geographically, sales in Asia during the quarter grew 7%, sales in the Americas declined 5% (with U.S. sales declining 4%), and sales in Europe declined 4% as reported and were flat in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2019, sales in Asia increased 3% as reported and 4% in constant currency, sales in the Americas were flat (with U.S. sales growing 2%), and sales in Europe declined 7% as reported and 2% in constant currency.

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Outlook

The Company expects fourth quarter 2019 constant-currency sales growth in the range of 0% to 2%. As of today, currency translation is expected to decrease fourth quarter sales growth by one percentage point. The Company also expects fourth quarter 2019 non-GAAP EPS in the range of $2.95 to $3.05. Please refer to the tables below for a reconciliation of the projected GAAP to non-GAAP financial outlook for the fourth quarter.

In addition, the Company is updating its previously issued full-year guidance, and currently expects full-year 2019 constant-currency sales growth to be approximately 1%, compared to the prior range of 1% to 3%. As of today, currency translation is expected to decrease full-year sales growth by approximately one to two percentage points. The Company also expects full-year 2019 non-GAAP EPS in the range of $8.73 to $8.83, compared to our prior range of $8.95 to $9.10. Please refer to the tables below for a reconciliation of the projected GAAP to non-GAAP financial outlook for the full year.

Conference Call

Waters Corporation will webcast its third quarter 2019 financial results conference call today, October 29, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call, please visit www.waters.com, choose “Investors,” and click on the “Live Webcast.” A replay will be available through November 5, 2019 at midnight Eastern Time on the same website by webcast and also by phone at 402-998-0587.

