For Immediate Release
Highlights:
- 4Q21 Reported EPS of $2.19, down 4% driven by impact of extra week in prior year
- Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) of $2.13, down 6%; up 23% vs. 2019
- 4Q21 Net sales increased 9.7% to $2.2 billion
- Sales growth ex. currency (non-GAAP) of 18.5%
- Organic sales growth (non-GAAP) of 12.8%
- FY21 Reported EPS of $8.83, up 34%
- Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) of $8.91, up 25%
- FY21 Net sales increased 20.6% to $8.4 billion
- Sales growth ex. currency (non-GAAP) of 18.6%
- Organic sales growth (non-GAAP) of 15.6%
- FY22 Reported EPS guidance of $9.25 to $9.65
- Adjusted EPS guidance of $9.35 to $9.75
GLENDALE, Calif., February 2, 2022 – Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE:AVY) today announced preliminary, unaudited results for its fourth quarter and full year ended January 1, 2022. Non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this document are reconciled to GAAP in the attached financial schedules. Unless otherwise indicated, comparisons are to the same period in the prior year.
“2021 marked the company’s tenth consecutive year of strong top- and bottom-line growth,” said Mitch Butier, chairman, president and CEO. “We delivered 19 percent revenue growth on a constant currency basis and 25 percent adjusted earnings per share growth, while generating record free cash flow.
“Our strong performance comes at a challenging time as the global health crisis continues, supply chains are tight and significant inflationary pressures persist.
“2021 marked an important milestone for the company, as the final year of measurement for the five-year financial targets we communicated in early 2017,” added Butier. “ I’m pleased to report that we achieved our long-term goals for this period.”
“For 2022, we expect to again deliver strong top- and bottom-line growth and are targeting continued progress toward our 2025 goals,” said Butier.
“Once again, I want to thank our entire team for their tireless efforts to keep one another safe while delivering for all our stakeholders.”
Operational/Market Update
In the fourth quarter, uncertainty surrounding the global health crisis remained elevated as many parts of the world experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases. The safety and well-being of employees remains the company’s top priority. The company has continued to adapt its world-class safety protocols as the pandemic evolves. All manufacturing locations are currently operational.
The company continues to actively manage through a dynamic supply and demand environment. Demand across the majority of its businesses and regions remains strong, while raw materials, freight and labor availability continue to be constrained. The company continuesto leverage its global scale and work closely with customers and suppliers to minimize disruptions. Inflation remains persistent and additional pricing and material re-engineering actions are being implemented to offset higher costs.
Fourth Quarter 2021 Results by Segment
Label and Graphic Materials
- Reported sales increased 3% to $1.3 billion. Compared to prior year, sales were up 12% ex. currency and 11% on an organic basis.
- Label and Packaging Materials sales were up low-double digits from prior year on an organic basis, with strong growth in both high value product categories and the base business.
- Sales increased by low-double digits organically in the combined Graphics and Reflective Solutions businesses.
- On an organic basis, sales were up mid-teens in North America and high-single digits in Western Europe and emerging markets.
- Reported operating margin decreased 370 basis points to 12.2%. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 310 basis points to 14.5%, as the benefit from higher organic volume/mix was more than offset by the net impact of pricing, freight and raw material costs and the impact of the extra week in 2020.
- The higher revenue base from price increases alone, with no corresponding incremental EBITDA as they are offsetting inflation, reduced margin by ~140 basis points.
Retail Branding and Information Solutions
- Reported sales increased 30% to $659 million. Sales were up 39% ex. currency and 20% on an organic basis, reflecting strong growth in both the high value product categories and the base business.
- Intelligent Labels was up more than 20% organically.
- Reported operating margin decreased 60 basis points to 14.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 30 basis points to 19.3%, as the benefits from acquisitions and higher volume were more than offset by growth investments, higher employee-related costs and the headwind from prior-year temporary cost reduction actions.
- The Vestcom business is achieving our acquisition objectives.
Industrial and Healthcare Materials
- Reported sales increased 2% to $193 million. Sales were up 12% ex. currency and 10% on an organic basis, reflecting a mid-single digit increase in industrial categories and a mid-teens increase in healthcare categories.
- Reported operating margin decreased 360 basis points to 8.8%. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 300 basis points to 12.9% as the benefit from productivity was more than offset by the net impact of pricing, freight and raw material costs, the impact of the extra week in 2020, higher employee-related costs and growth investments.
- The higher revenue base from price increases alone, with no corresponding incremental EBITDA as they are offsetting inflation, reduced margin by ~90 basis points.
Other
Balance Sheet and Capital Deployment
During 2021, the company deployed $1.48 billion for acquisitions and returned $402 million in cash to shareholders through a combination of share repurchases and dividends, up from $301 million compared to last year. The company repurchased 0.9 million shares at an aggregate cost of $181 million. Net of dilution from long-term incentive awards, the company’s year-end share count was down by 0.3 million compared to the same time last year.
The company’s balance sheet remains strong, with ample capacity to continue executing our long term capital allocation strategy. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was 2.2 at the end of the fourth quarter, below the lower end of the company’s long-term target range.
Income Taxes
The company’s reported effective tax rate was 25% for both the fourth quarter and the full year. The company’s adjusted (non-GAAP) tax rate was 23.9% for the fourth quarter and 25% for the full year.
The company’s 2022 adjusted tax rate is expected to be in the mid-twenty percent range based on current tax regulations.
Cost Reduction Actions
In the fourth quarter and full year 2021, the company realized $16 million and $63 million, respectively, in pre-tax savings from restructuring, net of transition costs, and incurred pre-tax restructuring charges of $7 million and $14 million, respectively, the vast majority of which represents cash charges.
Guidance
In its supplemental presentation materials, “Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Review and Analysis,” the company provides a list of factors that it believes will contribute to its 2022 financial results. Based on the factors listed and other assumptions, the company expects 2022 reported earnings per share of $9.25 to $9.65.
Excluding an estimated $0.10 per share impact of restructuring charges and other items, the company expects 2022 adjusted earnings per share of $9.35 to $9.75.
For more details on the company’s results, see the summary tables accompanying this news release, as well as the supplemental presentation materials, “Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Review and Analysis,” posted on the company’s website at www.investors.averydennison.com, and furnished to the SEC on Form 8-K.
Throughout this release and the supplemental presentation materials, amounts on a per share basis reflect fully diluted shares outstanding.
