Phibro Animal Health Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Quartr
Provided by Quartr
August 31, 2023

There are 6 speakers on the call.

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. My name is Brent, and I will be your operator today. At this time, I'd like to welcome everyone to the Phibro Animal Health Corporation 4th Quarter 2023 Conference Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question and answer session.

Operator

Thank you. It is now my pleasure to turn today's call over to Damian Finio. Sir, please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Brent. Good morning, and welcome to the Fibro Animal Health Corporation earnings call for our Q4 year ended June 30, 2023. My name is Damian Finio, and I'm the Chief Financial Officer of Fibro. I'm joined on today's call by Jack Benheim, Fibro's Chairman, President I'm Chief Executive Officer and Donnie Benhaim, Director and Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy. Today, we will review financial performance for our 4th we'll be conducting a call to our end fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 as well as provide financial guidance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

Speaker 1

At the conclusion of our opening remarks, we will open the lines for questions. I'd like to remind you that we are providing a simultaneous webcast of this call on our website, www.pahc.com. Also, on the Investors section of our website, you will find copies of the earnings press release, Annual Report on Form 10 ks filed with the SEC yesterday as well as the transcript and slides presented on this call. Our remarks today will include forward looking statements, and actual results could differ materially from those projections. For a list and description of certain factors that could cause results to differ, I refer you to the forward looking statements section in our earnings press release.

Speaker 1

Our remarks include references to certain financial measures, which were not prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or U. S. GAAP. I refer you to the non GAAP financial information section in our earnings press release for a discussion of these measures. Reconciliations of these non GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.

Speaker 1

S. GAAP measures are included in the financial tables that accompany the earnings press release. We present our results on both a GAAP and an adjusted basis. Our adjusted results exclude acquisition related items, unusual non operational or non recurring items, including stock based compensation and restructuring costs, other income and expense as separately reported in the consolidated statements of operations, including foreign currency gains and losses, net. And lastly, income tax effects related to pre tax adjustments and unusual or non recurring income tax items.

Speaker 1

Now let me introduce our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jack Benheim, to share his opening remarks, this will include his perspective on our fiscal year 2023 Q4 and full year financial performance and guidance for our fiscal year 2024. Jack?

Speaker 2

Thank you, Damian, and hello, everyone. For our year ending June 30, 2023, our business delivered both sales and adjusted EBITDA performance in line with the guidance we communicated to the market. On a consolidated basis, net sales was $978,000,000 a 4% improvement over the prior year, an adjusted EBITDA of $113,000,000 a 2% improvement. Our largest and core segment, Animal Health, reported that we believe to be above market performance, posting sales growth of 9% adjusted EBITDA growth was 10% over the prior year. Within Animal Health, each product category grew net sales significantly.

Speaker 2

MFA and other sales were up 7%, while nutritional specialties improved 10% and vaccines were up 13%, reflected of the double digit percentage growth expectations we've historically communicated, the impressive financial performance of our Animal Health segment we're somewhat dampened by our Mineral Nutrition and Performance Products segments, which when combined accounted for a decline in both net sales and adjusted EBITDA in comparison to their respective strong financial performances delivered in fiscal year 2022. The strength of our Animal Health segment had helped to fuel our manufacturing capacity innovation. We made investments to expand manufacturing capacity, we are pleased to announce that we are in Illinois and with the opening of a new Atajos vaccine facility in Brazil. We also introduced new vaccine products, line extensions in nutritional specialties and continue to progress our companion animal development pipeline. As we look ahead to the opportunities before us for fiscal year 2024, we are projecting continued top and bottom line growth.

Speaker 2

From a sales perspective, we are projecting sales of $1,000,000,000 to $1,500,000,000 in fiscal year 2024. From adjusted EBITDA perspective, we are projecting $115,000,000 to $121,000,000 Both sales and adjusted EBITDA projections roughly 5% year on year growth at the midpoint of our guidance range. This growth is driven by Animal Health. While we expect Mineral Nutrition and Performance Products performance in line with fiscal year 2023. Overall, we delivered financial results in line with guidance and are projecting further growth in the coming year.

