Sensient Technologies Corp (SXT) Q2 2020 Earnings Call Transcript

Sensient Technologies Corp  (NYSE: SXT) Q2 2020 earnings call dated July 17, 2020

Corporate Participants:

Stephen J. Rolfs — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Analysts:

Heidi Vesterinen — Exane BNP Paribas — Analyst

Mark Connelly — Stephens Inc. — Analyst

Mitra Ramgopal — Sidoti & Company, LLC — Analyst

Presentation:

Operator

Good morning and welcome to the Sensient Technologies Corporation 2020 Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please also note that today’s event is being recorded.

I would now like to turn the conference over to Mr. Steve Rolfs. Please go ahead, sir.

Stephen J. Rolfs — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Good morning. I’m Steve Rolfs, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sensient Technologies Corporation. I would like to welcome all of you to Sensient’s conference call to discuss 2020 second quarter financial results. I am joined this morning by Paul Manning, Sensient’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

This morning, we released our 2020 second quarter financial results. A copy of the release and our investor presentation is now available on our website at sensient.com.

During our call today, we will reference certain non-GAAP financial measures which we believe provide investors with additional information to evaluate the Company’s performance and improve the comparability of results between reporting periods.

These non-GAAP financial results should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information calculated in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is available on the Investor Information section of our website at sensient.com and in our press release. We encourage investors to review these reconciliations in connection with the comments we make this morning.

I would also like to remind everyone that comments made this morning including responses to your questions may include forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially, particularly in view of the uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic, governmental attempts at remedial action and the timing of a return of more normal economic activity.

We urge you to read Sensient’s filings, including our 10-K, our first quarter 10-Q, and our forthcoming second quarter 10-Q for a description of additional factors that could potentially impact our financial results. Please bear these factors in mind when you analyze our comments today.

Now, we’ll hear from Paul Manning [Phonetic].

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Thank you, Steve. Good morning. Sensient reported second quarter earnings this morning. I’m very pleased with the results of our Flavors & Fragrances Group as well as our Food & Beverage business in the Color Group.

Flavors & Fragrances is up mid-single-digits in revenue and high-single digits in operating profit during the quarter, continuing its revenue growth trend from the first quarter. We also had favorable growth in our natural colors and pharmaceutical businesses, which were up in the quarter.

The growth in these businesses was offset by the adverse impact of COIVD-19 in the personal care market and throughout Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Despite these COVID-19 headwinds and based on current trends, we expect to deliver on our EPS outlook for the year.

I’m also pleased on the progress we had made during the quarter on our divestitures. We completed the sale of our Inks business and signed a definitive agreement to sell our Yogurt Fruit Prep business. We anticipate closing the Yogurt Fruit Prep sale in the third quarter.

We continue to make progress on the divestiture of our aroma chemical and fragrance compound business, although we have been delayed by COVID-19. We believe we can close this transaction by the end of the year. All of our production facilities are open and have been throughout the pandemic. Our on-time delivery remains high and we have successfully managed our raw materials. Our staffing and attendance at our facilities remains outstanding and I’m very proud of the dedication of our employees.

We will continue to closely monitor each of our production facilities to remain ahead of prevailing GMP and sanitation practices. As a result of COVID-19, we have incurred additional costs and we have experienced significant revenue headwinds in a number of businesses.

Overall, the impact of COIVD-19 has reduced our EPS by approximately $0.10 year-to-date. The impact of COVID-19 on our Food & Beverage business is mixed. However, the impact is significantly negative for our personal care business.

Now let me turn to the Groups. The Flavor Group had another nice quarter. Adjusted local currency revenue for the Group was up 5.7%. The Group continues to experience positive sales growth in the finished flavors and extract product lines as well as an improving picture in the flavor ingredient product lines.

The natural ingredients business also had a solid quarter. The overall impact of COVID-19 was negative to the Group’s revenue. The Group’s revenue growth is based on strong new wins generated throughout 2019 and the first part of 2020, retaining existing business, and an overall decline in attrition which was a lingering effect from our earlier restructuring activities.

