Newell Brands Announces First Quarter 2024 Results

Turnaround Gains Momentum As Sales Improve Sequentially
Gross and Operating Margin Expand Significantly Versus Prior Year
Operating Cash Flow Increases Versus Prior Year
Affirms Outlook for Full Year 2024

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 26, 2024-- Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) today announced its first quarter 2024 financial results.

Chris Peterson, Newell Brands President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The decisive actions we've taken as part of our new strategy have led to excellent progress on the major operational and financial priorities for this year. During the first quarter, core sales performance improved sequentially, normalized operating margin nearly doubled versus last year and we meaningfully increased operating cash flow. We remain confident in our ability to strengthen the company's performance and create value for our stakeholders over time, as we continue to move with speed and agility to operationalize our strategy, which focuses on disproportionately investing in innovation, brand building and go-to-market excellence in our largest and most profitable brands and markets."

Mark Erceg, Newell Brands Chief Financial Officer, said, "The interventions made to operationalize Newell’s new corporate strategy and improve the structural economics of the business are taking hold as evidenced by the fact this was the third consecutive quarter of strong year-over-year gross margin expansion, enabled by world class productivity, favorable mix and pricing. In addition, working capital reduction, together with operating income growth, resulted in positive operating cash flow during the first quarter which, historically, has been very hard to achieve due to the seasonality of the business. With a stronger than anticipated start to the year we remain confident in our full year outlook."

Executive Summary

Net sales were $1.7 billion, a decline of 8.4 percent compared with the prior year period. Core sales declined 4.7 percent compared with the prior year period.
Reported gross margin increased to 30.5 percent compared with 26.7 percent in the prior year period. Normalized gross margin increased to 31.2 percent compared with 27.1 percent in the prior year period.
Reported operating margin increased to 1.0 percent compared with negative 2.0 percent in the prior year period. Normalized operating margin increased to 4.6 percent compared with 2.4 percent in the prior year period.
Reported net loss was $9 million compared with $102 million in the prior year period. Normalized net loss was $2 million compared with $26 million in the prior year period. Normalized EBITDA increased to $143 million compared with $109 million in the prior year period.
Reported diluted loss per share was $0.02 compared with $0.25 in the prior year period. Normalized diluted loss per share was $0.00 compared with $0.06 in the prior year period.
Operating cash flow increased by $109 million to $32 million compared with the prior year period.
The company affirmed its full year 2024 outlook.

First Quarter 2024 Operating Results

Net sales were $1.7 billion, an 8.4 percent decline compared with the prior year period, reflecting a core sales decline of 4.7 percent, as well as the impact of unfavorable foreign exchange and business exits. Pricing in international markets to offset inflation and currency movements was a meaningful contributor to the company's core sales performance.

Reported gross margin was 30.5 percent compared with 26.7 percent in the prior year period, as the benefits from productivity savings, mix and pricing more than offset the impact of inflation and slightly higher restructuring-related charges. Normalized gross margin was 31.2 percent compared with 27.1 percent in the prior year period, which represents the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement.

Reported operating income was $16 million compared with operating loss of $36 million in the prior year period. Reported operating margin was 1.0 percent compared with negative 2.0 percent in the prior year period, as the contribution from mix, pricing and savings from productivity, Project Phoenix and organizational realignment, as well as lower restructuring and related costs, more than offset the impact of lower net sales, inflation and higher advertising and promotion expense. Normalized operating income was $76 million, or 4.6 percent of sales, compared with $43 million, or 2.4 percent of sales, in the prior year period.

Net interest expense was $70 million compared with $68 million in the prior year period.

Reported tax benefit was $51 million compared with $14 million in the prior year period. The normalized tax provision was $5 million compared with a benefit of $1 million in the prior year period.

Reported net loss was $9 million compared with $102 million in the prior year period. Normalized net loss was $2 million compared with $26 million in the prior year period. Normalized EBITDA was $143 million compared with $109 million in the prior year period.

Reported diluted loss per share was $0.02 compared with $0.25 in the prior year period. Normalized diluted loss per share was $0.00 compared with $0.06 in the prior year period.

An explanation of non-GAAP measures disclosed in this release and a reconciliation of these non-GAAP results to comparable GAAP measures, if available, are included in the tables attached to this release.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Operating cash flow increased by $109 million to $32 million compared with outflow of $77 million in the prior year period, with the improvement mostly driven by working capital and an increase in operating income. Inventories decreased nearly $550 million versus the prior year period.

At the end of the first quarter, Newell Brands had debt outstanding of $5.0 billion and cash and cash equivalents of $372 million, compared with $5.6 billion and $271 million, respectively, at the end of the first quarter of 2023.

First Quarter 2024 Operating Segment Results

The Home & Commercial Solutions segment generated net sales of $893 million compared with $971 million in the prior year period, reflecting a core sales decline of 4.3 percent and the impact of unfavorable foreign exchange and certain business exits. Core sales growth in Commercial, primarily driven by pricing in international markets, was more than offset by declines in the Kitchen and Home Fragrance businesses. Reported operating income was $16 million, or 1.8 percent of sales, compared with operating loss of $37 million, or negative 3.8 percent of sales, in the prior year period. Normalized operating income was $41 million, or 4.6 percent of sales, versus a loss of $4 million, or negative 0.4 percent of sales, in the prior year period.

