American Vanguard Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

Nov 11 2024 21:44 GMT

Reiterating full-year 2024 Adj. EBITDA guidance
Non-Crop Revenues Grew 17%; Green Solutions Revenues Grew 18% Y/o/Y

Business transformation continues to accelerate, raising expected annual benefit to $20 million
Company reduced debt by $32.5 million

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 11, 2024-- American Vanguard^® Company, a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops, manufactures, and markets solutions for crop protection and nutrition, turf and ornamental management and commercial pest control, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Third Quarter 2024 Financial and Operational Highlights – versus Third Quarter 2023:

Net sales of $118.3 million ($130.7 million when excluding Dacthal product recall impact) v. $149.5 million;
Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $1.8 million v. $11.4 million;
Maintaining full-year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $40 million to $50 million
EPS of $(0.92) v. ($0.01)
Decreased debt by $32.5 million from $211.3 million in the previous quarter

First nine months 2024 Financial and Operational Highlights – versus first nine months 2023:

Net sales of $381.7 million ($394.1 million when excluding Dacthal product recall impact) v. $407.2 million;
Adjusted EBITDA of $23.3 million v. $33.5 million;
EPS of $(1.28) v. $0.02

Other Highlights:

Raising expected full-year transformation related benefits to $20 million from $15 million
The Board is actively engaged in recruiting a CEO to build upon the transformation momentum

Timothy J. Donnelly, Acting CEO of American Vanguard, stated “We remain focused on transforming our Company into an efficient, reliable and profitable supplier to the Ag industry. We are pleased with the results that we are beginning to see from our business transformation. While we continue to manage through macroeconomic headwinds, we are seeing pockets of strength. For example, our non-crop business grew 17% as compared to the year ago period, and our green solutions portfolio grew 18% as compared to the year ago period. The growth in these areas was offset by pressure from generics, but the single biggest factor was a significant drop in Aztec sales year over year. Sales in 2023 were unusually high as a result of a previous supply shortage.”

Mr. Donnelly continued, “As we transform the business, we are incurring one-time charges associated with positioning American Vanguard for longer-term growth. During the quarter we incurred a $8.1 million transformation charge. Additionally, during the quarter we recorded a $16.2 million charge associated with the collection and disposal of Dacthal. The Company benefitted from this profitable product for many years, and we are now taking the necessary steps to safely recall and dispose of it.”

David T. Johnson, Vice President, CFO and Treasurer, stated “Despite the macro headwinds, the Company remains steadfast in its transformation roadmap, which presents a clear path towards achieving a 15% adjusted-EBITDA margin across the ag-cycle. We are pleased to have been able to pay down a material amount of debt during the quarter, decreasing our long-term debt to $179 million from $211 million at the end of the previous quarter. We expect to further improve our liquidity as we decrease our inventory in our seasonally strong 4^th quarter. We remain optimistic that we can decrease inventory to 34% of sales by year end, down $25 million versus last year. We are pleased with the hard work of our employees in pursuing the business transformation projects. Furthermore, through their hard work we were able to reduce operating expenses, excluding transformation costs, for both the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024, as compared to the prior year period.”

Mark Bassett, a board member who is temporarily working with the Company’s Office of the CEO commented, “Within our transformation, we are encouraged by the initial progress that we have made and see an opportunity for even greater benefits than we had originally calculated. We now expect to achieve $20 million in transformation related benefits instead of our previous estimate of $15 million.”

Dr. Bassett concluded, “I want to reiterate our full year 2024 revenue (down 2% to flat, excluding the product recall charge) and adjusted EBITDA ($40 - $50 million) targets. I view this achievement as a testament to the resiliency of this Company, especially in the wake of the current market conditions. We are focused on returning American Vanguard to a position of consistent free cash flow generation, which in the near-term will be allocated towards further deleveraging, but over the medium to long-term we expect to be able to apply these cash flows to growth opportunities.”

About American Vanguard
American Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets products for crop protection and management, turf and ornamentals management, and public and animal health. Over the past 20 years, through product and business acquisitions, the Company has expanded its operations into 21 countries and now has more than 1,000 product registrations in 56 nations worldwide. Its strategy rests on two growth initiatives – i) Core Business through innovation of conventional products and ii) Green Solutions with more than 120 biorational products – including fertilizers, microbials, nutritionals and non-conventional products. American Vanguard is included on the Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes. To learn more about the Company, please reference www.american-vanguard.com.