Net of these factors, we had generated mid-single digit growth year-to-date and I anticipate the same growth rate for the remainder of the year. This quarter, the Flavor Group returned to quarterly profit growth with adjusted local currency operating profit up 8%. The higher profit was a direct result of the higher volumes, new wins, and the Group’s production cost initiatives. Moving forward, I anticipate continued profit growth.

Overall, the Group’s operating profit margin was up 30 basis points in the quarter and I would anticipate a 50 basis point to 100 basis point improvement for the year. In summary, I expect mid-single digit revenue growth and mid to high single-digit operating profit growth for the Flavor Group for the remainder of the year.

Within our Color Group, revenue for Food & Beverage Colors was up low-single digits for the quarter. Pharmaceutical had a nice quarter, up double-digits and natural colors continues to grow and that product line is up mid-single digits for the year.

Similar to the Flavor Group, Colors continues to focus on retaining existing business and improving the Group’s overall sales win rate. Unfortunately, the growth in Food & Beverage Colors revenue was offset by a more than 20% decline in our Personal Care business revenue.

While we saw some improvement in our Personal Care business in Asia and Latin America, the demand for make-up in Europe and North America was down substantially in the quarter. Given the uncertainty with COVID-19 and continued restrictions, I would anticipate continuing challenges for this product line in the second half of the year.

In terms of operating profit, the Color Group achieved mid-single-digit profit growth in Food & Beverage Colors for the quarter and has generated double-digit operating profit growth for the year. However, profit in Personal Care in the quarter was down by more than 35% due to the lower demand in make-up and other personal care products, and that was the main reason for the Color Group’s overall decline in profit.

The Color Group remains focused on production take-out actions. However, these actions need more time to realize their full potential and we do not expect that the actions will outpace the profit decline in Personal Care. Short of a significant opening of the world economy, I would expect the profit declines in the Personal Care business to continue for the remainder of the year.

In summary, Food & Beverage Colors revenue is up nearly mid-single digits year-to-date and double digits for profit. For the back half of the year, I would expect mid-single digit revenue growth and mid-to-high single-digit profit growth for that product line. Because of the impact of the — because of the impact of Personal Care, we would expect the Color Group to be flat in revenue and profit for the year.

Our Asia Pacific Group had solid revenue growth in some regions but this growth was offset by declines in other regions as government COVID-19 restrictions have significantly impacted many sales channels. The Group delivered outstanding profit growth in the quarter and I anticipate the Group to return to revenue growth once restrictions in certain areas begin to ease.

Based upon current trends, I expect Asia to deliver a low-single digit sales growth and mid-to-high single-digit profit growth for the year. Overall for the Company, we continue to focus on our supply chain. We have increased our inventory levels on certain key raw materials, and as a result, we are providing outstanding on-time delivery to our customers around the world.

While we do experience supply chain disruptions, we have avoided any significant financial disruptions and we continue to reduce our overall inventory levels for the Company. I’m pleased with the progress we had made in the first six months of this year. The Flavor Group has had a great first half and I would anticipate this to continue in the second half. Our Food & Beverage Colors business is also performing well. In Asia Pacific, I’m confident that the strategy and investment we have in place will return this Group to revenue growth.

While I am optimistic about our Food businesses, our Personal Care business will continue to struggle. Furthermore, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 remains unknowable. New product launches are significantly below prior year and there has been some customer SKU rationalizations. Nevertheless our business is strong and well-positioned to grow for the year.

Steve will now provide you with additional details on the second quarter results.

Stephen J. Rolfs — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Thank you, Paul. In my comments this morning, I will be explaining the differences between our GAAP results and our adjusted results. The adjusted results for 2020 and 2019 remove the impact of the divestiture-related costs and the operations divested or to be divested. The second quarter 2019 results do not include any divestiture-related costs.

We believe that the removal of the gains and losses connected to the businesses that we are divesting provides a clearer picture to investors of the Company’s performance. This also reflects how management reviews the Company’s operations and performance.