Speaker 2

With that, I ask Damian to go through our actual results and projections in more detail before opening the line for questions. Damian?

Speaker 1

Thank you, Jack. Let me start with our consolidated financial performance for Q4 ended June 30, 2023 versus the same quarter 1 year ago. On a consolidated basis, 4th quarter net sales were 2 $55,000,000 reflective of a less than 1% decline versus prior year, driven by a decline in Mineral Nutrition, offset by growth in Animal Health we will be conducting a few questions on performance products. Despite flat sales, GAAP based net income and diluted earnings per share both increased 54% versus the same quarter a year ago. The increase was driven primarily by lower selling, general and administrative expenses and favorable currency movements offset partially by lower gross profit due to lower demand for trace minerals and higher interest and income tax expense.

Speaker 1

After adjusting our GAAP results for acquisition related adjustments, foreign currency movements and one offs, 4th quarter adjusted EBITDA of $32,300,000 reflects an increase of $800,000 or 3%, driven by growth in Animal Health, offset partially by declines in Mineral Nutrition and Performance Products. Adjusted net income and adjusted Diluted earnings per share were both up 5%, respectively, driven by decreases in SG and A and a lower tax provision, partially offset by lower gross profit and higher interest expense. On Slide 5, looking at the same financial metrics, but now for the full year, on a consolidated basis, our full year financial performance improved over the prior year. Net sales were $978,000,000 reflecting an increase of $35,600,000 or 4 percent driven again by strong growth in our core segment Animal Health, offset by declines in Mineral Nutrition and Performance Products. GAAP based net income and diluted earnings per share for the full year declined 34% versus the prior year, driven primarily by higher selling, general and administrative expenses due to environmental remediation costs, higher employee related costs, strategic investments, currency movements and interest expense offset partially by higher gross profit and a reduction in income tax expense.

Speaker 1

After adjusting GAAP results for 1 offs, acquisition related items and foreign currency movements, adjusted EBITDA improved 2%, driven by sales and gross profit growth, partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses and strategic investments. Lastly, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share declined 8%, driven by higher selling, general and administrative expenses, interest and income taxes partially offset by higher gross profit. Turning to business segment performance, starting with Q4 financial performance of our largest segment, Animal Health, which is comprised of the MFAs and other nutritional specialties and vaccine product categories, Net sales increased $10,200,000 or 6% versus the same quarter prior year. The increase in our Animal Health segment net sales was driven by improvements in all product categories. First, the $2,400,000 or 2% increase in MSAs and other versus the prior quarter, driven by increased sales of processing aids used in the ethanol fermentation industry.

Speaker 1

2nd, the $2,100,000 or 5% improvement in Nutritional a $5,700,000 or significant 25 percent improvement in vaccine net sales, driven by increased demand globally, coupled with new product launches in Latin America. In terms of profitability, Animal Health adjusted EBITDA was $37,900,000 an increase of the improvement was driven by higher revenue driving incremental gross profit and a decline in selling, general and administrative expenses. Moving to Slide 7, which reflects full year fiscal financial performance for our Animal Health segment. Net sales were up $52,800,000 or 9% versus the prior year. The increase in Animal Health full year net sales was driven by a dollars 25,800,000 or 7% increase in MFAs and other versus the prior year, driven by increased demand for MFAs, particularly in the U.

Speaker 1

S. Latin American regions coupled with strong demand for processing aids used in the ethanol fermentation industry. Also a $15,300,000 or 10% growth in Nutritional Specialties, driven by stronger demand for dairy products coupled with growth in our companion animal product, REGENZA. And lastly, an $11,700,000 or 13% increase in vaccine net sales driven by strong demand globally and new product launches in Latin America. In terms of profitability, Animal Health adjusted EBITDA was $136,100,000 a $12,000,000 or 10% improvement over the prior year, the adjusted EBITDA margin improved 20 basis points as stronger sales and gross profits were partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative expenses.

