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home / news releases / american vanguard reports third quarter and ytd 2023


AVD - American Vanguard Reports Third Quarter and YTD 2023 Results

Q3 Sales in line with prior year, Rebound Expected in Q4, Transformation Plan Underway

American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE: AVD) today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and a transformation plan for future growth, operational efficiency and profitability.

Flat Quarterly Sales in Spite of Global Destocking

Chairman and CEO, Eric Wintemute stated: “With respect to our financial performance, in spite of global destocking by customers to limit inventory carrying costs, we recorded sales that were about even with those of the prior year quarter. With channel inventory at historic lows, sales of our premier corn soil insecticide Aztec were strong, as were those of soil fumigants used on high-value crops in the Pacific Northwest. Within our US non-crop business, we are seeing more normalized trends in nursery, ornamental and professional products. Our International businesses are still feeling the effects of low-priced generic products in certain regions (especially Central America), while Mexico and Australia remain strong.”

3 Months Ended

September 30, 2023

September 30, 2022

Net sales

$

149,516

$

152,267

Net income (loss)

$

(325

)

$

6,741

EPS

$

(0.01

)

$

0.23

Adjusted EBITDA

$

11,364

$

18,912

9 Months Ended

September 30, 2023

September 30, 2022

Net sales

$

407,191

$

450,063

Net income

$

540

$

23,506

EPS

$

0.02

$

0.78

Adjusted EBITDA

$

33,536

$

61,435

Fourth Quarter Expected to Rebound

Mr. Wintemute added, “As we reported in our last earnings call, we anticipate improved sales and profitability in the fourth quarter as compared to the first nine months of this fiscal year. Even now, early in the quarter, we are experiencing strong sales, particularly within our US Crop business. This is the quarter in which many of our customers make commitments in order to qualify for program discounts, including early pay. In light of stronger US crop demand, more normalized US non-crop demand and continued international pressure, we are targeting full year financial performance as per the table below.”

Metric

2023 Range

2022 Actual

Net sales

$580MM - $590MM

$610MM

Gross margin %

30% - 32%

32%

Adjusted EBITDA

$55MM - $59MM

$73.0MM

Company Announces Three-Part Transformation Plan for Growth and Profitability

Mr. Wintemute continued, “We are committed to returning greater value to investors despite current market conditions. To that end, members of the board and senior management have developed a three-pronged plan to improve operating leverage and align people and processes with enhanced profit. First, we have taken time one-on-one with each functional group to scrutinize operating expenses and identified approximately $15 million in operating profit and interest savings to which we will be holding our managers accountable. These measures include enhanced working capital management, greater factory efficiency, reduced operating expenses, decreases in freight and raw materials expense and lower debt and interest expense.”

“Second, working with our ERP sponsor, QAD, and global business consultant, Kearney, we are implementing a complete digital transformation across all business centers and processes. Through this initiative, we will improve data integrity, enhance accounting efficiency and improve management reporting so that we can make faster, better-informed decisions in the face of volatile markets, supply chains, climate and geopolitical shifts.”

“Third, we are launching an organizational transformation in which we evaluate how we are structured, how we are incentivized to operate and how we can best gain the greatest efficiencies and operating leverage. To that end, the Company has initiated a search (led by our newly-appointed Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Shirin Khosravi) for a Chief Transformation Officer who, working with both our internal team and external consultants, will lead the transformation project, recommend and implement appropriate changes and define key performance indicators to achieve better business results.”

2024 Targets Significant Improvement

Mr. Wintemute continued, “There is a general sense of optimism for 2024 within the Agriculture industry. Commodity prices remain relatively stable, the farm economy is sound, interest rates appear to have peaked, and we have observed strong demand for proprietary products, of which we have many in our portfolio. For that reason, we are targeting 8% - 12% growth in sales and 25% - 35% growth in adjusted EBITDA for full year 2024. We will provide greater clarity on our outlook for 2024 and beyond this January.”

Concluding Thoughts

Mr. Wintemute stated further, “In light of higher interest expense and in order to ensure that we have ample borrowing capacity from our senior credit facility, we reached out to our senior lenders, led by BMO, to negotiate an expansion of our financial covenants. I am pleased to report that our senior lenders were, as usual, very supportive and have agreed to an amendment that gives us a secure runway through September 2024. We thank BMO and our other lenders for their support.”