Included in this year’s second quarter reported results is a gain realized related to the reclassification of accumulated foreign currency translation as a result of the sale of the Inks business as well as other divestiture-related costs, which were primarily non-cash.

These items, which are included in the divestiture and other related costs, increased net earnings by $1 million or approximately $0.02 per share. In addition, this year’s second quarter reported results include $28.2 million of revenue and an immaterial amount of operating income related to the results of the operations to be divested. Last year’s second quarter results include $36.4 million of revenue and an immaterial amount of operating income from the operations to be divested.

Excluding divestiture-related costs and the results of operations to be divested, consolidated adjusted revenue was $294.9 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to $302.8 million in the second quarter of 2019. Consolidated adjusted operating income was $40.3 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to $47 million in the second quarter of 2019. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was$0.70 in this year’s second quarter. Compared to $0.81 in last year’s second quarter.

We have reduced debt by approximately $60 million since the beginning of the year and approximately a $120 million over the last 12 months. We have adequate liquidity to meet operating and financial needs through our cash flow and available credit lines. Our debt-to-EBITDA is now just under 2.7.

Cash flow from operations was $107.6 million for the first six months of 2020, an increase of 41%. Capital expenditures were $21.4 million in the first six months of 2020 compared to $16.6 million in the first six months of 2019. We expect our capital expenditures to be approximately $50 million for the year.

Our free cash flow increased approximately 45% during the first six months of 2020 to $86.2 million. We expect continued strong cash flow growth for the remainder of the year. Consistent with what we communicated during our last call, we expect our adjusted consolidated operating income and earnings may be flat to lower in 2020 because of the level of non-cash performance-based equity that may be deducted in 2020 based on our results.

We also expected a higher tax rate in 2020 compared to our 2019 rate which was lower as a result of a number of planning opportunities. Based on current trends, the Company is increasing our GAAP earnings per share guidance to $2.10 to $2.35. This guidance now includes $0.35 to $0.40 per share of divestiture and other related costs and the results of the operations to be divested. This guidance also includes approximately $0.10 of currency headwinds based on current exchange rates.

On an adjusted basis, based on current trends, we are maintaining our original estimate for the year of a range of $2.60 to $2.80, which excludes divestiture-related costs, the impact of the divested or to be divested businesses and foreign currency impacts. We are also maintaining our adjusted EBITDA guidance of low-to-mid single-digit growth. Please see our press release for a simple summary table of this EPS guidance.

Thank you for your time this morning. We will now open the call for questions.

Questions and Answers:

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] And our first question today will come from Heidi Vesterinen with Exane. Please go ahead.

Heidi Vesterinen — Exane BNP Paribas — Analyst

Hi, good morning. So, Paul, I think you said in your opening comments that COVID was a net negative for Flavors. Could you elaborate on what you meant, if I heard that correctly? Because I thought you may have benefited from pantry loading, a lot of your peers are talking about that.

And then, as a related question, I guess, to finish on Flavors, some of your peers have talked about pressure in foodservice, did you see that as well and how big is your exposure to this area? That’s my first two questions. Thanks.

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Okay. Well, good morning Heidi, or good afternoon actually. So, on the COVID being a net negative for flavors. Yes, I would say. So there is certainly — let’s take the revenue portion. While there were certain segments that were up, for example, processed foods, soups, things of that nature, there are a number of segments that were also down, ice cream, confectionery, beverage in terms of from — that from a product line standpoint.

From a sales channel standpoint, yes, indeed QSR in many of our regions was a big headwind and in particular that played out, not necessarily exclusively in Flavors, we saw that in Asia Pacific and we saw that in Colors as well. The traditional retail outlet food stores and the like, we did not had that type of headwind.

From a geographical standpoint, the — as COVID has evolved that has sort of impacted countries at different timeframes. So right now we’re in the thick of things in Latin America, so certainly we had those geographic headwinds towards the end of Q2 and of course those continue into Q3.

Europe, we still had — we had an improving situation, and I would tell you that in the U.S., we had an improving situation. But you take all those things together and that’s what we would say from a revenue standpoint, it was a net negative. Now, as that flows down to profit, there is that contribution.

But then of course we also had the incremental costs associated with cleaning and PPE and everything from air freights to rush shipments. So all these other logistical and supply chain costs certainly also were a headwind. There was obviously a lot less travel but the net of all those factors for the Flavor Group, I would tell you, overall was negative. But certainly there were pieces that it was favorable but there are plenty of pieces where it was not favorable.

Heidi Vesterinen — Exane BNP Paribas — Analyst

Thank you. And then, separately, there is a view out there and some peers have talked about this that smaller customers are challenged, you have historically said that you work a lot with the so-called B and C customers. So have you seen any smaller customers being challenged? There is a general view that larger multinationals are winning. So what’s your view there?

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

My view is, it’s fairly mixed, right. In some locales, multinationals have reduced, shrunk SKUs for sure. There are other multinationals that are strongly aligned with certain channels like QSR that are not performing particularly well. On the other hand, there are some smaller local brands that are quite essential to the market that they’re serving. And so I would tell you that in both cases, the overall reduction in — there is an overall reduction in terms of the number of product launches that is for sure for our business, whether that’s smaller cuts [Phonetic] B and C types or big A types.

But in terms of activity, I would have to tell you that overall, in my opinion, as I look at the whole company, we probably see more activity from a product development and what can we develop now and what are we going to develop coming out of this pandemic, we see more of that activity on the B and C level than we do on the A level. I would tell you that, here again in my opinion, we see a lot more activity, customers — employees returning. We see more of that activity at some of these B and Cs than we do at a number of the As.

Heidi Vesterinen — Exane BNP Paribas — Analyst

Thank you.

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Okay. Sure, thanks.

Operator

Next question will come from Mark Connelly with Stephens. Please go ahead.

Mark Connelly — Stephens Inc. — Analyst

Thank you. I wonder if we could follow-up on that just a little bit. In terms of what kind of product development, have you started to see a shift in where your customers are putting their priorities? We’ve sort of come to the conclusion that the gluten-free is dead now that everybody is baking bread. So I’m curious whether you’re seeing your customers shift more towards the food as medicine side or whether the — it’s just a greater pace of activity across the board?

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Yeah, that’s a great question because you’re — when I talk about pantry loading and it’s — a lot of that is processed food or food that tends to have a longer shelf life that does not lend itself to the sort of natural nutraceutical profile that we all heard about quite a bit coming into COIVD which tends to have much shorter shelf lives.

I would tell you that most of the product activity or let me say it this way, there is a lot more functional and nutraceutical attributes that customers are looking for. So, for example, our pharmaceutical business did quite well, we’re selling a lot of functional ingredients there, which can go into pharmaceutical over the counter applications and probably more likely nutraceutical applications. So we see a lot of activity there.

On the Personal Care side, we talk about makeup, certainly there is a big headwind there, but there is other category out there somewhat akin to the nutraceutical market which is described oftentimes as cosmeceutical. These are the cosmetic products that bear some type of functional benefit to either the skin or to the hair or some other attribute that people are trying to enhance.

So there is more of that activity. In fact at some customers that has accelerated well beyond any activity that we saw even before COVID-19. But — yeah, I tend to think that with so much of the development slowed and in some cases almost completely stopped at some customers, you’re right about this notion that products containing certain gluten free or other, what would — some would say is before the pandemic, we certainly see a slowdown in that activity.

So, yeah, coming into 2021 and 2022 it’ll be very interesting to see how the market response. How quickly do the customers resume that priority towards fresher, healthier, more natural products and how much continued emphasis there will be on the more say historical, or in some cases, even legacy products at some of our customers. That one I couldn’t tell you yet, but I can tell you for a fact, lot of activity on the nutraceutical functional aspect of our products that would go into pharma, food and even personal care.

Mark Connelly — Stephens Inc. — Analyst

It’s helpful. Just two more things. First, with the administration basically saying Phase II is no longer a priority or at least no longer a near-term priority, does that cause you to shift any of your Asia Pacific priorities. I know China is not a big market, but I’m curious whether China is causing you more competition over there now?

