FORT COLLINS, Colo., Nov. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) today reported financial results for its fiscal year 2022 and fourth quarter ending September 30, 2022.

All amounts are presented on an as reported U.S. GAAP basis unless otherwise indicated. All per share amounts are presented on a fully diluted basis. All comparisons are made to the same period of the prior year unless otherwise stated.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Overview

• Net sales were $640 million, compared to $570 million, an increase of 12 percent.
• Net earnings were $54 million, or $0.88 per share, compared to net earnings of $50 million, or $0.76 per share.
• Adjusted earnings per share1 were $0.84, compared to $0.82.

Fiscal Year 2022 Overview

• Net sales were $2.38 billion, compared to $2.25 billion, an increase of 6 percent.
• Net earnings were $172 million, or $2.71 per share, compared to net earnings of $209 million, or $3.18 per share.
• Adjusted earnings per share were $2.75, compared to $3.24.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $194 million, compared to $465 million. Free cash flow1 was $141 million for 2022, compared to $427 million.

“In fiscal 2022 we experienced strong demand for our products and services, although profitability was impacted by the challenging industry-wide operating environment, including labor and material inflation as well as global supply chain and labor disruptions,” said Chip Blankenship, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “As we move into fiscal 2023, we expect solid top line growth from continued strong customer demand. Sales growth along with the realization of pricing and productivity gains are expected to drive steady margin improvement throughout the year. We are making strategic investments in the business to mitigate supply chain risk, and we remain focused on operational excellence, talent development, and innovation to create additional value for our shareholders.”

Company Results

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 were $640 million, compared to $570 million, an increase of 12 percent. Sales for the fourth quarter were negatively impacted by approximately $24 million from foreign currency exchange rates. The impact of ongoing global supply chain and labor disruptions at the end of the fourth quarter of 2022 was approximately $85 million.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $54 million, or $0.88 per share, compared to $50 million, or $0.76 per share. Adjusted net earnings1 in the fourth quarter of 2022 were $51 million, or $0.84 per share, compared to adjusted net earnings of $54 million, or $0.82 per share.

EBIT1 was $67 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $69 million. Adjusted EBIT1 for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $64 million, compared to $74 million.

The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2022 was 6.5 percent, compared to 18.2 percent. The adjusted effective tax rate1 for the fourth quarter of 2022 was 5.3 percent, compared to 18.8 percent.

Net sales for fiscal 2022 were $2.38 billion, compared to $2.25 billion, an increase of 6 percent. Sales for fiscal 2022 were negatively impacted by approximately $54 million from foreign currency exchange rates.

Net earnings for fiscal 2022 were $172 million, or $2.71 per share, compared to $209 million, or $3.18 per share. Adjusted net earnings1 for fiscal 2022 were $174 million, or $2.75 per share, compared to $212 million, or $3.24 per share.

EBIT1 was $233 million for fiscal 2022, compared to $279 million. Adjusted EBIT was $235 million for fiscal 2022, compared to $284 million.

The full year effective tax rate for fiscal 2022 was 14.1 percent, compared to 15.1 percent. The adjusted effective tax rate for the full fiscal year 2022 was 14.3 percent, compared to 15.3 percent.

Segment Results

Aerospace

Aerospace segment net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 were $408 million, compared to $377 million, an increase of 8 percent.

Both commercial OEM and aftermarket sales for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased due to higher OEM aircraft production rates, continued recovery in passenger traffic, and increasing aircraft utilization. Defense OEM sales were down compared to the prior year due to lower guided weapons sales, and defense aftermarket sales were lower due to supply chain disruptions.

Segment earnings for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $63 million, compared to $66 million. Segment earnings as a percent of segment net sales were 15.5 percent for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to 17.4 percent. The decrease in segment earnings was primarily the result of net inflationary impacts on material and labor costs, as well as increases in manufacturing costs related to supply chain disruptions and inefficiencies related to training recent hires, all partially offset by higher sales volume.

For fiscal 2022, Aerospace segment net sales were $1.52 billion, an increase of 8 percent compared to $1.40 billion. Segment earnings for fiscal 2022 were $231 million, or 15.2 percent of segment net sales, compared to $234 million, or 16.7 percent of segment net sales.