Mr. Wintemute concluded, “Times like this call for more effort, more innovation and more openness to change. We will continue to draw from our experience to provide high value products to our customers, to exercise strict financial discipline and to invest in our digital platform while transforming our global business into an optimized, agile and efficient enterprise. Please join us for our upcoming earnings call, during which we will give you more detail on our plans, our performance and our outlook.”

Conference Call

Eric Wintemute, Chairman & CEO and David T. Johnson, VP & CFO, will conduct a conference call focusing on the financial results and strategic themes at 5 pm ET on November 8, 2023. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 201-493-6744. Please call in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and ask for the American Vanguard call. The conference call will also be webcast live via the News and Media section of the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com. To listen to the live webcast, go to the web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call will be archived on the Company’s web site.

About American Vanguard

American Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops, manufactures, and markets solutions for crop protection and nutrition, turf and ornamentals management, commercial and consumer pest control. Over the past 20 years, through product and business acquisitions, the Company has expanded its operations into 21 countries and now has over 1,000 product registrations in 56 nations worldwide. Its strategy rests on three growth initiatives – i) Core Business (through innovation of conventional products), ii) Green Solutions (with over 130 biorational products – including fertilizers, microbials, nutritionals and non-conventional products) and iii) Precision Agriculture innovation (including SIMPAS prescriptive application and Ultimus measure/record/verify technologies). American Vanguard is included in the Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes. To learn more about American Vanguard, please reference the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com .

The Company, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s SEC reports and filings. All forward-looking statements, if any, in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

September 30,
2023

December 31,
2022

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

11,529

$

20,328

Receivables:

Trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,274 and $5,136, respectively

185,619

156,492

Other

11,919

9,816

Total receivables, net

197,538

166,308

Inventories

247,932

184,190

Prepaid expenses

8,517

15,850

Income taxes receivable

6,071

1,891

Total current assets

471,587

388,567

Property, plant and equipment, net

73,205

70,912

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

22,907

24,250

Intangible assets, net

174,918

184,664

Goodwill

47,426

47,010

Other assets

12,435

10,769

Deferred income tax assets, net

366

141

Total assets

$

802,844

$

726,313

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

71,054

$

69,000

Customer prepayments

5,998

110,597

Accrued program costs

90,367

60,743

Accrued expenses and other payables

16,555

20,982

Current operating lease liabilities

5,553

5,279

Total current liabilities

189,527

266,601

Long-term debt, net

218,000

51,477

Long-term operating lease liabilities

18,102

19,492

Other liabilities, net of current installments

4,805

4,167

Deferred income tax liabilities, net

13,709

14,597

Total liabilities

444,143

356,334

Commitments and contingent liabilities

Stockholders' equity:

Preferred stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 400,000 shares; none issued

Common stock, $.10 par value per share; authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued 34,666,431 shares at September 30, 2023 and 34,446,194 shares at December 31, 2022

3,467

3,444

Additional paid-in capital

108,937

105,634

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(9,254

)

(12,182

)

Retained earnings

326,752

328,745

Less treasury stock at cost, 5,915,182 shares at September 30, 2023 and 5,029,892 shares at December 31, 2022

(71,201

)

(55,662

)

Total stockholders’ equity

358,701

369,979

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

802,844

$

726,313

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

For the Three

Months Ended

September 30,

For the Nine

Months Ended

September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Net sales

$

149,516

$

152,267

$

407,191

$

450,063

Cost of sales

(106,432

)

(102,629

)

(282,662

)

(299,698

)

Gross profit

43,084

49,638

124,529

150,365

Operating expenses

(38,893

)

(38,394

)

(113,317

)

(113,559

)

Operating income

4,191

11,244

11,212

36,806

Change in fair value of equity investments

(247

)

(454

)

(324

)

(857

)

Interest expense, net

(3,384

)

(1,086

)

(8,282

)

(2,256

)

Income before provision for income taxes

560

9,704

2,606

33,693

Income tax expense

(885

)

(2,963

)

(2,066

)

(10,187

)

Net income (loss)

$

(325

)

$

6,741

$

540

$

23,506

Net income (loss) per common share—basic

$

(.01

)

$

.23

$

.02

$

.80

Net income (loss) per common share—assuming dilution

$

(.01

)

$

.23

$

.02

$

.78

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

27,919

29,214

28,236

29,496

Weighted average shares outstanding—assuming dilution

27,919

29,805

28,656

30,128

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

ANALYSIS OF SALES

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Quarter Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:

2023

2022

Change

% Change

Net sales:

U.S. crop

$

67,749

$

69,101

$

(1,352

)

-2

%

U.S. non-crop

19,250

18,946

304

2

%

Total U.S.