Speaker 1

Moving on to the Q4 financial performance for our other segments on Slide 8. Starting with Mineral Nutrition, Net sales for the Q4 were $58,400,000 a decrease of $10,900,000 or 16% versus the same quarter prior year, driven by a decrease in demand for trace minerals, partially offset by higher average selling prices. The increase in average selling prices is correlated to the movement of the underlying raw material costs. Mineral Nutrition adjusted EBITDA was $3,900,000 the decrease of $2,800,000 or 42 percent driven by lower gross profit partially offset by a decline in selling, general and administrative costs, resulting in a 300 basis point adjusted EBITDA margin decline versus the same quarter 1 year ago. Moving to our Performance Products segment, net sales were $19,900,000 for the 3 months ended June 30, 2023, reflecting an increase of $500,000 or 3% over the prior year same quarter, driven by slightly stronger demand and pricing for copper based products.

Speaker 1

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was relatively flat and reflected an 80 basis point adjusted EBITDA margin decline on lower gross profit. Lastly, corporate expenses increased $600,000 or 6% versus the same quarter of the prior year, primarily driven by an increase in investments relating to strategic initiatives. Now looking at full year financial performance for these segments on Slide 9, Mineral Nutrition. Net sales for the full year were $242,700,000 reflecting a decline of 6% versus the prior year driven by a decrease in demand for trace minerals, partially offset by higher average selling prices. The increase in average selling prices is correlated to the movement of the underlying raw material costs.

Speaker 1

Mineral Nutrition adjusted EBITDA was $17,400,000 decline of $6,600,000 or 28 percent driven by lower sales volume and higher raw material costs. And adjusted EBITDA margin for the year was 7.2%, a decline of 2 10 basis points versus 1 year ago. Turning to full fiscal year results for our product Performance Products segment, net sales were $75,400,000 just slightly behind the prior year, driven by decreased demand for both personal care product Ingredients and copper related products, partially offset by higher average selling prices. However, adjusted EBITDA of $9,300,000 for the full year represented a 7% improvement due to higher gross profit, partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. Lastly, corporate expenses increased $4,400,000 or 10% versus prior year.

Speaker 1

The increase was driven primarily by increased employee related costs and strategic investments. Let's turn our attention to key capitalization related metrics on Slide 10. On a trailing 12 month basis, free cash flow was a negative $24,000,000 as capital expenditures exceeded operating cash flow generated by the business. However, as projected on previous calls, both operating and free cash flow continue to improve throughout the year, posting 3 consecutive quarters of growth with the delivery of a really strong Q4. The trailing 12 months free cash flow of minus $24,000,000 was driven primarily by the $18,000,000 inventory build over that same period of time.

Speaker 1

We had $248,000,000 of liquidity at year end. This includes cash and short term investments of $81,000,000 $167,000,000 of unused and available revolving credit. During the Q4, we secured a $50,000,000 incremental term loan and negotiated an increase in the leverage ratio covenant to 4.25x for all fiscal year 2024 quarters, providing liquidity in the event the economy worsens. Upon executing the transaction, the funds were used we will be able to pay down our revolving credit facility. Accessibility of revolving credit is subject to leverage ratio limitations as defined in our 2021 loan agreement.

Speaker 1

Consistent with the past several quarters, we also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share or $4,900,000 Moving on to our gross leverage ratio, it was 4.2 times at June 30. This is calculated by dividing total debt of $476,000,000 by 12 month adjusted EBITDA of $113,000,000 Please note, we use net debt and adjusted EBITDA as defined by our existing loan agreement to calculate the net leverage ratio used for covenant compliant purposes. Lastly, we have $300,000,000 of our total debt is covered under an interest rate swap agreement, which in essence converted the floating portion of our interest expense obligation to a fixed interest rate of 0.61 percent through June of 2025. In summary, we reported 3 consecutive quarters of improved operating and free cash flow, the negative $24,000,000 of trailing 12 month free cash flow was driven primarily by the $18,000,000 build of inventory over the same period. The improving trend is a direct consequence of steps we've taken to manage working capital more tightly, best reflected in the $15,000,000 reduction of inventory realized in Q4 of fiscal year 2023.