The Learning & Development segment generated net sales of $559 million compared with $564 million in the prior year period, as core sales growth of 1.8 percent was more than offset by the impact of unfavorable foreign exchange. Core sales increased in both the Writing and Baby businesses, with growth in Writing primarily driven by pricing in international markets. Reported operating income was $94 million, or 16.8 percent of sales, compared with $72 million, or 12.8 percent of sales, in the prior year period. Normalized operating income was $104 million, or 18.6 percent of sales, compared with $82 million, or 14.5 percent of sales, in the prior year period.

The Outdoor & Recreation segment generated net sales of $201 million compared with $270 million in the prior year period, reflecting a core sales decline of 20.3 percent and the impact of unfavorable foreign exchange and certain business exits. Reported operating loss was $18 million, or negative 9.0 percent of sales, compared with $1 million, or negative 0.4 percent of sales, in the prior year period. Normalized operating loss was $10 million, or negative 5.0 percent of sales, compared with normalized operating income of $13 million, or 4.8 percent of sales, in the prior year period.

Organizational Realignment Update

In January 2024, the company announced an organizational realignment, which is expected to strengthen the company’s front-end commercial capabilities, such as consumer understanding and brand communication, in support of the Where to Play / How to Win choices the company unveiled in June of 2023 (the "Realignment Plan"). In addition to improving accountability, the Realignment Plan should further unlock operational efficiencies and cost savings, reduce complexity and free up funds for reinvestment. As part of the organizational realignment, the company made several organizational design changes, which entailed: standing up a cross-functional brand management organization, realigning business unit finance to fully support the new global brand management model, further simplifying and standardizing regional go-to-market organizations, and centralizing domestic retail sales teams, the digital technology team, business-aligned accounting personnel, the Manufacturing Quality team, and the Human Resources functions into the appropriate center-led teams to drive standardization, efficiency and scale with a One Newell approach. The company will also further optimize Newell’s real estate footprint and pursue other cost reduction initiatives. These actions are expected to be substantially implemented by the end of 2024. Once the organizational design changes are fully executed, the company expects to realize annualized pretax savings in the range of $65 million to $90 million, net of reinvestment, with $55 million to $70 million expected in 2024. Restructuring and related charges associated with these actions are estimated to be in the range of $75 million to $90 million and are expected to be substantially incurred by the end of 2024. During the first quarter 2024, the company incurred restructuring and related charges of $22 million related to the Realignment Plan.

Outlook for Second Quarter and Full Year 2024

The company initiated its outlook for second quarter 2024 and affirmed its full year 2024 outlook.

	Q2 2024 Outlook	Full Year 2024 Outlook
Net Sales	9% to 7% decline	8% to 5% decline
Core Sales	6% to 4% decline	6% to 3% decline
Normalized Operating Margin	9.1% to 9.6%	7.8% to 8.2%
Normalized EPS	$0.18 to $0.21	$0.52 to $0.62

The company continues to expect full year 2024 operating cash flow of $400 million to $500 million, including approximately $150 million to $200 million in cash payments associated with restructuring and related initiatives.

The company has presented forward-looking statements regarding core sales, normalized operating margin and normalized earnings per share. These non-GAAP financial measures are derived by excluding certain amounts, expenses or income, from the corresponding financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The determination of the amounts that are excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures is a matter of management judgement and depends upon, among other factors, the nature of the underlying expense or income amounts recognized in a given period in reliance on the exception provided by item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. We are unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking normalized operating margin or normalized earnings per share to their most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because such information is not available, and management cannot reliably predict all of the necessary components of such GAAP measures without unreasonable effort or expense. In addition, we believe such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on the company's future financial results. These non-GAAP financial measures are preliminary estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among others, changes in connection with quarter-end and year-end adjustments. Any variation between the company's actual results and preliminary financial data set forth above may be material.

Conference Call

Newell Brands’ first quarter 2024 earnings conference call will be held today, April 26, at 9:30 a.m. ET. A link to the webcast is provided under Events & Presentations in the Investors section of the company’s website at www.newellbrands.com. A webcast replay will be made available in the Quarterly Earnings section of the company’s website.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release and the accompanying remarks contain non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and includes a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

The company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures that are included in this press release, the additional financial information and accompanying remarks both to explain its results to stockholders and the investment community and in the internal evaluation and management of its businesses. The company’s management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures and the information they provide are useful to investors since these measures (a) permit investors to view the company’s performance and liquidity using the same tools that management uses to evaluate the company’s past performance, reportable segments, prospects for future performance and liquidity, and (b) determine certain elements of management incentive compensation.

