Acuity Brands Reports Fiscal 2025 First-Quarter Results

GlobeNewswire Inc.

January 08, 2025 11:00AM GMT

Solid Execution Delivers Sales Growth and EPS Expansion; Post-Quarter Completed QSC Acquisition

Delivered Net Sales of $952M, an Increase of 2% Compared to the Prior Year
Grew Operating Profit to $133M, Flat Compared to the Prior Year; Adjusted Operating Profit of $159M, up 3% Over the Prior Year
Reported Diluted EPS of $3.35, up 4% Over the Prior Year; Adjusted Diluted EPS of $3.97, up 7% Over the Prior Year
Completed the Acquisition of QSC, LLC Effective January 1, 2025

ATLANTA, Jan. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) (the “Company”), a market-leading industrial technology company, announced net sales of $951.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 ended November 30, 2024, an increase of $16.9 million, or 1.8 percent, compared to the prior year.

“Our fiscal 2025 first quarter performance was solid,” stated Neil Ashe, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands, Inc. “We delivered sales growth, increased our adjusted operating profit and adjusted operating profit margin, and increased our adjusted diluted earnings per share.” Neil Ashe went on to say, “We're also pleased to welcome QSC to Acuity, having successfully closed the acquisition last week.”

Operating profit was $133.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $0.4 million, or 0.3 percent, compared to the prior year. Operating profit as a percent of net sales was 14.0 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of 20 basis points compared to the prior year. Adjusted operating profit was $158.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $4.8 million, or 3.1 percent, compared to the prior year. Adjusted operating profit as a percent of net sales was 16.7 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of 20 basis points compared to the prior year.

Diluted earnings per share was $3.35 in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $0.14, or 4.4 percent, compared to the prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $3.97 in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $0.25, or 6.7 percent, from $3.72 in the prior year.

Segment Performance

Acuity Brands Lighting

Acuity Brands Lighting generated net sales of $886.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $9.6 million, or 1.1 percent, compared to the prior year.

Operating profit was $143.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of $0.5 million, or 0.3 percent, compared to the prior year. Operating profit as a percent of Acuity Brands Lighting net sales was 16.2 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of 20 basis points compared to the prior year. Adjusted operating profit was $153.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 0.2 percent, compared to the prior year. Adjusted operating profit as a percent of Acuity Brands Lighting net sales was 17.3 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of 20 basis points compared to the prior year.

Acuity Intelligent Spaces

Acuity Intelligent Spaces generated net sales of $73.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $9.3 million, or 14.5 percent, compared to the prior year.

Operating profit was $10.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $5.5 million compared to the prior year. Operating profit as a percent of Acuity Intelligent Spaces net sales was 14.7 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of 640 basis points compared to the prior year. Adjusted operating profit was $15.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $5.1 million compared to the prior year. Adjusted operating profit as a percent of Acuity Intelligent Spaces net sales was 21.0 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of 500 basis points compared to the prior year.

Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

Net cash from operating activities was $132.2 million for the first three months of fiscal 2025. During the quarter the Company repurchased approximately 17,000 shares of common stock for a total of approximately $5 million.

Post-Quarter Events

Effective January 1, 2025, the Company completed the acquisition of QSC, LLC. The acquisition expands Acuity's Intelligent Spaces into cloud-manageable audio, video and control. The gross purchase price was $1.215 billion, or $1.1 billion net of approximately $100 million in present value of expected tax benefits.

Today's Call Details

The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. (ET) today, Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Neil Ashe, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands, Inc. will lead the call. The conference call and earnings release can be accessed via the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.investors.acuitybrands.com. A replay of the call will also be posted to the Investor Relations website within two hours of the completion of the conference call and will be available on the website for a limited time.

About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Acuity Intelligent Spaces, we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.

We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We achieve customer-focused efficiencies that allow us to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals.