Industrial

Industrial segment net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 were $232 million, compared to $193 million, an increase of 20 percent.

The increase in industrial sales for the fourth quarter of 2022 was driven by higher marine sales from continued utilization of the in-service fleet as well as strong industrial turbomachinery sales supporting growing demand for power generation and process industries. The sales increase was partially offset by the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rates of approximately $22 million in the quarter.

Industrial segment earnings for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $21 million, or 9.0 percent of segment net sales, compared to $21 million, or 10.7 percent of segment net sales. Industrial segment earnings were flat as the favorable impact from higher sales volumes was offset by the additional costs incurred due to supply chain disruptions, inefficiencies related to training recent hires, net inflationary impacts on material and labor costs, and unfavorable foreign currency effects.

For fiscal year 2022, Industrial segment net sales were $863 million, compared to $842 million, a 3 percent increase. Foreign currency exchange rates negatively impacted industrial segment sales in fiscal 2022 by approximately $51 million. Industrial segment earnings for fiscal 2022 were $83 million, or 9.6 percent of segment net sales, compared to $109 million, or 12.9 percent of segment net sales.

Nonsegment

Nonsegment expenses were $17 million for both the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. Adjusted nonsegment expenses1 for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $21 million, compared to $12 million.

Nonsegment expenses totaled $81 million for fiscal 2022, compared to $64 million. Adjusted nonsegment expenses were $78 million for fiscal 2022, compared to $59 million.

Cash Flow and Financial Position

Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2022 was $194 million, compared to $465 million. Payments for property, plant, and equipment for 2022 were $53 million, compared to $38 million. Free cash flow was $141 million for 2022 compared to $427 million of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in free cash flow for 2022 was primarily related to working capital increases as a result of production delays from supply chain disruptions as well as lower earnings.

Total debt was $777 million at September 30, 2022, compared to $735 million at September 30, 2021. Debt-to-EBITDA1 leverage at September 30, 2022 was 2.1 times EBITDA, compared to 1.7 times EBITDA at September 30, 2021.

During fiscal year 2022, $518 million was returned to stockholders in the form of $45 million of dividends and $473 million of repurchased shares.

Fiscal Year 2023 Outlook

Woodward’s fiscal 2023 outlook assumes improving operational and financial performance throughout the year while continuing to navigate a challenging industry-wide environment. The supply chain and labor disruptions are anticipated to begin to subside during fiscal year 2023, with the pace of improvement expected to increase in the second half of the year. However, the pace of improvement is uncertain and results could be negatively impacted if supply chain and labor disruptions do not improve as anticipated.

The strong demand environment is expected to continue, with price realization to ramp over the course of the year. Total net sales for fiscal 2023 are expected to be between $2.60 billion and $2.75 billion. Aerospace sales growth percentage is expected to be between 14 and 19 percent. Industrial sales growth percentage is expected to be flat to up 5 percent.

Aerospace segment earnings as a percent of segment net sales are expected to increase by approximately 150 to 200 basis points. Industrial segment earnings as a percent of segment net sales are expected to be flat.

EBIT is expected to include approximately $60 million of annual variable incentive compensation costs, an increase of approximately $50 million over fiscal year 2022.

The effective tax rate is expected to be approximately 19 percent.

Free cash flow is expected to be between $200 million and $250 million, with an anticipated free cash flow conversion rate of greater than 100 percent. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $80 million.

Earnings per share is expected to be between $3.15 and $3.60 based on approximately 61 million of fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

Conference Call

Woodward will hold an investor conference call at 4:30 p.m. EST, November 17, 2022, to provide an overview of the financial performance for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2022, business highlights, and outlook for fiscal 2023. You are invited to listen to the live webcast of our conference call, or a recording, and view or download accompanying presentation slides at our website, www.woodward.com2.

You may also listen to the call by dialing 1-888-440-4531 (domestic) or 1-646-960-0808 (international). Participants should call prior to the start time to allow for registration; the Conference ID is 4278216. An audio replay will be available by telephone from 7:30 p.m. EST on November 17, 2022 until 11:59 p.m. EST on December 1, 2022. The telephone number to access the replay is 1-800-770-2030 (domestic) or 1-647-362-9199 (international), reference access code 4278216.