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 approximately 7,200 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 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 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 Waters Corporation’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 Waters Corporation’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, 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 voting to exit 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; impact of the newly enacted tax reform legislation in the U.S.; 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/A for the year ended December 31, 2018 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” discussions are incorporated by reference in this release. 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								Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2019				September 29, 2018				September 28, 2019				September 29, 2018
Net sales	$	577,278			$	578,021			$	1,690,302			$	1,704,910
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales		241,055				241,139				711,632				705,695
Selling and administrative expenses		126,036				126,997				393,583				394,049
Research and development expenses		34,333				35,173				105,883				105,297
Purchased intangibles amortization		2,619				2,114				7,164				5,375
Litigation provision (settlement)		–				924				–				(748	)
Operating income		173,235				171,674				472,040				495,242
Other expense		(496	)			(811	)			(1,363	)			(2,293	)
Interest expense, net		(8,001	)			(1,633	)			(16,826	)			(8,609	)
Income from operations before income taxes		164,738				169,230				453,851				484,340
Provision for income taxes(a)		26,605				28,216				62,322				75,698
Net income	$	138,133			$	141,014			$	391,529			$	408,642
Net income per basic common share	$	2.09			$	1.84			$	5.68			$	5.26
Weighted-average number of basic common shares		66,226				76,575				68,952				77,741
Net income per diluted common share	$	2.07			$	1.83			$	5.63			$	5.21
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents		66,768				77,136				69,533				78,395
(a) The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 included a $3 million benefit related to the finalization of tax regulations under tax reform during the first quarter of 2019. The provision for income taxes for the three and nine months September 28, 2018 included a $2 million expense and a $6 million expense, respectively, related to the tax on the change in foreign currency exchange rates on the earnings taxed in December 31, 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The difference is due to the change from the foreign currency exchange rates required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 31, 2017 to the foreign currency exchange rates on either the date of distribution of assets into the U.S. or the foreign currency exchange rates as of September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018, respectively.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP
Net Sales by Operating Segment, Products & Services, Geography and Markets
Three Months Ended September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018
(In thousands)
													Current
													Period					Constant
	Three Months Ended								Percent				Currency					Currency
	September 28, 2019				September 29, 2018				Change				Impact					Growth Rate (a)
NET SALES – OPERATING SEGMENT
Waters	$		512,146		$		515,795			(1	%)		$		(6,063	)			–
TA			65,132				62,226			5	%				(407	)			5	%
Total	$		577,278		$		578,021			–			$		(6,470	)			1	%
NET SALES – PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Instruments	$		270,317		$		282,543			(4	%)		$		(2,870	)			(3	%)
Service			206,705				199,499			4	%				(2,303	)			5	%
Chemistry			100,256				95,979			4	%				(1,297	)			6	%
Total Recurring			306,961				295,478			4	%				(3,600	)			5	%
Total	$		577,278		$		578,021			–			$		(6,470	)			1	%
NET SALES – GEOGRAPHY
Asia	$		237,775		$		222,196			7	%		$		(106	)			7	%
Americas			196,458				206,803			(5	%)				(160	)			(5	%)
Europe			143,045				149,022			(4	%)				(6,204	)			–
Total	$		577,278		$		578,021			–			$		(6,470	)			1	%
NET SALES – MARKETS
Pharmaceutical	$		328,227		$		325,166			1	%		$		(5,403	)			3	%
Industrial			171,352				171,985			–					(699	)			–
Academic & Governmental			77,699				80,870			(4	%)				(368	)			(3	%)
Total	$		577,278		$		578,021			–			$		(6,470	)			1	%
(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
Net Sales by Operating Segment, Products & Services, Geography and Markets
Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018
(In thousands)
													Current
													Period					Constant
	Nine Months Ended								Percent				Currency					Currency
	September 28, 2019				September 29, 2018				Change				Impact					Growth Rate (a)
NET SALES – OPERATING SEGMENT
Waters	$		1,503,177		$		1,514,246			(1	%)		$		(29,665	)			1	%
TA			187,125				190,664			(2	%)				(2,044	)			(1	%)
Total	$		1,690,302		$		1,704,910			(1	%)		$		(31,709	)			1	%
NET SALES – PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Instruments	$		778,540		$		812,690			(4	%)		$		(11,693	)			(3	%)
Service			611,961				598,402			2	%				(13,141	)			4	%
Chemistry			299,801				293,818			2	%				(6,875	)			4	%
Total Recurring			911,762				892,220			2	%				(20,016	)			4	%
Total	$		1,690,302		$		1,704,910			(1	%)		$		(31,709	)			1	%
NET SALES – GEOGRAPHY
Asia	$		677,122		$		659,381			3	%		$		(9,303	)			4	%
Americas			585,101				586,639			–					(1,015	)			–
Europe			428,079				458,890			(7	%)				(21,391	)			(2	%)
Total	$		1,690,302		$		1,704,910			(1	%)		$		(31,709	)			1	%
NET SALES – MARKETS
Pharmaceutical	$		972,884		$		968,848			–			$		(23,467	)			3	%
Industrial			502,679		$		517,979			(3	%)		$		(5,319	)			(2	%)
Academic & Governmental			214,739		$		218,083			(2	%)		$		(2,923	)			–
Total	$		1,690,302		$		1,704,910			(1	%)		$		(31,709	)			1	%
(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 & Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018
(In thousands, except per share data)
																							Income from
																							Operations
				Selling &									Operating					Other					before					Provision for										Diluted
				Administrative					Operating				Income					(Expense)					Income					Income					Net					Earnings
				Expenses(a)					Income				Percentage					Income					Taxes					Taxes					Income					per Share
Three Months Ended September 28, 2019
GAAP		$		128,655			$		173,235				30.0	%		$		(496	)		$		164,738			$		26,605			$		138,133			$		2.07
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)				(2,619	)				2,619				0.5	%				–					2,619					535					2,084					0.03
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)				(1,596	)				1,596				0.3	%				–					1,596					350					1,246					0.02
Certain income tax items (d)				–					–				–					–					–					(600	)				600					0.01
Adjusted Non-GAAP		$		124,440			$		177,450				30.7	%		$		(496	)		$		168,953			$		26,890			$		142,063			$		2.13
Three Months Ended September 29, 2018
GAAP		$		130,035			$		171,674				29.7	%		$		(811	)		$		169,230			$		28,216			$		141,014			$		1.83
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)				(2,114	)				2,114				0.4	%				–					2,114					429					1,685					0.02
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)				(681	)				681				0.1	%				–					681					157					524					0.01
Pension termination (e)				–					–				–					1,082					1,082					260					822					0.01
Litigation provision (g)				(924	)				924				0.2	%				–					924					222					702					0.01
Tax reform (f)				–					–				–					–					–					(2,353	)				2,353					0.03
Certain income tax items (d)				–					–				–					–					–					(700	)				700					0.01
Adjusted Non-GAAP		$		126,316			$		175,393				30.3	%		$		271			$		174,031			$		26,231			$		147,800			$		1.92
Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019
GAAP		$		400,747			$		472,040				27.9	%		$		(1,363	)		$		453,851			$		62,322			$		391,529			$		5.63
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)				(7,164	)				7,164				0.4	%				–					7,164					1,520					5,644					0.08
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)				(14,382	)				14,382				0.9	%				–					14,382					3,623					10,759					0.15
Tax reform (f)				–					–				–					–					–					3,229					(3,229	)				(0.05	)
Certain income tax items (d)				–					–				–					–					–					(1,908	)				1,908					0.03
Adjusted Non-GAAP		$		379,201			$		493,586				29.2	%		$		(1,363	)		$		475,397			$		68,786			$		406,611			$		5.85
Nine Months Ended September 29, 2018
GAAP		$		398,676			$		495,242				29.0	%		$		(2,293	)		$		484,340			$		75,698			$		408,642			$		5.21
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)				(5,375	)				5,375				0.3	%				–					5,375					935					4,440					0.06
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)				(2,438	)				2,438				0.1	%				–					2,438					549					1,889					0.02
Pension termination (e)				–					–				–					3,247					3,247					780					2,467					0.03
Litigation settlement (g)				748					(748	)			–					–					(748	)				(179	)				(569	)				(0.01	)
Stock award modification (h)				(1,014	)				1,014				0.1	%				–					1,014					243					771					0.01
Tax reform (f)				–					–				–					–					–					(6,230	)				6,230					0.08
Certain income tax items (d)				–					–				–					–					–					(3,385	)				3,385					0.04
Adjusted Non-GAAP		$		390,597			$		503,321				29.5	%		$		954			$		495,666			$		68,411			$		427,255			$		5.45
(a) Selling & administrative expenses include purchased intangibles amortization and litigation provisions and settlements.
(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 and certain other items were excluded as the Company believes that the cost to consolidate operations and reduce overhead 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) The pension expense associated with terminating a frozen defined benefit pension plan was excluded as the Company believes these expenses are not indicative of normal operating costs.
(f) The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 included a $3 million benefit related to the finalization of tax regulations under tax reform during the first quarter of 2019. The provision for income taxes for the three and nine months September 29, 2018 included a $2 million expense and a $6 million expense, respectively, related to the tax on the change in foreign currency exchange rates on the earnings taxed in December 31, 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The difference is due to the change from the foreign currency exchange rates required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 31, 2017 to the foreign currency exchange rates on either the date of distribution of assets into the U.S. or the foreign currency exchange rates as of September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018, respectively.
(g) Litigation provisions and settlement gains were excluded as these items are isolated, unpredictable and not expected to recur regularly.
(h) The non-cash expense associated with accelerating the vesting of certain stock awards was excluded as the Company believes these expenses are not indicative of normal operating costs.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Preliminary Condensed Unclassified Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands and unaudited)
		September 28, 2019			December 31, 2018
Cash, cash equivalents and investments		$	404,649		$	1,735,224
Accounts receivable			504,865			568,316
Inventories			368,790			291,569
Property, plant and equipment, net			381,496			343,083
Intangible assets, net			237,610			246,902
Goodwill			353,938			355,614
Other assets			309,917			186,718
Total assets		$	2,561,265		$	3,727,426
Notes payable and debt		$	1,355,659		$	1,148,350
Other liabilities			1,090,106			1,011,818
Total liabilities			2,445,765			2,160,168
Total equity			115,500			1,567,258
Total liabilities and equity		$	2,561,265		$	3,727,426