Acuity Brands, Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuitybrands.com

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release includes the following non-generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measures: “adjusted operating profit” and “adjusted operating profit margin” for total company and by segment; “adjusted net income;” “adjusted diluted EPS;” “earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”);" "EBITDA margin;" “adjusted EBITDA;” and "adjusted EBITDA margin". These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the reader's overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and prospects for the future. Specifically, management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors by excluding or adjusting items for amortization of acquired intangible assets, share-based payment expense, and acquisition-related items.

We also provide “free cash flow” (“FCF”) to enhance the reader’s understanding of the Company’s ability to generate additional cash from its business.

Management typically adjusts for these items for internal reviews of performance and uses the above non-GAAP measures for baseline comparative operational analysis, decision making, and other activities. Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide greater comparability and enhanced visibility into the Company’s results of operations as well as comparability with many of its peers, especially those companies focused more on technology and software. Non-GAAP financial measures included in this news release should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The most directly comparable GAAP measures for adjusted operating profit and adjusted operating profit margin for total company and by segment are “operating profit” and “operating profit margin,” respectively, for total company and by segment, which include the impact of amortization of acquired intangible assets and share-based payment expense. Adjusted operating profit margin is adjusted operating profit divided by net sales for total company and by segment. The most directly comparable GAAP measures for adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS are “net income” and “diluted EPS,” respectively, which include the impact of amortization of acquired intangible assets, share-based payment expense, and acquisition-related items. Adjusted diluted EPS is adjusted net income divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for EBITDA is “net income”, which includes the impact of net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization of acquired intangible assets. EBITDA margin is EBITDA divided by net sales for total company. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for adjusted EBITDA is “net income”, which includes the impact of net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization of acquired intangible assets, share-based payment expense, acquisition-related items, and miscellaneous (income) expense, net. Adjusted EBITDA margin is adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales for total company. A reconciliation of each measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is available in this news release.

The Company defines FCF as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. A calculation of this measure is available in this news release.

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, have limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP financial measures. Our presentation of such measures, which may include adjustments to exclude unusual or non-recurring items, should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by other unusual or non-recurring items.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that describe or relate to the Company’s plans, initiatives, projections, vision, goals, targets, commitments, expectations, objectives, prospects, strategies, or financial outlook, and the assumptions underlying or relating thereto. In some cases, we may use words such as “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “indicate,” “project,” “predict,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “potential,” and words of similar meaning, as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances, to identify forward-looking statements. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Act. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Our forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, assumptions, and other important factors, many of which are outside of our control and any of which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K (including, but not limited to, the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"), quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. This press release is not comprehensive, and for that reason, should be read in conjunction with such filings. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

ACUITY BRANDS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(In millions, except per-share data)
	November 30, 2024		August 31, 2024
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	935.6		$	845.8
Accounts receivable, less reserve for doubtful accounts of $1.9 and $1.9, respectively		534.7			563.0
Inventories		391.1			387.6
Prepayments and other current assets		75.9			75.1
Total current assets		1,937.3			1,871.5
Property, plant, and equipment, net		299.8			303.9
Operating lease right-of-use assets		61.1			65.6
Goodwill		1,091.8			1,098.7
Intangible assets, net		440.3			440.5
Deferred income taxes		2.4			2.3
Other long-term assets		31.6			32.1
Total assets	$	3,864.3		$	3,814.6
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	331.5		$	352.3
Current operating lease liabilities		18.9			19.2
Accrued compensation		72.7			110.1
Other current liabilities		227.5			206.3
Total current liabilities		650.6			687.9
Long-term debt		496.3			496.2
Long-term operating lease liabilities		54.4			58.1
Accrued pension liabilities		37.5			37.5
Deferred income taxes		25.6			26.0
Other long-term liabilities		136.5			130.1
Total liabilities		1,400.9			1,435.8
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 50.0 shares authorized; none issued		—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 500.0 shares authorized; 54.8 and 54.6 issued, respectively		0.5			0.5
Paid-in capital		1,120.5			1,115.9
Retained earnings		4,012.0			3,909.8
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(131.7	)		(114.9	)
Treasury stock, at cost, of 23.8 and 23.8 shares, respectively		(2,537.9	)		(2,532.5	)
Total stockholders’ equity		2,463.4			2,378.8
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,864.3		$	3,814.6

