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home / news releases / LFUS - Littelfuse Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results For 2020


LFUS - Littelfuse Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results For 2020

Company delivers solid performance amidst global pandemic

Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS), a global manufacturer of leading technologies in circuit protection, power control and sensing, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 26, 2020:

Fourth Quarter 2020 Results

  • Net sales of $400.7 million were up 18% versus the prior year period, and up 16% organically, led by higher than expected demand across a number of automotive, electronics and industrial end markets
  • Segment performance versus the prior year period:
    • Electronics sales grew 17% (up 16% organically)
    • Automotive sales grew 22% (up 18% organically)
    • Industrial sales grew 13% (up 5% organically)
  • GAAP diluted EPS was $2.39; adjusted diluted EPS was $2.23, which benefited from a lower effective tax rate versus the forecasted rate equating to approximately $0.14 in EPS
  • GAAP effective tax rate was 14.4% and the adjusted effective tax rate was 15.3%
  • On January 28, the company completed the acquisition of Hartland Controls, a manufacturer and leading supplier of electrical components used primarily in HVAC and other industrial applications, with annualized sales of approximately $70 million

Full Year 2020 Results

  • Net sales of $1.45 billion were down 4% in total and organically versus the prior year
  • Segment performance versus the prior year:
    • Electronics sales decreased 2% in total and organically
    • Automotive sales decreased 8% (down 9% organically)
    • Industrial sales decreased 2% (down 5% organically)
  • GAAP diluted EPS was $5.29; adjusted diluted EPS was $6.40
  • GAAP effective tax rate was 19.4% and the adjusted effective tax rate was 18.3%
  • Cash flow from operations was $258.0 million and free cash flow was $201.8 million, representing a 155% conversion from net income

“We finished the year with our fourth quarter well ahead of expectations, with double-digit sales growth across all of our segments,” said Dave Heinzmann, Littelfuse President and Chief Executive Officer. “While 2020 was a challenging year, we continued to meet our customer commitments while advancing our strategic growth initiatives. Building on this momentum, we are seeing a strong start to 2021, which positions us for long-term growth and improved profitability.”

First Quarter of 2021*

For the first quarter, the company expects net sales in the range of $418 to $432 million, adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $1.76 to $1.92 and an adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 21%.

*Littelfuse provides guidance on a non-GAAP (adjusted) basis. GAAP items excluded from guidance may include the after-tax impact of items including acquisition and integration costs, restructuring, impairment and other charges, certain purchase accounting adjustments, non-operating foreign exchange adjustments and significant and unusual items. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could be material to results computed in accordance with GAAP. Littelfuse is not able to forecast the excluded items in order to provide the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure without unreasonable efforts.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Littelfuse will host a conference call today, Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss the results. The call will be broadcast live and available for replay at Littelfuse.com .

Virtual Investor and Analyst Event

Littelfuse will host a virtual investor and analyst event on February 23, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. Interested parties can register for the event here or via the registration link on the investor relations page of the company’s website, Littelfuse.com . Presentation materials will be posted, and archived webcast made available after the event.

About Littelfuse

Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS) is a global manufacturer of leading technologies in circuit protection, power control and sensing. Serving over 100,000 end customers, our products are found in automotive and commercial vehicles, industrial applications, data and telecommunications, medical devices, consumer electronics, and appliances. Our 11,000 worldwide associates partner with customers to design, manufacture and deliver innovative, high-quality solutions, for a safer, greener and increasingly connected world - everywhere, every day. Learn more at Littelfuse.com .

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are intended to constitute "forward-looking statements" entitled to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to general economic conditions; the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken in response thereto and the effects of those items on the company’s business; product demand and market acceptance; the impact of competitive products and pricing; product quality problems or product recalls; capacity and supply difficulties or constraints; coal mining exposures reserves; failure of an indemnification for environmental liability; exchange rate fluctuations; commodity price fluctuations; the effect of Littelfuse, Inc.'s ("Littelfuse" or the "Company") accounting policies; labor disputes; restructuring costs in excess of expectations; pension plan asset returns less than assumed; integration of acquisitions; uncertainties related to political or regulatory changes; and other risks which may be detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements. This release should be read in conjunction with information provided in the financial statements appearing in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019. Further discussion of the risk factors of the company can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019, under the caption "Risk Factors" in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 26, 2020, and in other filings and submissions with the SEC, each of which are available free of charge on the company’s investor relations website at investor.littelfuse.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof. The company does not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the availability of new information.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The information included in this press release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of organic net sales growth (decline), adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted income taxes, adjusted effective tax rate, free cash flow, consolidated total gross debt, consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the private placement senior notes), and ratio of consolidated total gross debt to consolidated EBITDA. Many of these non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of certain expenses and income not related directly to the underlying performance of our fundamental business operations.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is set forth in the attached schedules.