A webcast presentation will be available on the website by selecting “Investors/Events & Presentations.” The call and presentation will remain accessible at the website for 14 days.

About Woodward, Inc.

Woodward is the global leader in the design, manufacturing, and service of energy conversion and control solutions for the aerospace and industrial equipment markets. Together with our customers, we are enabling the path to a cleaner, decarbonized world. Our innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, propulsion and motion control systems perform in some of the world’s harshest environments. Woodward is a global company headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Visit our website at www.woodward.com.

Cautionary Statement Information in this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our expectations of revenue growth in fiscal year 2023, including our expectations regarding customer demand, the impact of pricing and productivity, trends in our margins for fiscal year 2023, our strategic investments and their impact, our continued focus on operational excellence, talent development, and innovation to create additional value for shareholders, and statements regarding our business and financial outlook for fiscal year 2023, including our guidance for sales, earnings, EBIT, variable compensation costs, effective tax rate and free cash flow and capital expenditures as well as our assumptions regarding our outlook, anticipated trends in our business and the timing and pace of improvements in the supply and labor environment. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) global economic uncertainty and instability in the financial markets that affect Woodward, its customers, and its supply chain; (3) risks related to continued constraints and disruptions in the global supply chain and labor markets; (4) Woodward’s long sales cycle; (5) risks related to Woodward’s concentration of revenue among a relatively small number of customers; (6) Woodward’s ability to implement and realize the intended effects of any restructuring efforts; (7) Woodward’s ability to successfully manage competitive factors including expenses and fluctuations in sales; (8) changes and consolidations in the aerospace market; (9) Woodward’s financial obligations including debt obligations and tax expenses and exposures; (10) risks related to Woodward’s U.S. government contracting activities including potential changes in government spending patterns; (11) Woodward’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights and avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (12) changes in the estimates of fair value of reporting units or of long-lived assets; (13) environmental risks; (14) Woodward’s continued access to a stable workforce and favorable labor relations with its employees; (15) Woodward’s ability to manage various regulatory and legal matters; (16) risks from operating internationally; (17) cybersecurity and other technological risks; and other risk factors described in Woodward's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2022, which we expect to file shortly, and other risks described in Woodward’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

1Adjusted and Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures: Adjusted net earnings, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted effective tax rate, and adjusted nonsegment expenses exclude, as applicable, (i) costs related to business development activities (ii) a charge related to a non-recurring matter unrelated to the ongoing operations of the business, and (iii) restructuring activities. Woodward believes that these items are short-term costs or charges and are otherwise not related to the ongoing operations of the business. Therefore, Woodward uses them to illustrate more clearly how the underlying business of Woodward is performing. Adjusted free cash flow is free cash flow (defined below) plus the cash payments for costs related to business development activities and restructuring activities. Management believes these adjustments to free cash flow better portray Woodward’s operating performance.

EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes), EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), free cash flow, adjusted free cash flow, adjusted net earnings, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted effective tax rate, and adjusted nonsegment expenses are financial measures not prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). Management uses EBIT and adjusted EBIT to evaluate Woodward’s operating performance without the impacts of financing and tax related considerations. Management uses EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA in evaluating Woodward’s operating performance, making business decisions, including developing budgets, managing expenditures, forecasting future periods, and evaluating capital structure impacts of various strategic scenarios. Management also uses free cash flow, which is derived from net cash provided by or used in operating activities less payments for property, plant, and equipment, as well as adjusted free cash flow (as described above), in reviewing the financial performance of Woodward’s various business segments and evaluating cash generation levels. Securities analysts, investors, and others frequently use EBIT, EBITDA and free cash flow in their evaluation of companies, particularly those with significant property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets that are subject to amortization. The use of any of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because EBIT, EBITDA, adjusted EBIT, and adjusted EBITDA exclude certain financial information compared with net earnings, the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, users of this financial information should consider the information that is excluded. Free cash flow does not necessarily represent funds available for discretionary use and is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Management’s calculations of EBIT, EBITDA, adjusted net earnings, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBIT, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted nonsegment expenses, free cash flow, and adjusted free cash flow may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

2Website, Facebook, Twitter: Woodward has used, and intends to continue to use, its Investor Relations website, its Facebook page and its Twitter handle as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.