ACUITY BRANDS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)(In millions, except per-share data)
	Three Months Ended
	November 30, 2024		November 30, 2023
Net sales	$	951.6		$	934.7
Cost of products sold		502.3			506.3
Gross profit		449.3			428.4
Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses		316.0			295.5
Operating profit		133.3			132.9
Other (income) expense:
Interest (income) expense, net		(4.0	)		0.9
Miscellaneous expense, net		2.5			1.1
Total other (income) expense		(1.5	)		2.0
Income before income taxes		134.8			130.9
Income tax expense		28.1			30.3
Net income	$	106.7		$	100.6

Earnings per share ⁽¹⁾ :
Basic earnings per share	$	3.45		$	3.25
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding		30.930			31.005
Diluted earnings per share	$	3.35		$	3.21
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding		31.799			31.365
Dividends declared per share	$	0.15		$	0.13

⁽¹⁾ Earnings per share is calculated using unrounded numbers. Amounts in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding.

ACUITY BRANDS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)(In millions)
	Three Months Ended
	November 30, 2024		November 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	106.7		$	100.6
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		21.6			22.7
Share-based payment expense		12.1			11.1
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures:
Accounts receivable		25.2			37.8
Inventories		(5.1	)		3.2
Prepayments and other current assets		(1.8	)		(5.3	)
Accounts payable		(14.5	)		28.7
Other operating activities		(12.0	)		(8.8	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		132.2			190.0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment		(18.9	)		(14.6	)
Other investing activities		0.5			0.1
Net cash used for investing activities		(18.4	)		(14.5	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchases of common stock		(6.7	)		(48.2	)
Proceeds from stock option exercises and other		15.6			1.6
Payments of taxes withheld on net settlement of equity awards		(23.1	)		(9.0	)
Dividends paid		(4.5	)		(4.1	)
Net cash used for financing activities		(18.7	)		(59.7	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(5.3	)		(0.4	)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		89.8			115.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		845.8			397.9
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	935.6		$	513.3

ACUITY BRANDS, INC.DISAGGREGATED NET SALES(In millions)
The following tables show net sales by channel for the periods presented:
	Three Months Ended
	November 30, 2024		November 30, 2023	Increase (Decrease)		Percent Change
Acuity Brands Lighting:
Independent sales network	$	643.9		$	625.2		$	18.7		3.0	%
Direct sales network		107.2			97.4			9.8		10.1	%
Retail sales		44.9			55.6			(10.7	)	(19.2	)%
Corporate accounts		32.7			41.5			(8.8	)	(21.2	)%
Original equipment manufacturer and other		57.3			56.7			0.6		1.1	%
Total Acuity Brands Lighting		886.0			876.4			9.6		1.1	%
Acuity Intelligent Spaces		73.5			64.2			9.3		14.5	%
Eliminations		(7.9	)		(5.9	)		(2.0	)	33.9	%
Total	$	951.6		$	934.7		$	16.9		1.8	%

ACUITY BRANDS, INC.Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Measures
The tables below reconcile certain GAAP financial measures to the corresponding non-GAAP measures for total Company as well as our reportable operating segments (in millions except per share data):
	Three Months Ended
	November 30, 2024				November 30, 2023		Increase (Decrease)		Percent Change
Net sales	$	951.6				$	934.7				$	16.9		1.8	%