The company believes that organic net sales growth (decline), adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted diluted earnings per share, adjusted income taxes, and adjusted effective tax rate provide useful information to investors regarding its operational performance because they enhance an investor’s overall understanding of our core financial performance and facilitate comparisons to historical results of operations, by excluding items that are not related directly to the underlying performance of our fundamental business operations or were not part of our business operations during a comparable period. The company believes that free cash flow is a useful measure of its ability to generate cash. The company believes that consolidated total gross debt, consolidated EBITDA, and ratio of consolidated total gross debt to consolidated EBITDA are useful measures of its credit position. The company believes that all of these non-GAAP financial measures are commonly used by financial analysts and others in the industries in which we operate, and thus further provide useful information to investors. Management additionally uses these measures when assessing the performance of the business and for business planning purposes. Note that our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from those terms as defined or used by other companies.

LFUS-F

LITTELFUSE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

December 26,
2020

December 28,
2019

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

687,525

$

531,139

Short-term investments

54

44

Trade receivables, less allowances of $45,237 and $42,043, respectively

232,760

202,309

Inventories

258,002

237,507

Prepaid income taxes and income taxes receivable

3,029

4,831

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

35,939

28,564

Total current assets

1,217,309

1,004,394

Net property, plant, and equipment

344,178

344,617

Intangible assets, net of amortization

291,887

321,247

Goodwill

816,812

820,589

Investments

30,547

24,099

Deferred income taxes

11,224

8,069

Right of use assets, net

17,615

21,918

Other assets

18,021

14,965

Total assets

$

2,747,593

$

2,559,898

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

145,984

$

117,320

Accrued liabilities

110,478

84,120

Accrued income taxes

19,186

14,122

Current portion of long-term debt

10,000

Total current liabilities

275,648

225,562

Long-term debt, less current portion

687,034

669,158

Deferred income taxes

50,134

49,763

Accrued post-retirement benefits

45,802

38,198

Non-current operating lease liabilities

12,950

17,166

Other long-term liabilities

67,252

64,037

Total equity

1,608,773

1,496,014

Total liabilities and equity

$

2,747,593

$

2,559,898

LITTELFUSE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Fiscal Year Ended

(in thousands, except per share data)

December 26,
2020

December 28,
2019

December 26,
2020

December 28,
2019

Net sales

$

400,696

$

338,523

$

1,445,695

$

1,503,873

Cost of sales

262,613

224,788

944,523

957,578

Gross profit

138,083

113,735

501,172

546,295

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

50,179

51,554

204,507

220,448

Research and development expenses

11,951

17,828

52,538

79,997

Amortization of intangibles

10,127

9,958

40,039

40,026

Restructuring, impairment, and other charges

812

2,078

41,716

13,033

Total operating expenses

73,069

81,418

338,800

353,504

Operating income

65,014

32,317

162,372

192,791

Interest expense

4,816

5,432

21,077

22,266

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

(5,275

)

(412

)

(14,875

)

5,224

Other (income) expense, net

(3,440

)

2,823

(5,083

)

(583

)

Income before income taxes

68,913

24,474

161,253

165,884

Income taxes

9,936

1,820

31,267

26,802

Net income

$

58,977

$

22,654

$

129,986

$

139,082

Income per share:

Basic

$

2.41

$

0.93

$

5.33

$

5.66

Diluted

$

2.39

$

0.92

$

5.29

$

5.60

Weighted-average shares and equivalent shares outstanding:

Basic

24,423

24,366

24,371

24,576

Diluted

24,726

24,598

24,592

24,818

Comprehensive income

75,058

28,439

145,652

130,183

LITTELFUSE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Year Ended

(in thousands)

December 26,
2020

December 28,
2019

(Unaudited)

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income

$

129,986

$

139,082

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities, net:

123,685

121,898

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Trade receivables

(25,588

)

28,497

Inventories

(12,425

)

22,094

Accounts payable

28,820

(22,574

)

