WD-40 Co. WDFC

SAN DIEGO, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WD-40 Company (NASDAQ:WDFC), a global marketing organization dedicated to creating positive lasting memories by developing and selling products that solve problems in workshops, factories and homes around the world, today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2021.

Third Fiscal Quarter Financial Highlights

• Total net sales for the second quarter were $111.9 million, an increase of 12 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Year-to-date total net sales were $236.5 million, an increase of 19 percent compared to the prior year fiscal period.
• Translation of the Company's foreign subsidiary results to U.S. dollars had a favorable impact on sales for the current quarter and year-to-date. On a constant currency basis, total net sales would have been $109.2 million for the second quarter and $231.0 million year-to-date.
• Net income for the second quarter was $17.2 million, an increase of 20 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Year-to-date net income was $40.8 million, an increase of 54 percent from the prior year fiscal period.
• Diluted earnings per share were $1.24 in the second quarter, compared to $1.04 per share for the prior year fiscal quarter. Year-to-date diluted earnings per share were $2.96 compared to $1.92 in the prior year fiscal period.
• Gross margin was 55.4 percent in the second quarter compared to 53.6 percent in the prior year fiscal quarter. Year-to-date gross margin was 55.9 percent compared to 53.9 percent in the prior year fiscal period.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses were up 19 percent in the second quarter to $35.5 million when compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Year-to-date selling, general and administrative expenses were up 14 percent to $71.5 million compared to the prior year fiscal period.
• Advertising and sales promotion expenses were up 13 percent in the second quarter to $5.5 million when compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Year-to-date advertising and sales promotion expenses were up 6 percent to $11.0 million compared to the prior year fiscal period.

"We continue to experience very high demand for our maintenance products due to renovation trends associated with the pandemic, or what we call isolation renovation," said Garry Ridge, WD-40 Company's chairman and chief executive officer. "In addition, we are seeing improved market conditions due to a reduction of COVID-19 lockdown measures in many markets, particularly in China, as well as increased sales through the ecommerce channel." 

"However, the pandemic has also caused some disruptions and constraints to our supply chain, primarily in the Americas, which impacted our ability to meet the increased end user demand we experienced in the United States during the second quarter.  Despite these supply chain challenges in the United States, we continue to experience very strong point-of-sale end user demand for our maintenance products. We are working to address the supply chain challenges and there is a recovery plan underway which we expect will result in improved conditions in the back half of the year." 

"We are off to a very strong start in the first half of fiscal 2021. Keeping up with demand in a COVID environment has been a challenge, but we've increased our revenue expectations and believe that net sales are likely to be in a range of between $445 million to $475 million for the full fiscal year.  This upward revision is driven primarily by favorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates.  Additionally, over the long-term, we are optimistic that many of the new end users who have interacted with our products during the pandemic will become permanent users of our maintenance and homecare solutions," Ridge concluded. 

Net Sales by Segment (in thousands):

• Net sales by segment as a percent of total net sales for the second quarter were as follows: for the Americas, 41 percent; for EMEA, 45 percent; and for Asia-Pacific, 14 percent.
• Net sales in the Americas decreased 1 percent in the second quarter due primarily to lower sales of maintenance products in the United States which decreased 11 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Lower sales of maintenance products in the United States were due to supply chain constraints and disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Partially offsetting these declines were higher sales in Canada and Latin America which increased 15 percent and 27 percent, respectively. The increase in sales in Canada was driven by increased demand linked to renovation trends associated with the pandemic, increased sales through the ecommerce channel and the successful introduction Next Generation Smart Straw®. The increase in sales in Latin America was primarily due to strong sales of WD-40 Multi-Use Product in Mexico.
• Net sales in EMEA increased 19 percent in the second quarter primarily due to higher sales of maintenance products in both the EMEA direct and distributor markets, which increased 17 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Higher sales of maintenance products in the EMEA direct markets were primarily due to increased sales of WD-40 Multi-Use Product driven by increased demand linked to renovation trends associated with the pandemic and increased sales through the ecommerce channel. Higher sales of maintenance products in the EMEA distributor markets were primarily attributable to improved economic conditions as a result of reductions in COVID-19 related movement restrictions. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact on sales for the EMEA segment from period to period. On a constant currency basis, EMEA sales for the first quarter would have increased by 15 percent compared to the prior fiscal year quarter.
• Net sales in Asia-Pacific increased 39 percent in the second quarter due primarily to higher sales of WD-40 Multi-Use Product in China which increased 251 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. Higher sales of WD-40 Multi-Use Product in China were primarily due to improved market conditions due to the reduction of COVID-19 lockdown measures compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year when the pandemic was in its earliest stages. Also contributing to higher sales in Asia-Pacific were higher sales in Australia which increased 39 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. This increase was driven by higher demand for maintenance products linked to renovation trends and increased demand for cleaning products primarily due to the impacts of the pandemic. Partially offsetting these increases were lower sales in the Asia-Pacific distributor markets which declined 4 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. The lower sales of maintenance products in the Asia distributor markets were attributed to the shift in the timing of customer orders as well as delays in the shipment of certain orders linked to shipping container shortages in the region. In addition, many of the Company's marketing distributors are continuing to adjust to more normalized inventory levels. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact on sales for the Asia-Pacific segment. On a constant currency basis, Asia-Pacific would have increased by 32 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter.