The Company, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s SEC reports and filings. All forward-looking statements, if any, in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

ASSETS	September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Current assets:
Cash	$	11,880		$	11,416
Receivables:
Trade, net of allowance for credit losses of $8,661 and $7,107, respectively		146,145			182,613
Other		5,852			8,356
Total receivables, net		151,997			190,969
Inventories		246,037			219,551
Prepaid expenses		7,501			6,261
Income taxes receivable		7,690			3,824
Total current assets		425,105			432,021
Property, plant and equipment, net		73,494			74,560
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		21,448			22,417
Intangible assets, net of amortization		164,480			172,508
Goodwill		48,012			51,199
Deferred income tax assets		12,218			2,849
Other assets		14,701			11,994
Total assets	$	759,458		$	767,548

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	73,557		$	68,833
Customer prepayments		27,183			65,560
Accrued program costs		85,665			68,076
Accrued expenses and other payables		29,066			16,354
Operating lease liabilities, current		6,604			6,081
Income taxes payable		3,229			5,591
Total current liabilities		225,304			230,495
Long-term debt		178,749			138,900
Operating lease liabilities, long term		15,574			17,113
Deferred income tax liabilities		9,167			7,892
Other liabilities		2,756			3,138
Total liabilities		431,550			397,538
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 12)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.10 par value per share; authorized 400,000 shares; none issued		—			—
Common stock, $0.10 par value per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued 34,525,983 shares at September 30, 2024 and 34,676,787 shares at December 31, 2023		3,452			3,467
Additional paid-in capital		114,196			110,810
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(13,849	)		(5,963	)
Retained earnings		295,310			332,897
Less treasury stock at cost, 5,915,182 shares at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023		(71,201	)		(71,201	)
Total stockholders’ equity		327,908			370,010
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	759,458		$	767,548

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net sales	$	118,307		$	149,516		$	381,659		$	407,191
Cost of sales		(101,014	)		(106,432	)		(284,185	)		(282,662	)
Gross profit		17,293			43,084			97,474			124,529
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative		(26,365	)		(29,813	)		(86,885	)		(85,954	)
Research, product development and regulatory		(11,177	)		(9,080	)		(25,482	)		(27,363	)
Transformation		(8,139	)		—			(16,636	)		—
Operating (loss) income		(28,388	)		4,191			(31,529	)		11,212
Change in fair value of equity investment		—			(247	)		513			(324	)
Interest expense, net		(4,378	)		(3,384	)		(11,988	)		(8,282	)
(Loss) income before income tax benefit (expense)		(32,766	)		560			(43,004	)		2,606
Income tax benefit (expense)		7,024			(885	)		7,093			(2,066	)
Net (loss) income	$	(25,742	)	$	(325	)	$	(35,911	)	$	540
Net (loss) income per common share—basic	$	(0.92	)	$	(0.01	)	$	(1.28	)	$	0.02
Net (loss) income per common share—assuming dilution	$	(0.92	)	$	(0.01	)	$	(1.28	)	$	0.02
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic		28,009			27,919			28,015			28,236
Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution		28,009			27,919			28,015			28,656

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ANALYSIS OF SALES
(In thousands), (Unaudited)

	For the three months ended September 30,
	2024			2023			Change			% Change
Net sales:
U.S. crop	$	35,533		$	67,749		$	(32,216	)		-48	%
U.S. non-crop		22,454			19,250			3,204			17	%
U.S. total		57,987			86,999			(29,012	)		-33	%
International		60,320			62,517			(2,197	)		-4	%
Total net sales	$	118,307		$	149,516		$	(31,209	)		-21	%
Total cost of sales	$	(101,014	)	$	(106,432	)	$	5,418			-5	%
Total gross profit	$	17,293		$	43,084		$	(25,791	)		-60	%
Gross margin		15	%		29	%
	Impact of Dacthal Recall
	2024			2023			Change
Net sales:
U.S. crop	$	(11,783	)	$	—		$	(11,783	)
U.S. non-crop		—			—			—
Total U.S.		(11,783	)		—			(11,783	)
International		(620	)		—			(620	)
Total net sales	$	(12,403	)	$	—		$	(12,403	)
Total cost of sales		(3,788	)		—			(3,788	)
Total gross profit	$	(16,191	)	$	—		$	(16,191	)