Accrued liabilities

6,765

(54,242

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

6,788

10,573

Net cash provided by operating activities

258,031

245,328

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

(775

)

Purchases of property, plant, and equipment

(56,191

)

(61,895

)

All other cash provided by investing activities

4,758

6,213

Net cash used in investing activities

(51,433

)

(56,457

)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Net payments of credit facility and senior notes

(15,000

)

(10,000

)

Cash dividends paid

(46,839

)

(44,689

)

Purchases of common stock

(22,927

)

(99,387

)

All other cash provided by financing activities

16,958

7,800

Net cash used in financing activities

(67,808

)

(146,276

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

17,596

(1,189

)

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

156,386

41,406

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

531,139

489,733

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

687,525

$

531,139

LITTELFUSE, INC.

NET SALES AND OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT

(Unaudited)

Fourth Quarter

Year-to-Date

(in thousands)

2020

2019

%
Growth
/(Decline)

2020

2019

%
Growth
/(Decline)

Net sales

Electronics

$

244,953

$

208,881

17.3

%

$

937,762

$

961,080

(2.4

)%

Automotive

124,271

101,719

22.2

%

395,764

428,533

(7.6

)%

Industrial

31,472

27,923

12.7

%

112,169

114,260

(1.8

)%

Total net sales

$

400,696

$

338,523

18.4

%

$

1,445,695

$

1,503,873

(3.9

)%

Operating income (loss)

Electronics

$

41,912

$

18,361

128.3

%

$

152,695

$

145,594

4.9

%

Automotive

21,013

11,732

79.1

%

41,655

46,719

(10.8

)%

Industrial

3,587

6,249

(42.6

)%

11,996

22,407

(46.5

)%

Other(a)

(1,498

)

(4,025

)

N.M.

(43,974

)

(21,929

)

N.M.

Total operating income

65,014

32,317

101.2

%

162,372

192,791

(15.8

)%

Operating Margin

16.2

%

9.5

%

11.2

%

12.8

%

Interest expense

4,816

5,432

21,077

22,266

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

(5,275

)

(412

)

(14,875

)

5,224

Other (income) expense, net

(3,440

)

2,823

(5,083

)

(583

)

Income before income taxes

$

68,913

$

24,474

181.6

%

$

161,253

$

165,884

(2.8

)%

(a) "other" typically includes non-GAAP adjustments such as acquisition-related and integration costs and restructuring, impairment and other charges. (See Supplemental Financial Information for details.)

N.M. - Not meaningful

Fourth Quarter

Year-to-Date

(in thousands)

2020

2019

%
Growth
/(Decline)

2020

2019

%
Growth
/(Decline)

Operating Margin

Electronics

17.1

%

8.8

%

8.3

%

16.3

%

15.1

%

1.2

%

Automotive

16.9

%

11.5

%

5.4

%

10.5

%

10.9

%

(0.4

)%

Industrial

11.4

%

22.4

%

(11.0

)%

10.7

%

19.6

%

(8.9

)%

LITTELFUSE, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In millions of USD except per share amounts unaudited)

Non-GAAP EPS reconciliation

Q4-20

Q4-19

YTD-20

YTD-19

GAAP diluted EPS

$

2.39

$

0.92

$

5.29

$

5.60

EPS impact of Non-GAAP adjustments (below)

(0.16

)

0.25

1.11

1.22

Adjusted diluted EPS

$

2.23

$

1.17

$

6.40

$

6.82

Non-GAAP adjustments - (income)/expense

Q4-20

Q4-19

YTD-20

YTD-19

Acquisition-related and integration costs (a)

$

0.7

$

2.0

$

2.3

$

8.9

Restructuring, impairment and other charges (d)

0.8

2.0

41.7

13.0

Non-GAAP adjustments to operating income

1.5

4.0

44.0

21.9

Other expense, net (b)

4.2

2.1

10.0

Non-operating foreign exchange (gain) loss

(5.3

)

(0.4

)

(14.9

)

5.2

Non-GAAP adjustments to income before income taxes

(3.8

)

7.8

31.2

37.1

Income taxes (c)

2.0

3.9

7.1

Non-GAAP adjustments to net income

$

(3.8

)

$

5.8

$

27.3

$

30.0

Total EPS impact

$

(0.16

)

$

0.25

$

1.11

$

1.22

Adjusted operating margin /Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation

Q4-20

Q4-19

YTD-20

YTD-19

Net sales

$

400.7

$

338.5

$

1,445.7

$

1,503.9

GAAP operating income

$

65.0

$

32.3

$

162.4

$

192.8

Add back non-GAAP adjustments

1.5

4.0

44.0

21.9

Adjusted operating income

$

66.5

$

36.3

$

206.4

$

214.7

Adjusted operating margin

16.6

%

10.7

%

14.3

%

14.3

%

Add back amortization

10.1

9.9

40.0

40.0

Add back depreciation

14.2

13.5

56.1

52.5

Adjusted EBITDA

$

90.8

$

59.7

$

302.5

$

307.2

Adjusted EBITDA margin

22.7

%

17.6

%

20.9

%

20.4

%

Net sales reconciliation

Q4-20 vs. Q4-19

Electronics

Automotive

Industrial

Total

Net sales growth

17

%

22

%

13

%

18

%

Less:

Transfer a product line between segments

(1

)%

%

7

%

%

FX impact

2

%

4

%

1

%

2

%

Organic net sales growth

16

%

18

%

5

%

16

%

Net sales reconciliation

YTD-20 vs. YTD-19

Electronics

Automotive

Industrial

Total

Net sales decline

(2

)%

(8

)%

(2

)%

(4

)%

Less:

Transfer a product line between segments

%

3

%

%

FX impact

%

1

%

%

%

Organic net sales decline

(2

)%

(9

)%

(5

)%

(4

)%

Income tax reconciliation

Q4-20

Q4-19

YTD-20

YTD-19

Income taxes

$

9.9

$

1.8

$

31.3

$

26.8

Effective rate

14.4

%

7.4

%

19.4

%

16.2

%

Non-GAAP adjustments - income taxes

2.0

3.9

7.1

Adjusted income taxes

$

9.9

$

3.8

$

35.2

$

33.9

Adjusted effective rate

15.3

%

11.9

%

18.3

%

16.7

%

Free cash flow reconciliation

Q4-20

Q4-19

YTD-20

YTD-19

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

93.7

$

84.4

$

258.0

$

245.3

Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(14.6

)

(23.5

)

(56.2

)

(61.9

)

Free cash flow

$

79.1

$

60.9

$

201.8

$

183.4

Consolidated Total Debt

As of December 26,
2020

Consolidated total gross debt

$

691.1

Unamortized debt issuance costs

(4.1

)

Consolidated Total Debt

$

687.0

Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Private Placement Senior Notes) (1)

Twelve Months Ended
December 26, 2020

Net Income

$

130.0

Interest expense

21.1

Income taxes

31.3

Depreciation

56.1

Amortization

40.0

Non-cash reductions:

Stock-based compensation expense

18.1

Unrealized gain on investments

(4.7

)

Impairment charges

36.1

Other

(21.0

)

Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Private Placement Senior Notes) (1)

$

307.0

Ratio of Consolidated total gross debt to Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in Private Placement Senior Notes)*

2.3x

* Our Private Placement Senior Notes, with maturities ranging from 2022 to 2030, contain a financial ratio covenant providing that if, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, the ratio of Consolidated total gross debt at such time to Consolidated EBITDA for the then most recently concluded period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company exceeds 3.50:1.00, an Event of Default (as defined in the Private Placement Senior Notes) is triggered

Note: Totals will not always foot due to rounding.

(a) reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A").

(b) 2020 year-to-date amount included a $1.8 million increase in coal mining reserves, a $0.2 million charge for an asset retirement obligation related to the disposal of a business in 2019, and $0.1 million of impairment charges on certain other investments. 2019 quarter-to-date amount included $4.2 million of impairment charges related to certain other investments. 2019 year-to-date primarily consisted of $7.3 million of impairment charges related to certain other investments and a $2.6 million loss on the disposal of a business.

(c) reflected the tax impact associated with the non-GAAP adjustments. The three and twelve months ended December 28, 2019 reflected a $3.3 million reversal for previously unrecognized tax benefits as the statute of limitations expired.

(d) for fiscal year ended December 26, 2020, the Company began presenting restructuring, impairment and other charges as a separate caption in the Consolidated Statements of Net Income. Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation of the current period financial statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210203005208/en/

Trisha Tuntland
Head of Investor Relations
(773) 628-2163

Stock Information

Company Name: Littelfuse Inc.
Stock Symbol: LFUS
Market: NASDAQ
Website: littelfuse.com

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