Speaker 1

That concludes our perspective on both Q4 and full year financial performance. So let's now turn our attention to the outlook for fiscal year 2024. On Slide 12, looking ahead to fiscal year 2024 highlights, we are projecting another year of profitable growth. Our projected growth is driven by Animal Health, while we anticipate Mineral Nutrition and Performance Products financial performance in line with last year. From a sales perspective, we are projecting sales in the range of $1,000,000,000 to $1,050,000,000 reflecting approximately 5% growth at the midpoint of the range versus last year's sales of $978,000,000 from an adjusted EBITDA perspective, we are projecting adjusted EBITDA in the range of $115,000,000 to $121,000,000 reflecting approximately 5% growth at the midpoint of the range versus last year's adjusted EBITDA of $113,000,000 this projection also assumes a modest increase in Animal Health related strategic investments.

Speaker 1

So turning to Slide 13. In summary, on a consolidated basis, the company's full financial guidance for the year ending June 30, 2024, with year over year percentage growth calculated using the midpoint of the ranges provided is as follows. Net sales of $1,000,000,000 to $1,050,000,000 reflecting 5% growth net income of $31,000,000 to $36,000,000 reflecting 2% growth diluted earnings per share of $0.76 to $0.90 or 2% growth adjusted EBITDA $115,000,000 to $121,000,000 representing 5% growth, adjusted net income of $45,000,000 to $51,000,000 representing 2% decline, adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.12 to $1.27 also a 2% decline and an adjusted effective tax rate of 33% to 35%. Overall, we delivered financial performance in line with our guidance in fiscal year 2023 and are projecting continued top and bottom line growth as we look ahead to fiscal year

Operator

Your first question comes from the line of Brian Wright with ROTH MKM, your line is open.

Speaker 3

Thank you. Good morning. Thanks for the question. I wanted to just taking a little further, could you help us understand the vaccine growth and maybe quantify how much of that in the quarter year over year was from the autologous vaccine business in South America?

Speaker 2

Yes, thanks and good morning. We on the intelligence factor, we just built that. We just had an opening a few months ago. So sales are de minimis. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we will have reported nice sales growth.

Speaker 2

It takes that cycle to get the vaccines approved on the farms and then make what's called the custom vaccine takes a while. The other growth in South America is, our response to disease pressures. And there is certain diseases that are growing down in the poultry industry and it's literally responding to the market.

Speaker 3

Great. So that's additional growth on top of what we've seen in the Q4. That's great. I did have a follow-up as well. Could you talk to the potential benefit of Tyson in reintroducing certain antibiotics for poultry?

Speaker 2

Right. A lot of people talk about it. So, Tyson's after about, I think maybe over 5 years working with something called NAE, which is no antibiotics ever. And come back to what is more standard for the industry around the world and are using no antibiotics that are used by humans and going back to antibiotics, not an issue with the call ionophores, which has been in the market for 25, 35 years, some in that range. So overall, we see very little effect for our business.

Speaker 2

And it will have some effect on some people, but overall, I think the effect will be quite small.

Speaker 3

Okay. Thank you. And then if I could just add one last one. Just wanted to think about like inventory levels, Damian, or we've seen some improvement here in the Q4 saw some nice improvement. Or should we see some further improvement in 2024?

Speaker 3

Or are we comfortable where we're at now, just kind of how to think about that in terms of cash flow dynamics?

Speaker 1

Yes. We are targeting additional improvement in fiscal year 2024. We ended the year a little north of 4 months of inventory on average across all products across the world. Our target is still to get down to $4,000,000 So we hope we will see that in fiscal year 2024 and it will help to improve free cash flow as it did in the Q4. We'll say we typically start off the year slow in the Q1, so we may not see that improvement at the end of September 30, 2024 or 23, but we do expect to see it as the year progresses.

Speaker 3

Great. Thank you so much.

Operator

Your next question is from the line of Michael Ryskin with Bank of America. Your line is open.

Speaker 4

Hey, guys. Thanks for taking the questions. I'm going to start on the margins and sort of what's implied in fiscal year 'twenty four guide. By my math, you're sort of guiding some slightly down operating margins year over year, and you called out that incremental $3,000,000 strategic investment, can you add a little bit more color on where that's going? Assume that's going towards the companion business, but any additional color there?