86,999

88,047

(1,048

)

-1

%

International

62,517

64,220

(1,703

)

-3

%

Total net sales

149,516

152,267

(2,751

)

-2

%

Total cost of sales

(106,432

)

(102,629

)

(3,803

)

4

%

Total gross profit

$

43,084

$

49,638

$

(6,554

)

-13

%

Total gross margin

29

%

33

%

Nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 2022

2023

2022

Change

% Change

Net sales:

U.S. crop

$

185,823

$

220,303

$

(34,480

)

-16

%

U.S. non-crop

50,041

53,844

(3,803

)

-7

%

Total U.S.

235,864

274,147

(38,283

)

-14

%

International

171,327

175,916

(4,589

)

-3

%

Total net sales

407,191

450,063

(42,872

)

-10

%

Total cost of sales

(282,662

)

(299,698

)

17,036

-6

%

Total gross profit

$

124,529

$

150,365

$

(25,836

)

-17

%

Total gross margin

31

%

33

%

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

For the Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2023

2022

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$

540

$

23,506

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment

6,396

6,207

Amortization of intangibles assets

10,009

10,442

Amortization of other long-term assets

1,445

2,656

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

7

265

Accretion of discounted liabilities

28

Amortization of deferred loan fees

174

174

Provision for bad debts

952

597

Fair value adjustment to contingent consideration

621

Stock-based compensation

4,257

4,396

Change in deferred income taxes

(977

)

(64

)

Changes in liabilities for uncertain tax positions or unrecognized tax benefits

467

Change in fair value of equity investments

324

857

Net foreign currency adjustments

199

218

Changes in assets and liabilities associated with operations:

Increase in net receivables

(29,055

)

(46,289

)

Increase in inventories

(58,163

)

(38,987

)

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

(633

)

(4,272

)

Increase in income tax receivable/payable, net

(4,046

)

(5,201

)

Increase in net operating lease liability

227

10

Increase in accounts payable

1,240

14,418

Decrease in customer prepayments

(104,590

)

(62,831

)

Increase in accrued program costs

29,779

45,016

(Decrease) increase in other payables and accrued expenses

(4,406

)

2,555

Net cash used in operating activities

(145,854

)

(45,678

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures

(8,589

)

(8,946

)

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

200

46

Intangible assets

(759

)

(1,078

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(9,148

)

(9,978

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Payments under line of credit agreement

(62,800

)

(64,000

)

Borrowings under line of credit agreement

228,500

160,000

Net receipt from the issuance of common stock under ESPP

980

837

Net receipt from the exercise of stock options

46

783

Payment for tax withholding on stock-based compensation awards

(1,957

)

(2,020

)

Repurchase of common stock

(15,539

)

(33,731

)

Payment of cash dividends

(2,550

)

(2,072

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

146,680

59,797

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

(8,322

)

4,141

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(477

)

382

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

20,328

16,285

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

11,529

$

20,808

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO ADJUSTED EBITDA

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

September 30,

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2023

2022

2023

2022

Net income (loss)

$

(325

)

$

6,741

$

540

$

23,506

Provision for income taxes

885

2,963

2,066

10,187

Interest expense, net

3,384

1,086

8,282

2,256

Depreciation and amortization

5,704

6,562

17,850

19,305

Stock compensation

1,716

1,560

4,257

4,396

Proxy contest activities

-

-

541

1,785

Adjusted EBITDA 1

$

11,364

$

18,912

$

33,536

$

61,435

____________________________

1 Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, non-cash stock compensation, and proxy contest activities. Adjusted EBITDA is not a financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss), operating income or any other financial measures so calculated and presented, nor as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We provide these measures because we believe that they provide helpful comparisons to other companies in our industry and peer group. The items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are detailed in the reconciliation attached to this news release. Other companies (including the Company’s competitors) may define Adjusted EBITDA differently.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231108203809/en/

Company Contact:
American Vanguard Corporation
William A. Kuser, Director of Investor Relations
(949) 260-1200
williamk@amvac.com

Investor Representative
the Equity Group Inc.
www.theequitygroup.com
Lena Cati (212) 836-9611
lcati@equityny.com

Stock Information

Company Name: American Vanguard Corporation
Stock Symbol: AVD
Market: NYSE
Website: american-vanguard.com

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