The company’s management believes that core sales provides a more complete understanding of underlying sales trends by providing sales on a consistent basis as it excludes the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures, retail store openings and closings, certain market and category exits, and changes in foreign exchange from year-over-year comparisons. The effect of changes in foreign exchange on reported sales is calculated by applying the prior year average monthly exchange rates to the current year local currency sales amounts (excluding acquisitions and divestitures), with the difference between the current year reported sales and constant currency sales presented as the foreign exchange impact increase or decrease in core sales. The company’s management believes that “normalized” gross margin, “normalized” operating income, “normalized” operating margin, "normalized EBITDA", “normalized” net income, “normalized” diluted earnings per share, “normalized” interest and “normalized” income tax benefit or expense, which exclude restructuring and restructuring-related expenses and one-time and other events such as costs related to the extinguishment of debt; certain tax benefits and charges; impairment charges; pension settlement charges; divestiture costs; costs related to the acquisition, integration and financing of acquired businesses; amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets; inflationary adjustments; fire related loss, net of insurance recoveries; and certain other items, are useful because they provide investors with a meaningful perspective on the current underlying performance of the company’s core ongoing operations and liquidity. “Normalized EBITDA” is an ongoing liquidity measure (that excludes non-cash items) and is calculated as normalized earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expense.

The company determines the tax effect of the items excluded from normalized diluted earnings per share by applying the estimated effective rate for the applicable jurisdiction in which the pretax items were incurred, and for which realization of the resulting tax benefit, if any, is expected. In certain situations in which an item excluded from normalized results impacts income tax expense, the company utilizes a “with” and “without” approach to determine normalized income tax benefit or expense.

The company defines "net debt" as short-term debt, current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents.

While the company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the company’s performance and liquidity, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for or superior to the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similar measures presented by other companies.

About Newell Brands

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. Newell Brands is focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments.

This press release and additional information about Newell Brands are available on the company’s website, www.newellbrands.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release and its exhibits, particularly those anticipating future financial performance, business prospects, growth, operating strategies, the benefits and savings associated with Project Phoenix and the Realignment Plan, future macroeconomic conditions and similar matters, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements generally can be identified by the use of words or phrases, including, but not limited to, "guidance," "outlook," “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” “setting up,” "beginning to,” “will,” “should,” “would,” "could," “resume,” “remain confident,” "remain optimistic," "seek to," or similar statements. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees because there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including impairment charges and accounting for income taxes. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

our ability to optimize costs and cash flow and mitigate the impact of soft global demand and retailer inventory rebalancing through discretionary and overhead spend management, advertising and promotion expense optimization, demand forecast and supply plan adjustments and actions to improve working capital;
our dependence on the strength of retail and consumer demand and commercial and industrial sectors of the economy in various countries around the world;
our ability to improve productivity, reduce complexity and streamline operations;
risks related to our substantial indebtedness, potential increases in interest rates or changes in our credit ratings, including the failure to maintain financial covenants which if breached could subject us to cross-default and acceleration provisions in our debt documents;
competition with other manufacturers and distributors of consumer products;
major retailers’ strong bargaining power and consolidation of our customers;
supply chain and operational disruptions in the markets in which we operate, including as a result of geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions and any global military conflicts, including those between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East;
changes in the prices and availability of labor, transportation, raw materials and sourced products, including significant inflation, and our ability to offset cost increases through pricing and productivity in a timely manner;
our ability to effectively execute our turnaround plan, including Project Ovid, Project Phoenix, the Network Optimization Project and the Realignment Plan;
our ability to develop innovative new products, to develop, maintain and strengthen end-user brands and to realize the benefits of increased advertising and promotion spend;
the risks inherent to our foreign operations, including currency fluctuations, exchange controls and pricing restrictions;
future events that could adversely affect the value of our assets and/or stock price and require additional impairment charges;
unexpected costs or expenses associated with dispositions;
the cost and outcomes of governmental investigations, inspections, lawsuits, legislative requests or other actions by third parties, the potential outcomes of which could exceed policy limits, to the extent insured;
our ability to remediate the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting;
a failure or breach of one of our key information technology systems, networks, processes or related controls or those of our service providers;
the impact of U.S. and foreign regulations on our operations, including the impact of tariffs and environmental remediation costs and legislation and regulatory actions related to product safety, data privacy and climate change;
the potential inability to attract, retain and motivate key employees;
changes in tax laws and the resolution of tax contingencies resulting in additional tax liabilities;
product liability, product recalls or related regulatory actions;
our ability to protect our intellectual property rights;
significant increases in the funding obligations related to our pension plans; and
other factors listed from time to time in our SEC filings, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings.

The consolidated condensed financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). Management’s application of U.S. GAAP requires the pervasive use of estimates and assumptions in preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements. The company continues to be impacted by inflationary pressures, soft global demand, major retailers' focus on tight control over inventory levels, elevated interest rates and indirect macroeconomic impacts from geopolitical conflicts, which has required greater use of estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements. Although we believe we have made our best estimates based upon current information, actual results could differ materially and may require future changes to such estimates and assumptions, including reserves, which may result in future expense or impairment charges.

The information contained in this press release and the tables is as of the date indicated. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments.