- Q2 net sales -21% (organic -21%)
- Q2 diluted EPS of $1.62; adjusted diluted EPS of $1.87(1)
- Includes restructuring and related investment ($0.09)
- Q2 Free Cash Flow of $178 million(3)
- Reinstating FY20 diluted EPS guidance of $6.00-$6.25; adjusted EPS of $7.00-$7.25(1)
SHELTON, CT. (July 30, 2020) – Hubbell Incorporated (NYSE: HUBB) today reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.
“Hubbell effectively navigated a challenging economic environment in the second quarter, delivering operating margin expansion and strong free cash flow generation despite significantly lower volumes,” said David G. Nord, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to realize substantial benefits from our ongoing operational transformation, as our investments in restructuring and footprint optimization are paying off by generating attractive savings. Proactive compensation reduction actions, as well as lower operating expenses and continued execution on price/cost, allowed us to overcome headwinds from COVID-19 related inefficiencies. Additionally, our intense focus on working capital management once again drove very robust free cash flow generation in the quarter.”
Mr. Nord continued, “Grid hardening and modernization initiatives, along with ongoing renewable energy trends, provided resilience in demand for T&D components in our Utility facing markets. As expected and previously communicated, while supply chain disruptions as a result of COVID-19 affected our ability to fully meet this demand in the second quarter, all of our manufacturing facilities are currently operational and we are well positioned to continue serving the critical infrastructure needs of our customers. As anticipated, Aclara revenues were negatively affected in the quarter by regulatory restrictions on project deployments and installations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Electrical businesses faced broad-based declines in the quarter driven primarily by weaker end markets.”
Mr. Nord concluded, “Hubbell’s second quarter results reflect strong execution in an uncertain and volatile environment. We remain cautious on near-term volume expectations, but with aggressive cost actions underway and continued opportunity for operational improvement ahead of us, we are confident in our ability to drive consistent and differentiated performance. Our high quality portfolio of electrical and utility solutions with strong brand value and best in class reliability positions us well for long-term success.”
COVID-19 UPDATE
Hubbell also today provided an update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations. “At Hubbell, our priority is the safety and well-being of our employees, their families, our customers and suppliers, and our communities,” said Chairman and CEO Dave Nord. “Hubbell provides mission-critical electrical and utility solutions that enable our customers to operate critical infrastructure safely, reliably and efficiently. We are committed to continue supporting our customers with high quality products while protecting the safety of our employees.”
Hubbell is generally deemed an essential manufacturer by various authorities in the localities where we operate. While we faced supply chain disruptions as a result of the pandemic in the second quarter, these were resolved within the quarter as expected, and all of our facilities are currently operational.
SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The comments and year-over-year comparisons in this segment review are based on second quarter results in 2020 and 2019.
Electrical segment net sales in the second quarter of 2020 of $507 million compared to $688 million reported in the second quarter of 2019. Organic sales declined 26% in the quarter while the net impact of acquisitions and divestitures subtracted <1%. Operating income was $57 million, or 11.3% of net sales, compared to $88 million, or 12.8% of net sales in the same period of 2019. Adjusted operating income was $63 million, or 12.4% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2020 as compared to $94 million, or 13.6% of net sales in the same period of the prior year (1). The decreases in adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin were primarily due to lower volumes and COVID-19 related inefficiencies, partially offset by lower operating expenses, price realization in excess of material costs, and productivity savings from restructuring and footprint optimization initiatives.
Utility Solutions segment net sales in the second quarter of 2020 decreased 13% to $442 million compared to $508 million reported in the second quarter of 2019. Organic sales declined 14% compared to the second quarter of 2019, with acquisitions contributing approximately 1% growth and foreign exchange a modest headwind. Power Systems sales declined mid single digits and Aclara sales declined by ~25%. Operating income was $74 million, or 16.8% of net sales, compared to $79 million, or 15.5% of net sales in the same period of 2019. Adjusted operating income was $87 million, or 19.7% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2020 as compared to $91 million, or 18.0% of net sales in the same period of the prior year(1). Changes in operating income and operating margin were primarily due to lower volumes and COVID-19 related inefficiencies, offset by lower operating expenses, price realization in excess of material costs, and positive mix.
Adjusted second quarter results exclude $0.25 of amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets.
Net cash provided from operating activities was $195 million in the second quarter of 2020 versus $132 million in the comparable period of 2019. Free cash flow (defined as cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures) was $178 million in the second quarter of 2020 versus $107 millionreported in the comparable period of 2019 (3).
SUMMARY & OUTLOOK
For the full year 2020, Hubbell anticipates earnings per diluted share in the range of $6.00-$6.25 and adjusted diluted earnings per share (“Adjusted EPS”) in the range of $7.00-$7.25(1). Adjusted EPS excludes amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, which the Company expects to be approximately $1.00 for the full year(1). The Company believes Adjusted EPS is a useful measure of underlying performance in light of our acquisition strategy.
The earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share ranges are based on an adjusted tax rate of ~23% and include approximately $0.40 of anticipated restructuring and related investment. The ranges also incorporate the impact of a previously completed divestiture and previously completed acquisitions, the net of which is expected to be a modest tailwind to 2020 adjusted EPS. The Company expects free cash flow to exceed $500 million in 2020(3).
CONFERENCE CALL
Hubbell will conduct an earnings conference call to discuss its second quarter 2020 financial results today, July 30, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. ET. A live audio of the conference call will be available and can be accessed by visiting Hubbell’s “Investor Relations – Events/Presentations” section of www.hubbell.com. Audio replays of the recorded conference call will be available after the call and can be accessed two hours after the conclusion of the original conference call by calling (855) 859-2056 and using passcode 7748407. The replay will remain available until August 30, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Audio replays will also be available at the conclusion of the call by visiting www.hubbell.com and selecting “Investors” from the options at the bottom of the page and then “Events/Presentations” from the drop-down menu.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements about expectations regarding our financial results, condition and outlook, anticipated end markets, near-term volume, continued opportunity for operational improvement, our ability to drive consistent and differentiated performance, the impact of our high quality portfolio of electrical solutions and utility solutions with strong brand value and best in class reliability, and anticipated effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the responses thereto, including the pandemic’s impact on general economic and market conditions, as well as on our business, customers, end markets, results of operations and financial condition and anticipated actions to be taken by management to sustain the Company during the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic and related governmental and business actions, and our projected financial results set forth in “Summary & Outlook” above, as well as other statements that are not strictly historic in nature. In addition, all statements regarding anticipated growth, changes in operating results, market conditions and economic conditions are forward-looking, including those regarding the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s end markets. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimated”, “target”, “should”, “could”, “may”, “subject to”, “continues”, “growing”, “projected”, “if”, “potential”, “will likely be”, and similar words and phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual and future performance or the Company’s achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: our ability to effectively execute our business plan in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; the effectiveness of the actions that we take to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the outcome of contingencies or costs compared to amounts provided for such contingencies, including those with respect to pension withdrawal liabilities; achieving sales levels to meet revenue expectations; unexpected costs or charges, certain of which may be outside the Company’s control; the effects of tariffs and other trade actions taken by the U.S. and other countries; changes in product sales prices and material costs; expected benefits of productivity improvements and cost reduction actions; effects of unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates; the impact of U.S. tax reform legislation; general economic and business conditions; the impact of and the ability to complete and integrate strategic acquisitions; the impact of certain divestitures, including the sale of the Haefely business; the ability to effectively develop and introduce new products, expand into new markets and deploy capital; and other factors described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the “Business”, “Risk Factors”, and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” Sections in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
About the Company
Hubbell Incorporated is a global manufacturer of quality electrical products and utility solutions for a broad range of applications in the Electrical and Utility Solutions segments. With 2019 revenues of $4.6 billion, Hubbell Incorporated operates manufacturing facilities in the United States and around the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Shelton, CT.