Operating profit (GAAP)	$	133.3				$	132.9				$	0.4		0.3	%
Percent of net sales (GAAP)			14.0	%			14.2	%		(20	)		bps
Add-back: Amortization of acquired intangible assets		8.7					9.9
Add-back: Share-based payment expense		12.1					11.1
Add-back: Acquisition-related items ⁽¹⁾		4.6					—
Adjusted operating profit (Non-GAAP)	$	158.7				$	153.9				$	4.8		3.1	%
Percent of net sales (Non-GAAP)			16.7	%			16.5	%		20			bps

Net income (GAAP)	$	106.7				$	100.6				$	6.1		6.1	%
Add-back: Amortization of acquired intangible assets		8.7					9.9
Add-back: Share-based payment expense		12.1					11.1
Add-back: Acquisition-related items ⁽¹⁾		4.6					—
Total pre-tax adjustments to net income		25.4					21.0
Income tax effects		(5.8	)				(4.8	)
Adjusted net income (Non-GAAP)	$	126.3				$	116.8				$	9.5		8.1	%

Diluted earnings per share (GAAP)	$	3.35				$	3.21				$	0.14		4.4	%
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (Non-GAAP)	$	3.97				$	3.72				$	0.25		6.7	%

Net income (GAAP)	$	106.7				$	100.6				$	6.1		6.1	%
Percent of net sales (GAAP)			11.2	%			10.8	%		40			bps
Interest (income) expense, net		(4.0	)				0.9
Income tax expense		28.1					30.3
Depreciation		12.9					12.8
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		8.7					9.9
EBITDA (Non-GAAP)		152.4					154.5					(2.1	)	(1.4	)%
Percent of net sales (Non-GAAP)			16.0	%			16.5	%		(50	)		bps
Share-based payment expense		12.1					11.1
Acquisition-related items ⁽¹⁾		4.6					—
Miscellaneous expense, net		2.5					1.1
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)	$	171.6				$	166.7				$	4.9		2.9	%
Percent of net sales (Non-GAAP)			18.0	%			17.8	%		20			bps

⁽¹⁾ Acquisition-related items include professional fees.

	Three Months Ended
Acuity Brands Lighting	November 30, 2024		November 30, 2023	Increase (Decrease)		Percent Change
Net sales	$	886.0		$	876.4		$	9.6		1.1	%

Operating profit (GAAP)	$	143.3		$	143.8		$	(0.5	)	(0.3	)%
Add-back: Amortization of acquired intangible assets		5.9			6.5
Add-back: Share-based payment expense		4.3			3.5
Adjusted operating profit (Non-GAAP)	$	153.5		$	153.8		$	(0.3	)	(0.2	)%

Operating profit margin (GAAP)		16.2	%		16.4	%		(20	)	bps
Adjusted operating profit margin (Non-GAAP)		17.3	%		17.5	%		(20	)	bps

	Three Months Ended
Acuity Intelligent Spaces	November 30, 2024		November 30, 2023	Increase (Decrease)		Percent Change
Net sales	$	73.5		$	64.2		$	9.3	14.5	%

Operating profit (GAAP)	$	10.8		$	5.3		$	5.5	103.8	%
Add-back: Amortization of acquired intangible assets		2.8			3.4
Add-back: Share-based payment expense		1.8			1.6
Adjusted operating profit (Non-GAAP)	$	15.4		$	10.3		$	5.1	49.5	%

Operating profit margin (GAAP)		14.7	%		8.3	%		640	bps
Adjusted operating profit margin (Non-GAAP)		21.0	%		16.0	%		500	bps

	Three Months Ended
	November 30, 2024		November 30, 2023	Increase (Decrease)		Percent Change
Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)	$	132.2		$	190.0		$	(57.8	)	(30.4	)%
Less: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment		(18.9	)		(14.6	)
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	113.3		$	175.4		$	(62.1	)	(35.4	)%

Investor Contact:
Charlotte McLaughlin
Vice President, Investor Relations
(404) 853-1456
investorrelations@acuitybrands.com

Media Contact:
April Appling
Vice President, Corporate Communications
corporatecommunications@acuitybrands.com