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Well, I would say this, every country has a different approach being taken by governments and in fact as everybody is well aware even within a single country, there may be multiple local governments coming up with their own programs. And so that just plays out in different places and in different ways and on different timelines and so our approach to that has been, we are an essential business, we are going to continue to operate.

If customers want to develop new products, we are very happy to do that, our labs are open. If customers want to continue to have their existing products, we can do that too, and our on-time delivery is absolutely outstanding and we can continue to fulfill those particular needs.

But I think our business model and that of most of our — the folks in this space of ingredients, if we want to call it that, they tend to have a model you produce locally for your local customers and your local markets. So for example, we produce in China for China.

I’m not aware of many if any products that we export from China to the U.S. or to any other jurisdiction. And so I think that model will continue to ascent [phonetic] and actually that’s been quite helpful through this because we don’t have to necessarily jump through a lot of logistical hurdles in many cases when we’re sourcing manufacturing, product support, supply chain support locally to those local customers.

Mark Connelly — Stephens Inc. — Analyst

Okay. And just one last question. Working capital was quite a bit better than we expected and better than what I’m seeing elsewhere. Is there anything we should be thinking about for the second half?

Stephen J. Rolfs — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

So we continue to — that’s been an initiative that we’ve been focused on –focusing on for the last year and a half. So we’re really trying to exercise very tight control over our inventories as well as our receivables and payables. And over the last 12 months, we’ve done well on inventory. I will say actually in the quarter, consistent with Paul’s comments, we urged some of our businesses to stock up on certain raw materials.

So we made some investments in inventory, but we did — we did well on receivables. Our receivables days have come down about a day and I think you’re also just seeing a better mix of cash earnings out of the business this year and that’s helping contribute to cash flow.

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

But, I would also say this, we certainly have more work to do on reducing our inventory levels throughout the Company. We’ve taken many many days out not only on the trailing 12 months, but even on the trailing six months, and — so we’ve got a lot of supply chain initiatives that probably have a lot less to do with specifically serving customers, but they have a lot more to do with generating internal cash and improving efficiencies, there’s a lot more of that too underway. So I would anticipate, we have inventory reductions well into the rest of the year and into next year and so that could be something to anticipate for everybody.

Mark Connelly — Stephens Inc. — Analyst

Very nice to see in this environment. Thank you.

Operator

[Operator Instructions] The next question comes from Mitra Ramgopal with Sidoti. Please go ahead.

Mitra Ramgopal — Sidoti & Company, LLC — Analyst

Yes, [Technical Issues] good morning. Thanks for taking the questions. First I just wanted to be sure I got this right. I think Paul you mentioned that, I think COVID has had maybe about a $0.10 impact on EPS for the half. Just wanted to double check if that’s a net number or just from the headwinds you’ve been seeing, because I know you’ve also benefited a little from it?

Stephen J. Rolfs — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Sure. So Mitra, that is a net number. So we really — we looked at the sales impact, which Paul spoke to. We looked at the one-time costs, and then we’ve also fortunately had some offsetting savings in the area of travel. But when you net all that together, that was $0.10 year-to-date. I think there may have been a little bit of positive impact in Q1 and a little bit of a greater negative impact in Q2, but year-to-date, the net is [Indecipherable].

Mitra Ramgopal — Sidoti & Company, LLC — Analyst

Okay. No, thanks. That’s great. And on the divestiture front you’re obviously making nice progress as it relates to the sales. I was just curious, a couple of questions on that. First, the use of the proceeds, if that’s going to be primarily for reducing debt? And as you’ve gone through this process, and given COVID, I was wondering if it has changed anything as it relates to longer-term growth strategy as you look at the remaining businesses and maybe areas you probably would like to be more active in?

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

So, yeah, the proceeds from those divestitures will go towards reducing debt. As you’ve seen, we’ve taken out a whole bunch of debt over the last 12 months, over the last six months. Our debt-to-EBITDA is now just below 2.7, it’s actually 2.68, if I could quote you precisely the number I’d like to watch very carefully.