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three and Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019 and September 29, 2018
(In thousands and unaudited)
	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	September 28, 2019				September 29, 2018				September 28, 2019				September 29, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	138,133			$	141,014			$	391,529			$	408,642
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation		9,662				9,213				28,917				28,184
Depreciation and amortization		26,704				26,975				80,319				82,811
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net		(26,110	)			(30,862	)			(49,573	)			(96,740	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		148,389				146,340				451,192				422,897
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization		(45,017	)			(27,384	)			(110,205	)			(64,215	)
Asset acquisitions, net of cash acquired		–				(31,486	)			–				(31,486	)
Investment in unaffiliated companies		(2,500	)			(4,400	)			(7,250	)			(7,615	)
Net change in investments		87,895				114,606				942,896				1,361,034
Net cash provided by investing activities		40,378				51,336				825,441				1,257,718
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in debt		206,830				(216	)			206,948				(849,990	)
Proceeds from stock plans		4,182				7,532				34,311				42,377
Purchases of treasury shares		(580,065	)			(263,505	)			(1,909,700	)			(816,649	)
Other cash flow from financing activities, net		2,246				(23	)			6,900				(2,181	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(366,807	)			(256,212	)			(1,661,541	)			(1,626,443	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(5,309	)			5,705				(6,723	)			(7,118	)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(183,349	)			(52,831	)			(391,631	)			47,054
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		587,998				742,204				796,280				642,319
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	404,649			$	689,373			$	404,649			$	689,373
Reconciliation of GAAP Cash Flows from Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow (a)
Net cash provided by operating activities – GAAP	$	148,389			$	146,340			$	451,192			$	422,897
Adjustments:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization		(45,017	)			(27,384	)			(110,205	)			(64,215	)
Tax reform payments		–				7,799				29,109				54,499
Litigation settlement payment		–				–				–				15,400
Major facility renovations		21,073				3,645				48,348				5,446
One-time pension contributions		–				5,245				–				5,245
Free Cash Flow – Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	124,445			$	135,645			$	418,444			$	439,272
(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.

Contacts

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

 

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