Speaker 4

And then also a little bit on what are your expectations for gross margins? What are your expectations for input costs that go into the model right now? Thanks.

Speaker 1

Yes. Thanks, Michael. Let me start with strategic investments. So as we mentioned, there's a $3,000,000 assumed increase in So $32,000,000 in fiscal year 2023, dollars 35,000,000 in fiscal year 20 24. I would say that there's no significant additions or within that estimate, it's really just the timing of the spend on multiple projects, across multiple project categories.

Speaker 1

We'll say that the majority of the spend is going to vaccines, which as you can see in our fiscal year, 2023 Q4 results is delivering returns and it's in our guidance as well next year that we expect continued growth. That vaccine strategic investment will continue to reap turns into the medium term as well. And behind that, I would say we continue to invest in companion animals as we've said on previous calls, not a short term return on that or the medium term opportunity. But overall, I'd say the delta is more related to timing of spend than anything We continue to invest in vaccines and companion animals. In terms of gross margin, Jack, you may want to speak to this a bit too.

Speaker 1

We continue to see rising input costs with change in currency movements, product mix, etcetera. So there is a slight Change in the assumption, I guess, going forward in fiscal year 'twenty four. But again, nothing major.

Speaker 4

It's more product mix than anything else.

Speaker 2

Thanks. I I think it's a combination of product mix. It's also a settling out, everyone's aware and we've spoken about it. Then in the previous 2 years was very, very high freight rate changes because of what happened to COVID. Also input costs in terms of labor, the inavailability of labor here in the United States and We like other people being basically paying a lot more to get people to come to work.

Speaker 2

That is all sort of that has impacted the gross margins and it's mostly stabilized. I'd say on freight size, there is some problems brewing with the lack of water in the Panama Canal, forcing rates to be up for our products that are shipped through the Panama Canal. But the labor rates have sort of stabilized, And we're sort of getting that sort of clawing back on our margins. So we did a bit at the end of this last year. We have more plans for this year.

Speaker 2

And I think we will get back to the margins we had in the past.

Speaker 4

Okay. That's really helpful. And then on the just on the top line guide and the volumes that are implied, you're forecasting another strong year for the Animal Health business, you talked about some of the strength you're seeing in vaccine and new products, you talked about the new launches. Is there anything else that's noteworthy that's sustaining this growth 5% to 11% top line growth. Maybe you could comment a little bit on underlying market conditions, underlying demand, any geographies or species that are standing out?

Speaker 4

Thanks.

Speaker 2

I think we had called out some of the growth we're seeing in South America, on the vaccines, we're seeing some other growth around the world. We've made investments and some of those investments in terms of plant capacity will be coming on stream early January of 24, and that gives us the ability on some of the nutritional products to respond to market demand that we have created. So I think that's between those two things and that account for the majority of the growth.

Speaker 4

That's helpful. Thank you.

Operator

Your next question is from the line of Balaji Prasad with Barclays. Your line is open.

Speaker 5

Good morning. This is Shao on for Balaji. Thanks for taking our question. You highlighted the choppiness of the U. S.

Speaker 5

Beef cut off business we've cut off feedlots in the last few quarters. And wondering, do you have any updates in terms of the feedlot dynamics? Thank you.

Speaker 2

I think as we've said, often, we do basically no feedlot business in the United States. But overall, just sort of preparing for this call, the encounter prices have tightened it means a concern across North America. So I think we still have to see a rise in feedlots. I think we'll see some decline some continuing decline, but then we'll get to some sort of equilibrium and some stability.

Speaker 5

Thank you. Very helpful.

Operator

There are no further questions at this time. I will now turn the call back to Mr. Damian Fino.

Speaker 1

Okay. Thank you, Brent. And on behalf of Jack and the rest of the Fibro management team, thank you all. We are excited about the year ahead I appreciate you taking the time today to join our call to learn more about the exciting things taking place here at Fibro. Thank you again and enjoy these last few days of summer.

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your part

Powered by Quartr
Earnings Conference Call
Phibro Animal Health Q4 2023
00:00 / 00:00