So that’s where we’re going to continue to focus on for sure. Hey, we always look at other use of our cash as well. But I think for the here and now, that’s how we’re going to play that one. With respect to the strategy of the business, we have been underway with our diversification program in cosmetics for some time. In other words, how can we utilize some of our technologies more directly into the skincare market, into other personal care applications such as, for example, oral care.

We have a very good hair care and hair coloring business, but there is certainly more opportunities for us in that segment. Well, so I think if anything, COVID-19 is accelerating our penetration in these other segments. Have a very good product line that in many cases is very suitable for those areas. There is a lot of customers in that space throughout Americas, Asia and in Europe. So we feel very good about that and it’s still a very good and growing market.

It’s a strong technology-based market and so I think we can be quite successful there. Beyond that though, we’re going to just keep rodding and roping in Colors and Flavors. We’ve got a very strong focus on what we want to do, and I think we’re starting to show the world that we can be successful with this strategy and now I feel good about where that’s going for the rest of the year and into 2021 for sure.

Mitra Ramgopal — Sidoti & Company, LLC — Analyst

Okay. No, that’s great. And as a little of a follow-up on that is, on COIVD, just wondering how you view the environment as it relates to — on a competitive front and maybe an update in terms of what you’re seeing on the raw material and being able to implement maybe some favorable pricing for you?

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Well, let me take that first part first. So, raw materials, this is something that I think we got well ahead of this whole situation earlier in this year and we loaded up thoughtfully on a number of our strategic raw materials that perhaps had more sensitivity than say more mundane raw materials.

So we had a very strong effort there, but along with that, you can have raw materials all day long, but if your employees aren’t producing and you’re not delivering these things and managing the supply chain around them that’s only kind of half the battle. And so, yeah, our folks have just been unbelievable putting these not only from the supply chain, but from the production and the quality and the lab support. Across the board, it’s been a real team effort and I think we’ve seen some very impressive results there.

So I like our chances moving forward as well on the supply chain. We’re going to continue to watch it whether there is another lockdown not a lockdown. We just kind of — as I said, we just assume pretty much the worst in all cases and that tends to be a good policy for us when you consider because it’s all about delivering and it’s delivering on time to our customers and we’re doing — in fact, our delivery is better in June than it was before the pandemic. So our people are very engaged and they understand their mission and they’re very motivated to complete it.

Now with respect to competition, you know hey, we deal with different folks in different parts of the world and in a lot of different product lines and so we’re happy to know when they’re not doing well because we’d like to take advantage of that fact and service to close [Phonetic] customers and so I guess that’s all I had to say about that piece.

Mitra Ramgopal — Sidoti & Company, LLC — Analyst

Okay. No, that’s great. And then finally, Stephen, I just was curious in terms of maybe where there could be some leverage in the model, and I was just, I know it’s — on the selling and admin side, the first half or second quarter pretty similar to what we saw in the first quarter. I was just curious, how should we think about the back half given the ongoing divestitures?

Stephen J. Rolfs — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Yeah. So I think any increase that you saw in SG&A in the quarter again was going to be attributable to, primarily, incentive accruals. We’re actually watching SG&A very closely and getting some benefit from the reduced travel that we see right now. With this type of volume growth, particularly in flavors, we should continue to see good operating leverage. We’ve spend a number of years rationalizing our production footprint. We have SG&A capable of supporting significant growth without having to make new investments. So with revenue growth, we should be able to generate good operating leverage.

Mitra Ramgopal — Sidoti & Company, LLC — Analyst

Okay. Thanks again for taking the questions.

Paul Manning — Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Okay, thanks Mitra.

Operator

At this time there are no further questions. I would now like to turn the conference back to the Company for any closing remarks.

Stephen J. Rolfs — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Okay, thank you everyone for your time this morning. That will conclude our call. Goodbye and have a good day. Thank you.

Operator

[Operator Closing Remarks]