First Quarter Financial Highlights
First quarter 2022 performance relative to first quarter 2021
● | Sales of $463 million increased 12% on a reported basis and 14% organically due to double-digit organic growth in all regions. Sales from acquisitions totaled approximately $2 million and were more than offset by unfavorable foreign exchange movements, which reduced sales by $10 million. |
● | Operating margin increased 100 basis points on a reported basis and 120 basis points on an adjusted basis, benefiting from price, volume, productivity and cost savings, which more than offset inflation, incremental investments and business normalization costs. GAAP operating margin was reduced by incremental restructuring charges year-over-year. |
Regional Performance
Americas
| o | Sales of $314 million increased 15% on a reported basis and 14% on an organic basis. Sales from acquisitions contributed growth of 1%. The majority of product lines grew by double-digits. |
| o | Operating margin increased 60 basis points on a GAAP basis and 70 basis points on an adjusted basis as benefits from price realization and productivity more than offset inflation, incremental growth investments and business normalization costs. GAAP operating margin in 2022 was negatively impacted by restructuring charges. |
Europe
| o | Sales of $130 million increased 6% on a reported basis and 14% on an organic basis, with growth in both Fluid Solutions and Drains platforms. Unfavorable foreign exchange movements totaled 8%. |
| o | Operating margin increased 30 basis points on a GAAP basis and 120 basis points on an adjusted basis benefiting from increased price, volume and productivity, partially offset by inflation and growth investments. GAAP operating margin in 2022 was negatively impacted by restructuring charges. |
Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (“APMEA”)
| o | Sales of $19 million increased 10% on a reported basis and 13% on an organic basis, driven by growth in all major regions. Unfavorable foreign exchange movements totaled 3%. |
| o | Operating margin increased 250 basis points on a GAAP basis and 30 basis points on an adjusted basis. GAAP and adjusted margins both benefited from increased volume, price and productivity, which offset inflation and reduced affiliate volume. GAAP operating margin in 2022 was positively impacted by lower restructuring costs year-over-year. |
Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
● | For the first quarter of 2022, operating cash flow was negative $2 million and net capital expenditures were $6 million, resulting in free cash flow of negative $8 million. In the comparable period last year, operating cash flow was $34 million and net capital expenditures were $2 million, resulting in free cash flow of $32 million. Operating cash flow and free cash flow decreased primarily due to a proactive decision to increase inventories in response to strong market demand and continued supply chain disruptions, in addition to increased payments related to restructuring and employee and customer incentives. We expect improvement in free cash flow throughout 2022 due to normal seasonality. |
● | The Company repurchased approximately 293,000 shares of Class A common stock at a cost of $42.9 million during the first quarter. |
For a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP items and a statement regarding the usefulness of these measures to investors and management in evaluating our operating performance, please see the tables attached to this press release.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will hold a live webcast of its conference call to discuss first quarter 2022 results on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. EDT. This press release and the live webcast can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.wattswater.com. Following the webcast, the call recording will be available at the same address until May 4, 2023.
The Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the Company’s executive offices located at 815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, Massachusetts.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a world leader in the manufacture of innovative products to control the efficiency, safety, and quality of water within residential, commercial, and institutional applications. Watts’ expertise in a wide variety of water technologies enables us to be a comprehensive supplier to the water industry.