	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2024			2023			Change			% Change
Net sales:
U.S. crop	$	155,075		$	185,823		$	(30,748	)		-17	%
U.S. non-crop		59,241			50,041			9,200			18	%
U.S. total		214,316			235,864			(21,548	)		-9	%
International		167,343			171,327			(3,984	)		-2	%
Total net sales	$	381,659		$	407,191		$	(25,532	)		-6	%
Total cost of sales	$	(284,185	)	$	(282,662	)	$	(1,523	)		1	%
Total gross profit	$	97,474		$	124,529		$	(27,055	)		-22	%
		26	%		31	%
	Impact of Dacthal Recall
	2024			2023			Change
Net sales:
U.S. crop	$	(11,783	)	$	—		$	(11,783	)
U.S. non-crop		—			—			—
Total U.S.		(11,783	)		—			(11,783	)
International		(620	)		—			(620	)
Total net sales	$	(12,403	)	$	—		$	(12,403	)
Total cost of sales		(3,788	)		—			(3,788	)
Total gross profit	$	(16,191	)	$	—		$	(16,191	)

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$	(35,911	)	$	540
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		6,655			6,396
Amortization of intangibles assets		9,947			10,009
Amortization of other long-term assets		199			1,445
Amortization of deferred loan fees		342			174
Provision for bad debts		1,278			952
Stock-based compensation		3,887			4,257
Change in deferred income taxes		(9,110	)		(977	)
Changes in liabilities for uncertain tax positions or unrecognized tax benefits		106			467
Change in equity investment fair value		(513	)		324
Other		110			7
Foreign currency transaction losses		121			199
Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:
Decrease (increase) in net receivables		33,475			(29,055	)
Increase in inventories		(29,429	)		(58,163	)
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets		(4,107	)		(633	)
Change in income tax receivable/payable, net		(6,216	)		(4,046	)
Increase (decrease) in net operating lease liability		(48	)		227
Increase in accounts payable		6,141			1,240
Decrease in customer prepayments		(38,375	)		(104,590	)
Increase in accrued program costs		17,721			29,779
Increase (decrease) in other payables and accrued expenses		13,878			(4,406	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(29,849	)		(145,854	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(6,106	)		(8,589	)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment		66			200
Intangible assets		(341	)		(759	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(6,381	)		(9,148	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments under line of credit agreement		(168,188	)		(62,800	)
Borrowings under line of credit agreement		208,037			228,500
Receipt from the issuance of common stock under ESPP		901			980
Net receipt from the exercise of stock options		—			46
Net payment for tax withholding on stock-based compensation awards		(1,416	)		(1,957	)
Repurchase of common stock		—			(15,539	)
Payment of cash dividends		(2,510	)		(2,550	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		36,824			146,680
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		594			(8,322	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(130	)		(477	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		11,416			20,328
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	11,880		$	11,529

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Net (loss) income	$	(25,742	)	$	(325	)	$	(35,911	)	$	540
Income tax (benefit) expense		(7,024	)		885			(7,093	)		2,066
Interest expense, net		4,378			3,384			11,988			8,282
Depreciation and amortization		5,703			5,704			16,801			17,850
Stock-based compensation		1,135			1,716			3,887			4,257
Transformation costs & legal reserves		7,159			—			17,402			—
Dacthal returns		16,191			—			16,191			—
Proxy contest activities		—			—			—			541
Adjusted EBITDA²	$	1,800		$	11,364		$	23,265		$	33,536

______________________________
¹ Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other financial measure so calculated and presented, nor as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The items excluded from adjusted EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define adjusted EBITDA differently.
² Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income (loss) or any other financial measure so calculated and presented, nor as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The items excluded from adjusted EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define adjusted EBITDA differently.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241111947698/en/

American Vanguard Corporation
Anthony Young, Director of Investor Relations
anthonyy@amvac.com
(949) 221-6119

Investor Representative
Alpha IR Group
Robert Winters
Robert.winters@alpha-ir.com
(929) 266-6315

Source: American Vanguard Corporation