Net Sales by Product Group (in thousands):

• Net sales of maintenance products, which are considered the primary growth focus for the Company, increased 13 percent in the second quarter when compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. This sales increase was primarily attributable to increased sales of WD-40 Multi-Use Product in all three segments driven by increased demand linked to renovation trends associated with the pandemic, improved market conditions due to a reduction of COVID-19 lockdown measures, and increased sales through the ecommerce channel.
• Net sales of homecare and cleaning products increased 3 percent in the second quarter when compared to the prior year fiscal quarter. The Company started to experience an increase in sales of its homecare and cleaning products beginning in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 due to increased demand for such products as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The homecare and cleaning products, particularly those in the U.S., are considered harvest brands providing healthy profit returns to the Company and are becoming a smaller part of the business as net sales of multi-purpose maintenance products grow per the execution of the Company's strategic initiatives.

Dividend Information
As previously announced, WD-40 Company's board of directors declared on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 a quarterly dividend of $0.72 per share reflecting an increase of greater than 7 percent over the previous quarter's dividend. The quarterly dividend is payable on April 30, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on April 16, 2021.

Webcast Information
As previously announced, WD-40 Company management will host a live webcast at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT today to discuss these results. Other forward-looking and material information may also be discussed during this call including management's current view of the business in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Please visit http://investor.wd40company.com for more information and to view supporting materials.

About WD-40 Company
WD-40 Company is a global marketing organization dedicated to creating positive lasting memories by developing and selling products that solve problems in workshops, factories and homes around the world. The Company markets a wide range of maintenance products and homecare and cleaning products under the following well-known brands: WD-40®, 3-IN-ONE®, GT85®, X-14®, 2000 Flushes®, Carpet Fresh®, no vac®, Spot Shot®, 1001®, Lava® and Solvol®.   

Headquartered in San Diego, WD-40 Company recorded net sales of $408.5 million in fiscal year 2020 and its products are currently available in more than 176 countries and territories worldwide. WD-40 Company is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select market under the ticker symbol "WDFC." For additional information about WD-40 Company please visit http://www.wd40company.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect the Company's current expectations with respect to currently available operating, financial and economic information.  These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, discussions about future financial and operating results, including:  growth expectations for maintenance products; expected levels of promotional and advertising spending; anticipated input costs for manufacturing and the costs associated with distribution of our products; plans for and success of product innovation; the impact of new product introductions on the growth of sales; anticipated results from product line extension sales; expected tax rates and the impact of tax legislation and regulatory action; the length and severity of the current COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy and the Company's financial results; and forecasted foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Our forward-looking statements are generally identified with words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "could," "may," "aim," "anticipate," "target," "estimate" and similar expressions.

The Company's expectations, beliefs and forecasts are expressed in good faith and are believed by the Company to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the Company's expectations, beliefs or forecasts will be achieved or accomplished.

Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified in Part I―Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended February 28, 2021 which the Company expects to file with the SEC on April 8, 2021.

All forward-looking statements included in this press release should be considered in the context of these risks. All forward-looking statements speak only as of April 8, 2021, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE WD-40 Company